Chapter One brought to you by the incredibly fitting song 'The Tension and the Terror' by Straylight Run

Brenda was frustrated, in every aspect of her life. It had been 6 months since the Goldman case had been resolved and Captain Raydor was still hanging around the murder room, not that the blonde minded too much. At least it gave her someone to argue with when she was feeling antsy, bored, or just because. Since Fritz had left, she found her life far too quiet. She had tried to keep herself busy, even learning a fifth recipe to add to her limited cooking repertoire. But there were only so many nights one could eat chicken enchiladas. She had considered getting a pet, her ex had taken custody of Joel claiming she couldn't be trusted to keep him alive once embroiled in a murder. She knew he was right, it wouldn't be fair to bring an animal into her rather lonely apartment, considering she was hardly ever there.

Sharon assumed that after the Goldman suit and Fritz's departure shortly after settlement, Brenda would have drowned her sorrows in a large glass of Merlot on the arm of a new man. She would have put money on Andy Flynn, or perhaps the new FBI liaison, both were easy on the eyes and practically worshiped the ground the Chief walked on. Instead she had started bringing large amounts of terrible food to the office for the team, she even gave the brunette a rather sizable pan of creamy enchiladas. The older woman had actually taken a moment to consider whether she had poisoned them, but it turned out the blonde just wanted her opinion on a new recipe. Since when did Brenda cook? And since when did she want the brunette's opinion on anything? The boys were starting to voice concern, to Sharon of all people, and wanted the Captain to talk some sense into their fearless leader who seemed to be slipping into a serious post separation funk. Concerned that the Chief was bordering on losing her mind, and a little excited that the guys had actually asked her to help, the brunette casually invited the younger woman to dinner one Tuesday night after wrapping a case.

"Dinner, Cap'n? You wanna have dinner with me?" The blonde was very confused about why the older woman had suddenly taken an interest in doing anything outside the office with her superior.

"Well Chief, I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to. Your squad and I, well, we are concerned that you're, well I, we think that maybe…" Sharon hardly ever found herself speechless, but looking into those big brown eyes had her suddenly nervous. Brenda actually looked touched by the gesture.

"I'd love to," proclaimed the blonde, wide smile spreading across her face. It took all restraint not embrace the Captain, she was just so happy someone was reaching out. The boys were obviously concerned, and they had tried to show it as best they could, but Brenda wanted someone to get drunk and commiserate with. Provenza was the only member of her team, besides Sharon if she was considered part of said team these days, who drank and had been through a divorce…or five. But somehow, the idea of going out with the older man and bonding over their sad stories sounded about as exciting as a root canal. If she was honest, she was really looking forward to seeing what Sharon was like outside of the office. There was no way she acted like Captain Raydor all the time, she had to let her hair down occasionally. Brenda made a mental note to find out more about the aloof older woman over dinner. She couldn't deny that she had had some less than innocent thoughts about the brunette. Fighting had started to seem more like foreplay, and the Chief often found herself making excuses just be near her. She even caught herself choosing Sharon to ride along over Gabriel. Between those short, well-tailored skirts and sometimes revealing button downs, Brenda was having a hard time playing it cool. Especially when driving, the brunette's skirt always seemed to ride up just enough to expose some of that well-toned thigh. The Chief caught herself practically drooling more than once. She assumed, however, that these feelings were just the result of an empty house and not enough sex. Her mind was playing tricks on her and she was confusing irritation with infatuation. There was no way she could ever fall for a woman, much less that woman. But that didn't stop her from wishing she could throw the Captain up against a file cabinet and neck like a couple of horny teenagers every time they had a heated debate.

They agreed to meet in the parking garage 15 minutes later, so Brenda could follow the brunette. She was known for her ability to get lost, even with explicit directions. Pulling up to a local bistro in west LA, the Chief parked her Crown Vic in a space next to the Captain's grey sedan and they headed toward the restaurant. The blonde practically tripped over the curb to catch up to the older woman who had set a rather brisk pace. Once inside, they were greeted by an alternative looking young host.

"Table for two?" He inquired to the brunette, who gave a polite nod.

"This way. You and your girlfriend came at just the right time, we only have one more two top available, big party coming in a bit and..." the host mumbled as he motioned to a table in the corner.

Girlfriend, seriously? Sharon knew this was a rather progressive part of town, but she wasn't sure what about the duo screamed 'we're in a relationship.' If this evening wasn't all about getting to the bottom of what was going on with the blonde, she would give that host a piece of her mind. Sitting down, she focused her attention on the wine list.

"So Cap'n, do you come here often?" Brenda couldn't seem to take her eyes of the older woman, noticing how graceful she seemed practically gliding across the room and into her chair.

"I've been here a few times in the past, they're known for their shrimp and grits, although I've only ever ordered chicken," confessed the brunette, who was too busy glancing over the menu to look up.

"Grits? In Los Angeles?"

"I assumed that was something you might be fond of, Chief. Isn't that a staple in the south," Sharon deadpanned, finally looking up, shooting the blonde a slight smirk, green eyes dancing.

"Since we're off the clock, I think you can call me Brenda. And I'm sure not every southerner likes them, but I certainly do. Thanks, by the way, for thinkin' of that." Brenda was touched by the extra effort the brunette had obviously put into picking a restaurant that served something so near and dear to the Chief.

"Not a problem, Brenda. I figured a bit of home couldn't hurt. And I may have read somewhere that grits were the official processed food of Georgia," purred Sharon.

Wait, had the Chief even said she could call her Brenda? Oh Jesus, was she flirting? The brunette needed to get her shit together, flirting with a superior was a horrible decision. Especially when that superior happened to be the object of your affection, for oh, the last three years, give or take a day. Sharon had never been attracted to women, she hadn't gone through that experimental phase in college. This desire for the blonde had taken her completely off guard and was often just plain confusing, considering she didn't even like the Chief most of the time. Brenda was incredibly selfish, completely disregarding rules when it was convenient, and generally seemed like a mess. These were not characteristics Sharon normally found enticing. But it was those same qualities that thrilled the Captain and made her want to take care of the younger woman, to protect her. This instinct was completely foreign to Sharon, she had never wanted to protect anyone she had romantic feelings for. Sure, she wanted to shield her children from a world that was often cruel, but those same maternal instincts were now coupled with an equally strong desire to kiss the younger woman senseless. This affection had appeared soon after the brunette had closed her case against Det. Gabriel. Sharon couldn't help but admire how loyal the Chief was when it came to people she cared about and to what lengths she would go to make those responsible pay. Then the Goldman case had come up, and she had witnessed the once strong woman nearly fall apart, especially after they had discovered the leak was Gabriel's fiancé. To top off the shitshow that was now Brenda's new life, Fritz's sudden departure to DC. Apparently he had had enough of being second to his wife's career, although claimed he was offered a job he couldn't refuse. How the woman hadn't completely lost it by now was beyond Sharon's comprehension.

"So, what are we drinkin' this evening?" Brenda assumed the older woman would dictate their wine choice, considering she did like being in charge…and going first.

"I figured you could pick. I enjoy almost all wine, as long as it isn't cheap and doesn't come from a box. So why don't you chose a nice Merlot?" The captain smiled at her dinner companion. Hiding her desire for the blonde was harder than she'd anticipated.

"You're gonna let me choose? If you were a man, I would swear this was turnin' into the best date I've ever been on. Shrimp and grits AND I get to choose the wine? I could get used to this," drawled the blonde, beaming at the Captain. If Sharon was this kind and thoughtful outside of the office, Brenda wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. This was way better than any dinner she had been on in ages, including those with her now ex-husband.

Their waiter arrived and the Chief ordered a bottle of Sonoma County Merlot for the two to share, and the shrimp and grits. Sharon, feeling adventurous, said she would have the same. While the brunette was fiddling with the table setting, Brenda took a moment to really look at the Captain. She was absolutely stunning, especially in candlelight, and for a moment the blonde realized how amazing it felt to be with another person that took your breath away.

Sharon looked up from the sugar packet holder and noticed the younger woman staring. Blushing slightly, she quickly dropped her head down, hoping to hide the reaction. Recently she's gotten the impression that this could be a mutual infatuation. Aside from their current situation, the Captain had observed the blonde practically drooling over a particularly short skirt she wore the week before. Sharon may or may not have continued to wear that skirt almost every other day, enjoying the attention the Chief was constantly paying her as a result. Good thing it was black, otherwise it might have been obvious that she was breaking some serious fashion rules. It also seemed like the younger woman was attempting to spend a little extra time with the brunette, asking her to ride along instead of Gabriel on a number of recent investigations. But it had been a long time since Sharon had even considered playing hard to get, maybe she was just misinterpreting things, maybe Brenda just needed a friend.

"Everything alright, Sharon? You seem awful quiet over there?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just thinking, sorry." Sharon shrugged. She hadn't realized she was silently staring off into space, still fiddling with the sugar. Saved by the waiter, their drinks arrived. The brunette took a rather large swig and sighed into her wine.

"What were you thinkin' about?" Inquired the blonde, sipping her drink slowly, refusing to pull her gaze off the Captain.

"Nothing really. So how are things?"

Sharon was surprised how easily conversation flowed between the two and how candidly the blonde had talked about her new single life. It also helped that each had already downed a glass and a half of wine in a rather short period. The Chief had told her how boring it was at home, and how much she missed someone to talk with about things other than murder. Genuinely feeling bad for the younger woman, after all Sharon had been in the same situation, she suggested they perhaps try a lunch that weekend if a case didn't come up.

The blonde's jaw almost dropped with the suggestion of another outing. It was like Sharon could read her mind, which hopefully wasn't the case because the Chief was once again finding herself thinking some less than pure thoughts. Brenda had found it quite easy to share what was going on with the older woman. Usually she found talking about her feelings nerve racking and uncomfortable, but the Captain's warm smile and gentle ways had her confessing almost every detail of her failed relationship. Over dinner, Brenda couldn't help but monopolize their time together, venting about what she thought went wrong with Fritz. It had been so long since she actually had someone to talk to, especially someone who didn't seem to judge.

"…And I knew he was unhappy. But I guess I was just so involved in the lawsuit, I must have missed him tryin' to tell me how he felt. I just don't understand, I tried to be the best wife I could but he knew the job came first when he married me. I feel like he was the one who put on an act, pretendin' that he was okay with exactly who I was. When the whole time he had an agenda, tryin' to make me settle down, hopin' I would be happy to have a couple kids and move to DC with him. I tried, but I just couldn't, I couldn't be who he wanted…" The blonde was close to tears, she hadn't ever told anyone how much he had ruined her self-esteem. How much she had started to doubt everything she stood for. The lawsuit was one thing, it had questioned her ethics as an officer, but in the end she knew she'd done the right thing. Fritz made her feel worthless because she wasn't interested in fitting into his life plan for them and she couldn't always rationalize why she didn't want the same things. Toward the end, he was constantly putting her down for being so selfish, choosing her job over motherhood. She had started to believe that she was the problem, maybe she wasn't worthy enough of anyone. Perhaps she was destined to be alone. At that low moment, lost in her thoughts, she felt a hand cover her own. It was a simple gesture that meant the world to the blonde and she felt the tears begin to fall.

"Brenda, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry by prying. Look, you are an amazing officer and a loyal ally. I realize we don't really get along, I wouldn't even call us friends. But I know how you feel and I've been there. Don't allow yourself to define who you are by what someone else thinks or how they treat you. At the end of the day put yourself first, there is never a guarantee that someone else will." Sharon squeezed the blonde's hand, but didn't let go, fighting the urge to jump up and wrap her in a hug. It was hard to go back sometimes, to remember what it was like when she finally left her husband, and her heart ached seeing the blonde in such sorrow. Realizing that she was still holding the Chief's hand, she gently pulled away and busied herself with pushing the rest of her food around on the plate. She actually heard the blonde sigh at the loss of contact.

This meal was not going as Brenda had planned. She still knew relatively nothing about the Captain, opting to have an emotional breakdown instead. Perfect, Sharon probably thought she had gone off the deep end. But the most surprising thing was how much the brunette did seem to understand. The Chief made a note to find out more, once she pulled it together. For now, she would enjoy just being with the other woman.

Brenda had attempted to pay for the meal, but Sharon had refused. After all, the Captain had invited the younger woman to dinner. As they went to leave, Brenda gently placed her hand on the small of Sharon's back, guiding her to the door. She felt the Captain flinch at the initial contact, but relax into the simple act. Maybe the older woman had more feelings for her then she was letting on? Once outside, the blonde dropped her hand and they slowly walked back through the parking lot. Reaching the destination, they awkwardly faced each other, unsure of how to end the evening. Sharon extended her hand for a shake as the blonde grabbed her for a rather unexpected hug. Uncertain of how to respond, the brunette gave her a quick squeeze and attempted to extract herself. The Chief refused to let go completely, but took a step back, hands still on the brunette's back. Brenda's mind was telling her this was bordering on inappropriate and if Sharon wasn't interested, there would be hell to pay. But her heart wouldn't allow her to let go, she wanted to see how the Captain would react. The blonde needed to know if this passion was shared, knowing she would let it go if that wasn't the case.

"You have beautiful eyes, Sharon," purred the blonde. She had never really noticed how they sparkled emerald under those dark framed glasses.

Sharon was sure she was about to pass out, there was no way the blonde was this close, holding her. Glancing down, she attempted to shrug away. Her efforts to extract from Brenda's grasp was pointless, even if she could break free, she didn't really want to. Letting the blonde remain in her personal space was thrilling, better than she had imagined. This felt right, and the Captain could no longer deny her attraction, especially now that it was obviously reciprocated. She finally had the courage to look up, meeting large brown eyes.

They stood in that parking lot for what seemed like hours, just staring. Attempting to convey what they were feeling without words. Not wanting this to end, Brenda inched her head forward. Close enough to feel the brunette's breath, the two women sharing the same air. Taking one last step, the blonde closed the space and gently let her lips graze the Captain's. Sharon froze, hesitating for a moment, then relaxed into the kiss. That first kiss was a test, a chaste exchange to gauge what the other was feeling. Once their mutual affection was understood, Brenda attempted to deepen the act, begging for access into the older woman's mouth. The brunette was more than happy to oblige, and they spent the next few minutes exploring each other, trying to express their feelings with tender touches.

Sharon came to, after a shameless ten minute make out session with the Chief. Somehow her hands had shifted down, and were placed on Brenda's ass, lightly squeezing. The blonde's hands were wandering, drawling lines and patterns down her sides and across her stomach, dangerously close to her breasts. Her breath hitched and she pulled away, fumbling to regain a semblance of composure. That had been amazing, but there was no way it could happen again.

"Uhh, Chief, I really must be going." Sharon threw her hands into the comfort of her suit pockets, staring down as she walked around to the driver's side of her car.

"Sharon wait, I think we should maybe talk about what just happened…" Brenda couldn't let the older woman just leave.

"Nothing to talk about, we must have just had a bit too much to drink at dinner. I really must be getting home, goodnight," snapped the brunette. And with that, she practically threw herself into her car and pealed out of the parking lot.

"Well, thanks for dinner," muttered the blonde, sarcastically, as she watched the Captain drive away.

Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck. Had Sharon seriously let that happen? She let her guard down for one second and bam, she was making out in a parking lot like a high schooler. And surprisingly, it seemed like Brenda was extremely interested in pursuing this new revelation in their chaotic relationship. Well, this was just great. She had been doing fine for a long time, 15 years to be exact, without any prospects of a real connection. Sure, she had dated around and had a few casual flings. After all, she did have needs. But this felt like something different, it was starting to feel like love. The brunette couldn't deny she was very physically attracted to the younger woman, but it was her kindness, loyalty, and warmth that Sharon was head over heels for. Brenda wasn't like all those men she had loved and left, she was someone the Captain could see in her future. And after the marriage from hell, she really didn't have much interest in jumping back into any real commitments. It had taken her almost three years of therapy alone to get over all the emotional abuse that John Raydor had heaped on her and her girls. Not to mention all the baggage she still carried around, that little voice in the back of her head that said she wasn't worth love from anyone. Even after all these years, she could still hear John telling her that she would never amount to anything, how disappointing she was. It was still hard not to believe he was right, maybe she would never get the chance to be happy.

Brenda spent the next three days attempting to talk to the Captain. Usually Sharon spent a rather large chunk of her day in the murder room, but recently she was nowhere to be found. The blonde had called her work extension and cell phone a few times, hoping the catch the older woman off guard, but was always sent to voicemail after a few rings. By Friday afternoon, the Chief was incredibly irritated. This was just ridiculous, there was no reason they couldn't have a civil conversation about their Tuesday evening. Seeking comfort from stressful jobs and life situations led officers to casually kiss all the time, right? Worst case Brenda could blame it on the booze and how vulnerable she was feeling at that moment, but she didn't want to. She wanted Sharon to let her guard down for one second, just long enough to have an honest conversation about what was really going on. Suddenly, she had an idea. Since she wasn't getting anywhere with her usual tactics, the Chief decided to go over the brunette's head. She practically sprinted out of the murder room. Seeing no open elevators, she headed for the stairs and hurried up the three flights to Will's office. She tripped into the room, full speed, without so much as a knock.

"Chief Pope, Will, I need to speak with Cap'n Raydor. We interviewed a suspect last week and she has some paperwork that I need and she's not returnin' any of my calls…"Sometimes even Brenda surprised herself with her ability to stretch the truth to get what she wanted. She was totally flying by the seat of her pants right now, they had closed that investigation Tuesday afternoon. The blonde had simply pulled the file a few minutes ago and shredded the last few pages before barreling up to Pope's office. If the Chief was nothing else, she was resourceful.

"Brenda, she's been out since Wednesday. She took a couple of sick days, says she came down with the flu," Will murmured, only half paying attention to the blonde as he continued to study the paperwork in front of him.

"Oh that woman!" screeched the blonde. Sharon was really going to make it this hard? Well, the Chief was never one to back down from a challenge. Pulling herself together, she turned on the southern charm that Will seemed to fall for every time.

"Will, where does Cap'n Raydor live? If I could just get those documents I'll be out of her hair in two shakes of a lamb's tail. Maybe I'll even bring her some soup, make sure she's restin' up," drawled the blonde.

Will almost fell out of his chair. Did Brenda seriously want to go out of her way for the Captain? He was under the impression they still hated each other. If the Chief wanted to play nice, he was more than happy to oblige. Those two had made LAPD history with their almost constant fighting over the past few years, maybe the blonde was ready for a truce. Not wanting to get in the way of this possible ceasefire, he woke his computer screen and gave Brenda the address.

Sharon's doorbell rang around 4. She debated getting up, but it wasn't like she was expecting anyone. And her children lived to far away to drop by for an unannounced visit. If it was UPS, they could just leave the package on her doorstep, seeing as she hadn't bothered getting dressed. The doorbell rang again, and was followed by some loud knocking. Oh, for fuck's sake. She trudged downstairs and checked the peephole. All she could see was a mass of curly blonde hair. Wonderful, the last person she wanted to see was standing at her front door.

"Sharon, I know you're in there. Your car is in the driveway and I heard you walkin' to the door. I don't plan on leavin' till you open up. So just let me in, the last thing we need is someone callin' the police," the blonde huffed. She wasn't lying, there was no way she was leaving this house without answers. The Captain better get ready to listen to her knocking all night long if it came to that.

Sharon took a deep, calming breath, and plastered on her best fake smile. Opening the door just a crack, she found one hostile looking blonde starring back at her.

"Chief, what do you need? I've come down with the flu so you probably shouldn't get too close," stated the brunette calmly, refusing to open the door any further.

"I'll take my chances." Brenda pushed past the other woman and walked inside.

Once again, Sharon found her personal space being completely invaded by the younger woman. It was like the blonde was trying to drive her crazy. Not sure what to do next, she closed the door and headed to the kitchen. She knew the blonde would follow her.

"Would you like something to drink? I have coffee, tea, water…" Brenda wouldn't give her the chance to finish.

"You've been avoidin' me. That's why you called out sick, isn't it," snipped the blonde, obviously more than a little upset.

"No, I haven't been feeling well so I took some time off," explained the brunette, refusing to get worked up. Instead she decided to count tiles on the floor, an old trick that kept her calm and slightly aloof. She had perfected that skill during her long marriage.

"Does this sudden need for time off have anything to do with what happened Tuesday?" Brenda was attempting to catch Sharon's eye, but the Captain continued to stare at the floor.

"It isn't a sudden need. And since when do you care whether I come to work or not? You're not my immediate superior, I don't report to you," hissed the older woman. Did the Chief seriously think she could come into someone else's home and throw a fit like this?

"Okay, let's both calm down." Brenda always had a hard time controlling an argument with Sharon. She wasn't used to such a formidable opponent. Usually she could bat her eyelashes or use her southern charm to win even the silliest of disagreements, but the brunette wouldn't take that bait.

"Last time I checked, I am calm. You're the one who showed up here unannounced and came in guns blazing about what happened three days ago," Sharon deadpanned, finally looking up. The Captain felt more in control then ever, obviously the younger woman was flailing. And that was something she wasn't used to.

"Sharon, look, I realize what happened was unexpected, but I get the feelin' you wanted it to happen just as much as I did." Brenda decided maybe kindness was a better approach, and she gave older woman a half smile.

"Even if I did want it, I can't go around kissing a supervisor. My job requires me to enforce the rules, not break them. What kind of example would I be setting if I just disregarded policy?"

"Wait a second, didn't you just say that you don't report to me? So which is it? You can't go sayin' you don't answer to me then use my rank as a way to get out of whatever we're doin'." This was exactly the leverage Brenda needed. The Captain couldn't deny her flawed rationalization of the situation.

"And what exactly is it that we're doing?" sighed the brunette, she just plain exhausted. Over the last three days she had thought about nothing besides Brenda. What it would be like to just see where things went, to try and make it something real? She was tired of fighting this, whatever this was. But her head had always stopped her from giving in, this was wrong and could seriously affect her ability to do her job. Not getting too close to anyone had gotten her this far, she couldn't sacrifice everything she knew for something that most likely wouldn't even work out.

Brenda saw the brunette's mind going about a thousand miles a minute. She always got this adorable look when she was deep in thought, brows furrowed, head tilted slightly down, sometimes a finger lightly brushing her bottom lip. The blonde decided to close the distance between them, sliding her hands around the Captain's waist, pressing their bodies together. As thrilling as this argument was, she desperately just wanted to kiss the older woman, which would also conveniently shut her up. She looked up at the brunette, who was refusing to meet her gaze.

"Sharon, look at me."

The Captain obliged. Starring into those big brown eyes, she realized she no longer cared about rules or what anyone else thought. For one moment, she wouldn't choose what was expected, she would do what felt right.

"Tell me to stop, tell me you want me to leave," husked the blonde.

Sharon sighed and leaned in. The kiss escalated rather quickly, and soon the brunette was pressed against the kitchen counter. Brenda took the time to explore the older woman's mouth, to learn exactly what spots achieved a reaction. They couldn't seem to get enough, only occasionally breaking for air. Hearing the Captain moan after a rather gentle nibble, Brenda noted her obviously sensitive bottom lip. She would have to come back and pay that spot some extra attention. Once she felt confident that the brunette wouldn't push her away, she began to kiss her way down that lightly freckled neck. Her hands found their way to Sharon's bare ass, snaking under clothes at record speed. She felt the Captain caressing her stomach, and soon fingers were moving north, lightly stroking the underside of her breasts. It didn't take the brunette long to push her bra up and start pinching an already pebbled nipple, eliciting a rather loud moan from the younger woman. They continued this mutual exploration until the Chief's phone inconveniently rang, pulling them both back to reality. Brenda hit ignore, fully intending to go back to their earlier activity before being so rudely interrupted.

"I can't do this, you need to go," confessed the brunette, no longer able to look at the woman in front of her.

Brenda took a step back and rubbed her head with one hand, other placed firmly on her hip. This woman was incredibly confusing, the blonde was having a hard time keeping up with her hot and cold attitude.

"Sharon, do you really want me to leave?" The Captain continued to avoid eye contact and refused to answer.

"Well, if you're not gonna talk then I will. I came over here today because I want to be friends. I was hopin' we could just forget about Tuesday night, the kissin' part that is. I don't really have anyone now that Fritz is gone and you were just so kind and I'm really startin' to get lonely and…" Brenda heard the crack in her voice and stopped, trying to pull it together.

She meant what she said, she wanted the brunette in her life. It was so hard to keep everything bottled up, and she finally felt like someone understood what she was going through…even though she still knew almost nothing about the older woman. She had just gotten the impression over dinner that there was more to the Captains story, she was hurting more than she let on. Brenda knew you couldn't truly understand someone else's pain unless you had experienced it yourself. And Sharon Raydor had obviously dealt with some serious pain.

As much as the Captain wanted to exile Brenda from her life, she just couldn't. The blonde needed a friend. Sharon couldn't imagine going through her divorce without the support of her parents and a few close girlfriends to complain to. With a few ground rules, they could try to maintain a friendship. The first being they were not allowed to be left alone together, all meetings would have to be held in public. Onlookers would prevent them from giving into any desires they were feeling, right? While she considered what else would be required to continue this platonic relationship, she noticed Brenda staring at her. Apparently she hadn't yet responded to the blonde's request.

"Okay, we can try just being friends."