Sharon followed Brenda down the hallway, trying to catch up with her before the elevator whisked her away.
"Brenda, are you going where I think you're going?" She asked in a low, serious tone.
"I need to finish my conversation with Mr. Evans."
"Without backup?" Sharon demanded, "you just sent out your entire squad."
"They can't know." Brenda breathed, the pain in her voice was almost tangible as she spoke.
Sharon nodded understandly but looked sadly at her girlfriend. She put out a hand suddenly, blocking the sensor so the doors wouldn't close. "I love you, you know that. I think what you're doing is reckless and dangerous – but I know that's who you are and this is what you need to do, you need to do this for yourself and I get that."
"I love you, too, Sharon, thank you for understanding." Brenda whispered.
"Be safe, will you?"
Brenda nodded. Sharon removed her hand and Brenda reached out, stopping the elevator doors again. "Maybe… would you ride down with me?"
Sharon stepped onto the elevator and the doors slid shut.
They were silent for a few long moments before Brenda turned and wrapped her arms around Sharon. She gave her a squeeze and leaned her head against Sharon's. "No matter what happens… today or tomorrow or the next day… you are what's most important to me."
Sharon ran her fingers through Brenda's hair, "just promise me you'll be careful."
Brenda leaned in and whispered, "the FBI is going to have my back. I'm going to make sure that I come back to you. You can't tell anybody about the FBI though."
"Deal." Sharon smiled, suddenly feeling a lot better about Brenda's plan.
The elevator reached the ground floor and the doors slid open. "I guess this is you." Sharon said softly.
Brenda stepped out of the elevator, still holding Sharon's hand. Their pinkies still linked, Brenda turned to Sharon. "Would you consider marrying me?"
"What?"
"I've been trying to figure out the best time to ask you but there hasn't really been a great time and I just couldn't not ask any longer." Brenda let go of Sharon's hand and smiled, "don't answer now, okay? Tonight I'm going to take you out to dinner, you can tell me then."
Sharon was stunned as she watched Brenda walk toward the main entrance and the elevator doors slid shut. The elevator was as motionless as she was for a long moment before she absently pressed the button for her floor. As it ascended Sharon let out a deep breath. She had said many times before that she wasn't interested in getting married again and she'd meant it at the time. Now that Brenda had actually asked she wasn't sure.
Sharon felt worlds better knowing that the FBI would be Brenda's back up. She actually felt completely fine with it knowing that Fritz Howard had Brenda's back. She knew how much he loved Brenda and he hadn't been a legitimate threat to their relationship in years. He would protect her to the ends of the earth.
If Sharon herself couldn't be there to protect her, Fritz Howard surely was the next best thing.
She stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall by muscle memory. This was exactly the sort of thing she might talk to Angela about but Sharon was still fighting with James. The only fight that Sharon couldn't count on Angela's unwaivering support was in a fight with James. Angela would always stick up for her little brother.
If she wanted to talk to Angela she'd have to make up with James first. It seemed a waste of perfectly good silent treatment. She'd gone four whole days completely avoiding her son.
"The lovely and talented, Captain Sharon Raydor."
"Gavin," Sharon turned around to face him.
"I don't believe it. Tell me it isn't true." Gavin grinned.
"Tell you what isn't true?" She smiled as he took her hands.
"You did not birth two amazing and perfect children and get this figure back." He held her out at arms length again and looked her over. "You had a surrogate, right?"
"No, I birthed the brats and I've got the excruciatingly long home movies to prove it." Sharon regarded him with suspicion, "are you trying to say that you've recently met my son?"
"Yeah, at the office." Gavin looked at her with some confusion. "Didn't Angela tell you she got him a job?"
Sharon narrowed her eyes with scrutiny. "No…"
"Yep, Angela got him a temp gig working for Josh. He's working on a big case and the plaintiff is trying to bury him in paperwork. James is going to have a lot of reading to do this upcoming month."
"Oh good. So James and Angela are going to get even closer and James is going to hang out with Josh…" Sharon rubbed her eyes. "Great."
"So… not good?" Gavin furrowed his brow, "well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news then…"
Sharon shook her head, "forget it." She glanced at her phone. "So it seems like today might spell the end of the lawsuit, must be a relief."
"Honey, your woman is fabulous, I have nothing but the utmost respect for her and her work but sometimes she drives me up the fricking wall, she's such a handful."
"Yeah, I hear you." Sharon snickered. She checked her phone again.
"Expecting a call?"
"Um… sort of, not exactly…" Sharon bit her lip. "But I wouldn't get this hypothetical call for a while anyway so…"
"Where is the Georgian Spitfire?"
"She's…" Sharon let out a breath. "She made an emergency run for some hostess snack cakes. You know how she gets."
Gavin nodded, "alright, well, we've got Goldman sweating bullets which is thanks in no small part to you and your tireless efforts."
"Well, it's my job…" Sharon said, absently looking back down to her phone, "would you excuse me? I… I just have to make a call." She breezed by Gavin and walked into the Major Crimes conference room and closed and locked the door. She pulled the blinds shut and sat down.
She wasn't going to be able to focus on anything until she knew that Brenda was alright so she'd just have to wait.
Sharon had laid her head down on the table and she startled upright when her phone vibrated. "Oh!" She fumbled to answer it and put it ot her ear, "Captain Raydor."
"Sharon," Brenda breathed on the other end. "I'm just on my way back downtown. We got him, we got Marvin."
There was a knock on the conference room door. "Oh, darling, I'm so glad you're okay, I have to go someone's knocking. I'll see you in about ten?"
Sharon ended the call, slipped the phone into her pocket and got up from the table, she smoothed her hair down and went to open the door. Gavin stuck his head in, "hello there, beautiful, got some light reading for you. When the FBI called and let us know that they were tapping into Marvin Evans apartment Goldman got antsy and we've reached an agreement. It just needs the professional standards seal of approval."
"Let me see it." Sharon held her hand out for it.
"The bottom line is Brenda's being dropped from the suit, that's really the most important thing."
"Give it to me, please?" Sharon wiggled her fingers for it; Gavin passed it to her. "Thank you."
Sharon burst into Pope's office. Pope had been talking to Goldman and looked up with mild exapseration when he saw Sharon. "You know, knocking on someone's door before entering is considered a sign of respect in some cultures.
"She's not going to go for this." Sharon dropped it on Pope's desk. "State court found her not guilty, in case you forgot. This special order is nothing but bullying."
"Captain-"
"Not all of LA is safe, this special order would make it impossible for suspects or witnesses who live in bad neighborhoods to be dropped off at their homes-"
"Ms. Johnson dropped Tyrell Baylor off in front of a gang of people." Goldman insisted.
"Who lived in the neighborhood. It is gang territory, Mr. Goldman. I am in favor of anything that makes my job easier but this special order is a blatant final jab at Chief Johnson and as head of professional standards and chair of the LAPD Women's committee I won't sign off on this."
"Frankly, Captain, I'm less than surprised that you feel this way." Pope admitted.
"Not six months ago when the suspect in Major Crimes's interview room shot himself after realizing he couldn't shoot Chief Johnson the special rule was not named for the bonehead detective that didn't find it during his search. Naming this rule after Chief Johnson is a slap in the face and it is a completely unprovoked slap in the face. She works tirelessly to solve murders, she never works less hard just because a victim is of questionable moral character. Over my years here I have seen many detectives give up on gang members and prostitutes but never Chief Johnson. Even I took the position in Professional Standards so I could have a break from standing up for cop killers. Chief Johnson is in this job because she gives a shit and because she cares about justice for every victim." Sharon snapped, "I will not stand here while you drag her name through the mud."
Pope nodded, "yes. You will stand there and you'll be quiet because Brenda has been dropped from the lawsuit which means that neither you nor she has any say in the contents of this agreement."
Sharon took in a shaking breath, feeling her whole body overcome with anger.
"The only reason this agreement was given to you at all is because you do run professional standards and you've been a big part of this internal investigation but now that Brenda's not on the lawsuit your services aren't required." Pope said, standing and feeling self-conscious that Sharon's high heels made her the same height as him. "When Brenda comes in you just stand there."
Sharon pursed her lips and crossed her arms.
Brenda walked into the murder room, Gabriel greeted her by saying, "when the boys found out that the FBI had established a wire in Marvin's condo, it was like a competition to see who could get their story out before he did."
"At least now no one can say that we didn't follow through with Tyrell Baylor to the bitter end." Taylor said with disdain.
"Well, not so bitter though we are at the end of things finally." Gavin motioned for Brenda to follow him down the hall, "shall we?"
Brenda and Gavin entered Pope's office. Goldman diverted his eyes and Sharon stood unnoticed in the corner still fuming with ire.
Pope smiled and indicated the agreement on the desk in front of him. "Chief Johnson, this agreement really is beneficial to all parties involved, uh, I don't know that you even need to read it." He shrugged, trying to play it off without a scene. He knew that as big of a scene as Sharon made he could expect one at least twice as big from Brenda.
"Oh, I think she does." Sharon snapped from the corner. Brenda turned around and was about to give Sharon a small smile before noting the look of quiet rage on her face.
"Well, she can if she wants to but she's been dropped from the suit." Gavin said pointedly.
"I have?" The note of enthusiasm in Brenda's voice was palpable.
"Yes, you have!" Gavin grinned, "and the good people of Los Angeles will be paying Mr. Goldman a million dollars assessment."
"Which won't even cover my expenses…" Goldman grumbled.
"But what about clearin' my name in court?"
"Look, listen…" Pope said, holding up a hand in an attempt to keep her calm, "I know this is maybe not everything you were hoping for but you're off the hook for any damages."
"Well I don't care what the city or the department decides, I don't agree with this." Brenda frowned.
"It doesn't matter if you agree or not, dear, you're no longer being sued so we can settle without you." Gavin smirked, "And in return we're agreeing not to bring charges of misconduct against Peter here or working to have his law license revoked or causing him any number of the ten thousand perfectly legal problems I'd just love throw his way."
"The Johnson Rule? What the hell is that?" Brenda raged, looking up at the men in front of her with fire in her eyes.
"Oh, didn't they tell you? To satisfy my concerns and those of my clients and to make sure they don't refile using other legal representation your attorney and the Chief of Police-"
"Alright, shut up." Pope held a halting hand up to Goldman. He took a deep breath, trying to decide how to continue and upset Brenda as little as possible. "The Johnson Rule is essentially… it's a silly… obvious special order that Goldman wants… that says the LAPD cannot knowingly release a suspect or witness into a hostile or dangerous environment… it's… no big deal."
"If it's no big deal why don't they call it the Pope Rule? Or the Baker Rule? Or the Raydor Rule?" She glanced back at Sharon, who looked just as pained as Brenda felt. She turned back to Gavin, nostrils flaring, "how could you let this happen? Puttin' my name on a special order like this makes it sound like I did something wrong. I just solved the murder I was accused of plannin'! How could you let this happen?"
"I'm sorry…" Gavin furrowed his brow in annoyance, "I just saved you from a civil rights action that could have cost you your career and everything you own and this is the thanks I get?"
"No, no, no!" Brenda shrieked, standing and pointing an accusing finger at Gavin, "this is the thanks you get: you're fired. Disgraceful! You're selling me out!" Brenda punctuated her point by storming from the room.
Sharon cast one last glare at Pope before following Brenda out into the hallway.
"What'd I tell you?" Pope sighed, glancing at Gavin.
Gavin shook his head with disbelief. "My god… the ingratitude!"
"Shocking, isn't it?" Goldman added.
"Alright. You. Seriously. Shut-up." Pope snarled at Goldman.
"Brenda," Sharon called, hurrying down the hallway after her.
"Please… don't talk to me right now. I know you refused all the settlements, I know it's not your fault but I… I just don't want to talk about it right now."
Sharon nodded, "don't talk then: listen." She started, waiting a moment for Brenda to object. "I know this didn't end the way we wanted but right now considering the list of suspects he gave us there is a chance that Peter Goldman will be in danger the moment he leaves this building… so what do you want me to do about that?"
Brenda shrugged with resignation, "ask Goldman to reveal his source inside Major Crimes nicely and if he refuses, well… order him protection whether he likes it or not."
Sharon nodded, "that is the right an honorable thing to do."
"It's the Johnson Rule, Sharon…" Brenda sighed and rubbed her eyes, "thank you."
Sharon nodded and Brenda made haste for her office, closing the door and drawing the blinds. Brenda would need time to lick her wounds and Sharon would let her have that. Sharon also needed a bit of time to calm down before she could hope to talk reasonably about the situation.
Her mind went back to Goldman: it was the right and honourable thing to do to assign him a protection detail… and it was probably also the first time in her career that she didn't want to do the right and honourable thing. She did not want to be party to preserving Goldman. As far as Sharon was concerned Goldman may as well have pulled the trigger and shot J-Roc himself and the fact that no legal action would be brought against him at all was probably the most shameful part.
But then there was also the look in Brenda's eyes. That look of pain and disappointment was excruciating and she could see it in her mind's eye.
She saw Goldman starting down the hallway and had to resist the urge to grab him by the lapels and slam him against the wall and pistol whip him.
"Captain Raydor." He greeted cooly.
She moved to stand between him and the elevator buttons. "Mr. Goldman. Ready to reveal your source in Major Crimes?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"In light of your involvement with various members of the 1-10 Crips and recent events, it is the opinion of this office that you could be in danger. Would you like a protection detail?"
"What I'd like is for you to get out of my way."
"So are you rejecting a protection detail?"
"Look, Sharon," Goldman said condescendingly, "completely off the record, you have been a gigantic pain in my ass. You are the equally objectionable antithesis of Chief Johnson. Her callous disregard for the rules and your incessant use of ten dollar words and overly formal language to both disarm and manipulate people are exactly what's wrong with the police department today."
"Well, Peter, also completely off the record, it is my hope that you get exactly what's coming to you – whatever that may be. Defense attorneys like you who pick apart good cops are what is currently erroding the effectiveness of police work. Chief Johnson is the best kind of police officer there is. I aspire to be as good of a police officer as she is."
"Then you truly deserve each other." Goldman frowned, "now get out of my way."
Sharon stepped aside and motioned to the elevator. Goldman pressed the button and stood staring at the elevator door for a few awkward moments, feeling Sharon's eyes boring into him. He was all too relieved when the elevator doors slid open and he took shelter in the metal box that usually caused him some anxiety.
Sharon chewed her lip thoughtfully. All the pieces were on the board and she was pretty sure she could move in just the right way to achieve a checkmate.
The first thing she did was order Goldman's protection detail. Loath though she was to officially go on record of being concerned for Goldman's well-being she needed him alive to really have satisfaction at the end of the end of this fiasco.
The next thing to do was give an old friend a call.
"Josh Lewis's office."
Sharon heaved an inner sigh, "hi James."
"Mom?" He asked with surprise.
"Can I speak with Josh?"
"Why?"
"Sweetheart, just do it. It's your job, right?"
James grumbled but put the call on hold. He got up from his desk and knocked on Josh's door opening it enough to stand in the doorway. "You have a call on line 1."
"Who is it?"
"Um, Sharon Raydor."
"Thank you, James." Josh sat up a little straighter. "Why don't you go get yourself a cup of coffee? Take your time."
James nodded slowly. "Alright, thank you." He closed the door and furrowed his brow.
"Hey sis, question for you." James said from Angela's doorway.
"James, can it wait, I'm pretty busy." She sighed, not looking up from her computer.
"Mom knows Josh Lewis?"
Angela immediately stopped typing and turned to her brother, "yeah, they went to Stanford together and they went out on a couple of dates while mom and Brenda were broken up. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason, other than mom just called and asked to talk to Josh and he told me to take coffee break and that I should, quote, take my time, end quote."
Angela heaved a heavy sigh, "oh great."
When Sharon arrived home the sun was just setting behind her house and there was a girlfriend waiting on her front stoop. She smiled, "fancy seeing you here."
"I should've called… I'm just in such a daze right now…"
"It's understandable." Sharon sank to sit next to her, "I'm glad you're here though."
"You are?" Brenda perked up a bit, "I'm not dropping myself off into hostile territory?"
"Well… it's a little hostile in the sense that I've intentionally avoided seeing James for four days but between you and I? No, not hostile." They were silent for a few minutes, "are you all packed?"
Brenda nodded, "yeah, flight's tomorrow at six in the morning… I wish you could come for the whole time."
Sharon put an arm around Brenda, "I wish I could too but I'll be there in a couple of weeks and this way you'll have more time to spend with your parents without having to worry about me too. Your mother fusses so much when I'm there and this way all the focus can be on your father."
Brenda laughed a little, "it's true, she never cleans as much as when you visit – which is really saying something." Brenda leaned her head against Sharon's and turned serious, "I'm still gonna miss you though."
"I'm going to miss you too…"
They sat on the stoop in silence as the sun sank further down in the sky and the shadow from the house cast them into darkness.
"Brenda… about what you asked me earlier…"
Brenda shook her head, "please, don't answer now, I can't handle any more bad news."
"How about some good news then?" Sharon smiled and turned to Brenda and took her hands, "I would love nothing more than to marry you."
Brenda let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and her eyes welled up with tears. "You will?"
"Yeah."
"I kind of thought you'd say no… I'm so glad I was wrong. Oh!" Brenda let go of Sharon's hands and pulled her gigantic purse onto her lap, "hold that thought." She said as she pawed through its contents with fervor.
Sharon peered cautiously at what Brenda was doing.
Suddenly she produced a small velvet box, "aha!" She grinned with embarrassment, a slight flush in her cheeks, "I've been carrying this around for a week… I've wanted to ask you for so long… I can't live without you, Sharon."
Sharon sighed coquettishly, "when you do romantic you really go all out, don't you?"
"This was my grandmother's," Brenda opened the box and looked at it for a long moment before turning it to Sharon, "my mother gave it to me last year and every time I look at it all I can think of are your beautiful eyes."
"It's really beautiful, Brenda."
Brenda plucked it from the box and held out her hand for Sharon's. Sharon placed her hand over Brenda's and Brenda slid the white gold band onto Sharon's finger. The emerald in the center was an octagon cut and it was flanked on both sides by a pair of small round cut diamonds.
Wrapping an arm around Brenda's neck, Sharon pulled her close and leaned her head against Brenda's. She pulled her closer and kissed her softly.
"I want you to move back in… if you'd like I can arrange to have your things brought here while you're at your parents' so that when you get back it'll be like you never left."
Brenda grinned, "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."