Andy pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed loudly. He closed his eyes, but he was immediately hit in the chest and groaned loudly.
"Hey! Watch it! What gives?" Andy yelled as he turned to his partner who was driving. Driving might be giving Provenza too much credit. He was crawling, really, crawling like an 80-year old man, no traffic in sight, but the guy was driving like it was a leisurely Sunday afternoon. "Why don't you pay attention to the road and actually drive so you can leave me alone," Andy said, gesturing with his hand to the road.
"What's wrong with you? You sick?" Provenza asked. "You keep pinching your nose and closing your eyes. Not sleeping?"
"No," Andy waved at him. "I'm sleeping jus fine. I've got a headache, that's all."
Provenza eyed him and turned his attention back to the road, "Take some aspirin," he ordered Andy.
Andy sighed loudly, mainly to alert Provenza he was irritated, "Yeah, did that already. Just hoping it kicks in."
"Big plans tonight?" Provenza asked. "Oh," he smirked at Andy, "you having that girl over again, the one you've been sleeping with lately?"
Andy frowned at him and rolled his eyes before he turned back toward his seat. He rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes again. Provenza knew Andy had been sleeping with someone, but Andy had made sure not to give him any further information. That would never turn out well. He'd only told Provenza that the arrangement was working out for both, that the woman had her own baggage, but both parties were enjoying things right now; it worked. Over the years, both men had shared only bits and pieces of various women. This wasn't a new thing, but Andy was being very careful not giving Provenza much information. Sometimes, though, that was hard. With Provenza's question now, there was no way Andy was going to admit that yes, finally, tonight, Sharon was supposed to come over.
"No, nothing like that," Andy gestured. "Why would you jump there? Can't a guy just not feel good? I'm looking forward to going home and climbing in bed." Andy closed his eyes again and started to smile. He quickly dropped that, but yes, he was looking forward to going home and getting in bed, just in bed with Sharon. What was annoying him, though, was this splitting headache. He really did have one, and if he didn't get some relief from it soon, he wasn't sure he would be able to have Sharon come over tonight. He was even feeling nauseous. He hadn't been a guy who'd had migraines or anything, but he definitely had sympathy for people who experienced them. This headache today was a killer.
"So, you're not interested in getting burgers after work?" Provenza asked.
"No," Andy said in an irritated tone. "Why don't you go home to your wife? Have burgers with her."
"She's irritated with me, and quite honestly, I'm irritated with her. Nag, nag, nag. That's all she does. Nothing is good enough. I'm not sure this will last, Flynn. She was great before we walked down the aisle, and now," he shook his head. Andy opened one eye just in time to see Provenza shaking his head. He gestured at him.
"She's your wife, Provenza. Sure, you're going to fight some. Go home to her. Take her some flowers," he gestured.
"I'm not buying her flowers!" Provenza exclaimed. "Waste of money! Most of my paycheck goes to things that annoy me as it is-my ex-wife, my current wife, all my kids-I'm not adding flowers to that too. She can just get over whatever it is that she believes I've done to annoy her."
Andy chuckled, "What a charmer you are. If it was me, I'd take her flowers. Make an effort, Provenza," Andy nodded to him.
The two settled into silence as Provenza continued to drive, which was just fine with Andy. He really didn't feel good, but the last thing he wanted to do was cancel his evening with Sharon. A headache, really? Truth was, though, the headache was about as intense as he'd ever had. It needed to go away so he could enjoy his evening. If he had to cancel, he wasn't sure when the two would get together again. It had now been a month since he'd last seen her. It was the end of September. They'd been able to get together just before school started with the kids. School starting was always a crazy time, and Sharon was seeing that now too. Emily was in kindergarten, and even though Andy's kids weren't living with him, he knew how busy it was too. He'd been to their school programs and meet the teacher events. He was their dad and trying so hard to be there even when a custody arrangement didn't have them living with him even half the time.
"Provenza, hey, let's stop and get a cup of coffee. We're done with our interviews today, and I could really use a cup."
"Why don't I just take you home, Flynn? You are even starting to look terrible," Provenza said in an irritated tone.
"No, I just need to shake this headache!" Andy exclaimed again.
"You are seeing that woman tonight," Provenza mumbled. "The only reason you are so intent on shaking that headache of yours when I've offered to take you home, you idiot, is that you want to get it on with some woman tonight. Try to deny it."
"What if I am, Provenza?" Andy snapped. "You know I've got an arrangement with a woman. So what? Our schedules haven't exactly been aligning. It would be nice to you know," he gestured his hand in the air.
Provenza rolled his eyes, "Now, I'm the one who is feeling sick, you talking like that."
"Oh, stuff it!" Andy exclaimed, sighed, and he closed his eyes again. The car was silent, except for Provenza using the turn signal. A few seconds later, after they'd turned onto a new street, Provenza spoke again, "What does this mystery woman do for a living?"
Andy sighed and only turned his head, which was leaning back against the headrest, "She works for a living," he smirked. "Desk job, pushes papers," he added after a few seconds, hoping that would shut up Provenza. Provenza rolled his eyes at him.
"That's for all the details,"Provenza grumbled. "Hope she's not as boring as she sounds." The car settled into silence.
Finally, a few minutes later, "Hello, coffee? I've asked nicely," Andy smirked again. "It won't be nice if I have to repeat it."
"Fine, fine, but I'm getting a hotdog," Provenza told him.
"A hotdog!" Andy exclaimed, turning to him now horrified. "Why in the world are you getting that? I didn't think you ate hotdogs, only burgers and steak."
Provenza shrugged, "I got one at a gas station a couple weeks ago, one night when I had to get out of the house. It was good. They didn't have anything else hot to eat, and I was hungry. I want one of those hotdogs in the spinning thing, you know, the machine that turns them as they cook. I want a hotdog."
"I can't believe you want to stop for a gas station hotdog," Andy grumbled. "You know, they sell hotdogs plenty of other places. Whatever, just find somewhere I can get a cup of coffee," he said, gesturing with his hand.
"Ahhh, coffee for the hopeful Romeo," Provenza said in a flat tone, not even looking at Andy. The car grew silent again. They stayed in silence the rest of the drive, and Provenza ended up finally stopping for coffee a few blocks from work. It was a familiar stop, and both men made their way inside, still in silence. Both were tired; coffee was needed. The hotdog Provenza wanted seemed to have been forgotten as they got closer to their normal coffee shop. Andy was grateful. He wasn't sure he could take the smell of a hotdog right now. He really wasn't feeling well.
A half hour later, both men were back at their desks, trying to get some work done. Andy was hoping the coffee and danish he'd bought would help with his headache. He was working on paperwork. Provenza, who had a desk across from Andy's, was writing up a report, eating his third jelly doughnut. It was a typical work area, and it was a typical day, most of the team off doing various things. Andy's phone startled both men; the rest of the office was quiet, the others all running down leads and witnesses. Andy fumbled for it, and in doing so, he hung up on the caller. He groaned and made eye contact with Provenza in the process, who frowned at him and shook his head.
"Flynn, why don't you just go home today, you idiot? Obviously, you can't even handle a simple call. If your head is bothering you that much, you need to go home."
"My headache has nothing to do with that!" Andy exclaimed as he pointed to the phone. He sighed again and sat back down, running his thumb and forefinger along his temple. Before he could do anything regarding the lost call, Provenza's phone rang.
"Let me show you how it's done," Provenza smirked. "Get your head in the game! I'd say the thoughts of some woman after work are in your head and probably the cause of that headache. I'm one who knows from experience women only cause a headache."
"It's just a headache, Provenza!" Andy yelled as Provenza answered the phone. Many might have thought the men hated each other, but this was just their banter. At the end of the day, both men would take a bullet for the other and were still the best of friends.
"Provenza," he answered. Andy looked to him, trying to see what the call was, the call he'd obviously missed. Andy gestured at Provenza, still irritated with him. Provenza rolled his eyes.
"Sure, yes, yes, we'll be ready. Thanks," he said and hung up.
"Well?" Andy asked.
"Well, you hung up on the medical examiner," he told him. "Report on our victim should be done in a couple hours. He asked if we were going to come and get it. I told him we would."
Before Provenza could say more, Andy's phone rang again. Andy started to reach for it.
"Flynn, let's try to ANSWER the phone," Provenza said with another smirk. Andy made another gesture at him before he frowned at him. "And, if it's the medical examiner again-"
"FLYNN," Andy stated in a direct, irritated tone into his phone while he continued to glare at Provenza. He ran his hand over his face, his headache growing with Provenza irritating him. "Oh, hi," his tone instantly changed, and he dropped into his seat.
"Sorry to call you at work," Sharon said into the phone, "I mean, to call you with a non-work call."
"No, it's fine," Andy waved his hand in a gesture, as if she could see him.
"I need to cancel for tonight," Sharon explained.
"Oh, really?" Andy sighed. "Umm, okay, sure, no problem."
"It's just that my father had a stroke," Sharon said quickly. "I've been on the phone the last couple hours. The kids and I are going to fly there tonight, red-eye, and I am working through my list of things to do. I wanted to give you a call to cancel."
"I'm so sorry, and of course, of course," Andy nodded. "Ahh, is there anything I can do?" Andy looked up to see Provenza watching him, actually concerned. He waved him off, knowing he'd have to explain this to some extent.
"I'm a little shell-shocked right now," Sharon sighed. "He's at the hospital. I'm not sure the extent of things. My mom said he wasn't feeling well, went to lie down, and she checked on him a three hours later when he still wasn't up from his nap. She's not exactly sure when it happened, but they are seeing what can be done."
"I'm very sorry, and I hope you have a safe trip. Let me know if you need anything, please," Andy said. It was a little awkward here with Provenza right in his ear. It wasn't like this was a relationship with Sharon at all, but she was a friend. Aside from the sympathetic words, he wasn't sure what he could do.
"Need me to do anything here? I'm happy to help," he offered.
"My neighbor, the one who watches the kids, will check my house and get my mail," Sharon explained. "I have plenty of days to take off work. Unless the kids are sick, I just don't miss. I can't think of anything else, but thank you," she told him.
"Look, I won't keep you, but if you need anything here, just call. Keep me posted, and your father-your family-you are all in my prayers," he told her. "Safe travels."
"Thank you, and I'll touch base when I get back, whenever that is. Thankfully, Emily is only in kindergarten, so taking her from school for however long isn't a big deal. I do need to go. Take care, Andy," she said. She hung up quickly. Andy softly put down the phone, and Provenza eyed him.
"What was that?" Provenza gestured.
"Ahh," Andy said, nodding slightly, "that was Sharon, ahh, Raydor," he nodded. "You know our kids like to get together. It's been nice, especially after she had to be there for those initial supervised visits. Ahh, we were supposed to get the kids together this weekend, but she had to cancel. Umm, her father had a stroke. She's flying to Florida, so just being nice, taking care of all her loose ends here. She was just calling to let me know and cancel. You know we're friends."
Provenza eyed him again. Andy was a bit stunned, as he felt badly for Sharon. That was rough, and he knew things like this were never easy. He had hoped to have longer to speak to Sharon, but it was what it was. She had things to do, and anything the two enjoyed doing on their free time would have to wait. He'd wait. It wasn't like he had that kind of arrangement with just anyone.
Now, though, he could go home and sleep off this awful headache.