Chapter 3
Author's Note: Wow! It has been so long since I updated this but semester 2 is so much busier than semester 1. I really hope to update this a little bit more regularly anyway I hope you enjoy this one. All mistakes are my own and obviously, I don't own major crimes (the end would have been a hell of a lot better if i did, just saying)
That-Geek
-SHANDY-
Sharon and Andy walked together to her car, which happened to be the closest. She watched as he opened her door for her and sighed deeply.
"Sharon, would you like to tell me anything else?" he lay a hand on her arm.
"The leak, they know Jack. They know everything…I'm all over the place. If Goldman finds out he will dig up every case involving you and because for the last decade I have personally handled most accusations involving you. It might seem suspicious." She told him.
"What the hell?! They can't do that, you told Pope?" He raged.
"He was less than impressed. He wants me to play it safe, I can't tell you details obviously but if Goldman does find out then…you would be affected too." She told him with a frown.
"Alright, I'm following you back and we should talk if things do get dire". He told her firmly.
"There's not a lot to say. We have to be careful especially around your division" She shrugged.
"Goddammit. I can't wait for this to blow over" He snarled.
"Me too." She smiled then ducked into her car waving at him as she left the parking structure.
-SHANDY-
When Sharon got home her mother was taking something out of the oven. Rose and Maura were still outside in the pool, it looked as though Maura was timing her best friend as she swam.
"Something smells nice, Mom" Sharon smiled.
"Oh, it just a hotpot, with potatoes, turnips, carrot, and beef" Eileen grinned, knowing it was her youngest daughter's favourite meal. Sharon fetched some plates placing them at the table before calling Maura and Rose inside.
"How was your day, sweetheart?" Sharon asked.
"Not bad, I'm getting faster. Hopefully good enough for this competition." She replied mentioning this competition again.
"When is application deadline?" Sharon asked.
"In two days then the competition[AL1] is two weeks after that." Rose informed her, trying her best not to get excited.
"Do you need my help?" Sharon asked, Rose looked at her wide eyed, in need of clarification "with your application" Rose squealed and hug her mother tightly.
"Thank You, thank you, thank you." She screeched, taking a deep breath then began talking about the application and what she needed Sharon to do, "I have the printed version in my room that is basically completed I just need a few of your details and dads before my swim coach will sign it." Rose then dashed out the room and those in the room could hear her bounding up the stairs and into her bedroom to collect the form.
"How long has known about this, Maura?" Sharon asked.
"A while, trying to psych herself up to ask you if she could do it." Maura chuckled "Its been quite entertaining to be honest" she added. Sharon smiled at the young girl and handing her some cutlery for the table.
"Oh erm…I should really get home Cap…Sharon" Maura stumbled over her words.
"Don't worry I'll call your mom and let her know" Sharon smiled walking over to the phone.
"No! She's at work" Maura shouted, louder than she meant to.
"Work? I thought your mom was focussing on your youngest brother" Sharon had spoken to Maura's mother, Catherine.[AL2]
"Well, erm, she is working nights now. Ciara[AL3] looks after Oscar and sometimes Conner helps." Maura raced to say. Sharon nodded slowly not quite believing the story.
-SHANDY-
The following day at work Sharon knocked on the chief's door to hear a quite reply. When she entered the chief had her back to the door with her arm in the top drawer of her desk.
"God dammit. I know there is one left" She huffed yanking her arm out and readjusting her dress sleeve. Brenda was at loss. Her mamma was struggling with her father, she herself was up to her eyeballs in trouble.
"I've calmed Pope slightly but you have to prove that you understand" Captain Raydor informed the Chief.
"Thanks. Is your mother still here?" Chief Johnson asked looking up at the older woman.
"Yes, I believe she has some kind of class today. Why do you ask?" She questioned the woman's motives.
"Well, mama is struggling with Daddy and…and I know your mother had to deal with your father when he was sick so maybe if they talked." She suggested.
"I'll see what I can do to help. I know it's difficult but he'll get better." Sharon reassured the chief.
"How did you do it? Knowing your daddy was gonna die" Brenda asked tears stinging her eyes.
"I don't know, I had my children and three older siblings, they were geographically much closer to my parents. We all had time to get use to the idea. You do not because Clay is going to live for years more with your mother and they'll continue to frustrate you for all of those years" Sharon smiled at the worry stricken woman hoping her words had helped slightly.
"Thank you Captain." With that Sharon left, her hand retrieving her mobile to call her mother.
-SHANDY-
Sharon had called her halfway through her Thanksgiving crochet class at the retirement village with Rosa. She had asked if she would mind visiting someone to help her colleague, Brenda.
Now, 30 minutes later, they were at the door of the address given. Eileen knocked, from what she had gathered Sharon and Brenda had never been particularly close, in fact, they hated each other. The request had shocked her but having met Brenda she was happy to oblige.
"Willie Rae Johnson?" She asked when a small grey-haired woman answered the door.
"Yes, who are you?" She asked confused.
"Eileen O'Dwyer and Rosa Flynn, our respective children work with your daughter Brenda." She told the woman in front of her.
"Now, we are gonna have a little fun here." Rosa pushed past and placed her bag down on the sofa.
"Flynn, you're not Andy's mother are you?" Willie Rae asked with a small smile.
"Of course, that yutz is my son." Rosa laughed loudly.
"Willie Rae! Who the hell is here?" Clay shouted as he made his way to the living room.
"Well we have some guests, Clay. This is Eileen and Rosa, Lieutenant Flynn's mother and erm…" Willie Rae paused looking to Eileen.
"Captain Raydor's mother, I know we don't look that alike but I have forgone vanity and let my hair go grey unlike she." Eileen smirked on taking off her coat and bag.
The three older women soon sat down at the table and began a very easy conversation, clay sat quietly at the table end, glaring at them. This continued for several hours until Fritz entered through the back door.
"Ohh hello there I didn't realise we had guests." He smiled.
"We didn't either really, Fritz this is Eileen and Rosa. Eileen, Rosa this our son in law." Willie Rae introduced them all to one another.
"Your Sharon never said there was such attractive men around the office." Rosa smirked.
"She wouldn't when she's too busy...working" Eileen quipped stopping herself from telling Brenda's family the truth Fritz watched the exchange. He wondered briefly if his parents would have gotten on well with his parents in law.
"Willie Rae hasn't smiled so much since before the diagnosis." Clay commented sadly "I wish I was the reason behind it." He struggled up and headed for his bedroom, Eileen from the corner of her saw him.
"Where's the bathroom?" She asked, Willie Rae looked up and told her. She walked over to the corridor. She knocked on the bedroom door.
"What?!" Clay snapped.
"You remind me of my husband" She stated, as she sat down in the chair not far from the door "Grumpy, quiet and definitely not himself" Clay watched her.
"How long were you married to one another?" He asked quietly.
"Almost 67 years. He died at the very beginning of this year." She replied
"Was it a long death?"
"We knew it was coming for a long time." She replied
"I wish I could get better quicker, I wish I could get back to being happy with Willie Rae, going on holidays and enjoying retirement." He admitted to her.
"My Michael was the same. Just when you're getting angry at yourself just remember her, remember your wife who watches you go through this and doesn't know how you feel or what your thinking" She told him, as she began to get out of the chair.
"Thank You. Cheering up my wife and you don't even know us." He gave her a small smile.
"Us retired folk we've got to stick together." She chuckled before leaving the room.
When Brenda came home the women were now chatting in the kitchen, Brenda smiled and sent a quick text to Sharon.
Thanks for asking your mom to come over my mamma already looks happier she hit send and made her way over.
"Oh my god that's terrible. My Brenda was the oldest and my gosh she had those boys in line when we went out." She smiled fondly, she and Clay could always count on Brenda to look after the boys when they had a rare night out or even some formal function related to Clay's work.
"Hey momma, Mrs O'Dwyer, Mrs Flynn, how y'all getting on?" She asked looking around at the amount of food on the counters.
"Just great, Rosa gave me some recipes and so has Eileen. It's been a lovely afternoon" Willie Rae smiled as she chopped some veg.
"Where's Daddy?" She asked approaching one of the pots.
"He went to bed a couple hours ago, we had a little talk he should be better when he wakes up" Eileen answered with a smile. Brenda nodded. There was a ring at the doorbell and so she left the older women to cook while she answered it, as she did she passed Fritz on the sofa, his eyes shut and his hands slack around the tv remote, she bent don and kissed his forehead gently.
"Oh Captain, Rose, c'mon in" She welcomed, as she backed into the house she threw a pillow in Fritz' general direction to wake him up. He groaned and slowly raised rubbing his eyes and stretching his limbs a little.
"Oh erm hello there" He gave a shy grin to the two new guests.
"Mom, Rosa, you ready to go?" Sharon asked.
"Oh no sweetie, we're making dinner. Broth, Pasta and pie for desert. You should join us" She invited her daughter to eat.
"We've got plenty for everyone." Willie Rae added.
"Sounds great Mrs Johnson." Sharon stuttered slightly bewildered, Rose immediately went up to the trio of older women as she passed Chief Johnson she shot her a glare. Sharon spotted her doing it too.
"I'm sorry about Rose. She's become a lot more protective since the Jeffery situation" Sharon explained with a small smile.
"It's all right Captain, we were rotten sometimes but…"
"But I wasn't exactly the easiest person to get along with" Sharon added. The two women nodded mulling it over. They had never really talked out of the professional sense, then again, they were both very committed to their job.
Sharon hovered in the kitchen catching moments of the conversation but she didn't get too involved her mind attached to other things. She liked David, he had a decent brain in his head but clearly the man was smitten with Ann.
She ate dinner quietly barely paying attention to the conversation. She felt awkward in the Chief's home despite the lack of hostility.
-SHANDY-
The night had finished pleasantly with everyone's stomachs full and leftovers to last several days. In the morning Sharon let herself into Rose's bedroom around 7:30, she gently shook her daughter.
"Rose, time to get up" she whispered.
"Ok, sure thing" the almost teen mumbled then rolled over.
"I mean it, young lady." Sharon tried a harsher tone prompting another groan.
"Can't you leave me alone, it's Wednesday, I'll be at sports anyway" Rose lay on her back rubbing her eyes.
"Maybe we can discuss it, when you get up" Sharon grinned. Rose shot her look "You walked right into that one, missy" Sharon chuckled getting off the bed and leaving the room. She continuing to chuckle hearing the loud frustrated groan from Rose's room.
Sharon had made herself a coffee by the time Rose appeared. She was dressed for her sports. Usually Rose would go to sports after school on a Wednesday but since it was summer she would go every second Wednesday for most of the day.
"So, I'll leave at 9 be at the hall for nine thirty-ish. I'll have lunch there, like normal, leave at four because I have extra swim and be back four thirty-ish." Rose explained.
"Ok, because you are not yet 13 we will have a trial period. I will be back for six, if I'm not you will go to Mrs Carter's." She instructed.
"I can do that." Rose nodded.
"While I'm gone, you are to stay in the house, do not answer the door or the phone. No friends over either." Sharon began, Rose nodded never once arguing.
"What if Granny calls or comes over?" She asks.
"Then you may answer." Sharon nodded slightly.
"What about dad?" she tried.
"He will be at work." Sharon replied.
"And Maura? Like if she were to come over without any prompting from me, to just like see me" Rose suggested, flapping her hands around slightly.
"Rose, if you know the person you may let them in or answer the phone but no crazy plans or events, just chill" Sharon tried to use 'slang'.
"Mom, have I ever displayed any interest in parties or crazy plans." Rose replied with an unimpressed look on her face.
"Alright, now then. I will," she turned to grab some paper and a pen, "write down my mobile and the office and your fathers number too. Your Grandmothers should be here too." Sharon listed, Rose began to laugh.
"Mom, this is a phone, it allows me to keep numbers of my family members and friends." She pointed to the phone in her hand waving it at her mother.
"Yes, well it might get lost or need to be charged in another room." Sharon replied matter of factually before turnig and placing the list on the fridge "Just. In. Case" she tapped along as she spoke. She grabbed her bag and walked towards the door then retreated to the kitchen.
"Are you sure that you'll be okay? You know how to get there and back again? You have the keys, oh wait here." She rushed away to come back with a gold-brassy key "Now, I'm sure you'll want to get a keyring but you can do that on your own time." Sharon stared at her daughter for a minute. The older woman study the face in front of her. Rose's eyes were slightly lighter in the mornings she could see the specks of sleep in the corners that she had missed, the tiny blemishes that were beginning to show on her skin, the typical bumps that suggested the arrival of acne. She was getting older, Sharon could still see the chubby red cheeks of her daughters once tiny head. Her hand came out and gently stroked her cheek.
"Mom" Rose interrupted her thoughts, "You in there, you have that nostalgic look on your face." Sharon smiled, her girl was always honest, even if it hurt. She was never afraid of it.
"I just can't believe that you are almost 13" Sharon smiled.
"Yeah, I know and you get to relive having a teenager in the house" Rose drawled
"Ok be safe and be kind" Sharon looked at Rose.
"Mooom, I'm going to sports not going through three critical surgeries. I'm not an idiot" Rose rolled her eyes, Sharon scoffed then left the house. Once Rose was sure her mother had gone she sat on the arm of the sofa and pushed back falling into the cushions and laughed hard.
-SHANDY-
Sharon's gruelling day [AL4] begins when she found out that the leak would have to wait. Chief Johnson had crossed the line, Pope had exploded when Sharon arrived in his office that morning ranting and raving about his lack of respect for him and the church. He handed her complaint forms, which he informed her were going to be signed at the end of the investigation if Chief Johnson continued to be insubordinate.
"Chief Pope, is this really necessary?" She asked looking over the complaint.
"Yes. She needs to understand that her actions have consequences" He informed her.
"Alright, well leave it with me, I don't need you making irrational decisions because you're angry with her" She replied placing it in her desk drawer.
"Fine, but I want you to go up there and keep an eye on her." He instructed her, she nodded but her hands clenched under the desk.
"Of course. Is there anything else Chief?" She flashed him a fake smile.
"Yes, I want you present when we negotiate with the church." He added with a curt smile.
"Of course, Chief, I'll make my way up there in just a moment." She nodded then when back to processing her statements.
"Captain, the leak may have to become a secondary priority while we make sure that Chief Johnson doesn't start another law suit" he informed her as he left, he closed the door. Sharon huffed, the likely hood of getting home for six was getting farther and farther away.
-SHANDY-
Sharon went to talk to Brenda to tell hr and lay out the seriousness of the situation. As she walked towards the office she found Andy walking next to her.
"So, Rose finally got the house to herself?" He asked quietly.
"Do you think she's too young?" Sharon immediately asked.
"No, kid seemed excited for the extra responsibility." He smiled.
"Well just so you know I will be worrying about it all day. I was the same with Emily and Ricky and Rose is just that bit more vulnerable" Sharon rambled.
"Sharon, she's at sports until like 4 she'll have 3 hours max. What can she do in three hours?" He shrugged as they reached the doors of the murder room.
"A whole of damage if she wanted to." The worried mother replied which caused Andy to chuckle slightly.
"Do you two mind? I don't need to see that." Provenza snapped.
"See what? We're just talking" Andy retorted.
"No, you're flirting and its horrible" Provenza grumbled "We have enough issues with Pope being a raving lunatic" He continued to rant.
"Well, Lieutenant I'm here to make sure you don't do anything to antagonise that side of him" Sharon replied as she headed to Chief Johnson's office "You would also not know flirting if it hit you in the face" She commented in a somewhat distracted tone. This comment received a few smirks from Gabriel and Sanchez, Tao simply raised his eyebrows as did Buzz neither expecting such a savage reply and Andy just shot the older man a smug grin.
-SHANDY-
Sharon attempted to rectify the issue with the church but the correspondent they sent over did not seem any happier with her. Taking a deep breath, she proposed that the priest stay with the journals the entire time to review everything before if they saw anything. He found this method acceptable which worked well until Chief Johnson commanded he look through the entire box.
Sharon left the major crimes offices with a headache, she hated it when the church became involved with her work. She had been brought up a catholic and while there were times in her life that she had tried to avoid her faith rather than embrace it. However, once her job at the LAPD became steady she found herself questioning the world, she saw so much death that she wondered, what kind of God takes away so many lives? Jack hated church, he went with her of course, but he tried everything to get out of going. In more recent years Father Stan had asked for her help with the choir, the consistent hours of FID allowed Sharon to take a roll within the choir but the law suit had stopped her from being a part of the summer show.
Sharon was glad to see that Brenda continued the investigation respectfully. It meant she was back in her office for half past five. She read over the reports, over Gabriel's statements, she couldn't keep this unresolved any longer.
-SHANDY-
Sharon found Andy by her car, well by his car which was strategically parked by her own. She smiled as she walked towards him.
"Hey." She greeted once close enough.
"So, just in case, I'm thinking I should come over. Never know what Rose will have done to the house." He suggested with a grin.
"Don't give me ideas of the horrific things she may or may not have done" Sharon replied feigning shock with a hand to her chest. He chuckled and got into his car and followed her back to her home.
-SHANDY-
Inside the house Rose was sitting on the sofa, her arm around her best friend. Maura had turned up at the door not very long after Rose had gotten back from sports. She had a bruise by her hairline and bright red knuckles and cheeks.
The young girl had explained to her friend that her father had been fired, once again. He had drank himself unconscious only to wake and take out on the closest thing to him; his daughter.
Rose had always suspected something. She would notice bruises but this was the first time that Maura had admitted anything to her.
"Mom is back. We can get her to help" She tod her friend softly.
"I don't want him to get in trouble. I want him to get help" Maura replied quietly.
"She will get that, she's a cop. He won't stop." Rose told her, the door opened and they looked up.
"What happened?" Sharon rushed over to Maura.
"I…I…I need your help Captain" Maura whispered. Sharon looked at the little girl and then to her daughter.
"I need to document these injuries." She took out her phone.
"I did that when she got here." Rose informed her then retrieved her on phone to show her mom. Sharon looked at them then turned to Andy, he took out a notepad.
"We'll take some notes, while we ask some questions, that okay Kid?" He asked sitting in a nearby arm chair. Maura nodded.
"What happened, exactly?" He asked.
Andy asked her some simple questions for the next 10 minutes. He also questioned if there had been any previous altercations and if anyone else in the family had been exposed to similar events.
"My mom and my siblings. He avoids Oscar because he's only 6 but Conner, myself and Ciara do." She told him "Are you going to take him?" She asked.
"We will get patrol to collect him and make sure that your family are safe" He told her.
"In the meantime, I'll make some dinner and then…" She started.
"I have to go home. I need to see my mom and siblings." Maura told them, Sharon and Andy exchanged looks but told her patrol would collect her and take her home while picking up her father. Maura stayed close to Rose for the next 20 minutes as Sharon and Andy went to the kitchen.
"Have you ever noticed anything?" He asked
"She has always been quiet, as is her mother. I don't remember much about her father." Sharon remembered, "he was never really around." She added. The patrol car arrived and Andy went out to the car and told the officer what he wanted him to do.
"You know I'm lieutenant too" the officer replied with a raised eyebrow. Andy huffed and went inside returning with Sharon.
"Captain Raydor," She introduced herself before giving him a stern glare "I want you do everything Lieutenant Flynn asks you to. We are talking about the safety of children after all" Sharon informed the younger man with a stern look. In return the young lieutenant nodded and became slightly politer to both Andy and the young girl who got into the back of his patrol car.
Sharon and Andy watched the car drive away before going inside. She looked up at him her head falling to his chest and his arm coming around her waist.
"I should have noticed something, Andy. Why didn't I notice anything?" She asked quietly.
"People are often ashamed, they don't want people to assume they are weak." He answered
"I suppose but she's just a child, I'm an officer of the law and…" She berated herself
"Sharon, don't be so hard on yourself. You have helped her." He told her firmly "Not everyone who is abused believe they deserve help." He added as they walked inside together.
-SHANDY-
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed and please leave a review on your way back.
Next Time: As she packed her things away in her office she could only imagine how Andy was feeling, how they were all feeling. Personally, she was quite relieved that she no longer had to split her time between her division and Major Crimes.