2014

Sharon stared out of the window of her office, as she sipped her afternoon tea. A curtain of rain was falling outside; the drops knocking on the glass panel so strongly that it seemed like the rain had every intention of shattering it. Despite the violent sound, she enjoyed the beat. It was rhythmic and soothing, in a way. She always liked rainy days, and in LA a rainy day was a blessing.

She brought the cup to her mouth, feeling the steam hitting her face, the warmth encompassing. Her lips touched the rim of the cup and she took a sip of the mildly sweet hot liquid, enjoying the nutty undertone of it as she let it slide down her throat and warm her on the inside. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing her thoughts to drift away from the office and from the squad's current investigation. Rainy days always reminded her of Jack and of the day she met him.

The rain was hitting the windowpane of her car so vigorously that she feared it would cave in under the pressure of the water. She unlocked the car door and threw her backpack into the passenger seat, then closed the door and circled the car, her hair and clothes becoming soaked within seconds. Sliding into the driver's seat, she shut the door with a thud and moved aside a strand of dark, long and very wet hair that was stuck to her face. She started the engine, and was only able to drive a short distance before it started coughing and the car stopped moving.

"No, no, no!" she called out in exasperation. Her car has been giving her some trouble over the last couple of weeks, but the mechanic said that everything was fine. She tried to start the car again, but the only thing she heard was the desperate cough of the engine before it died completely. Going out of the car, she opened the engine cover and tried to get a look inside, but closed it almost immediately. The last thing she needed was for the rain to go inside and cause damage. And even if she could locate the problem herself, she had no means of fixing it. A screech of wheels made her turn around. A faded blue beat-up VW bug stopped next to her.

"You need help with your car?" the guy in the car seemed familiar. She was quite sure they took a couple of courses together. Before she was able to answer, he went out of his car and stood by her side, opening the engine cover of her car. After examining it for a few moments, he went into her car and tried to turn on the engine. "I'm not a mechanic, but I think your battery is dead," he said.

"Oh, no," she sighed. "Well, thank you…"

"Jackson Raydor, but you can call me Jack," he smiled.

"Thank you, Jack. I guess I'll go back inside and call for a cab," she and opened the door of her car, about to grab her backpack and go back into the college building.

"Hey, you didn't tell me your name," Jack called out. Sharon turned around and looked at him. He stood in the pouring rain, with a smile on his face.

"I'm Sharon Clarke," she introduced herself, and they shook hands.

"Well, Sharon, let me help you push the car back into your parking spot," he said. It took them a few minutes to push the car together.

"Thanks again, Jack. I really appreciate your help," she smiled.

"There's nothing to it. I'm happy to help." He offered her a charming smile and she noticed the way his blue eyes shone like gems even through the heavy rain that made everything around them gray.

"Umm, you better go back to your car, you're getting wet."

"Really? From where I stand, the sun is shining all over the place," Jack smiled as he reached out for her hand and pulled her towards him. "I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain…" he sang as he spun her around and she laughed at his impression of Gene Kelly. "What a glorious feelin', I'm happy again…" Sharon found herself so captivated with his happiness that she couldn't resist his crazy dance moves. She was not sure if the loud sound in her ears was the thunders in the sky above them or her heartbeat as they danced in the rain, on Jack's whim. At last, Jack paused and looked into her eyes. "Let me drive you home?" he offered. She nodded slowly, staring into his deep azure gaze.

She was so encompassed in her thoughts that she didn't hear the knock on her office door or the footsteps as her lieutenant walked inside.

"Captain?" he asked, as he walked over to her. His voice drew her from her thoughts and she mentally chastised herself for allowing herself to daydream in the middle of the workday.

"Lieutenant Flynn, how can I help you?" she turned away from the window and the cup shook in her hand.

"I just wondered if you're planning to go to the academy reunion tonight," Andy asked.

"To be honest, I forgot it was tonight," Sharon admitted and looked into her cup for a moment.

"Do you have any plans? I mean, you could still go if you're free," Andy offered. "I can pick you up." Sharon looked at him; his brown eyes were so hopeful and inviting. Warmth crept up her face as she contemplated going on another not-date with him. She really enjoyed at his daughter's wedding and she had a blast when they went together to 'The Nutcracker' despite the confusion that somehow occurred with his family regarding the nature of their relationship. He was always so different than Jack and yet, being around him made her feel the same way she used to feel in the first years of her relationship with Jack: happy and carefree.

"Sure, I'll be happy to join you, Andy," his name rolled on her tongue so naturally and saying it ignited a fuzzy feeling that spread inside her stomach and made her skin tingle.

"That's great. I'll pick you up at 6, is that okay?" Andy asked, his voice excited as if he just won a million dollars.

"It's perfect," she smiled at him and her eyes sparkled at that moment, as if she was 18 years old again and falling in love for the first time.