Chapter 68:

"Did I tell you I called my son?" Flynn asked when the three of them were in his car, on the way home. Provenza was sitting in the back again, tired, and listened to their conversation quietly.

"Really?" she looked at Flynn with interest and waited to hear more.

"Yesterday. I invited him for the weekend in two weeks and he said yes right away."

"That's great! Isn't it?" she asked when his face remained serious.

"I don't know. It's kinda weird that he just agreed right away. I think there might be something wrong with him."

"Well, then, it's good that he's coming so you can figure it out," she said and he placed his hand on her thigh, thanking her without words for being supportive.

"What is this conversation? Weren't you almost killed not too long ago?" Provenza asked suddenly, rolling his eyes. He was used to Flynn telling him all of his personal issues, and now he was being replaced. Hearing them talk annoyed him.

"We were trying to talk about anything but that, thank you for reminding me," she replied coldly and he couldn't help but feel bad for her, although he didn't say it out loud.

"What did your friends from FID say?" he asked in a less stern tone.

"I'm suspended, just as I thought," she shook head sadly.

"Yeah, me too," Flynn said. The three of them kept quiet for a moment. The events in the warehouse played in Sharon's mind like a bad horror movie. She kept seeing Suarez hitting her, pointing his gun at her or chasing to kill her.

Provenza looked through the window at the darkness outside and wondered how he could handle the Major Crimes unit without the Captain and his partner. He would never admit it, but they made it so much easier for him at work. Sharon with her strong leadership, obeying the rules and keeping the unit out of trouble, and Flynn with his experience and friendship.

"So, I guess you take the lead now," Flynn said suddenly, as if he could read Provenza's mind.

"Huh?" he asked, surprised, and Sharon turned her head to looked at him.

"You're the boss while I'm gone," she frowned at his confused face. Up until now, she was sure it was all he could think of, but now it seemed to have taken him by surprise.

"Oh, right. Yay for me," he said without really sounding happy.

(***)

"You can go home, you know," Sharon said to Flynn as they were standing outside her apartment. "I'm sure you want to take a shower and rest after this long day."

"It's only 7pm," he smiled.

"Yes, but a lot has happened in a short amount of time," she said and his face turned serious again.

"I want to see to it that you're fine before I can even think of resting," he caressed her shoulder and she turned to the door to open it.

"I don't know why you're so good to me," she muttered while inserting the key into the lock.

"Excuse me?"

"What?"

"I didn't hear you."

"Never mind," she opened the door and entered, followed by him. They walked to the kitchen and found Rusty sitting at the table with Cat, Chris, Julia and Angela. Sharon's eyes widened in shock for a second at the sight of them all. She wasn't expecting to find them there, especially not Angela.

"Mother, what are you still doing here?" she asked, approaching her. Flynn remained on the threshold and watched them in silence, trying not to interrupt.

"Did you really think that after the text you sent me I could leave without seeing you first?" she got up and examined Sharon's wounded head, moving it to the side by holding her chin so she could take a better look.

"It said I was fine," Sharon said calmly.

"I had to see for myself," Angela returned to her seat, after apparently agreeing on the minor severity of the injury.

"What happened?" Rusty asked and Sharon turned to look at him. His face was so serious and concerned that she felt the need to hug and console him.

"Nothing serious, I promise," she said gently.

"You should see the other guy," Flynn said suddenly and everyone looked at him.

"Lieutenant Flynn, I didn't see you there," Angela said coldly and motioned him with her hand to come closer. "Have a seat."

"No, Mother, he's –"

"He's having a seat," Angela said firmly, and once again, Flynn saw the resemblance between the two women.

Sharon looked concerned but didn't want to argue with her mother in front of everyone. She took a seat between Rusty and Flynn, who sat next to Angela, and hoped that she wouldn't embarrass her like she always did.