Sealed With A Kiss

Sharon/Brenda

…

The tension in the room was evident to everyone from the moment they'd set foot in Major Crimes that morning. Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnston was in the middle of conducting their morning briefing on their latest case when Captain Sharon Raydor had walked in to the room. Brenda had stopped mid sentence, her brown eyes fixed on Sharon's green ones. The Team watched the interaction between the two strong willed women, Brenda becoming a little flustered.

"I apologise for my lateness Chief, over slept." Sharon spoke.

"Oh really, hangover?"

"Perhaps a little." She grinned.

"Right, yes well…shall we get on.

Sharon had been brought in full time to Major Crimes which Brenda hadn't been too happy about but she knew complaining about it wasn't going to get her very far with Chief Pope so she got on with it, making it clear on Sharon's first proper day with them that she was in charge and that it would remain as such.

"Lt Flynn, Lt Provenza I want you to get down and get a description of the guy that robbed the jewellery store, see if the wife recognised the guy that shot her husband. Buzz, keep going over the camera footage, anything jumps out let me know. The rest of ya', keep going over witness statements. Right, get to it."

Brenda stood up from her position on Provenza's desk and made her way in to her office, slamming the door behind her. They all looked over at Sharon, certain that she was the cause for their Chief's current mood.

"What did you do this time Captain?" Andy asked.

"I only have to breath to annoy the Chief…excuse me." She smiled, walking away.

Andy's eyes followed Sharon as she made her way over to Brenda's office, knocking and stepping inside.

"I wonder what that was all about?"

"If she wanted us to know, she'd have said Flynn. Come on, we better get that description before the Chief has our heads."

"I wonder what happened after we left last night."

"What are you on about now?"

"Last night after we left the bar, those two didn't come with us, I wonder what happened."

"You sound like an old woman sometimes, you know that. Whatever happened is none of our business."

"Aren't you curious?"

"Not really, now get your ass out of that seat and let's go."

…

Flashback

…

Brenda was sipping her white wine at the bar, watching as Sharon continued dancing with Andy. The older woman usually annoyed the hell out of her but tonight she seemed different. She was more relaxed, she wasn't being the uptight Raydor she normally was, as Brenda watched her dance with Andy….the smile playing on her face, Brenda couldn't help but smile at how beautiful the Captain looked in her Armani dress, the light shade of blue showing her slender legs. She turned back to her drink, wondering why in the hell she was having thoughts like that of the Captain.

"Would you like to dance Chief?" Julio asked.

"Oh no Julio, am just fine here." She smiled.

The night went on and Julio and Buzz left to go to a club a few blocks away, Gabriel leaving shortly after to get home to his current Girlfriend. Provenza was Tao were getting ready to leave when Andy and Sharon joined them at the bar.

"Flynn, we're all heading off…you coming?"

"Yeah I think I will actually, Captian…would you like a lift." Andy smiled.

"I think I'll stay a little longer but thank you Lieutenant." She smiled.

"Chief….?"

"Am gonna stay for a bit too, I'll get Fritzy to pick me up later."

"Okay then, night ladies."

Sharon took a seat beside Brenda and ordered a merlot for herself.

"Can I get you another Chief?"

"I shouldn't really…but why not, am not drivin'."

Sharon ordered Brenda a Chardonnay, the bartender set their glasses down in front of them, Sharon offering her thanks as she took a sip from her glass.

"You don't like to dance Brenda?"

"Never really had the notion to be honest…I didn't think you did either."

"There's a lot you don't know about me Chief."

"Oh yeah, well come on then…what else do you like."

"Well I love the ballet, the theatre, I took a salsa class not so long ago…that was fun. Ohhh and I also had a go and rock climbing."

"You…rock climbing….okay now that I would love to see." Brenda giggled.

"Come on, dance with me."

"No way, I already told you…I don't dance."

"Well there's always a first time, come on."

Sharon got up and grabbed Brenda's hand, pulling her up and in to the middle of the dance floor. The music wasn't high paced which Brenda was thankful for, Sharon began to sway to the music…she watched Brenda who just stood, her arms folded awkwardly.

"Brenda Leigh, it's not that bad…really."

"Am really not a dancer, I should just go and sit down."

Brenda was about to walk away when she felt Sharon grab her wrist, pulling her back. Sharon placed one of her arms around Brenda's waist, pulling her close.

"Captain what are you doin'?"

"Trust me, please."

Brenda tried to relax but Sharon's warm hand was distracting her, she tried to look anywhere but at Sharon which was becoming increasingly difficult.

"I need some air, I'm sorry Sharon."

Brenda excused herself and rushed outside, the cool night air very welcoming to her skin. She heard the door opening behind her and turned around to see Sharon walking towards her.

"I'll be back in a minute Captain."

"It's alright, what just happened in there?"

"Huh, I don't know what ya' mean?"

"I was just teaching you do dance and you have a minor panic attack."

"It was not a panic attack."

"Then what would you call it."

"Am fine, okay."

Sharon took a step forward, coming to stand in front of her.

"Brenda, if I've done something to upset you….again, then I apologise."

"You didn't, you haven't…oh god, look am sorry okay. I'm being stupid."

"Am I missing something here because I…"

"I just don't think that you and I should spend time together outside of Major Crimes."

"What…why?"

"I just don't think it's very wise."

"Brenda I…."

"Sharon please….you are the most infuriating Woman I've ever met…"

"Ditto."

"But you make me feel things I've never felt before, whenever you're around me…make me…."

"Make you what Brenda."

Brenda didn't know where the sudden burst of courage came from but before Sharon knew what was happening, Brenda pulled Sharon towards her, her lips covering Sharon's, savouring the taste of merlot that lingered on her beautiful red lips.

"You're full of surprises Brenda Leigh."

"Am sorry, I just…I gotta go."

Brenda saw a cab pulling up as someone got out, Brenda quickly traded places and hopped in the back seat, giving the driver her address as it drove off, leaving Sharon a little shell shocked on the side walk.

End Flashback

…

Brenda looked up when Sharon entered her office, the sudden flutter in her stomach doing little to help in that moment.

"Captain, what can I do for ya'?"

"Can we talk for a minute?"

"Well am a little busy here so you could…."

"Brenda, please."

Brenda looked up and saw the hurt in Sharon's eyes which was something Brenda realised that she didn't like to see in the older woman. She came around the side of her desk, closing the blinds for privacy. She leaned against the desk as Sharon stood in front of her, arms folded and glasses perched on her nose.

"Captain am sorry about last night, I shouldn't have left like I did."

"Why did you."

"Am not really sure, I think I just had too much to drink and I may have said things I shouldn't have and I…."

"Brenda…"

"I shouldn't have kissed you like that, am sorry."

"Why did you take off so quickly?"

"Because it was inappropriate of me to kiss you like that and I'm sorry."

Sharon took a few steps closer to Brenda, leaning in closer to her. Brenda felt her breath catch in the throat as Sharon kissed her gently; she forced herself to look up at Sharon when she felt the older woman pull back.

"Brenda, if you'd stayed last night, you'd have realised that I wasn't stopping the kiss."

"We don't even like each other."

"That's not true, okay yes…the FID investigation didn't exactly bring us closer together but I'd like to think we've moved on now that I'm an official part of your Team."

"Sharon…I can't do this to Fritz, it's not fair to him. I really do like you but I can't hurt him."

Sharon looked at her, a stray tear falling from her cheek which was quickly wiped away.

"I understand."

"Sharon I'm sorry."

"Really, it's okay. You're probably right; it wouldn't help our working relationship if we were to get involved. Friends though?"

"Yeah, I'd like that very much." She smiled.

"Good."

Sharon was about to walk out but turned at the last moment.

"Oh and don't worry, last night will remain between us…my lips are sealed."

"Thank you Sharon."

"I'll go and help Buzz with the CCTV, lunch later."

"I'd like that."

She watched Sharon walk away, closing the door gently behind her. Brenda opened her blinds and watched Sharon walk in the direction of Buzz, proud to have the older woman on her Team.

…

-fin