RF Such Is My Life
Title: Such Is My Life, part 3
Pairing: Raydor/Flynn ~The Closer
Rating: M
AN - Thanks to tmrfrisky for getting me started & keeping me on track.
Flynn decides to give Raydor ten more minutes at about the 6:30 mark. He swirls his cranberry and soda, about to take another sip when a whirlwind enters the bar. At the sight of her, Flynn has a thought that Raydor really is textbook everything. The fury blazing from her eyes is the clear definition of a woman scorned, and in case he had any doubt, the venom in her words at the sight of him wipes it away.
“You, you!” Raydor seethes when she turns the corner of the bar and makes for him. “You asshole,” she fumes ever tactful enough to lower her voice to a hiss as she closes in on him.
“Here Stan,” Flynn tosses the bartender a twenty as he stands. “Let’s take this some place else,” he tells her while reaching for her arm. She jerks away, squaring her shoulders and readying for a fight. He thought she’d be upset, but not all out pissed off. “You want to make a scene?”
“Didn’t you?” she tosses back.
“I wanted to talk.”
Sharon glares at him, contemplating her options. “Fine,” she huffs, turning on her heel and walking toward the door. Flynn flashes a grin at Stan before shaking his head and following her out. The moment they step outside, Sharon whips around like a bird of prey readying to strike. This time when Flynn reaches for her arm, he latches on and strongly guides her to his car.
“No, I mean some place private,” he says, going into full alpha male mode and cutting her off before she can get into a bigger fury. Raydor scowls, but knows their conversation doesn’t need to be overheard, so she settles into the passenger seat and bides her time. Flynn expects to get it full force when he gets behind the wheel. In fact, he’s so ready for Raydor’s onslaught that her silence throws him to the point of near concern. He never really hated Raydor, but was just thoroughly pissed off at the sight of her for some reason he couldn’t quite say until last night. He hesitates before starting the car, glancing over at her. She’s staring straight ahead, her face calm and he’d buy it except for the slight tremble of her bottom lip. Flynn mutters a curse under his breath, thinking he may have bit off more than he can chew this time.
“How much do you remember,” Sharon asks several stressful moments after he pulls into a parking place at a nearby park. The last rays of sunlight dip behind a row of trees as she waits for his answer. Flynn watches a mother strap her toddler into a car seat as he debates how much to tell her. “I will remind you that you started this trip down memory lane, so let me hear what it is you think you know.” He cuts a sideways glance at her, a wave of anger cresting at the sight of her contempt. Chin squared, her arms across her chest and those glasses like armor, is it any wonder that the urge to choke her suddenly comes over him.
“I bought you a drink, you had a room. We had sex. When I woke up, you were gone.” He looks at her then, and it dawns on Sharon what this is all about.
She can hardly contain the chuckle. “You’re mad because I left you? God, you really are an alpha male.” The quip creates a surge of emotion in Flynn, his eyes harden and his mouth draws into a thin line.
“Alpha male?”
“It was a one night stand, Flynn. You didn’t think there was going to be strawberries and champagne in the morning did you?”
“So you did remember? You have known about this all along?”
Sharon has the grace to look down. “No, honestly I didn’t. It was a rough time for me. I didn’t give it much thought. I pretty much forgot about it actually.” She glances out the window, noticing the parking lot is empty except for them. When she turns back, Flynn is still glaring at her. “What? Why are you so upset about this now?”
“You forgot?”
“Flynn, I was getting a divorce. I had two children to deal with and then I found out-”
“You were pregnant,” he says with a hint of steel in his voice.
“Yes, I did,” Sharon coolly replies. “I don’t understand what that has to do with anything.”
“You really think I’m that pathetic?” Flynn shifts in his seat, turning to face her straight on. “You may outrank me, Captain, but I’m a damn good cop and I know how to solve a case, too. Don’t think you can blow smoke up my ass and I won’t see it.”
“What the hell are you getting at Flynn?”
“What am I getting at? Oh I’ll tell you, Captain. I saw you with him at the ballgame.”
Sharon blinks back in confusion. “The ballgame? What are you-”
“You can pretend and lie all you want, but I know the truth,” Flynn hisses out, the tension between them palpable. Sharon still isn’t sure what he’s accusing her of doing, but her self-control is wearing thin. Unlike most people pissed off to the point of contemplating murder, as Raydor and Flynn continue their verbal sparring that is inching ever so closer to physical assault, their voices get lower as their personal space decreases. They are mere inches away from each other, and to the average eye, look more like they are in a heavy make out session instead of about to commit homicide.
The sudden rapt on the passenger side window sends them scurrying to neutral corners, faces flushed when Flynn rolls down the window to reveal a smirking patrol cop. “Need to see some ID,” he quips before really taking in the situation. The officer’s smile falters when he catches sight of Flynn and Raydor’s badges. “Oh Captain, um Lieutenant, didn’t mean to intrude.” He straightens, gesturing toward a nearby sign in explanation, “it’s just that the park closes at dusk.”
“Thanks Officer Michaels,” Sharon says, catching the officer’s name from his nametag as she quickly regains her composure. “We’ll be on our way.”
“No rush, ma’am, sir,” he says unable to hide a quick grin as he recovers from his surprise enough to give them a once over. “Have a nice evening.”
“Well we can’t stay here anymore,” Sharon groans as he walks away. “God knows how fast this bit of gossip will spread.”
Flynn somehow manages a laugh. “Two jurisdictions over. He won’t have a clue.”
“But still,” Sharon says, her concern replacing her anger for the moment.
“Yeah, I know,” Flynn sighs, starting the car. “Hotel?”
Sharon slowly turns to face him, her silent stare instantly readying him for round two. “Hello, that’s what got us into this situation.”
“Fine. My place then, or your place.”
“Hell no.”
“All right. Provenza’s?” Flynn cracks. Raydor visibly shudders.
“Fine, a hotel.”
Flynn starts out of the lot, pointing the car toward downtown. “Ok, I know a guy.”
“You know a guy,” Sharon asks with a sarcastic lilt.
“Yeah, he has a place on the strip.”
“Excuse me? Do I look like I get paid by the hour to you?”
Flynn gives her a once over in part just to see the fury flash behind her green eyes. “We could set you up with a nice outfit.”
“Lieutenant if you even think-” she stops at the sound of his laughter. “You asshole.”
“Favorite word huh? Look, I don’t bring home a Captain’s salary. So it’s either my guy or…”
“Take a left on Fairmont,” Raydor replies, settling back into her seat, “I know a guy, too, at the Baybridge.” Flynn reluctantly gives her the point and does as he’s told.
Flynn drums his fingers on the wheel as Raydor sits quietly, watching the streetlights go by. He cracks a smile when some oddball rap song starts playing. Sharon grabs for her purse, scooping out one of the latest smartphones.
“Danny, sorry, I meant to call.” At the mention of her son’s name, Flynn’s posture goes rigid. He can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but nonetheless strains to catch anything he can.
“No, I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” she glances over at him and Flynn tries his best to mask his interest in her conversation with their son. Well, he could be their son. He flicks his eyes away from the road to see Sharon staring at him, so he shrugs his shoulders. She shakes her head and drops her gaze from him. “Just order something from Tony’s. Tell them to put it on my tab.” She’s quiet for a bit, listening to whatever Danny is saying. He must be home alone, Flynn concludes. Provenza did say that the girls were somewhat older than him.
“Okay, just do that then. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Did you get your hair cut?” Flynn can’t help but look at her when she asks that, the mirth in her voice pulling his attention back to her. Sharon Raydor really was an attractive woman, especially when she was happy. “What do you mean sort of? Daniel Raydor when I said…all right fine then, but if it’s not short enough…yes I will get the ruler out.” She giggles then, the sound effecting Flynn in ways he’d rather not have it affect him. He shifts in his seat; thankful to see the hotel come into view.
“I’ve got to go, Danny. Love you. Bye.” Sharon hangs up and returns the phone to her purse. She’s smiling until she catches sight of Andy Flynn’s scowl. “What?”
“Your son?”
“Yes, I forgot to tell him-”
“Seems you forget to tell a lot of important things,” he says, cutting her off. He jerks the car into the Baybridge parking lot, driving past the drop off area by the door to park in a space. Sharon releases her grip on the door rest a moment after he cuts the engine, not sure what caused his sudden zero to furious reaction.
“Okay, so give me a minute and I’ll let you know the room number,” Sharon says, deciding the quicker they get this over with the better. She grabs up her purse and goes to exit the car, waiting for Flynn’s response.
“Fine,” he says, not looking at her. She stares at him for a beat before getting out and going inside. She manages to find Andre, an old family friend who just happens to manage the Baybridge. In a few minutes he sets her up with a room, not even bothering to run a tab.
“I still owe you,” he grins as he hands her the plastic keycard. “Jackson loved the tour of the department last summer, gave him the push he needed to decide the police academy was for him.”
“Thank you, Andre, but really…”
“No, Ms. Sharon, I won’t hear anymore of it. Just return the key when you’re done.” He waves her on her way, so she gives him a smile and heads off. When she finds the room, Sharon tosses her purse on the king size bed and heads into the bathroom. Staring at herself in the mirror, she reflects on the events of the day. She can’t believe what’s happened, or what may happen. Her phone rings again, this time a more professional ringtone cutting through the silence.
“Raydor.”
“You got a room yet?” An irritated Flynn asks.
“314, to the right off the elevator, 5th room on the right.”
“On my way,” he says hanging up. Sharon stares at her phone, not knowing why, but suddenly feeling like being in a room alone with Andy Flynn might possibly be the worse decision she’s made this night.