Snippets of Waiting

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Major Crimes. James Duff, et al, has that lovely distinction.

Summary: Knowing they wouldn't be stopping, their hands trailed everywhere, they kissed all over each other's bodies, and whispered words of love and promises for their future together.

A/N1: Enjoy! Leave a review if you feel so inclined. They are ever so appreciated. #TodayIsLife

A/N2: For ImperfectBeing and EvilRegalShandyLvr21 just because.

~~~~~PT~~~~~

When Andy was finally settled in a room, and awake enough to have visitors, Sharon hung back so everyone present could spend time with him. She wanted to be alone with him for as long as she could and figured going last would allow for that.

Walking into his room, the words the doctor had said came flooding back. "Mr Flynn had a heart attack." "Someone took very good care of him." "We got to him in time." "He should recover with little to no side effects." "His cardiologist will have to clear him before he can go back to work."

He looked pale and tired but he was alive and smiling at her. Her eyes misted at the thought of almost losing him once again. He reached out his hand to her when he noticed she wasn't moving towards him. Willing herself to be strong, to keep that promise she made to herself, her eyes dried up and her feet began taking steps towards his bed. Her hand immediately took his and held on tight briefly before she loosened her grip.

"I'm okay, Sharon," he rasped. "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I was worried but not scared," she corrected. It was a white lie and they both knew it but she felt the need to withhold the full truth in that moment.

"Okay," was all he said as he tugged her hand, indicating he wanted her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Kiss me," he rasped with a smirk. She did; it was soft and only slightly less than chaste but it would suffice.

They discussed what the doctor had told both of them separately. When he was about to fall asleep again, she said her good-byes, kissed him longer than she initially did, and promised to visit every chance she could until the doctor allowed her to take him home.

"This time it is home," he said softly as he stroked her face.

"Yes, this time it is," she whispered before kissing him again then getting up to leave. Standing by the door, though they had said it during their discussion, she felt the need to say, "I love you, Andy."

"I love you too, Sharon," he said sleepily.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

~~~~~# # #~~~~~

After his cardio-therapy as an inpatient was completed, and his patience had long disappeared, Sharon happily brought Andy home. Once inside their condo, she insisted he sit on the couch while she brought his bag into their bedroom. Rolling his eyes, he said nothing and sat down.

After making them both tea, she joined him and was surprised at his first question. "Have you cried yet, Sharon?"

First her lips formed a flat line as she thought about her answer. "No, I haven't, Andy, but I should be worrying about you not the other way around," she insisted.

"You can, ya know," he assured her, letting his fingers travel down the arm nearest him.

"I have no reason to cry. You're fine and you shouldn't be worrying yourself about me," she insisted again.

"I love you. Of course I'm worried about you. What kind of a guy would I be if I wasn't?" He'd been keeping tabs on her through Provenza at work and Rusty at home. The kid didn't want him to worry and mess up his heart again, as he put it, so he was willing to keep him updated.

"I love you too," she whispered before gently kissing him and snuggling into him. He wrapped her up tightly in his arms. It had been too long since he could freely hold her. "I don't want you to worry about me but I do want you to follow your doctor's orders," she murmured into his chest. The sound of his heart beating regularly brought a peace to her she hadn't felt since that day in the Murder Room when he collapsed.

"I will and if I don't, you'll make me," he teased.

"Yes, I will," she answered seriously. "You have to take care of yourself, Andy. You have so much to live for."

Kissing the top of her head, he agreed. "Yeah, I do."

At bedtime, as she began her nightly routine, Sharon smiled at the sight of Andy back in their bed. Picking out a pajama set, she turned around at his loud sigh. "Is anything wrong?"

"Wear a nightgown," he suggested.

"I'm trying to make this easier on you," she responded with a smile.

"I think you're beautiful in anything you wear. Plus," he smirked, "I know what's underneath."

She sighed but smiled at him after. "A nightgown it is but only as long as you behave yourself. You're not cleared yet."

"I'll behave," he promised.

~~~~~# # #~~~~~

She woke up to his fingers traveling along her body. They were barely caressing her skin, leaving goose pimples in their wake. He'd taken to kissing her more often in the week he'd been home but she was yet to allow a full kiss. They touched in general as much as they always did but she wasn't ready to kiss or touch like lovers. Now here she was reacting as if she didn't need to protect him from himself.

"I don't want us to take two steps backwards," he rasped, sleep still heavy in his voice. .

"We're following doctor's orders," she gently reminded him.

"He didn't say we had to lose the intimacy between us," he reminded her. "He said we can't make love but he also said not to let our romantic connection get lost."

Sighing, she turned to face him. "I know but," she paused, looking for the right words, "sometimes that's easier said than done."

"I just want to touch you."

"I want you to, Andy, but -."

He interrupted her because she'd been spending too much time in her head since his heart incident. "We can put it off for now but we can touch, Sharon. It won't cause another heart attack."

"It just seems like it's too soon." She wouldn't tell him the full truth just then but she knew she would have to eventually.

"Okay," he whispered and wrapped her in his arms. That much she would always let him do.

~~~~~# # #~~~~~

Another week had gone by and Sharon still wasn't responding to Andy the way he hoped she would. Rusty was gone for the weekend with Gus. They were going to see the other Sharon and make sure she was doing well living with Gary's parents.

Lying together on the couch, Andy decided to broach the subject. But first he'd try to kiss her. His fingers trailed up her arm until he could caress her face. The gentleness in his touch made Sharon look up at him. Covering her lips with his, he ghosted his tongue along her lower lip. A soft hum escaped, encouraging him. When he tried to move his tongue into her mouth, she moved back.

"It's too soon," she murmured as she sat up.

"Not according to my doctor," he quietly argued. He had gone for his two-week check-up and was told he was healing according to schedule. While they still couldn't make love, his doctor had verified they could make out.

"I don't want you to get worked up, Andy." It was the best way she could explain her hesitation without admitting her true feelings about his latest health crisis.

With a sigh, he moved closer to her. "Kiss me, Sharon," he quietly commanded. They kissed with open mouths but she still wouldn't allow his tongue access. "Do you remember when I was waiting for you to be ready?"

"Of course I do. You were very patient." Her hand instinctively settled on his chest.

"We kissed, Sharon, and we touched," he reminded her. "We worked our way through the steps but we did them."

"I remember," she said softly. Her body did also.

"My heart attack didn't kill me when it happened and it won't now." He hesitated slightly before adding, "I don't want it to break us."

"I'm just being careful," she explained.

"You're being too careful, if you ask me."

She leaned closer and kissed him. When she felt his tongue slip past her lips, she hummed. As he explored her mouth, she moaned softly. Though she wouldn't let him lean back for them to lie down, she didn't stop what they were doing. Her hand moved to his hair as she deepened the kiss. One of his hands was in her hair while the other was moving up and down her back. Several minutes had gone by; they lost track of time as they enjoyed reconnecting. It wasn't until he touched her derriere that she suggested they stop.

"We should pace ourselves," she suggested.

"Okay," he reluctantly agreed.

~~~~~# # #~~~~~

Over the next two weeks, they found themselves making out every chance they got. The location in the condo no longer mattered to Sharon nor did the amount of time they spent enjoying one another in the only way she felt they could.

A difficult case finally solved, she came home late and announced she needed a shower. Andy waited long enough for Sharon to be standing under the hot stream before he snuck in behind her. She gasped at his unexpected touch then turned to admonish him, reminding him that he still wasn't cleared by his doctor.

"We aren't going to do more than I'm allowed," he assured her as he let his fingers travel along her body. He could tell by her intake of breath that she was enjoying it more than she wanted to allow herself. In the middle of a heated kiss, he covered her breasts and began kneading them gently. Dipping his head away from her, he licked her hardened nipples then mouthed each breast, paying equal attention to both. Despite her protests, she held his head in place and her body reacted against her wishes. Moving back to cover her mouth, his hand trailed lower. Backing away slightly, he slipped his hand between them, intent on bringing her pleasure.

"Please don't," she breathed out when she realized what he intended to do.

"I want to make you feel good," he murmured before covering her lips again.

"You aren't cleared," she quietly protested.

"This isn't for me, Sharon, it's for you. I want you to feel good while we wait."

"We didn't do that when you were waiting for me," she reminded him. "Please, Andy."

"Okay, let's just shower together then," he offered with a small smile.

"Showering together would be nice," she agreed with a chaste kiss.

~~~~~# # #~~~~~

To his surprise, a week of showering together seemed to calm her and one day, after running her bath, she invited him to join her.

His arms wrapped around her as she leaned back against his chest. He left a trail of soft kisses along her neck and felt himself responding to her soft moans. She still pulled away when he began to become erect. He hoped she wouldn't this time.

"Stay here," he breathed into her ear.

"You're not cleared yet," she protested breathily. "We can't, Andy."

"We won't, Sharon, but we don't have to stop this." He turned her around to face him, covered her mouth with his and pulled her onto his lap. It was more than she could handle though.

"This is too much for you. We can't do this." Standing up, she stepped out of the tub and grabbed her towel. "I'm sorry," she whispered as she disappeared back into their bedroom.

Quickly he pushed the knob to release the water and got out. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he found her by her dresser. "You want me," he stated simply.

Looking at him, she seemed confused. "I love you. Of course I want to be with you, Andy."

"I wanted you back then, when I was waiting. That didn't stop me."

"Because you were trying to get me to change my mind," she reminded him with a smirk. "I'm not trying to do that."

"I'm waiting till my doctor clears me," he assured her. "But there's something wrong, Sharon. It feels like you're not telling me everything."

"There's nothing else to tell."

He knew that wasn't true. To the best of his knowledge, she hadn't cried or told anyone her feelings about his health scare. "Talk to me or make out with me," he suggested. Giving her options, he knew, would fall into her comfort zone.

She quickly closed the distance between them and kissed him passionately. He was so caught up that he opened her towel and let it fall to the floor. She was so busy avoiding admitting her fears that she didn't pay attention at first. It wasn't until he began backing her up towards their bed that she realized what he'd done.

"Andy, we can't," she whispered.

"We aren't," he promised. "I just want to make you feel good, that's all, I swear."

"I didn't when you were waiting," she stated more forcefully as he dropped his towel.

"That doesn't matter because we hadn't done anything then. We have now." His way of looking at things was they didn't know what they were missing back then but they did now.

"I'll wait, Andy, I will always wait for you," she promised, her eyes briefly misting over. It was important that he hear those words from her again.

"I know you will, Sharon, and so will I." He kissed her then. It was soft and languid but they let the heat build up and within minutes, they were lying on their bed, wrapped up in each other. "I love you," he rasped.

"I love you, too," she husked.

They touched each other everywhere but their most intimate parts. Finally he took a chance and put his finger over her nub. She breathed in deeply but didn't say a word. He kept kissing her as his finger moved slowly over and around her sensitive spot. She stopped him before she reached climax so he began kissing down her body, aiming to bring her over the edge with his tongue.

As much as she wanted what he offered, she found her voice, "Andy, please stop."

Moving back up to her, he pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I wish you'd talk to me."

"I have, I do," she answered quietly.

"You haven't told me everything, Sharon, and I'm worried," he admitted.

"You have nothing to worry about. You just need to get better so your doctor clears you."

He knew he wasn't going to get further than that so he let it go and just held her.

~~~~~# # #~~~~~~

The day of his six-week check-up, Sharon was at work closing out their latest case. Rusty offered to take Andy to ease both of their minds.

As soon as the older man came back out into the waiting area, he announced, "I'm cleared for light duty only but at least I can go back to work." After thinking about it as they walked to Rusty's car, he added, "I'll be the damn desk monkey again but it shouldn't be for too long. I'm cleared!"

"That's great, Andy, but, like, don't overdo it. Sharon would be really messed up if you died."

That caught his attention. "Has she said anything to you?"

"No, but I can tell. I mean, she loves you so, of course, she's not going to want you to die."

"I'd hope not," he joked.

"Old people," he muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"Old people in love," Andy couldn't resist teasing the kid.

"That's it, I'm calling Gus. I need to stay there tonight." To show he was serious, he took out his phone and hit the number saved for his boyfriend. "He's cleared." After a brief pause, he ended with, "Thank you."

"That was quick," Andy chuckled.

"We've discussed it already," he clarified. "Do you want to bring your paperwork in today?"

"Well, I can't start until Monday but it couldn't hurt to bring in the paperwork before that. Provenza will be thrilled he's getting his desk monkey back."

Upon entering the Murder Room, Andy felt right at home and realized he missed working more than he thought he had. His colleagues all seemed a little nervous and very surprised to see him and Rusty there.

"I'm just dropping off my paperwork that says I can start back Monday," he told Provenza loud enough for everyone to hear.

Sharon came out of her office when she noticed her boyfriend talking to his partner. "What's going on?"

"I'm cleared and I come back to work Monday. Light duty, of course, but still I'm back." His smile was so wide that Provenza couldn't help but laugh at him.

"That's wonderful," his Captain told him. "I'll have my full team again."

"It'll be good to be back," he proclaimed happily, "even if I have to deal with his smart ass remarks." He pointed at his partner to be sure everyone knew who he meant.

Sharon's eyebrow rose at the curse but she didn't say anything. "It'll be good to have you back, Andy," she said softly. Directing her attention to her team, "Let's finish up the paperwork so we can go home."

"That's our cue to leave, Rusty," Andy announced. "I'll see everyone Monday."

They all wished him a good weekend and expressed how happy they were to have him back soon. Provenza added, "I can't wait to have my favorite desk monkey back," with a smirk.

"Go to -," he began but thought better of it. "Tell Patrice she's got more work to do with you."

With that he and Rusty left. The kid was in a hurry to pack an overnight bag and leave before Sharon got home. Old people in love; he didn't want to see that.

On the ride down in the elevator, Andy was quiet. Rusty had been noticing that while they seemed the same, there was something different that he couldn't put his finger on. "Why didn't you go see Sharon in her office?" he asked with a little hesitation.

"She was in Captain-mode," the older man answered with a shrug. "We'll talk at home."

"Okay," the kid responded, still wondering what was off about the couple.

[TBC]