Chapter 69:
"So… what happened? How did you get hurt?" Chris asked Sharon from across the table and she told them the story concisely. She tried to make it sound less scary than it really was for Rusty's sake.
"And that's when Andy, Tao and Sanchez came running through the gate," she finished. They were all mesmerized when she talked, listening carefully without interrupting her, including Flynn, who didn't really hear the whole story and listened with interest.
"What's gonna happen to you for shooting this guy?" Rusty asked.
"FID is going to investigate the shooting, and in the mean time I'm suspended," she explained patiently.
"For how long?" Cat seemed concerned.
"A few days, maybe a week or more. It all depends on their workload," Sharon answered. She tried to look okay with not being able to go to work, even though the idea felt like a stone in her stomach.
"Well, at least we share suspension," Flynn said jokingly.
"You too?!" Cat asked in shock and it was Flynn's turn to tell his story about what happened in the warehouse.
"When we were finally able to subdue the cartel people, I went outside with the rest of our squad and that's when we heard Sharon's gunshot," he finished.
A few minutes later, Cat went back to her apartment with Chris and Julia. They decided to stay for the rest of the week and Cat said she was happy to have them with her.
"I'm going to bed," Rusty got on his feet and wished Sharon, Angela and Flynn goodnight.
"I'll be right back," Sharon said quickly and followed Rusty to the corridor, although she feared leaving Flynn alone with her mother.
"Are you okay?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder and examining his face.
"Yeah, just tired. Luckily I can sleep in tomorrow."
"Right. Did you enjoy the first day of spring break?" she smiled.
"Yeah, Cat and Chris took me to Hollywood Boulevard and we went to like three museums there."
"You don't sound very happy," she said gently, trying not to make it sound like a reproach.
"I had fun. Your kids are great, Sharon, but…" he stopped in midsentence, unable to say out loud that he misses her.
"I know," she half-whispered sadly and gave his shoulder a little squeeze. "Well, I guess this suspension couldn't have come in a better time," she smiled again and this time he smiled back when he realized they had a few days to spend together now. "Besides, the cartel case is almost closed, so I'll go back to my normal hours."
"Which aren't very normal," he said, "but better than the hours you've been doing lately."
They said goodnight again and Rusty went to his room, his heart lighter. Sharon tip toed back to the kitchen and remained out of sight so she could listen to what Angela and Flynn were saying. She had to know if Angela was embarrassing her behind her back too, or was it something she only did in front of her to annoy.
"Where do your parents live?" Angela asked.
"They're dead," Flynn answered shortly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear."
"It's okay, it happened a long time ago."
"When?" Angela asked quickly, taking him by surprise with her straightforwardness.
"Uh… my father died when I was five in a car accident and my mother ten years ago from cancer."
"How unfortunate," she said, and for the first time Flynn could hear empathy in her voice. "So are you all alone now?"
"No, I have two sisters."
"Good. You should stay here tonight," she changed the subject abruptly. "I'll take the couch."
"W-What? Oh, no, Mrs. Scott, you shouldn't," he said politely.
"Call me Angela. And I insist. I've overstayed my welcome. Sharon should have gotten her room back by now."
"You stayed because you were worried about her."
"It doesn't matter. One night on the couch won't kill me. I know my daughter, and I really think you should stay with her tonight, just in case."
"Just in case what?" he frowned, wondering what she meant.