Sharon hit ignore once more on her cellphone, rolling her eyes as she listened to Chief Pope go on during another meeting. She had already spent time with Assistant Taylor over exactly what they wanted and expected out of her once she took over Major Crimes. The stress of it all was something that lingered heavily over her. She didn't need Jack calling her continously on top of everything else. Still not speaking to him, and ignoring the flowers that kept showing up on her desk she just wanted this day to be over.

"Am I annoying you Captain?" Pope huffed towards her direction not missing her infamous eye roll. She quickly looked at him and shook her head no, holding up her cellphone to show him it wasn't directed towards him at all. "Okay so we are understood CLEARLY, what I expect from you?"

"Yes, Chief. Crystal clear." He motioned a dismissal, she quickly got to her feet and headed out of his office. Her phone began to buzz again, she picked up her speed knowing she needed to answer Jack or he would physically appear into her life once more. Pulling it back out, a small smile appeared on her face as she quickly answered. "Hello Lieutenant!"

"Captain, I was uh wondering if I could meet you for lunch?" Andy nervously asked, he wasn't for sure if they could move forward with their friendship. He paced back and forth outside of Major Crimes in front of the elevator.

"Oh," Sharon paused running the many things she still needed to accomplish by the end of the day. Andy stopped pacing, and running his hand through his hair. 'It's okay, I understand.' He replied back to her, and she quickly interrupted him. "No, it's nothing like that." Reading his mind, knowing he was taking it the wrong way. "How about lunch in my office? I have so much to do before..." Andy nodded his head, and smiled 'before you become my boss?' he finished for her. "Well, yes." The words left her mouth slowly, it was a painful reminder that the beginning of whatever they were leading to had to end as quickly as it started.

"I can meet you there. Say in about ten minutes?" He tapped the button, and waited for the elevator to show up. 'Can't wait to see you, I brought a salad I can share with you.' He grunted in reply, and slowly took his phone away from his ear. The lift arrived and there she stood in front of him. "Hello." The flush in her cheeks quickly grew a light shade of red, she hung ended the call on her hand and stepped to the side to let him walk in. Slipping his phone into his pocket he stood next to her with a permanent smile plastered on his face.

"I can share a salad." He nudged her shoulder with his, she hummed in response. The silence fell over them as they both realized this was the first time they had been alone in days. The last was when he escorted her out of the building and to her car. He cleared his throat and looked directly at her. "How have you been?"

"Meetings with Chief Pope, and Taylor." The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slowly opened he put his hand on the small of her back and they walked out together. 'Enough said.' Andy knew she didn't have to really explain, since her taking over was actually a well kept secret. As he walked with her to FID's breakroom, he did think of his partner yet again. Knowing hell was about to break loose once Provenza's fear would soon realize he would not be the leader and instead Sharon would take over. That thought alone worried him, he didn't want to lose his partner and hoped he would give it a chance.

He stood at the doorway of the breakroom and watched Sharon move about effortlessly, pulling the salad out of the fridge, paper plates out of the cabinets. She cast a look over at the water cooler, and he picked up the hint and headed over to get them drinks. Andy couldn't help but think what a team they could actually be. Picking up the little signs from each other, and moving about as though they shared the same thoughts. She was soon out the door, and he quickly followed suit to her office. (Her office for now) The thought quickly ran through his mind, she stopped awkwardly and quickly turned back to look at him. Her face displaying the embarrassment, and scanning his face for signs of trouble. Raising an eyebrow towards her, and drinks in hand he peered around her and noticed the display of flowers on her desk. (Do not tell me, its from Jack.)

Anger quickly built up in him, and he took a few steps around her setting the cups of water onto her desk. She quickly rounded her desk, discarding the food and plates onto her desk as well. Then lifting the flowers up, and walked it outside her office. Andy didn't need her to say anything, he recognized Jack's scrawl on the card that read 'Sharon' (1...2...3...) he began to count. He didn't want to ruin lunch with his anger, and he needed this chance this day to show her he could be her friend. That he could work under her, without her transferring him to another department.

"I'm so sorry about that." Sharon spoke as she walked back into her office, placing her hand on his shoulder and looking up to him she smiled hesitantly. "Is it okay if we don't talk about it?" Andy bit his bottom lip and shook his head yes, then looking at her hand that was still placed on his shoulder. "Thank you." She turned around and pulled the two chairs in front of her desk closer together and waved for him to sit down.

"So to lunch." Andy made a grab for the salad and started to fix their plates, he wasn't quite ready to sit to down. He needed to do something to keep his mind off of Jack. (Stop thinking about him, you are here right now with her. Enjoy this lunch idiot.) Giving her a quick glance, she had already sat down and was watching him.

(How can I explain this? Without complicating matters even more?) She was thinking to herself, trying to focus on Andy. "So what kind of hell am I to expect from Provenza?" Accepting the plate from Andy, he chuckled. 'Only the worst kind.' They went through the motions of eating, and keeping quiet until they were finished. (I need to explain.) That thought hung heavy over her, and she knew it would be best. She didn't want him to get hurt, or be angry with her. Yet, she couldn't quite explain to him why she was still married when even she couldn't convince herself of the reasons.

Andy couldn't help but look at the spot on her desk where those flowers were sitting. His mind wouldn't shut up about it, and he knew if he pressed her she would close up on him. (Flowers, she kept the flowers on her desk. Does that mean she made her choice? She's going to stay with him?) "Andy?" His eyes slowly left that spot, and focused on her. "I can tell that it is distracting you." She said pointing at her desk, his face dropped as he could sense this conversation was about to enter dangerous territory by the mask that covered her face.

Buzzzzz he followed her eyes down to her hand as she quickly pulled her phone out of her pocket. Andy quickly got up as he read Jackson Raydor on her phone, "excuse me, I have to get back." Without even looking at her he quickly left the office, she hit ignore and watched him leave. (That wasn't called for.) She thought to herself, her heart sinking a little placing her phone back in her pocket she got to work cleaning up behind them.

...

"Replace me with THAT WOMAN!" Provenza was angry, all Andy could do was silently shake his head in agreement with is partner. Knowing it was best to let him get it all out of his system. "Real changes! Can you believe that? Real changes!"

Andy couldn't help but think over how she arrived at the crime scene days before, not one hair out of place, dressed impeccably and wearing his favorite trenchcoat. He had never told anyone this, even his partner. One thing he loved about Sharon was those trenchcoats, he spent many a lonely night just imagining her in nothing else. He felt the heat washing over his face, and that slow set of arousal set in his stomach. Looking back at Provenza, he needed the distraction, he for one did not want Provenza catching him getting turned on as he ranted on.

"FLYNN?! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?" Provenza stood before him fuming, and Andy nodded his head. 'Yes, I HEAR you. But you have to admit it's not that bad!' Provenza threw his hands in the air, and walked away. "Not bad!" Andy watched him walk away, he gathered his paperwork and looked around the room everyone else had already left. Rusty was sitting in the office with Sharon. (Rusty) The thought quickly dawning on him once more, she had taken in the ungrateful kid. Andy was no fan of the way Rusty treated Sharon, always on her case about his mother without being thankful she provided a home for him. He was so lost in thought he hadn't realized she was standing in front of him. Moving from her office, after she caught him staring.

"Shouldn't you be home?" She asked, taking note of the empty room crossing her arms smirking as she watched him sit up straighter in his chair and fumbling with his tie. 'I got behind.' Glancing at the paperwork on his desk, and looking back her. 'I should be out of here in a few minutes. I can walk you and the kid out of here.' He spoke nonchantly, pointing towards Rusty's direction. "No, don't worry about it."

Turning on her heel, and walking back to her office. "Hey." Andy quickly got to his feet, and cut her off. "I can walk you two out." Standing before her, she studied his face trying to read him. "Look I'm sorry I blew up on you before." Memory quickly flashing before him, of them standing in the morgue, just after Fritz and Tao left.

...

"That's probably because they stopped asking for money." It was a jab at Jack, he was irritated at her. After Tao had left he knew she didn't miss it when she raised her eyebrow and said 'Yessss.' After that he couldn't help but get angry, she still wouldn't acknowledge the whole Jack situation. "Every problem that we are having is because of you!" That exclamation served two purposes one the case, and two the issue of one Jackson Raydor. She placed the files in his hand, and walked off taking off her blue scrubs. (I did it now) he thought, watching her questioningly.

"Andy you are right about that!" Taking him back by surprise he watched as she went on about the case and not about Jack. Quickly, following her with the case as she connected the dots effortlessly and soon they were sitting next to one another coming up with the same suspect.

She quickly stood up, and was heading out the morgue as well. Looking over her shoulder at him. "Don't think I'm going to forget that remark. Lieutenant." Whipping her head back and he looked on as her hair flowed behind her. 'Aye Aye Captain.' Getting to his feet, and followed suit. They had to share their 'findings' with the rest of the group and set up their plan and let Provenza lead the way. (Her ass looks good.) As if reading his thoughts she stopped, and waved him forward. Once he was by her side she continued walking again, 'That obvious?' Andy laughed as they continued their way to the murder room.

...

"Okay, you can walk us out." Sharon finally spoke, after studying him intently. "Let me just grab my things, and we will head out." He waited as she walked back into her office and picked up her purse and a few files, Rusty following behind her on his crutches. Today had been relatively easy, spending the day wrapping up their case.

Sharon accepted his offer, he had been an immense help the night before. Rusty didn't take it well when she mistakenly let slip that she hadn't even begun 'her' search for his mother. However, she didn't want Andy to always be there for her and confuse their 'professional' relationship. (Professional... Professional) She repeated over in her head, the walk to the elevator was surprisingly quiet, Rusty never let slip an opportunity for a sarcastic word here and there. Stealing a glance at the teenager, he seemed to be lost in thought. hmmm she hummed as the doors opened and they moved on to the parking garage.

A knot in her stomach suddenly started to form, and she knew it was because they would soon wave goodbye. She couldn't help remembering the night before, when she first brought Rusty home to her apartment. "Oh, well maybe that's why you live alone with a spare bedroom." That remark had took taken her off guard, 'I live alone because my children are grown. The spare bedroom is for when they visit.' Covering the hurt in her voice, (I live alone because Jack left.) what happened next though made her forget about Jack.

That wasn't her shining moment, when Rusty used his crutches to walk away from her. Such a mistake on her part, knowing when she made her decision to bring him home with her she should have read his file. Hugging her pillow close to her chest, and listening to Rusty move from the bathroom to the spare bedroom, she wanted to ignore the buzzing sound emitting from her cellphone. Butterflies soon swept over, as her eyes landed on Lieutenant Flynn's name popped up with a text message.

Flynn: I'm outside your door.

Tossing the pillow aside, she headed for her door stopping and looking down the hallway she waited to see if Rusty would come out. Satisfied that he was tucked in for the night she made her way to the door. "Hi." She whispered, as she opened the door wider and let him in. "Lets go to the dining room." Still whispering as she shut the door, and following him as far as the living room making her way to the coffee table and picking up her wine glass and catching up with him.

He pulled out a chair for her, and waited for her to take a seat before he pulled one out as well sitting next to her. "Agent Howard filled me in on the situation." He spoke looking around in search of Rusty. She took a sip from her glass, and set it on the table.

"Rusty isn't a situation." The words left her mouth defensively, Andy turned back towards the living room then back to her.

"Captain, what you are doing is selfless and it may not now but its going to mean alot to the kid." Taking her eyes off the wine glass, and looking at him she smiled. 'I know there are some things we need to discuss, I just want you to know I value your friendship.' Placing his hand on hers, "Your friendship is important to me, we don't have to discuss anything right now. The kid is important now, let's focus on finding his mother." (His idiot mother, who left him to grow up alone.) Andy thought to himself, and sensing that Sharon caught on to his train of thought he removed his hand, and let her take another drink.

"He's very strong willed." Setting the glass back on the table, she caught Andy smirking and she tilted her head and he smirked even wider. 'Just like you. Very strong willed.' Scooting closer to her as that brought on a little chuckle from her. 'You know I'm here to help if you need anything?' Clutching her stomach, she tried to settle the flapping of wings going on there. She wanted to lean into him, she wanted him to hold her. (Oh Andy why does this have to be so hard?) She thought to herself, 'oh' escaped her lips when she felt Andy's strong palm on her back.

"Sharon you are so tense." He spoke as his hand trailed down her back, and back up. Andy couldn't believe he was actually touching her, and the 'oh' that had met his ears also sent waves to his groin. Panicking all kinds of thoughts raced through his head. (She's JACK's wife, my new boss get away now.) "It's getting late, I should go." (No, don't leave.) She thought, letting her go he stood up she stared at him and got to her feet as well. 'Okay.' She followed him to the door, he beat her to the knob and an awkward smile graced her face as he just stared at her. "If I don't leave now, I won't be able to go on in a professional capacity."

"I understand." She softly spoke, leaning against the wall beside the door hugging her chest with her arms. "I want to work with you, I can't lose you."

"You are not going to lose me." Reaching out for her, his hands holding her shoulders in place, and smoothly he drew her against his chest then moving his arms from her shoulders to her back wrapping them tenderly, her hands slid down his chest and wrapped around him as well. "I am going to be your favorite, mark my words Captain."

"Oh, don't count on that." The words reaching Andy's ears even though it was muffled against his chest. "Detective Sykes has you boys all beat." Hugging him tighter as he laughed, gently pulling away until they were staring at one another. "I don't want to cross any lines, thank you for coming by. I can't let you leave, without being honest with you though." Still wrapped around each other, Andy continued to look at her without interrupting. "I am a married woman, I need to go my own way with that religiously, and financially." He gripped her tighter, his heart started to beat rapidly. "The only reason you seen those flowers, was because he sent them to get my attention. I have been ignoring his calls, his texts, I need him to understand I don't love him the way he wants me to."

Andy leaned his head down and placed a chaste kiss on top of her head. "I was a jerk." She placed her head back on his chest, and his hands traced meaningless patterns on her back. 'Yes, but I forgive you.' She laughed and slowly pulled out of the embrace. He nodded his head, knowing what was coming next. (I'm going to miss this Andy.)

"We have to be more professional, I just wanted you to know that." Putting his hands in his pockets, as she grabbed the door behind him he walked out of her apartment. 'On it Captain.' With a wink he headed down the hallway. She headed back inside to finish nursing her wine, and missing the security she felt with his arms wrapped around her brought. Taking Rusty in meant she would have to put her selfish needs aside, and do what was best for him. Taking it a sign when she brought him home, she consciously made her permanent decision to not jump head first with Andy. She was more than willing to break the rules only two days before, the first day she strolled onto the crimes scene. Minutes after the morgue, sensing him watching her backside the giddiness of that teenage girl awakened yet again inside of her. Andy being the only man, to make her feel like that almost like first love, and those feelings washed over so intensely she wanted to break the 'rules' and finish what he started.

That was until someone else needed her time and attention more, walking down the hallway she stood quietly outside of Rusty's 'room.' Opening the door and peeking inside, he was buried in the bed, hugging tightly to his backpack. Pain clenched her heart, she wanted to race into the room and kiss his forehead and hold him against her as he slept in his arms running her fingers through that messy blonde hair. Instead she quietly closed the door, and headed to her bedroom. Such a long day, and knowing she was already starting to get attached to him, and he not so much she had a long list of things to get settled in the morning. Saying goodbye another time to thoughts of her and Andy together, as she prepared in her head to shift the attention to the sleeping teenager in the next room.

Buzz "Not now Jack." Hitting ignore yet again, she tossed the phone on her bed as she headed for a shower.

...

Andy felt lighter and much more relieved as he headed to his car. He even started to whistle, it meant the world to him that Sharon finally talked to him about Jack. He had nothing to worry about with him, and that made him feel so much better, that Jack didn't have her heart. (time that's all I need is time.) Starting his car, he drove home feeling so much better about everything. (Be there for her, anything she needs stand by her.) He thought to himself, eventually they will be looking at retirement and there would be no rules to break, and maybe then they would be together. Cranking up his music, he drove on home.

To be continued...