{"id":175,"date":"2011-07-26T23:22:14","date_gmt":"2011-07-27T06:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.squidge.org\/patt\/?page_id=175"},"modified":"2011-07-26T23:22:14","modified_gmt":"2011-07-27T06:22:14","slug":"friends-or-more","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.squidge.org\/patt\/?page_id=175","title":{"rendered":"Friends or More"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Friends or More by Patt <\/p>\n

Notes: This is a crossover with The Closer. Jim and Blair are from the Sentinel. There is a second part that will follow. <\/p>\n

Andy Flynn sat at his desk trying to work while watching Provenza parade a new woman into the bullpen. He tried to ignore Provenza as much as he could, but it was hard to not give the woman some attention. It wasn\u2019t Provenza\u2019s fault that Lieutenant Flynn was in love with him. He would never say anything to Provenza. He just watched him from afar. Provenza was always trying to get Flynn to double date with him. He could never seem to understand why this didn\u2019t sound good to Flynn. He was such a moron and his women got younger and younger. Didn\u2019t he ever tire out? Flynn couldn\u2019t keep up with him, so it\u2019s just as well that he didn\u2019t know how he felt. Provenza really could be a moron sometimes. <\/p>\n

Deputy Chief, Brenda Johnson walked into the bullpen, madder then she\u2019d been in ages. <\/p>\n

\u201cLieutenant Provenza, this is no place to bring your dates,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was just showing her the bullpen, Chief,\u201d Provenza said with his charming smile in force. <\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said, it\u2019s no place for dating. Please escort her from the building,\u201d Chief Johnson said as calmly as she could. \u201cThen when you get back up here, please join Lieutenant Flynn and myself in my office.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cA new case, perhaps?\u201d Provenza asked hopefully. Things had been really slow. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo what I ask,\u201d The Chief spoke louder this time. <\/p>\n

\u201cCome on sugar, I\u2019ll walk you to the elevator. They\u2019re all jealous,\u201d Provenza said as he left the room. Tao and Sanchez started to snicker. You couldn\u2019t help but fall for Provenza\u2019s humor. <\/p>\n

Well, one person was jealous and that was Flynn, but no one knew but him. Now what did Chief Johnson have in store for them? Flynn closed down the program he was working on, shut his computer down and walked over to her office and knocked. <\/p>\n

\u201cCome in Lieutenant,\u201d She called out. <\/p>\n

He smiled as he entered the room, hoping that would pave the way, but she looked disgusted. <\/p>\n

\u201cSit down, Lieutenant and we\u2019ll wait for Lieutenant Provenza to come back. I don\u2019t want to have to say all of this twice,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust tell me this, how much trouble am I in?\u201d he asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not in any trouble, it\u2019s a new case. Well, actually it\u2019s an old case and you have to wrap it up for me,\u201d Deputy Chief Johnson said smiling. <\/p>\n

Flynn was a bit unnerved by her smile. It almost looked evil. The type of evil that meant they\u2019re going to hate this assignment. At that moment, Provenza walked in and sat down in the chair next to Flynn. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s up Chief?\u201d Lieutenant Louie Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you both remember the Miles Carter case from last year?\u201d she inquired. <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course we remember, we never found him. He just disappeared,\u201d Provenza said angrily. \u201cWhy?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThey have him in lock-up in Cascade, Washington. You\u2019ll need to go and pick him up. But first he has to testify in court. Once that\u2019s done, it\u2019s my understanding that he\u2019ll be handed over to the two of you. It might take up to five or six days. I want you there so there will be no chance of him slipping through anyone\u2019s fingers. I want to close this damn case,\u201d Chief Johnson said. <\/p>\n

Provenza asked, \u201cCascade, Washington? I\u2019ve never been there but it sounds boring. Is it a small town?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care if it\u2019s the size of LA, we\u2019re going to get Miles Carter back and that\u2019s all that matters. We\u2019re going to be able to close this case. The two of you will be staying at Cascade Towers Hotel and we have the arrangements set up for seven nights, just in case. You\u2019ll be meeting two detectives from Major Crimes in Cascade and just don\u2019t embarrass me,\u201d Chief Johnson added quickly. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to hang out with two yokels from Cascade?\u201d Provenza asked mournfully. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh for heavens sake! Look at this like a vacation, not a job. It\u2019s going to be one of the easiest things you\u2019ve ever had to do. Stop whining, both of you. I\u2019ve given you your assignment, now here are your tickets,\u201d She said as she handed the tickets to each of them. <\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute, these are coach,\u201d Provenza shouted. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have a problem, Lieutenant?\u201d Chief Johnson barked. <\/p>\n

\u201cI hate this job sometimes,\u201d Provenza said under his breath, but both Flynn and Chief Johnson heard what he said. They both smiled. He was miserable, and this made them both happy. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Cascade, Washington, Captain Simon Banks\u2019 office: <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean we have to babysit two cops from LA?\u201d Detective Jim Ellison asked Captain Simon Banks. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say babysit, I said entertain,\u201d Simon corrected Jim Ellison. <\/p>\n

Detective Blair Sandburg was up next. \u201cWhy would we have to entertain anyone from LA? What are they here for?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you both forget that I\u2019m the Captain? I give the orders, if I say you\u2019re going to entertain someone for six days, you\u2019re going to do just that. Am I understood?\u201d Simon barked. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Jim answered and then asked, \u201cWhy are they here?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re here to be sure we don\u2019t loose Miles Carter. They lost him last year and can\u2019t wait to get their hands on him again. He has to testify while he\u2019s here in our jail and then Lieutenant Flynn and Provenza will be escorting him back to Los Angeles. I expect you to treat them with respect. Take them to dinner a few times and show them some of the city when you can. Other than that, I think they can take care of themselves,\u201d Simon explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh goody,\u201d Blair answered and started walking out the door. <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get excited yet. They\u2019re coming in tonight. You\u2019re going to meet them at the airport at 7:00 and take them to the Cascade Towers Hotel and maybe have dinner with them. You can fill them in on Carter while you eat,\u201d Simon ordered. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs Sandburg said, oh goody,\u201d Jim said trying for a small smile. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you hurry, you\u2019ll beat traffic to the airport. Here is a sign with their names on it. Hold it up when you get there,\u201d Simon snapped and handed them the sign. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor Christ\u2019s sake, we have to hold a sign up?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cGet out of here before I lose my temper,\u201d Simon barked sounding somewhat infuriated. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, yeah, \u201cBlair said as he walked past his desk to get his jacket. He looked at Jim and said, \u201cAre we going to have fun, partner?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, I see it now. We\u2019ll be writing in our journals all fucking night long,\u201d Jim said very sarcastically. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt might not be that bad, you know? We get to meet someone new for a change, that isn\u2019t a bad thing. That\u2019s something, eh?\u201d Blair inquired. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou always try and find something good in everything, but this might just be out of our league. They\u2019re from LA, Blair. They\u2019re going to be bored out of their minds in Cascade. We\u2019d be better off if we were taking Carter to them and they could show us their town,\u201d Jim complained. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh man, give them a chance. They might be upstanding guys, you just never know,\u201d Blair hoped. <\/p>\n

They got downstairs and got into the truck and Jim said, \u201cShit, I\u2019m going to have to rent a car for a week. I only have the one bench seat. It\u2019s not like all four of us can sit on it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s get to the airport so we can get a nice sized vehicle, just in case they are large sized individuals,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey pulled out of the police parking lot and made their way to the Cascade Airport. There was a lot of complaining done by Jim and Blair just kept smiling at his partner\/lover and hoped this wasn\u2019t going to be as bad as Jim was making it out to be. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Flynn tried to get comfortable on the stupid airplane but was having a hard time getting his six foot one frame into the small seats. Provenza on the other hand, was fitting his five foot seven frame into the seats just fine. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what do you think we have to do with the yokels from Cascade?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, stop calling them that. I\u2019m sure they wouldn\u2019t take kindly to being called yokels,\u201d Flynn warned. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe we\u2019re getting a chance at picking up Carter again? This time, he\u2019s not going to get out of our sight,\u201d Provenza stated. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we came back empty handed, I would just move to a different town,\u201d Flynn joked. <\/p>\n

As they sat side by side, Provenza started to fall asleep on Flynn\u2019s shoulder. This made Flynn smile. He had dreams of Louie Provenza falling asleep on his shoulder all the time. Too bad they were on a plane and Provenza didn\u2019t know Flynn was alive. He looked down and saw what a nice package Provenza was packing in his trousers. Flynn wasn\u2019t above noticing. As Provenza started to snore, Flynn relaxed and just had a little day dream about the two of them being together. <\/p>\n

The next thing he knew, they were landing and he was almost hard from his thoughts of Provenza. Damn it, keep your thoughts on the job, Flynn. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou okay, partner?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m fine. I\u2019ll be better when we have Carter and we\u2019re flying back to LA. This case can\u2019t be closed soon enough for me,\u201d Flynn declared. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, the one that it won\u2019t be soon enough for, is Chief Johnson. You know how she has to close a case. That\u2019s always been a thorn in her side. This will help things out a lot,\u201d Provenza promised. <\/p>\n

They walked off the plane and walked down to the baggage area and stood waiting for their bags. <\/p>\n

Flynn looked around the room and saw two cops. He knew they were cops right away. One looked like he was from vice, but he still had the look and the other one just looked like a tough cop. They were holding up a sign with Flynn and Provenza on it. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe cops are here,\u201d Flynn told Provenza. <\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, I was hoping they wouldn\u2019t show up, being yokels and all,\u201d Provenza whispered. <\/p>\n

Jim leaned into Blair and said, \u201cThe short one just called us yokels.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you calling short. He\u2019s the same height as I am,\u201d Blair joked as he eyeballed who Jim was looking at. <\/p>\n

\u201cI call em\u2019 like I see em\u2019,\u201d Jim teased back. <\/p>\n

They both headed over to Flynn and Provenza and Flynn smiled at Jim and held his hand out to shake. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the yokels from Cascade here to pick you up,\u201d Jim said shaking Flynn\u2019s hand. <\/p>\n

Flynn glared at Provenza and Provenza said, \u201cI was just teasing. I get nervous when I\u2019m in a new town. Especially one that is this small.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYokel\u2019s R us,\u201d Blair said holding his hand out. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Lieutenant Andy Flynn from Major Crimes in Los Angeles and this is Lieutenant Louie Provenza. And you are?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Detective Jim Ellison and this is Detective Blair Sandburg,\u201d Jim said in way of introducing them. <\/p>\n

Flynn leaned down and picked up his luggage and said, \u201cWe\u2019re as ready as we\u2019ll ever be.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim said, \u201cFollow us.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim and Blair walked ahead of them and Provenza whispered, \u201cHow much do you want to bet that they\u2019re a \u2018fairy\u2019 nice couple?\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim stopped and turned around and glared at Provenza. \u201cIf you have a question, ask us. I don\u2019t appreciate your remarks.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you a couple?\u201d Provenza asked point blank. <\/p>\n

\u201cProvenza, what are you doing? The Chief is going to have your ass on a platter,\u201d Flynn said, quite embarrassed for both of them. <\/p>\n

Blair smiled at Flynn and said, \u201cYes, we\u2019re a couple. If this bothers you, we can have you assigned to another two officers. We didn\u2019t realize that it was that big of a deal.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn smiled back at him and said, \u201cIt\u2019s not a big deal to me. But let\u2019s ask Provenza.\u201d <\/p>\n

They all stood and looked at Provenza waiting for his answer. \u201cAll right, it\u2019s fine with me. I don\u2019t know how in the hell you hear this shit.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim started walking again without saying a word to them. Flynn knew that Jim was upset with all of this talking. He didn\u2019t seem like a big talker. But Sandburg on the other hand, looked like everyone\u2019s friend. Flynn liked him immediately. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Ellison, do you know where we\u2019re staying?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cCascade Towers Hotel, room 225,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in one room?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the plans were made from Los Angeles, so if you have a problem with sharing a room, you better take it up with them,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just wondering how I\u2019m supposed to meet anyone nice here if I\u2019m sharing a room with Flynn,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

They walked up to the SUV that Jim had rented and Jim opened up the back for the luggage and he and Flynn put them in. <\/p>\n

Provenza said, \u201cCould I sit in the front? I get car sick in the back.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn stared at him like he was nuts and Jim said, \u201cWhatever.\u201d <\/p>\n

Provenza really didn\u2019t want the \u2018fairy\u2019 nice boys in the front seat together. He thought he handled it quite well. He seriously didn\u2019t have anything against gay people, but he liked giving this man a hard time. Provenza was known for provoking people. <\/p>\n

\u201cProvenza, it\u2019s not like we make out while we\u2019re working or driving,\u201d Blair said from the back seat. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it has nothing to do with that. I just get car sick,\u201d Provenza swore. <\/p>\n

\u201cWould you both like to have dinner with us tonight?\u201d Blair asked nicely. <\/p>\n

Provenza glared at Flynn as his answer, but Flynn said, \u201cSure that would be great. You can fill us in on Carter. We\u2019re dying to hear what he\u2019s been up to and our Chief asked us to find out what was going on with him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good,\u201d Blair replied. <\/p>\n

Jim almost laughed, at the look on Provenza\u2019s face. Jim wondered if he was used to being around anyone gay. He didn\u2019t seem hateful, just not used to it. Or he was hiding something. Flynn on the other hand, seemed to be very open to the idea. <\/p>\n

Jim pulled up in the parking lot of Cascade Towers and Flynn said, \u201cIs this a mistake? This place looks really nice.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou were expecting something more yokelish?\u201d Jim asked, not knowing if that was even a word. <\/p>\n

Flynn burst out laughing and said, \u201cWe honestly weren\u2019t expecting anything this nice. We were thinking more on the lines of Super Eight, if you know what I mean. Chief Pope is a tight wad with expenses, so this just surprises me.\u201d <\/p>\n

It was Blair\u2019s turn to laugh and said, \u201cOur Captain is a tight wad too. But he said Chief Johnson made the reservations for you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing against you, Flynn, but I\u2019d like to have my own room,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo whatever you want,\u201d Flynn said as he grabbed his luggage and walked into the lobby. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you always piss him off?\u201d Blair asked Provenza. <\/p>\n

\u201cI go out of my way to do it daily, Sandburg.\u201d Provenza answered. \u201cHe\u2019ll get over it. He always does.\u201d <\/p>\n

Provenza walked up to the desk and checked in and asked for another room. <\/p>\n

The clerk said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, we\u2019re having a convention so there is nothing in town. I\u2019ve already checked at all of the other hotels for other guests.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have got to be kidding?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like we\u2019re going to be roomies after all,\u201d Flynn joked. <\/p>\n

\u201cJoke all you want, but you\u2019re going to be sitting out in the hall when I have a hot date,\u201d Provenza warned. <\/p>\n

Jim started laughing and Provenza said, \u201cWhat are you laughing at Ellison?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI just never saw someone come into a town to pick up a perp and talk about getting laid. Just surprised me is all,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n

Flynn smiled and said, \u201cI have to live with him for the next week, think how I feel?\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair smiled knowing Flynn seemed comfortable with them and said, \u201cHell, if you want to stay in our spare room, you\u2019re welcome to it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim just glared at Blair. What the fuck is he doing? <\/p>\n

\u201cDepending on how Provenza treats me, I just might take you up on that,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

Provenza pulled Flynn aside and said, \u201cYou\u2019re kidding, right?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you care, you\u2019re the one that doesn\u2019t want me in your room?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll work it out, Andy. Don\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

Jim almost smiled at Provenza using Flynn\u2019s first name. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you get settled in your room, and we\u2019ll get a table in the restaurant. We\u2019ll meet you there in say, 20 minutes?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, 20 minutes ought to be plenty of time. Thank you,\u201d Flynn said and walked towards the elevator. Provenza followed him grumbling the entire way. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Once they got a table, they waited patiently for the other two men to show up. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what do you think of them?\u201d Blair asked Jim. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think that Flynn is pretty nice, but has a thing for Provenza and he\u2019ll never get anywhere with that dick,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell me how you really feel, Jim?\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim smiled and said, \u201cI like them just fine. We\u2019ll make the best out of this week. It should be interesting.\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cOh shit, let me run out to the SUV and get the files, so they can look them over.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Chief.\u201d <\/p>\n

Provenza and Flynn walked in while Blair was out in the car. Provenza said, \u201cDid you piss the little woman off?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to tell you once and once only, if you don\u2019t like us, we\u2019ll get someone else to work with. But I don\u2019t have to put up with your shit. Your idea of humor and mine are different. Maybe because we\u2019re yokels,\u201d Jim snapped. <\/p>\n

\u201cGeeze, I\u2019m sorry. I won\u2019t say another word about you and Sandburg. Don\u2019t worry. I just wondered why he wasn\u2019t here any longer,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s out getting the Carter files so you two can look it over while we have dinner,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cGood thinking,\u201d Flynn acknowledged. <\/p>\n

Blair walked in with the files and wondered what he missed. Jim looked pissed off. \u201cDid I miss something fun?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust Provenza pissing your partner off,\u201d Flynn kidded. <\/p>\n

\u201cSame ole stuff?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. We\u2019ll see to it that they get Rafe and Brown tomorrow,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n

Flynn said, \u201cNo, I like you guys. We\u2019ll make things work if I have to kill Provenza to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair and Jim both had to laugh about that. Provenza didn\u2019t think it was that funny, but he didn\u2019t want to catch any flack from Chief Johnson when he got back either. He knew he had to shape up and shape up he would. <\/p>\n

Blair handed the first file over to Flynn and the second one to Provenza. \u201cThese are the same files, but I figured you wouldn\u2019t want to share the reading.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s testifying in a drug ring bust for the FBI? What the hell?\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe helped them in their bust and got some of his time taken off because of it. The time he has to serve in California is another story. That\u2019s up to your court systems,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, Fritz Howard would love taking on this case, wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d Flynn asked Provenza. <\/p>\n

\u201cWho is Howard?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cChief Brenda Johnson\u2019s husband works for the FBI. He\u2019s Agent Fritz Howard,\u201d Flynn explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat must be helpful sometimes, having the FBI so close,\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes, but sometimes it bites us in the ass,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI could believe that,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n

The waitress came over and they all ordered their food and their drinks. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell us how you ever found Carter,\u201d Provenza commented. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t. That\u2019s the best part, the FBI found him. But while they used our jail to hold him we ran his prints and found out about the open warrant in California and decided to let Chief Johnson know about him. She was very anxious to have him back in California as you can well imagine,\u201d Jim divulged. <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you love when you don\u2019t have to do the paperwork or the field work to find someone? I love when it falls in your lap. That doesn\u2019t happen too often, especially in Los Angeles,\u201d Provenza confessed. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it doesn\u2019t happen too often here either,\u201d Blair added. <\/p>\n

Their dinner arrived and they all ate and talked about Miles Carter until Jim yawned. <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I\u2019m supposed to be the old man here, why are you yawning?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I haven\u2019t slept in two days, that\u2019s why,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cCould you pick us up in the morning for court, so we can watch him from the back of the gallery?\u201d Flynn inquired. <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cWe\u2019ll pick you both up at 8:00 sharp. Court starts at 8:30.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019ll see you in the morning, then, \u201cFlynn said as he got up to leave the table. <\/p>\n

Provenza followed him and said, \u201cSee you in the morning, Sandburg and Ellison.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Provenza and Flynn,\u201d Blair said as they walked out of the hotel. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

The ride home was quiet. Blair knew Jim was tired, plus he didn\u2019t want to bring up Provenza tonight. He wasn\u2019t in the mood for an argument with Jim about who liked them and who didn\u2019t. <\/p>\n

So instead, they held hands and just listened to tunes on the radio all the way to the loft. It was a very enjoyable ride home and Blair loved holding hands with Jim. He wouldn\u2019t want it to get around, but Jim made him feel safe all the time when he held his hand. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t too bad, do you think?\u201d Flynn asked Provenza when they got to their room. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re \u2018gay\u2019, Flynn, how are we supposed to deal with that?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are worse things in life then being gay, you know?\u201d Flynn pointed out. <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine getting any respect at the bullpen when everyone knows what you do in bed,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would anyone know what anyone did in bed? That\u2019s no one\u2019s business,\u201d Flynn said in Jim and Blair\u2019s defense. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you like them so much? I swear you aren\u2019t getting laid enough. Even men probably look good to you at this point,\u201d Provenza teased. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe men do look good to me, have you ever thought about that?\u201d Flynn asked before he knew what he had said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell are you talking about, Andy? You don\u2019t do guys,\u201d Provenza reminded him. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know what I do and don\u2019t do. At any rate, it doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t appreciate the male form from time to time,\u201d Flynn admitted. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting you some dates as soon as we get home, Flynn.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever thought that maybe I\u2019m looking for someone special?\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m taking a shower, this whole conversation has made me hot and stinky and not the good kind,\u201d Provenza got up and walked into the bathroom. <\/p>\n

What the hell is Flynn talking about? Since when has he started looking at men? And why didn\u2019t he tell me about it before? Why didn\u2019t he tell me so that I wouldn\u2019t have kept saying the insulting things that I do? <\/p>\n

Outside the bathroom, Flynn was hitting his head on the wall, over and over again. Provenza opened up the door and said, \u201cKnock it off, Flynn.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn got undressed and slipped into one of the queen sized beds. He wondered why he had said those things to Provenza. Now he would never hear the end of it. <\/p>\n

Provenza walked out of the bathroom wearing a tee shirt and boxers and slid into his bed. \u201cThe bathroom is all yours.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn got up and brushed his teeth and washed up, but didn\u2019t take a shower. He was afraid he would have dreams of Louie while in the shower and embarrass both of them. He didn\u2019t know why he was suddenly having thoughts about Provenza, but he couldn\u2019t seem to shut his mind off when it came to his partner. He had been with a man before, but it was back in college. So he was a little rusty, to say the least. He needed to get control of the situation before he outed himself big time. <\/p>\n

He walked out and slid into the bed again and pulled the covers up. \u201cGoodnight, Provenza.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight, Flynn.\u201d <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Provenza was sucking Flynn\u2019s cock and both of the men were having a good time, when Flynn woke up almost coming in his sleep. He rolled over on his stomach groaning and told his cock to settle down and finally got back to sleep again. Flynn was in sexual hell and he had brought it all on himself. Only a moron would fall in love with someone like Provenza. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

The next morning, they both woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Provenza said the bed was too hard. Flynn just didn\u2019t sleep much without sexual dreams. Lack of sleep was going to cause both of the men to be grouchy. <\/p>\n

They got ready and went downstairs to wait for Ellison and Sandburg to pick them up. <\/p>\n

As soon as they got in the SUV, Jim said, \u201cBad news.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn almost panicked and said, \u201cWhat? What happened?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cCarter refuses to fly, so the FBI informed us that he has to go by car or train. So you\u2019re going to be stuck with us for a while. We\u2019re going to have to drive to Los Angeles. I know you\u2019re looking forward to being rid of us, but looks like you\u2019re stuck with us for a road trip,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe this? We can\u2019t make him get on the plane?\u201d Provenza asked quickly. <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cDidn\u2019t you ever see Midnight Run with Robert DeNiro?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I remember how the airline made him get a train ticket. You could put us all on a train,\u201d Flynn suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Captain Banks said that we have to deliver him to Los Angeles,\u201d Jim remarked. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat Midnight Run was a funny damn movie,\u201d Blair stated. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have to agree with you on that. It\u2019s one of my favorites,\u201d Flynn said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you guys nuts? We have to drive to Los Angeles because of what happened in a movie? I\u2019ve never seen the movie and don\u2019t think I want to,\u201d Provenza grumbled. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf the person doesn\u2019t want to fly because of a fear, we can\u2019t force him,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we knock him out, no one would know the difference,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe tried that in the movie, but it didn\u2019t work,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAgain with the movie?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t help it, it\u2019s a good movie. Maybe you should come over tonight and watch it with us,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make dinner if you want to come over,\u201d Jim offered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking about going out looking for a woman tonight,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I would like to come over, if that\u2019s all right with you. I could even spend the night if you don\u2019t mind. That way Provenza would have to the room to himself,\u201d Flynn believed. <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, you\u2019re always welcome at our place,\u201d Blair answered before Jim had a chance to stop him. <\/p>\n

\u201cHow long do you think we\u2019re going to be in court?\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey think they might wrap it up in a day or two. So, looks like we\u2019ll be on the road soon,\u201d Jim said happily. <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever been to Los Angeles?\u201d Flynn asked the men. <\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cMe either,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll show you some of the sights once we get Carter delivered to Chief Johnson,\u201d Flynn said. \u201cShe\u2019ll be chomping at the bit to have everything all signed sealed and delivered.\u201d <\/p>\n

Flynn looked at Provenza and asked, \u201cSo where are you having dinner tonight?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019ll go to Ellison and Sandburg\u2019s place for dinner. There doesn\u2019t really seem to be that much to do here,\u201d Provenza grumbled. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, you\u2019ve done it now,\u201d Jim teased. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are tons of things to do in our town. Are you interested in any of the arts? Like museum\u2019s or plays?\u201d Blair inquired. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Provenza answered without a thought. <\/p>\n

“What about movies?\u201d Blair asked <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, if I wanted to see a movie, I\u2019d watch it on my DVD player at home. I don\u2019t go to theaters much,\u201d Provenza stated. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about nude art galleries? There are two new ones in town and I\u2019ve heard they are fantastic. You remind me of a person that would enjoy a good nude,\u201d Blair joked, making Flynn start laughing. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be something to check out. I could go for that. How about we check out the galleries after dinner?\u201d Provenza suggested. <\/p>\n

Jim smiled and said, \u201cSounds good to me. What type of food is your favorite?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI love Mexican food,\u201d Provenza answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite is Italian,\u201d Flynn said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we just let Jim surprise us?\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cSounds good to me,\u201d Provenza replied and Flynn smiled and nodded in agreement. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat should we wear to your house and to the galleries?\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cJeans and polo shirt works for us. That\u2019s what we\u2019ll be wearing,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, after court, you can drop us off at the hotel and then pick us back up later on in the evening,\u201d Provenza decided. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine with us,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

Jim pulled up into the parking lot of the court house and found a good spot for a change. Things were looking up, he decided. <\/p>\n

Provenza and Flynn walked behind Jim and Blair to the court room and sat in the back of the gallery, hoping to go unnoticed. But when they brought Miles Carter in he noticed Flynn and Provenza right away and asked his lawyer something. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s probably going to try and talk his way out of this,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s coming with us, even if I have to take him back dead. The Chief wouldn\u2019t like us not bringing him back,\u201d Flynn joked. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like that option. Why don\u2019t we see if we can take him back in a body bag?\u201d Provenza kidded. <\/p>\n

The people in front of them turned around and shushed both men. Flynn and Provenza started to laugh softly until the Judge walked in. They decided they had better be good or Chief Johnson would kill them. <\/p>\n

Jim and Blair sat on the other side of the gallery and Jim whispered to Blair, \u201cThey\u2019re wishing they could take him home in a body bag.\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair started laughing and everyone in the court room turned and looked at him. He blushed and hoped the Judge wouldn\u2019t say anything. It was Blair\u2019s lucky day. The Judge glared at Blair, but that was all. <\/p>\n

Flynn jabbed Provenza in the side when this was all happening, smiling to beat the band. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think I like Sandburg,\u201d Provenza whispered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew you would,\u201d Flynn answered just as softly. <\/p>\n

The hearing went on most of the day. The four men went to lunch during the first recess and then the Judge called for recess at 3:00 until the next day. Provenza was thrilled. His butt had gone to sleep on these stinking benches. <\/p>\n

They walked out to the hallway and waited for Jim and Blair. Jim walked out looking every bit as miserable as Provenza. \u201cI hate being in court,\u201d Jim grumbled. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just pissed off because your butt went to sleep,\u201d Blair teased and Flynn laughed. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Nobody else\u2019s butt goes to sleep on those damn benches?\u201d Jim questioned. <\/p>\n

\u201cMine did,\u201d Provenza answered quickly and then laughed along with Flynn. <\/p>\n

Jim smiled at both of them and said, \u201cWe\u2019ll drop you off at the hotel and you give us a call as soon as you\u2019re ready to be picked up.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to wait, I think we could change quickly and we could leave now,\u201d Provenza replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine, I just thought you might like to relax a little before you came over to our place,\u201d Jim stated. <\/p>\n

Flynn said, \u201cI\u2019m ready to get out of here and just go relax some where. We could stop and buy some beer for Provenza, right?\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair laughed and said, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to stop, we always have beer. Do you mind Miller Genuine Draft? Why for just Provenza?\u201d <\/p>\n

Provenza said, \u201cIs there any other kind? Andy has a chip and has been sober for ten years. I\u2019m sorry, Flynn, should I have told them that?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fantastic, Flynn. We\u2019ve got soda\u2019s of all kinds and lemonade. Jim likes to drink that too,\u201d Blair offered. <\/p>\n

They all smiled and drove over to the hotel to change their clothing. <\/p>\n

When they got up to their room, both men started dressing for the evening. \u201cHey Louie, I noticed you\u2019re getting to like Ellison and Sandburg.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, what\u2019s not to like? They\u2019re good cops and they don\u2019t gross me out or anything,\u201d Provenza answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI really like them. I think we\u2019ll have a nice time tonight. Maybe we should bring a bag for sleeping over if you have too much to drink? Flynn suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think they have cabs in Cascade, Andy,\u201d Provenza responded with a laugh. <\/p>\n

\u201cRight\u2026\u201d Flynn said blushing. <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let\u2019s get this show on the road,\u201d Provenza said as he walked out the door. Andy looked at the back of Provenza and noticed how nicely he filled his blue jeans out in the back as well as the front. Get your mind out of the gutter. <\/p>\n

In the elevator, Flynn said, \u201cDoes it bother you that I\u2019ve been with men before?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would it bother me? I\u2019ve been with a guy. Mind you, it\u2019s been years and years since those days, but I\u2019ve been around the block a few times myself,\u201d Provenza answered. <\/p>\n

Flynn stood there with his mouth hanging open until Provenza pushed it shut, while laughing. \u201cFlynn, you\u2019re not the only one that notices men.\u201d <\/p>\n

They stepped out of the elevator smiling and Flynn was blushing. <\/p>\n

Jim wondered what they had missed. It might have been something good. Hopefully, Provenza would loosen up with a few beers and talk to them about it. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

At the loft: <\/p>\n

\u201cBlair is going to entertain you both while I go shopping for dinner,\u201d Jim announced once they had arrived at their loft. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we just order pizza?\u201d Flynn suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cWould that work for everyone?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cWorks for me,\u201d Provenza answered. <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cLet me run down to the bakery and see if she has fresh cr\u00e8me puffs for desert.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI love cr\u00e8me puffs,\u201d Provenza said happily. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone does,\u201d Jim supposed. <\/p>\n

Provenza sat down on the sofa and waited for Jim to get him a beer. Flynn on the other hand was hoping for a Dr. Pepper. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get us some beer. Flynn, do you like Dr. Pepper?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Jim, I love Dr. Pepper. Thank you,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cBlair, you run and see about the cr\u00e8me puffs,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you calling a cr\u00e8me puff?\u201d Blair teased and both Flynn and Provenza laughed along with them. <\/p>\n

Blair walked out the door and Provenza said, \u201cI just want to apologize now for anything and everything I\u2019m going to say tonight, to embarrass myself. \u201c <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t get over how different you\u2019re acting about me and Blair,\u201d Jim said seriously. <\/p>\n

\u201cI can be a real dick, but I\u2019ve been there, done that. So I know how hard it is to be a cop having a male\/male relationship. I\u2019m going to try and behave myself all night tonight, but that\u2019s not a promise,\u201d Provenza teased. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo how many men have you been with Provenza?\u201d Flynn asked honestly. Jim wanted to know too. <\/p>\n

\u201cNot that it\u2019s anyone\u2019s business, but I was in the army,\u201d Provenza said laughing. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the hell does that have to do with anything?\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cI met some really nice guys while I was in the service. That\u2019s when I discovered I liked both sexes,\u201d Provenza explained. <\/p>\n

Flynn took a big drink of his Dr. Pepper and said, \u201cYou could knock me over with a feather.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou get into feathers?\u201d Jim joked. <\/p>\n

Flynn blushed and Provenza said, \u201cThey\u2019re so cute when they blush, aren\u2019t they?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I find it an immediate turn on when Blair blushes,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n

Flynn said, \u201cWait a moment. When did I lose control of this conversation?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cFlynn, you never had control. As soon as you realize that, you\u2019ll be much better off,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

Blair walked through the front door carrying a large white bakery box. He smiled at all of them and wondered what was going on. They all looked way too happy. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh look, cr\u00e8me puffs,\u201d Provenza teased Blair. <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what did I miss?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n

Jim filled him on what was said so far and Blair blushed. \u201cI told you, he was cute when he blushed.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOh shut up,\u201d Blair said laughing. <\/p>\n

As they sat there and drank beer and Dr. Pepper, they began to find out they had a lot in common. For one thing, they loved to play poker. Jim said, \u201cCome on, everyone let\u2019s play poker.\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cJust a moment. We were going to the galleries tonight. Remember?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, I forgot,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t want to go anymore, we can play poker instead,\u201d Blair assured them. <\/p>\n

Provenza said, \u201cActually, let\u2019s go check out the galleries and then we\u2019ll order pizza when we get back.\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair beamed with happiness, because one of the shows that he knew of was an all male show. Blair thought they could all enjoy that. Man, this is turning out to be a very weird night. <\/p>\n

Jim called a cab and they rode over to the first place and looked through the gallery quite quickly and Flynn wasn\u2019t that impressed with it. It was mostly female nudes, so it wasn\u2019t doing much for him. But the second place they went had all male nudes and they were stunning. Flynn walked by himself most of the time, just staring at the artistic visions this artist had come up with. They were called paper cuttings and they were beautiful. Hard to believe that someone had drawn it and then cut it out and posted in on another type of paper. Flynn was very impressed and wanted to buy something. He noticed the artist\u2019s name was Pete Paulos and knew he was going to have to remember that name. He was from Reno, Nevada and this paper cutting he wanted to buy was called Reflection in the Mirror. Flynn didn\u2019t care how much it was, he was going to buy it. He walked over and met the artist and asked about mailing the piece to Los Angeles and found out that it was no problem. The piece ended up costing him $300.00, but it was worth it to him. <\/p>\n

Flynn caught up with Jim and Blair and said, \u201cHave you seen Provenza?\u201d <\/p>\n

Blair smiled and said, \u201cHe\u2019s looking at one he saw at the beginning of the show. I think he likes it well enough to buy it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI bought one,\u201d Flynn confessed. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thinking about one too. He\u2019s very good isn\u2019t he? He has a show in Reno that I saw once and I told him to have a show here now and then, so he does. He\u2019s so nice. We have one of his pieces in our bedroom right now,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe really is quite the talent. You know, I still can\u2019t believe Provenza has been with guys before and I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s thinking of buying one of the pieces of art,\u201d Flynn said somewhat shocked. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe there is hope, Flynn,\u201d Blair declared. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so, but I don\u2019t know what his type is. I still might not be it,\u201d Flynn replied. <\/p>\n

They found Provenza as he was talking to the artist and Flynn noticed that the picture he had in mind, was something Flynn loved too. \u201cI\u2019m getting this, I\u2019ve never seen a piece this nice before. Pete is going to mail it to my house,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for loving the art as much as I do,\u201d Pete said as he walked over to the next couple that was ready to buy one. <\/p>\n

All of them finished up the gallery and walked out to catch a cab. Jim said, \u201cI\u2019m glad this was a good stop for both of you. Like I said, we have one in our room already.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute, I must have missed that,\u201d Provenza teased. <\/p>\n

Blair smiled and said, \u201cYou can see it when we get home.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about anyone else, but I\u2019m starving,\u201d Flynn admitted. <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

As soon as they got in the cab, Blair opened up his cell phone and called the pizza joint and ordered two large pizzas with everything. \u201cIs that good for everyone?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWorks for us,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

Jim didn\u2019t bother answering because he knew that Blair knew he loved any type of pizza, it didn\u2019t matter what kind it was. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Once they arrived home and the pizza was delivered, they ate and drank beer and laughed and talked until about 1:00 a.m. Well, Blair and Flynn drank Dr. Pepper. <\/p>\n

Jim finally said, \u201cI don\u2019t know about you guys, but I have to turn in if we\u2019re going to be in court tomorrow at 8:30.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to call a cab,\u201d Flynn said. <\/p>\n

Blair called one and within moments, it was out front honking its horn. <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for coming and making the night so enjoyable,\u201d Blair said at the door. <\/p>\n

Jim thanked them for coming too and Flynn and Provenza walked down to the waiting cab and took off for the hotel. <\/p>\n

Once in the cab, Flynn said, \u201cSo do you have a certain type?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and you would fit in that type. But I have to tell you, I think we should go really slowly, because I don\u2019t want to fuck anything up,\u201d Provenza suggested. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat works for me too, Louie.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Andy.\u201d <\/p>\n

The rest of the ride over to the hotel was quiet and without incident. <\/p>\n

When they arrived at the hotel, they walked up the stairs. Provenza said he was hoping he would sober up a little bit before they got in their room. <\/p>\n

\u201cLouie, can I ask you something?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, what?\u201d Provenza replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cWill you take me out when we get back to Los Angeles?\u201d Flynn wondered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to take you out on a date. I would love to take you on many dates. We\u2019ll set one up as soon as we\u2019re home and things are back to normal. I want to go slow,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good with slow. In fact, I think it\u2019s great that you\u2019re willing to wait for me,\u201d Flynn divulged. <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, I\u2019m willing to wait. We\u2019re best friends. This is just the next logical step for two men that are as close as we are. It\u2019s going to be great, but we can\u2019t tell anyone in the bullpen,\u201d Provenza said seriously. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know. We know how Chief Johnson took Daniels and Gabriel dating. So we have to keep this between us,\u201d Flynn agreed. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly where it belongs, too,\u201d Provenza added. <\/p>\n

They walked into the room and took turns getting ready for bed. That night Andy Flynn realized he slept well because he now knew he had a chance with Provenza, instead of just dreaming about him. Both men ended up sleeping well. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

The next day: <\/p>\n

The FBI agent walked up to Jim and Blair and said something and Flynn was dying to know what was going on. Jim and Blair moved over to where Flynn and Provenza were sitting in the court room and Jim whispered, \u201cThey\u2019re going to let us take him this afternoon. So we\u2019ll be on our way as soon as they do.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is great. We\u2019ll still get to spend time with new friends, but at the same time get our man back to Dodge,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

Jim smiled and said, \u201cWithin two days, you\u2019ll be back and wishing you had more time off in no time.\u201d <\/p>\n

They all sat and waited for the hearing to end and then Jim signed the paper for the release of Miles Carter into their hands. FBI seemed more than happy to be rid of him. <\/p>\n

Jim called Simon. \u201cBanks.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSimon, we\u2019re going to be heading out to Los Angeles today. They\u2019re releasing Carter into my custody today. So we\u2019ll see that he gets to Los Angeles in one piece.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGood enough. Tell Chief Johnson that I hope to meet her some day. She was very easy to work with on this,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell her, sir,\u201d Jim said before he closed his cell phone. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

On the road: <\/p>\n

When Jim and Blair picked Provenza and Flynn up, Jim noticed the difference in the way Provenza was looking at Flynn. He had a look of longing on his face, so Jim knew nothing had happened. Flynn on the other hand, had a look of pure lust on his. Jim smiled and thought they were going to be good if they ever let it happen. <\/p>\n

Blair said, \u201cI\u2019ve reserved rooms for us at a hotel for tonight and then we should be in Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Ellison, do you mind if I sit up front? I really do get car sick in the back seat,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cSure, that\u2019s fine. Sandburg and Flynn can be in charge of Carter,\u201d Jim figured. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh goody,\u201d Blair joked as he shoved Carter over towards Flynn and Flynn shoved Carter back. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to put up with this,\u201d Carter whined. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you do,\u201d Jim bellowed from the front seat. <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Ellison, do you want me to drive for awhile?\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

Blair burst out laughing and said, \u201cJim doesn\u2019t like other people driving his vehicle.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not true, Chief. I\u2019ve let you drive my truck from time to time,\u201d Jim reminded him. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust believe me, he\u2019s not going to let anyone else drive,\u201d Blair joked. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what exactly did Carter do in California?\u201d Jim asked Provenza. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was framed, I tell ya,\u201d Carter answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cShut up or I\u2019ll put tape over your mouth for the rest of the trip,\u201d Flynn said and no one really believed he was joking. <\/p>\n

Provenza decided to tell them what was going on. \u201cHe was with two other nice fellows when they shot and killed three police officers. We have them, but we need Carter to make sure that all of them pay.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cCop killers are the worst,\u201d Blair almost whispered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t kill any cops. I told Chief Johnson that. She wouldn\u2019t listen,\u201d Carter pleaded. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were with them, you are an accomplice. So just shut up,\u201d Flynn reminded him. <\/p>\n

Provenza turned from the front seat to the back and said, \u201cThen why did the other two guys say you had something to do with it?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m being framed. I already said that,\u201d Carter answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a good idea, why don\u2019t we talk about our best cases for a while and change this subject,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n

Provenza said, \u201cOh I have one. There was a dead body in my garage one time and Flynn and I were going to see a game so we decided it could wait until we got back. I mean, he had tickets to the baseball game. Good tickets. Great seats. When we got back, the body was gone and we had to tell Chief Johnson about it. She wasn\u2019t a happy camper.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys went to a game instead of calling the murder in?\u201d Blair asked shocked. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, it wasn\u2019t our best moment. But Flynn\u2019s car broke down right down the road, so we weren\u2019t actually gone that long and she was already dead. He took pictures with his cell phone, so it was logged in, just not called in. It wasn\u2019t like we needed an ambulance or anything,\u201d Provenza explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt all worked out in the end. We figured out everything we needed to with the help of Chief Johnson, so that was the main thing,\u201d Flynn said, hoping they could change the subject. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was kidnapped once,\u201d Blair said softly. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo shit?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

Jim said, \u201cNo shit. He was kidnapped by a serial killer.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cTell us about that,\u201d Flynn said. <\/p>\n

Blair began to tell them all about the case and everyone was listening, including Carter. There was something about Blair\u2019s voice that everyone listened when he talked. <\/p>\n

When Blair was done, Provenza said, \u201cDo you have a favorite case, Ellison?\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim smiled and said, \u201cI hung underneath a moving train once. That was pretty exciting. Not. We have a ton of stories to tell, but I think we could find other things to talk about with Carter in the car.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I was just getting into the stories. Don\u2019t stop on my account,\u201d Carter said. <\/p>\n

The men changed the subject and decided to talk about Los Angeles. Flynn and Provenza took turns telling Jim and Blair all about it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have to go to the bathroom,\u201d Carter announced. <\/p>\n

\u201cDo you see a bathroom anywhere around here?\u201d Provenza asked sarcastically. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I have to go unless you want me pissing my pants here in the back seat,\u201d Carter warned. <\/p>\n

Flynn said, \u201cPull over Ellison. I\u2019ll cuff him to me so he\u2019ll have one hand free to take care of business.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jim pulled over and Flynn undid one cuff and put it on his wrist and then got Carter out of the SUV. \u201cHurry it up, Carter, or I\u2019ll just leave you cuffed to the back of the SUV,\u201d Flynn said. <\/p>\n

A few minutes later they got into the SUV and Flynn was very angry. \u201cHe pissed on my shoe. Provenza, do you believe it? He pissed on my shoe?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a good shot then,\u201d Provenza teased. <\/p>\n

\u201cNext time, you can cuff him to you. He can piss on your shoe,\u201d Flynn whined. <\/p>\n

Before long, they were in the town where they had the reservations made for that night. Jim found the hotel and parked and they all got out. <\/p>\n

They got checked in and Ellison and Sandburg had Carter in their room. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t seem fair that you have to keep him all night long in your room, Ellison,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to keep him with us until we hand him over to Chief Johnson. Our boss gave the order, we just follow those orders. It\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Jim assured him. <\/p>\n

After dinner, they went up to their room to cuff Carter somewhere and Carter said, \u201cWhere am I going to go? Please don\u2019t cuff me tonight.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cDo I look like I have stupid written all over my face?\u201d Jim asked as he cuffed Carter to the radiator. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t expect me to sleep here in the chair,\u201d Carter complained. <\/p>\n

\u201cI not only can, I will,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to report you for this,\u201d Carter yelled. <\/p>\n

Blair was almost laughing at how pissed off Jim was having to deal with this jerk. <\/p>\n

Jim slept in one bed, Blair slept in the other and Carter slept in the chair next to the radiator. Jim was listening all night long for the idiot to get loose, because he figured that would be about their luck, but morning came and Carter was still there. <\/p>\n

They each showered, Carter having to be pulled out of said shower after 30 minutes and then they met Provenza and Flynn downstairs for breakfast. <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did he behave last night?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was fine, slept like a baby,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo problems to report?\u201d Flynn asked hopefully. <\/p>\n

\u201cNone,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have some problems to report. I had to sleep in a chair all night long and then this faggot pulled me out of my shower this morning,\u201d Carter complained. <\/p>\n

Jim looked like he wanted to kill him, but instead he said, \u201cYou can make all of the complaints you want. No one is going to listen.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou pulled him out of the shower?\u201d Provenza asked, almost laughing. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in there for over 30 minutes and I gave him fair warning. Three times, I warned him. He wasn\u2019t listening, so I yanked him out,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n

Flynn started laughing and said, \u201cCarter, you\u2019re lucky it wasn\u2019t Provenza. He would have brought you down to breakfast with no clothes on. Hell, he wouldn\u2019t have even dried you off.\u201d <\/p>\n

They all laughed, knowing Provenza wouldn\u2019t have really done it. Or at least Jim didn\u2019t think he would have really done it. <\/p>\n

Carter just glared at all of them and vowed that he was going to make their life miserable. He didn\u2019t realize that they were all miserable already. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

They were all in the car once again and for a few moments it was quiet. <\/p>\n

Flynn said, \u201cProvenza tell them about your friend that changed sexes and didn\u2019t tell you about it?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, Flynn, why bring him or her up? He\u2019s or she\u2019s a friend of mine. I don\u2019t want to talk about him or her,\u201d Provenza hollered. <\/p>\n

\u201cI got put in the trunk of a car once,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding. Boy oh boy, someone must have had to pay for that,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey did,\u201d Jim answered, glaring at no one in particular. <\/p>\n

\u201cI made fun of the Chief one time because of her southern accent and she was behind me the entire time. No one told me she was there,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was so damned funny too. Even she thought it was funny. Provenza has a way with her. Even when he drives her nuts, she likes him,\u201d Flynn commented. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe likes you too, Flynn, don\u2019t even try and hide it. She didn\u2019t at first, I have to admit, but once you came around to her side, she knew she had a friend,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s really great,\u201d Flynn admitted. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur Captain is great too,\u201d Blair confessed. <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he ever get on your case about the littlest things?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly once a day, at least,\u201d Jim answered, smiling. <\/p>\n

The rest of the drive was pretty ordinary. They had to stop three times for Carter to go to the bathroom, but other then that, they made good time to Los Angeles. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to drive in this traffic every day?\u201d Jim asked Provenza. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou get used to it, Ellison. It\u2019s easy once you know your way around. Right, Flynn?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we don\u2019t even notice how busy it is anymore. You just get used to what you have to do,\u201d Flynn replied. <\/p>\n

Provenza guided Jim to the station and told them what everything was as they passed it. <\/p>\n

Jim drove up to the station and Provenza told him where to park. They got Carter ready and headed up to booking. Once he was booked and signed in, Jim turned to Provenza and Flynn and said, \u201cWell, that\u2019s all for us. We\u2019re going to head back.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you stay and meet everyone here and then have dinner with us,\u201d Flynn asked. <\/p>\n

Blair looked happy as he answered, \u201cThat would be great. I\u2019d like to meet Lt. Tao.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cChief, we\u2019re not here to socialize and how do you know about Lt. Tao?,\u201d Jim reminded him. <\/p>\n

\u201cFlynn told me about everyone in Major Crimes. One more night isn\u2019t going to kill anyone,\u201d Blair argued. <\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Jim replied and looked irritated. <\/p>\n

Flynn asked, \u201cDo you ever win an argument with him?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNot really,\u201d Jim said disgustedly. <\/p>\n

\u201cDeputy Chief Johnson is going to love you guys,\u201d Provenza said as he pushed them towards the elevators. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh goody,\u201d Blair replied and meant it. <\/p>\n

Jim just rolled his eyes and followed the rest of them. <\/p>\n

They got upstairs and Sanchez pounded Provenza on the back and said, \u201cGood job, bringing in the garbage. We missed you around here. It was too quiet.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cSanchez, this is Detective Ellison and Sandburg from Major Crimes in Cascade, Washington, Detective Ellison and Sandburg, this is Detective Julio Sanchez,\u201d Provenza introduced them. <\/p>\n

Jim and Blair both shook hands with the man and Jim was impressed with his hand shake. It was friendly, yet forceful at the same time. Jim wouldn\u2019t want to come up against this man when he was mad. <\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to meet you, Sanchez,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

Lt. Tao walked over and said, \u201cI\u2019m Lt. Tao, you must be Ellison and Sandburg. We\u2019re heard some about you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGood to meet you, Lt. Tao, it was probably all lies,\u201d Jim teased. <\/p>\n

Sgt. David Gabriel walked over and introduced himself and the men liked him immediately. <\/p>\n

\u201cCome and meet Deputy Chief Johnson,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

They followed Provenza and Flynn over to the office door and Provenza knocked. <\/p>\n

They all heard a southern voice call out, \u201cCome on in, Provenza and Flynn.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cChief, we wanted to introduce you to Detective Jim Ellison and Detective Blair Sandburg from the Cascade Police Department. If it\u2019s all right with you, we\u2019re going to take them to dinner tonight,\u201d Provenza said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a wonderful idea, Lt. Provenza. It\u2019s very nice to meet you. Captain Banks was so easy to work with, you must tell him how much I appreciated all of his help,\u201d Chief Johnson stated. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe enjoyed working with you too,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you show these kind men the town and take them out for dinner afterwards? I\u2019ll see you tomorrow morning,\u201d Chief Johnson said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Chief,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

Agent Howard popped his head in the door and said, \u201cOh I\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t realize you had anyone in here.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cCome in, come in. This is Detective Sandburg and Ellison from Cascade, Washington. This is Agent Fritz Howard. They helped bring Carter back,\u201d Brenda said. <\/p>\n

Fritz shook hands with both men and said, \u201cIt\u2019s very good to meet you and it\u2019s nice to see Provenza and Flynn back where they belong.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to get out of your hair, Chief,\u201d Provenza said as he pushed everyone out the door. Jim almost laughed. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very nice meeting both of you men,\u201d Chief Johnson said. <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here, Chief Johnson,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe the next time we see everyone it won\u2019t be business,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n

Provenza walked into the bullpen and said, \u201cWe\u2019ve got the rest of the day off. So don\u2019t call us.\u201d <\/p>\n

Again, Jim almost laughed. Provenza was a joker that was for sure. <\/p>\n

Provenza stopped long enough to reserve a room for Jim and Blair for that night. <\/p>\n

The rest of the day, the two men showed them Los Angeles, or at least what they could show them in a half of a day. Then they took them to Claim Jumper for dinner. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe love Claim Jumper,\u201d Blair said happily. <\/p>\n

\u201cGood, I\u2019m glad to hear it,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

They all had a nice dinner, talking about anything and everything and before long it was time for Jim and Blair to go to their hotel room. Flynn and Provenza dropped them off at the station house to pick up the SUV and they said their goodbyes, but not before they exchanged phone numbers and made a promise to come to LA some time when they didn\u2019t have to be there for business. <\/p>\n

Jim and Blair had directions to the hotel and they checked in and got settled. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think of Los Angeles?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cToo big for me,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cSame here, I\u2019m glad we\u2019re not from here.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIs it just me or are you tired tonight?\u201d Jim wondered. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh I\u2019m tired, but I\u2019m tired of having no sex with my main man,\u201d Blair said laughing. <\/p>\n

Jim pushed him onto the bed and showed him exactly what he had missed. <\/p>\n

~~~~~ <\/p>\n

Provenza dropped Flynn off at his apartment and said, \u201cSee you tomorrow, Andy.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you come in and have a beer. Just one,\u201d Flynn invited. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust one, and then I have to get home. Why do you have beer in the fridge?,\u201d Provenza wondered. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor other people to drink. Just because I don\u2019t drink doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t be a good host,\u201d Andy answered. <\/p>\n

Provenza sat in the living room and said, \u201cFlynn, would you like to go to Claim Jumper tomorrow night for dinner?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be really nice. This would this be our official first date?\u201d Flynn asked hopefully. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what it would be. We\u2019re taking our time, Andy, so we\u2019re going to spend more time dating then anything else to start with,\u201d Provenza explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cSlow works for me, Louie. And we would be exclusive?,\u201d Flynn answered. <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, we would be exclusive. Now what about that beer?\u201d Provenza asked. <\/p>\n

Flynn smiled all the way into the kitchen. He just knew things were going to work out fine. Just the way they should. <\/p>\n

The end <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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