Unwritten

by Kadi
Rated: M

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. Major Crimes is not my sandbox, I just enjoy playing in it from time to time.

A/N: I think they doth protest too much. Follow up to Episode 3.06 Jane Doe. Spoilers for this and previous episodes. After, it goes decidedly A/U and into Kadi-Land. I thought it a bit odd that Jack seemed to go for Andy the way he did... and that he was fishing about Sharon possibly dating. This is the result of that. Enjoy!

Content Warning: I did not fade to black this time. Please heed warning.

For my fandom partners in crime: kate04us & lontanissima.

As always, special thanks to my beta deenikn8 who does an amazing job! Any errors found within are all mine!

It was not a simple thing, pushing forward with a divorce. It was painful, this process of admitting that you were wrong, and that a marriage could not be saved. It was equally difficult to turn your back on vows which you had spent a lifetime attempting to uphold. There came a point, however, when enough was simply enough.

Sharon had long since reached that point. She was years past it. She grew past it wiping tears and consoling children, promising them that Daddy did love them, he was simply busy. Always too busy. Too busy for them or for her, too busy to remember a little league game or a recital, a birthday or a graduation. Her children stopped crying for him, and she stopped making excuses. She stopped believing in her husband, and in her marriage, long ago.

One thing Jack was always good at, though, was manipulating her. She would like to claim that it was his addiction, but thinking back, she knew that he had manipulated her from the start. It only stopped working when she began to recognize the signs. Although she knew she needed to admit, there were those moments when it was just easier to go along with it. When she just didn't have the energy to fight back. Yes, as Rusty had asked once, she knew what enabling was. She was guilty of that. She had enabled Jack and his hold over her every time she had given in to him in an effort just to make life more peaceful for herself.

Even last summer. She hadn't wanted to fight with Jack, not in front of Rusty. She hadn't wanted that turmoil in their lives. Maybe part of her was even a little embarrassed… here she was, finally on some kind of even footing with Rusty, finally earning the respect of her team, and along came Jack… bringing his usual brand of chaos into her life. She stood it, until she just couldn't anymore. Then, as usual upon having reached her boiling point with him, Jack just disappeared. He left, leaving behind his usual note, and she had the mess to clean up.

Sharon always told herself that this time was the last time. She always meant it in the beginning. Yet somehow, she always gave in again. To the pity, mostly, but also to her own need for calm and control. She had Rusty to think about now, however. He wasn't Ricky or Emily, he didn't have a lifetime's worth of foundation built beneath him that made Jack a simple obstacle. Not that the lack of their father's presence had ever been simple for her older children.

Therein lay the problem. Her other children. If she was going to legalize Rusty's place in her life, something needed to be done. Her status of legal separation would not get the job done. Not this time. It might protect her financially from Jack's habits and addictions, but legally she was still married to the man.

She never expected he would try to use Rusty against her.

In all their years of marriage and separation, through all of the fighting and manipulation, Jack had never used the children against her. That was one line he never crossed. Abandon them, yes. Neglect them, oh indeed he had. He often forgot he even had children. Never had he tried to hurt her with them. To manipulate the children to get his way? To hurt them for his own petty and selfish wants? No… but then, Jack had known better.

Jack did not consider Rusty to be family.

Ultimately that was the final nail in the lid being closed on their marriage. She didn't need Jack to accept Rusty, but she fully expected that he would respect the boy's place in her life. She wanted a divorce, Sharon realized that upon having the papers drawn up, but more than that she wanted Rusty. She had given Jack the option hoping his sense of self preservation would kick in and he would make this easier on her.

More the fool was she.

More the fool was he.

He had come at her through her child. Jack couldn't realize the hell that he was unleashing upon himself. He had, with that one act, completely demolished anything which remained that he could use to manipulate his way out of this predicament.

Divorce was never simple. This one was going to be ugly. That was not what Sharon had wanted. But if it was a fight that Jack was looking for, she would give him one. There was a land for Passive Aggressive wives… and for too long she had been its queen. No more.

Darth Raydor. It was time Jack learned the purpose behind that nickname. After all, he'd laughed at it long enough.

What Sharon had not expected was just how prepared Jack was for this fight. He must have sensed it was coming. She supposed that was the lawyer in him.

He was having her followed.

"You know darling, when I told you to have a little fun…" Gavin Baker waved the stack of photographs at her before tossing them onto his desk. "I never expected you would actually listen to me. Which, obviously, you have done. What I do not understand is how I'm only now finding out about it!" His hands went to his hips and he glared at her. "You call yourself my friend, and then you let me get blindsided…"

Sharon rolled her eyes at the lawyer and continued her pacing. Gavin certainly had a flare for the dramatic, but then, he always had. It was one of the many reasons she adored him. "There is such a thing as being discreet, perhaps you've heard of it?" She didn't need to see the pictorial evidence, she was rather well acquainted with every documented moment. Not that they were doing anything wrong, of course. She was legally separated, he was divorced; more importantly, they were consenting adults. It was only a few dinners, perhaps a movie or two… and some other things.

As Sharon paced by Gavin's desk, her hand caught the photo on top and lifted it. She almost smiled. She wondered if it was this which had set Jack off the most; it certainly explained why he'd gone for Andy's jugular the moment he saw him in the Murder Room. She also recalled the event, it was weeks ago. That meant Jack had been having her followed for a while now. That incensed her, almost to the point of not being able to enjoy the photo. Andy would like this one, she thought, when he got over the urge to shoot her husband. Perhaps he would develop a new appreciation for the beanbag guns. Painful, but hardly deadly.

"Gavin," she said at last, "how can I explain something that I can hardly understand myself?" She waved the photo between them. "You think I went looking for anything, with him, of all people? It wasn't long ago that we could hardly stand to look at each other, and now…"

"You're practically making out at little league." Gavin smirked at her. "You're getting naughty in your old age, Sharon."

She rolled her eyes at him again. Nicole and her husband had finally agreed to let the boys try different things. They were playing t-ball this summer. She had gone with Andy to a couple of games. She was, as always, his buffer. The picture told a different story. She was leaned back between his legs, as they sat in the stands watching, he on the level above her. Andy was bent, speaking to her while both their gazes were directed at the field. He had an arm casually draped over her shoulder, pointing at whatever they'd been discussing. It could have been explained away as being entirely innocent… save the way she was leaning to one side, against his knee, and the hand that was laying against his calf, just beneath the back of his knee, while she gestured in conversation with her other.

Yes, she supposed Jack would be a little put out by that. The image did speak of a level of familiarity that wasn't exactly… simple. It was hardly the most damning of the images Jackson's private investigator had caught.

The one that incensed her the most, that had her wanting to go after him with a beanbag gun, was the photo which indicated he was having the condo watched. His PI had snapped a photo of her balcony, and that intrusion could not be forgiven. Sharon easily recalled the evening. It was only a few weeks ago. After one of many late dinners, she'd gone out onto the balcony to enjoy the cool night air while the kettle heated. Andy had followed her. Rusty wasn't at home. She stood against the rail, his hands at her hips, her back to his chest. Now caught on film was the kiss he'd dropped against her shoulder, beside the thin strap of the amethyst dress she wore that night. Sharon could hardly complain about what was captured in public locations, such as a baseball field, or their walking hand-in-hand outside a movie theater. Her balcony, on the other hand, that was a private domain. It was an extension of her home. She was enraged that she would be intruded on in that manner, especially after everything that happened with Weller that winter, after they finally started to feel safe again.

"I want a restraining order." Sharon decided. "There is nothing I can do about the public locations, I know that." Her eyes narrowed. "But I do not want Jack or his sleazy Private Investigator anywhere near my home or Rusty again. Ever." She shook her head. "He just started feeling safe again, and now this mess with his mother, and now Jack. No. Make it happen, Gavin. Whatever it takes." There weren't many rules that she would break, or even bend, for herself. For her children, it was an entirely different story. She would even defy the church and her Catholic upbringing to be rid of the blight on their existence that was Jackson Raydor.

"Yes, yes," Gavin looked almost insulted. "I figured as much, that ball is already rolling." He waved a hand through the air. "You realize, of course, you may not come out of this looking entirely golden. I think some of the shine will be lost from that halo of yours, my sweet." He looked mildly concerned by that, but knew Sharon well enough to not dwell too deeply. His head tilted. "We can probably work that angle too…"

"I don't care." She shrugged. "By this point, anyone who remains in my life that bears any importance at all is well aware of what Jack is, has done, and is capable of. Also, as you point out for me often enough, I've been legally separated for twenty years. I'm hardly breaking any rules at this point. Besides," she shot an amused and rather wry look at him. "There would be any number of people willing to testify that it's a miracle I'm finally getting some."

Gavin snorted. Finally, he shook his head and gave into the laughter that was bubbling inside. "I have been a bad influence on you." He folded his arms over his chest. "Give me their names, I'll call them as character witnesses."

Sharon chuckled. "It's too long a list, darling. Most of the LAPD to begin with." She turned back to the desk and sighed. "Alright, pity party is over. You know what to do?"

"Nail his ass to the wall?" Gavin rubbed his hands together and looked altogether too gleeful. "Back child support, replenishment of the 401K that you cashed out to pay for Emily to go to Juilliard, and… what the hell, let's throw in spousal support too. If he's working at Decker & Cline, he can afford it now."

Sharon snorted. "Not with his gambling habit, but yes." Her lips pursed, and then she smirked. "Why the hell not? Even if all we manage to do is scare him into a No Contest, then it's worth it. Jackson Raydor will think twice about ever coming at me through one of my children again."

"Speaking of…" Gavin had supplied the adoption papers too. "How is that going?"

Her teeth clenched and ground together. "Rusty is thinking about it. He didn't reject the idea outright, but he's not comfortable. He had questions, which… is good. Even a year ago he would have run from the idea, so… progress. I think the recent upset with his mother is weighing on his decision more than either of us would like." That had her riled again. Sharon went back to pacing. "That is a woman that I would very much like to get my hands on. She has him back to thinking he's a problem for me… that somehow he's been a burden. I swear, Gavin…"

"I'm not sure there's a judge in the land that would let you be convicted," He pointed out with a small smile. "Well, not as long as I was representing you anyway." When he winked and she smiled, it was worth it. "The boy adores you. In the end, he's already yours. He'll go for it. Don't worry. Rusty will be legally your son before he starts college in the fall."

"From your mouth," she mumbled. Sharon dropped into one of the plush chairs in front of his desk. She leaned her head back and sighed. "I don't want to go tell Andy about this," she waved the photo she still held.

"I'm not telling him." One thing could never be denied about Gavin Baker, and that was his sense of self preservation. "You made with the kissy-face, you get to tell him." She lifted her head and glowered at him. "Ooh, that's one of your better ones, but no. Doesn't work on me. I helped you perfect that look. I'm sure you can find plenty of ways of calming him down again."

Her head tilted slightly while she thought about that. Sharon let her head fall back again and smiled. "Hmm."

It was Gavin's turn to roll his eyes. "Tramp."

Sharon snickered. "Well yes, that is what my husband is saying, isn't it?"

"Yes, and it has nothing to do with the fact that you haven't let him touch you in fifteen years," Gavin drawled.

"Eight." She shrugged. "If I never touch another rum and coke again, it will be too soon." Sharon pushed herself out of her chair. "It's not going to get done with me hiding here all day." With a sigh, she began gathering the photos into the envelope they had been delivered to Gavin in.

"Indeed. I have actual appointments too, so as much as I'd like to spend all day with your delightful self," Gavin rounded his desk, intent on walking her to the door. "There are people coming who will actually pay me."

"Hm." She sniffed. "I thought you said rubbing Jack's nose in all of his past mistakes was payment enough?" Sharon smirked knowingly at him as they crossed the office.

"Yes, but that does not buy me new Ferragamos." Gavin opened the door and held it for her. "Shopping is important."

"It is indeed." She lifted her purse strap to her shoulder. "Saturday next?"

"Let's make it this one. I want to get us into court before then," Gavin smirked evilly. "We'll get you something that will have him so tied in knots, Jack won't know if he's meant to be winding or scratching."

"It's a date." She turned on her heel and sketched a wave over her shoulder. "See you!"

Gavin watched her walk away. Finally, he shook his head and stepped back into his office. He did not envy her the conversation that was coming. Or maybe he did. He thought about that for a moment. Tall, passionate, silver-haired fox. Yes, he envied her alright. With a sigh, Gavin decided to get back to work. Playtime was over.