ADJUSTMENTS

Chapter 17

by Stands With a Fic - Camima

Sharon sat down at her desk, drawing her chair nearer as she huffed and raised her brows. More than a dozen reports were waiting for her approval, which meant overtime. She leaned forward, flipping open the folder and sighing again - ready to do her duty and more than aware that paperwork was an important part of her job. Nevertheless, she no longer had time for Andy and she regretted it – not to mention the fact that she missed him too. Looking out of the panel on her right at Andy's empty chair, she was glad that he was at Nicole's again and the thought eased her guilt somewhat. She sighed, smiling tenderly as her shoulders dropped. She returned her eyes to the report and began to read.

As she continued to read, her attention was completely absorbed by the reports – she consulted the files related to them so as to refresh her memory of the evidence pertaining to the case whilst distracting herself from the ever-present thought of Andy. At six – almost half past six, actually – Sharon's phone buzzed with a text from Andy: 'Hey beautiful, how's work going?'

Sharon smiled as she tapped out a response, 'Fine. Are you enjoying your night with Nicole?'

Andy replied, 'I am, but I can't stop thinking about you.'

Almost an hour later, Andy texted her again, 'My mind is still set on you – are you still working?'

Sharon smiled fondly as she sighed, shaking her head as she typed, 'Still working.' Biting her bottom lip as she dwelled on her words, she added, 'and I'm still thinking about you', smiling at the sensation that arose in her chest at the thought of Andy.

Her answer caused Andy to type back 'Hey, I can be with you in twenty!'

'I would never finish my work if you did!' Sharon replied, despite her mind's repeated suggestion to type the exact opposite, begging Andy to take her home.

Andy's third text read: 'this is the last time that I leave you working alone.'

She sighed, smiling tenderly and answering, 'We'll see'.

It was nine at night when Sharon finally stretched out, moaning with every soothing motion of their slightly aching muscles. Her blazer hung from the back of her chair, as it had since she had begun working, and her shoes lay beneath her desk. Sharon turned the nth page since beginning her work and despite her intense focus; her eyes couldn't help seeking out Andy's writing. At first she had been surprised – theoretically every report that she read should be the final draft and therefore typed. Whilst there would be handwritten testimonies by criminals and witnesses, rarely would the final notes be handwritten by her detectives, much less enclosed in an envelope. She examined the envelope, noticing that its consistency and colour were not that of the standard equipment. In the couple of seconds it took her to come to this conclusion, her attention had been completely focused on Andy's handwriting, opening the envelope and reading the letter within. A huge grin spread across her lips, painting her face with amusement before becoming more emotional. She read his carefully written words:

Sharon,

Since you're busy with work and won't allow me to help you, I thought I might at least ease your burden later. This is the fifth night that we have been apart and I miss you, I really do. I love you, Sharon.

Andy.

Encouraged by Andy's promise and her wish to join him as soon as possible, Sharon fixed her attention on the last remaining folder. Despite this, she could not ignore her inner voice, squealing at the thought of what Andy might have in store for her.

However, the next morning, it was the contents of another envelope that Sharon was greeted with. Startled, she watched Andy through the blinds, looking for a hint as to what was within. Opening it, she read the words, 'Your eyes are like emeralds that put the stars to shame'.

Recovering, Sharon turned her gaze on Andy, who reacted as though he had been promised unimaginable treasures. Sharon's gaze and smile gave him some great ideas for how he would showcase his passion for her.

Each time Sharon opened one of Andy's reports she found herself growing nervous and eager at the thought of a new message, surprised and slightly disappointed when there were no messages – much to Andy's amusement. However, when there were no letters in his reports, Sharon was sure to find a loving or flattering email in her private account that would cause her to blush. Moreover, Andy had kept his promise to help her on the nights that she had to work overtime, knowing from experience that taking the folders home would not be especially productive. After a whole day at work, Lieutenant Flynn was eager to have Captain Raydor all to himself – banishing the mere thought of work to the recesses of his mind whilst they were together more intimately. Thus, in keeping with his promise, on the evenings that Sharon had excess paperwork, Andy would pretend to leave, bidding the Captain goodbye whilst ignoring the team's inquisitive looks – the same attention they had garnered since showing up at the crime scene smartly dressed a few weeks ago. Usually he would hide in the restrooms or his car, waiting for the rest of the team to leave so that he could go back to Sharon, who would send him a text to green-light his re-entrance.

Sharon sat her desk, a balance sheet occupying her attention. Beside her, Andy was reading a report, glancing at her from time to time. Frowning as she read the figures, her attention was completely captured by her work. Inhaling sharply, she shook her head slightly, which caused Andy to finally fix his gaze on her. Exhaling, she uncapped her yellow highlighter and ran through a couple of lines, feeling Andy's gaze on her. She quickly glanced at him, a soft and tired smile passing her lips before she returned her attention to the accounts. As her hand – armed with the highlighter – approached the sheet again, Andy's hand seized her wrist, startling her. Sharon turned to look at him quizzically, a hint of irritation in her gaze. Shaking her head slightly as if to ask, 'What?' she continued to watch his movements. Andy rolled his eyes, smiling at her all the while.

"Enough is enough, Sharon." He said steadily, his voice lowered as though he were preventing her self-harm. "Andy, you promised to help me finish my work – which I intend to do – but also to let me do it in peace," Sharon countered, sounding less than convinced by her own argument. Andy took no notice of her words, releasing her wrist only to bend down and spin her chair, remaining bend on his elbows and knees in front of her.

"Sharon, no." he said stubbornly out of care for her. Sharon sighed and closed her eyes, letting her hands fall into her lap. Andy delicately took off her glasses and put them on the table, turning to face her again. "Please, Sharon, let's go home. You need to rest. I can't stand seeing you like this." Andy said lowly, utterly sincere.

Sharon's lips curved. She frowned as she leaned towards him, caressing his cheek.

"I'm fine, Andy." Sharon bent further forward and put her arms around Andy's neck, resting on his shoulders as she breathed, "I'm sorry."

Andy reached for her thighs, caressing them gently as his hands slid along her outer thighs, whispering in surprise, "What for?" Smiling tenderly, his tone conveyed no concern, as there could be nothing for Sharon to be sorry for. Gazing at her eyes and cheekbones as she pulled back just enough to look at him, he felt her move ever so slightly, keeping her arms around his neck.

"I've been so busy lately we haven't been able to go on a real date even though I would really like to spend more time with you," Sharon said, looking scanning the room before returning her intense and mournful gaze to Andy's mesmerized one.

"Hey, I work with you Sharon! I know what this is like, ok?" Sharon nodded her head once, appreciating his heartfelt intentions.

"Andy -" she said gratefully, cupping his cheeks. Andy swallowed hard, watching as Sharon's eyes darkened. She knew that he wanted her, and it had been too long since she had felt wanted, since she herself had yearned. Her lips parted, trembling slightly as her jaw clenched. Andy plucked Sharon's lips between his, delicately nipping as if he wanted to stop their trembling. Sharon closed her eyes slowly.

"It's late and we're the only people on the whole floor…" whispered Andy against Sharon's lips, reading a hint of weak objection in her frown. Caressing her waist, he moved his hands under her blazer. Sharon's eyes shut, her shoulders falling as she resigned herself to his ministrations. Ignoring the Captain's inner objections, Sharon responded to Andy, her body arching to expose her cleavage to Andy's brushing lips and caressing hands that eagerly cupped her bottom.

"Andy..." she heard herself moan.

"Hmmm?" he continued his actions, undisturbed.

"Lock the doors please." Andy stopped, looking back at her in shock for a moment before smiling widely – stunned by her words but happy to obey. He locked the doors, a hand behind his back, always looking at Sharon through his darkened gaze, a smile lighting his face as the second and last door clicked behind him. Andy smiled, approaching Sharon again as she leaned back into her chair, her hands grabbing the armrests, legs crossed seductively. Andy watched her pose, kneeling down to caress her ankles, shins and calves. Sharon's legs spread slightly, watching as Andy took his jacket from the back of his chair and laid it down onto the carpet. He caught her stunned expression – eyes wide and lips parted, inhaling deeply and swallowing hard in surprise. A tiny smile lit her face as she arched her brow, much to Andy's surprise and pleasure. Passing his hands around her waist and to her back, Andy pulled Sharon to him, gazing into her eyes. Then, hoisting her body up from the chair, he laid her down on his jacket, leaning in to her and kissing her ear lobe.

He smiled against her neck and jaw as she giggled as he whispered roughly, "we'll think about how to get up later…"

The following morning while she was working at her desk, Sharon's cell buzzed. She blushed and looked for Andy outside her office. She found him grinning and winking at her and nodded, smiling as she mouthed, 'of course!' His text read: 'you are stunning and I love you, will go on a date with me tonight?'

Andy's face shone with the smile he gave her, shielding his face from Provenza's inquisitive glances as he pretended to rub his forehead thoughtfully.

Later that morning, Andy entered Sharon's office to share the information he had gathered on the suspect of a murder. After knocking quickly on the frame, he opened the door and entered, immediately turning to the door to shut it. As he turned to Sharon, he suddenly stopped - thunderstruck, agape. Sharon looked at him quizzically before she realized that Andy's stunned expression was caused by her leaning on the edge of her desk, her back arched and bottom facing him. Spreading a hand on the edge of the desk, she waited for him to stop looking at her, watching him from over the brim of her glasses. Reading the direction of his thoughts, she glanced at the blinds to check if they were closed, entertaining the thought of continuing with Andy's intentions. Andy caught her glance and approached her slowly, not wanting to miss a single detail of her being and movements – of her mock consternation yet parted and expectant lips. Andy leaned his outer thigh against the same edge of her desk as she drew up and folded her arms under her breasts, almost challenging him with a half-professional smile and raised brows. Lurking beneath her smile was something provocative Andy thought as his eyes traveled around her body and to her hair, returning finally to hers.

"Captain, I have the information you asked for," he said professionally, his demeanor cheeky and unprofessional.

"Lieutenant, I'm all ears," she said in a melodic tone.

"Oh no, you're not, Captain, and I know it all too well!" grinned Andy as he raised his brows, shaking his head.

"If you want that information I'll give it to you, though you'll have to find a more persuasive way of convincing me to give it to you – like a trade, perhaps…" He pursed his lips and tilted his head to the side, attempting to read Sharon's features, noticing that her jaw was clenched.

"The satisfaction of fulfilling your duty is what you will receive in exchange, Lieutenant," Sharon spoke earnestly, fixing her gaze on Andy as if to show him the futility of his attempts at seduction at work.

Andy smiled as he handed her his report, nodding to show that he had understood what she hadn't said. As he reached the handle of the door he heard Sharon add in a sultry whisper, "and my personal gratitude... which I will express to you at a more suitable time and place than presently, and which will more than compensate for your information."

Andy turned to look at Sharon, a huge smile spreading over his lips as he saluted her, "I take you by your word Captain."

The members of the team had become more sensitive to their Captain and Flynn's behavior of late, particularly when they were together. Nobody wanted to spy on them purposefully, but their attention had been piqued since the night that Sharon and Andy had arrived at the crime scene together. There had been only one occasion in which the matter had been mentioned loudly but Provenza had quickly stifled any talk before it could develop into a wider – and tenser – issue, reminding the team that they were not paid to sit around and gossip. Provenza, however, had witnessed the development of the new trend: spotting unusual behavior in the Captain and Flynn.

Many little things were just now being noticed by the team, despite past dismissal from attention. Provenza had noticed the first signs a mere day after the Captain and Flynn's non-professional meeting. During an interview with the Captain he and Flynn had been following from the Media Room, he had noticed that whenever Sharon looked towards the camera, Flynn met her eyes on screen, his gaze leaving little to speculation. When Provenza caught Buzz's eyes bulging out of their sockets as he caught Andy lingering on the Captain's legs, he had proof that Andy's behavior had not been subtle enough.

The previous week, Provenza had met Andy in the restrooms before meeting with the Captain. Andy had combed his hair as though preparing for a date and, if that wasn't enough, Tao's wife had told him that she had seen the Captain and Flynn sharing breakfast together almost every morning at her friend Gracie's café. In fact, to Sharon and Andy's ignorance, Gracie actually collected photos of her favorite clients, particularly if they were famous. Thanks to Andy's admiration of the Captain, Gracie had learned that Sharon was the head of the Major Crimes Division at the LAPD as well as the highest ranking female officer currently in employment. Tao's wife had recounted this to her husband, adding that in one particular photo, Andy's hand had lingered on the small of the Captain's back in a way that had seemed less-than-professional, causing Mike to choke on his coffee. That same morning, Andy and the Captain entered the murder room together, the Captain thanking Andy for the "ride" he had given her. The scene had been fodder enough for whatever speculation the team had begun, and Provenza could practically smell their imaginations burning. However, the clearest of evidence: when Andy had sat at his desk that morning, clear traces of foundation were present on his collar which, much to Provenza's consternation, Julio had already spotted and was smiling quietly about.

The same morning, Provenza had caught Flynn gazing at a spot on the carpet in the Captain's office as though recalling something rather inappropriate for the office. Desperately pushing away the thought that Flynn might be dreaming of the Captain, Provenza kneaded his forehead tiredly, resolving to speak to Andy calmly and sincerely.

'Flynn!' he whispered loudly, gesturing for his friend to come closer. Andy turned to him he and Sharon entered the murder room. Sharon turned to look at them questioningly, to which Andy responded by turning his palms up. Curving her lips, Sharon turned away from the two men and entered her office. "Flynn, we need to talk." Provenza said seriously.

"Hey, Louie, you alright?" Flynn asked, his carefree expression becoming concerned.

'I am Flynn. Thanks. But listen - we seriously need to talk," repeated Provenza, his voice grave.

"I'm listening to you. I have nothing to talk about," Andy shrugged.

"No, no, no, not here. Listen what about tonight? I drink, you watch me drink and we have a nice conversation like at the old times?" Provenza smiled and Andy thought for a second his friend's face was going to crack and fall down.

"Louie, I'm sorry - I'm busy..." Andy looked in the direction of Sharon's office before realizing that he was giving himself away and hurriedly looked down at his shoes.

"Ok. So tell me when you're not busy. Flynn, I have to talk to you." Provenza grabbed Andy's wrist and looked into his eyes. Andy was surprised by his friend's calm resolution – he really did want to talk to him and Andy was fairly certain that he could divine the topic but he needed to discuss it with Sharon first.

"Ok Louie. I'll let you know then, really. Just let me arrange a few things and I'll tell you tomorrow," Andy looked at his friend as he asked for his approval.

"Ok, Flynn. Not later than tomorrow," he said seriously.

Andy nodded and patted his friend on a shoulder. Then turned and knocked on the Captain's door.

Provenza's sigh was audible to the whole team.

"Hey! Hi -" Sharon smiled at Andy as she entered his apartment. Andy smiled back and kissed her lips as he shut the door.

"Hi." He smiled wider, took her purse and put it down on the telephone table. Then turned to Sharon and helped her to take off her blazer.

"Thank you." She turned her head to the side, looking over her shoulder and smiling at Andy gratefully yet tiredly. Andy turned her to make her face him, pressing his lips to her forehead as he rubbed her back and held her against him. She closed her eyes to soak into the pacifying sensation of Andy's solid warm body embracing her. She smelled his shirt as she rubbed his chest with her cheek, smiling at the familiar mix of scents.

"I'm sorry, Andy, I really want to go out on date with you..." she moaned tiredly, moving nothing but her lips softly.

"Sharon, we'll have our date. Right now, I can only think of you here in my arms – nothing else matters," Andy reassured her in a low tone, holding her tightly as he caressed the hair on the back of her head as she sighed deeply.

"Thank you." Andy felt her cheek move to smile against his neck. Then, pulling away slowly, she smiled fully – her happiness restored by Andy's embrace and words. She leaned a hand against his arm and bent down to take off her shoes. Picking them up, she dropped them again in a corner beside the door, feeling Andy's hands grab her hips from behind as she drew up. She smiled as her back bumped into his chest and she felt his hands lift her hair, placing it all on her left shoulder as he began kissing her neck. Sharon closed her eyes as Andy watched her exposing her skin to his. He brushed her lobe causing her to inhale sharply.

"Sharon," Andy whispered, "the tub is ready for you," he kissed her collarbone. His arms crossed over her stomach and enclosed her chest, hands spreading and clenching the thin blouse and the soft flesh at the sides of Sharon's breasts in a passionate embrace. Sharon rolled her head back against Andy's chest as she tilted it slightly aside to look into his eyes. Her hands left his forearms and reached for his face as she arched her back to whirl on her heels and cup his cheeks. Sharon pulled Andy into her now as her lips covered his in a sultrily lingering brush.

"Thank you," she whispered against his lips. She pulled away and started walking into Andy's bathroom as she tugged her blouse out of the waistline of her skirt. She turned to throw Andy an inviting smile to join her as she unbuttoned her blouse. Andy grinned and nodded his head before his mouth slackened, eyes widened and his fingertips reached desperately for his earlobe. Sharon stopped with a concerned frown, monitoring Andy closely.

"Andy? What's wrong?" she asked, reaching for his chest

Andy turned to her laughing as he saw deep concern painting her face, "Sharon," he took her hands in his, "I was kidding!" he laughed.

'Andrew Flynn! You scared me!' Sharon breathed uncertain whether to laugh with him or be angry at him.

"I could see that! Come on Sharon!" Andy smiled and tilted his head as he arched a brow.

"You find scaring me funny?" she countered as she curved her lips and her eyes narrowed.

"I find your concern for me touching," Andy answered earnestly and somewhat intensely, all of a sudden. Looking Sharon in the eye, he watched as her jaw dropped. She realized something she had realized once before and had forgotten - Andy was always there, showing and declaring his love for her. He always did everything in his power to make her happy – to show her how much he loved and cared for her. He had accepted her every condition in order to stay by her side. What about her? While she did love him, she had never shown him the same compassion through action. He knew she loved him...didn't he? Of course... but he deserved to be shown and told every day (or at the very least, more often). Sharon felt selfish and guilty for the second time since growing closer to Andy. Guilty and deeply sorry. She looked at the wonderful, tender, compassionate and generous man Andy was and realized that she had so much to be thankful for.

"I love you," she breathed, emotions making her chest ache as she frowned, unable to bear the overwhelming wave of love that radiated within her. She swallowed hard and took a step to close the space between her and Andy. Frowning slightly, Andy's grin had been swept away by Sharon's sudden display of vulnerability and the conviction of her words. "Andy, I love you." Sharon now smiled, her eyes widening as her brows rose, almost surprised by her need to tell him. She surrendered to the intensity of her emotions and felt the air fill her lungs once more. "D'you know that?" Sharon asked, nodding slightly as she smiled sweetly. Andy nodded his head as she cupped his cheeks, looking at her with a stunned smile, "because if you don't know, I'll tell you now," she continued, "for all the times I didn't and should have."

"Sharon..." Andy's voice was a rough whisper thickly laden with emotion as he fixed his eyes on Sharon's.

"I love you," she repeated as a tear ran down her cheek.

"I know...I know." Andy reassured her in a whisper, offering her a sweet smile and an intense, loving gaze.

Sharon nodded and breathed out as she blinked her tears away. She pressed her lips together. Andy wiped her tears away from her face with his thumbs as he cupped her jaws and neck, "Hey, it's alright!" Andy smiled at her sincerely, "I know you love me, okay?"

'Okay...but I just wanted to tell you," Sharon said through a smile, contrasting with the new tears that fell from her eyes.

"Alright..."

"You're always so good to me, Andy and you don't ever ask for anything in return and..."

"What? Sharon...okay...Listen, Sharon, I'm not good to you okay? I love you! I'm not asking for anything in return because you're already giving me all I want – you! I love you and I'm happy Sharon! I'm happy like I've never been my whole life! I'm in my sixties, in love and happy like never before. And all because of you," Andy said honestly, a sweet resolution coloring his voice.

"Andy..." Sharon smiled as her tears stopped, "I want to do something for you, for a change," she said, trying to steady her voice.

"Oh, you don't have to...it's really not necessary, Sharon." Andy gazed into Sharon's pleading eyes, her lips carrying a slight pout. He thought of Provenza and the discussion they would have soon. Andy really trusted his friend and was more than certain that if he confided him about Sharon, nobody else would know. He also knew, however, that Sharon had been ordered not to tell the team. Technically, he hadn't received the same orders but Andy knew that he had to discuss this with Sharon but also knew that it would put her in a precarious position. He resolved once more to deal the matter with his friend by himself.

Sharon sighed and asked, "Promise you'll think about it?" Andy raised his right hand as he rubbed the small of Sharon's back, throwing her a shining smile.

After a brief and intense charged silence he said, "Actually, you know...I'd really love to pick it up from where we paused," his smile became positively boyish as his eyes lingered on Sharon's cleavage, his hands tugging the hems of her blouse upwards and out of the waistline of her skirt.

"Oh..." Sharon breathed softly and smiled, "then I could soap you up, right?"

Andy raised a brow as he smiled, nodding as his eyebrows wagged, "Sure, and I would return the favor, 'cos I'm a gentleman," Andy whispered, directing his attention to a sensitive spot on Sharon's skin just behind her jaw, his lips skimming the skin there, "though I'm afraid the water is no longer hot," he added as he returned his eyes to Sharon's.

Sharon smiled and pursed her lips as she raised a brow. Andy liked her looking at him that way. She had just had a wonderful idea to share with him and he was eager to be shown.

Sharon took off her glasses, placing them on Andy's head. Pushing him back slightly onto his couch, she began unbuttoning the cuff of her shirt, rolling up her sleeve as she walked away and lightly threw out, "I'll be right back!"

She removed the bath plug and let some water flow away, opening the 'H' tap and replacing the plug as steam filled the air.

"Are you ready?" she asked sultrily as she sat on Andy's thighs, clenching them between hers. Andy swallowed perceptibly as he felt his blood heat. He looked at Sharon's thighs as her skirt rode up and nodded slightly. She started unbuttoning his shirt but could barely finish, as Andy pulled her into him completely, cupping her bottom and devouring her ample cleavage. She spread her legs as she felt his hands climb up her outer thighs and lift her skirt. Andy unzipped Sharon's skirt and got rid of it - lifting her slightly against him as he continued to drop feverish kisses on her neck, face and lips. Sharon's skirt fell to the floor as Andy rid himself of his shirt, throwing it on the lamp behind his couch.

"Oh gosh!" Sharon squealed as she fought (unconvincingly) to free herself from Andy's grip, his hands roaming everywhere and his lips covering every inch of her exposed skin.

"What…?!Sharon – no, don't!" Andy fought to keep hold of her.

"Andy! The tub!" she took advantage of Andy's brief distraction by bolting to the bathroom.

The sight of Sharon in only her panties and blouse tip-toeing into his bath room aroused him even more.

He put Sharon's glasses down on his coffee table and kicked off his shoes, chasing her.

Andy found Sharon bent over the tub, closing the tap in time to prevent overflowing, her hips, bottom and legs elegantly swaying at the movement.

Andy's mind lit up and the following instant the sound of splashing water and Sharon's screams and giggles filled the air. The touch of her skin – the feel of her soft curves and wet lips pressed between his as he muffled her giggles with his kisses – filled him. Sharon fulfilled Andy's body and soul.