A/N: This site was being kind of strange over the weekend and I wasn't able to access my profile page to add a final note to chapter 3 before posting. I hope it was readable and everything... I just want to thank you all for the comments and the follows. I am sure I sound like a broken record, but just the fact that you are mildly interested in reading my weird ideas means so much to me... Also, over the weekend there were a bunch of tumblr prompts/asks for these short little drabbles based on one-sentence dialogues. They were all super random, but I think I was able to incorporate one of mine into this chapter as a flashback. I hope it works... If you follow me over on tumblr you will recognize it, but I did expand it a bit. I also changed some of the transitions to hopefully allow it to fit into the story I had already created here. :) This chapter picks up the next day; after the team watches the Chief surprise Jeff Darby in her car via the monitors in Electronics.
With a Bit of Luck Chapter 4
After identifying Darby as the gentleman from his meeting, Andy slowly rose from the chair and casually stepped out of the room. He was not happy with having to leave his team and the Captain behind to work out their next move, but that was the deal. He was allowed to come in for the identification, but was not allowed to offer any further assistance.
No, Andy had to sit this one out and have faith that they would be able to solve the case without him; faith that the suspect would reveal something incriminating to allow them to nail down his connection with Zuman. There were a lot of moving pieces, but he knew he was innocent. He knew he had not persuaded anyone to flip on the criminal. It was just a matter of time before they would track down the evidence to prove it.
As he reached his desk, he picked up the office phone to arrange a ride home. Even though his partner had taken the time to pick him up that morning, the other man was not going to be able to leave again. Andy held the handset to his ear, but before he could dial out he heard the door to Electronics open and close behind him.
"I thought I was pretty clear about today," Sharon raised an eyebrow in his direction as she glided toward him. "Something about an identification and then you would be on your way? That you would not linger?"
Andy tugged at his sling, "Yeah, well, like I said, I am bit slower these days. Took me a little more time to gather the strength to move."
"Really?" Sharon drawled. "Well, you better get home then Lieutenant. It cannot be doing you any good to be moving around this much." She paused, her eyes sparkling mischievously, "After all, rest is key for proper healing."
Andy smirked, suppressing a laugh, "So I hear. Good thing I have a couple days off then, to rest."
"Indeed," she hummed, looking around the room to check their surroundings. There were a couple officers milling around, but the rest of the Major Crimes squad was still in the other room.
She turned back to him and dropped her voice slightly, "So, Provenza brought you in this morning? He's turning into a regular personal chauffeur." Andy chuckled at the idea. She peered at him challengingly, "A regular, Driving Miss Daisy, situation you two have going."
Andy stopped laughing and stared back at her in disbelief. He placed his hand over his chest in mock offense, "Ouch, Sharon. That hurts. Are you saying I'm the old woman in that scenario?"
"Well?" Sharon drawled, coyly, allowing him to draw his own conclusion. At the sight of his annoyed expression, she was forced to stifle her snort by covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Regaining her composure, she stepped closer, "Oh come on, Andy. Lighten up. It was just a joke."
"I think it only counts as a joke if it is funny, Raydor." He challenged, "You had better work on that."
She rolled her eyes, but before she had a chance to defend herself his face broke into a smirk as well. She sighed, thankful he was feeling well enough to kid with her. She pulled the conversation back around to his ride, "So, Provenza brought you in...?"
Andy shrugged, "Yes, but he said I would be on my own for my voyage home. Not a round trip service today."
"I see," she glanced down at her watch. "Well, I guess you will need to start walking then. You have a couple hours of daylight left... Since as you said, you are moving a little slower these days."
Andy groaned, "Funny."
"I know," she beamed back at him, straightening her blazer proudly. At the sound of chairs scooting around in Electronics she looked down at her watch. "I do need to get back to work though, Lieutenant. Busy day. Sorry about your ride, I'm sure you will find someone to take pity on you."
"Pity?" He echoed. "You better watch it, Raydor." She smiled again, as he dropped into his chair, "I had a feeling I would be stuck with a ride from some kid in patrol, unless..." he trailed off, eyes shining, hoping she would have a better offer.
She ignored the implication and gently waved her hand in his direction, "Sounds like your best option. I mean I would love to help you out Lieutenant, but it seems I have a date with the FBI and a storage locker this afternoon."
"You?" Andy stared back at her, somewhat stunned. "You are going to help track down Darby? In the field? Isn't that a little outside of your paper pushing, rulebook writing, hall monitoring - skill set?"
She leered dangerously back at him, "Seriously? So that is what you are going to go with? Paper pushing? You know, I don't have to help. I can sit back and wait. Just leave it up to the FBI and hope for the best. Sure, Agent Howard knows what he is doing, and Tao is going too… But you know those other guys…"
Andy put up his hands in surrender, "You're right. I give. All hands on deck. Go. Enjoy."
At his admission she grinned, "I'm right? Gosh you do say the sweetest things."
He rolled his eyes again, but did not have the time to respond. Behind them, the door to Electronics creaked open. "You're still here?" Provenza shuttered, eyeing Sharon as he emerged solo from the room. The Lieutenant pointed in Andy's direction, "He made the ID. That's all you were here for. Can't you give us some peace? Go back to the dungeon?"
Sharon shot Andy an exasperated look before she rounded on his partner, "Don't worry Lieutenant. I am on my way out, but instead of returning to my dungeon... I am going to close up my open investigation. Unless you have some reason I shouldn't be doing my job to help clear your friend of these ridiculous claims."
Provenza paused, "Oh, well, I guess that works too. Go on then, see what you can do. But really I think we can handle it from here."
"Thank you for the permission." Sharon droned. She turned back to Andy, "Heaven forbid I take charge of my own case. I mean I do have some experience when it comes to dealing with," she paused, her eyes flashing, "dirtbags."
Andy smirked at the comment, "Careful, Captain. Don't want to start tooting that horn too soon. Howard could take the guy down without you, and then where would you be?"
She gave him an unconcerned nod and turned to leave. "Well," she considered. "At least I wouldn't be here tied to my desk, because I got too cheeky with a superior officer."
"Funny," Andy mocked again, shaking his head as he watched her leave the room.
Provenza stepped into her vacated place beside the desk, "She's up to something." He pointed after her, but kept his eyes on his partner, "And you two better be careful with all of this, weird flirting," he choked on the word. He shook off the idea and hissed at his partner, "I don't know how I didn't see it before."
"Well, maybe you aren't the elite detective you imagined yourself to be?" Andy suggested, staring slyly in the man's direction. When his partner began to redden, he casually waved his uninjured arm in the air between them, "Just a thought." Andy swiveled in his chair and picked up the phone again to put in his request for a ride home.
Still standing nearby Provenza grumbled, "Just a thought? I'll show you elite, my friend. At least I'm not the one that has apparently lost what little mind he has left and sided with the enemy of all that is Holy." Andy pretended as if he did not hear his partner and watched the man stomp over to his desk. Once there Provenza pulled his jacket off of the back of his chair and left the Murder Room.
—
Later in the day, after successfully tracking down Darby and catching him red-handed in the storage room, Sharon found herself walking upstairs to deliver her completed paperwork on her involvement in the apprehension. Just as she had planned, she had accompanied Lieutenant Tao, Agent Howard, and his other guys into the field. Luckily for them, she was able to stop Darby at the perfect moment to nail Zuman for the murders, the attempted murders, and his witness intimidation. The sequence of events also turned the case over to the Bureau to prosecute. Since the stash of old money linked the man to the missing FBI informant, and probable homicide.
With the completed paperwork absolving Lieutenant Flynn from any wrongdoings in the original case in her hand, Sharon decided to deposit it in person on her way home for the evening. She wanted insure the Chief had hard copies of the files to go along with the digital ones she had already sent. Plus, she did not mind the quiet walk through the halls. The Major Crimes division had been able to leave at a decent hour when the case was handed over.
Although, upon entering the Murder Room she was pleasantly surprised to see the Lieutenant sitting with his back to the door working on a crossword. Sharon smirked to herself and crept toward the man.
"So, Lieutenant," she whispered, leaning in close behind his ear. "Still think I'm up to something?"
Provenza threw his hands up to swipe at the air around his head as he flew out of his chair. "Ye' Gods!" He shouted, as his chair lurched backwards into the Murder Board. "What in the hell?!" He turned to her, still shaking off the shock from her unexpected arrival. "Captain! My Lord, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He yelled, walking briskly toward her wagging his finger, "Because after the crap I have been through with you and Flynn the last few days, that is all that makes sense: You are trying to kill me"
Sharon laughed heartily at his response, "Oh yes, that's it Lieutenant. I am so appalled by your existence that I have been cooking up this whole scheme for the last year and -"
"What?" Provenza interrupted, confused by the timeline. "A whole year?"
Sharon shrugged off the disdain in his voice, "Well, give or take a month or two. Why? Jealous?"
"Me? Jealous?" Provenza made a gagging noise. With his hands around his middle he choked out, "Please, Captain. I am not even going to dignify that with a response... Give or take a few months?" He repeated in disbelief. "Look, as far as I am concerned you two are both idiots. Maybe you deserve each other after all."
Sharon's lips curved into an indulgent grin as she crossed her arms. "Oh, Lieutenant," she purred. "I cannot tell you how much it means for us to have your blessing. And you know? You have such a way with words, two idiots." She placed her hand over her heart and sighed endearingly, "Just warms the heart."
"As if you had one," Provenza grumbled.
Sharon raised an eyebrow in his direction and warned, "Careful, Lieutenant. Would not want you to say something too cruel."
"Cruel?" He mocked. "Cruel? Are you kidding me? This whole situation is cruel. Cruel and unusual punishment… For me!"
Sharon smirked, "Well, good to know it is all about you then. Would hate to think you had someone else's concerns in mind."
"Well, uh, well," Provenza stammered. "I do. I am concerned for my dear friend Andrew Flynn. However, it appears I am too late to intervene. You have done something to him. You and your evil ways. I should have realized when he stopped going out as often. When watching games on the weekends began to slow." Provenza paused, unable to recall the last time the two men had gone out for more than a casual meal. "Lord, I may be too late."
Sharon perked at the comments, thankful for the opportunity to get in one last dig for the day. "Perhaps," she tilted her head in consideration. "Although, speaking of game days." She leaned forward conspiratorially, "Do you want to know a little secret?"
Provenza rolled his eyes, "Oh, God. Definitely not."
Ignoring his request, Sharon grinned. "Well, remember a few months ago? You went over to Andy's for, I don't know which one, but for a game?"
Provenza shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. Like I said, there have been lots of games to watch, and most of them are at his place."
Sharon raised her finger to her face and tapped her chin as if deep in thought. "Well, Lieutenant," she offered. "This would have been maybe one of those last times you were just referring to, I mean before you said things began to slow..."
As her voice trailed, Provenza thought back. After a moment, a flash of a memory crossed his mind. "Wait, what?" He exclaimed, completely appalled. "That weekend the Dodgers were away? Afternoon game?"
Sharon smirked, "Yes, Lieutenant. I knew you would get there..."
"What was that?" Sharon wondered, pulling away from him slightly from their spot on the couch.
Andy paused to listen, "Sounds like someone at the door, maybe?"
"The door?" Sharon untangled herself from him and quickly jumped up. "Who could be at the door?"
"Well, since you are here, and my kids usually don't just drop by… um it could be Provenza?" he calmly rambled through his mental list of potential visitors.
Sharon sped around the sofa, "Provenza? Andy, your partner is not to know I am here. That was part of the deal. No one from work." Now standing firmly behind the furniture, she reiterated, "No one."
"It's okay, Shar…" he began as he followed her around to the back of the couch.
"No, it's not," she interrupted. Although, before she could say anything more, the front door opened. Andy swiveled his head toward the entryway and then back to her just in time to see her drop to the floor. She put her index finger to her lips and mouthed, "Shhh…"
Andy rolled his eyes, but said nothing.
"Flynn," called his partner without looking up from his path. "Game time." Provenza tottered into the living room, but froze at the sight of two cups and a pair of glasses on the table. "Say, what's going on here?"
"Oh, just watching some television before the opening pitch," Andy offered casually, still standing on the other side of the sofa.
"Yeah…" Provenza walked over to the table and touched the glasses. "These look oddly familiar..."
"Oh yeah," Andy scoffed, before his partner could get too worked up. "They're the Captain's." He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Didn't you know? She comes over regularly." At his words, Sharon reached up from her spot on the floor and pinched the back of his knee. He faltered slightly, but kept his eyes trained on his partner.
"Ha ha," Provenza droned sardonically, shaking off the idea. "If that were true I would have you committed."
Growing instantly irritated with his partner's quick rebuttal, Andy stood up a little straighter and pointed to the ground. "Oh yeah? Well jokes on you then. She's hiding behind the sofa." Stunned, Sharon stretched out and pinched his knee again in warning. He flinched, but forced a smile to conceal the sting.
His partner rolled his eyes at the ridiculous idea, "Very funny, Flynn." Provenza passed into the room and stood between the coffee table and the couch. He waved his arm in the air purposefully, "And what in the hell is wrong with your leg?"
Andy bent over and eyed Sharon, searching for help in trying to think of a plausible explanation. When Provenza went to take a step toward him, Andy angled his body slightly, as if he were stretching. He waved off his partner, "Ah it's nothing. Just a little soreness from the new gym routine. Have to get ready for that physical. It will pass."
Provenza scowled at him skeptically, "Okayyyy… Well, anyway. You have everything ready? It starts in fifteen."
When his partner plopped down onto the sofa, Andy chanced another glance down to Sharon. Noting her frustration, he shrugged and mouthed, "Sorry?"
From her position on the floor she rolled her eyes. She turned away and slammed her back against the sofa - her knees bent, and arms crossed on top of them.
At the disturbance to his seat Provenza complained, "Hey, watch it Flynn. I'm sitting here."
Andy shrugged helplessly down at her, as she dropped her head to her knees in defeat. He shrugged, silently saying, "Get comfortable?" and moved back around the couch.
"Forgetting something?" His partner queried. When Andy lifted his eyebrow in confusion, Provenza drawled, "The food…?"
"Oh," Andy spun back around. "Yeah, let me just get the menus."
"My lord Flynn, it's like you had forgotten I was coming." Provenza mused, picking up the remote. He looked back down to the table and studied the two cups and the black-rimmed glasses. He closed his eyes for a moment and took in a contemplative breath, "Flynn, you did know I was coming, right? That was just a joke about the Captain?"
Still standing across from her in the Murder Room, Provenza threw his hands into the air again, "That's it. I knew something was fishy. I mean really? He responded, 'Those are my reading glasses,' I should have known." The Lieutenant scoffed at the memory, "Flynn doesn't read." Provenza paced the area, still upset about the revelation. "You know what?" He resolved jadedly, "I am done. Take him. I no longer care. I want no part in this. I don't want to know anymore. I am done."
"How lucky," she chuckled lightly at the reply. "I guess that's another point for me then."
"Another point?" The Lieutenant gasped. "Are you playing some kind of game here? I knew you had to be up to something more sinister than stealing my friend. You are really trying to drive me insane."
"As if that were not already the case," Sharon hummed in response. When he did not instantly move to speak, she glanced down at her watch and grinned, "Well, Lieutenant, I think my work here is done for the evening. It is getting late and I do have plans." She spun on her heel and walked away. As she rounded the corner she paused and glanced back, "It has been so lovely chatting with you today. I do hope the cases were not too strenuous. I am so thankful I could do my part in closing them for you."
Provenza fell back into his chair and watched her walk away. Shaking his head in disbelief he mumbled to himself, "Lucky? Lord take me now."
(The line given for the prompt was, "She's hiding behind the sofa." So, hopefully that worked and you all enjoyed the prompt. Thank you again to the those who kept supplying me with new ones over there. I don't think I will ever get tired of tackling those little drabbles.)
