Brenda went to shower once she was safely in her bedroom. She had no idea when Fritz would be up, but she needed to get her head together. She was torn over the fact that she'd basically run out on Andy this morning. She'd felt she had no choice, how would she explain to Fritz that she'd disappeared through the night to sleep with another man? She thought about Flynn. Things had been much different with him then she'd ever thought. The fact that he was so gentle with her had been a complete surprise. She remembered him holding her gently through the night and actually missed it. He was nothing like he seemed.
Brenda sighed as the hot water poured over her. She had to get the papers signed and finish this with Fritz. He'd obviously moved on and so had she. Still, it hurt. And thinking of Flynn confused her. What was it with him and her? One night stand? Friends with benefits? The start of a new relationship? If it was a new relationship, what would they do? As much as she was attracted to him, she didn't want to jeopardize their jobs. Sleeping with a subordinate could end up in another ethics review for her. Flynn or her could be transferred. Was it worth the risk? She didn't know. All she knew was that for the first time in seven months she'd been happy last night.
She finally got out of the shower, drying herself off. She went to pull on a robe before noticing the beginnings of some bruising on her lower backside. She smiled as she remembered how she got those bruises. Flynn had left his mark on her in more ways than one. She shrugged on her robe before walking back to her bedroom. She picked up the divorce papers. Grabbing a pen, she signed her name to them. It was time to move on with things. She changed into sleep pants and a t-shirt, then she lay on the bed to grab a bit of sleep before Fritz got up. The next thing she remembered was her phone chiming beside her. She got up with a start, grabbing it, smiling when she seen the name on the caller i.d. It was Flynn.
"Good morning. Did I wake you?" Andy asked her.
"Yeah, but it's okay. I needed to get up anyway. I'll catch a nap later. For some reason I'm just exhausted this morning." she smiled.
"That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"I suppose in this case it is. Are you coming over later? I'm not sure what time his flight leaves though. We can spend the afternoon together, if you want. We need to sort some things out." Brenda wasn't sure what made her ask, she just wanted to see him again, and try to figure out where things were headed with them.
"I'd like nothing more than to see you. Let me know when he leaves, I'll be there." Andy was really smiling now. He actually couldn't wait to see her again. The part about sorting things out worried him, but he'd give anything to be near her again. He really hadn't wanted her to leave this morning. Holding her in his arms during the night had been damn near heaven and he'd hated to let her go.
"I'll do that. And Andy?" she paused.
"What, Chief?"
"Last night was really...nice. I had a great night."
"Me too, Brenda, me too."
"See you later, okay? I better get going. I can hear Fritz in the kitchen."
"I'll be there." With that, he hung up, choosing to ignore the fact that her soon-to-be ex was in the next room.
Brenda got up and stretched, looking at the divorce papers sitting there. A few hours ago she felt liked she'd used Flynn, now, not so much. If things crashed and burned between them, she'd deal with it, just like she'd dealt with everything over the years. God knows she was dealing with the death of her marriage. She picked up the divorce papers and went out to the kitchen, where Fritz stood making up his coffee cup.
"Good morning." Brenda said, trying to be civil.
"Good morning yourself. Would you like some?" he indicated the coffee pot.
"Sure, thanks." Brenda felt so awkward. It was like when they were first getting to know one another. "When is your flight back to Washington?" she asked.
"It leaves at 12:15. I'll be out of your hair soon enough." Fritz took a sip of his coffee.
"I signed the papers. I'll give them to you before you leave." Brenda replied.
"So, I guess this is it then. You do know I still love you, right? It's just time to move on."
"I know Fritz, I heard what you said last night. And don't worry, we'll be fine. We will. I'd still like to be friends, Fritz. Do you think we can manage that?" Brenda asked, sorry for the way things were.
"I'd like to try, Brenda, I would. I guess we'll just have to see."
Silence enveloped them again, and Brenda remembered the good times they had together. She flashed back to when he'd asked her to marry him, to when they'd first been dating and he had been one of her only allies in L.A. She remembered the day he brought Joel to them and when she'd cried when she'd had to let Kitty go. Fritz was a good man. She sighed, wishing they could have worked out their differences. Work called them both, on opposite coasts.
They spent the rest of the morning going through the house, boxing some things up that he hadn't taken to Washington. She promised to ship them to him as soon as possible. She looked at their memories being packed up and sadness swept over her. When it came time for him to leave, she watched him gather his few things.
"Well, I guess this is it." Fritz looked at her, almost willing her to tell him not to go.
"Yeah, I guess. Have a good flight, Fritz." She followed him to the door, slowly. He turned to face her, sadness in his face. It really was over between them. Brenda went to him, enveloping him in a hug. She held on to him for dear life.
They stood hugging each other for a long time. When they pulled apart a little, he gave her a sweet, heartbreaking kiss on the lips. He pulled her in for a hug again and then let go. He gathered his bag and went to the door. Brenda followed.
"You take good care of Joel, okay? I miss the little guy." Fritz looked at her with sadness.
"I will, I promise." Brenda held back the tears, but she wanted to cry.
"Goodbye, Brenda." He turned and went to the rental car that awaited him.
"Goodbye, Fritz." She watched him put his bag in the car and then get in after it. With a final wave, he backed out the driveway and was gone.
Brenda slowly closed the door, numb. She gathered up Joel and settled on the couch, stroking his soft fur. Somehow, she drifted off to sleep, knowing nothing til she heard her doorbell rang. She got up, not knowing what time it was, wondering who was there. She looked through the peephole and seen Flynn standing there. She opened the door to let him in.
"Are you okay? I thought you were going to call." Flynn asked, concern in his voice.
Brenda just stared at him, and then, the floodgates opened and she started to cry. He gathered her in his arms, just holding her while she cried for the loss of another man. There was nothing else he could do. He stroked her hair, telling her it was all going to be okay, at the same time worried that she'd do something drastic like go to Washington to be with the FBI guy because she felt so bad. He worried. They stood there til she was all cried out, but she still wouldn't let him go. She held on tightly, he was her lifeline.
Finally, she spoke. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry like this. Everything was just so final, watching him walk out the door. This time for good."
"It's okay, really, I understand. You've shared your life with him for a long time. I was a mess after both my marriages broke up. But don't tell Provenza that. He'd never let me live it down."
He managed to get a smile out of her with that, and it was enough to get her to at least move to the couch, where they sat side by side. Pretty soon, she rested her head on his chest and he put his arm around her. Again, she just felt protected in his arms. That's the way they stayed for the longest time, him stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head every now and then.
Conversation started slowly, with Brenda speaking.
"Who would have ever thought that we'd be sitting here like this? Things certainly have changed since we first met. I believe your affectionate term for me back then was "bitch"." Brenda mused.
Andy squirmed, remembering what a jerk he used to be. Then she'd saved his ass and he seen her in a new light. "Yeah, I was an asshole back then. I don't know if I ever did apologize for that."
"No, no apology. And yes, you were an "asshole", I'll agree with that. It's just so odd, you're not nearly the person I thought you were. You hide yourself rather well."
"It's easier to be the tough guy then to be thought of as soft. Especially in this line of work. Look, I have no excuse for the way I acted back then. I was friends with Taylor, at least I thought I was, and you came in and took over. I am sorry for the way I acted, especially since we never gave you a chance, we just tried to get rid of you. I am very lucky you saved my sorry ass later on. Thank you for giving me a chance." He held her close to him, regretting how he'd acted years after the fact.
"I admit, I can come on a little strong. It's why I'm so beloved by so many divisions in this town." Brenda said sarcastically. "I could have been a little more diplomatic, I suppose. It's not really in my nature, as you know by now."
"I wouldn't change anything about you, Chief. It's who you are." At that, she turned her face up to him, looking him in the eyes, trying to determine whether he was bullshitting her because he was now sleeping with her, or if he was telling the truth. She thought he was telling the truth. At that, she sighed. Flynn lowered his head and captured her lips with his. This was all so foreign to him, he was used to being on his own, and having these little moments of happiness made him wonder what was happening to him. He was turning into as big a cheeseball as Provenza had been when he'd been dating that younger woman.
Knowing they needed to discuss whether they were a "them" or not, Brenda finally brought the subject up. "Where do we go from here, Andy? I don't want to be just friends with benefits. I don't want to be one of your one night stands." She rested in his arms again.
"You'd never be a one night stand. You mean too much to me." Flynn admitted.
Touched she looked up at his face. "You've never said anything. You kept it hidden well."
"Well, you've been with FBI guy for most of the time I've known you. And you've spent the last few months suffering from your break-up with him. I don't want to be the rebound guy. I want something more. But I'm not going to push you. I'm willing to play by your rules, if it means we can be together. And for the record, it's not just about sex with you." He left it at that.
"I don't want anyone to know about us. Not because I'm ashamed, I'm not. It's just if anyone finds out, one of us will have to transfer. And I don't want that. You're too damn good at your job for me to lose you."
"I don't want to lose you either. Plus, I'd never luck out and get another boss with legs as great as yours." He kept a straight face at that. Brenda sat up and looked at him, almost irritated. When she seen he was joking, she swatted at him and said "Oh, you!".
"What?" he said, finally breaking out laughing.
"What is it about you and my legs?"
"They're great, Chief. I love them. They're even better looking than I ever imagined, to tell you the truth." referring to when he'd seen them unclothed the night before.
Brenda blushed at his inference. Flynn made her feel strangely, taking in these compliments she hadn't heard from anyone in a long time. She adjusted her body, reaching in to kiss him once again. She then settled in beside him, pulling a blanket over the two of them, turning on the television. As much as Flynn would have loved to have taken her to the next room and see those legs again, he settled for holding her hand under the blanket and just being with her. He hoped there would be plenty of opportunity in the future to revisit last night, and that they would be in a real, lasting relationship. This seemed like a great start, and he'd take what she could give right now. He had no desire to drive her away, things would go at the pace she set. He'd waited so long for this opportunity that was here and didn't want to destroy it.