Author Notes: Hi all . This chapter is mainly from Provenza's POV…thought I'd try something a little different …I hope it works!

My fabulous beta Mellow_Mel has her hands full right now, so any mistakes made are mine!

Chapter 9

As Provenza shut the door to Captain Raydor's office behind him - the rest of the team looked on; concern evident on all of their faces.

The lieutenant turned around to face his superior; a heavy scowl creasing his brow.

The Captain stood next to her chair, staring expressionlessly into the recently delivered box that sat atop her desk. Her skin was ashen, one arm was wrapped around her waist, the other held tightly to her side.

Flynn hovered nearby, watching her closely - twitching, Provenza thought - to offer her some form comfort.

"Alright you two," the Lieutenant strode purposefully towards them, jabbing a finger in the direction of the package. "What the hell is this thing?"

Sharon glanced at Andy and nodded softly, silently granting him permission to explain – seemingly unable to do so herself.

"You remember a detective from vice - name of Banston?" Andy asked, clasping his hands in front of him.

"James Banston?" Provenza's eyebrows retreated to his hairline.

"Yeah,"

"I know of him," Provenza shrugged, "dirty cop. A bunch of 'em from his department were shopped for human trafficking charges back in the 90's," he looked to Sharon. "Some of your former department's finer work I might add."

"That's the guy," Andy continued. "Spineless bastard topped himself before his trial – but not before putting his wife in a coma I might add."

"Don't speak about him like that." Sharon entered the conversation, her tone flat; both lieutenants' turned and stared at her in stunned silence. "You didn't know Jimmy," she elaborated.

"You're kidding, right?" Andy interrupted exasperatedly, "How can you defend the guy, Sharon?"

"It's complicated, lieutenant." Sharon spoke through a clenched jaw, arms crossed at her chest - her gaze focussed squarely on Flynn. "Move on."

Provenza watched their exchange closely; the tension between them was palpable. He knew that Flynn was prone to overt displays of emotion from time to time, but his reaction to the Captain defending Banston was a little extreme – even for him.

"Fine." Andy seethed, then turned his attention back to Provenza. "After Jimmy attacked his wife and put her in a coma that ultimately lead to her death, he left behind 2 kids that became award of the state. The girl died when she was a teenager, but the eldest kid Ian - he turned out to be a real piece of work…"

"How so?" In his peripheral vision, Provenza saw Sharon slowly lower herself on to her chair.

"Ian has always blamed me for what happened to his family," she explained; her voice wavering slightly. "His father and I went through the academy together; we were close. " Sharon dropped her gaze to her desk. "I had just joined Internal Affairs when I learned that there was going to be an investigation into vice. Jimmy's behaviour aroused my suspicion…so I went to see him…"

"You broke the rules?" Provenza asked incredulously.

Sharon lifted her head sharply to look at him and he almost didn't recognise her; she seemed softer somehow, her green eyes void of their usual coolness. "I didn't want to believe it."

"Alright," Provenza rested back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "So what happened?"

"Oh, he was involved, alright." Andy piped up as he moved to stand behind Sharon. "Bastard only tried to set the Captain up; cover his own ass by using her as an alibi – said they were having an affair," he scoffed. "Which-they-weren't."

Provenza scowled at his partners' bizarre behaviour, before turning his attention back to Sharon as she added quietly, "but Ian believed that his dad was telling the truth."

"So what did he do?"

"He broke into my home and threatened my family." She answered matter-of-factly.

Provenza shifted uncomfortably in his chair. In the back of his mind, he recalled Sharon being involved in a shooting at her home – but at the time she was Internal Affairs – suffice to say that he hadn't shown much interest in the case.

"Where's the son now?"

"He's at Ridgewater Psychiatric."

Provenza nodded in the direction of the box, "is this his M.O?"

Sharon shook her head, "Ian would send me letters and creepy cards…but this box…he was never this creative."

"He have any visitors?"

"No," Sharon rested back in her chair. "I've spoken with the doctors at Ridgewater – he's had no visits from anybody other than a lawyer since his incarceration."

"This lawyer got a name?"

"Lieutenant Provenza, I appreciate your concern – but as a team we already have a case to solve. Robbery homicide are dealing with the investigation – they have it covered."

"Well," Provenza got to his feet. "Robbery homicide couldn't find their asses with both hands; Flynn and I have got this."

"That's not true Lieutenant." Sharon followed suit and rose, resting her weight on her knuckles atop the desk. "I'm asking you to leave it alone."

"Sharon look," Provenza threw a glance at Andy before continuing. "Don't take this the wrong way – you are liked and respected by this team. But to a lot of the LAPD, you are still the enemy; how much serious attention do you really think they will be giving your case?"

Sharon stood up straight, seemingly taken aback by the Lieutenants frankness.

"Provenza's right Captain – look what happened last time," Andy moved around the desk to stand by his partner. "Any other cop and Ian Banston would have been in custody in a heart-beat."

"The rest of the squad can handle the actress case," Provenza pressed his point. "Just let us just do a little under the radar digging to see what we can find."

Sharon contemplated their words, her gaze shifting between her two lieutenants before coming to rest on the photographs of her family in the box. "Alright," she said finally; definitively. "Lieutenant Provenza see what you can find out – but Lieutenant Flynn, you will remain on the current case."

Flynn opened his mouth to protest but Sharon cut him off before he could speak. "Assistant Chief Taylor cannot know about this; having both of you MIA during such a high profile investigation - doubles the chances of him finding out. I will not take that chance, is that clear?"

"Crystal," Andy bristled, but complied with the order from his superior.

Provenza's eyes narrowed - he had his suspicions that it was actually his partners' behaviour that had influenced the Captains' decision. It was clear that Flynn was too emotionally involved to be objective…Provenza wasn't entirely sure what to take from that. "You want me to pull Rusty out of school?" He offered, changing the subject.

"No, let's not alarm him," Sharon shook her head sharply. "Increase his protective detail and bring them up to date. I want him to be brought to the apartment straight from school."

"Wait, you're not going to a hotel?"

"Absolutely not,"

"Captain…" Provenza protested, amazed that he of all people was about to recite protocol to the queen of the LAPD rule book.

"We will not be scared out of our own home."

"Then we should do another sweep of your apartment." Flynn interjected, apparently sensing an opportunity to remain involved in the case. "You didn't know the photographs were missing – what if you didn't notice something that the perp left behind?"

The Captain paled slightly; it appeared that this was something she had not yet considered.

Sensing his partners' eagerness to keep an eye on Sharon, Provenza threw him a bone; "Flynn - ensure that the Captain and Rusty have extra detail and sweep the apartment with a fine toothed comb; I'll hold the fort here until you get back – I'll do some digging from the comfort of my desk."

Andy raised his hands in surrender as Sharon shot him a glance, "and then I will go back to the actress case. I promise."

"Fine," Sharon reluctantly agreed. "But remember…"she pointed a finger at Provenza, "…under the radar."

"Oh I am an expert in keeping things from Russell Taylor," Provenza assured the Captain as he opened the door to leave her office. "You have nothing to worry about."

xXx

Captain Raydor silently watched Provenza, then Flynn leave her office; already regretting involving yet another of her detectives in her personal matters.

But Sharon didn't only have herself to think about.

She looked down solemnly at the collection of pictures that lay in the bottom of the box; surrounded by those of her two children, sat a single photograph of Rusty.

She tucked her hair behind her ears, her hands coming to rest around her jaw; the arrival of the package confirmed that her children were now targets too – all three of them.

Sharon picked up her phone and punched in the number for the switchboard, "Lieutenant Grundy, please." She happened a glance towards the door way and noticed Andy was still loitering. "No, I'll hold, thank you." Sharon rested the phone on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Andy - I thought that you had left…Was there something else?"

"Captain," Andy took a tentative step back into her office.

"Oh..erm…Lieutenant Grundy, hi – this is Captain Raydor." Sharon signalled with her left hand for Andy to wait, "there has been a development in my case," she turned towards the window as she spoke. "I've received a delivery to my office, I would appreciate it if one of your detectives were to come up and collect it…ok. Thank you."

When Sharon turned to place the phone back on its cradle, she realised that Andy was nowhere in sight.

xXx

"Flynn!" Provenza barked at Andy as he hovered in the doorway to the Captain's office.

Flynn turned on his heel, a frown firmly in place.

"What are you doing?" Provenza got to his feet and walked around the desk towards his partner.

"I'm waiting to speak with the Captain," Andy shrugged and signalled towards Sharon's office, "she's on the phone."

"Come with me." Provenza signalled with his head towards the break room and Flynn dutifully followed behind.

Provenza held the break room door open and Andy entered, a slightly confused expression beginning to form on his face.

"What the hell is wrong with you today?" Provenza shut the door behind them.

"What do you mean what's wrong with me?" Flynn answered defensively. "What the hell's the matter with you?"

"You Flynn." Provenza jabbed a finger at his partner. "You are the matter with me. What is going on between you and the Captain?"

"This again?" Flynn rolled his eyes. "I told you this morning – nothing happened last night. I spent the night on her couch and she slept in a bed."

"What's with the passive aggressive bullshit between you two then, huh?"

"Beats me! One minute she's opening up to me about her past and now….I don't know, maybe she's embarrassed about sharing stuff with me…"

"Stuff?"

"About the case," Andy answered quickly, "about Ian Banston and what happened. I asked her earlier if she was alright and she clammed up on me. Then she tells me I can't work her case when I already know more about it than you do…"

"Did you stop to think that maybe it's because you are acting so emotional?"

"I'm not being emotional!" Contrary to his statement - Andy threw his hands in the air and Provenza simply raised his eyebrows in response; a sardonic expression painting his features.

"I am not being emotional," Andy repeated more calmly this time before adding solemnly, "Sharon's just not as tough as she makes out, you know…I worry about her."

"Andy, did you stop to think that maybe Sharon confided in you because you are a friend?"

"What's your point?"

"Well, perhaps because you are considered a friend, it means you are too close to work on her case?"

Andy stalled, "You think?"

"Uh-huh."

"Yeah," a lopsided smile crept across his lips. "Yeah, you're probably right. She's not mad at me – she just thinks I'm too close to the case."

Provenza watched his partners' reaction to this revelation and his eyes widened, realisation dawning; "Oh dear God, Flynn."

"What?" Andy's confused expression was back.

"You like her!"

"What?"

"The Captain."

"I do not."

"Oh I've seen that needy expression in your eyes before, Flynn." Provenza screwed his face up. "You like Raydor."

"Well, so what if I do?" Andy snapped defensively. "She's attractive, intelligent…"

"Your commanding officer…"

"Oh come on! We're both practically retired – no one cares if we…"

"Don't even say it!" Provenza held his hands up. "I could do without the metal image." He started to walk towards the doorway then stopped and turning back to face Andy. "Does she know?"

"No." Flynn responded emphatically.

"Good. Why don't you keep it that way?"

"Why?"

"Flynn, this is Raydor! The wicked witch remember?"

"Don't call her that."

"The woman has the LAPD rulebook memorised!"

"It's not against the rules. We'd just have to make sure that we inform our superior officers…"

"Have you met Taylor? You think he'd let you continue to both work in Major Crimes?"

"He might…"

"There's a possibility." Provenza nodded. "But do you really expect Raydor to risk losing such a prestigious position for a woman in the LAPD – on a maybe?"

Andy looked crushed and Provenza felt a pang of guilt; maybe his colleague's appreciation for their Captain ran deeper than he had initially thought. Flynn had a habit for falling for the unattainable; it was like he loved the challenge, the chase…but from his current wounded puppy expression, it appeared to Provenza that he may in fact see more in Sharon than a conquest.

"Look," He took pity on his friend. "Just promise me that you will really think about this and not just blurt it out to her in her office, okay? This is huge Flynn; career ending huge – so just give it some thought."

Provenza then turned towards the doorway and promptly left the room, silently hoping that his hot-headed friend would just this once take heed.

TBC

Thanks for reading – your reviews and comments are always welcomed

I'll try and get another instalment (which will include more action…in various forms ;) ) written before I go back to work after the festivities!

Until then, I'd like to wish those that celebrate it – a very Merry Christmas and those that don't a happy Tuesday!