[This is for you jacilenemns!]
13.
"Mom, seriously, we both think Andy is wonderful, and you're obviously happy, but finding out like THAT was a shock" Emily rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Well, that's exactly what you get when you decide to surprise people who do not like surprises" Sharon scolded her.
"And Rusty!" Emily growled. "Rusty could have given us a heads up! The little shit knew right?"
"Don't be too hard on him Em. He knew what he wanted to know, and he genuinely spends most of his time in complete disgust, sticking his fingers in his ears and walking away muttering about old people." Sharon explained making the faces she had seen Rusty wearing for a few months now.
"Does Dad know?" Ricky asked her.
"You and your sister, Rusty, Andy's kids and Andrea are the only people who know anything. Provenza told Andy he was an idiot months ago, but hasn't mentioned it since. I'm not asking you to keep any secrets from your father for me Ricky. If you feel the need to discuss it with him, then you do that. I mean it too. I won't be angry with you if you do. He's going to find out sooner or later and we all know he's going to be pissed. It doesn't matter how soon it happens. I'd like to keep the information in the family for now though, so if you happen to see any of the team while you're here..." she didn't need to finish that sentence as they both nodded their understanding.
"All I truly need to know from the two of you is that you're ok with this." "Mom, we're both still in shock. In all the time we lived at home, the only man we ever saw in your bed was Dad, and even that wasn't very often. We just need a minute to process." Emily said.
"But, if you're happy, we're happy Mom" Ricky added, blushing and smiling at the same time.
Rusty rounded the corner as the exchange ended. "This is a public service announcement" he said grinning. "I'm really happy to see you two, and can't wait to catch up and hang out, but I have to draw a line in the sand here. Don't ask me questions about what you found this morning, and I won't puke in your shoes while you're sleeping tonight."
Their Monday morning briefing turned into a much longer and larger one than they had both hoped. They had jointly decided over the weekend that they needed to talk to Chief Taylor about their relationship before the inevitable could happen. He needed not to find out from someone else, and with no guarantee it wasn't about to reach the ears of Jack Raydor, they wanted to head the rumour mill off at the pass. If Jack thought it was a secret, he would make absolutely certain he told everyone who would listen. Better not to let it get that far.
They'd gone back to the very formal "Captain" and "Lieutenant" titles during their interactions, in an attempt not to draw unwanted attention to themselves, until they could get Taylor alone. Provenza noticed it immediately, and was irritated that he didn't know what it meant. It seemed to him that things might not have gone as well as he had assumed after Andy's first confession to him. "I told him he was an idiot!" he muttered to himself as he sped up to try to catch him before he reached the murder room.
Andy walked out followed closely by his long time friend and partner, calling his name. "Flynn! Hey! Flynn!" "What?" he asked, in a hurry to get back to his desk.
"Did you see what was on the Captain's desk?" his friend questioned him closely.
"No. What?"
"Divorce papers for her and Jack" Provenza announced with raised eyebrows.
"No kidding? It's about time she finally sent him packing." Andy answered.
"Humph. Ever think it might have something to do with YOU?" Provenza prodded.
"Why would you even say that?" asked Andy shaking his head as he made his way to his desk, a clear sign to his friend that the discussion was now over.
Looking toward Sharon's office, Andy cursed the fact that he couldn't see her. The blinds were still closed from the briefing. He sat there willing her to open them, but when it didn't happen, he got up and knocked on her door.
"Come in."
Seeing it was him, her expression changed and she beamed at him. "You ok Andy"? she asked.
"Yeah fine. The old goat just surprised me with some news he thought I should be aware of" he chuckled.
"Who? Provenza?" she asked.
"Yeah, he saw the divorce papers on your desk, and was prodding me for a reaction. I didn't give him one" he told her.
"Andy that's awful. He's your oldest and dearest friend. I noticed him thoughtfully considering our use of Captain and Lieutenant earlier, and wondered if you were enjoying his confusion. You are!" "He'll live" Andy chuckled, and walked around to Sharon's side of the desk reaching for her hand.
"Captain, I need to show you something in the conference room" he said as he led her through the internal door from her office to it.
"This better be work-related Lieutenant" she scolded him as she followed.
"What do you say we try to see Taylor today? Sooner would be better than later right?" he asked as he drew her closer to him, knowing the two sets of drawn blinds would provide privacy for a few minutes.
"I think that's a very good idea Andy. I don't think Jack's mouth will stay closed for more than 2.5 seconds once one of the kids mentions it to him." she answered as she allowed him to kiss her without resistance.
"HOLY CRAP! The DNA profile is a perfect match for the blood left at the crime scene" Tao announced.
Provenza looked up shouting "Hallelujah! Maybe we'll get out of here before midnight tonight by the time the interviews and paperwork are done!"
"I'll inform the Captain" he told them, knowing Andy had gone in there just moments before.
Provenza knocked once and opened the door, finding an empty room in front of him.
Confused, he walked toward the open door leading to the conference room and stuck his head around the corner and immediately regretted the choice.
"IDIOTS!" he yelled while turning 50 shades of embarrassed.
"Louie.. it's not what you think" Andy started.
"Louie.. it's exactly what you think" Sharon interrupted "and I'm sorry."
Provenza scowled again, a little disconcerted by the Captain's use of his first name, looked each of them in the eyes and shook his head "Idiots."
He then turned around and promptly left the way he had come in.
Reaching his desk, his elbows extended over his desk and he dropped his face into his hands muttering "Christ on a bike. Idiots".
