Andy looked just awful. Brenda knew that he'd be a bear, all laid up like this, but she hadn't expected him to look so weak. She laid her hand on his shoulder, and put what she hoped was a reassuring smile on her face.
"How you feelin, Lieutenant?" She asked softly.
"Like I've been a few rounds with a prize fighter, Chief, but you should see the other guy." He chuckled, then winced, moving his hand to cradle his ribs.
"Can you just, quick like a bunny, run through the events of what happened for me?"
"Yeah. Yeah sure." He shifted, sitting up a bit, and launched into his statement a second time. As he finished, Brenda's brain was already churning.
"M'kay. I'll need the sign in sheet for the meeting, and then…"
"Chief." Andy interrupted. "It's alcoholics anonymous. There is no sign in sheet."
"Oh. Well of course. That's frustrating." She tapped her finger against her lips.
The contemplative moment was broken by the arrival of a brightly colored maternity balloon, and a sheepish looking Provenza, followed closely by an exasperated Gabriel.
"What?" Provenza groused. "It's the only one they had."
Brenda hid her grin behind her hand, and turned back to Andy.
"So, I'll have the department send over a sketch artist, but in the meantime, you get some rest."
"That may not be necessary, Chief." The amber tones of Sharon's voice slid through Brenda like brandy. "I have what I believe is a photo of the attacker."
"Well for heaven's sake, show him!" Brenda sounded slightly more irritated than she meant to.
Sharon held out her phone, but then snatched it back into her body with a sideways glance at Brenda. She cleared her throat, and spoke again.
"You should know, Lieutenant, that if you positively identify this man as your attacker, this case becomes an FID case. However, if you are not sure, then this remains a Major Crime, until such time as you, or the department, can officially determine the identity of the man in this photo. Is that clear?"
Andy frowned, clearly baffled by this unexpected bending of the otherwise rigid woman. He flicked his eyes towards his Chief, and she nodded slightly.
"Understood, Captain. May I see the photo now?" His voice was ragged, evidence of the cracked ribs, and the pain they were causing.
Sharon held out the phone, stepping next to Brenda so that Flynn wouldn't have to stretch to see the screen. She watched as his eyes widened in clear recognition, then nodded as he schooled his features into a neutral expression.
"You know, it was dark, and it's hard to say. It might be him, but I just can't say for certain, Captain. I'm sorry." Flynn hedged.
Sharon put her hand over Andy's, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"That's just fine, Lieutenant. We're so glad you're okay. You just focus on getting better, okay?" She moved away, mourning the absence of Brenda's heat against her arm.
"Hey, thanks Captain. Appreciate you coming as fast as you did, too. And for calling the bus for me. Good looking out." He tried a smile, but the effort fell short.
"I have to get back to the station, now. Take care." Sharon nodded at Provenza and Gabriel, and held Brenda's gaze for a beat longer than was appropriate, then clicked towards the door.
"Actually, I have to be going, too. Andy, you get some rest. I mean it, that's an order, okay?" Brenda patted him on the shoulder as she turned to follow the Captain. She glanced at Provenza and Gabriel, and smiled. "Don't wear him out, fellas. He's got some significant damage to recover from."
"Roger that, Chief." Provenza rasped, a quick smile flashing over his features. Gabriel nodded, and Brenda tossed off a quick wave, and pushed through the door. Sharon was leaning against the wall just outside.
"Captain." Brenda said coolly as she headed for the elevator.
"Brenda. We should probably talk, before we get back to the station." Sharon dreaded the news she was going to have to deliver.
"I have a case to work, so our personal life is going to have to wait, all right? One of my team just got his cage rattled but good, and I'm damned if I'm going to sit around and talk about my feelings instead of bringing that to justice."
"I understand, Chief. However, what we need to discuss is relevant to work, and to the case." Sharon tried to keep the hurt from seeping into her tone, as they reached the bank of elevators.
Brenda jabbed the down arrow furiously, and spun to face Sharon.
"Fine. Shoot."
"I went in to begin the paperwork, as this is an OIS, and I needed to get a signature from Pope. I went to his office, and he was in a meeting." She paused to take a breath, and barreled forward. "The meeting was with Delk, obviously, but Agent Howard was also there. It seems he's been reinstated as Liaison for the FBI and LAPD."
"Is that all?" Brenda stepped into the elevator, turning as Sharon followed closely behind.
"Did you know, that he was coming back?"
"Would it matter if I did?"
"I'd hope that we'd discuss something like that, yes." Sharon frowned a bit.
"Like you discussed one of my officers being viciously attacked in the middle of the night? Like that?" Brenda heard her accent deepen, a linguistic quirk that evidenced her anger.
"Brenda. If I had woken you, would you have come with me? To the scene?" Sharon modulated her tone, cool, professional.
"Of course! That's my Lieutenant! How could I not go to him, if he's injured?"
"Exactly. How could you not? But don't you see? You hadn't been notified yet. I had. So if you arrived with me, it would set the rumor mill into action. That would get back to Pope at least, and very probably Delk."
"So? Delk already knows we're involved." Brenda huffed.
"But, Pope does not. And as this is both a Major Crime and an OIS, we can't let the perception of our relationship affect the case, you understand? If it looks like I'm clearing Andy because I'm sleeping with his boss, how will that reflect on him?"
Brenda sighed. Of course she was right. She rubbed her hands over her face, as the doors binged open to the parking garage. She held an arm in front of the door sensor, and gestured to Sharon with the other.
"After you, Cap'n?" she smiled cheekily. And then laughed out loud as Sharon put an exaggerated sway in her hips as she stepped off the elevator. Brenda knew she'd have to offer a proper apology later, but at least for right now, things were okay.