#3x15 Chain Reaction

[thunderbirds-showdown]

Round 3 came and went and took with it some fan favourites. We're halfway through the tournament now, and there are only a handful of episodes left! It's time to get your bets in as to which one you think will win!

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x02: Ring of Fire - Part 2

1x09: Slingshot

1x21: Comet Chasers

1x23: Chain of Command

2x02: Ghost Ship

2x06: Up from the Depths - Part 1

2x23: Long Haul

2x25: Hyperspeed

3x24: Firebreak

3x26: The Long Reach - Part 2

Previous eliminated episodes:

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x05: Fireflash

1x06: Unplugged

1x07: Runaway

1x10: Tunnels of Time

1x11: Skyhook

1x12: Under Pressure

1x13: Heavy Metal

1x14: Falling Skies

1x15: Relic

1x17: Heist Society

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x22: Designated Driver

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

1x26: Legacy

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x17: Attack of the Reptiles

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x19: Clean Sweep

2x21: Inferno

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x06: Life Signs

3x07: Rally Raid

3x08: Crash Course

3x09: Flame Out

3x10: Deep Water

3x11: Endgame

3x12: SOS - Part 1

3x14: Signals - Part 1

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x18: Avalanche

3x19: Upside Down

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x23: Venom

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

[ila9182]

Hey! Can I ask for prompt 34, for the dialogue thing? Thank you 💜

Thank you so much @allons-y--spaceman for the prompt! I’m sorry it took me so long to write it. I know it has been months, but with all the mess happening in the world right now and some of my own issues, I haven’t been able to write. I’m not happy with the prompt: this is very far from what I used to write (both grammatically and creatively speaking), but I can’t do better right now. I just hope it doesn’t suck too much.

So here’s the prompt. It’s taking place right after the Christmas Party (3x15 Chain Reaction) and I was originally inspired (then kinda lost my inspiration) by a song “Love Show” by Skye. You’ll find some of the lyrics in the story as well! I hope you’ll enjoy this prompt even if it isn’t really good...

34. “I might never get another chance to say this.”

Sharon sighed happily as she looked around her office, making sure nothing was out of place. Her eyes fell on the report she had been writing up before Andy interrupted her with a knock on the door a few hours ago.

“You know, if you can't make it home for the holidays maybe home can come to you.”

A smile crossed Sharon’s features. Andy. He had surprised her with a Christmas party in the break room with her team and her children. It was all his doing – Ricky confirmed it to her during the party – and she had felt and still felt overwhelmed by his thoughtful gesture. Andy. He had shown himself to be a trustworthy friend in the last three years. He had been there for her; a silent support during a bad day, a hand on her shoulder when they worked a tough case, an encouraging smile before a meeting with the Chief, a wink during one of Provenza’s rants. He was always there. Sharon couldn’t believe how far they had come; if someone would have told her a few years ago when she was still working in FID that the hotheaded Lieutenant Flynn would have become one of her closest friends, she would have laughed at the absurdity of the situation. It wasn’t an absurd thought anymore. Without even noticing, Andy had become a constant in her life and Sharon realized she couldn’t picture a life without him in it.  

Sharon grabbed her purse and glanced one last time at her desk before she left her office. She closed the door and turned to leave when she noticed Andy walking toward her. Sharon smiled at Andy and he told her, “Okay, so the Christmas Village is safely packed in your car as well as some leftovers. I tried to convince Ricky to leave the Christmas Village in the break room for the holiday, needless to say he didn’t like this suggestion at all.” He shrugged, a grin crossing his features.

Sharon chuckled and covered her mouth with a hand before replying, “After I threw his old pinecone elves away, I think Ricky won’t trust anyone with his Christmas decorations anymore.”

Andy laughed softly and shook his head. “Now I understand why the poor guy was so worried every piece was wrapped up with care.”

Sharon rolled her eyes and chuckled once again. This was so Ricky she wasn’t even surprised. She could see her son bossing everyone around about handling the Christmas decorations with care. Sharon met Andy’s gaze again and she told him with a grateful smile, “Andy, thank you for everything… for setting up this party, for bringing the kids here, for helping Ricky with the Christmas Village…”

“…that you left in the storage.” Andy cut her short with one of his renowned grins. “Believe me, you’ll never hear the end of it. He’s a sensitive kid, you know.” Sharon rolled her eyes and Andy squeezed her arm, his face turning serious while a soft smile graced his features, “It was a pleasure, Sharon. I know you were upset you couldn’t be home with the kids… I just wanted to do something nice for you… for all of you.”

“Thank you.” Sharon repeated, her tone wavering with emotion while moisture clouded briefly her eyes. She blinked it away and regained her composure quickly as she went on, “And thank you for the present. You didn’t have to get me anything, Andy.” She told him in a serious tone before a smile reached her eyes and she added, “I love it.”

“I’m glad you do.” Andy replied softly.

They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds until Sharon cleared her throat. She ran a hand through her hair and readjusted her purse on her shoulder before she whispered to him, “Merry Christmas, Andy.”

Andy offered her a smile as Sharon let go of his upper arm with one last squeeze and started walking away. He shifted the weight from a foot to another as he watched her walk away and pondered whether or not he should speak. He felt suddenly brave enough – or maybe he was just being foolish – when he called to her, “Sharon?”

Sharon stopped and turned around gracefully, a smile still lighting up her face, “Yes?” She asked him.

Andy opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He suddenly wasn’t brave anymore. As he stared at her green questioning eyes, any strength he felt before was gone. “Uhm, I…” He fumbled, unable to get intelligible words out of his mouth.

Sharon arched an eyebrow. “Is everything okay, Andy?” She asked him softly. She could sense his sudden uneasiness and she couldn’t quite explain the change of mood between them.

“Uhm, yes, yes…” Andy let out quickly, suddenly short of breath. “But listen, I…” He paused and looked away from her insisting stare. “I might never get another chance to say this.”

Sharon studied him with a worried look. She walked back to him slowly, her eyes never leaving his figure as Andy started fidgeting with his hands. He was still carefully avoiding her gaze and Sharon couldn’t help but worry. “Andy, what…”

Andy stopped her with a hand gesture. He took a deep breath and met her gaze hesitantly when he started, “Sharon, you… you’re very important to me.” He finally managed to say.

An endearing smile graced Sharon’s lips as she closed the gap between them and put a hand on his arm. “You’re very important to me too, Andy.” Sharon replied softly.

Andy looked at her in the eyes and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Uhm yeah, but I mean…” He fumbled uncomfortably. “It’s just that… uhm… you’re important to me more than a friend… more than a best friend, more than…” He was rambling, he knew it. He glanced at Sharon and she was still staring at him silently, her hand still on his upper arm. He had to get to the point. “Uhm what I’m trying to say is… I…” Andy paused before he finally blurted out, “I’m in love with you, Sharon.”

Andy met her eyes carefully and he was surprised to find Sharon staring blankly at him. He couldn’t read her face and the fact that she seemed now emotionless worried him. She let go of his arm out of the blue and took a step back before telling him, “I have to go. I don’t want to keep my children waiting.”

Andy knew she was running away. He knew it was her way to escape an emotional situation she couldn’t deal with. He knew it, but it didn’t hurt less. He tried to reach out for her but she was already too far away from him. “Sharon…”

“I need to go.” Sharon muttered before looking down and turning her back to him, “Thank you again, Andy.” She whispered as she was already walking away.

-------------You don't know somebody's aching keeping it all in… ----------------

Sharon stood lost in her own thoughts as the Christmas tree lights reflected off her face. She brushed her thumbs over the small green package she was holding in her hands and her mind drifted to Andy’s confession in the Murder Room. She had run away, leaving him there alone when he had exposed the most vulnerable part of him to her. Andy deserved to be treated better, he deserved better than this. He deserved better than her.

Sharon opened the package to reveal an angel ornament. It shined beautifully in the box; a delicate crystal figure with a golden halo. Andy couldn’t have chosen a better gift; he knew her too well.

“It’s beautiful, Mom…” Emily whispered as she peeked over her mother’s shoulder at the small opened box she was holding in her hands.

Sharon hummed quietly. She had heard soft footsteps approaching, so she wasn’t surprised when she heard her daughter’s voice.

“So that’s the present you’ve been clutching for most of the Christmas party?” Emily asked with a smirk. She didn’t need an answer; she had noticed the small box when her mother had hugged her but she hadn’t managed to see what was inside. Her smile grew wider when she inquired, “It’s from Lieutenant Flynn, isn’t it?”

Sharon merely nodded and Emily smiled at her mother’s unusual silence. “I’m glad there is someone here you can rely on, someone who cares about you…” Emily trailed off, waiting for some reaction from her mother.

“We’re just friends.” Sharon blurted out, turning to face her daughter. She arched an eyebrow as she looked at a grinning Emily.

Emily’s face turned serious when she asked her mother in a gentle tone, “Would it be so bad if it was more than this, Mom?”

Sharon stared at her daughter silently. Was it that bad? She wondered. Of course not! was her first thought, but she couldn’t find the strength to admit it. She felt like she couldn’t speak, the words dying in her throat. Sharon sighed and looked down at the small box in her hands. She brushed a finger over the precious ornament and smiled softly. No, it wasn’t bad at all. She just couldn’t admit it out loud, especially to her daughter.Not yet. Sharon took the angel from the box and turned toward the Christmas tree. She hung it delicately and took a few seconds to admire how the Christmas lights shined through the crystal figure.

“It’s perfect.” Sharon whispered after a little while.

Emily smiled softly as she noticed her mother’s eyes shinning. She didn’t need an answer to her question, she had it already. She squeezed Sharon’s upper arm before replying, “As if it has always belonged here, Mom…”

I’m in love with you, Sharon. Andy’s words echoed in her head and her stomach fluttered all over again. Sharon glanced one last time at the angel ornament before turning around, looking for her daughter. Emily was already heading to the hallway and she stopped when her eyes met her mother’s.

“Honey, I…” Sharon started, but her voice trailed off when she realized she didn’t know what to say.

Emily smiled and nodded her head toward the front door. “It’s okay, Mom, go. I’ll hold the fort while you’re away trying to save Christmas.”

---------------------- Somebody won't let go of her heart ---------------------------

Andy didn’t know what had gotten into him. He didn’t know why he had felt the need to tell Sharon about his feelings. He let himself fall unceremoniously on the couch, trying hard not to think about how idiot he had been. He knew he had ruined everything. Sharon running away from him without a word was a clear indication of how much he had screwed up.

Andy ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He hadn’t even bothered to change into comfortable clothes; he had discarded his blazer on the couch the moment he had stepped in. He had leaned against his kitchen counter with a mug of black coffee in his hand. Drinking coffee late at night was the last of his worries; he knew his mind would keep him up all night anyway, reminding him what a fool he had been.

A soft knock interrupted his train of thought. He stared at the front door, almost convinced his mind had made it up until he heard another knock, more insisting this time. He frowned and walked to the door. Only one person could show up at his house so late at night, actually two people could but Provenza was with Patrice so he was definitely ruled out.

Andy felt suddenly nervous as he was about to open the door. The feeling only increased when he found himself face to face with Sharon. His breath caught in his throat and for a split second, Andy thought she was there to yell at him to never show up at work again. He would have probably deserved it. Sharon didn’t speak and they stared at each other in silence for a little while before Andy found his voice, “Sharon, I…”

Before Andy could even go on, Sharon took a step toward him, closing the gap between them. She put a hand on his upper arm while the other slid behind his neck, urging him to lean down. Her lips teased his hesitantly as if Sharon wasn’t sure her kiss was welcome, and she pulled back before Andy could even kiss her back. They stared at each other in silence, their gazes switching from their eyes to their lips before they closed the gap between them again, with more confidence this time. Andy slid an arm around Sharon to hold her close while his other hand cupped her cheek. He kissed her in a way that left no doubt to his feelings and the corners of his mouth turned up when Sharon moaned in the kiss. They pulled back slightly, their noses still brushing when Sharon whispered, still out of breath, “I’m sorry I ran away…”

“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Andy cut her short, shaking his head. He still had his arms wrapped around her, almost afraid that if he let her go she would disappear and he would realize he had fallen asleep on his couch and that it was only a dream. “I have the worst timing, I should have never said it at work and…”

“No…” Sharon stopped him, putting a finger over his mouth to silence him. She smiled softly at him and pulled back slightly, so she could study his face better. She thought back of his words, of how hard it must have been for him to tell her how he felt. “How long have you been keeping this to yourself?” Sharon asked him gently.

Andy looked down, feeling suddenly uneasy. He turned his head slightly, breaking the contact between them as he tried to pinpoint the moment his friendly feelings changed into something more. What could he say? Nicole’s wedding…?

“Oh Andy…” Sharon added softly as she reached for his face again. She cupped it with both hands, her thumbs stroking his cheeks soothingly. “I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that…”

“It doesn’t matter, you’re here now.” Andy interrupted her gently, leaning in to whisper the words to her.

“I’m here now.” Sharon repeated with a bright smile before she met him halfway for another kiss.

--------------- But the truth is… it's painless letting your love show ----------------

[heronsantoscom]

Eu acabei de assistir Major Crimes 3x15 "Chain Reaction"

[qballjos]

I just watched Major Crimes 3x15 "Chain Reaction"

[thunderbirds-showdown]

Round 2 is over and some big contenders are already gone! It's starting to get real now! I hope you're ready for even more difficult decisions coming up because it will just get harder and harder

Once again, thank you to everyone who took part this round and shared their opinions! It's interesting to see the different ways people lean and what everyone takes away from each episode.

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x05: Fireflash

1x06: Unplugged

1x07: Runaway

1x10: Tunnels of Time

1x11: Skyhook

1x13: Heavy Metal

1x14: Falling Skies

1x15: Relic

1x17: Heist Society

1x26: Legacy

2x17: Attack of the Reptiles

2x19: Clean Sweep

3x06: Life Signs

3x08: Crash Course

3x09: Flame Out

3x10: Deep Water

3x12: SOS - Part 1

3x14: Signals - Part 1

3x18: Avalanche

3x23: Venom

Previous eliminated episodes:

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x12: Under Pressure

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x22: Designated Driver

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x21: Inferno

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x07: Rally Raid

3x11: Endgame

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x19: Upside Down

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

[thunderbirds-showdown]

Round 1 is over and what a turn out it was! Across 39 polls we had a total of 2,367 votes! I loved reading all of your comments and seeing how involved everyone got. Hopefully we can keep this enthusiasm going until the end of the showdown!

Round 2 will begin later today, so keep your eyes peeled for when the polls are posted!

Now, onto the bit where we say goodbye to our first bunch of eliminated episodes. They put up a good fight, and some of these are surprising to see go so soon! But only one must remain in the end!

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x12: Under Pressure

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x22: Designated Driver

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x21: Inferno

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x07: Rally Raid

3x11: Endgame

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x19: Upside Down

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

[thunderbirds-showdown]

That's the Quarter Finals over, and we're down to just four episodes left! A couple of the polls came down to just a few votes, which just goes to show how tense this is getting!

The episodes remaining are Ring of Fire Part 1, SOS Part 2, EOS & The Man from TB5

Once again, thank you to everyone who is still getting involved in the showdown and for sharing your thoughts! I love reading everyone's opinions on each episode 💛💛💛

Keep your eyes peeled for when the semi finals are posted, and then after that the finals!!

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x16: Breakdown

1x18: Recharge

2x05: Colony

2x22: Home on the Range

3x20: Icarus

Previous eliminated episodes:

1x02: Ring of Fire - Part 2

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x05: Fireflash

1x06: Unplugged

1x07: Runaway

1x09: Slingshot

1x10: Tunnels of Time

1x11: Skyhook

1x12: Under Pressure

1x13: Heavy Metal

1x14: Falling Skies

1x15: Relic

1x17: Heist Society

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x21: Comet Chasers

1x22: Designated Driver

1x23: Chain of Command

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

1x26: Legacy

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x02: Ghost Ship

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x06: Up from the Depths - Part 1

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x17: Attack of the Reptiles

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x19: Clean Sweep

2x21: Inferno

2x23: Long Haul

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x25: Hyperspeed

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x06: Life Signs

3x07: Rally Raid

3x08: Crash Course

3x09: Flame Out

3x10: Deep Water

3x11: Endgame

3x12: SOS - Part 1

3x14: Signals - Part 1

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x18: Avalanche

3x19: Upside Down

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x23: Venom

3x24: Firebreak

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

3x26: The Long Reach - Part 2

[thunderbirds-showdown]

The Semis are over and there is only one round left to go! I hope everyone is excited to find out which episode is the winner! I can't believe the showdown is nearly over!

The two episodes remaining are: SOS Part 2 & EOS

Season 2 has officially been eliminated from the tournament. Well done to The Man from TB5 for being the s2 episode to make it the furthest!

See you on Monday for Finals day!

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x01: Ring of Fire - Part 1

2x20: The Man from TB5

Previous eliminated episodes:

1x02: Ring of Fire - Part 2

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x05: Fireflash

1x06: Unplugged

1x07: Runaway

1x09: Slingshot

1x10: Tunnels of Time

1x11: Skyhook

1x12: Under Pressure

1x13: Heavy Metal

1x14: Falling Skies

1x15: Relic

1x16: Breakdown

1x17: Heist Society

1x18: Recharge

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x21: Comet Chasers

1x22: Designated Driver

1x23: Chain of Command

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

1x26: Legacy

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x02: Ghost Ship

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x05: Colony

2x06: Up from the Depths - Part 1

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x17: Attack of the Reptiles

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x19: Clean Sweep

2x21: Inferno

2x22: Home on the Range

2x23: Long Haul

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x25: Hyperspeed

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x06: Life Signs

3x07: Rally Raid

3x08: Crash Course

3x09: Flame Out

3x10: Deep Water

3x11: Endgame

3x12: SOS - Part 1

3x14: Signals - Part 1

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x18: Avalanche

3x19: Upside Down

3x20: Icarus

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x23: Venom

3x24: Firebreak

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

3x26: The Long Reach - Part 2

[ila9182]

75 for Andy/Sharon maybe?

Hey Anon! Thank you for sending this ask! I’m slowly working on all the prompt asks I’ve received, so I will be bothering everyone with some more short stories!

So here’s the one you’ve asked for… this could be a missing scene of “Chain Reaction” (Major Crimes 3x15), before the Christmas party. Yeah, I know Christmas is over, but I hope you will enjoy it all the same! ;)

75. “What did you expect?”

Rusty was sitting in the kitchen on one of the stools eating some Christmas cookies Sharon had made the day before, when his phone buzzed. He unlocked the screen and read the text.

Nicole: Hey Rusty! Just wanted to wish you happy holidays. Heard your brother and sister are in town, hope you’re all having a blast. How are things going between our two not-dating lovebirds? lol

Rusty shook his head and snickered, catching Emily and Ricky’s attention. The siblings were sitting on the couch watching the umpteenth Christmas movie. Rusty gave up after the second one as he pointed out how those kinds of movies all looked alike. Both Ricky and Emily had rolled their eyes at him and stuck their tongues at their younger brother in disapproval. They were now staring at Rusty questioningly. After a moment, Ricky finally asked, “What’s so funny, little bro?”

“Uhm, nothing… just a joke I’ve read…” Rusty replied cryptically.

Emily exchanged a look with Ricky before tilting her head in curiosity and looking back at Rusty, “Care to share?” She questioned with a grin.

Rusty bit his upper lip, wondering what to say. Suddenly he pointed at the television and exclaimed mockingly, “Oh guys, you’re going to miss the moment where the woman is stuck in a snow storm, the guy rescues her, and they confess their love to each other!”

Emily rolled her eyes at him. She and Ricky returned their attention to the screen, but not before Ricky grumbled to Rusty, “You’re no fun, man.”

Rusty shook his head and went back to Nicole’s text. He quickly typed his answer and hit send.

Rusty: Happy holidays to you and your fam, Nicole! Yes, the siblings are here and we’re doing the usual Christmas traditions, that’s fun though… even if they can be quite a drag sometimes! As for our two not-dating lovebirds, nothing new. Things are pretty much the same as usual, it is almost boring.

He didn’t have to wait long to get an answer back from Flynn’s daughter.

Nicole: What did you expect? Them to jump each other’s bones right away? They need time. They’re slowly starting to realize what’s going on between them, we just have to wait and see! Good things are about to happen, I’m sure of that! ;)

Rusty could picture Nicole’s enthusiasm and he shook his head at the young woman’s excitement. He read her text once again and made a disgusted face when Nicole mentioned something he’d rather not think about. He quickly typed.  

Rusty: Ewww Nicole! I would appreciate it if you don’t say such things to me. I don’t need to picture what those two could do in private.

Rusty took a bite of his cookie as his phone buzzed once again. He put the sweet down and read the text.

Nicole: You’re aware that this is something people in a relationship do, right?

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. It was enough to have Ricky teasing him about those kinds of things: he surely didn’t need Nicole to join in the fun.

Rusty: Ha ha ha, very funny. You’re quite a comedian.

Rusty put down his phone to finish eating his cookie, when another buzzing interrupted him. He expected it to be another text from Nicole, but he was surprised when he read Lieutenant Flynn on the screen.

Lieutenant Flynn: Hey Rusty! The case is taking longer than we expected and I need some help with the Christmas party at the office. Sharon’s pretty disappointed about your wrecked family plans, so I thought it would be nice to bring Christmas here to the division? Call me when you get this. Thanks kiddo.

Rusty read the text over again and sighed. Why was everybody looking for him today? He heard Ricky burst into laughter and Emily clapping. Rusty assumed the two siblings had reached the part of the movie where the protagonists get together. He rubbed his chin and thought that it wouldn’t hurt to ask for a helping hand. He stood from his stool as he walked to the living room and stood in front of the television. Ricky and Emily began to complain, but Rusty motioned for them to calm down before he announced, “Shut down the TV, we’ve got to save Christmas!”

“What do you mean?” Emily asked, getting suddenly curious.

“Lieutenant Flynn just texted me.” Rusty explained showing his phone. “Said it might be a little while before they close the case and asked for help with the Christmas party. He said something about wanting to bring Christmas to the division…” his voice trailed off as he studied the faces of his siblings, hoping he had said enough to catch their attention. “I’m supposed to call him…”

“Well, what are you waiting for, little bro?” Ricky exclaimed. “Call him and put him on speakerphone. We need to discuss this!”

Rusty laughed at Ricky’s excitement and sat down next to his siblings on the couch while he called Andy. He put the phone on the little table and waited for the Lieutenant to answer. The phone didn’t ring long before Andy’s voice filled the room, “Thank you, Rusty. I appreciate you calling so quickly.”

“No problem, Lieutenant. Just so you know, you’re on speakerphone. Emily and Ricky are with me right now.” He informed the man. “I thought we might need the help of two more elves!” He joked.

“Hi Andy!” Ricky greeted Flynn while his sister added, “Hey Lieutenant!”

“Hey there Emily, Ricky… I have no words to say how much I appreciate your help. We’re stuck with this case and I can tell your mom is bummed out that it kinda wrecked your holiday plans.” Andy paused, they heard him walk when he added, in a lower voice, “And I thought it would be nice if we could bring Christmas to the division… something that could make her…” He stopped and cleared his throat as he fumbled, “Her and the whole team, that’s it… feel more like home.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Lieutenant.” Emily said with a smile. “I like this idea. We could bring the Christmas cookies Mom made yesterday…”

“That’s great, Emily.” Andy replied. “We’re going to throw the party in the break room…”

“Oh wait!” Ricky exclaimed, cutting short the Lieutenant, “What’s better for Mom to feel like home than to bring the whole Christmas village to the division?” He offered excitedly.

“Well the Christmas village is more your thing, Ricky!” Emily shot back, rolling her eyes at her brother.

“Yeah, Emily’s right. It’s just an excuse for you to set up the Christmas village again this year.” Rusty grinned.

Ricky was about to defend himself when Andy interrupted them and said, “I think it is an awesome idea… if it is no trouble for you to bring it down here and set it up.”

“No trouble at all!” Ricky immediately answered, clapping excitedly.

Rusty and Emily exchanged a look as Emily muttered, “Of course not.” Rusty snickered and Ricky threw a deadly stare to both before adding, “We can manage to get to storage, but we might need help getting to your headquarters.”

“No worries at all, Ricky. I can sneak out late this afternoon and drop by to pick you all up. Then you all can set up the Christmas village in the break room while we hopefully close this case.”

“Good deal, Andy. See you later then!”

“I’ll see you all later. Thank you for the help, I appreciate it.” Andy replied truthfully.

“No, thank you!” Emily stepped in, “Mom will really like this, I know for sure.”

Rusty had just finished refilling his plate with food and was quietly eating in a corner, enjoying the Christmassy mood that filled the break room. The surprise had worked perfectly. Sharon had no idea of what he, Emily, and Ricky had been doing in the break room. She had in fact no idea they were in the division sooner than what they should have. He smiled as he watched Emily speak with Provenza and Patrice. Ricky was with Buzz and Tao. Rusty didn’t have to stand close to them to guess what they were talking about; computer nerd stuff.

He then suddenly spotted Sharon and Andy in a corner of the room. They were acting as if they were the only ones in the room. She was smiling, and he must have been saying something funny to her because she started laughing, placing a hand on his upper arm. Andy was looking at her with an expression of pure awe on his face. Rusty took out his phone and moved a few steps sideways to have the best shot possible as he quickly took a pic. He smirked as he sent it to Nicole with a simple sentence, “THIS is what I’ve been expecting.”