Set in Season Four, between Episodes 11 and Episode 12. Andy's recovering from his "dust up" with the car, but he hasn't discovered the blood clot issue yet. These characters are not my own. I'm just borrowing them.
"Flynn, what are you doing?" Andy heard immediately after he answered his phone. He rolled his eyes as he tried to think of the proper comeback.
"Getting my nails done-what do you think I'm doing? I'm sitting here in Sharon's condo going nuts!" Andy said exasperated. "She's still at work for a few more hours. She said she had a meeting this evening with Taylor, and now I have no idea when she'll be back home. I'm about ready to drive back to my own home. Yeah, I've got cracked ribs and hurt, but I can do that just as well at my own place."
"Slow down, Flynn! Don't anger her; that's the last thing we need. I know she's still at work. I just left her there. Hope you've enjoyed your vacation there-" Provenza said before he was interrupted.
"Vacation! It's not a vacation! I was thrown from a moving car!" Any yelled into the phone.
"I was there, you idiot! I saw it, but you certainly seem to be playing out the injured patient," Provenza complained.
"I'm following doctor's orders!" Andy stammered. "Concussion, cracked ribs, injured pride…" he trailed off.
Provenza grumbled, "Yeah, that and your girlfriend insisted you stay there. Listen, if you want to stay there, stay there. We don't need some medical explanation."
"Are you trying to irritate me more? I'm staying here because the doctor told me to take a couple days to recover-you know, a concussion can do that. Broken ribs hurt like no other. I'm staying at Sharon's because she's worried about me, and she didn't want me staying at my place alone. I'm even using Rusty's room, so just stop!" Andy yelled again.
"I don't want to know the details. Rusty doesn't either, and I can only imagine what illusion you are giving Rusty just so you don't scar him for life. Now, can we get to the reason why I called?" he asked.
"Oh, you called for a reason besides to annoy me?" Andy asked.
"Get downstairs to the lobby; I'm picking you up," Provenza directed Andy.
"No! I have no interest in going to a bar with you where I'm supposed to sit there and watch you drink. No thank you. As much as I'm bored out of my mind here, I'll sit and wait. At least when Sharon gets home, I'll enjoy her company. Besides, she'd be mad at both of us if you picked me up to be your designated driver, when she doesn't want me driving right now with my concussion," Andy said, irritated, again.
"Listen, you moron! I'm not coming over there to take you out and watch me drink! For once, no, I'm taking you with me for the evening," Provenza explained.
"There's more to this story; I'm not buying your 'nice guy' act. What gives?" Andy asked.
"I need you to go with me," Provenza said. "Trust me; it will be better than sitting in the condo staring at the walls, and it will be better for me if I don't have to think of you and the captain doing, whatever you two are doing, on that couch later."
"No! Every time you try to convince me to do something with you, we always seem to stumble into a problem. Ultimately, that always gets Sharon involved and the whole team. Can we not discuss all the times we've done something that sounded innocent, only to find ourselves in the middle of a murder? No thank you!" Andy exclaimed.
"Flynn! Get downstairs! I'll be there in five minutes. Look, I really need your help," Provenza pleaded.
"Why do you need my help? What did you do? Why aren't you rushing home to Patrice anyway? Get her to help you," Andy asked.
"She's the problem!" Provenza stated, "Well, not the problem, but I can't ask her. No, I need you to come with me."
"I'm not going anywhere with you, you old coot, until you tell me what's going on," Andy said simply.
Provenza sighed, "Listen, I want to buy her a ring. I need your help."
"A ring?" Andy said confused, "Wait, like an engagement ring?" He started to laugh, "You're going to propose to Patrice? You know, she's close to your own age, right?" he said chuckling.
"Laugh it up, why don't you," Provenza sighed, clearly irritated. "Yeah, I know. Didn't see it coming. Well, she moved in here with me over the summer as you're well aware, so yeah, it's time. Hopefully, she'll marry an old guy like me."
"Emphasis on old," Andy grinned into the phone. "I don't get it, though. Why do you need my help? If you aren't losing your memory at your old age, you might remember that you've done this once, twice, wait four times before!"
"Oh, shut it, Flynn!" Provenza said, irritated. "I'm well aware of how many times I've done this, and for your information, when I married Liz the second time, I used the same ring."
"Okay, before I go any further, stop right there. When you proposed to your ex-wife again, you used the original ring? Really? That's so lazy!" Andy chuckled.
"Why would I waste money on a new ring when she had a perfectly good one already?" Provenza asked.
"Wasn't it awkward? Did she give it back to you when you got divorced?" Andy asked.
"No! She kept it, all the more reason to reuse it. No, when I proposed to her, I didn't have the ring, but when I was asking her, I told her if she wanted to marry me again to just get the ring out of her jewelry box. She didn't argue," he explained.
"I'll never understand what women see in you," Andy shook his head. "Patrice is a saint, and she's way too good for you, you know?"
"I know that! That's why I need to lock this down now! Before she figures out what a lousy catch I am, I need to marry her. I love her! You're one to talk. I don't even want to discuss what the captain sees in you. No, we all thought she'd put a nice end to your obsession, let you down easy. Imagine my surprise when I, really, I should say, we, all noticed she liked you back. I used to think the woman was smart," Provenza sighed.
"She is smart! Smartest woman, one of the smartest people I know," Andy said, irritated at Provenza. "Much smarter than you are!"
"Well, I used to think she was smart, but she's dating the likes of you. Now, we could go rounds with each other about why these women are way too good for both of us, but I will be at the captain's condo in five minutes. Don't make me come up there. Get your sorry self, correction-your injured, sorry self, downstairs. You're going ring shopping with me. For once, I need to get this right!" Provenza exclaimed.
"Fine! I'll come, but only because Sharon texted me and said she'd still be a few more hours. Plus, this will probably be the last time you can drive yourself to ring shop. Next time you get married, you'll probably be in the old folk's home. I hear those places have shuttles that run you all over town-you know to the bank, grocery store, churches, appointments-but, I'm sure they won't take you to buy engagement rings," he grinned.
"Shut it, Flynn," Provenza hissed. "If this wasn't so important, I'd just let you sit there and stare at the walls. I'd probably convince Rusty that he needed to check on you-I know just how smashingly well you two are getting along recently. That's another whole discussion, one we can have while you help me. You can explain why Rusty is so weirded out to be around you still, not to mention explaining to me who you think you are fooling by-as you said it-staying in his room. Give the kid his bed so someone is using it, Flynn. Now, I'm not talking anymore because I'm almost there. Get yourself downstairs so I can buy this ring tonight. No bad luck is going to hit us this time; for once, we are going to accomplish something we set out to do."
We knew from later episodes that Provenza had confided in Andy about marrying Patrice (as Andy spills the beans to Patrice in the hospital). So, I figure that Provenza might have asked Andy for some help in picking out the ring. He's always been a bit nervous about this relationship, knowing Patrice is so much different than anyone else he's ever loved. In my mind, he wants to get this purchase just right, and he's unsure of his ability to do it on his own. Enter Andy. This won't be terribly long, but I think there's room for a decent story here. Hope you enjoy!