Fic: Matrimonial Affair (Will/Sharon- The Closer) T
Title: Matrimonial Affair
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 2884
Fandom: Closer
Characters: Will/Sharon, mentions past Will/Brenda
Warnings: Mild Language
Disclaimer: I do not own The Closer or any of its characters, or its settings. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: My first Will/Sharon fanfic written for the alternate universe challenge at FIDLoveAffair using picture 4- Will is married to Sharon when Brenda first comes to work for the LAPD.
Will was tired of pretending everything was perfect, he was tired of smiling at various friends congratulating him on making it ten years, complementing him on his better half, when he couldn’t get near his wife without her tensing up. The party was perfectly put together, not surprising since Sharon had single-handedly supervised the planning an execution of the event, even the weather had decided to fit itself into Sharon’s schedule being just the right temperature of not too hot not too cool for the venue of an afternoon catered celebration by an exclusive hotel’s poolside. He found himself at the bar ordering a scotch on the rocks from the young bartender watching as the façade of pretending to be happily married caused strain on his lovely wife; Sharon’s smile a bit too bright, her laugh a tad too forced, and her avoidance of being in close contact with him all afternoon not being suspicious to anyone but him.
No one had guessed the Popes were sleeping in separate beds; they had orchestrated their lives so that the kids didn’t see the clinks but he suspected they knew something was going on and eventually he and Sharon were going to have to sit down and talk about what was going on and come to some kind of resolution, perhaps tonight since the kids were sleeping over with friends and wouldn’t be there if their argument became heated. He wasn’t sleeping worth a damn without her beside him, he missed being able to hold her, and looking at her now laughing and smiling with others in that light blue backless dress that stopped a few inches above the knee and flowed freely about her legs; legs he could remember distinctly as being spectacular especially when they were wrapped around his waist made him really miss having sex with her.
“The lady in blue looks like she’d be a real hellcat; looks like she could be a cougar in the making, women her age are always hot in the sack they know what they want so they just take it.” Will had forgotten about the bartender as he contemplated the sorry state of his marriage, he followed the young man’s line of sight and saw that Sharon was the focus of the young Lothario’s words he wondered if he punched the guy in the face if he could get off on justifiable violence from the DA who was in attendance somewhere in the crowd of people.
Deciding that he could probably talk his way out of assault charges but doubted he’d be able to talk his way out of Sharon’s wrath if he did anything to screw-up this get-together, and his wife was mad enough at him as it was if she got anymore angry he’d probably come home one day to all his stuff packed on the curb and the locks changed. He gritted out, “That’s my wife you’re talking about.” He was pleased that he sounded menacing enough as he watched the younger man blanch trying to stutter out an apology. Will drained his drink putting the glass down on the bar harder than necessary before turning his back on his wife’s would be Casanova and started to make his way over to his wife.
Before Will was able to make it to Sharon’s side a southern drawl saying his name stopped him in his tracks, he turned and forced a smile on his face wondering what Brenda was doing at his anniversary party because he knew he hadn’t invited her. “Brenda, what are you doing here?”
He watched as the blond woman’s brow furrowed and her face reflected a confusion over his words, “I was invited, Will.”
“Indeed she was.” Sharon’s smooth voice sounded to his right and Will turned a questioning look to her wondering what the hell was going on since their recent matrimonial problems steamed from the blond southern woman in front of them; or really his omission of telling Sharon that when in DC he had an affair with Brenda and her only finding out after he hired his “friend” from DC.
“Nice shindig you got here, Will” Fritz Howard’s voice was added to the mix and to Will’s confusion of not knowing what was going on. “Congratulations on being married ten years.”
“I brought a date.” Brenda said in an effort to break the tension before saying, “Congratulations hope you have ten more. Years that is.”
“Oh well, that remains to be seen.” Sharon voice was soft and seemed pleasant enough but to Will’s well trained ear it lacked warmth and he waited for what would come next, Sharon could be when she wanted very blunt and cutting, “But I am ever so happy you accepted the invitation to come Chief and bringing a date was a great choice really, hopefully this helps with all the endless rumors and gossip regarding your reasons for coming to Los Anegeles and my husband’s reasons for bringing you and overlooking qualified experienced LAPD officers for the position you now hold.”
Will was thankful that for once Brenda didn’t have a sharp comeback, he had already fenced a few run-ins between the two woman, one before Brenda knew Sharon’s was his wife and stating that if Will had a choice between whose side he would take hers or the Captain’s it would always be hers didn’t go over to well with Sharon and left Brenda with egg on her face when she found out who Captain Raydor was to Will and one run-in after Sharon knew about the affair thanks to someone circulating Brenda’s full disclosure statement to all department heads detailing their affair when he was married the first time. Work had been hell and then coming home and knowing that no matter what he did he was the bad guy in this situation, he should have told Sharon all about his affair with Brenda a long time ago, he just didn’t want her to think badly of him or doubt his commitment to their marriage but all the secret keeping had done was the exact opposite of what he intended.
“You’re out of crab puffs.” A thick distinctive northern voice joined the foursome.
“Lieutenant Flynn what are you doing here?” Brenda questioned sharply.
Will watched as Flynn smirked and put his arm around Sharon’s shoulders and he fought off the feelings of wanting to punch the other man, “What can I say, Chief, my girl here invited me so I had to come.” He kissed Sharon on a cheek with a loud smack that she wiped away quickly and swatted him with her hand laughing her first real laugh of the afternoon. Will had always been jealous of their closeness more so with the distance that he and Sharon were currently experiencing, the other man could touch her without her flinching away or spitting like an angry cat; he couldn’t help but wonder how close the two of them had become over the last few months and he hated himself for even contemplating the idea.
Sharon’s smile was easy now and her voice filled with warmth and love, “Andy here use to be my partner back during my robbery homicide days, I hear he will be teaming with Provenza on your team now Chief, you couldn’t wish for a better man on your side.”
Brenda’s smile was forced, Will’s non-existent, and Fritz was amused by the whole situation as they watched Flynn snake his arm around Sharon’s waist saying that he was stealing her away to reminiscence about past cases with the boys, “They seem close.” Brenda glared and Will sighed as Fritz enjoyed his cranberry spritzer, when Brenda first asked him to accompany her to her former lover’s ten year wedding anniversary he imagined it would be awkward and uncomfortable, and it was indeed that, but it was also surprising enjoyable watching as Will Pope had his nose put out of joint and someone getting one over Brenda was a refreshing change of pace, he had to hand it to Pope’s wife for her Machiavellian maneuvering she really played everyone here quite beautifully.
For the rest of the afternoon they all played their parts in lovely sync, whenever Brenda found herself in Sharon’s sphere she would get a feeling deep in the pit of her stomach that she had never felt when she had been in the presences of Will’s first wife; guilt. She had known Will was married again when she came to Los Angeles but it wasn’t something she spent any time thinking about, truth was the other woman and whatever she might be feeling in regards to Brenda, being there never crossed her mind until after she had met the woman. She would like to think in different circumstances that she and the other woman could have been friends.
Andy Flynn kept a close eye on Sharon throughout this ordeal, when she told him she had invited Chief Johnson he thought it would be a recipe for disaster but leave it to Sharon to out maneuver them all, she was laying to rest the rumors regarding her marriage that were running rampant in no small part to an idea he gave to Taylor, he didn’t know that there would be anything harmful to Sharon in that file and he regretted his decision in helping Taylor try to get rid of the Southern Chief. Hindsight was a bitch; turned out Taylor was a snake in the grass and not the friend Andy contributed him to be, especially after he circulated that disclosure knowing the damage it would cause and Johnson wasn’t the upstart bitch he thought she was, the woman saved his ass and his career when she had no reason to and accepted his request for transfer to her team despite knowing that he had been out to get her.
Will wandered to and from the bar more than once during this nightmarish afternoon, praying for end to come soon. He had talked to all the right people, said all the right things, put up with his wife’s forced lightness and kisses on the cheeks he knew she didn’t want to give, he was done by the time he sat down at a table with his fourth or fifth drink, he couldn’t remember which number he was on, as the sun started to set and his wife made the last goodbyes to the final lingering guest, Flynn; Brenda had thankfully left over an hour ago. Finally, they were alone, except for the surfer boy bartender who looked his way before handing Sharon a drink.
Sharon slowly made her way to where her husband sat with his fifth drink a glass of white wine in her hands, she wondered idly if he was pass his limits or if now would be the time when they discussed the state of their marriage. She sat down in the chair next to him under the umbrella table and made a mental note to thank Stephen for helping arrange the prefect ambiance for her and Will’s anniversary party; he was a friend they both shared and he had been overjoyed to be included in the orchestration of the event. Sharon was pleased everything went according to plan but even more pleased that it was over, her jaw ached from all the smiling and her shoulders felt stiff from the stress of the day, she was just beginning to relax for the first time in what felt like weeks when Will spoke, “He wants to sleep with you.”
“I beg your pardon?” Sharon wasn’t sure if her husband was drunk or if he just lost his mind.
“The surfing Don Juan serving the drinks wants to be the cub to your cougar.” Will said before knocking back his drink. He knew he was being an ass, he just didn’t know what else to do or say, he’s tried telling her how sorry he was, he’s told her over and over again that he loves her, what more was there to do or say other than drink, pout and feel like an utter failure.
“Well, if I am ever looking for a young stud I will now know where to look.” Sharon shook her head and sighed not knowing why this was so hard for them, they use to be able to talk, they use to be able to be in each other’s presence, they use to have sex, a lot of sex but currently they were in a three-month draught and it was hell on her nerves. She was still pissed as all hell at him for keeping his affair with that other woman a secret but worse was being in his office arguing when all she wanted to do is grab him, kiss him hard and have angry make-up sex on his desk, it was especially hard at night knowing he was down the hall in the guest room and more than once she thought about sneaking in and demanding he make love to her.
“Are you leaving me?” Will had enough Dutch courage in him to ask the question he needed an answer to but dreading knowing. If she said yes, he didn’t know how he would be able to live with her decision. She wasn’t just his wife, she was the woman he loved, the mother of his children, and his life would be an empty place with her laughter, warmth and love. He missed her loving him and if she left, he would spend the rest of his life missing and loving her.
Sharon heard the need and hurt in Will’s voice; she closed her eyes briefly trying to determine what their next step should be, she wasn’t willing to admit defeat just yet. He had apologized repeatedly, and if she was honest with herself and with him, she was more upset about how she found out and having to endure the whispers of fellow colleagues than with him having an affair during his first marriage with the woman he brought in to head priority homicide. She stood from the table and held her hand out to the man she still loved hoping she was making the right decision, “How about we get out of here, go home, and maybe talk there?”
The drive home was quiet, neither of them wanting to converse while in the moving vehicle. Sharon was thankful when they pulled into the drive and she was able to get from behind the wheel, the whole drive she contemplated what she wanted from their marriage what she needed to get pass this hurdle in their otherwise happy life together. She watched as Will stumbled a little and knew he wasn’t inebriated but also knew he wasn’t sober either, once more she offered him her hand and led him through the house and to their bedroom pausing outside the door. “I want to invite you in, I want you to love me, I want so much, but I still have this hurt inside making my heart ache because I have doubts that this is the life you want, that I am the woman you really want.”
Sharon leaned back against the closed door and waited for her words to sink in, waited for his reply. She closes her eyes at the feel of his hand caressing her face and parts her lips under the gentle pressure of his against hers, opening her eyes only when their lips separated. “It’s you Sharon, you’re all I want and I am so sorry if my actions have made you doubt my love for you. I love you Sharon, I love our family, and I have been miserable thinking that I ruined our life together that I had done something that would make you stop loving me. These past three months have been hell for me, I have ached to hold you every day, but didn’t dare reach out in case you rejected me, my touch, my love; I have been living in fear that you will leave me. Please tell me you aren’t.”
Sharon had tears in her eyes as she lopped her arms around Will’s shoulders leaning up to place a soft kiss to his mouth. Slowly her tongue swept into his mouth and she hummed in satisfaction when she heard him give a rough groan before he pressed her up against the door. Their tongues dueled, their hands wondered, hers to the buttons of his stripped shirt, and his to her thigh raising it up around his waist and grinding his growing desire against her core. They pulled apart gasping for air, “Tell me” he demands harshly.
She places her fingers against his lips and gives him a soft smile, “I’ll make you a deal, you show me how much you want me tonight and I will tell you how much a love you in the morning before we go and pick the kids up.”
Will pressed his forehead against hers mumbling softly, “I think I can live with that.” Sharon hummed and then sighed when Will placed an open mouth kiss against her neck, eventually they would make it inside the bedroom for now she was content with the bedroom door and feeling loved by her husband, tomorrow would take care of itself.