After Andy left that night, he called Provenza, partly to see if he needed a ride home and partly to talk. The whole situation had been awkward, but he also had a feeling Sharon-he'd decided to call her Sharon after they'd slept together on multiple occasions, even though he felt it might be breaking her precious rules-might just have freaked out and would cool down eventually. It wasn't like he needed her, but they'd been enjoying each other, and he hoped it would continue for the near future. Neither had any other prospects, and he knew that if and when one did, he and Sharon would go their separate ways. Her quick dismissal of him, he felt, was just her knee-jerk reaction to the evening's events. Things had been rushed. The night had not been planned, and when he was honest about everything, he nodded to himself that planning or lack of planning for the evening was probably the root of the problem. Every other time, the night had been planned, all by Sharon. This one hadn't, and he had a feeling that was why she wanted him gone quickly. She hadn't had time to process it, to pull the emotional side out of it, and he believed she'd come back to him eventually. He wasn't kidding when he'd suggested Valentine's Day.
As far as Andy saw it, they had a good thing going that was working. The two barely knew anything personal about each other, aside from the general family information, but this was going well, their arrangement. On each of these night, they didn't talk about their feelings, at least not about anything important. They didn't discuss their lives, aside from what they had discussed in the car ride across the country. He was okay with that. She was okay with that. It had been working. Yes, they'd started all of this on the road, but since then, they had been together Christmas and now New Year's. What was wrong with a goal of major holidays? He'd made his plan clear; he was going to check in with her closer to Valentine's Day. For now, he needed to focus on work, which is what Provenza had told him that night.
"Let me get this straight," Provenza said after Andy picked him up at the bar after he listened to Andy's abridged version of the night. The two men were in the car, and he'd explained to Provenza that he'd gone to see if Sharon was interested in another good time, and that good time had lasted less than an hour. "You stopped by her place, she wasn't home, but you ran into her when you were leaving, and you almost undressed each other in the hall?"
"Yeah, that's about it," Andy sighed. "I know you don't want to hear it. I think she's freaked out now. I mean, my shirt was in the hall. We wasted no time. I could have been at an hour parking meter and still had time on the meter. Whatever," Andy threw up his hand as he drove.
"She said it's over, so it is," Provenza shrugged as if he was stating a fact. "She obviously doesn't find you as desirable as you think you are. She got her fill of you, and she's done. Flynn, you and I have done that to women plenty of times. For us, those were one-night stands. This lasted longer than that, but it's the same idea."
"I know," he waved his hand. "I get that. I just don't want it to be weird at work, and for the record," he pointed his finger in the air from where it was resting on the steering wheel, "I think she'll come back for the holidays. Valentine's Day is the next big one," he grinned. "I think it just has to be her idea. This time was the only time it wasn't her idea. Thanks for listening," he patted his shoulder, and Provenza looked to him horrified that he had been touched. Andy smirked at him, and then he nodded at his own thoughts. "That's what it is," Andy continued to nod, "her idea, or at least she needs time to process it. I'll wait until Valentine's Day, and if I haven't heard from her, I'll put the idea in her head. I think that will work."
Provenza chuckled, "You really think after going at it for what, the last week or so, you're now going to walk away from her? I hope you do, Flynn, but I know you better than you think. This is like dangling a Ding Dong in front of the chief. You won't be able to just walk away. Just you try."
"Oh, I can wait it out," he grinned. "Besides, we aren't in an arrangement. If someone else comes along, for either of us, it's not a problem. I've had my fun to last me a bit now. We'll see how things go. I'm always looking for a good time."
Things didn't go anywhere over the next few weeks, at least on Andy's end. He didn't know if Sharon had moved onto someone else or was just still stuck in her head, worried things had gotten too personal at her condo. From what Andy could see, Sharon was serious about things being over. He'd seen her in the building a couple of times, and they'd both been civil, so he didn't feel they'd ended badly, but she'd also kept her distance. She hadn't sent him any emails or called him to suggest they meet up again anytime soon. He thought about it often, but his mind kept circling back to the idea that she was taking a step back, but she would reach out for the holidays. He was planning to do so. He appreciated she didn't give him an evil eye or pretend he wasn't in the room. No, she didn't do that. She was professional, and he acted the same toward her. She was an odd one, he kept telling himself. He'd never been with anyone so just matter of fact about it all, and it was sort of refreshing. The second week of January, she was in and out of their office three times, working on case details with their division, and he'd interacted just fine with her. She'd been business as usual, which was also how she'd been with their arrangement. He'd signed her paperwork for the case, and she'd nodded her thanks to him. He'd watched her work her way around the room, and then, she'd left. Provenza had thrown a wad of paper at him, pulling him away from staring at her as she walked out of the room, and that had been enough to snap him out of his daze.
By the first week of February, though, he was starting to get antsy. He hadn't been around anyone else, and he was secretly hoping Sharon would suggest they get together for Valentine's Day, not that they would go out or anything. No, he was fine if they met up at his place, her place, or a hotel. It didn't matter. He had a feeling she didn't want him back at her place, and it was his impression that was too personal. He wasn't supposed to be IN her life and being in her condo was IN her life. He was okay with that, and Andy planned to suggest his place. He could offer the clean slate she wanted. His place was fine, clean, in fact, and he'd be fine with her coming there. It was also far away from downtown, and they could have their privacy from anyone in the LAPD. So, when she had a meeting with Chief the second week of February and barely gave him a glance as she left the meeting, he decided to approach her with his thoughts. It was time.
He didn't follow her out of the office; that would have been too obvious, but he waited. He sat at his desk and waited, watching his computer clock change minutes, slowly. He waited a full five minutes, and then he stood up from his desk. He straightened his tie, and he looked at Provenza.
"I'm going to get a cup of coffee and take a quick walk. My leg is falling asleep," he gave him a nod and started for the door. The rest of the team looked up from their paperwork quickly and then didn't give him a second glance. It was mid-afternoon, and a coffee break and quick walk was somewhat normal. Provenza, though, eyed him, and he shook his head. Andy gave him a quick shrug, the two men such good friends, Provenza knew exactly where Andy was about to go.
Andy made sure to walk by Provenza's desk and flashed him a quick grin. The rest of the team missed it. Provenza muttered, "Don't burn yourself."
Andy tried to hold back his chuckle because he knew the intention of that comment, but it sounded like a coffee comment. He winked at Provenza and started toward Sharon's office. He hated doing this at work, but he was afraid he'd spook her otherwise. Besides, she'd just been to his office, so all he planned to say was that he needed to sign paperwork for her.
Andy decided to take the stairs to her office, and as much as he hated to step onto the FID floor, he was almost desperate to get an answer. Valentine's Day was less than a week away.
"Hi," he stopped at her secretary's desk. FID was different than many of the other departments and ran more like an actual office. Sharon had a secretary there to field calls and do a lot of the filing because the department was frequently bringing in officers from all over the LAPD for interviews. "Lieutenant Flynn, for the captain. She was just by my division with paperwork. I think I still need to sign something."
"Yes, Lieutenant," she nodded as she gave him a small smile. "She's not back yet, but she's a very busy woman with a lot paperwork only she can handle."
"Oh," he frowned. "I must have missed her in the building. Okay, I'll stop back later," he flashed a smile. "Thanks for the help."
"I can see if she wants to come to you?" the secretary offered.
"No, that's fine," he waved his hands by his side. "I'll catch up with her later."
"Molly, I would appreciate if you could file this, please," the two turned toward a side door, and Andy tried not to smirk when he saw Sharon coming through that door. Her office had a main entrance, one he'd used, but like most offices, it had other doors leading to other hallways. She was now just coming into the room from a different hallway. He eyed her today, noting she had on another reallly great dress, a dark green one with a black blazer over it. Somehow, she even made work clothing look hot.
"Captain, yes," Molly nodded and took the stack of paperwork. Andy stared at Sharon, and she glanced toward him when she handed over the paperwork. "Oh, Lieutenant Flynn here said he missed you in his division, but that his signature was needed on some paperwork." Molly smiled at Sharon and then back at Andy as she explained his presence.
"Hi," he eyed her and gave her a fake smile.
"I'm not sure I have anything for you to sign," Sharon said, trying to move him out of the office.
"Yeah, you got every signature but mine. I'll be out of your hair quickly. Promise," he held up his hand.
Sharon pursed her lips, "Let's see what I need from you. I don't remember needing anything at all from you, but come into my office, and I will double check my paperwork."
"Oh, Captain," Molly called to her. Sharon turned, and Andy almost ran into her as she did. He flashed a grin, and she pretended to not see it when she looked to Molly. "I confirmed your dentist and doctor for next week. I'm waiting to hear about your vision."
Andy shook his head and looked to Sharon, "Those physical each year are so annoying. Best to be in top physical health. I'm sure you are," he winked as he caught her eye, away from Molly. She scowled and gestured for him to enter her office.
"Thank you, Molly," she gave a quick nod. "I'll be done with Lieutenant Flynn very soon."
Andy waited for Sharon to close her office door, and as soon as she did, he crossed his arms and waited for her to turn toward him. She did with an irritated look on her face, "Lieutenant, this needs to be work related."
"Yeah, yeah, and our time together needed to be out of the city," he rolled his eyes. "Look, I get it. I'm not here to take up a lot of your time or anything. It's been awhile," he suggested, standing by her desk while she stood by the door. "I know things weren't what you planned last time-" she cut him off.
"No, can we just forget it all? I said after the last time that we were done. Clean break," she sighed and shook her head as she looked away from him.
"Fine, whatever, but I know we enjoyed each other's company, several times, in fact. It's been fun. I was wanting to see or suggest to you, so you can think about it, that we get together again for Valentine's Day," he offered a simple shrug. "No strings. I'm not looking for romance, as you have clearly pointed out each time. It's just a day, Valentine's Day, but it's another holiday of sorts. Ironic, it's the holiday of love and all, but this isn't that. This is just the two of us-" she cut him off.
"Using each other," she nodded and crossed her arms. She left them like that for a few moments before she uncrossed them and dropped them to her side. "Look, I'm working on Valentine's Day this year. Sorry, but it's not going to work."
"You could come to my place after work?" he suggested, with a question in the air. "I realize your place might be too personal. I'm offering mine. If you don't want that, I'll spring for a nice place, a decent hotel. We can have the same rules."
She shook her head, "That won't work. I'm working, and when on call, I'm not going to mix business with pleasure. I don't want to do this when I'm working."
"Okay, fine," he shrugged. "That holiday doesn't work, so we can pick a different date to be our pseudo holiday. Name it," he shrugged. "Your reasoning doesn't make much sense to me because you were technically working on our drive across the country."
"What are you not getting? I don't want to continue this," she sighed. "I'm busy anyway. I'm working on Valentine's Day, but then, I'm taking a week to visit my daughter. I love winter in New York," she smiled as he watched her mind trail off to some distant thoughts. "I'll be gone visiting her. I'm going to a conference the second week of March, and I'm going to see my son on the end of that. The conference is north of San Francisco, and he lives to the south. I'm busy for the next few weeks," she gave him a look.
"Fine," he raised his hands in defeat. "There are plenty of days in there you aren't busy, but it is what it is. You want to be done, so fine. I'll respect that. It was good while it lasted. I'll move on then."
"Yes, it was fine, and thank you," she nodded. "Before you go, you probably should sign your name on something, so it does look like we were completing paperwork."
"Sure," he nodded and walked to her desk. She walked around her desk and handed him a piece of paper. He signed it, looked up to hand it back, and caught her gaze. Andy winked at her.
She rolled her eyes, but then she cleared her throat again, "Thank you for keeping everything between us. I mean, I realize you talk to Provenza, but I know the two of you won't say anything," she told him. "My professional life is important to me. I try very hard to be discreet. As far as the office knows, I have a husband, and that keeps the questions away. I've never been involved with anyone else in the LAPD, and I feel that, odd as it is, you won't mention this around the building."
"Sure," he nodded. "Look, I know I have a reputation around here, but I'm not interested in spreading gossip about you and me. I hope we are okay?"
"Everything between us is fine. From it starting as a one-time idea, I got more than I ever planned out of this arrangement, and I hope it was what you needed," she nodded.
"It worked for me. Okay, then," he tapped on her desk and started to the door, leaving her standing at hers. When he got to the door, he turned back to her before opening it, "Just know, I'm around if you want to get together again. I jotted down my address on that paper," he nodded, and she looked to where he'd done just that. She hadn't even looked at what he'd written when he'd used her pen. "Stop by, call, whatever. I'll be glad to make time for more of this," he waved his hand. "Captain, you might have to work for Valentine's Day, but there's always St. Patrick's Day and Easter coming up," he flashed a grin. "We can look at federal holidays, like president birthdays, too, if that helps."
"That will be all, Lieutenant," she cleared her throat, dismissing him with her hand as she sat down at her desk. Andy frowned, turned, and left, now wondering what he'd do for Valentine's Day.