A/N: You were looking for an update? Me, too. Two multi-chapters at once, from opposite points of view. Sometimes, I forget where I am. LOL. Anyway, this is setting the stage, more than anything else. Provenza has a scheme, has pitched it to Andy, and Brenda's coming along for the ride. We'll have to see what happens. This could get interesting. Reviews let me know if I'm on the right track, so please, R&R! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own or operate "The Closer."

Chapter 21: Looking for Trouble?

"She wants me to look at a house with her. What's wrong with that?" Andy and Provenza were at lunch.

"What's wrong with that? Flynn, I never thought I'd live to see the day you were whipped! And that's what you are! Whipped!"

Andy chuckled. "Ya think so, huh? And you've never been there, right? Never wore suits with a sweater that a department store buyer girlfriend got for you? What'd you call that – the 'country gentleman' look? Was that it?"

Provenza glowered at his friend. "Shut up."

"Well, at least the fringe benefits are worth it," Andy said, as he sipped his iced tea.

Provenza raised a cynical eyebrow. "Yeah, and I'll bet you have to work for those benefits, too. I know they don't come easy. Not with Miss Atlanta. I know, emotionally, she's high-maintenance."

"She can be." Andy had to concede the point. "But she is improving. She actually stood up to that brother of hers. You know, he was trying to guilt her into having her niece live with her."

"Yeah, I wondered how that turned out. Glad she was able to avoid that. I wouldn't want to be responsible for that kid."

"Me either. Brenda sure doesn't need it. But you know, she's in counseling, and it really has helped her."

Provenza nodded. "Sometimes, it does. And she does seem less, oh, I don't know, touchy."

"That's definitely improved. There was room for it," Andy said wryly.

"Now I want to know something. You never would tell me. That Monday after you got back from Monterey with Raydor. I know you went by the Chief's house. When you got into the office, I could swear the side of your face was red. Did she hit you?"

Because it was Provenza, Andy nodded. "Slapped the hell out of me as soon as I walked in the door."

"And what did you do?"

"Sat her down on the sofa and told her I'd file assault charges if she did it again. And I would have."

"Flynn, you have the patience of a saint with that woman."

Andy laughed. "And sometimes, I need it, I'm telling you."

"I still don't know how you do it. I mean, she probably uses the goodies as a bribe, right?"

Considering Brenda's proclivities, that made Andy laugh harder. "You wish. Sometimes it's tough keeping up with her."

Provenza's mouth dropped open. "You are not serious. The Chief? C'mon! She doesn't make you beg for it?"

"I only have to beg for a break once in a while."

That prompted Provenza to reach for the napkin on the table and mop his forehead. "If anybody but you told me that, I'd say they were lying, Flynn. But I know you wouldn't."

"No lie." And just to mess with his partner's head, Andy added, "And my necktie has come in handy, too." His grin was evil.

Provenza's eyes popped. The image of Brenda Leigh Johnson tied naked to a bed was enough to make his 60-plus heart bounce momentarily out of rhythm. "You're gonna give me a coronary," he said.

"You asked," Andy said.

"Yeah, I asked. Your tie, though. Really? Really?"

"Really. Absolutely." Andy looked as smug as Provenza had ever seen him.

"And she still wants you to look at houses with her." Provenza's face turned thoughtful. "Wonder if the FBI guy ever used his necktie that way?"

"Why don't you ask her sometime? See if she can slap you harder than she slapped me," Andy chuckled.

Provenza raised an eyebrow. "As interesting as the answer would be, no, I don't think I will," he said and finished the last of his coffee.

That prompted another chuckle. "Yeah, and she'd work me over again if she knew I told you. But hey..."

"If you can't tell your partner, who can you tell? Oh- I wanted to tell you something. I've been in touch with a friend of mine who's a realtor. He has a couple of time shares in Baja California he needs to unload, and he has a couple of prospects, but can't get down there to show the properties. If we could go down there and be there to let the people in, he said he'd pay us $1,000 each for our time."

Andy shook his head. "No way. The last time I let you talk me into something, we both nearly lost our badges. Nope."

"C'mon, Flynn. We let the people in. We show them around. We let them out. We lock up and come back to L.A. We get paid. What could possibly go wrong?"

A scowl crossed Andy's face. "With us? Everything. Absolutely everything. Like in a sitcom everything. I promised Brenda I wouldn't let you talk me into one more of your nutcase schemes. No dice."

"So, bring the Chief along!" Provenza said persuasively. "My buddy even said he'd arrange for a charter plane to fly us down there and back. Maybe the Chief might even be interested. You never know. Two units on the same property. You two can stay in one, and you know, have some privacy, and I'll stay in the other one."

"You're a mental case, Provenza. If you think the Chief would get involved in this, you're in worse shape than I thought."

"But it never hurts to ask, right? C'mon. It's a trip to Baja! Sun, sand, nice place to stay. Ask her. See what she says."

Andy sighed in resignation. He knew Provenza wasn't going to let this go. "All right. I'll ask her. When is this little trip to paradise, anyway?"

"It's the first of October. That's why I'm telling you now. Plenty of notice, right?

"Yeah, but the grand poo-bah isn't going to like it if we catch a case and half the Major Crimes squad is in Baja."

Provenza rolled his eyes. "So what's Taylor there for, anyway? Decoration? What does he get paid to do? Why have him there if he can't get an investigation started?"

"You know that, and I know that, but there's this little blonde, about so high, who would go bananas if she knew there was a case in L.A. and she wasn't. And Taylor? Taylor gets paid to talk to the media and wear ties on camera that should have been declared illegal in 1976."

Provenza laughed at that comment. "True. So then Gabriel can deal with His Popeness. That kid will be chief one of these days. He's a born diplomat."

"Yep, Saint David. Suppose we should all ask for a divine blessing now, or wait until he makes his ascension?" Andy's tone was at its sarcastic worst.

"God, Flynn. It's a wonder the Almighty hasn't struck you with lightning yet!" Provenza chuckled.

"He agrees with me. That's why," was the answer.

The older man shook his head. "Now, now. One other good side effect of you dating the Chief is that she actually listens to the rest of us, for a change. David's not the only one in the room, now."

"That's true. Oh — word from the Chief, by the way. Delk is talking about re-organization. She's afraid he wants to do a little too much re-organizing where Major Crimes is concerned. She said to have some paperwork underneath your crossword puzzle all the time, so if His Majesty strolls through, we can look like we're producing - something. We're not supposed to look like we're standing around waiting on a case."

A scowl answered Andy's statement. "Good Lord. How long has it been since Tommy Delk walked a beat? That's what cops do! When we don't have a case, we wait for the next one! What else are we supposed to do?"

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. Just passing the word along."

Provenza waved an impatient hand. "I get it. Consider it passed." He glanced at his watch. "Well, I guess we need to take our lazy, unproductive butts back to the office. But you will talk to the Chief about the time share."

"I'll talk to her. Can't guarantee what she'll say, but I'll talk to her."

"Andy, I've made an appointment to see that house this weekend. You said you'd come with me," Brenda said. They were at Andy's place. Brenda had some work-related folder she was crabbing through and Andy was watching the Dodgers lose yet again.

"I'll be there. What time?" he said, then threw a balled-up sock at the television. "A bunch of 12-year-olds could outpitch you people!" he yelled.

Brenda nudged him with her foot. "Calm down. I told the realtor we'd be there at 11:30. Is that all right?"

"Fine with me. When does the fam damily go back to G.A.?" he asked.

Brenda tried to look outraged at Andy's witticism, but had to chuckle instead. "They leave on the 10 a.m. flight tomorrow. Thank the Lord. I do not want to go through another scene like that one the other night. I'm not having it."

"So has Charlie actually settled on UCLA?"

"I think so. They offered the best scholarship. It was for out of state students. Although, once Chris buys the plane ticket back out here for her, and she gets settled in, and he pays for her books and spending money, I suspect it'll be just about as much as if she'd gone to Georgia or Auburn."

"I'm just glad she's not settling in with you for the duration."

"Not nearly as glad as I am. It would be nice if she pledged a sorority, maybe. Their housing is usually nicer than the dorms. And it would be you know, sort of instant friends."

Andy nodded. "Do they have grade requirements or anything?"

"Sort of. They want you to keep your grades at a certain level or they put you on probation," Brenda answered. "But Linda was a Kappa Kappa Gamma at Georgia and UCLA has a chapter, too, so Charlie would almost certainly be accepted as a legacy, if she wanted to pledge."

"Did Georgetown have sororities?"

Brenda's face turned suspicious. "Yes. Why?"

Andy's eyes were twinkling wickedly. "And were you in a sorority?"

"Why on earth do you need to know that?"

"Just curious. Were you? Or did you get kicked out?"

Brenda spluttered indignantly. "No! I did not get kicked out! I'm an alumna member of Alpha Gamma Delta in good standing, I'll have you know!"

"Are you now?" His voice was impossibly teasing.

"Yes! I've even been featured in the national magazine in their successful alumni news!"'

Andy laughed and tugged her ponytail. "Ooooh. I've got a sorority chick!"

She slapped his thigh. "You stop laughing at me! I don't know why the thought of me being in a college sorority tickles you so."

He was still laughing. "Because it just makes you the typical Southern belle, that's all."

"Oh hush. I was a legacy, too. Otherwise, I'd have never been accepted."

"Yeah, right."

"I still don't know why this is so funny to you."

He grinned widely. "C'mon. Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, head of Major Crimes at the Los Angeles Police Department and former Alpha Gamma Delta? It is funny. Now what would all your sisters say if they knew you were keeping company with a blue-collar cop from Jersey?"

She smacked his chest with the folder. "Would you just hush? You and that smart mouth of yours."

Andy looked up thoughtfully. "Wonder if Sharon was ever in a sorority? I'll have to ask her. Now wouldn't it be something if you two were from the same sorority? You'd be sisters!"

"Fink! Rat! Evil-minded thing!" Brenda yelled, as she rained blows on Andy with her folder. He was laughing so hard he could hardly defend himself. Somehow, he got the folder out of her hands and she lunged across his lap for it. He held it up out of her reach and switched it to his opposite hand and then Brenda found herself lying face down across Andy's lap, with him resting his forearms on her back, keeping her right there.

"Now isn't this interesting?" he said. "Wonder what I should do next?"

"Let me up, that's what!"

Andy's chuckle was absolutely evil. "As long as I've wanted you exactly like this? Oh, no. I don't think so."

"LIEUTENANT!" Brenda yelled. "Turn me loose!"

"We're not in the murder room, Chief, so pulling rank doesn't work. No, I think you're fine right where you are." He rested one hand right on her backside. "You know, you told me once that what I did for a pair of jeans should be illegal. Have I ever told you what you do for a pair?" He ran his hand from her rear down her thigh, making her shiver involuntarily. "I've always been a leg man, myself, but this," and here he patted her rump, "could make me change my point of view."

"Snake," Brenda spat. "Only that's an insult to the snake. Filthy, nasty, stinking, low-down, rotten, sorry, lousy, repugnant excuse for a MAN!"

To Brenda's chagrin, Andy didn't even have the decency to be insulted. Instead, he laughed harder. "I wonder how many men have wished they had you just like this?"

She squirmed furiously, but Andy was entirely too strong for her, and she knew it. She would just have to play along until he had his fun and then – then she would pay him back in spades. "O.K. Ha, ha. Joke's over. Would you please let me up?"

"Say pretty please." Oh, he was so dead.

"Pretty please. With sugar on top. And a cherry."

"All right," he said and released her.

Immediately, Brenda was up and had her knee pressed painfully against his groin, her whole weight behind it. "Feel good?" she said, her eyes narrowed at him.

"What are you doin'?"

"Like you said, Andy. Paybacks are hell," she answered sweetly, increasing the pressure of her knee.

"OW! I wasn't gonna hurt you! You know that! Jeez, Brenda! You are one mean woman!"

"And you'd better keep that firmly in mind, you sorry polecat!"

"I will." He put her back on to the sofa, where she sat with a smug grin. "But you'd better not expect anything tonight. I think you bruised something."

"Bet I could change your mind," Brenda said, sneaking her hand across to touch him.

Andy caught her hand. "No way, chick. You ain't gettin' near it! I don't trust you in this mood."

She sat back against the sofa, a pout on her face. "Party pooper," she huffed, arms crossed.

"Hell, yeah. I don't want to have to explain to my doctor what happened when my girlfriend got pissed at me. Next thing you know, I'm gonna have to start hiding the sharp knives."

Brenda rolled her eyes. "Honestly. I don't know what in the world I see in you some days."

"Me either, sweetheart. I've wondered that a lot. But you're stuck with me. I told you it would never be dull, didn't I?"

"No argument there."

Andy chuckled and said, "Well, since you're ticked, I might as well get you all the way to completely pissed off."

"How?"

"One word: Provenza"

Brenda's eyes flew open. "Oh, for heaven's sake! What have you two done NOW? And you promised me faithfully you wouldn't let him talk you into anything! Oh, Andy!" she wailed.

"Calm down, Brenda. I haven't done anything. Scout's honor. Provenza wanted me to run something by you."

"No. Absolutely not."

"Hear me out, just so I can tell him I told you. O.K.?"

She rolled her eyes. "All right. What is it?"

"He wants us, that's you, and me, and him, to fly down to Baja."

"Baja! What in the world for?"

"He's got a friend who's a realtor."

"I am NOT getting into a time share scam!"

Andy sighed. "No, that's not it. The realtor has a couple of time shares he needs to show to prospective buyers. They're at the same resort and the realtor can't be there the weekend he was going to show them. He said he'd pay Provenza and me each $1,000 to go down there, show the units and lock up afterward. Then, we fly back. He even said he'd send us down on a charter flight."

Brenda raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh, it all sounds very reasonable and workable. So does everything Louis Provenza comes up with. In theory, anyway. In practice, it always ends up with his tail, and generally yours, in a sling."

"Well, I can't dispute that, but for a change, this seems like it's all on the up and up. Tell you what: before I make any commitments, I'll call the realtor myself and even look him up on the Internet, just to make sure this is legit. You can even call him yourself and check him out. I mean, if it's on the level, I could use the cash, and what's wrong with a weekend in Baja?"

"Well, nothing, but if Provenza's involved, I just know complications are the inevitable outcome."

Andy laughed. "Hey, nobody knows that better than I do."

"I still can't believe you let his car get stolen with all that evidence in the trunk."

"Me? Now come on, Brenda. That's not fair. I wouldn't even have made the trip if you hadn't said, 'Lieutenant Flynn, go with Lieutenant Provenza and escort the suspect back to Los Angeles.' If Gabriel or Sanchez had been along instead, the same thing would have happened, and you know it. I was just along for the ride. You can't pin that one on me. Some other stuff, yeah. But not that."

"I think Gabriel might have noticed something," Brenda said.

"Even Saint David doesn't have eyes in the back of his head," Andy returned. "So give that one a rest, how about it, Brenda? Crawl me about the flight attendants, about the skybox tickets, or even about Ray Hodge if you just have to, but the stolen car fiasco belongs right in Provenza's lap. Not mine."

"I hate it when you're always right," Brenda said.

"Hey, I'm just glad to be right once in a while."

"Don't start that again."

"I'm not. You're just still pissed because you ended up over my knee, so admit it and stop trying to pick a fight. Remember what Philippa said?"

"I remember," Brenda replied, not happily.

"O.K. So why don't you come over here and be the sweet, cuddly version of Brenda Leigh Johnson," he wheedled.

"I'm not really feeling sweet or cuddly today."

Andy put his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her hair. "So, as we say in AA, 'act as if,'" he answered.

"You are worse than impossible," she retorted, but couldn't help the goosebumps that rose up when he nosed the back of her neck and kissed her softly under her hair. She could feel him increase the pressure of his mouth and said, "There had better not be a hickey there in the morning."

She could feel him laugh. "There's been a time, in some circles, when a hickey from me was considered a badge of honor."

"You conceited thing, you."

"Ehh, so sue me. I ought to tie you down and put a whole ring of them right around your neck and make you go to work that way. Will Pope would have a heart attack, and Gabriel would have a seizure right there in the murder room. And if Sharon saw you, I'd never hear the end of it from her or Jim. But, it would almost be worth it.

"Even if I never spoke to you again?"

"Oh, you'd speak to me. It might just be profanity for a day or two, but you'd speak to me. Because, after three or four days of none of this," and here he nibbled her earlobe, making her shudder, "or this," and his sure hands slipped under her top to find her breasts, "you'd be back."

Brenda turned to face him, but at least now she was smiling. "As much as I hate to say it, you egotistical man pig, you're right. I love you and living any amount of time without you is just not an option anymore."

"Glad to hear it," Andy replied, taking Brenda's face in his hands and kissing her tenderly. "And by the way – I love you, too."

"Have you given Provenza an answer about that time share thing yet?" Brenda asked. She was giving Andy directions to the house she wanted to see again.

"Nope. I told you I'd give you a chance to check it out, first. Turn here?"

"Yeah. Well, I checked it out. It seems legit, but this is Provenza, after all, and I'm just leery of anything he comes up with."

"I know. I need to give him an answer by Monday, though."

"All right. I'll give it a little more thought. Here's the house," Brenda said.

Andy stopped the car and looked at the place. "Nice from here," he said.

"I really liked it the first time I stopped by. Here's the realtor."

They got out of the car and the realtor met them. "Hi, guys," she said. "So glad you could make the appointment. Ms. Johnson, I really think you'd be happy here. Come on in and let's look around a little more. I'm Sandra Carr. And you are…?" she said, offering her hand to Andy.

"Andy Flynn," he answered, shaking the woman's hand. He looked around the yard. It had obviously been mowed, and the shrubbery trimmed, but it needed some care.

Brenda looked at him, "I want to plant some crape myrtles and a magnolia, if I can get one shipped here. And some azaleas in front of the porch. I want it to look like a little piece of Georgia in L.A."

Andy smiled at her and nodded understandingly. "Sounds good," he said.

They walked in and the realtor was saying, "If you're serious about making an offer, the owner, you remember, the lady's son, says he'll repaint the house inside and out, and he'll have the floors sanded and re-finished."

"Really?" Brenda said. "That's wonderful." She led Andy to the den area. She whispered, "If you decide to move in with me, we could put your TV and recliner in here."

"You saying you'd let me have a man cave?" he teased.

"After a fashion, and to a certain extent," she answered.

Also downstairs, they looked at the master bedroom, which had been remodeled so it had a private bath. Upstairs, Brenda pointed out the room she intended to fix up for Charlie, and another to use as a second guest room. The smallest room she wanted to use as an office.

They went back downstairs and looked at the kitchen. Ms. Carr met them. "The owner also says he'll update the appliances."

Andy looked a little doubtful. "What's wrong with the house that the owner's willing to do all this for a sale?"

The realtor raised her eyebrows at him. "It's a sale. The housing market is desperate. I mean, the state is nearly bankrupt. People are unemployed. It's a buyer's market, and our seller is willing to do a lot to sell this house. He needs the money, too."

Andy nodded. "Makes sense."

The realtor looked at Brenda, "And Ms. Johnson, I have a couple who is very interested in your current residence. If you're really interested in this property, and you have a place to stay, I can get the rental arranged to begin in October. We can have this house move-in ready by November."

"She's got a place to stay," Andy said, putting his arm around Brenda's shoulders. She looked up at Andy, an incredulous smile on her face and whispered, "Are you sure?" He nodded and grinned at her.

"Oh, well that solves a lot of problems, then. Tell you what, Ms. Johnson. Think about it over the weekend and give me a call on Monday. If you still want the house, I'll start getting the paperwork together, and making all the rental arrangements."

"I'll call you," Brenda said.

As she and Andy drove back to his place, Brenda asked, "Do you like it, Andy?"

"Yeah, it's a nice place. And if the owner's willing to do all that work, I don't think you'll get a better deal in L.A. County."

"That's kind of what I thought. And you wouldn't mind me and Joel living in your apartment for a month?"

"It's a two-bedroom. There's room," he teased.

Brenda stuck her tongue out at him. "So I'm relegated to the spare room, huh?"

"If you don't behave yourself. But if you're a good girl, I'll see what we can work out."

Brenda clenched her fists. "Oooohh, Andy Flynn! I could just smack you!"

"Wait'll we get home. I don't want to have a wreck."

"I hope we can make it until November without me killing you!"

Andy snickered. "And you were the one who wanted me to move in with you. Re-thinking that?"

"Of course not," Brenda huffed. "I know you're just being infuriating – as usual."

"Situation normal, then," he laughed.

"Something like that, I suppose," she answered. "You know, when you start that smart-aleck foolishness, I just need to laugh at you. I need to stop snapping at the bait like a big ol' bass."

"Might be a good idea. You don't have to worry about Joel, though. He's welcome in my bedroom any time."

"Meaning?" Brenda said suspiciously.

"Meaning I like the cat." As he pulled into his parking space, Andy looked at Brenda. "Are you feeling, you know, hormonal or something?"

"Hormonal? What is that supposed to mean?" Now she was indignant.

"Nothin'! Just you've been ready to fly off the handle at me for two days. Gets a little old after a while. If I've done something, tell me so I can apologize. If not, wouldja let up on me a little?"

Brenda looked shamefaced. "Honey, I'm the one who needs to apologize. I guess I just let this whole thing with Charlie really get to me, and I've been taking it out on you. I am so sorry. You're always so good to me and I've been taking you for granted. Forgive me, please?"

Andy grinned at her and said, "How about we go inside and I'll show you how much I forgive you?"

"That's the best thing I've heard all day." Brenda leaned over to kiss Andy, and the urgency in his lips told her she was certainly forgiven, and they'd better get inside, or Andy was going to make good on his threat of "christening" the back seat of his car.

Much later, Andy and Brenda were snuggling and she sighed and said, "Go ahead and tell Provenza we'll go to Baja. I know I am going to regret this. I just know I am, but I'll go along with it. But, maybe if I'm along, you'll stay out of trouble, at least." She pulled the blanket over her shoulder. "You are the only man on earth who could talk me into this, you know it? But you have persuasive tactics even the CIA can't match."

"That's a pretty good compliment," Andy said with a chuckle. "And you would not believe what you could talk me into doing. But I'm not gonna tell you. You might use it against me one day."

Brenda brought Andy's head to hers and kissed him. "I'm glad you still love me," she said.

"Well, I still do," he answered, pulling Brenda close to him. She helped keep a few of his demons at bay, too.