Chapter 2:

"Yes to going out with me, just for a drink," Martin added the last part quickly when he saw the surprised expression on Sharon's face.

"Are you blackmailing me?" Sharon asked, trying to sound as menacing as she could.

"Come on, cut me some slack… I've wanted to ask you out for years, but we were working together," Martin said with a little shy smile.

Sharon didn't know how to deal with that confession. She looked to her left and saw Flynn looking firmly at them. He couldn't hear their conversation, but he didn't seem to like it anyway. "I…" she stuttered. She liked Martin, but he was younger than her. And there was this thing, this undefined thing with Flynn. Of course, they had to keep up the pretence at work and act as if they were nothing but colleagues.

"Will you think about it?" Martin finally asked when he saw the confusion on Sharon's face.

Sharon wanted to say no, but she also wanted to take the lead on the case. "Sure," she said hesitantly.

They went back to the squad and gave them the news about who's taking the lead on the investigation.

"Wow, what made that change?" Flynn asked sarcastically and Sharon sent him a piercing look.

(***)

Hours later, the darkness has spread outside, and the squad members got ready to go home. Sharon was in her office with Martin when Taylor walked in.

"Another Saturday?" he asked.

"A police officer was murdered. So, yes," Sharon said in her monotonic voice. Taylor didn't like the extra hours, but he couldn't really object.

"Fine. Try not to repeat it next weekend," he said reluctantly.

"Let's hope people don't get murdered again in an inconvenient time," she replied sarcastically, but in a polite tone. Taylor looked at her for a moment and then left.

Martin chuckled. "He's giving you trouble?" he asked.

"He's the boss," Sharon replied evasively.

"I've got a feeling that you and your squad give him more trouble," Martin said, still smiling. Sharon smiled back but didn't respond.

Flynn watched them talking through the office glass walls. His mind was racing and he wasn't listening to what was happening around him.

"Flynn?" Provenza said as he and Tao approached Flynn's desk and he was looking the other way. Provenza and Tao exchanged confused looks when he didn't answer. "FLYNN!" Provenza shouted, startling him.

"What?!" Flynn asked angrily and got on his feet.

"Are you coming? We're leaving," Tao asked quietly, trying to restore peace.

"I… I still need to do something. You go ahead," Flynn said and Provenza raised his eyebrows.

"Fine," he said grumpily, "goodnight." Tao said goodbye hastily and followed him.

Flynn turned his head back to Sharon's office, just as she was walking to the door with Martin.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then. And think about… my offer," Martin said when he stepped outside the office. Sharon stood on the doorstep and nodded with a smile.

"Goodnight," she said without referring to what he said. Martin turned and left, muttering goodbyes to Flynn, Sanchez and Sykes.

"Well, I'm going too," Sykes said and grabbed her jacket.

A few minutes later, Sanchez also left. Flynn waited for him to exit the murder room, then he got to his feet and entered Sharon's office without knocking. She was holding her purse in her hand and was almost ready to leave.

"You're still here?" she asked absent-mindedly as she hastily organized her desk. Flynn walked around it and stood right next to her. She froze for a second, and then turned her head slowly to look at him. "Yes?"

He didn't say a word but grabbed her arm, turned her body towards him and kissed her. He needed to check if there was still something happening between them. Sharon moved back quickly and looked around in fear. "Somebody could still be here!" she whispered, outraged.

Flynn shook his head. He took a step back and left the office after casting her one last look. He walked fast to the elevators, ignoring Sharon when she asked him to wait. He could hear her heels rushing behind him, but he didn't slow down. When he reached the elevators he pushed the button, but the elevator wasn't on the floor. "Damn," he muttered as Sharon reached him. She stopped a few feet from him, but before she could say anything, the elevator doors swung open and Flynn stepped inside, pushing the parking floor button without waiting for Sharon to enter too.