Thank you everyone for all the quick love for this story!

I'm glad you see what I see with story and hope to keep you interested!

Some of the things said will be de ja vu moments to actual episodes, from both The Closer and Major Crimes.

Major crimes is not mine!

Enjoy!


Laughing, the three males walked back into the main room. Sharon followed quietly behind them. It's not that she was shy, but rather she was afraid. Sharon had never seen men act so natural around her. Normally, they were pushy, demanding, and wanted attention twenty-four/ seven (at least that's how her past boyfriends had acted). These men were kind, funny, and even if they ignored her, she didn't mind.

The group shuffled into their seats and sat quietly. They all patiently waited for Pope to arrive, and when he didn't, they awkwardly stared at each other.

"Let's go over what we know," Sharon said standing. She took control of the group with ease and walked over to the whiteboard. In capital letters with a ref marker, Sharon wrote, 'Cadaver', followed by 'blunt force trauma to the head', 'small abrasions', and 'cat food'.

"Sharon?" Andy asked lightly. "What is it you saw on the rug?"

Sharon smiled a genuine smile. It brightened her features and the guys just stared in awe- even Tao.

"Well, gentlemen, I saw one thing- but first, what type of shoe was the dummy wearing?" Sharon watched as the men thought about it.

"The dummy was barefoot," Provenza commented.

Sharon's smile grew as she said, "But there was a high heel mark in the rug."

"So it was a hate crime?" Tao asked, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"All murders are hate crimes."

"But not all hate crimes are murders," Provenza stated. It was probably the only wise thing he'll ever say.

Sharon hummed, saying, "Our killer was young or elderly, not good at walking in heels. Strong, she a managed to bring down our five- foot- two victim, and smart enough to get away," Sharon wrote as she spoke. Provenza grunted in agreement.

"Huh," Pope said as he rounded the corner into the main room. "Never thought of using the whiteboard like that."

"Chief," Flynn stood to address the older man. "I think Sharon should be our leader."

Pope's priceless expression of shock was surprising. From Flynn's view, Pope seemed to have favored Sharon the most so far.

Tao mumbled something that sounded like, "I second that." Provenza was the only one who disagreed.

"I think I should be the leader. I mean, who's better than me?" Pope smirked at Provenza's words and shook his head.

"I'll take into consideration your… nominations," Pope said as he checked his watch. "We have a little over five hours before shift ends. This time will be your normal no-case day. If you get a case though, you're up all hours. Right now, this police department is financially sound, so overtime is no problem. Explore some more, and you'll know when the next task comes up."

There was something foretelling in Pope's sentence that made everyone shiver. Chief left the room.

"So," Tao said, trying to break the second awkward silence of the day. "Anyone from around here?" It wasn't a terrible conversation starter, but not the best one either.

"I grew up in Harlem, New York," Flynn shared.

"I've got parents here. I grew up in Port Arthur, Texas," Provenza stated. The group looked expectantly at Sharon.

"I grew up in Ithaca, New York, my parents still live there," the fact that Sharon spoke about herself was a shock itself. "What about you, Detective Tao?"

"I was born and raised in San Francisco, California."

It was nice that everyone got to share something about themselves. It was just a step closer to becoming a full team.

Cadaver #2

Bethany Turner was told everything was safe. A wire cable would be wrapped around a harness that would be attached to her waist. The cable would be held by two men and was to be bolted to a cinder block. All Bethany was to do was sand on the edge of the twelfth story window and pretend to jump.

Someone would be trying to talk her out of jumping. When Bethany felt persuaded to back out, she'd back out. the plan was fool proof.

"Ready?" Asked one of the men who was to hold the cable- and Bethany's life.

"Ready," Bethany confirmed, drawing in a shaky breath to calm her nerves. Bethany took the ten small steps towards the window with weak knees. There were many things that could go wrong in a minute notice. Bethany found herself staring at the bustling city of Los Angeles from twelve stories up. Bethany stood still. Gripping the window's edge tightly. The warm Los Angeles air blew mercilessly through Bethany's hair.

Now all she had to do was wait.

"We've got a jumper!" A uniformed officer announced, walking into the main room of the division. The team of four exchanged quick glances and jumped up.

"There's the next task," Provenza shouted, following the uniform.

The team rushed to their unmarked vehicles, listening as Sharon shouted, "Lights and sirens, gentlemen. Lights and sirens." Sharon backed out after the uniform as he led the team to the scene.

Bethany was still. Frozen, she watched with a beating heart as the police boundaries were set up, almost as if they thought she was actually going to jump. The older man who had arranged the whole test stood at the bottom. The man who seemed tired and stressed in person, seemed like a small ant from Bethany's view.

"Ma'am?" The guy asked holding onto the wire cable. "You're almost done." Soft reassurance. That was just what Bethany needed.

The squeal of a microphone penetrated the air. Bethany watched as some figures ducked and blocked their ears, trying to block the invading noise.

"My name is Sharon, I'm with the LAPD. Why don't you step back inside?" That wasn't even close to persuasive.

Sharon watched as the figure shock her head, her long brown hair flying across her face. Bethany looked down again, her feet moving an inch closer to the edge.

"How old are you?" Sharon asked. This definitely wasn't one of her stronger assets, and the men didn't seem to step up to the job for this one.

"Thirty-six," came the weak sound of the twelfth story jumper.

"Are you married? In a relationship?"

"Married… fourteen years."

"I bet that person would want to see you tonight," Sharon tried, straining to hear the floating answers.

"..fought…left last night."

"Little fights can be solved," Sharon kept hopping she was hitting the right buttons to get the woman to step back inside.

"Not this one," Bethany whispered to herself. This was all becoming a little personally for Bethany, maybe this was the perfect way out. He left, emptied the bank account this morning, and ran off.

Bethany unbuckled the left side of the harness.

"Ma'am! Come back in, you can't do that!" the man holding the cable said, gently pulling the cable back, hopping to pull the suicidal person back in.

Click!

Sharon watched as the jumper straightened her back, and drew her arms towards her chest. Bethany's hands formed a silent prayer before spreading out likes a bird's wings. Bethany's hair flew like a white flag, surrendering herself to the world. Bethany closed her eyes, and leaned forward.

The man holding the cable was so focused on pulling the woman back in, her didn't realize when the harness slipped from the woman's waist.

"Shit," Pope mumbled from Sharon's side as they all watch in horror as the woman fell to the sidewalk.

Sharon drew in a puff of air, "I thought this was a test." Sharon's anger focused on Pope and his stupidity. "Wasn't this supposed to be safe?"

"It was! How was I to know the woman was actually suicidal?" Pope questioned with equal anger.

Flynn bowed his head, then did Provenza, and Tao. Sharon looked the team and followed them. They were learning a great deal from the other's strengths.

"This is our first loss, may there be no more," Provenza mumbled softly.

The rookies were told it was an accident and a suicide, there was no investigation.

That was there second test.

May the third be safer.


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