Louie Provenza executed a perfect eye roll at the sight of Gavin greeting him at the door in his silk pajamas. "I didn't know this was a pajama party," the elder Lieutenant grumbled.
"Shh!" Gavin softly hissed as he led him through the door. "Sharon is asleep on the sofa; Andy's out on the balcony if you want to join him."
Louie watched as Gavin disappeared down the hall. He stepped closer to the stark white leather sofa, finding his Commander asleep at this given moment was not at all what he expected. Moving across the room to the patio door, he watched for a moment, attempting to read the mood of his best friend. Andy looked up, meeting his eyes as Provenza stepped onto the stylish balcony. "Quite the view."
Andy sheepishly nodded his reply. "I'm," Louie gestured back toward the living room, "a little surprised to find Sharon asleep."
"He drugged her."
Louie wasn't sure he heard Andy correctly, "What did you say?"
"Gavin slipped a sleeping pill into her…" Andy started.
"Get up!" Louie stepped back toward the balcony door.
"What?" Andy frowned.
"For god's sake, Flynn, get your ass in there and wake her up so we can go! Sharon doesn't need this kind of help. And I, for one, cannot believe that you are just sitting there as if this is all okay. Ye gads!" At that moment, Gavin happened to appear from the living room. "And you!" Louie bellowed, "Go brew the strongest pot of coffee you can, and pray that she isn't as pissed as I am once she wakes up!"
"I said I was sorry," Gavin repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Cradling the steaming hot mug of coffee against her chest, Sharon eyed her best friend from across the room. She knew he was sorry, but at this moment, sorry did not help her. "Make me understand why you thought…" she paused, barely able to get the words out, "drugging me, was a good idea? Damn-it Gavin, you are my best friend! I came to you for help! I'm just so," she frowned in disgust, "I'm so disappointed in you right now."
"I was scared, okay!" Gavin stood, ever so slowly he moved closer to where Sharon sat nestled against Andy's side. "I never… I didn't think…" Gavin ran his hands through his already mused hair. "After all these years, I thought we would never have to talk about that time." Hesitantly, he sat just to the right of her, "You were so upset, and then you asked me what happened back then. And I panicked, okay! I know what I did was wrong, not to mention stupid! But I swear to you, Sweetie." He moved his hand to his chest. "It came solely from a place of love and…fear," he stammered. "But mostly love."
With a deep sigh, Sharon took another small sip of coffee, "Okay, there is clearly more here for us to discuss than you being an…"
"Idiot!" Provenza interjected from his spot on the sofa.
Sharon chuckled softly, "Thank you, Lieutenant. Not, my exact thoughts, but for now, it will do." Leaning forward, she placed her mug on the glass coffee table and turned to Gavin again. "Alright, I think it is time for you to tell all of us exactly what you know."
Andy and Louie shared a concerned look as they waited for Gavin to start. "I can do that, but I need to ask one question first."
"Oh, for the love of god," Andy impatiently shifted in his seat.
Moving her hand to Andy's knee, Sharon gently patted him in hopes of calming him. With a curt nod, she signaled for Gavin to continue. "What exactly happened in Miami? Because, Sharon, for you to even ask me about that time is so out of left field."
Provenza stood, his irritation evident. "Does that matter? I mean in the grand scheme of things, does that matter at all? Now, the Commander asked you a question, and we are all waiting for an answer."
"Lieutenant?" her voice was calm, soothing even, "I want answers just as much as you do, but we are not in the interrogation room. Please, sit back down." She turned her attention back to Andy, "why don't you fill Gavin in on our time in Miami while I excuse myself for a few minutes." She stood before Andy had a chance to respond, slowing making her way down the hall to one of Gavin's guest bedrooms and baths. She needed a few minutes to herself, more than she could ever admit. After using the bathroom, Sharon moved to the vanity, hoping a few splashes of cold water would quiet all the sudden doubts swarming in her mind. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she wasn't sure how much time had passed when she heard a soft knock at the door.
"Sweetheart?" the concern in Andy's voice was palpable.
"Just a few more minutes," she called. Moving her hands into her hair, Sharon re-did the messy bun atop her head. When she opened the bathroom door, she wasn't surprised to find Andy seated in the adjacent chair. Their eyes met across the few feet that separated them. "Everything okay?" she questioned.
Standing from where he was seated, "shouldn't I be asking you that?" Andy's eyes remained glued to hers as he moved within a few inches of her.
She shrugged but did not close the gap between them. "I'm fine."
"Fine?" he echoed.
Her hand migrated to the center of his chest as she slowly nodded her head. Yet the storm brewing behind her jade eyes told a different story. "Are you ready to hear what the idiot has to say?"
Andy couldn't help but grin slightly at her use of Louie's favorite endearment. "I'll be right here with you every step of the way." Taking her hand in his, he led her back down the hall to the memories awaiting them all.
"For the last time, Flynn, would you please sit down. You are making nervous wrecks of us all." Provenza barked as his best friend, paced back and forth behind where they sat in Gavin's living room.
"Louie." Sharon slowly shook her head. "It's okay. He just needs some time to wrap his head around everything we have heard."
"What I can't understand," Andy paused behind his fiancé, "is Taylor's roll in all of this. Why would he need to cover up your investigation and subsequent attack?"
"That is one of the big questions," Louie added. "When I spoke with Staples this morning, he insinuated that certain case files and personnel files have been missing for years. And wouldn't you know it, a couple of those missing files include Bishop's and the Commander's file. Staples also could not give me any details on Sharon's attack because only Taylor and Detective Martin were part of the investigation. Of course, we'd need to have a séance to ask either of them," He added with a smirk.
"Gavin," Sharon questioned, "Did Gretchen consult on my injuries and subsequent recovery?"
"Yes! I had forgotten that!" his voice rose in excitement, "Excuse me, and I will see if she is available this afternoon." Andy watched as Gavin picked up his cellphone from the coffee table and stepped out on the balcony.
"Who is Gretchen? If you don't mind me asking." Provenza spoke up.
Crossing his arms, Andy leaned against the side of the sofa next to where Sharon sat, "She is Gavin's half-sister, Sharon sees her from time to time when she needs someone to talk to."
"Andy, there is no need to sugar coat things," Sharon chided. "Gretchen is a psychiatrist; she has been a lot of help to me over the years. I met her long before I knew Gavin, and it took us years to put two and two together." She reached back, her hand tangling with Andy's, "I wish I could be more help, but it's like that week doesn't exist in my mind. I remember I was investigating Bishop and Manning at the same time, both for stalking and sexual harassment of fellow female officers."
"Were you one of those officers?" Provenza asked.
Her hand slipped from Andy's grasp as she tightly hugged herself, "Bishop was always an ass. He would step right up to the line with me but never cross it. When he was demoted to Patrol, Bishop confronted me in my driveway one night. I didn't realize he knew where I lived at the time. To say that he was belligerent would be an understatement. But he didn't say or do anything that I hadn't heard before." The sound of the glass door opening interrupted her before she could continue.
"Gretchen will be here in about an hour." Gavin stepped into his living room. "I'm going to excuse myself to change and order us all some lunch. Sharon knows where everything is if you need anything."
"Sharon?" Andy nodded his head toward the open balcony door, "Wanna get some fresh air?" Without replying, She stood on somewhat wobbly legs. Taking a few seconds to get her bearings, she moved along the edge of the sofa to where Andy waited for her. Meeting Provenza's eyes, the two men shared a knowing look before Andy turned his attention back to Sharon and followed her outside.
She moved to the balcony railing, resting her hands on the curved metal. Andy moved behind her but was careful not to touch her. "How are you?" his voice was a soft rumble.
Her hum was unmistakable and full of hidden meaning. She reached back, tugging Andy closer by his shirt. His arms moved around her waist, and Sharon quickly surrendered into his embrace. They stood like that for several long moments, simply enjoying the silence and nearness of one another. She sighed heavily, turning her nose into the curve of his neck. "Let's go sit down." Hand in hand, they moved to one of the oversized chaise lounges at the far end of the balcony. Settling into their normal position, Sharon sat between Andy's legs, her back to his chest. She shivered against him, despite the warmth of the almost mid-day sun.
"We can go back inside," Andy started to move off the chaise.
"No." She stilled his movements with her hand upon his knee. "I need some time for just us."
"Okay," he slipped his left arm around her, pulling her even closer, "talk to me."
He could feel her slightly shaking her head against his chest, "Damn-it Andy! I'm just… Do you know how much I regret coming here this morning?" He waited, knowing she would continue. "I'm so angry and frustrated. I asked for Gavin's help because I thought he was the only person who could help me, but instead…" her voice cracked with emotion, "He made me helpless, and I am anything but helpless! I know he explained why, but Andy, I don't know if I can ever trust him again." She rolled into his embrace, her body vibrating with silent sobs.
"Hey, hey, sweetheart," his right hand migrated into her hair, causing several thick strands to fall from the messy bun, "you have every right to be upset with Gavin. Hell, even me!" She pulled back from his chest, craning her neck to meet his dark eyes. Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped at the fresh tears on her cheek, "I should have done more, even said more once I found out that Gavin drugged you."
"Andy, this is not your fault. Regardless of his reasoning, Gavin should have known better, period." She slipped out of Andy's embrace, rolling her neck and shoulders before she stood. "I…feel like I don't know my best friend anymore." She walked back to the railing, her back now to where Andy still sat. "I don't know if learning the truth about what happened all those years ago is worth all the hurt and pain I feel right now."
"Sharon." Andy stood, intent on moving to her side.
"No," she turned, holding up a hand to him, "please, just hear me out. If Bishop is the one who attacked me in the parking garage at Parker Center, there is no evidence, no DNA, not even security footage from back then. It is my word against his, and that's if I remember! Andy, I'm not sure I want to remember. I've done just fine all these years, not knowing…"
"You weren't fine…in Miami." He inched closer to her.
"It was just a few nightmares!" her jade eyes blazed in irritation, "I've had those before."
"No!" He moved even closer, "Damn-it Sharon! Not like that."
"How do you know, Andy! Maybe I never told you…" her voice broke again as Andy finally moved close enough to pull her in his arms. "He's… Bishop is in Miami. We are here. We know I had a grade three concussion; we know that there was no evidence of any sexual assault."
"We only know what Gavin was told at the time," Andy interrupted, "and the tiny bit of information Louie dug up in the last few hours. You have to admit, that doesn't add up to much."
"Please, deep down, I feel like we need just to let this go for now," she pleaded.
"Sharon," his voice was gentle against her ear as he held firmly to her, "I will support whatever you decide, but I believe you, no… I believe we need to find the truth in this and then face it head-on. I think we should hear what Gretchen has to say when she gets here and then ask her what she thinks we should do. I don't want you to one day regret not trying to remember. But, more than anything, I want you to be free of this fear and uncertainty."
She turned in his arms, her eyes dark with worry. "Somethings are just better left in the past. Remember how we said that night that Bishop and Jack both didn't belong there with us?" Andy slowly nodded his head. "Nothing has changed. He doesn't deserve any of our time or worries, not now, not ever!" Sharon reached up to gently cup his cheek, "We are getting married in a few weeks. We have so much to look forward too and so much to do. I want our focus to be on us, the children, and only those significant people in our lives. Bishop is NOT one of those people. He wasn't back then, and he certainly isn't now. I will talk with Gretchen about the nightmares, and I will see if she can fit me in several times over the next few weeks if that will make you feel better. Okay?"
"Always a bargain," he chuckled lightly.
Shrugging, she couldn't hide the small smile from her lips. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Yeah, I think we do," he pulled her back into the warmth of his arms, both knowing the other could not see the uncertainty shining in their eyes.