Permanent Solution -- 2/? -- Brenda/Sharon
author Coco
fandom The Closer
pairing Brenda/Sharon
rating R
spoilers 5.03 - The episode we’re first introduced to Sharon and we find out what her department is and all that jazz, but really, there aren’t any spoilers.
disclaimers I do not own The Closer or Kyra Sedgwick or Mary McDonnell. BUMMER. I claim no ownership and I make no money off of my fanfiction. The mayor of Los Angeles is a real person but he’s fictionalized/dramatized for the purposes of this fic.
summary Follow-up to Temporary Blindness & Temporary Insanity. The bachelor party.
The Admiral’s house was transformed from her childhood home to the best dance club this side of the Potomac. Smitty and a handful of her other friends had spent most of the evening moving furniture and they brought in an arsenal of lighting.
Sharon was delighted - if a little surprised - at the number of her Navy buddies who’d rsvped to the wedding and the three bedroom cape was filled to capacity. It was somewhat of a sausage fest save for the girlfriends and wives of Sharon’s friends. Sharon had always found it easier to get along with men and even though she wasn’t the only woman she knew in the Navy she never developed a bond with any of the others.
She knew she’d always be friends with Smitty, no matter where their lives took them.
“Hey Shark,” Jack stumbled over, a drink in his hand that sloshed as he approached, “drink this.”
She took the glass from him and sniffed it, “what is it?”
“It’s more alcohol because you’re not drunk enough.”
Sharon laughed, “I don’t want to get drunk yet, my sons haven’t gotten here yet. Have you ever been greeted by your drunk mother?”
“Every day of my life for eighteen years.”
“Well…” She leaned in and admitted, “Phillip is bringing his girlfriend… who I used to babysit… and I’ve been avoiding getting together with them.”
“You used to ‘babysit’ her?” He grinned suggestively.
“Get your mind out of the gutter.” Sharon scowled but her eyes crinkled in a smile.
“I’m just saying!” He insisted, holding up his hands defensively, “we know you have a thing for younger women.”
“Don’t let the way she dresses fool you.” Sharon said over the music. “She’s pushing fifty.”
“Oh god, so are you guys going to go through menopause together?”
“Don’t even say things like that.” Sharon put her hands over her ears, “I’m just focusing on making it through the ceremony tomorrow and all the rest I’ll deal with when it comes.”
**
Brenda was making herself a drink in the kitchen when Gabriel came in with the same idea. She handed him the vodka when she was done adding it to her orange juice.
“Chief Raydor’s friends are nice. A little boisterous but they’re all nice.”
Brenda nodded. Whatever else they were - loud, gorgeous, muscular, borderline alcoholics - they were extremely polite.
“I guess… I have a hard time imagining her like them.”
Brenda nodded again. “I have a hard time imagining that she has a life that exists outside of me… I still haven’t met one of her children.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah.”
“So, um… is it just me or are all her friends really good looking?”
Brenda laughed into her drink. In that way Sharon certainly fit in with them, bird of a beautiful feather did tend to flock together. “And some of them are her exes but she won’t tell me which ones… I just try to block it out.”
There was an eruption from the crowd in the living room and Brenda and Gabriel went to inspect.
Sharon had her arms wrapped around a tall man with broad shoulders and sunburned cheeks. When she pulled back she kissed his cheeks several times.
“Come on, Mom…” he laughed, looking about with a modicum of embarrassment. “How much have you have to drink, huh?”
“I’m just so glad to see you, you brat,” Sharon resumed hugging him. “I haven’t seen you in two years. That does things to a parent.”
Despite his protests he hugged his mother back sincerely. “It’s good to see you, too, Mom.”
“Let the boy breathe, Shark,” Ace called out.
“Yeah, the rest of us want hugs and kisses, too,” Hopper joked and Brenda narrowed her eyes, though no one saw her.
Smitty walked up and handed Jaime a beer. “Thanks, man.” Jaime nodded his appreciation and took a sip. “So, where’s Brenda?”
“Good question,” Sharon looked around and her eyes landed on Brenda and motioned for her to join them. Sharon wrapped an arm around Brenda’s waist and held her close. Brenda’s earlier annoyance at the open sexual innuendo her friends often made toward her melted when she felt Sharon’s warmth enveloping her.
Sharon really did make her feel loved. Even if they squabbled, bitched and threw fits from time to time, it always dissolved into affection. In a lot of ways Brenda appreciated their long engagement because she never felt pressured or rushed and every day she felt she loved Sharon more and more.
“Here she is,” Sharon smiled at the woman with whom she would be joined the next day. She gave her a gentle squeeze and nuzzled into her temple. Sharon had had a sangria and she smelled sweet and acidic on top of her normal shampoo and body lotion.
“It’s so good to finally meet you.” Jaime smiled. “I’ve heard so many good things and don’t believe a word of the bad things.”
Brenda laughed, “probably a bad idea, your mama’s a pretty good judge of character. Whatever bad things she said were probably true.”
“They were, trust me.” Sharon smirked.
Jaime produced a box from his messenger bag. “My mom said you like candy so I got this for you,” he held up a Godiva sampler box toward his mother and her betrothed.
Brenda’s fingers wrapped around the box and pulled in to her body. “And what did you get for your mother?” She teased.
For a moment he looked stricken, having clearly meant for the chocolates to be for both of them.
“I’m just kidding,” Brenda grinned. “I’ll share.”
“No, you won’t.” Sharon said, wrapping both arms around Brenda. “But that’s okay.”
“She knows me so well.”
“So is Phillip here yet? I want to meet his fiancee.”
Sharon choked on her sangria. “Fiancee?!”
“Whoops.” He reached out and patted Brenda’s shoulder. “I’m going to let you field this one. Good luck, ma’am.”
“Deserter!” Brenda called after him.
Phillip and Madison chose that moment to walk through the door and Sharon looked at Phillip with mouth agape and brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and anger. “Fiancee?!”
“Nice to see you too…” Phillip joked uncomfortably.
Madison smacked Phillip in the arm, “I wanted to tell her.”
“I didn’t tell her!” He insisted.
Brenda took Phillip by the hand, “I’m going to get you a drink.” Still clutching the chocolates to her chest she led a grateful Phillip away from the two women who were mad at him for different reasons.
Madison smiled apologetically at Sharon. “Hey, it’s been forever. You look great.”
Sharon looked at Madison, completely shell-shocked and stammered out a “thanks.”
“I heard about your adventures last year. Phillip tells that story all the time,” she smiled, “he thinks it’s so badass. He’s so proud of his mom. I think you’re pretty intimidating. When I was a kid you were this amazing older kid who got up to mischief on the base and dated sailors, then you were this Navy hotshot and then you moved to Los Angeles and rose through the ranks at the police department. There’s never been a time in your life that I didn’t think you were cool.”
Sharon was surprised to hear that Madison ever gave her that much thought. Sharon shrugged and smiled, “I’ve always been very happy to hear that you’re doing so well. You work for the DA’s office, that’s good. You’re dating my son and he’s a catch, so, obviously something’s going right for you.”
Madison grinned, “I always loved your sense of humor.” They were silent for a moment. “I said yes when Phillip asked me to marry him but I wanted to talk to you first. I really respect you and I want you to be okay with it.”
“If you make each other happy I can’t really be not okay with it.”
“I guess… I want you to be happy with it. I want you to think ‘my son really picked a woman who’s good for him.’”
“I’m sure you’re good for him.” Sharon admitted. “It’s just weird that I used to give you baths.”
Madison laughed, “yeah, it’s not every wife who can say that her mother-in-law used to wrestle her into bed every Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
Sharon rolled her eyes with a smile and shook her head. “Why don’t you go get a drink and join in on the fun? I’m probably about to get yelled at, every time I spend more than two minutes talking to one person Smitty gives me a talking to.”
“We’ll catch up soon? I want to hear the story about escaping from Witsec, I feel like Phillip probably exaggerated.”
“Maybe Brenda should tell it. Massive loss of blood made those weeks a little fuzzy for me.” Sharon found Phillip and Brenda in the kitchen and Phillip looked at her with uncertainty, unsure whether he’d get yelled at or greeted.
Sharon, either because of her impending nuptials or the sangria and a half in her stomach, was in a forgiving mood and she pulled her son into a hug. Relieved, he wrapped his massive arms around her and held her tightly. “Congratulations, Phillip, I’m happy for you.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek.
“Thanks, Mom, I’m happy for you, too.”
“Hey Shark, get out here, the entertainment has arrived.” Smitty popped his head into the kitchen.
That made Brenda nervous. Despite the party being mostly men she feared it was a male stripper - or worse, one of Sharon’s friends doing a striptease - because honestly, she’d be less threatened by a woman popping out of a cake.
In fact, Sharon could have the stripper as long as Brenda could have the cake.
In the living room an older man with a slight potbelly and no Navy paraphernalia to speak of. Brenda furrowed her brow. “What’s goin’ on?” Willie Rae asked from beside her.
“Mama!” Brenda jumped, “I thought you and Daddy went to bed ages ago!”
“Oh heavens, you think we could sleep through all this?” Willie Rae laughed, “your mama and daddy are old, we’re not dead. Your daddy’s doin’ shots and trading good ol’ day stories with some of Sharon’s father’s friends. I heard shoutin,’ what’s goin’ on out here?”
“Well, we’ve had a lot of excitement actually. Her son whom she hasn’t seen in two years arrived, her other son arrived with a surprise fiancee and now this gentleman… is here and only Smitty knows why.”
An assistant came in after the older man with a long table that looked like a massage table and a briefcase. “Dear Lord!” Brenda gasped, “Smitty got her a happy endin!”
“What’s a happy ending?” Willie Rae asked.
Brenda blushed, “it’s, well- it’s…”
Willie Rae laughed, “don’t give yourself an aneurism, Brenda Leigh, I was just foolin.’ We get cable now, you know.”
“Okay, Shark, you’re tonight’s entertainment. Ever been to a tattoo party?”
“Oh geez.” Sharon looked mildly nervous.
“It’s when you get a guy or girl who does tattoos portably to come to a party. So, we’ve bought you a tattoo and your guests were asked to draw suggestions for your tattoo.” Smitty held up a binder, “I’ve put them together here - though I think some people misunderstood the assignment, Ace, I’m looking at you, buddy.”
“It wasn’t a mistake!” Ace called from the back, causing a ripple of laughter.
It appeared that almost everyong at the party had contributed a drawing. Smitty had even received faxes from Flynn and Provenza. The designs ranged from Phillip’s satirical “Mom <3s Phillip & Jaime” to Provenza’s wicked stick witch, Flynn’s across the pelvis “I don’t think we’re in Georgia anymore,” several renditions of a shark, Property of Ace, good luck symbols, the Star Trek logo, silhouettes of strippers.
Brenda disappeared upstairs for a moment, madly searching through their luggage for Sharon’s badge. She ran downstairs, “I have one more for consideration.”
Brenda approached Sharon and Smitty and handed over the rendition of Sharon’s LAPD badge. Sharon smiled adoringly at Brenda. “I love it.” Sharon looked it over for a few long moments, “do you have the pencil?”
Brenda handed it over. Sharon erased a small portion of it and penciled in SR+BLJ.
“I think we have a winner everyone! Did anyone doubt she’d pick Brenda’s?” Smitty demanded and the crowd pretended to boo.
Sharon leaned in and captured Brenda’s lips. “So… you’re really going to do this?”
“Why not?”
“Where are you going to put it?”
“Where I carry my badge.” Sharon said, “on my hip.”
Someone took off the music that was already playing and started up slow, sensual stripper music and Ace yelled, “take off your pants!”
“Ace, I’m going to kick your ass.” Sharon yelled back.
“Not if I get there first.” Brenda said pointedly and the crowd “oooh”ed and pointed at Ace who blushed upon incurring Brenda’s wrath.
“Don’t let the size fool you.” Flynn said as he speared Willie Rae’s fruit salad. “I’ve seen her take down a 300-poubd neo-Nazi.”
“She’s a pistol.” Provenza agreed from beside Flynn.
**
“Brenda Leigh! Sharon!” Willie Rae called cheerily, knocking on the door to the bedroom. “Time to get up, girls!”
Sharon lifted her head with a groan. She had stupidly thought that she’d feel well enough to take a morning run but thought that all she’d be able to muster was a morning run to the toilet. Brenda tightened her grip around Sharon in protest of Willie Rae’s sunny voice.
Upon hearing no signs of life, Willie Rae went on, “I’ve already given you an extra half hour and I don’t care if y’all are decent or not, I am comin’ in there in five seconds.”
“Mama, we’re not six, you don’t have to count us down.” Brenda grumbled.
“Well then act like adults and get outta bed, it’s a big day.” Willie Rae snapped as she wandered away from the door to try and wake Clay again. Sometimes she felt like the only person alive who could still hold their liquor.
“Good morning.” Brenda murmured.
“I think I’m going to throw up.” Sharong groaned.
“Sharon, you’re such a romantic.” Brenda teased as she watched Sharon push herself out of bed. She had on a pair of shorts and an old Property of the Navy t-shirt and the gauze over her new tattoo stuck out of the top of the shorts. “Is the gauze going to be a problem under your dress?”
Sharon looked down at the gauze in question. She peeled back the waistband of the shorts and ran her fingers from her slightly protruding hipbone over the bulky gauze affixed over the fresh wound of the tattoo. Sharon looked back up at Brenda and shook her head, “I have some flat gauze tape.”
“Well, go throw up, if you have to. Mama’s going to be all over us in about five minutes.”
Sharon didn’t have to be told twice. She went to the bathroom, threw up, took a shower, brushed her teeth and went back to the room to change and Brenda was still trying to work up the desire to get up.
fandom The Closer
pairing Brenda/Sharon
rating R
spoilers 5.03 - The episode we’re first introduced to Sharon and we find out what her department is and all that jazz, but really, there aren’t any spoilers.
disclaimers I do not own The Closer or Kyra Sedgwick or Mary McDonnell. BUMMER. I claim no ownership and I make no money off of my fanfiction. The mayor of Los Angeles is a real person but he’s fictionalized/dramatized for the purposes of this fic.
summary Follow-up to Temporary Blindness & Temporary Insanity. The bachelor party.
The Admiral’s house was transformed from her childhood home to the best dance club this side of the Potomac. Smitty and a handful of her other friends had spent most of the evening moving furniture and they brought in an arsenal of lighting.
Sharon was delighted - if a little surprised - at the number of her Navy buddies who’d rsvped to the wedding and the three bedroom cape was filled to capacity. It was somewhat of a sausage fest save for the girlfriends and wives of Sharon’s friends. Sharon had always found it easier to get along with men and even though she wasn’t the only woman she knew in the Navy she never developed a bond with any of the others.
She knew she’d always be friends with Smitty, no matter where their lives took them.
“Hey Shark,” Jack stumbled over, a drink in his hand that sloshed as he approached, “drink this.”
She took the glass from him and sniffed it, “what is it?”
“It’s more alcohol because you’re not drunk enough.”
Sharon laughed, “I don’t want to get drunk yet, my sons haven’t gotten here yet. Have you ever been greeted by your drunk mother?”
“Every day of my life for eighteen years.”
“Well…” She leaned in and admitted, “Phillip is bringing his girlfriend… who I used to babysit… and I’ve been avoiding getting together with them.”
“You used to ‘babysit’ her?” He grinned suggestively.
“Get your mind out of the gutter.” Sharon scowled but her eyes crinkled in a smile.
“I’m just saying!” He insisted, holding up his hands defensively, “we know you have a thing for younger women.”
“Don’t let the way she dresses fool you.” Sharon said over the music. “She’s pushing fifty.”
“Oh god, so are you guys going to go through menopause together?”
“Don’t even say things like that.” Sharon put her hands over her ears, “I’m just focusing on making it through the ceremony tomorrow and all the rest I’ll deal with when it comes.”
**
Brenda was making herself a drink in the kitchen when Gabriel came in with the same idea. She handed him the vodka when she was done adding it to her orange juice.
“Chief Raydor’s friends are nice. A little boisterous but they’re all nice.”
Brenda nodded. Whatever else they were - loud, gorgeous, muscular, borderline alcoholics - they were extremely polite.
“I guess… I have a hard time imagining her like them.”
Brenda nodded again. “I have a hard time imagining that she has a life that exists outside of me… I still haven’t met one of her children.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah.”
“So, um… is it just me or are all her friends really good looking?”
Brenda laughed into her drink. In that way Sharon certainly fit in with them, bird of a beautiful feather did tend to flock together. “And some of them are her exes but she won’t tell me which ones… I just try to block it out.”
There was an eruption from the crowd in the living room and Brenda and Gabriel went to inspect.
Sharon had her arms wrapped around a tall man with broad shoulders and sunburned cheeks. When she pulled back she kissed his cheeks several times.
“Come on, Mom…” he laughed, looking about with a modicum of embarrassment. “How much have you have to drink, huh?”
“I’m just so glad to see you, you brat,” Sharon resumed hugging him. “I haven’t seen you in two years. That does things to a parent.”
Despite his protests he hugged his mother back sincerely. “It’s good to see you, too, Mom.”
“Let the boy breathe, Shark,” Ace called out.
“Yeah, the rest of us want hugs and kisses, too,” Hopper joked and Brenda narrowed her eyes, though no one saw her.
Smitty walked up and handed Jaime a beer. “Thanks, man.” Jaime nodded his appreciation and took a sip. “So, where’s Brenda?”
“Good question,” Sharon looked around and her eyes landed on Brenda and motioned for her to join them. Sharon wrapped an arm around Brenda’s waist and held her close. Brenda’s earlier annoyance at the open sexual innuendo her friends often made toward her melted when she felt Sharon’s warmth enveloping her.
Sharon really did make her feel loved. Even if they squabbled, bitched and threw fits from time to time, it always dissolved into affection. In a lot of ways Brenda appreciated their long engagement because she never felt pressured or rushed and every day she felt she loved Sharon more and more.
“Here she is,” Sharon smiled at the woman with whom she would be joined the next day. She gave her a gentle squeeze and nuzzled into her temple. Sharon had had a sangria and she smelled sweet and acidic on top of her normal shampoo and body lotion.
“It’s so good to finally meet you.” Jaime smiled. “I’ve heard so many good things and don’t believe a word of the bad things.”
Brenda laughed, “probably a bad idea, your mama’s a pretty good judge of character. Whatever bad things she said were probably true.”
“They were, trust me.” Sharon smirked.
Jaime produced a box from his messenger bag. “My mom said you like candy so I got this for you,” he held up a Godiva sampler box toward his mother and her betrothed.
Brenda’s fingers wrapped around the box and pulled in to her body. “And what did you get for your mother?” She teased.
For a moment he looked stricken, having clearly meant for the chocolates to be for both of them.
“I’m just kidding,” Brenda grinned. “I’ll share.”
“No, you won’t.” Sharon said, wrapping both arms around Brenda. “But that’s okay.”
“She knows me so well.”
“So is Phillip here yet? I want to meet his fiancee.”
Sharon choked on her sangria. “Fiancee?!”
“Whoops.” He reached out and patted Brenda’s shoulder. “I’m going to let you field this one. Good luck, ma’am.”
“Deserter!” Brenda called after him.
Phillip and Madison chose that moment to walk through the door and Sharon looked at Phillip with mouth agape and brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and anger. “Fiancee?!”
“Nice to see you too…” Phillip joked uncomfortably.
Madison smacked Phillip in the arm, “I wanted to tell her.”
“I didn’t tell her!” He insisted.
Brenda took Phillip by the hand, “I’m going to get you a drink.” Still clutching the chocolates to her chest she led a grateful Phillip away from the two women who were mad at him for different reasons.
Madison smiled apologetically at Sharon. “Hey, it’s been forever. You look great.”
Sharon looked at Madison, completely shell-shocked and stammered out a “thanks.”
“I heard about your adventures last year. Phillip tells that story all the time,” she smiled, “he thinks it’s so badass. He’s so proud of his mom. I think you’re pretty intimidating. When I was a kid you were this amazing older kid who got up to mischief on the base and dated sailors, then you were this Navy hotshot and then you moved to Los Angeles and rose through the ranks at the police department. There’s never been a time in your life that I didn’t think you were cool.”
Sharon was surprised to hear that Madison ever gave her that much thought. Sharon shrugged and smiled, “I’ve always been very happy to hear that you’re doing so well. You work for the DA’s office, that’s good. You’re dating my son and he’s a catch, so, obviously something’s going right for you.”
Madison grinned, “I always loved your sense of humor.” They were silent for a moment. “I said yes when Phillip asked me to marry him but I wanted to talk to you first. I really respect you and I want you to be okay with it.”
“If you make each other happy I can’t really be not okay with it.”
“I guess… I want you to be happy with it. I want you to think ‘my son really picked a woman who’s good for him.’”
“I’m sure you’re good for him.” Sharon admitted. “It’s just weird that I used to give you baths.”
Madison laughed, “yeah, it’s not every wife who can say that her mother-in-law used to wrestle her into bed every Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
Sharon rolled her eyes with a smile and shook her head. “Why don’t you go get a drink and join in on the fun? I’m probably about to get yelled at, every time I spend more than two minutes talking to one person Smitty gives me a talking to.”
“We’ll catch up soon? I want to hear the story about escaping from Witsec, I feel like Phillip probably exaggerated.”
“Maybe Brenda should tell it. Massive loss of blood made those weeks a little fuzzy for me.” Sharon found Phillip and Brenda in the kitchen and Phillip looked at her with uncertainty, unsure whether he’d get yelled at or greeted.
Sharon, either because of her impending nuptials or the sangria and a half in her stomach, was in a forgiving mood and she pulled her son into a hug. Relieved, he wrapped his massive arms around her and held her tightly. “Congratulations, Phillip, I’m happy for you.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek.
“Thanks, Mom, I’m happy for you, too.”
“Hey Shark, get out here, the entertainment has arrived.” Smitty popped his head into the kitchen.
That made Brenda nervous. Despite the party being mostly men she feared it was a male stripper - or worse, one of Sharon’s friends doing a striptease - because honestly, she’d be less threatened by a woman popping out of a cake.
In fact, Sharon could have the stripper as long as Brenda could have the cake.
In the living room an older man with a slight potbelly and no Navy paraphernalia to speak of. Brenda furrowed her brow. “What’s goin’ on?” Willie Rae asked from beside her.
“Mama!” Brenda jumped, “I thought you and Daddy went to bed ages ago!”
“Oh heavens, you think we could sleep through all this?” Willie Rae laughed, “your mama and daddy are old, we’re not dead. Your daddy’s doin’ shots and trading good ol’ day stories with some of Sharon’s father’s friends. I heard shoutin,’ what’s goin’ on out here?”
“Well, we’ve had a lot of excitement actually. Her son whom she hasn’t seen in two years arrived, her other son arrived with a surprise fiancee and now this gentleman… is here and only Smitty knows why.”
An assistant came in after the older man with a long table that looked like a massage table and a briefcase. “Dear Lord!” Brenda gasped, “Smitty got her a happy endin!”
“What’s a happy ending?” Willie Rae asked.
Brenda blushed, “it’s, well- it’s…”
Willie Rae laughed, “don’t give yourself an aneurism, Brenda Leigh, I was just foolin.’ We get cable now, you know.”
“Okay, Shark, you’re tonight’s entertainment. Ever been to a tattoo party?”
“Oh geez.” Sharon looked mildly nervous.
“It’s when you get a guy or girl who does tattoos portably to come to a party. So, we’ve bought you a tattoo and your guests were asked to draw suggestions for your tattoo.” Smitty held up a binder, “I’ve put them together here - though I think some people misunderstood the assignment, Ace, I’m looking at you, buddy.”
“It wasn’t a mistake!” Ace called from the back, causing a ripple of laughter.
It appeared that almost everyong at the party had contributed a drawing. Smitty had even received faxes from Flynn and Provenza. The designs ranged from Phillip’s satirical “Mom <3s Phillip & Jaime” to Provenza’s wicked stick witch, Flynn’s across the pelvis “I don’t think we’re in Georgia anymore,” several renditions of a shark, Property of Ace, good luck symbols, the Star Trek logo, silhouettes of strippers.
Brenda disappeared upstairs for a moment, madly searching through their luggage for Sharon’s badge. She ran downstairs, “I have one more for consideration.”
Brenda approached Sharon and Smitty and handed over the rendition of Sharon’s LAPD badge. Sharon smiled adoringly at Brenda. “I love it.” Sharon looked it over for a few long moments, “do you have the pencil?”
Brenda handed it over. Sharon erased a small portion of it and penciled in SR+BLJ.
“I think we have a winner everyone! Did anyone doubt she’d pick Brenda’s?” Smitty demanded and the crowd pretended to boo.
Sharon leaned in and captured Brenda’s lips. “So… you’re really going to do this?”
“Why not?”
“Where are you going to put it?”
“Where I carry my badge.” Sharon said, “on my hip.”
Someone took off the music that was already playing and started up slow, sensual stripper music and Ace yelled, “take off your pants!”
“Ace, I’m going to kick your ass.” Sharon yelled back.
“Not if I get there first.” Brenda said pointedly and the crowd “oooh”ed and pointed at Ace who blushed upon incurring Brenda’s wrath.
“Don’t let the size fool you.” Flynn said as he speared Willie Rae’s fruit salad. “I’ve seen her take down a 300-poubd neo-Nazi.”
“She’s a pistol.” Provenza agreed from beside Flynn.
**
“Brenda Leigh! Sharon!” Willie Rae called cheerily, knocking on the door to the bedroom. “Time to get up, girls!”
Sharon lifted her head with a groan. She had stupidly thought that she’d feel well enough to take a morning run but thought that all she’d be able to muster was a morning run to the toilet. Brenda tightened her grip around Sharon in protest of Willie Rae’s sunny voice.
Upon hearing no signs of life, Willie Rae went on, “I’ve already given you an extra half hour and I don’t care if y’all are decent or not, I am comin’ in there in five seconds.”
“Mama, we’re not six, you don’t have to count us down.” Brenda grumbled.
“Well then act like adults and get outta bed, it’s a big day.” Willie Rae snapped as she wandered away from the door to try and wake Clay again. Sometimes she felt like the only person alive who could still hold their liquor.
“Good morning.” Brenda murmured.
“I think I’m going to throw up.” Sharong groaned.
“Sharon, you’re such a romantic.” Brenda teased as she watched Sharon push herself out of bed. She had on a pair of shorts and an old Property of the Navy t-shirt and the gauze over her new tattoo stuck out of the top of the shorts. “Is the gauze going to be a problem under your dress?”
Sharon looked down at the gauze in question. She peeled back the waistband of the shorts and ran her fingers from her slightly protruding hipbone over the bulky gauze affixed over the fresh wound of the tattoo. Sharon looked back up at Brenda and shook her head, “I have some flat gauze tape.”
“Well, go throw up, if you have to. Mama’s going to be all over us in about five minutes.”
Sharon didn’t have to be told twice. She went to the bathroom, threw up, took a shower, brushed her teeth and went back to the room to change and Brenda was still trying to work up the desire to get up.