I honestly hope you all like this chapter as much as I do. It has a bit of everything!
Riley almost jogged to catch up to Andy just as the elevator was about to close. "Don't leave," Riley pleaded, standing against the door to keep it open.
"Kiddo, this isn't the time," Andy huffed trying to make sure he didn't take his frustrations out on the kid, When his temper flared it tended to have no limits. He had already messed up with Sharon, he really didn't want to ruin a relationship with his other daughter. "Your mom's right. I need to cool off."
Instead of stepping out of the elevator and letting him go in peace, Riley stepped into the elevator with him. He let out a long disgruntled sigh as Riley hit the button to the main level. She didn't say a word as she rode the elevator with him.
"Look, kiddo, not right now."
She didn't say anything. She just stood quietly next to him. People shouldn't be alone when there are upset. Sharon taught her that. Sharon had also taught her that the people we love need to know they are loved not just when she needed it but when they needed it too. Standing quietly with him meant he wasn't alone, it was the only way she knew how to help.
He stood in the very back of the elevator, studiously ignoring the kid's presence as he stared at the doors. He took deep breaths, he counted to ten, he did everything he was supposed to do but he was still furious. He was furious at McAdams for screwing with his kids, he was furious at Sharon for not allowing him to stand up for his family, he was furious at himself for having so little control of his temper.
The elevator seemed too stuffy as his blood pressure continued to raise. The elevator no longer seemed like a good idea. The moment the door opened on the fourth floor to let more people on, he slid out with Riley right behind him. His strides were double hers so the girl was nearly jogging to keep up with him. They were headed toward the back stairwell. Just as he pushed open the door and took a few steps he shook his head.
"You have to be kidding me," he grumbled under his breath as Riley looked up over the railing. Sure enough McAdams was on the floor above them walking down with another cop in uniform.
"Let me tell you, what I wouldn't give to see Rulebook Raydor's face when those kids tell her about the ticket."
Riley took several steps away from the railing and held tightly onto Andy's arm. Of course the jackass would still be talking about it. It was probably the highlight of his year that he was able to stick the captain's kids with a traffic ticket to piss her off. Part of him wanted to be the ass that said he had nothing better to do in traffic anyway.
"Come on, kiddo," Andy almost whispered gently nudging her forward. The sooner they got out of there, the sooner Andy could cool off. He kept his hand on her shoulder as he directed her to keep going.
"Seriously, what the hell is Raydor thinking, adopting kids at her age?" the other cop that Riley didn't recognize. She tried to get a gage on Andy to see if he did, but he kept his gaze straight ahead, focusing on getting out of the stairway.
"What that bitch needs is a hard fuck to get the stick out of her ass."
Riley felt Andy tense and she bit the inside of her cheek. They were going too far. She knew it. To talk about anyone like that in the stairwell of the same person's work. It was more than just unkind.
There was a chuckle from McAdams that had Riley shivering. "I could bend over my desk and show her what a power trip really feels like."
That was the final straw. Andy stopped dead in his tracks and pulled his car keys out of his pocket. "Riley, go wait for me in the car."
Her big blue eyes looked absolutely terrified as she shook her head. "No, Andy. Please. Let's just go."
But he just glanced back to toward the laughing voices getting closer. "Go, kiddo. It'll be fine."
She wanted to believe him. She really did. It just didn't seem like a possible way whatever was going to happen was going to have a positive outcome. She took his keys and moved down the steps, ducking into a corner on the floor below him as she quickly grabbed her phone out of her pocket.
Provenza sat at his desk muttering to himself about the idiots he worked with. Flynn was a stubborn fool who was trying to fight a battle he only thought he had business in because he was stupidly in love while the captain was fighting a battle alone that she didn't have to because she had already raised two kids on her own without much help and she had no idea how to let someone help.
They were idiots. Two idiots that were hopelessly and stupidly in love with each other. At least Flynn knew he was stubborn. The captain probably didn't even notice it. She had been stubborn and independent to take care of herself and survive. No one could blame her for that. If she would just open her damn eyes and see that Flynn was more likely willing to light himself on fire than allow some half-assed joke of a cop screw with his woman or his kids maybe she would done a little bit of a better job reining him back in. Flynn was just stupid when it came to the people he loved.
The buzzing of his phone made him groan as he snatched the device up and frowned when he saw she had received a message from Riley.
He pushed the read button and frowned and he moved the phone back and forth to find the best angle to read.
3rd floor back stairs. Andy and Mcadams. Help.
Provenza frowned at the message and read it again. "Ye gods. Julio, I think I'm gunna need your help,"
The whole team looked at him with a puzzled glance. "Sir?"
Provenza pushed himself away from his desk. "Looks like Flynn needs us to not only save his ass but maybe his relationship."
Andy waited for McAdams to come to him. He leaned against the wall of the steps and offered the man a tight smile as he appeared. "Well, well. I haven't seen your sorry ass in a while," McAdams joked extending his hand out to Andy in a friendly handshake that Andy had no intention of returning. "I got a story you'll love. Got to write Rulebook Raydor's kids-"
"A ticket, I know." Andy's voice was calm. The man gave him a confused look and Andy pointed up. "Couldn't help but over hear you."
The man's loud laugh boomed through the stairwell. "You know my partner Braxton, right?" McAdams asked giving the younger man who looked barely old enough to carry a gun a hard clap on the arm. The scent the rolled off the man was a little too familiar. Bourbon. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were blood shot. Andy shook his head sadly at the man.
"Ben, have you been drinking?"
If he would have known Riley was still in the stairwell he wouldn't have dared ask, knowing it would lead into a few choice words in the best case. In the worst case… well, he would rather have not thought about it.
Braxton looked nervously between his partner and the man he knew very little about. His badge was a lieutenant's, which was one thing he knew for sure, but other than that, he wasn't sure what the hell was happening. Andy turned his attention to the kid. "Lieutenant Andy Flynn, I work in Major Crimes."
"Under the bitch herself," McAdams added, apparently choosing to ignore his comments about the smell of alcohol.
"About that, Ben." Andy's voice was eerily calm. It was a skill he had picked up from Sharon. Typically he got loud when he was mad, but there seemed to be a chilling control to it. "I would appreciate it if you would treat the captain and her kids with a bit more respect."
McAdams raised a brow at him. "Tell me, Flynn, does she make you all line up and bend over before she shoves the stick up your ass or does it just come naturally working with her?"
Andy took a step up. "Just think of it as favor. You lay off my captain and I'll forget to mention to your superior that you are once again drunk on the job." His head turned to Braxton. "I suggest you leave before your association with this guy ruins a reputation that you want to build in the LAPD."
The rookie was out the nearest door in an instant almost running into Riley in the process. The girl peeked over the edge of the railing to see Andy standing in front of the man with his hands in his front pockets. The look in the other officer's eyes was one that Riley knew too well. Violence.
"You have been sober a while, Ben," Andy said easily. "When was the last time you talked to your sponsor?"
But McAdams wasn't really in the mood to discuss his sobriety. "I don't think that's any of your damn business, just like I'm going to act like your concerned for your Captain isn't any of mine." His hands made hard contact with Andy's chest in a shove. Riley bit her lip as she willed Provenza to hurry up and get there already.
"I'm not looking for trouble. I just want you to keep your mouth shut about my captain," Andy told the man, making no move to remove the man's hands from his lapels.
McAdams shoved Andy again and Riley closed her eyes. She didn't want to see him get hurt and she was so afraid that was exactly what she was going to witness. "When did you become Raydor's bitch?" the man asked.
There was the sound of Andy's back hitting the concrete wall behind him. "I'm not looking for a fight."
"Andy?"
Riley's head looked further up the stairwell to see her mother and brother looking over the side, immediately making Riley slink back before they saw her too.
Ben McAdams apparently had no filter left. "Think she's going to help you out of this one, Andy?" The sound of Sharon's heels rushing down the steps was muffled with the sound of Andy's groan from a hard shot to the gut. Riley squeaked and threw a hand over her mouth as Rusty hurried down after Sharon.
"Hey!" Rusty called out as Sharon slid into the space between Andy and McAdams to keep him from getting another shot in.
"Walk away, officer," Sharon hissed through her teeth as she saw Julio and Provenza storm through the door across from her. It took her a moment to realize that the hand on her wrist was not in fact Andy's but McAdams' holding it painfully tight. His whole hand easily wrapped around her tiny wrist and she realized how angry and drunk this man was. Smelling alcohol on people was pretty much a talent after having an alcoholic for a husband.
Julio moved Rusty out of the way and placed a firm hand on McAdams' shoulder. "Sir, if you hurt my captain, I will have to hurt you."
It was more than just a statement, it was a cold fact. Provenza was right behind him. "And there's at least three witnesses in here to know that you simply tripped."
He didn't dare count Sharon as a witness to the lie, but Rusty, Provenza and Julio all knew exactly what they would say.
"Four!" called a voice from the floor below that made Provenza crack a smile and Andy shake his head even though it hurt a bit to do so at the moment. He should have known Riley would call for backup. She as her mother's daughter and she knew when someone was getting themselves in over their head. It still surprised him a bit that she had hung around in the stairwell though. He hoped that she wouldn't think much on the things McAdams had to say.
"Sir, I'm not going to ask you again. Take your hand off my captain," Julio said a hint lower this time. Riley slowly made her way up the steps sliding in next to her mother and taking the hand that wasn't being restrained. Sharon gave her daughter's hand a light squeeze but didn't take her eyes off the man in front of her.
The moment McAdams released Sharon Julio clapped a hand on the man's shoulder. "I'll walk you out, sir."
All of them watched as Julio led the man down the steps, until Sharon turned her full attention to Andy. Her face was stony as she check him over. Riley didn't hear the blow to the face, but sure enough his cheek was bruised and his nose was bleeding. He didn't dare say a word as Sharon looked him over. "Lieutenant, would you mind making sure McAdams doesn't, uhhm, trip on the way out?" she asked Provenza barely turning away from Andy long enough to give him a thankful smile.
"Yes, captain," he nodded to her and patted Riley's shoulder as he went. He wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he was glad the kid was at least using her head to get help.
Rusty and Riley exchanged nervous looks as Sharon pulled a tissue out of her purse and held it to Andy's nose. All of them were expecting Sharon to be furious. The fact she hadn't actually said a word to Andy yet wasn't a good sign either.
"Did Provenza tell you I texted him?" Riley asked, unsure of how her mother managed to show up in the stairwell at the right time.
Sharon raised a brow at her daughter which informed Riley she just sold herself out. It just didn't seem like a good idea to call her mother at the time when she was so angry at Andy.
"I always take the stairs when I… need a moment to catch my breath."
Rusty smirked at her phrasing. "I suggested we get something to eat before we go sign all the papers. You know, because food makes everyone feel better. "
Andy smirked as Sharon shook her head fondly at her child. When she turned back to Andy he quickly dropped the smile and looked scolded once again. This time Riley jumped in.
"Andy didn't start it, Mom," Riley insisted unsure if she was helping or not. "Really. That McAdams guy was drunk and making some seriously bad comments. Rusty would have probably hit him too. Not that Andy hit the guy, but I wouldn't be mad at him if he did." She was getting frustrated with her words and Andy took a bit of pity on her.
"What the kiddo is trying to say, beautiful." The pet name caught Sharon's attention and though she was mad she could still feel the butterflies in her stomach at his endearing nicknames. "Is that you may be okay with what people have to say about you. You have thick skin, no one doubts that. But just like you hurt when we hurt, we hurt when people try to hurt you."
"Yeah!" Rusty jumped in, nodding. "What he said."
Sharon smirked and continued to wipe the blood off of Andy's face. She dropped her gaze to the floor as she shook her head. It was never a doubt in her mind that she was very loved, still she wasn't quite prepared for the determined protective her kids and Andy had for her.
She had tears in her eyes as she looked back up at Andy. "I understand what you did and why you did it, but please don't make me remind you to leave our relationship out of the murder room."
A single tear slipped down her cheek and Andy brushed it away with his thumb. There was more than one person at fault at the moment but they all were very aware of the mistakes they had made throughout the day.
Andy slid his arm around Sharon's shoulders as Rusty gave his sister a nudge. "You called for backup and you didn't call me?"
"What were you going to do?" Riley shot back. "Because I'm pretty sure not even you could take a random punk cop in a stairwell."
Rusty smirked at his sister. "So we have time to eat before we become all like an official family, whatever?"
Sharon laughed as Andy pressed a kiss to the side of her head. In a matter of hours, Sharon would have Riley and Rusty officially as her children. They would have a mother the hospital would allow in the room if they were hurt. She was more than an emergency contact and a roommate. She would be seen as their mother in the eyes of the law.
Rusty didn't expect it to be so emotional. Sharon's voice was cracking with happy tears and Riley's hands shook as she signed the paper, yet it wasn't until Sharon had pulled both of them into one of those mom hugs, the kind of hugs that lift all the bad of the world away, that Rusty felt his own heart swell. He always had his sister. He had Sharon since he was sixteen. Yet this was a new feeling. This was bullet proof security.
Even as the rest of the team hugged them, all Rusty wanted to do was get home and revel difference. And it was different too.
"Dammit Rusty, watch my six o'clock!" Riley snapped as they continued through the Gear of War co-op campaign. They had received an Xbox One as a gift from Tao, Julio and Amy as well as games and an extra controller from Provenza. Sharon had bought Rusty a new leather wallet and Riley a charm bracelet with a heart that said "baby girl". It was very appropriate.
It was one AM and even Sharon and Andy were still sitting up with them. The kids were set up on the floor with Phantom seeming very done with their constant bickering. "Damn it, Rusty, come help me," Riley complained as once again her character was waiting for a revival.
"You suck at this game," Rusty teased, pushing his sister over.
Andy chuckled as he continued to run his hand through Sharon's hair. She was enjoying just watching her children as her head rested comfortably in her love's lap. She smirked as Riley pushed her brother back.
"No, you suck at being on a team!" Riley shot back giving her brother a shove.
"Isn't it time for bed?" Sharon yawned. Thank God it was Friday because there was no way Sharon was waking up at six AM and making sure everyone was out of the house by eight. No, they were all sleeping in tomorrow.
"But Mom!" Riley whined crawling across the floor to be eye level with her mother. Those big blue eyes were obviously exhausted but she was going to fight sleep. "It's basically our birthday. It's the day we became a family."
Sharon chuckled as Rusty turned off the game causing Riley to frown at him. "Come on, Rye, I'm exhausted and Sharon's going to stay up as long as we do."
There was a moment where Riley's pout turned contemplative. "Can we do something tomorrow then?" she asked resting her head on Andy's knee so her face was close to her mother's. Sharon smiled at her daughter and nodded.
"We'll do something fun, baby," Sharon promised making Riley beam. Riley placed a quick kiss to her mother's cheek and then to Andy's as the girl skipped off to bed with her dog happily trotting behind her. Andy laughed as Sharon sighed and looked up at him. "If I would have known that was all she wanted I would have told her that hours ago."
Rusty shook his head. "You spoil her," he informed his newly official mother.
Sharon stretched as she sat up. "I try to spoil all of you, at least a little," she teased him. "I think you and your sister both deserve a little extra love from time to time."
Rusty's cheeks flushed as he shrugged. Years and he wasn't used to being so openly loved. He took a step toward his room before turning around again and looking at Sharon. She returned her full attention to him as Andy placed his hand on her lower back.
"Thanks. You know, for spoiling Riley and loving us. I just… I just hope that we can give as much to you as you've given to us."
Without another word Rusty rushed off to his room, leaving Sharon in a whirlwind of emotion. Andy placed a kiss on the back of her head. She one time swore that no matter what she would find him or his sister, she had promised Rusty safety and stability and asked for only kindness and civility in return. Those two kids, who were admittedly a handful at times, gave her more life than she could ever try to explain to them.
"They'll understand one day," Andy whispered to her. "When they have kids."
Sharon snorted as shook her head. "Hopefully not for a long time."
I really, really love MamaRaydor. Please review.
(Also, is there anything specific anyone is wanting to see?)