"So?" he asked once the car was on the interstate heading west. The RV was directly in front of them, and on top of everything else, he was dreading that this was going to be his view for the next few days.
"So?" she repeated with a quick glance toward him.
"Look," he sighed, "I don't want this to be awkward. It's bad enough we really don't like each other, and now, this has happened." As much as Andy wanted to hide in the car, he had decided to just get this over so he could relax.
She shrugged, "It is what it is. Two people used each other for a night. It happens. It's almost Christmas, and it was a way to forget the fact I'm not at home with my kids. For you, I can't speak what need it met, but that was it for me."
Andy nodded and tapped his fingers on his knee. This wasn't going horribly, which is what he'd been dreading. He'd thought it would be awkward the whole drive, but it seemed that in just a few minutes, the two had almost cleared the air.
"I don't know what it was for me," he said and gestured. "I mean, yeah, I've been reminded over and over for weeks now it's the holiday season, and once again, I'm a crap dad who won't see my kids. They want nothing to do with me, and I'm dealing with it. They have their perfect family with my ex and her husband, have for years. I'm just the drunk who sends money for whatever they need. My ex brainwashed them long ago, so whatever. Holidays are a mess. Honestly, I don't mind working them because I have nothing better going on. Provenza and I, as long as he's not married at the time, usually hang out in some bar and sometimes find someone there. We've done that before for the holidays, so yeah, I suppose it's just that this time, I knew the someone," he looked to her and nodded.
"We can just drop it. I'm not looking for anything. I've got a Jack, a problem I'm trying to deal with, but you can't easily divorce someone who doesn't want to be found. I've about half a mind to sit in casino after casino in Vegas to serve him properly. That's another mess. Last night, though," she glanced to him quickly and put her eyes back on the road, "thanks. It was fun and nice to just forget the world for a moment even on this ridiculous work trip. I never thought I'd be with you, but the moment, it was just right, just what I needed."
"Sure," he nodded and looked out the window. As he continued to look out, he cleared his throat to speak again, "I have to be honest. I thought this would be a really awkward conversation, and I was dreading this whole day. I didn't know what you wanted or expected. We don't exactly see eye to eye at work, so I just thought this could blow up on us."
"What, like I'm going to try and use this to put you in some harassment seminar?" she asked, again with a quick glance toward him and then back toward the road. He was still looking out the window. "That's hardly my goal. Like I said, it was what it was. I had a very long, depressing day. You happened to be the one next to me at the bar," she shrugged.
He just nodded, "So, if it hadn't been me?"
Sharon pursed her lips, and this time when she glanced toward him, he was gazing at her with his head tilted, "I'm not sure. You seemed safe, at least last night, in that I know you. I knew it wouldn't be a safety issue or anything else. I knew your reputation and that it would be just what it was, one night. I don't do this often, rarely ever, but it was what it was. My husband has been gone almost 20 years. He's tried to float in and out of my life, and sometimes, I've allowed it. Andy, I'm not holding onto something here, holding out for some great romance."
He shifted in his seat and nodded, dropping his hands in his lap. He looked to her and then back toward the side window. He started to shake his head and chuckle, "You know my name."
She raised her eyebrows as her gaze met his, "Why wouldn't I know your name? Oh, you're mocking this," she stated to him.
"No, I mean, I'm always just Lieutenant Flynn, the big screw up at work. I can hear you reprimanding me in my head right now. To me, you're Raydor or Captain Raydor, like you don't have another name. I was doing the same thing last night when I got back to my room. I hope you realize I sort of told Provenza, and he said we were probably beyond formalities with everything. I kept calling you Raydor," he explained.
"I see," she pursed her lips and nodded. She let out a long breath, "I suppose I am not surprised you told Provenza. I can expect that he will be discreet?"
"Totally, that isn't something he really wants to know or is anxious to spread. Sorry, I didn't really think about keeping this between us. It's Provenza," he shrugged. "He and I have always been open about this type of thing."
"Knowing Provenza, I am not too worried, but I would ask that you not make this the office water cooler gossip. I've not gotten to where I am by sleeping around with other cops. You, I can say, would be the first for that with me, but I would like to ask that even with as much as we don't like each other professionally, you not spread it around," she looked to him.
"No intention to do so," he raised a hand. "You aren't really my type either," he admitted. "Last night," he paused to find the right wording, "it was just two people in the right circumstance."
"Hmm," she hummed and continued to focus on the road. The car grew quite for a few moments as each processed the conversation. Andy turned so he was facing her better than he had been. He shifted his seatbelt to do so.
"I gotta say that I just didn't want those locals trying to hit on you. I mean, cops, you know, we protect our own. I know you can handle things, but still, in a dive bar in a town like that," he shook his head. "I was just trying that safety in numbers. I didn't sit expecting to sleep with you."
"I know," she said as she rested her head on her hand which was now propped on the door. She drove with one hand and the other propped up, her hair falling over it. "Like I said, I'm well aware of the situation last night. I needed it. You needed it. It's over."
"Okay," Andy agreed. "This trip will make someone do about anything," he sighed. "This has been a disaster of a trip, and we're not even through Texas."
"I knew the second Pope told me about this trip it would be a nightmare. I still can't believe I'm stuck behind the chief's parents' RV and am following this thing all the way back to Los Angeles!" Sharon exclaimed.
"I'm guessing you heard all the details about how Provenza and I were supposed to fly the guy back?" Andy asked.
"I did, and again, no surprise that was a mess," she sighed.
"Hey! For once, it wasn't my fault. It wasn't Provenza's fault either. That dirt bag caused this whole mess," he explained to her, now gesturing with his hands.
"I know," she almost scolded him. "I just feel like everything about this has disaster written on it. This drive alone is insane," she sighed.
"I'll help with the driving," he offered. "I know it gets to be tiresome."
"I'm fine now, but thank you. I enjoy driving and might as well do it. I'd otherwise sit and just get more and more irritated about the holidays," she told him.
"Where are your kids? You only mentioned last night that they weren't going to be home now," Andy told her. "You have two? I think I remember that much."
She glanced at him, "We don't have to get personal now after last night."
"Do you have anything better to discuss? I was just asking. We can talk about Chief and her parents if you want," he flashed a fake smile at her.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes. "Two kids. Emily just turned 22 and will be graduating from college in the spring. She's going to New York after that to dance. Ricky just turned 19, also in college. Both were home for Christmas and have been the last two weeks. I suppose that's the one good thing, the fact I've spent some time with them already during their break. When I got word of this ridiculous trip, I bought them last minute tickets to go visit my parents for Christmas. That cost me a fortune, but at least this way they will have a decent holiday," she sighed.
He nodded, "Where are your parents then?"
"They are in Park City," she explained. "It's in Utah. They have a timeshare there, but they've been talking about moving there permanently. They live in Arizona, but they really don't like the heat. I can't stand the heat either, but that's also why I left it."
Andy rolled his eyes, "I'm aware Park City is in Utah. I might mess up at work on occasion, but I'm not an idiot. Are you from Arizona?" he asked.
"Outside of Phoenix, yes. I wasn't about to reveal that on this trip. I have no desire to have the chief's parents asking about my hometown. Ironic we will be driving through it, right next to my hometown and family, yet neither my parents nor my kids will be there. Anyway, they can ski and relax in Park City. I'll be fine alone whenever we get home."
"Sorry to hear your plans are ruined. It sounds tough, especially when you are basically a single parent," he told her.
"Enough about that," she told him. "Can we enjoy the silence for awhile?"
"No argument here," he shifted. "I'm going to take a nap if that's okay? I get sleepy on car rides."
"You just volunteered to drive, and now you tell me you get tired in the car?" she exclaimed.
"Well, I don't get tired if I'm driving. Okay with you if I sleep?" he scowled.
"Fine, yes," she waved at him. "I'm sorry I snapped. I'm still just thinking about the holidays. A run -down motel room in the desert doesn't scream Merry Christmas to me. I love Christmas, or I used to love it. I've been stuck working the last several years for it now."
"Yeah, same here," he grunted. "Let's add a grumpy Provenza in the room who snores, and now you know my issue."
"I'm well aware of how grumpy Provenza can be. He's not walking around singing my praises either. Everyone knows he and I have had our issues too, which is why you'll be riding here the rest of the way to L.A.," she told Andy. He looked up from where he'd turned his head to try and sleep.
"You serious? I'm riding with you the rest of the way?" he asked.
"Is that a problem? We've already discussed the awkward situation from last night, or what you deemed awkward. I'm fine with what happened," she pointed out to him. "I can deal with you in the car, but I'm not interested in riding with Provenza."
"Whatever," he shook his head. "I won't have to listen to Willie Rae sing Christmas carols. I won't have to deal with Chief and her parental issues. Yeah, this is fine. I'm going to take a nap," he told her.
"Fine," she sighed. "Listen, since this trip is such a bust, maybe we just use each other through the duration of the trip?"
Andy sat up quickly and turned toward her again. She was looking at the road again, but she glanced at him when he turned to her, "You are suggesting it again tonight?"
She shrugged, "We both admitted it was okay, fun even. You can forget I suggested it," she sighed.
"I'm not looking for some relationship. Last thing I need or want is to get back to L.A. and have to deal with drama. I don't do drama. I had enough of it with my ex. Right now, I leave work most nights and either go home, go to a meeting, or hang with Provenza. Sometimes, I find someone to take home. I'm okay with that. I am not going to get into some mess with you, no offense," he told her.
"I'm still in a married mess. I want nothing from you, well," she glanced at him and continued, "maybe just some companionship the next couple nights. That's it."
"Nothing else?" he asked.
"Nothing else," she shook her head. "Believe me, when we get home, I will want to forget all of this as much as you. I want nothing from you. I promise that. We can go back to business as usual when we are back in Los Angeles."
"Provenza might figure it out. I mean, we are sharing a room," Andy explained.
"I realize that," she nodded. "So?"
"Fine," he nodded. "I can agree to that."