21thMarts 2015

Saturday

Los Angeles

What moves in the depth of darkness? Part 1

…

"I never would have taken you for one to get lost in thought watching a storm," Andy Flynn murmured close to Sharon Raydor's ear. The low rumble of his voice tingled against the skin of her ear, his breath warm in contrast to the onslaught of wind.

"I bet you are a sucker for those weather channels, huh?"

Sharon hid her smile in the collar of the warm leather jacket Andy had offered her when they had made their way out from the restaurant. The leather had a calming smell, an earthy sort of scent, mixed with the perfume of Andy's aftershave. It ensnared her senses.

The end of the month was underlined by a fickle nature, the always changing weather making it impossible to gather whether a light coat would suffice or not. It made her extra grateful for Andy's chivalry of offering his jacket to her. She felt the stress of the preceding months fade in the company of Andy. Sharon had a sneaking suspicion it had been his plan all along; to make her forget about Philip Stroh roaming the countryside in God only know where, free and on the run. The thought still chilled her to bone.

It was approaching midnight and the night sky was obscured by bouldering clouds and a hint of lightning in the air. The wind blew in from the west, bringing with it the salty scent from the nearby ocean. She could hear the waves crashing against the shore in uproar. The restaurant, remote and alone, on the beach front offered illumination from hanging lanterns on the outside terrace. The narrow trail that led to the parking lot was likewise lit by lanterns, a soft low light that barely breached the darkness.

The restaurant was famous for its view and seafood cuisine. This night Sharon had watched the coalescing clouds on the horizon, the changing color and the motion with which the storm had blown them inland. She had felt mesmerized by the view. There was something entrancing about watching a storm take shape, to look at the horizon where the sky split from the ocean and to watch it blur and become one.

That the evening was in company with a good and trusted friend, and a big pan of seafood paella, made it even more memorable. There was something about tonight she would cherish in hindsight. Something that impelled her to walk just a tiny bit closer to the man by her side, their arms linked as they strolled toward the parking lot and Andy's Crown Vic.

The small trail wound up through the sand dunes and then on the other side, near a neighborhood of summerhouses, it led to a small parking lot. There was only the Crown Vic left on the lot. It was on the top of the dune that Sharon had lingered, turning to face the storm out at sea. Being arm in arm, Andy had stopped with her, looking at her as she gazed far out over the dark ocean, her hair whipped around by strong gusts of wind. The black surface of the water was every now and then illuminated by a flash of lightning, the roar of thunder far away.

The sand was wet from newly fallen rain, and the temperature had dropped significantly from the sunny and warm afternoon hours before the storm.

"If I had known," Andy continued with laughter in his voice, "I would have watched Twister with you, or something."

Sharon turned her head, an answering smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Andy was staring at her with an amused expression, his eyes appeared as dark as the depth of a bottomless well.

"I am not lost in storm watching," Sharon replied holding back a laugh, "I am simply enjoying the scenery."

"At midnight?" Andy arched an eyebrow, "It's pitch black. And cold. Not a lot to enjoy."

Yet Andy Flynn looked out over the sea in imitation of her, a smile on his lips that told another story.

Sharon turned her gaze back to the ocean. It was the howling of the wind and the waves crashing against the shore that had caught her attention. And it was the fresh breeze of cold salt water against her face and the stark contrast of a lightning strike illuminating everything in the darkness that had kept her attention.

Sharon felt Andy lean closer, from a distance their figures would take the appearance of two people embracing and yet she did not think much of it. Up close, it felt nice to stand close to him, he radiated warmth.

She felt his breath before he spoke, close to the side of her face.

"You want me to get you an umbrella?" he asked, his voice tinged by uncertainty, "or a coat?"

Sharon laughed and she turned around to see him, her head tilting slightly back since she had foregone the usual heels for boots. The easy smile to his mouth was contagious, his eyes once again centered on her.

"Are you afraid of a little rain, Andy? Or is it the dark you don't like?" she smirked.

"Nah, I like the dark," he grinned back at her, "It's my shoes; they're not water resistant."

Sharon hummed and looked down at his feet; the suede shoes were definitely not weather appropriate.

When she looked up again, Andy had taken an even closer step to her. His hands fell around her elbows and then slid down to her bare wrists before he turned her hands around and enveloped them between his own. His hands were warm, slightly sweaty, and there was a distinct impression of nervousness about him suddenly. A definite line to his mouth she had come to know over the years – an apprehensive smile – and an almost questioning look in his eyes.

Sharon could not help but lean closer to him too, pondering what made him nervous.

She was met by silence, his mouth slightly parting before he resolutely closed it again.

When Sharon inclined her head and waited for him to speak, he only shrugged and then leaned close and deposited a small, chaste kiss to her cheek.

"I had a wonderful time tonight," Andy told her after the kiss.

Sharon was positive it was not what he had meant to say.

She hummed around a smile, agreeing with him and letting whatever he had wanted to say go.

The smirk came back to his expression and all impressions of nervousness seemed to flutter away. "Next time I'll remember to bring my Wellingtons."

Sharon laughed.

Andy chuckled with her and then with a nod in the direction of his car, they made their way down towards the parking lot. The gusts of wind diminished in strength in cover by the dune.

"Let's go for ice cream," Andy grinned boyishly at her once they reached the gravel of the parking lot.

Sharon shook her head in amusement, "You don't think it's too cold for ice cream, hmm?" she teased, her head giving a small nod towards the cold ocean.

Andy turned to regard her, walking backwards, a smug look on his face that clearly stated she was insane for even suggesting such a thing, "Nah, silly," he shook his head, "It's never too cold for ice cream. I used to eat ice cream while ice-skating during the winter in New Jersey. It's appropriate year round. "

Sharon smiled at his silliness, the utter joy on his face and the light from the nearby lanterns that made his smile appear askew.

"Ice cream it is then," she agreed with a nod, "…as long as coffee is served as well."

"My place has plenty of coffee," he half-suggested, the tone flirtatious.

"As does mine," she played back.

Andy leaned sideways and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, "Yeah, but does the fair Captain have homemade gelato in her fridge?"

Sharon hummed as she shook her head.

"I know just the place," Andy told her, a smile in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes.

Sharon rolled her eyes; it was becoming a goddamn line.

"You always 'know just the place'."

"Ha, ha," he faked laughed but it turned to a genuine chuckle.

"Andy," Sharon interrupted him and when she had his eyes, she smiled, "I would love coffee and homemade gelato at your place."

Andy smiled back, his eyes glittering.

They always flirted occasionally, and easily, and yet they never ventured past a certain line. There was a structure to their friendship, a comfortable intimacy, and to venture beyond those borders was just the slightest bit terrifying. For the moment Sharon was content with their friendship; she felt comfortable and confident in the knowledge that Andy was a very good friend. He was someone to rely on and to share both heartache and happiness with. That they went on what others considered 'dates', was beyond the point.

They made their way to Andy's old Crown Vic, the car having seen better days. The front window shield had been replaced just last month after a suspect had ceremoniously thrown an entire safe deposit box through the glass in a fit of rage. Andy had bemoaned the fact for weeks in much the same voice he bemoaned how much Lieutenant Mike Tao was earning consulting on 'Badge of Justice'.

Their flirtatious walk was interrupted by the subdued sound of Sharon's phone ringing from the pocket of her blazer.

So much for peace, Sharon thought, at this late hour it was always work.

Andy shrugged. They were both aware of the high possibility of a roll out. The preceding week had been slow, each day ending well before 4 pm.

Sharon went in search of the phone in the pocket underneath the leather jacket. When she fished it out, she saw Chief Taylor's number flashing on the screen.

Andy looked over her shoulder and then grimaced when he saw the name.

"Good evening, Chief," Sharon answered courtly.

She listened to Taylor talking, acutely aware of Andy's gaze that lingered on her.

Just then Andy's phone rang as well – it lay in the pocket of the leather jacket, Sharon felt it vibrating through the leather. Sharon turned her side to him and then tried not to think too much of the intimacy when Andy took a step closer and zipped down the pocket in his leather jacket.

Chief Taylor explained the circumstances surrounding a new case and the few maybe related highlights from an earlier investigation Robbery/Homicide had made. Sharon listened and still, she could not help but smile at the gruff way Andy answered his own phone, the "What?" most likely directed at Lt. Provenza.

Sharon kept smiling to herself, amused by the downturned mouth on her lieutenant's face and the dark eyes giving into an eye roll.

"Yes, thank you chief. Yes, I'll see you there, bye," Sharon ended the call when she had all the details, sure lieutenant Provenza was calling with the logistics.

"Yeah, what of it? – It's Saturday! Yeah, she's here," Andy grumbled at his phone, a quick, apologetic look at her before his jaw clenched, "Oh for Christ's sake, just get to it. What is it? Bodies? Hostage situation? Missing people?"

There was a poignant pause while Andy listened to lieutenant Provenza, his grimace not lessening. After a minute and Andy grumbling what sounded like, 'see you there', he ended the call.

"Roll out, huh," Andy commented with an indecipherable look at her.

Sharon nodded, "I'd imagine Provenza is getting everyone up to speed?"

Andy nodded, "Yeah – he called you first but it went to voice mail."

"Chief Taylor said patrol found a body and it has links to an open case that Robbery/Homicide investigated. Major Crimes is taking over."

Andy hummed, "That'll go over nice with Robbery/Homicide, yikes!"

Sharon smiled; she had been through many turf wars and intra-divisional plays of territorial pissing. She could easily pull out whatever she needed to defuse situations whether it was sharing a case congenially or putting others in their places.

"I'm sure Robbery/Homicide will be happy to have our help," she commented with a wry smile.

Andy gave her a look of disbelief, "I think you and I have a different view on Robbery/Homicide. They are a hot-headed bunch – not willing to share much, let alone their coffee machine."

She arched an eyebrow, "You used to be one of them."

"Exactly," he grinned, "I know the Neanderthals by heart."

Sharon shook her head and then said, with a noticeable sigh, "Well, we better get a move on, lieutenant."

Andy nodded sourly and then after a second, he arched an eyebrow as he lingered by the passenger car door, "so much for ice cream, huh? Rain check?" He watched her settle in.

Sharon nodded softly, "Rain check."

It was a sour way to end an otherwise wonderful night.

…