Saturday arrived, and Andy headed out to do some shopping before the game. He located what he needed relatively quickly, before heading over to pick up the Chief. He pulled into her driveway, parked and went to the door, a plastic shopping bag in his hand. Knocking, he waited for her to answer. It didn't take long before Brenda opened her door, smiling as she let Andy in. Andy gave her the once over, appreciating what he was looking at. She wore jeans that fit her snugly, and a tank top with a shirt thrown over it. The woman could look gorgeous in almost anything, he thought. She had her hair up in ponytail, and she grabbed a jacket, ready to leave.
"Wait a second, Chief. I got something for you. If you're going to a Dodgers game, you have to have one of these." He held up the bag he had in his hand.
Brenda looked at the bag with curiosity, wondering what it contained. She eyed Andy suspiciously, and asked, "There's a dress code for a baseball game? I don't think so, Lt."
"Well, if you're with Provenza and I, there is." Smiling, he reached into the bag, pulling out a Dodgers baseball cap. "You have to wear the idiotic hat with the both of us."
Taking the tag off the cap, he placed it on her head. "It's very becoming on you, Chief. You should have been wearing these years ago."
Brenda smiled, remembering how upset she was by those very hats. She took the joke good-naturedly, and did a models twirl, asking him how she looked.
"Terrific, Chief. A baseball cap has never looked better on a woman."
"Well, we should go then. We wouldn't want to keep Provenza waiting, would we?" Brenda laughed. She took Andy's arm and they walked out the door. She locked up, and he then held his car door open for her, letting her slide into the passenger seat. Provenza could sit in the back today, Andy thought to himself. He'd rather have the Chief and her jean-clad legs beside him, he thought happily.
They pulled up to Provenza's, he was pacing in the driveway once again. He was always nervous on game day, expecting the worse to happen and they'd not get there. He was serious about his baseball and hated anything messing up before he was in his seat, with his beer and snacks. He got in the back of the car, not arguing. He just wanted to get there already. He accused Flynn of driving like an old lady, to put his foot down and get them to the game. Flynn and Brenda just looked and smiled at each other, amused, used to Provenza's complaining. Provenza then noticed the Chief's new hat, asking about it.
"I thought you said those hats were idiotic. I thought I was taking a big chance even wearing mine today. What made you join our ranks?" he asked out of curiosity, believing he already knew the answer.
"Why, Lt. Flynn gave it too me. He said that if I go to the game, I had to wear the idiotic hat with the rest of you. Very sweet of him, don't you think?" Brenda smiled.
Andy hunched down a little lower in his seat, feeling Provenza's gaze on him. It had seemed like a good idea at the time to get it for her. Now, it was fodder for Provenza to use against him.
"Yes, ma'am, very sweet. And you look very fetching in it." Provenza could suck up too.
"Why thank you. Y'all are very sweet to be keeping me entertained today. I know you don't really want to spend time with the Chief on your day off." Brenda looked out the window, not knowing what else to say.
"It's no problem, Chief, it's great to have you along. Hope you have some fun today." Flynn answered. Conversation died down as the traffic picked up when they neared the stadium. They got to the stadium and were seated, after Provenza had gotten his supplies. As they worked their way through some popcorn, Brenda had to go to the washroom and got up to excuse herself.
"Lt. Flynn, would you watch my purse for me? Please?" she asked him in a voice he couldn't refuse.
"Sure, Chief, it will be right here when you get back." He could only stare at her behind as she made her way through the row. It was a terrific sight, at least for him. The next thing he knew, he was being swatted with Provenza's Dodgers' cap.
"What do you think you're doing? You're buying her baseball tickets, a baseball cap and now you're watching her purse? You aren't even dating her! The Andy Flynn I know does not spend money on women, that's why he doesn't have one! This is the Chief we're talking about here! What's the matter with you?" Provenza hit him again.
"Nothing's the matter with me! I'm just being a good friend with her. She's really needed one the last few months." Flynn answered, embarrassed.
"Listen to me, and listen to me good Flynn. Nothing good can come out of this. You do not want to be the rebound guy. You're going down a road that you'll be the one who ends up getting hurt. And if you two manage to get together and then break up? It will be like Daniels and Gabriel all over again. I'm too old to break in a new partner, because mark my words, if you break up, it will be you transferring, not her. We both know that." Provenza eyed the younger man, hoping to make him see the light. This was not a good situation, not at all. He didn't want to see either one of them get hurt, and the Chief had been through a lot with her breakup with her husband.
"Look, no one is going to get hurt, because nothing is going on. You're reading this all wrong, Provenza. Besides, she'd never go for me anyway. As you all say, she just tolerates me most days. Remember when she used to hate my guts?" Flynn tried to deflect his friends words, hoping that he would lay off on the lecture.
"Yeah, I remember. But everyone has noticed lately she doesn't hate you. In fact, you two have become friends. What's up with that anyway?"
"She just needed someone to talk to, I'm a good listener, that's all."
Provenza snorted and grabbed some popcorn out. "You two need to get away from one another for awhile. What do you say about me setting us up with a couple of ladies? We haven't done that in a while, a double date."
"Don't you remember how that turned out last time, with those flight attendants? It took us two days to find your car." Flynn didn't want to go out with anyone else. He only wanted to be around the Chief.
"Listen, I'll set something up. You need some space away from her. I'm telling you, one of you is going to get hurt. Stop this before it even starts."
Flynn refused to talk anymore, staring down onto the ball diamond. Would he really be the one to get hurt if things went south between the Chief and him? What if it did work out? Wasn't it at least better to try then be miserable and never know what could have happened between them? He had no idea how long he sat there thinking, just that the Chief slid back in front of him, taking her seat.
"Thanks, Lt., I appreciate you watching my purse. I brought you some salted nuts, I remember you liked them. And Provenza, here's some chocolate for you." Brenda gave them the treats.
"Thanks, Chief, much appreciated." Provenza grabbed the chocolate bar, glad that the Chief wasn't on one of her ban sugar kicks.
The game started soon afterwards, and Brenda really threw herself into it. She stood up and cheered when a homerun occurred, throwing her arms around Flynn when the Dodgers won the game. She was all cheered out. The entire time passed so quickly, she could hardly believe it was over. She didn't want to end her day out yet, and offered to buy dinner for her two Lieutenants, to sort of make up for skipping out on the weekly get together the night before. Brenda didn't think she'd laughed so much in a long time, outside the office she actually found them funny. That thought boggled her. There was so much she hadn't known about them over the years, and now, she regretted not taking the time to get to know them on a personal basis before this.
Finally though, they headed home. Flynn and Brenda dropped Provenza off first, Brenda thanking him for putting up with her on his day off. He blushed and said he didn't mind, it was like spending time with a daughter. He gave her a hug, saying he'd see them at work on Monday, barring being called in.
Brenda settled back in her seat, staring out the window into the darkness. She felt completely at ease with Andy, she found. Thinking of him as Andy was strange too. Years of calling him Flynn or Lieutenant was hard to shake off. She glanced over at him, watching him in the dim light of the interior. When had he become so attractive, she wondered to herself. When he relaxed like he was now, he incredibly handsome. Embarrassed, she quickly looked out the window again. Where did that thought come from, she asked herself. And when did she begin thinking like this? Too soon they pulled up to her apartment. She really didn't want to go in and leave his company.
"Thanks for everything today, Andy. The ticket, the cap. It was a great day." she thanked him, taking off her seat belt. She made no move to leave the car though.
"Anytime, Chief, anytime. Believe it or not, I really enjoy spending time with you." Flynn felt stupid saying that, but he did. He just wanted to be with her, doing anything. The air was thick in the car, neither really knowing what to do.
"I guess I better go, let you go home." Brenda said it, but didn't really mean it.
"Well, if you gotta..." Andy trailed off. He couldn't resist anymore, he brought one hand up, tracing the outline of her chin with his thumb. Hoping he didn't scare her off or get a slap to the face, he reached in, kissing her gently on the lips. It was like an electric shock went through them both. She brought her arms up, pulling him in closer, the kiss deepening between the two of them. Things had been happening between them for a long while, and now, they finally gave in to whatever it was they'd been feeling. Brenda clambered on to his lap, squeezing between the wheel and Andy, wanting to face him. Making out in a car made her feel like a teenager, she almost laughed. The kisses deepened and Brenda began to feel an ache overcome her. She wanted him. She wanted Andy Flynn.
Andy, for his part, was overwhelmed. All these years of hanging back, watching her with the FBI guy(for he refused to say his name right now), and here he was, with her in his lap, making out with him. He almost felt like he'd died and gone to heaven. There had been no slap, no protests, just a woman responding to him like he'd never thought she would. He let his hands wander, grabbing her rear and pulling her in closer to him. Things were beginning to respond in him, and Brenda could feel it. She pulled back and smiled at him, before resuming kissing him. His hands wandered up to her shirt, and he tugged it up, delighting in her warm skin.
Just when both thought they knew where the evening was going to end up, it came to an abrupt end. Brenda's phone rang. She ignored it initially, then recognized the ring tone. After trying to get a hold of him for a day and a half, Fritz was finally phoning her back. Groaning, she broke off the kiss, remaining where she was seated on Flynn's lap. She dug into her purse and pulled out her phone, answering it.
"Where the hell have you been, Fritz? I've been trying to reach you since I got your lovely surprise yesterday." Her tone indicated she was not pleased with her soon to be ex-husband, and it made Andy smile. He'd been on the receiving end of that tone plenty of times.
"Look, Brenda, I got your message and you're right, I handled it wrong. In fact, I'm in L.A., and I'm heading to your place right now."
"What!" Brenda screeched into the phone. She scrambled off Andy's lap, into the passenger seat. If Fritz showed up at her place and found her with Flynn, she didn't think he'd take it well, and she couldn't deal with that. She was angry that her evening with Flynn was ending on this note, she really wanted to continue what they'd started. She looked at Andy, not knowing how to tell him.
"I rented a car and I need to talk to you about why I filed for divorce. I'll be there in five minutes. See you then."
With that, Fritz hung up, leaving Brenda very pissed off. She looked at Andy, feeling awful. "I'm sorry, Andy, I truly am. Fritz is here, in L.A. And he's coming here now, to talk about the divorce papers."
Andy looked at her, almost not believing she was serious. Seeing the regret in her eyes, he realized she was telling the truth. He groaned. So close, and now this. Still, it wasn't exactly her fault. Who knew that Howard would show up here, the night things were about to move forward with Brenda and him. He pulled her to him, hugging her. "It's okay. Give me a call when he leaves, I'll come back."
"Sure, Andy, sure. I'm sooo sorry. I really am." She reached up, kissing him again. Her body wanted more than that, but she refrained. She went to get out of the car, not happy at all. She grabbed her purse and got out. Reaching back in, she kissed him goodbye, seeing the disappointment in his eyes. This time she cupped his face, running her finger down his cheek. She let go, shutting the door. Watching him back out the drive, she resisted the urge to run after it, to blow off Fritz and just go be with Flynn. Instead, she remained rooted where she was, til he waved goodbye and was gone. Turning, she went to the house, to await the arrival of her husband.