Finally, finally, finally something seemed to be going right in Andy's life. It was now Sunday, and he'd spent the last three days getting prepared for his drive to Flagstaff. Yes, he'd figured it out, but he'd really hit the jackpot when he'd come across an article the university had posted welcoming some of its new professors and lecturers. Captain Sharon Raydor was listed as a new lecturer in criminal justice, and that gave him the exact information he needed. Now, he still didn't have an address, but he had a start. He had a town, the right town, and he hoped to catch her at work. He was so relieved something had gone right because not much had been going well for him lately.
Work was definitely not going well. He was getting himself, or his mouth in trouble almost anytime he spoke. He knew he was agitated, and he was trying to deal with that, but it wasn't working. Chief had even threatened to write him up for being insubordinate after he got into an argument with her about picking up a suspect during their current case. To give him a moment to cool off, Provenza had sent Andy on errands, basically, to check on things around the building. It has helped, a little. That had been yesterday, and even today, Andy found himself doing a lot of the grunt work, and while he wanted to argue about it, he just kept his mouth shut. Provenza was being a true friend, and Andy needed someone to keep him in check.
"Andy," he heard and looked up to find Mike calling to him from his desk. Andy frowned and turned his attention to him.
"Need something?" Andy asked.
"Yes, I asked you if you had that updated ballistic report. The one you brought back yesterday was still the preliminary report. Do you have the updated one?"
Andy sighed and frowned. He didn't and knew this would mean another trip to get it. He shook his head, "No, I haven't gotten it yet. Last check, it wasn't done yet. I can call and find out."
"Better just go hunt it down, Flynn," Provenza said. "We need that for our reports."
"Right," Andy sighed and stood. He glanced around the room, made eye contact with Provenza, and after been gestured to get moving, Andy started to the door.
Andy checked his watch as he walked. It was now after 4:00, and he was so ready to go. He hated working weekends, even when they had time off after that weekend. It wasn't like idiots stopped getting in trouble on the weekend. In fact, work usually increased. Thankfully, the case they'd been working the last few days was a relatively easy one, a case of a jealous ex-husband. Andy nodded, thinking about it. People were fueled by passion, and he definitely understood that now.
It took Andy almost a half hour to get the report. It had been finished yesterday not long after he'd been handed the old preliminary one, but the tech working today couldn't find it. It wasn't just something that was on a computer; an entire paper file had been put aside, but finally, it was located. Andy returned with it to the team, hoping they would finish work soon. He and Provenza were hoping to get on the road, at least a couple hours down the road. Andy knew he wouldn't sleep; he hadn't slept in days. Between the search for Sharon, the all-hours of the day and night phone calls with his sister, and just his overall anxiety, he wasn't sleeping. He felt that getting out of L.A., even just a couple hours out, would help. He'd even told Provenza he would pay for the hotel and gas just to get his cheap friend to agree. Both men were packed, bags in their cars, ready to get on the road when they finished.
He turned over the report to Mike and walked back to his desk. He didn't even have a chance to sit before his phone rang. He dug it out and sighed at the number. It was his dad's nursing home in New York.
"This is Andy Flynn," he said when he answered. He ran his hand across his brow and sat down at his desk chair. He caught the rest of the team watching him. "Yes, he's my father."
"Lieutenant," the team turned to Brenda as she walked out of her office. Eyes darted between her and Andy, and she looked around, noting everyone was staring at Andy. "Did he do something or say something again?"
"Chief," Provenza shook his head and nodded before speaking again, "sounds like something about his dad."
"Oh," Chief said and made a face like she felt badly about that. "Okay, I see we are all waiting to hear."
"My dad fell. He didn't break anything, but he broke his glasses and cut his face," Andy nodded as he repeated what he was being told on the phone. "Okay," they heard him sigh. "Yeah, my sister is there, but she's got her own problems. She's ill, and I'd prefer you not bother her. I'll keep her informed, but just call me first. Okay, yeah," he nodded at whatever they were telling him. "Thank you for calling. I'll call back in an hour or so."
He hung up his phone and turned, surprised to find everyone waiting for him to finish.
"Flynn, your dad fell?" Provenza asked. Andy just nodded and let out his breath.
"Yeah, you know I've told you he doesn't move well. He was in his wheelchair, but he started to reach for something on the counter, reached more than he should, and he fell out of the chair. Amazingly, nothing is broken, except his glasses. That was the nursing home telling me he was just getting a couple of stitches at the hospital. He was transported, and they said he's checking out okay. They apologize for not calling sooner, but they'd left a message for Angela. I hope she's sleeping and just didn't hear her phone. She's been so worn out. I need to see if I can call her," he stood and gestured with his phone.
"Andy," Brenda called to him and reached for his arm. She squeezed it, "I know you have a lot on your plate. Take care of your call and the one to your daddy too. I appreciate your hard work today, keeping yourself in check. We all have our moments."
"Thanks, Chief," he nodded and walked out of the room. Brenda looked around at everyone else. "Now, let me see if I remember what I needed," she put her finger to her lips.
"Chief, appreciate you not writing up Flynn for flying off the handle a couple times yesterday," Provenza said. "We all do. He's just in a rough patch. He has family issues hitting him from every angle."
Brenda nodded, "Yes, it sounds like it. I get that; I do."
"It's even worse than you know, Chief," Provenza chuckled. He wanted to change the subject and quickly added, "He's not drinking, though. He's working through it all."
"That's good," Brenda nodded. "Make sure you check on him during these next couple days when we are off."
"Already on it, Chief," Provenza raised his hand. "I'm taking him on a little road trip, just to get out of town."
"Ahh, a road trip," Mike grinned. "Where are you two heading? Wait," he put his finger in the air, "I'll just watch the news to see where two LAPD lieutenants have been arrested."
The team all started to laugh, even Brenda. Provenza threw a scowl at Mike and shook his head, "No plans, just Flynn, me, and the open road. There's no telling what we will find."
The last reports were filed just before 9:00 that evening. Andy and Provenza were the last to leave, and they still didn't have set plans as they got onto the elevator.
"I'll drive," Andy told him and glanced at Provenza.
Provenza gave him a look, like he was crazy and shook his head, "No way you are driving right now. You look like you ate all the sugar in a candy store. You've been fidgety and a mess all day. No, we can take your car, but I'm driving."
"You think I'm going to let you drive my new car?" Andy asked.
"It's not a question, Flynn. I am driving your new car. It will be nice to not listen to that old piece of junk of yours on the drive. You could hear that car a mile away," Provenza chuckled.
"Yeah, well, I'm trying to do better, and while you might not get it, a car was a start," he sighed. When Provenza looked at him with a confused expression, Andy explained. "My car was a piece of junk; I know that. It didn't bother me just driving around myself, but I realize it's not exactly a babe magnet. I honestly haven't cared what most women have thought of the car, but when Hannah was born, I realized that if I might ever get to spend any time with her, I needed a safe, decent car for her. Plus, Sharon, she's so out of my league, and I knew she was horrified when I drove her home from the hospital months ago in my old car. She eats at those crazy fancy restaurants I hate, but my family loves, and she's just way too high class to appreciate anything I'd offer Hannah, but at least this way, she can't argue with a basic, safe new sedan."
The elevator opened, and the men started walking to their cars parked next to each other. Andy had a brand new dark sedan he'd bought just before things with Angela had fallen apart, and she'd been diagnosed with cancer. Because of that, he'd barely had a moment to really enjoy his car. It looked like he was finally going to break it in a little with this trip. Provenza walked to his car, and Andy popped open his trunk. He pushed his bag to the side, giving Provenza room for his.
"Flynn, a car isn't going to do it, you know? The captain might be into high class, but she's not going to just let you take Hannah for a spin in your new car," he said as he looked over at him.
"I get it, but I want her to see I'm trying," he sighed. "I don't want to be a crappy father. I want to do a good job. I think Sharon looks at me and sees a cheap drunk. I'm trying to change that image because that's not me anymore. It's like I want her to see I've cleaned up my act, that she and Hannah are worth it."
"Flynn, even I know you are a better guy than that," Provenza rolled his eyes. The two just stood at their cars talking, as if they didn't have a long drive ahead.
"What are you doing there?" Andy asked, almost fidgety while he waited on Provenza.
"I'm painting my nails," Provenza fired back at him as he leaned inside his car. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm collecting my cassette tapes for the trip."
"Cassette tapes?" Andy said and laughed. "Provenza, my new car doesn't have a cassette player."
"What?" Provenza popped up his head from the driver door. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Join the real world and listen to cd's or even better now, things like iPods, phones, you know," he shrugged.
"I don't understand anything you just said," Provenza scowled.
"Let me spell it out-get your bag. Get in the car. We have the radio, and I have some cds, mostly jazz, but I have some," he smirked.
Provenza could be heard muttering, but it was unclear what he was saying. He collected his things, pulled his bag from his car, and he walked to Andy's car. Andy gestured for him to put it in the trunk.
"Aren't you going to do it?" Provenza asked.
"No, why?" Andy asked.
"You're the passenger," he told him.
Andy gave him an irritated look, "Put your bag in the trunk. Just start driving, or I'll do it. Better yet, tomorrow when I talk to my dad's nursing home, I'll ask if they have a spot for you," he smirked and walked to the passenger door. Andy unlocked his car and got into it, glancing to his backseat area like he normally did. Provenza got into the driver side and started to adjust the seat. He also glanced to the backseat.
"What's that?" he asked and nodded. Andy turned and looked back behind his seat.
"Oh, things for Hannah," he flashed a grin. "You didn't think I would show up empty-handed, did you?"
"What did you buy her?" Provenza asked.
"I'm actually glad you brought that up," Andy flashed him a smirky grin. "I bought her some clothing, along with a brush set. That's sentimental, and you wouldn't understand. I also want to stop on the way and get her a toy."
"A toy?" Provenza looked at him, horrified. "What kind of toy, and why do we need to stop on the way?"
"I heard a couple of the techs talking about Christmas yesterday when I was the errand boy for the department. I think I was in ballistics, but whatever," he gestured. "Anyway, they were talking about baby toys, and one of them mentioned there is this like saucer thing. You put the baby in it, and it's like a toy that stands them up, securely, and they have toys all around them. It sounded really cool."
"You didn't ask these tech about the toy, did you?" Provenza gestured at him as he drove out of the parking garage.
"No, I'm not an idiot. It wasn't like I asked if they could be more specific so I could get one for my own baby. I just pulled it up on the computer late last night when I got home. I got on one of those baby store pages, and I typed in saucer. I found it. Those things are great! They really look fun, and I want to get that for her."
"What if the captain already bought it?" Provenza asked.
Andy shook his head, "I don't think she did. They are for babies just a little older. Hannah is just over three months old, and from what I found, those things are recommended for babies four months and older. Yeah, I know she's almost there, but I don't see Sharon planning ahead like that right now with just moving. If I'm wrong and she has one," he shrugged, "Sharon can take it back and get whatever she wants. I want to get one of those for her. It's almost Christmas."
Provenza gave him a slight frown and nodded, "So, can you get these anywhere, like at normal stores?"
"Yeah, I think," Andy nodded. "Anyway, tomorrow morning on the drive, we are stopping for one somewhere."
"You are also assuming she will let you see Hannah. I hope you are prepared this could go very badly, Flynn," Provenza warned.
"I know," he said quietly and looked out the window. "I want to hope for the best. I think Sharon is just a confused mess and hope I can talk to her."
"Where are we driving tonight?" Provenza asked as he started the drive out of the city. He could tell his comment had Andy thinking, and for now, that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
"Barstow," Andy nodded. "That's a couple hours away, as long as traffic isn't bad. It shouldn't be, and that gets us out of the city tonight. We've worked all day, so no reason to really overdue it tonight."
Provenza nodded, "Fine, figure out the route and tell me where to go," he gestured to Andy. "I'll drive tonight, and if you can behave, you can drive tomorrow."
"Thanks," Andy smirked. "You take two hours, and I'm taking over five tomorrow."
"I'm that good of a friend," Provenza nodded. "If you snore tonight, Flynn, you are getting me my own room in Flagstaff."
"You'll be lucky if I sleep," Andy sighed. The two men continued on their drive, Provenza paying attention to the road while Andy worked to pull up the directions.
"I'm hungry. Before we get on the freeway, let's get some fast food," Provenza suggested.
Andy gestured with his hands, "Fine, but your greasy burger had better not make a mess in my new car."
Provenza shook his head, "I don't want a burger. I'm thinking tacos."
"Tacos? You want to eat tacos in my new car?" Andy asked and turned to him, horrified. "Are you kidding me?"
"Look, in your dreams, you get to be a daddy to Hannah, and I promise you she would get much worse all over this car. Think of smashed raisins, animal crackers, spilled milk, diaper issues," he grimaced. "You are complaining because a friend, who offered to drive and ride along with you, wants a taco?"
"Yeah! I am complaining! You're an adult. Hannah is a baby, and hello, we just discussed that I'll be lucky if Sharon even lets me see her. I would love nothing more to haul her around in her sometime, but let's be realistic. That's probably not going to happen. I wish I could, and I'd gladly take her throwing food around in my new car. You, I can't take your taco mess."
Provenza scowled, "I'm almost surprised you don't have a car seat."
"Oh, I looked at them," Andy sighed. "I'm not stupid, Provenza. I want to see her. I want to see Sharon. I'm trying to decide if wanting to see Sharon is to just get to Hannah or if I truly have feelings for her."
"Do I want to know what you've figured out with that?" Provenza asked.
"Probably not," Andy grumbled. "Get something to eat, fine," he waved. "Just don't get tacos."
"Fine, I'll just get a burrito instead," Provenza nodded. Andy groaned and leaned his seat back to relax. He was now wishing he'd ducked out earlier without Provenza.
The two continued their drive across the California landscape. They made decent time, even with their food and gas stop, arriving at their basic, but clean motel after midnight. They didn't need much for the night, just a clean place to get some rest. Andy wasn't even sure he would rest; he was still a mess from everything that had been going on in his personal life. He'd thought about Sharon a lot over the last few months. He had a feeling she was protective of everything in her life, partly from being so badly burned by her ex, but also due to her particular job. She wasn't just 'one of them' so to speak. Sure, she'd been a cop, a captain, but she was FID. She investigated other cops. That had to put her on edge and make her wary of a lot of people. It was almost like she couldn't risk trusting anyone because it almost wasn't in the nature of the job. Adding the two together, the dirt bag of an ex and the job, well, it would put up some serious walls with a person. She intrigued him, and he had a feeling she was a little intrigued by him. In all the time he'd had to think about her, he'd decided that she wouldn't have continued their little agreement if she hadn't enjoyed it and hadn't at least trusted him a little. Hannah was the shock, and with Hannah, he figured she'd drawn back into herself, put up her walls again, and one thing he wanted was to determine if he was right. Hannah deserved two parents. He now realized that, and he also had realized that while he'd been crappy at it before, he could at least try to do better. He'd told Sharon that; he would have tried. He wasn't sure what a good dad was, but he wanted to try and be one, that is, if he could appeal to Sharon. He wanted both Hannah and Sharon in his life, not sure exactly how, but he did. He just hoped Sharon would at least hear him out, that he could give her Angela's medical information and talk to her. In his eyes, it was never too late to try and do the right thing, and in his world, and he realized walking away from Hannah was NOT the right thing to do.
"Flynn," he heard and looked up as they were pulling into the motel. He'd bee daydreaming again and shook his head to shake himself out of it.
"Thanks for driving," he grunted and nodded to Provenza.
"Well, someone had to come along with you to make sure you didn't do something completely insane, not that chasing down the captain is exactly a good idea," he grumbled.
Andy waved his hand, "I know, okay? Let's just get some sleep. I want to get going tomorrow by 7:00."
"7:00?" Provenza looked to him, clearly irritated.
"Yeah, I mean, I need to see if I can find her at work. I don't know how long that will take, so I don't want to show up at like 5:00," he said.
"Flynn, this could really backfire on you. Raydor could send us packing, that is, if she'll even see you. Have you considered that?" Provenza turned off the car and looked over at Andy.
"Yeah, I have," Andy nodded. "I regret a lot, Provenza. My biggest regret is that I easily signed those papers, that I let Hannah and Sharon go. I know it could be too late, but I have to try. I've thought about this a lot over the last few days. Sharon wanted me to sign that paperwork because she was afraid to lose control. She didn't know what I would do regarding Hannah, and she wanted all the control. I signed because I was afraid to try, afraid of being another failure. I've already failed Hannah by walking away, and I hate myself for it. I just want to show Sharon I can be a decent guy, that I'm not like every other dirt bag she's known. I haven't slept in months. The last few days, I've worried myself sick. I know it may not work, but I also know the best things in life are worth the fight."
Provenza just nodded. The two sat in the dark parking lot for a few moments, just analyzing what had been said. Finally, Provenza opened the door to shine more light into the car, "Well? You said you were paying. Let's find out if they have a room. By the looks of it, they do," he said as he glanced around the half-full parking lot.
"Just remember you aren't alone tonight," Andy smirked as he got out of the car. "No going commando or anything in the room," he chuckled. "And no, we aren't getting more food tonight."
"The dress code-that's your problem, not mine, Flynn. How about you just work on staying in our room tonight? Last road trip, you were busy sneaking around with the captain, and we know how that turned out," he stated as they walked to the building.
"Some pretty great things came out of that trip," he flashed a grin at Provenza. "I can only hope for the best right now."