Will Pope walked to his car wondering who was responsible for the glow on Captain Raydor's face.
It sure as hell wasn't Jack Raydor. Even when Will first met the newly married Sharon Raydor she didn't have that look.
He knew it wasn't any of his business. He was happy for her.
Part of him wished it had been him, but he knew they'd never work. It would be against the rules and Sharon Raydor didn't break the rules.
Or did she??
Will was almost at his vehicle when he noticed a familiar car. Lieutenant Andy Flynn?
Chief Pope was waiting for Sharon as soon as the elevator doors opened.
"Did you bring the complaint?" He asked.
"Good morning to you too." Sharon walked past him. Her day had started off really good. Really, really, good. She didn't want Chief Pope to ruin her good mood.
"Sorry." He changed his tone. "Good morning, Captain Raydor."
"Good morning, Chief Pope." She nodded satisfied with his greeting. "I have the complaint right here. I'm going to talk to her now."
"One more thing." He seemed hesitant to ask. He handed her a file on the case involving the Archbishop. "Could you help us with the Archbishop and this journal?"
"I will try." She sighed and stopped walking. "After Chief Johnson's stunt, he's going to be less likely to trust me anymore than he does her. I'll need you and Commander Taylor to help reason with him."
"You've got it." He nodded. "Any thing you need."
"Let me get this over with first." Sharon headed for Brenda's office.
Sharon finished up with Brenda and was waiting in the break room for them to get the Archbishop set up to see her. She hoped she'd gotten through to Brenda even though she didn't think this complaint would work.
She was pouring herself a cup of coffee when her phone rang.
"Captain Raydor." Sharon answered.
"Hey, Sharon." Willy Ray's voice came through the line. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good, Willy Ray." Sharon smiled. The woman had called her every now and then since the night she'd insisted they exchange numbers so Sharon could let her know she made it to Salt Lake City. "How are you?"
"I've been better." Willy Ray answered.
"I'm sure you've been busy taking care of Mr. Johnson." Sharon sighed. "How is he doing?"
"Much better with this new treatment, but just as cranky as ever."
"Must be where your daughter gets it from." Sharon tried to make the older woman laugh and it worked.
"Yeah, she's a lot like her father. She works like him too. I've been trying to have a talk with her for days now, but she always seems so busy."
"I'm sorry, Willy Ray." Sharon could hear the sadness in her voice. "She's so focused on this case."
"I know." Willy Ray sighed. "You're a good friend, Sharon. Thank you for having my daughter's back."
"You're welcome, Willy Ray." Sharon nodded. "Before you leave for Atlanta we should have dinner. My treat."
"I'd like that. Have a good day."
"You too." Sharon hung up the phone feeling odd. Why had Willy Ray called?
Pope texted her before she could put anymore thought into it. They were ready for her to work her magic.
After a very long, but successful day, Sharon was finally going home. She'd handled the situation with the journal and they solved two cases in one.
She was walking to the elevator doors when Chief Pope caught up with her.
"Ah, Captain, can I talk to for a minute?" He asked.
"Can you walk and talk?" She pressed the down button. "It's been a long day."
"How about we talk over breakfast?" He offered.
Sharon thought about if for a second. The elevator doors opened and her stomach growled. When was the last time she'd eaten? Veggie Pizza last night with Andy?
"Okay," Sharon stepped into the elevator. "But you're paying."
Sharon met Will at a local cafe. They were seating at their table and ordered their breakfast.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Sharon asked stirring her coffee.
"A few things." He folded his hands. "First, I want to tell you I tossed the complaint. It wasn't going to work."
"I could have told you that." Sharon smirked.
"Second," Will leaned a little closer. "We both know Brenda is a loose canon. I'm going to do all I can to save Major Crimes, but it might mean replacing Brenda."
"You won't do that." Sharon shook her head then took a sip of her coffee. He was still in love with her. Too in love to replace her.
"I may not have a choice." He sighed in defeat. "If I have to replace her, then I want you to take her place."
"ME?!" Sharon nearly spit coffee all over him.
"Yes, you." Will insisted. "You can keep them in line. You know all the rules. Keep them lawsuit free."
"They hate me." Sharon frowned.
"They've moved on from hate to tolerance." He assured her. "They did the same thing with Brenda. All of them wanted to transfer out, but now they'll take a bullet for her."
"I don't know." She shook her head.
"I'll promote you to Commander." He shrugged. "This could be your chance out of IA. You'll be free. Which brings us to the third thing I wanted to talk to you about. I know about Lieu. . ."
Will was interrupted when both of their phones rang.
Will pulled his phone out and had a surprised look on his face. Sharon looked at hers. It was Gavin.
"Hey, Gavin." Sharon answered. "Can I call you back I'm . . ."
"It's Willy Ray Johnson . . ." Gavin interrupted.
"Thank you, Agent Howard." Will ran his hand over his head. "If she needs anything from us, let me know."
". . .She passed sometime last night in her sleep. Brenda found her this morning."
"Oh my God." Sharon covered her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears, her body went cold, and her heart dropped.
"I have to go." Sharon grabbed her things and hurried out of the cafe.
Andy showered and laid down. His mind wondered to the night before. Sharon Raydor was intoxicating. Beautiful, sexy, intelligent, and intoxicating.
He drifted off to sleep and dreamt of her until someone rang his doorbell waking him.
Andy climbed out of bed cursing. He swore if it was Provenza he was going to ring the old man's neck, but he hadn't expected was to see a sobbing Sharon Raydor at his door.
"What's wrong?" He asked instantly wrapping his arms around her.
"Willy Ray . . ." Sharon took a ragged breath. "She passed away in her sleep last night. Brenda . . . Brenda found her this morning."
He pulled her inside and closed the door. His hands moved up and down her back soothingly until she calmed down. He knew how much Sharon cared for the older woman who'd treated her like family when they didn't.
"I'm sorry, Sharon." Andy whispered held her tighter. "What can I do?"
"Just hold me." She whispered.
"I can do that." Andy whispered, but released her.
He walked behind her and helped her get her blazer off then he folded it placing it in a near by chair.
Sharon stepped out of her heals and Andy lead her to his bedroom. He undressed her, then himself until they were both in their underwear. Then he held her in his bed while she cried herself to sleep against his shoulder. Once he was sure she was comfortable he too drifted off.
Sharon woke sometime in the night feeling two warm arms around her, legs tangled with hers, and someone breathing on her neck.
Sharon turned over in his arms and snuggled against his chest. His arms tightened around her. She found such comfort in his arms.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah." Sharon sighed. "She called me yesterday. It was strange. Like she wanted to tell me something, but she didn't. Brenda had been putting her off all day."
"We don't always have the time we think we do." He opened his eyes and looked down at her. "We put things off until one day it's too late."
"We're not talking about Willy Ray anymore, are we?" She asked.
"Not completely," He shook his head. "But I'll let it go for now."
"Good." She raised up stopping just before her lips touched his. She wanted him to take away the sadness. "I don't want to argue."
Sharon was about to press her lips to his, but he rolled them so he was over her.
"I thought we weren't doing this anymore." He smiled.
"We're not." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. "This is the last time."
"It's always the last time." He half laughed and pressed his lips to hers.
"She's not going to want me there." Sharon shook her head and crossed her arms as Andy packed her suitcase for her. She was slightly amused as what he was packing her to wear.
He had laid out her a comfortable black wrapped sun dress with tiny white daisy speckled all over it for her to wear on the plane. He matched it with a pair of white sandals. For the funeral he chose a simple black dress that came down just past her knees with a pair of black pumps. He then picked out random clothes such as tee shirts and jeans.
He was now packing her sleep wear and it was no surprise it was sexy lingerie and short night gowns.
Their "last time" turned into a weekend. At the end of the weekend they'd ended up back at her place arguing about if Sharon should go to the funeral or not.
"You're going." He insisted. "You've become part of our team and Mrs. Johnson loved you."
"So that's that?" She asked with a smirk. "You say I'm going and so I am?"
"Yes." He grinned and placed a pair of black pumps into her suit case.
"So you're the boss of me now?" She placed her hands on her hips.
"I can pretend to be." He walked to her.
"What do you want me to do now," Sharon asked with a low sultry voice. She batted her lashes at him innocently. "Boss?"
"Get naked." He backed her to the bed.
"I won't need all of those nighties," Sharon leaned in and whispered against his ear. "If I sleep naked."
Andy pushed her back on the bed and had her legging off in no time.
"You brought Captain Raydor?" Provenza made a face when Sharon walked onto the plane.
"I didn't bring her." Andy shook his head. "I guess she's just going to pay her respects. Mrs. Johnson liked her."
"She's the only one." He scoffed.
"Be nice." Andy whispered. "Could you try that for just one day?"
"Be nice? To the Rat Leader?" He asked. "It wasn't that long ago that you were joining in on the fun, so what are you two screwing again?"
"That's none of your business," Andy shook his head. "And don't call her that."
"So you are screwing?" Provenza said loudly.
"No, we're not!" Andy yelled back.
"Can you two please calm down?" Sharon said from behind them. They'd been too busy arguing to notice she sit in one of the seat behind them. "Do I need to separate you two? I can come sit between you two. Is that what you want?"
"No!" Provenza crossed his arms and turned towards the window.
He didn't talk the rest of the flight. He either worked his word puzzle or slept.
Andy read a book.
They were about half way there when Sharon passed them to go to the restroom. Andy looked at a sound asleep Provenza then stood.
Andy went to the door and waited until he heard the toilet flush and the sink start running.
"Captain Raydor?" Andy knocked on the door pretending she was sick. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," She cracked the door opened confused. "I'm fine."
"Here let me hold your hair." He pushed her back into the bathroom and locked the door. He began kissing her neck and backed her against the sink.
"What are you doing?" She whispered. Her face red from embarrassment. "Provenza just suspects were sleeping together. Now he's going to know."
"He's asleep." Andy moved his hand up her thighs pushing her dress up with them.
Sharon had to admit the idea had her turned on. She'd never done something so reckless in her life, but this man made her want to.
"We have to be quiet." She whispered and started undoing his pants.
She was surprised at how erect he already was at just the idea. He probably got turned on by the thrill of possibly getting caught.
"Yes, Captain." Andy pushed her dress up over her hips.
"One little peep and I'm flushing your head in the toilet." She pointed her finger at him.
"Not a peep." Andy grinned. His lips landed on hers.
They worked quickly and quietly to remove the barriers between them and their goal. Sharon set on the edge of the sink and wrapped her legs around Andy's waist. Her arms circled his neck as he entered her.
Sharon bit her lip and Andy gripped her hips to hold back their moans. He kissed her hard before he started to move. He quickly and quietly drove them both to pure bliss. Sharon came first sinking her nails into his shoulders. Andy came soon after catching her mouth with his to muffle his release.
Andy kissed along her neck while they caught their breath.
"That was hot." Andy smiled against her skin.
Sharon agreed with a low hum. She pulled him in for one last deep kiss then he helped her off the sink.
They were putting their clothes back into place when someone knocked on the door.
"Is everything okay in there?" A flight attendant asked.
"Yes," Sharon answered. Her eyes locked on Andy's. "Just a little motion sickness."
"She gets this way sometimes on a flight." Andy added.
"Okay," The flight attendant said concerned. "Is there anything I can do? Ginger ale? Crackers? A hair tie?"
"No, thank you." Sharon answered back. "I'm starting to feel better already."
The flight attendant moved on and the exited the restroom. Andy kindly helped Sharon back to her seat where ginger ale and crackers were waiting for her.
Provenza cracked an eye open and looked Andy up and down.
"Welcome to The Mile High Club." Provenza whispered then closed his eye again.
They checked into their hotel rooms before the funeral to shower and change. Sharon's room was just down the hall from Provenza and Andy's shared room.
He waited until Provenza was in the shower before he snuck out to her room. He knocked hoping she wasn't in the shower yet.
Sharon opened the door with a red angry face.
"He knows." She slapped his shoulder.
"It's okay." Andy assured her stepping into her room. The door shut be hind him. "He won't tell anyone. He's the only one who knows."
"No he's not." Sharon shook her head and began to pace.
"Who else know?" Andy asked confused.
"Gavin," Sharon shrugged. "But he won't tell anyone."
"You told Gavin!?!" Andy hadn't meant for his voice to rise so loudly. Sharon stopped and the l look she gave him had it back to normal. "Okay. You told Gavin."
"I was having breakfast with Chief Pope," Sharon began to pace again. "Just before he got the call about Willy Ray he mentioned . . ."
"You had breakfast with Chief Pope?" Andy frowned. "Why?"
"Because he asked me," Sharon gave him a strange look. "Because I hadn't eaten since the veggie pizza I ate with you. Because he needed to talk to me about some things."
"You hadn't eaten? " Andy caught her and pulled her to him. "Next time we spend a night like that night I'll make you breakfast the next morning, pack your lunch and cook you dinner."
"Anyway, the point is Chief Pope was telling me he knew about Lieu . . .," She went on. "But then his phone rang. He didn't continue. What if he knows? What if he saw your car or something?"
"He would have acted on it." Andy assured her. "Pope would have used it to his advantage by now."
"He hasn't had time." She shook her head.
"Everything is going to be okay." Andy cupped her face. "It's okay."
"What if it isn't?" She sighed seeming to calm a little.
"Then I'll retire." He pressed his forehead against hers. "I'll give up my job for you, but we're not there yet."
Andy pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back without hesitation. His hands reached for her dress but she stopped him.
"We need to pull back on what ever this is." Sharon met his eyes. "Just until I figure something out."
"I'll give you what ever you need." He kissed her cheek.
"Time." She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I just need a little time."
"Okay," Andy held her tight and kissed her shoulder. "I'll give you time."
Andy would give her time because she wasn't saying they couldn't be together anymore. She just needed to work around her rules to make it happen.
He'd wait for her.