Challenge 479: 10 The Closer Drabbles
Pairing: Brenda/Sharon
Summary: Sequel to Love Letters, the fallout.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1000 Words Total/100 Words Each
"I'm home!" Brenda called into the empty apartment. There were no lights on and Fritz was nowhere to be seen. The apartment had been tidied but Fritz was gone.
There were fresh vegetables in the crisper but Fritz had come and gone.
Brenda furrowed her brow, continuing into the bedroom. Her heart sank as she saw the contents of her drawers strewn about and the letter and perfume card from Sharon had been torn to shreds.
Brenda sank to the floor, clutching the items to her chest. She ached with anger and sadness and indignation.
"How dare he?" She snarled.
**
"You've reached Captain Sharon Raydor. I am unavailable-"
Fritz hung up the phone. He didn't know what to say to her anyway. She was just as culpable as Brenda. She wasn't some random stranger who had never met Fritz or known Brenda as part of a married couple.
No. Sharon continued to talk to him and smile and laugh like his friend, all the while touching herself to his wife's words at night. The deceit was enough to make him bang his hands on the steering wheel with in before he rested his head against it and closed his eyes.
**
"You've reached Captain Sharon Raydor. I am unavailable at the moment but if you leave me your name, number and brief message-"
"Come on, Sharon." Brenda groaned in frustation.
"I will return your call at my earliest convenience." Beep
Brenda's heart pounded. "It's me... I know we haven't talked talked in months and I wish it were under better circumstances but you should know that Fritz found your letters."
She paused to collect herself. "I... I didn't want you to be caught off guard. I guess this is something we should talk about? So, when-"
Beep
Brenda growled in frustration.
**
Sharon stared down at the phone feeling like the wind had been knocked out of her; her pulse quickened and her heart raced. She hadn't felt this particular mix of guilt, shame and fear since eleventh grade when Sister Mary Catherine gave her a slap for staring lovingly at her best friend Simone.
Sharon subconsciously rubbed the spot on her hand where the nun's metal ruler had bit into her skin.
She felt a phantom stinging now. She'd been caught. She'd been found out.
Attitudes toward homosexuality had changed but she couldn't help the fear and apprehension coursing through her.
**
"You haven't answered any of my phone calls." Brenda said, standing on Sharon's doorstep.
Sharon's jaw dropped, staring at the blonde as if she were a ghost or a bad dream.
"I can't do this." She shook her head, stepping backwards into the apartment.
"Sharon," Brenda moved forward and put her arms around the brunette. "I love you. I choose you. We can work this out; we just need to talk."
"I can't..." Sharon cried woefully. "I can't."
"Do you love me?" Brenda demanded.
"Yes, but-"
Sharon tried to look away and Brenda cupped her cheeks. "That's all that matters."
**
It was hard for Fritz to fathom that words on paper could cause so much turmoil and distress. Words on paper broke his heart; words on paper broke up his marriage.
If Brenda was going to go running back to Sharon why did she beg Fritz to try to work it out? If she was so unhappy why bother coming back to him? So she could twist the knife?
If he hadn't found the letters, how long would it have gone on? Would she have told him? He had so many questions and he knew there were no answers forthcoming.
**
Brenda lay beside Sharon in bed, naked and sated, and Sharon watched the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. It was everything that Sharon imagined it would be and more.
They'd held off on the physical side of their relationship until Brenda's divorce was finalized- Sharon had insisted. As Sharon watched her lover's lips twitch in a sleepy smile she had no linger shame, guilt or fear. She felt only love and a willingness to follow this wherever it was going to go.
She draped an arm over Brenda and closed her eyes. Everything else could wait until morning.
**
Commander Taylor stood in the middle of her squad room, deigning to tell her how to do her job when he added, "I think you should bring SOB in on this."
Sharon's face got hot at the very notion of seeing Fritz.
"I'll kick it upstairs, see what their thoughts are." Provenza jumped in, drawing Taylor's attention from Sharon.
Once Taylor had gone and the others dispersed, Sharon mouthed a 'thank you' to Provenza and he waved her off with a gruff smile. Ever since the news of her relationship with Brenda had spread, Provenza had become her unlikely ally.
**
Sharon held back near her office, ready to retreat into its safe haven at a moment's notice. Her arms were across her chest defensively, as if that alone would protect her.
Fritz paced in front of the murder board as he talked, indicating photos and names.
Fritz looked back at her and scowled; she stiffened but didn't move or utter a sound. She sighed inwardly when his gaze shifted back to the task.
He'd have to forgive her sooner or later, wouldn't he? She was happy with Brenda but felt anxiously unresolved with Fritz. Maybe he could stay mad forever.
**
Dear Brenda,
Though we are once again separated by many miles, this time I know that we'll see each other again very soon. I know it's only thirty three days but already I'm counting the days.
Love Always,
Sharon
My love,
Let's plan to go away for Christmas. Let's go someplace tropical.
Love, Brenda
Darling,
You just want to see me in a bikini.
Love Always,
Sharon
Dear Sharon,
It's the simple things in life. Can I help it if you're perfect?
Love, Brenda
Dear Brenda,
Well, when you put it that way how can I refuse?
Love Always,
Sharon
Summary: Sequel to Love Letters, the fallout.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1000 Words Total/100 Words Each
"I'm home!" Brenda called into the empty apartment. There were no lights on and Fritz was nowhere to be seen. The apartment had been tidied but Fritz was gone.
There were fresh vegetables in the crisper but Fritz had come and gone.
Brenda furrowed her brow, continuing into the bedroom. Her heart sank as she saw the contents of her drawers strewn about and the letter and perfume card from Sharon had been torn to shreds.
Brenda sank to the floor, clutching the items to her chest. She ached with anger and sadness and indignation.
"How dare he?" She snarled.
**
"You've reached Captain Sharon Raydor. I am unavailable-"
Fritz hung up the phone. He didn't know what to say to her anyway. She was just as culpable as Brenda. She wasn't some random stranger who had never met Fritz or known Brenda as part of a married couple.
No. Sharon continued to talk to him and smile and laugh like his friend, all the while touching herself to his wife's words at night. The deceit was enough to make him bang his hands on the steering wheel with in before he rested his head against it and closed his eyes.
**
"You've reached Captain Sharon Raydor. I am unavailable at the moment but if you leave me your name, number and brief message-"
"Come on, Sharon." Brenda groaned in frustation.
"I will return your call at my earliest convenience." Beep
Brenda's heart pounded. "It's me... I know we haven't talked talked in months and I wish it were under better circumstances but you should know that Fritz found your letters."
She paused to collect herself. "I... I didn't want you to be caught off guard. I guess this is something we should talk about? So, when-"
Beep
Brenda growled in frustration.
**
Sharon stared down at the phone feeling like the wind had been knocked out of her; her pulse quickened and her heart raced. She hadn't felt this particular mix of guilt, shame and fear since eleventh grade when Sister Mary Catherine gave her a slap for staring lovingly at her best friend Simone.
Sharon subconsciously rubbed the spot on her hand where the nun's metal ruler had bit into her skin.
She felt a phantom stinging now. She'd been caught. She'd been found out.
Attitudes toward homosexuality had changed but she couldn't help the fear and apprehension coursing through her.
**
"You haven't answered any of my phone calls." Brenda said, standing on Sharon's doorstep.
Sharon's jaw dropped, staring at the blonde as if she were a ghost or a bad dream.
"I can't do this." She shook her head, stepping backwards into the apartment.
"Sharon," Brenda moved forward and put her arms around the brunette. "I love you. I choose you. We can work this out; we just need to talk."
"I can't..." Sharon cried woefully. "I can't."
"Do you love me?" Brenda demanded.
"Yes, but-"
Sharon tried to look away and Brenda cupped her cheeks. "That's all that matters."
**
It was hard for Fritz to fathom that words on paper could cause so much turmoil and distress. Words on paper broke his heart; words on paper broke up his marriage.
If Brenda was going to go running back to Sharon why did she beg Fritz to try to work it out? If she was so unhappy why bother coming back to him? So she could twist the knife?
If he hadn't found the letters, how long would it have gone on? Would she have told him? He had so many questions and he knew there were no answers forthcoming.
**
Brenda lay beside Sharon in bed, naked and sated, and Sharon watched the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest. It was everything that Sharon imagined it would be and more.
They'd held off on the physical side of their relationship until Brenda's divorce was finalized- Sharon had insisted. As Sharon watched her lover's lips twitch in a sleepy smile she had no linger shame, guilt or fear. She felt only love and a willingness to follow this wherever it was going to go.
She draped an arm over Brenda and closed her eyes. Everything else could wait until morning.
**
Commander Taylor stood in the middle of her squad room, deigning to tell her how to do her job when he added, "I think you should bring SOB in on this."
Sharon's face got hot at the very notion of seeing Fritz.
"I'll kick it upstairs, see what their thoughts are." Provenza jumped in, drawing Taylor's attention from Sharon.
Once Taylor had gone and the others dispersed, Sharon mouthed a 'thank you' to Provenza and he waved her off with a gruff smile. Ever since the news of her relationship with Brenda had spread, Provenza had become her unlikely ally.
**
Sharon held back near her office, ready to retreat into its safe haven at a moment's notice. Her arms were across her chest defensively, as if that alone would protect her.
Fritz paced in front of the murder board as he talked, indicating photos and names.
Fritz looked back at her and scowled; she stiffened but didn't move or utter a sound. She sighed inwardly when his gaze shifted back to the task.
He'd have to forgive her sooner or later, wouldn't he? She was happy with Brenda but felt anxiously unresolved with Fritz. Maybe he could stay mad forever.
**
Dear Brenda,
Though we are once again separated by many miles, this time I know that we'll see each other again very soon. I know it's only thirty three days but already I'm counting the days.
Love Always,
Sharon
My love,
Let's plan to go away for Christmas. Let's go someplace tropical.
Love, Brenda
Darling,
You just want to see me in a bikini.
Love Always,
Sharon
Dear Sharon,
It's the simple things in life. Can I help it if you're perfect?
Love, Brenda
Dear Brenda,
Well, when you put it that way how can I refuse?
Love Always,
Sharon