Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or settings below – I am only borrowing them – and will not be financially benefitting from the story in anyway. No copyright infringement is intended.
Pairing: Sharon/Andy
Rating: T (for now)
Summary: A case from Captain Raydor's past - threatens to destroy her present. It was in canon until season 2 pushed it into AU territory :( . (I know, I should write faster!)
Author Notes: So, I finally wrote more hoo-bloody-rah!
Many thanks to Mellow_Mel for her beta help
As it's been so long again…here's another recap!
Sharon receives a menacing card in the post – inside it reads 'you'll get yours bitch.'
Young talented soap actress Amber Moore's assistant is found murdered. The assistant was recruited through an internet reality show. The number one suspect is Amber's agent who is currently on his way to Vegas.
Andy (who is secretly in love with Sharon, obviously) thinks that the Captain is acting weird and speaks to Rusty about it. Rusty tells him about the letter Sharon has received.
Andy cleverly gets himself invited to Sharon's apartment for dinner.
When they get there they discover that Sharon's apartment has had a break in and someone has written 'you'll get yours bitch' all over her bedroom.
Sharon reveals to Andy that the phrase has links to her past….
Oh and Rusty is staying at Tao's house (with is son Kevin) – the second paragraph may seem a little weird if you don't remember that bit LOL!
You'll Get Yours – Chapter 8
Sharon couldn't sleep; she had tossed and turned for what felt like hours. The bed sheet and her night gown kept tangling annoyingly around her legs; she couldn't arrange the pillows quite right…
It wasn't that Rusty's bed was particularly uncomfortable…and she thought she had sunk enough wine to ensure at least a few hours' sleep. Yet every time she closed her eyes, the evidence paraded itself behind closed lids – mocking her inner detective as she repeatedly came up with nothing.
No suspect, no motive – not a thing.
'This is pointless.'
Sharon's mind was a hive of activity; she exhaled exasperatedly and stared at the ceiling.
'And now I need to pee.'
She threw the covers from her body, kicked them to the foot of the bed and with a huff, swung her legs off of the mattress and got to her feet.
Flicking the switch on a nearby lamp, she swiped her watch and glasses from the bedside cabinet.
'5am.'
Pulling a pale-blue silk robe over her night gown, Sharon tied the cord at her waist and tentatively placed her hand on the door knob…Andy Flynn was asleep outside.
Aside from the break in…Sharon couldn't deny that Andy's proximity had also contributed to her restless night's sleep. A tension had hung between them all evening; the more time they spent alone together, the more apparent it became….and the more difficult it was to ignore.
Her attraction to him made her uncomfortable, he made her feel awkward and gawky – something that the unflappable Captain hadn't felt in a very, very long time
But estranged from her husband or not, Sharon was a still a good catholic wife and Andy Flynn was her subordinate, which were two very strong reasons as to why she should nip it in the bud right now.
She should put a stop to the flirting, the lingering glances, and the unnecessary touches - before their behaviour led to something they would both regret. It could end up costing them their friendship, their jobs…or Sharon her mortal soul.
She raised an eyebrow and smirked at her own conscience; 'being a tad dramatic, don't you think?'
Sharon mentally shook herself and opened the door, straightening her unruly bed-head as she did.
'There's nothing wrong with me wanting to look presentable.'
She confidently crossed the hall to the bathroom, cautioning a glance in the direction of the living area - but she stopped in her tracks when she noticed that Andy was nowhere in sight.
The area was dimly lit by a lamp next to the sofa, but she could clearly see that the couch was empty.
Curiosity caused Sharon to forget about the dull ache in her bladder, and pushed her further down the hall to seek out her lieutenant.
The laminate floor felt cool under her bare feet as she passed her own bedroom, the door to which was closed - just as she had left it. 'Out of sight, out of mind.' If only that were true.
"Andy?" Sharon's throat felt dry; the rasp in her voice was exaggerated by the quiet apartment and the silence that greeted her once she reached the couch.
The apartment was empty.
'He left?' Sharon attempted to ignore the wave disappointment that revelation sent through her body. She stiffened her posture, casually ran a hand through her hair and turned towards the kitchen.
It was then that she saw a note on the counter.
Sharon frowned and moved towards the counter tentatively - recent events making her cautious, but she quickly recognised the scrawl and relaxed.
Morning,
Provenza called - development on the case.
Nothing we can't handle so GET SOME REST!
Andy.
PS. Don't fall over the guy in the hall.
Re-reading Andy's note, Sharon smiled despite herself and wondered over to the front door. She peered through the peephole to discover a uniformed officer in the corridor, perched on one of her dining chairs, reading the sports pages.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head disapprovingly, yet her smile broadened all the same.
Sharon decided to leave the officer sitting outside her apartment and returned to the bathroom to get ready.
If Andy Flynn thought she was taking the day off, he had another thing coming.
xXx
"Lieutenant Flynn!" As Andy entered Amber Moore's home, Provenza greeted his partner with false enthusiasm. "So glad you could finally join us."
"I'm sorry," Andy looked flustered as he joined his friend at the entrance to the sitting room. "I had to arrange cover at the Captain's apartment. We think the creep that broke in may have had a key."
Concern flashed over Provenza's aging features, but before he found his voice, Sykes's who had apparently been in earshot, found hers; "Did something happen to the Captain, Lieutenant?"
Andy spun around to see that Sanchez's interest had also being piqued; he rolled his eyes and gesticulated exaggeratedly. "Captain's fine; there was a break in at her apartment last night so she's taking some time to sort things out."
"They take much?" Sanchez asked, heavy frown lines creasing his brow.
"Nothing we should be concerning ourselves with," Flynn dismissed the detective's question; Sharon was a fiercely private person – he had no intention of discussing her plight with the team. "You guys gonna bring me up to speed?"
Stoney-faced as ever, Sanchez took the hint – Sykes on the other hand…
"Lieutenant Flynn, is Captain Raydor okay?"
"Captain's fine, Sykes," Provenza snapped, ushering the team back into the sitting area from the hall. "As a detective," he muttered for Andy's ears only, "you'd think she'd be better at taking hints."
"Good morning, Andy." Lieutenant Tao welcomed Andy from his position on the floor. He was currently crouching next to a smashed china pot by the doors to the patio; to Andy's eyes, the broken vase looked like the only sign of a struggle.
"Mike," Andy nodded in response, "what happened?"
"Amber Moore was attacked in the early hour of this morning." Sanchez reported, as he stood in front of the lieutenants, his hands clasped casually in front of him. "She came home from a party and was jumped as she was opening the door."
"Another party?" Andy frowned.
"People mourn in mysterious ways." Provenza grumbled suspiciously.
Sanchez continued. "Miss Moore came home from the party around 4am, parked the car in the garage and entered via the back entrance to the house. Her assailant was waiting for her in the garden."
"Why the back door?"
"Apparently from the garage, the back door is the quickest route to the house, Sir."
"Did she see her attacker?"
"No Sir, she was attacked from behind and they fell into the house - knocking over that pot," he signalled to the broken china. "She didn't have time to shut off the alarm, the sound of it startled her attacker and they ran off."
"She okay?"
"She's shaken up; a few cuts and bruises."
"Where is she now?"
"Upstairs."
Andy frowned and turned to Provenza, "does it strike you as a little odd that the attacker knew enough to wait outside the back of the house for our actress, but didn't know that she had an alarm?"
"That's why I've always liked you Flynn," Provenza patted his friends shoulder. "Great minds think alike."
xXx
"What do you mean he never got off the plane?" Lieutenant Flynn yelled into his cell phone as he stalked towards the murder room from the elevators. "And you didn't think to update me?"
Sharon, who had heard Andy coming from the moment the elevator reached their floor, left her office and stepped into the shared space to greet him.
"Yeah, well thanks for nothing, buddy!" Flynn angrily cut off the call, just as he noticed Sharon standing by her office, a puzzled expression on her face. He wondered over to meet her, "I thought you were taking some time off?"
Sharon raised her eyebrows. "No Lieutenant, you assumed that I would be taking time off," she crossed her arms over her lilac suit jacket. "Care to tell me who you were just yelling at?"
"Vegas PD. Franco DeSalve, Amber Moore's agent - he never got off the plane last night and the ass-hat I've been dealing with didn't think to tell me until now."
"Did he get on the plane?"
"Vegas are looking into it."
Over Andy's shoulder, Sharon saw the rest of her team entering the murder room with Amber Moore in tow; the young actress, who appeared visibly shaken, had a graze above her right eye.
"Good morning everyone," Sharon welcomed the team and turned back to Andy with a frown.
"The Actress was attacked at her house this morning," he shrugged. "We've brought her in to make a statement."
Andy's cell-phone began to sound in his hand and he answered it promptly, "Excuse me…Lieutenant Flynn."
"Miss Moore," Sharon smiled as she side stepped Andy and glided across the room to greet their victim. "I'm so sorry to hear about your incident. Detective Sykes, please can you take our guest to the conference room."
Sykes nodded and pointed down the hall, "this way Miss Moore."
Sharon turned her attentions back to the rest of her team. "What happened?"
"Someone attacked her at her home," Provenza took a seat at his desk, slumping back in his chair.
"Did she say who?" Sharon pressed him for information.
"She didn't see them – 'apparently' they attacked her from behind."
"You sound suspicious."
"Whoever it was that attacked her, waited on the patio for her to return home at 4am. They knew enough about her routine to know that because she was driving, she would be using the rear entrance to the house - but they didn't know that she had an alarm and it startled them?"
"She doesn't look particularly injured…" Sharon granted. "Are you suggesting that she staged it?"
"And the Oscar goes to…"
Sharon narrowed her eyes as she processed the new information and Andy re-joined the group.
"Vegas PD just confirmed that DeSalve checked in at LAX, but he never actually got on a plane."
"So he's still in LA…" Sharon placed her hands on her hips and began to pace the office, "Alright, Lieutenant's Provenza and Flynn, question our victim. Keeping your suspicions in mind Lieutenant," she addressed Provenza, "I want to know exactly what happened this morning. But considering that this DeSalve character is indeed still in town and MIA, let's treat him as our top suspect. We need her to tell us everything she can about him."
"Okay…" Provenza pushed himself out of the chair. "But I'm telling you, Captain," the astute detective groused as he wondered around his desk and past Sharon en route to the conference room, "her story stinks."
As Provenza made his way to the question their victim, Andy hovered next to Sharon until his partner was out of earshot; he leant towards Sharon and spoke in a hushed tone. "How are you holding up, Sharon?"
Sharon stepped backwards; embarrassed by his proximity she threw a cautionary glance and the remainder of her team who were busying themselves at their respective desks. "I'm fine thank you, Lieutenant," Sharon enunciated his title for effect; deftly communicating that their conversation was over.
Confusion passed behind Andy's brown eyes, but before he could respond Provenza called out from down the hall.
"Flynn, I'm not getting any younger!"
"Right," Andy muttered with a frown as he stepped backwards from Sharon; in those few seconds his confusion changed to something akin to irritation and despite some of that annoyance being caused by Provenza, Sharon couldn't help but think that a little was directed at her.
xXx
Sitting at her desk - in the privacy of her own office, Sharon stared down at two police files in front of her. The FID investigation into Detective James Banston and the LAPD report into the night Ian Banston broke into her home and threatened to kill her children.
Sharon took a deep breath as she thumbed the corner of the latter.
It had been a long time since she had faced the horrors of that night; both she and her children had undergone counselling to deal with the trauma of the home invasion. Sharon had until now, successfully compartmentalised the events of that night and the emotions that came with at the back of her mind.
The thought of revisiting them filled her with dread – but with no leads and the risk of another break in or worse looming over her, she was running out of options
She closed her eyes and bounced her legs on the balls of her feet - nervously rubbing her lips together; she opened the file and looked down.
Sharon inhaled sharply and her hand rose to her cheek; the first image to assault her eyes was the photograph of her injuries from her struggle with Ian Banston.
Her bottom lip was swollen and bloodied; the mottled blue and black bruises that mapped her left cheekbone where exaggerated by her ashen complexion. But it wasn't the struggle that passed through her mind when she saw the damage that Ian Banston had inflicted; it was the memory of seeing her children's faces as they stood helplessly by. The sound of their screams echoed around her mind, until a knock at the door dragged her from her thoughts.
She abruptly closed the file and wiped at a tear she felt rolling down her cheek, "Erm….Come in."
"Sharon?" Rusty tentatively entered Sharon's office, poking his head around door. "Can I come in?"
Sharon got to her feet and walked around the desk. "Rusty? Of course…" She gestured for him to enter and looked at her watch. "What are you doing here? Did the officers assigned to you bring you here? You are supposed to be at school."
"We had some free periods for study, don't worry I came with an escort…" he stepped into the room and swung his satchel on to the large green chair that was situated by the door. "I just wanted to see if you were okay."
"Oh I'm fine, Rusty." Sharon lied as she rested back against her desk in an attempt to look nonchalant. "You don't have to worry about me."
"Are you sure?" Rusty scratched the back of his neck, "'cause the message that was written on your bed sheet seemed kinda personal…"
Sharon winced, "you saw that huh?"
"It was hard to miss."
"Rusty, in my job I deal with a lot of unsavoury characters – but trust me when I say that this is a very unusual occurrence. I don't want you to feel unsafe in your own home."
"I don't. I just wanted to, you know, check that you were alright."
"I'm tough as old boots," she joked, as she moved to drape an arm around his shoulders, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Now you head back to study group, you have an English test to study for."
"Don't remind me," Rusty rolled his eyes picking up his school bag as Sharon steered him out of her office and towards the elevators. "Can I play Playstation when I get in tonight? Kevin has one of the same games I do - I can play him online."
"That should be fine," she smiled warmly. "But come by here on your way home – I still need to arrange security detail for the apartment.
"Okay," he shrugged as they stopped by the elevators – seemingly not fazed by that revelation; a reminder of how tough his short life had been. "Is last night's takeout still in the fridge?"
"It is," the elevator opened and Rusty boarded, sidestepping a uniformed police officer who was getting off on their floor. "Now get back to school."
"Yes ma'am. Bye Sharon."
Sharon gave him a wave and turned on her heel to head back to her office, but was blocked by the officer that had just exited the elevator. "Captain Raydor?"
"Yes?" Sharon eyed the young man suspiciously, her gaze drawn to the package that he held under his arm.
"There's a delivery for you."
"There is?" It was a little soon for the key-chain from Jackson to have arrived, and the box was too large to just hold a key chain.
"Yeah, we signed for it downstairs…" he held the package out to Sharon and at her reluctance he added, "it's been through the scanners."
"Of course it has," Sharon smiled thinly and accepted the package from the officer; the box was incredibly light.
'Maybe it was the keychain after all.'
"Thank you," She called over her shoulder as she made her way back to the murder room.
She was met by the surly tones of Lieutenant Provenza, "our 'witness' said that DeSalve has relatives in Vegas – that's where he was going. She has no idea why he would have changed his mind as she hasn't heard from him since Jessica's murder."
Sharon placed the box on the corner of Andy's empty desk and reached for a pair of scissors to slice through the tape that secured it. "Other than this online PA competition, is there anything linking DeSalve to our first victim?"
"Well, DeSalve is gay," Andy entered the room carrying two cups of coffee and joined the conversation, "so we can take out romantic entanglement. Amber gave us the name of a sister that he has living in LA, maybe she'll be able to tell us a bit more about him."
"Alright," Sharon stiffened as Andy brushed past her and took a seat at his desk. "What about Miss Moore's account of what happened this morning? Is there any holes you can pick in…Oh my god!"
Sharon dropped the scissors on the floor and stepped backwards from the box, a hand covering her mouth, her gaze fixed on the macabre contents of the package.
Photographs from her own collection filled the large box; each photograph had been defaced – Sharon had been crudely removed from all the pictures. Central to the display was the photograph that had been taken from Jackson's key-ring, a pink post-it note was attached to the bottom reading…
'If I can't be happy, then why should you be?"
Sharon cautioned a glance at Andy, who was staring at the delivery, wide eyed. "Sick, son of a bitch…"
Provenza, seeing their shocked reaction, curiously stalked over to the desk and peered in the box, "What the hell is this?" His gazed alternating between Flynn and the Captain, "Sharon, what the hell is going on?"
TBC
Thanks for reading :)