"What are you doing here?" Andy asked, eyeing her. He'd made a beeline across the dance floor, surprising her with his gestures now. Clearly, he was shocked to see her. "You look beautiful, by the way," he grumbled almost under his breath.

"Dad," she said, surprised to see him. "I didn't think you'd be here tonight."

"What? You came to a police ball, and you didn't think your dad, a detective with the LAPD, mind you, the organization throwing the ball, would be here? I'll ask again, why are you here looking so beautiful?" Andy raised his eyebrows at the man standing at her side.

"This is Carlos, my date," Nicole introduced him. "He's a patrol officer at the Hollywood Station Division. We met on campus where he's taking classes at night. I'm still working on my master's degree, and we've been seeing each other a couple months now."

"Lieutenant Andy Flynn, Major Crimes Division," Andy said gruffly, sticking his hand out to meet his daughter's date. "Officer," he nodded to him. "I wish I'd heard about you, anything at all before now," he said slightly gruff as he eyed his daughter. Carlos quickly shook Andy's hand and glanced over at Nicole as he put his arm on her back in a show of support.

"Carlos, this is my real dad," she gave a small nod to Andy, turning toward Carlos and stepping closer to him.

"Real dad! I'm your only dad. You make it seem like I am still some deadbeat. I've tried over the years, and yeah, I know I messed up when you were little, but I've been trying!" Andy said, now agitated. People started to turn to them to see what the commotion was all about at the ball. "I am your dad! I'm trying, and I would have been very interested to know you were planning to show up here tonight!"

"Flynn!" Andy felt Provenza's hand on his arm before he heard his voice, but Provenza's voice snapped him out of it. Andy waved off Provenza with his free hand and quickly took a deep breath to collect himself. He looked back at Nicole as Provenza stepped to his side. "Nicole," he said, taking her hand to kiss it before he looked up at her again. "It's lovely to see you; it's been a long time."

"Lieutenant Provenza," Nicole smiled at him while Andy collected himself. "You haven't changed at all, still the dedicated partner to Dad here. Lieutenant, this is Carlos," she nodded to him. "

"Nice to meet you Lieutenant," he nodded to him and looked to Andy. "Sir, I mean, Lieutenant, it's nice to meet you as well. Wow, Major Crimes. I didn't realize. Nicole has briefly mentioned you work in law enforcement. I had no idea; we haven't talked about you much, more about her stepdad."

Andy scowled at that, but he felt Provenza smack at the back of his arm, so he put on his best smile. "I'm just really surprised to see you, Nic," Andy tried to smile again at her, hoping it did not look too forced. He nodded to her silver beaded dress, "You really look beautiful, really beautiful, wow. I wish you would have told me you'd be here."

She shrugged, "You hate these things, both of you," she even nodded to both men. "Mom helped me find the dress."

"Yes, well, we were told to be here," Provenza let out a sigh, speaking quickly before Andy could comment on his ex-wife's involvement in the evening. "Your dad and I," Provenza gestured, "our boss, her boss even, let's just say this is a mandatory fun time for us. I'd rather be solving some murder. Instead, I'm here at this ball and with my ex-wife to boot!"

Andy just shook his head, "I know this sounds crazy to say, Nic, but it's almost hard to believe you are old enough to be here at this ball. You really do look beautiful," he smiled at her.

"Thanks, Dad," she gave him a simple smile and nod. "Ahhh, I guess maybe we will see you later? I'm sure you want to get back to your date, both of you back to your dates," she nodded.

"Ahh, yeah," Andy said, scratching the back of his head and turning back to where the team was across the room. He gestured to Nicole, "Please don't leave or anything before I see you again. I'd love to get a nice picture with you, even out there where they have a photography area, okay?"

"Sure," she gave him a small smile. "Carlos, are you ready to dance?"

Carols grinned at Nicole and turned toward Andy. "It was nice to meet you again, Lieutenant Flynn," he said as he stuck his hand toward Andy. He looked sincere, scared too, and Andy gave him a slight nod as he shook his hand.

"Likewise," Andy continued to nod. "How many years have you been on the job?"

"Seven," he smiled. "I love what I do."

"Seven," Andy nodded, repeating the number. He though about that, realizing that made Carlos several years older than Nicole, not that it was a bad thing. He gave him an almost fake grin, "I've got friends in high places, places like Internal Affairs, so I hope you're a stand-up cop."

Carols looked to him with an almost panicked look, trying to shake his head, but Nicole put her hand on his arm and swatted at Andy, "Dad! Be nice, and yes, he's a good cop," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'll talk to you later."

Andy watched his little girl, honestly, his grown daughter, walk away with her boyfriend. Andy shook his head as he turned back to Provenza, "Did that just happen?"

Provenza sighed and let out his breath, "It did. Maybe he's okay," Provenza shrugged.

"I know I'm looking him up when we get back to work," Andy scowled. "My kid is dating a cop, and she didn't even mention it to me. I mean, this isn't like a first date, and she didn't make it sound like this was a friend thing, like I need a date or someone to hang with at this ball. She said they've been seeing each other for a couple months."

"She did," Provenza told him. "Little Nicole is grown up."

Andy frowned, "I don't like it. I mean, I know she has dated. I don't like seeing her all beautiful. I mean," he raised his hand and shook his head, "I mean, of course, she's beautiful. I still think of her as a little girl, like Hannah. It's hard to see she's a grown woman. You realize what this means, right?"

Provenza raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out what Andy was thinking. He gave a slight nod, "Right, she'll be going home with that guy; she's sleeping with him."

"No!" Andy exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air. "That's not what I was going to say, but geez, now I have that visual. Provenza !" Andy yelled at him. "That's my kid. I don't need to think about that Carols taking my baby home and sleeping with her. That's not what I was thinking."

"What were you going to say?" Provenza asked, now confused. Andy was shaking his head, trying to get the visual out of his mind. He turned back toward the team, and he sighed, watching Nicole out of the corner of his eye.

Andy waved at him, trying to dismiss him, "Let's not talk about Nicole. You just ruined my thoughts. I was simply going to comment on her growing up, maybe having to pay for some expensive wedding one of these days, even actually having to get along with that idiot if she marries him, another cop," he grumbled. "Even if it's not that guy," Andy gestured in the air, "she'll get married one of these days. I'm going to have to get along with some guy she marries. At this rate, I'll be lucky if she invites me to the wedding. Knowing Sandra, I'll get the bills sent to me in the mail for everything with some lame excuse my invitation was lost in the mail. Sleeping with him," Andy said in an irritated tone as he shook his head at Provenza. "I swear if that guy has anything in his jacket, any blemishes on his record, I'm going to pay him a little visit."

"You and I both know the places to start, the places cops go for a good time," Provenza gave him a look.

"What, you mean check to see if he's a drunk or something like me?" Andy eyed him.

"Now that you mention it," Provenza pointed to Andy, "that's a great idea. Let's get out of here and go to the bar. I think we could both use a drink-a hard one for me and your cranberry juice. And," he patted Andy on the back, "you're a recovering alcoholic now, Flynn. Even I can admit when I'm proud of you, and I am. Let's hit the bar, ask around, see if that Carlos frequents any plays the field," Provenza pointed out. "We need to also find out if he's been married, not that there's anything wrong with it," he said as he held up his hand in defense. "Let's face it Flynn-you and I aren't great examples of solid family dynamics. We know what we don't want Nicole to find in a significant other. I say we start with the bars, see if he frequents something like the strip clubs."

"I didn't mention it! You brought up the bar," he scowled. "Chief is eyeing us, and Liz has been stopping every waiter walking by, grabbing a drink from each one. Let's head back that way. I can't believe my kid is here with some cop," Andy grumbled again.

"Sleeping with him too," Provenza smirked. "Let's not forget that. All those grins you get thinking about what you are doing with the captain, all of those sick, twisted thoughts," he grimaced, "your little Nicole is sleeping with her own cop. Like father, like daughter, as they say. You are both sleeping with cops."

"STOP! Let's forget it!" Andy turned and yelled sternly at him. "Just go back to the team. Besides, it's 'Like father, like son,' you old man!"