This is my second story here, and my first for The Closer.

Buzz has always been my favourite character. He has such a fascinating background that I know has been explored more in Major Crimes, and that I hope will feature more in its fifth series.

This story, though, follows on from High Crimes, where we find out about his mother taking marijuana. I really didn't like how the others teased him about it, and I also noticed he was the only one who didn't laugh at Provenza's comments towards Chief Delk at the end. So I've turned what Buzz might have been feeling at that moment into this story.

I was going to post it in one go, but then thought it would work better in two separate chapters.

I hope you like it.

Sons And Mothers

Chapter One

Buzz sat alone in the Media Room, glaring through its blinds to the ongoing antics beyond. All jokes on his age aside, he'd always held Provenza in the highest regard, but - no, through the last two days, that respect had taken one hell of a hit. And the way he'd mocked Chief Delk had been downright embarrassing.

The others, of course, had found it hilarious. Well, not him. Instead, he'd returned to the only place where he felt he belonged. And, damn it, they hadn't even noticed. No, they were all still lauding King Louie for his dazzling wit. For that reason alone, let alone the time - yeah, time for this thoroughly disheartened subject to leave them to it, and get the hell home.

Reaching for his bag, he winced at the ache that ran through his back. Brenda Leigh Johnson was as light as a feather, but when she landed on top of you, she was like a ton of bricks. Still, a hot shower would take care of that, and... well, didn't this just sum up his luck right now? The Great Provenza had other ideas.

"There you are! So, ready to hit Florios? My treat to celebrate more sleazeballs off the streets?"

Ah yes, the traditional close-of-case blowout. Well, not tonight. Probably not tomorrow night either. Instead, Buzz's eyes narrowed. His legendary calmness finally snapped.

"No, Lieutenant, I'm going to check on my mother. Make sure she isn't turning into your next... sleazeball."

Then he was gone. Through the door, and slamming it behind him, before Provenza could recover enough to react.

For once lost for words, the Lieutenant just stood and stared. In all the years they'd worked together, he'd never heard Buzz raise his voice, let alone lose his temper.

He hadn't lost it here, either. He'd spoken as quietly as he always did. No, all the anger had been in his eyes. Anger, and hurt, and frustration, that such a personal part of his life had been turned so insensitively against him. And the more Provenza thought about it, the more he realized how much of that was down to him.

Surrounded by those he'd assumed would support him, Buzz had revealed his mother's plight with such dignified honesty. Defended her with just as much loyalty. One exchange in particular now pricked at Provenza's conscience as he ran his fingers along the back of Buzz's chair.

"And does your mother claim that this Mary Jane actually helps her?"

"I don't know, but she sleeps all the time, and she doesn't complain any more. About anything."

He'd thought nothing of it then, but he was surely thinking of it now. The sadness in those last few words had broken through his own prejudice, and made him realize just how much Buzz was up against. The loving son, trying to do what was best for his ailing mother.

A wry smile tugged at his mouth as he turned and walked back out into the squad room. Yes, that was the Buzz they knew so well. The sweet natured kid who'd give you the shirt off his back, and take you home for dinner too. Somewhere in this latest case, they'd lost sight of that. Taken the kid brother teasing a bit too far.

Now he had to figure out how to fix it. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to be as easy as he'd hoped.

"Hey, you losing your touch, Provenza? If he isn't in here, he's got to be in there, and... hey, it's Buzz, remember? My height, bright white shirt... kinda hard to miss."

Ah, Flynn. Their other Mr Tact And Diplomacy. And from that, of course, Sanchez and Gabriel just had to get in on the act too.

"...kinda geeky..."

"...yeah, with a car like the Batmobile..."

By the time they all noticed that he wasn't smiling back, Brenda had appeared beside him. And she wasn't smiling either.

"What in the world is wrong with Buzz? I've just seen him in the hallway, and he just near bowled me over."

He hadn't stopped to apologize either. Head down, and clearly upset, he'd just kept going. That alone had set her instincts on edge. More than anyone else on her team, she'd seen how much this case had affected him. Faced now, with a squad of detectives who suddenly found the floor unnaturally interesting, that edge grew even sharper.

"Well?"

Kindly volunteered by a ring of prompting glances, it was Flynn who finally answered her.

"I guess he's still embarrassed about us finding out about his mom."

Under such glaring pressure, it was the best reply he could think of. Apparently, it hadn't been enough.

"Well, thank you, Lieutenant, but I don't think 'embarrassed' is the right word here. He has nothing in the world to be embarrassed about. At least, he shouldn't have anything to be embarrassed about. And from the way you're all looking right now, like y'all got caught with your hands in your momma's cookie jar, you know it too."

With or without that furious glare - yeah, they knew. They'd messed up here, big time. And since Flynn hadn't quite managed it, Gabriel just hoped his status as her unofficial favourite would stand him in better stead.

"Yeah, Chief, we do, but... well, you've gotta admit, Chief, none of us saw that coming."

A nod this time, conceding an irrefutable point. Yes, it had been a shock. Buzz Watson was the last person in the world who you'd expect to be seen in a pot shop. But what concerned Brenda even more was how they'd reacted. Only she and Mike Tao had done so with the seriousness that it had deserved. The rest of her team had sniggered like schoolboys. Little wonder, then, that she wasn't quite ready yet to let them forget it.

"Yes, Detective, you're absolutely right. When Buzz told us about those security doors, and how he knew how they worked, I was as surprised as the rest of you. But aside from the insight it gave us to close this case, have any of you considered the courage it took him to tell us? Something so personal about his family, that he'd assumed we'd all understand?"

'...but that some of us clearly didn't?'

She hadn't said that last part aloud. Then again, she hadn't needed to. Her silence alone was enough to cue another round of awkward glances, before Sanchez took his turn at the plate of shame.

"I guess one of us should call him, Chief, to... you know, see if he's okay..."

Well now, this was more like it. A show of contrite concern that earned him an approving nod. But as such a keen observer of the human psyche, Brenda knew it had come just that little bit too late. If she'd been in Buzz's shoes right now, she'd take one look at that caller ID, and let it go to voicemail.

"Thank you, Julio, but... no, let's just leave him be for tonight. My guess is he'll want to be alone anyway, so let's just all go home, and clear our heads... but tomorrow, you'll make this up to him, big time."

Answered with another round of chagrined nods, an even better idea began to form in Brenda's mind. By the time she reached her car, that idea had become a plan that had her scrabbling through her bag for her cellphone. If Buzz was still too upset to take any calls from the rest of her team, that was fine. God knew, she could understand why. But surely he'd still allow her to check up on him, and... come on, Buzz. Pick up, pick up, pick up.

"H-Hello? Chief?"

Oh, thank you, Lord!

"Yes, Buzz... yes, it's me, and... no, no, Buzz, that's okay, I'm fine, but... well, it's you I'm more concerned about... I know everything you told us about your mom could have been handled a whole lot better, and... well, if you can, Buzz, I'd like you to think this over..."