A/N Thank you all for the reviews and follows! I started out writing this for myself as a test, and the encouragement has been beyond amazing. Thank you. Okay, so I think there are a couple more short chapters ahead… and then we will see if I have any more ideas.

Into Something More
Chapter 5

'Our, for lack of a better word, friendship was really put to the test eight years or so ago when you thought I was spying on your division. Obviously I always had the best interests of the department at heart, but it was difficult to hang around you all. No matter how nice I tried to be there was so little trust that I was always forced into the 'bad guy' role. So, imagine my surprise when you called me in the middle of the night. Oh, 'lucky day' indeed. Lucky day when an officer is involved in an accident and then passes out from blood loss right in front you? If I had only known then that you were going to make such a habit out of fainting on me…'

The case had wrapped up relatively uneventfully compared to how it had all began. Sharon did not know what to expect when she received the late night phone call from Lt. Flynn, but she had definitely not anticipated the level of worry she felt having had him lose consciousness in front of her. That irritating man had waited to give his statement before allowing medical treatment. If she had been allowed she would have sanctioned him for that alone. Thankfully though she was able to maintain her calm, up until he passed out, and then she scared the EMT with her rather forceful command, "He had better wake up." The poor kid. If she was being honest with herself her actions had surprised her as well. Who would have thought she would be so worried over the man who had spent the better part of the last year attempting to make her professional life miserable. Luckily though she was able to push those thoughts almost immediately to the side and put her energy into investigating the attack and helping to solve the case.

Now, three days later she found herself standing at his door with his torn leather jacket in her hands. Not exactly sure on what had possessed her to drive across town at this hour, she stood at his front door recounting the events of the last few days. Sharon worked her bottom lip between her teeth wondering why she had made the drive and why she had not just waited until he was back at work to return his jacket. Slightly unsure of herself for the first time in a while she decided it was too awkward to be here, and began to turn back to her car. Just as she had made the decision to leave she heard the lock on the door click. Righting herself and attempting to gain control over her expression she turned to see Flynn standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here Captain?" He cut out rather harshly. Sharon stared back at him noticing that his arm was still in a sling, but the cuts and bruises on his face had begun to heal. He was obviously still sore, but better off than the last time she saw him.

"Well, Lieutenant, I thought I would return your jacket to you," holding up his old black leather jacket. "Since we closed the case this was released. I assumed you would want it back. And since well, you are on medical leave for a few days," Sharon quickly reasoned.

Looking down to the jacket Andy relaxed a bit, "Well, thanks I guess. But why did you bring it out here?"

"It was on my way," she fibbed. "Here," she said pushing the jacket onto his good arm, "Sorry for bothering you." Sharon lifted her eyes to meet his once again, gave a slight nod of her head and made to turn and walk away.

"Wait," Andy sighed taking the jacket and tossing it behind him into the house. He took a step out onto the porch and motioned to the jacket, "Thanks." Then taking another step toward the bench on his porch he continued, "Thanks for dropping off my jacket, but also I guess, thanks for your help with the case."

A little surprised she was actually being thanked for doing her job she took a step toward the bench as well. Andy took a seat and pointed to the other end silently asking if she wanted to sit. A little reluctantly Sharon sat down beside him, "Well, I was just doing my job, but thank you for recognizing that I was just there to help you." She paused a moment and smiled as she teased, "Although you nearly ruined it by not catching the hint about not identifying the suspect right away. I mean seriously Flynn you must be a little more sneaky when it comes to these kinds of things."

"Sneaky?" he countered, "Is that what you call it? Sneaking around the place investigating unsuspecting officers without telling them what is going on?"

Sharon let out an irritated sigh, "You know I cannot tell the officer under investigation about the charges against him. That is how we ensure there are no biases and no lawsuits. How many times-"

"Easy easy, Raydor," he interrupted, "I was just teasing you." Andy smiled at her, "I know it is part of the job, but it does not mean that I am going to just go along with it without putting up some kind of a fight. " He paused adjusting his injured arm with a slight grimace, "Or go along with it without giving you some grief about how annoying it is to be followed around by someone with a clip board recording everything you do. How are we supposed to do our jobs with you babysitting us?" He gave her a crooked smile, but she did not take the comment as light heartedly as he had hoped.

Schooling her expression she sat up a little taller on the bench and glared straight into his eyes. "Ha-ha, very funny Flynn. I am not a babysitter. I am a police Captain," she began, but then stopped herself. Rolling her eyes Sharon let out another sigh, "I am a police Captain who has now been turned into a glorified hall monitor. And to make it even better it looks like I am going to be the designated liaison to your department even more often since there is so much going on higher up the chain. There are so many things left up in the air with who will be getting promotions and or reassigned." Sharon paused again and looked down at her clasped hand, "Which of course is only going to create an even more hostile work environment for everyone involved. Especially with your paranoid partner letting me have it every chance he gets."

Attempting to lighten the mood Andy quickly smiled and motioned with his good arm, "Oh don't mind Provenza, he's a teddy bear really."

Laughing despite herself, "A teddy bear? I am sure he would have you transferred, or moved to permanent desk duty, for even suggesting he was anything close to a teddy bear."

"Ah, let him. You don't convince four women, one twice, to marry you without having some level of teddy bearness to you," Andy laughed.

"Four? One twice?" Sharon choked out in surprise, "The Lieutenant has been married four times? That's crazy."

"Oh yes, and just you wait, I am sure there will be a fifth in no time," Andy grinned widely, "You better watch out. The say hatred is a strong emotion, not too far off from love."

Unable to disguise her look of disgust over the idea of being the fifth Mrs. Provenza Sharon replied, "Do not even joke about that kind of thing." Then chuckling a little, "Although, I know you all hate me, not just Provenza. I saw your drawing last year. The Wicked Witch? Is that the best you could do?"

Rubbing his hand over his face, "Well that was, that was just you know us letting off some steam," he stammered.

"Steam, huh?" She questioned seriously, "Well what is that Provenza was saying in the elevator? Something about you being his the desk monkey? At least as a witch I can work on my own." Her face broke into a slight grin as Andy shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat.

Noticing the grin Andy looked at her and returned it, "Oh I may be a desk monkey with this," he motioned to his side and to his arm. "But I am definitely not one of your witch monkeys."

Smiling slyly back to him, "Oh of course not Flynn. After all, my monkeys fly." They both laughed out loud before attempting to return their conversation to a more work related topic.

After regaining her bearings Sharon motioned to his arm barely able to hide her smile, "After all of this is over I'm not going to have any outstanding complaints against you, right?" Andy gave her a confused look as she clarified, "I mean you did heed Chief's warning about 'keeping your hands off of the nurses?'"

"Oh ye' of little faith. Of course I did. That would be more of a Provenza worry. Man can't stay away from cute young blondes," Andy winked in response

"Well good to know. He's another one that keeps my office pretty busy. Although when you two get together," she paused smiling, "It is rather like the perfect storm. I mean you would think you would have learned by now that the two or you are like magnets for the most ridiculous trouble."

"You have no idea," Andy responded, "I keep telling him to stay away from me, but then I feel sorry for him and let him tag along anyway. Maybe I will learn someday."

Both sat in relative silence for a few moments before Andy spoke again, "You know Captain, you have Chief confused as hell with you being around. She thinks you are out to get the Pope's job and looking for allies."

"Seriously?" Sharon questioned, "I can't discuss the details with you, but I am not the one who needs to be putting my hat in that ring just yet. Your Chief on the other hand, it would do well for her to consider it, but I don't want to talk about that right now." As she finished a car pulled up in the drive.

Both Sharon and Andy stood and walked down the porch steps toward the driveway. Recognizing the vehicle, Andy picked up his speed just a bit to meet the young woman as she was getting out of her car. Using his good arm Andy reached out to help her, "Hey Nic, I wasn't expecting you."

"Hi Dad, I was just coming by to check on you. I heard you were in the hospital?" The younger woman said as her eyes fixed on his arm in the sling. Then noticing the older woman standing behind her father she continued with a hint of confusion at what was going on, "I thought you could use some soup?" Nicole handed the take out bag to her father, "But I can't stay I have to-"

"Oh, don't mind me. I was just leaving," Sharon cut in. "Lieutenant Flynn, I hope you get to feeling better. Remember to get cleared by your doctor before you return to work." Sharon then smiled to the girl, "I was just checking in on your father. He wasn't scratched up too badly, but he will have a few more days to rest before returning to work." With that she turned and walked over to her car. Andy gave Nicole a half grin and held up his hand telling her he would be right back.

Following behind Andy held open the door, "Thanks Captain. Um, and thanks for returning the jacket. Plus, between you and me it was nice to have someone to talk besides Provenza for a change." Then closing the door behind her he returned to his daughter as Sharon set off for home. Nicole gave her father a questioning glance, but decided she did not really have the time to wonder why the police Captain had been there that evening.

'A year later I showed up at your house again. I had been out of town when Gracie Ann had been killed, but I had heard about the case. I knew it had to have been hard on you. You were a little more welcoming at that point, but still. She had reminded you of your daughter and as much as you tried you couldn't get ahold of Nicole that night. Plus, Sandra wasn't much help either. I'm glad I could be there to talk it over with you. I would like to think that that was a bit of turning point, or at least it was close enough to when I took over the division to feel like maybe you and I could work together without too much arguing. After all, I needed an ally during the transition. Then you were an ally once again when Jack came back and disrupted everything. We were friends then and I was so thankful to have a friend after the fall out, and then even more thankful I could return the favor by joining you are Nicole's wedding.'