Tag to 5.09 Family Law. No beta, all mistakes are mine. Thanks to all for your continued support of this little story of mine.
Blazer thrown over her shoulder, Sharon Raydor carefully weaved through the crowd of people congregated around the lively bar area, she could barely see Andrea Hobbs waiting for her across the noisy restaurant. "Sorry I'm late," she called as she drew near to her dear friend.
"Do you want to sit outside on the patio? It's so loud in here." Andrea frowned.
"I would love that," with a knowing smile, Sharon followed Andrea back through the throng of people.
A few minutes later they were finally settled in at a small table near the back of the patio. "So, I hear congratulations are in order," Andrea started, a bright smile covering her face.
"Congratulations for?" Sharon frowned in wonder.
"Andy sold his house!"
Sharon's eyes grew wide in surprise, "How did you hear about…never mind, I don't even want to know."
Andrea chuckled softly at the shocked expression on her friend's face, "I will never divulge my sources, but I would have paid good money to see your face when he announced it in the middle of electronics."
"Oh you're good!" Sharon's eyebrows rose as a soft smirk formed on her lips.
"So are you excited?"
"I…"
"Sorry to interrupt ladies, my name is Lucas," the young blonde waiter started, "May I get you something to drink?"
Andrea looked over to Sharon before ordering, "I'll have a glass of the house Cabernet."
"Pellegrino with lime," Sharon leaned back in her chair, her hand running absentmindedly through her hair.
Andrea's eyes narrowed as she studied her friend intently until the waiter walked away, "And you're drinking sparkling water because?"
With a soft shrug, Sharon attempted to change the subject, "I thought Gavin was joining us?"
The sound of Andrea's hand hitting the top of the table was louder than she intended it to be, "Sharon O'Dwyer Raydor Flynn, you have ignored every question I've asked!"
"Flynn! Andrea, I am not…Andy and I are not…Andrea!" she stammered.
"Well at the least I got your attention," Andrea laughed. "You may not be officially a Flynn, but I know you." Andrea pointed, "You would not remotely consider moving in with Andy unless you were all in, so to speak."
"I can be 'all in' with Andy without getting married."
"Okay sweetie, keep telling yourself that." Picking up the wine glass the waiter just placed in front of her, "Sure you don't want a glass of wine?"
Rolling her eyes, Sharon took a small sip of sparkling water, "I still have a bit of a drive ahead of me, so no wine for me tonight, besides you know I prefer white."
"You're driving to Andy's house tonight?" A broad smile lit Andrea's features, "Oh, I see."
Once again a small smirk moved across Sharon's lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm sorry to say, it is not nearly as scandalous as you are insinuating. There's a lot we need to talk about. I don't know any of the details about his house selling and I don't want to discuss that over the phone."
Andrea studied her friend, after a few beats she posed her question from earlier, "But you are excited?"
Taking another sip of water, "Yes, I am."
"But?" Andrea questioned.
Sharon slowly shook her head, not meeting Andrea's eyes, "No buts, really. I'm just… being…cautious, I guess you could say."
"Fuck cautious!"
"Shh! Andrea!" Sharon quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening.
"Do you love him?" Andrea pressed.
"What?" the irritation flashed across her green eyes.
"Do… you… love… Andy?"
"Loving Andy…" A small chuckle escaped Sharon's lips, her fingers gently tracing along the table cloth, "is the easy part, well it was once I finally admitted to myself that I do love him, that I have loved him for some time now. I'm not scared of loving him, if that's what you are asking me."
Andrea took a sip of wine, processing Sharon's words, "Then what are you scared of?" Sharon shrugged her shoulders, letting silence fill the small area around them. "Well, there's no question that he is madly in love with you."
"But is loving each other beyond respite enough? Our jobs…"
"Stop…" Andrea quietly interrupted. "Yes, you fell in love with your best friend; yes, you fell in love with your Lieutenant, your subordinate. Who the hell cares? The LAPD doesn't, your boss doesn't, your division doesn't. Your children are thrilled for you. So for once in your life, throw caution to the wind and live for you. Sharon, you deserve to be happy, to be loved the way that I know Andy loves you."
Looking away from her friend, Sharon slowly lifted her glasses from her face, placing them on the pale blue napkin still folded on the table in front of her, "Do I?"
The paleness of Sharon's green eyes startled Andrea when their eyes finally met, "What's really going on here. What is really eating at you, because I know it is not self-doubt. Don't even try to go there with me."
Leaning forward, Sharon rested her chin in her hand. "What if I lose him?" Her voice was so low, Andrea strained to hear her, "That is what really terrifies me about this whole thing. And it's not something that I didn't know going into this, I thought I could handle it. I thought I was strong enough, but now… He risks his life for the people of this city every single day. I… send him into danger, every single day. I don't think I could bear not having him by my side… What if I give every ounce of my being to him and then suddenly he's gone?"
"What if you don't?" Andrea reached out for her friend's hand. "What's that old saying? I'd rather have thirty minutes of wonderful, than a lifetime of nothing special. Take however many minutes, months, years, you're given with Andy and cherish each and every second. Damn-it…Sharon." Andrea stood suddenly, before Sharon even had time to respond. She quickly placed a few bills on the table.
"What are you doing?" Sharon questioned.
"Come on, get up." Andrea tugged on Sharon's arm.
Sharon grabbed for her glasses, quickly righting them on her face, "Have you gone mad?"
"Maybe just a little," she chuckled as she led her confused friend out to the valet. "The clock starts now, sweetie. Go…there's someone special waiting on you and I don't want you to waste another minute."
"But…"
Andrea pulled Sharon into a tight hug. "Go." She could feel Sharon nodding against her shoulder.
Sharon stepped back, wiping at her cheek, she smiled softly at her good friend. "Thank you."
Andrea pulled her phone from her pocket as she watched her friend drive off into the bright lights of the city. She dialed the last number in her call history, the deep voice answering on the third ring, "Hey it's me," Andrea smiled, "She's on her way to you now, just wanted to let you know." Andrea listened for a few beats, "Hey Andy? I know you will, but take good care of her, okay?" Slipping her phone back into her pocket, Andrea turned, walking back through the restaurant to the small table on the patio. She waved the waiter over ordering another glass of wine while she waited on Gavin for they had much to discuss tonight.
~~~~~~~~SA~~~~~~~~
Andy paced along the small foyer just off his front door, he moved to the window for the fourth time in the last fifteen minutes. Peering through the blinds he found his driveway still empty. He checked his phone again, knowing she should have been to his house over an hour ago. It took every ounce of strength he had not to call her, fifteen more minutes he decided and then he would call.
He heard the car turn into his driveway before he saw the flash of her headlights skim through the blinds. Andy was out the front door and down the front steps before he realized that it wasn't Sharon's car stopped in his driveway. His heart lurched into his throat when his mind finally registered the black and white patrol car stopped in front of him. He let out the deep breath he didn't realize he was holding when she stepped from the front passenger door. Silently she closed the door and started toward him, purse on one shoulder, her blazer cradled over her arm. Even in the darkened driveway he could see the black smudges on her hands and across her right cheek. As she neared he realized her hose was ripped on her left knee and her pencil skirt was filthy.
"What the hell happened?" He reached to pull her to him.
"Flat tire. I got it changed and then the spare was flat." She leaned heavily against him. "Hmm, you smell so good." She wrinkled her nose, "I'm sorry if I stink."
Unable to let her go, Andy slowly led her into the house, "I was worried sick. You should have called me."
"How did you even know I was…Oh." She shook her head knowingly, "Andrea…"
Andy shrugged, "She may have called me when you left the restaurant. Don't be mad…"
"I'm not mad, Andy." Laying her jacket and purse atop the boxes stacked just to the right of the front door, she balanced herself on Andy's arm while she removed her heels. Her fingers tugging her dark green tee over her head as she padded slowly down the hall to his bedroom. Clad only in her skirt and black bra she turned back to look at Andy who had yet to move. "Aren't you coming? All I've dreamed of for the last couple of hours is the feel of your hands in my hair."
Locking the door, Andy flipped the lights off as he hurried down the hall. By the time he reached the bathroom, she stood at the shower door completely naked. She turned, watching Andy undress as they waited for the water to warm. Her eyes moved slowly over his body until mossy green met deep chestnut, the love reflected there threatened to take her breath away. Andrea was right, she decided in that very moment. From today forward, she would savor every single second they had together. And, while she would still worry what the future held, she would not let her fears dictate her life or the love they shared.
