I'm back folks. OMG I am sooo sorry for the huge delay between updates, I suck I know, but RL is a killer. Too many assignments and 2 exams in 2 weeks *facepalm*. Just so you know, I hate this chapter. But never mind. Anyways, thanks for SanctuaryGurl22, bdevyn, lieutenantflynn, urbandaily, Andie, Natchez and majorcrimesmem for the reviews *hugs*
Provenza waited until Willis was just out of hearing distance before he swooped at Flynn. "Do you have to act all lovey-dovey with the wicked witch? It makes me sick. It's bad enough you insist on bringing her with you whenever we go out." He grumbled.
Flynn sighed inwardly and shook his head in resignation. Ever since Provenza had found out about his and Sharon's relationship, he had taken it upon himself to try and make Flynn 'see the light', taking every possible opportunity to convince Andy that he was either crazy or had been brainwashed by the feminine wiles of Sharon Raydor.
Andy had gotten in to the habit of stubbornly ignoring his friend when he began his ranting, occasionally shutting him up with a warning glare when he went one step too far over the line. A number of times, Flynn had even made attempts to remind the older man that it was in fact he who had said on numerous occasions that 'the heart wants what it wants', a statement he liked to back up by using his friend's previous relationships as examples.
"Hey, I didn't complain when you used to drag Lauren around like a prize pony." Flynn retorted, feeling the tiniest bit smug when his friend seemed to swell with irritation but remained silent. He knew he should amend his statement to 'he didn't complain often', but decided that if Provenza didn't notice, he wasn't going to say anything either. He ducked under the yellow police tape that was still cordoning off the front of the Perkins' home and sauntered over to the large fence and gate that separated the back garden from the front.
Provenza trundled slowly up the path behind him, "So what the hell are we doing back here anyway?" he asked grumpily, not at all impressed by being dragged out of the murder room for a little field trip with Flynn and his drooling groupie.
"Just got something I wanna check out." Flynn said shortly, pushing open the tall wooden gate that led into the back garden. Provenza muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a sarcastic 'oh really?' and paused to beckon for Willis to follow them into the spacious garden.
Flynn waited until the other two had stepped through the gate before closing it behind them. Willis watched with deep interest as Flynn inspected the gate, pulling the bolt at the top across to lock it and visually estimating its height. Provenza leaned against the side of the house, a bored expression on his face.
"Exactly what are we looking for, Sir?" Willis asked, folding her arms across her chest. Flynn frowned and took a step back from the gate.
"If the little girl was out here with her brother, either this gate was left open or someone let her out," he paused and turned to look at Provenza and Willis who were both watching him with keen eyes, "there's no way that little girl could reach to unlock that bolt."
Willis nodded and chewed on her lower lip as she processed the new information. "You think maybe her brother opened it?"
Flynn shrugged jerkily and unlocked the gate, "It's possible," He muttered, not really paying attention to either of the other people who were observing him, "I think we should go tell the chief."
Provenza grunted and pushed himself off the outside wall of the house, "That's it? You drag me all the way out here to look at a gate for two minutes?" Flynn smirked at the older man and held the gate open while he and Willis headed back to the car. He would never tell Provenza that he had actually dragged him there for support rather than his investigative skills. Truth be told, he just didn't like the idea of being stuck with Willis alone. The taunting comments he would undoubtedly receive from his partner was definitely something he would prefer to live without, especially if Sharon had taken it upon herself to relentlessly tease him for Willis's apparent interest in him. He made a mental note to do the same to her the next time he caught another man checking her out at a bar. He smirked to himself; he wouldn't be short of opportunities.
When Provenza decided to sit in the back of the car instead of asserting his superiority and claiming the front passenger seat, Flynn made the trip back to PD in record time, short of using lights and sirens or breaking any serious traffic laws of course. Flynn wished that the ride in the elevator could have gone equally fast; not only did it stop at seemingly every floor between the lobby and Major Crimes, it also filled to the point that Willis ended up with her back pressed firmly against his chest, and he was certain those little jolts of movement she made against him had nothing to do with the movement of the claustrophobically small tin can they were riding in. peering around the backs of other officers heads, Flynn could just make out the smallest of smirks on the reflection of Willis' face on the far wall of the elevator.
When it finally came to a stop on their desired floor, Flynn all but shoved Willis out the door ahead of him, closing his eyes, taking a deep breath and releasing it in a long sigh of relief that he had at least some of his personal space back. When he opened his eyes again he found both Provenza and Willis staring at him curiously, the small smirk still on Anna's face, this time coupled with a mischievous glint in her mocha coloured eyes.
"Y'okay sir?" she asked him, smiling innocently. Flynn gritted his teeth and nodded stiffly, ignoring how the innocent smile became smug and self-satisfied while Provenza creased his eyebrows in confusion.
"Sergeant, why don't you go and tell the chief what we've found." Provenza told her without taking his eyes off Flynn. He waited until she had scuttled away before speaking again, "What is up with you? You've been acting…" he waved his hands as he tried to think of a word, "freaky, all day!" he finished.
Flynn cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head, "I have not." He replied uncertainly.
"Oh yes you have!" Provenza waved a finger in Flynn's face before turning and marching down the hall to the murder room leaving a dumbstruck Flynn behind.
Rubbing a hand through his silver hair, Flynn heaved a sigh and walked slowly after his friend, arriving at the murder room just in time to hear Willis finish her account of their trip to the Perkins' home to Chief Johnson.
"Well, thank you, Sergeant Willis," the chief may have been speaking in her usual sunny tones, but Flynn could tell she seemed slightly overwhelmed by the young sergeant's enthusiasm, "I'll be sure to remember that the next time I talk to the girl's parents."
"Thanks Chief." Willis smiled widely at the chief, looking like a child who had just been congratulated on a piece of work at school.
Flynn came up to the murder board where the chief was standing and cleared his throat lightly. Brenda glanced away from Willis and smiled briefly at him. "Hey Chief, can I talk to you for a minute?" he gestured in the direction of her office with a nod of his head.
Brenda frowned but nodded just the same, "Of course you can, Lieutenant." She led him to her office and held the door open for him, closing it as he dropped into on of the visitor's chairs on front of her desk. "What can I do for you, Lieutenant?"
"Well Chief, I was hoping someone else could take over babysitting Willis." He gave the most imploring look he could manage, only to have the chief respond with an expression of pure confusion.
Placing her hands on her hips, Brenda shifted her weight from one foot to the other, "Whatever for, Lieutenant?"
"Well Chief," he started before realising that he didn't actually have a valid reason for this particular request. What was he supposed to say? 'Well actually Chief, this kid seems to have a bit of a crush and is giving me the creeps and I think it would be a good idea if she was mentored by Provenza by himself.' Somehow he didn't think that would fly.
"You see Chief, I don't think I'm the right guy for this job, I'm impatient with newbies and I think the only thing Willis could learn off me is my excellent people skills." He smiled to himself, oh yeah, that was good.
"And why would you think that Lieutenant? You're an excellent investigator," she paused and smiled at him, "all things considered."
Flynn chuckled and dipped his head in appreciation, "I think this would be a good opportunity for Gabriel to practice some of his leadership skills, give him some more responsibility, show her the ropes and all that."
Brenda gave him a slow smile, "I think-" she began only to be interrupted by the door to her office swinging open to reveal Tao holding a folder in front of him like a shield.
"'Scuse me Chief, we've got a match on the bullet pulled from our vic, it's a nine millimetre registered to the girl's father." Flynn felt his eyebrows shoot into his hairline as if they had a mind of their own. He definitely hadn't been expecting that. Not that he was sure what he had been expecting. Gangbangers maybe? It wasn't the best part of town that the Perkins family lived it but he knew that that was unlikely, and that his brain would rather suggest those possibilities than entertain the idea that the little girl had been killed by her father.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shrill exclamation from his superior, "You're kiddin'?" She sounded as surprised and dismayed as he felt.
Tao's lips tightened as he gave a jerky nod, "Sorry chief, ballistics came back to the weapon issued to Iain Perkins."
"Willis said that the dad is a security guard at a film studio, Chief." Flynn supplied gravely.
Brenda sighed heavily and rubbed quickly at her temple, "Oh for heaven's sake." She chewed briefly on her lower lip as she processed the new information while Flynn and Tao waited patiently for her to come up with a plan of attack.
When she remained silent for longer than usual, Flynn stepped closer and casually cleared his throat, "I can, uh, go and bring Mr. Perkins in for questioning if you want, Chief." Brenda's eyes snapped up to his and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"No no, Lieutenant, we can get somebody else to pick up Mr. Perkins." She paused and studied him briefly, "In fact, why don't you head on home, Lieutenant. After all, it's still your day off, and I'm sure you have better things to be doin'."
Now Flynn was just plain confused. It was on rare occasions that Brenda Leigh Johnson sent a member of her squad home, even after calling them in on their days off. Of those occasions, it was more than likely that whoever was being sent home was either on their deathbed or had been recently.
"You sure Chief? What about Willis?" he asked in a cautiously optimistic tone, not wanting to risk her coming to her senses and changing her mind before he had a chance to escape out the front door of the building.
Brenda smiled at him as if she could sense what he was thinking, "Like you said, Lieutenant, I'm sure Detective Gabriel would be more than happy to watch Sergeant Willis' progress while she's here."
Flynn blinked in surprise but nodded his thanks and waited as the chief led the way out of her office, effectively putting an end to their discussion. Not that he was going to complain.
Willis smiled at him from across the murder room and looked as if she was about to make her over to him before Brenda intercepted her. Judging from the crestfallen expression that crossed her face and the way her eyes flicked over to him, he guessed that the chief was telling her about the change of plan concerning her tutelage. Not that he was going to complain about that either. As far as he was concerned, his 'fan club', as Sharon had so teasingly put it, was exclusive membership only. And Sharon had several of his stolen t-shirts to prove it.