Chapter 8:

Sharon entered her apartment in the evening, followed by Flynn. He drove behind her all the way there, and they met again after parking their cars. Sharon was deep in thoughts, concerned.

"Is something wrong?" Flynn asked as he closed the door behind them and Sharon started turning the lights on. She didn't answer. Flynn took his jacket off and laid it on the armchair. Sharon entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She took a bottle of wine in her hand and froze as she remembered Flynn's addiction. "It's okay," he said, approaching her slowly.

"No, I can have tea," she muttered and tried to put the bottle back, but Flynn stopped her with his hand on her shoulder.

"Seriously, it's okay. I can control myself," he chuckled and took the bottle from her hand. "Where do you keep the glasses?" Sharon took the bottle back and pulled a glass out of the cabinet. He watched her back as she poured the white wine to the glass and closed the bottle. She took the first sip with her back to him and then turned around. He was still staring at her without saying a word. Sharon started to walk to the living room, passing him on the way. She sat down on the couch in silence, and he sat next to her.

"Thanks for coming," she said quietly.

"No problem… are you going to tell me why am I here?" he asked gently, trying to sound patient. He knew that it wasn't a rendezvous.

"I…" she started, not sure how to continue. She sighed, looking at a random spot on the floor. "My husband is in LA," her voice was quiet.

"And… you're concerned because…?" he asked, confused.

Sharon looked at him. He was frowning, waiting for her answer. "I haven't seen him in many years… I kept evading him all the time."

"So why is he here now?" Flynn asked and put his hand on her thigh absent-mindedly.

"I don't know," she said, almost whispering. "Maybe he wants his old suit back," she chuckled bitterly.

"Well… maybe it's nothing," he said, but he doubted it would calm her.

"When he drank… I told you he hit me once and then I left him," she said and he nodded, "but the psychological abuse lasted a lot longer than that."

Flynn squeezed his hand on her thigh gently. "You don't have to meet with him."

Sharon smiled bitterly. "He's not going to leave me a choice."

"And you - Captain Sharon Raydor - is afraid?" he asked, smiling. She smiled back and leaned towards him to kiss his cheek softly, as her hand touched his. She didn't need him to protect her, she didn't even want him to be anywhere near HIM, but his presence made her feel good.

"Who would have thought that the sarcastic Andy Flynn could be so -"

"Don't."

"…cute," Sharon completed the sentence and chuckled.

"Well, at least you're laughing. At my expense, but laughing," he said and leaned on the backrest, still looking at her. She sipped the rest of the wine from her glass and laid it on the table. Flynn reached for her shoulder and pulled her to him. She put her head on his shoulder as his arm rested on her waist. They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's presence, until Rusty called and Sharon took the call. Flynn got to his feet tiredly and went to the bathroom.

"I can't talk much 'cause the reception is awful here," Rusty yelled to the phone. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay."

"Are you having fun?" Sharon asked, trying to sound as clear as possible.

"Yeah," he said just before he was cut off. Sharon smiled and put the iPhone back on the table when the doorbell rang. She got up and walked to the door, fixing her hair absent-mindedly before opening.

The door swung open and Sharon froze. "Richard," she whispered and felt like she was running out of air. Her husband was standing at the door, his hand leaning on the doorpost.

"Sharon," he said and smiled. It wasn't a kind smile, it was arrogant.

"No, you can't be here," she tried to keep her face sealed, but she was terrified.

"Why not? Are you with your boyfriend?" he asked and tried to peek in.

"What? I don't have…" she stopped herself and swallowed hard, trying to regain her usual calm tone. "Please, leave," she said quietly. Flynn was about to get out of the bathroom and she didn't want them to meet.

"Fine, but only if you promise to see me tomorrow," Richard said calmly.

"Why? What do you want?" Sharon asked hastily.

"You," Richard said and smiled.