Disclaimer: These characters are not mine in any shape, form, or fashion. I just like to mess around in their world a little bit.

A/N: This story would be after Daniel Dunn, but in place of the letter writer probably. Rusty hasn't testified yet. This was something that I wrote a long time ago (middle of season two), but I wasn't really happy with. That is why I posted News to Come before this one. They are in no way connected, but you should read it too ;) . I decided to go ahead and post it at the request of one of my friends. Hopefully you like it. It is a couple of chapters, so enjoy.

P.S. There is a tiny bit of bad language just to warn you.

10:30AM

"What do you mean Sharon needs me to come to the station?" Rusty was standing at the door questioning Andy. This morning before Sharon left, she said that he could stay there today. They needed a break from each other after the argument this morning. He was angry with himself for yelling at her, but what was he supposed to think when she just leaves after promising to go with him.

"Listen kid, I don't give the orders. Most of all when it comes to you and the Captain I do what I am told. Do us both a favor and come with me." Flynn seemed just as agitated as Rusty.

"Fine. Let me get my stuff." With that Rusty stomped off down the hall leaving Flynn standing in the doorway.

8:30AM

They had been eating breakfast when her phone rang. They were both used to that, but they had plans today and Sharon had taken the day off. That is how the fight began.

"Sharon! You promised you would go with me today! It's your day off, what is so freaking important?"

"I don't know Lieutenant Provenza wouldn't say over the phone. He said we didn't catch a case therefore I can probably run in and be done in no time." She was just as upset. She knew the tournament today was very important to him, and she was so happy he even invited her. She hated that she was pushing him to the side. "Rusty, I am going to do my best to be there. It doesn't start until 3 this afternoon, and it is just now, um," looking at her watch, "8:45. Lots of time."

He had stood up and was pacing around the living room now. She didn't know why this was so important, he had had tons of chess tournaments before. He did say there was someone he wanted her to meet. Then, all of a sudden he stopped and said in the darkest tone she had heard from him in a while, "I knew I shouldn't have invited you." With that he stomped off to his room.

Sharon's stomach turned. She had done everything that she could to make him trust her. They had been living together for over a year, and she considered him her son. Hell, if she thought he would let her she would adopt him. She knew that he still held out some type of hope for his mom to come back, but she couldn't help but love him nonetheless. Putting the dishes in the dishwasher, she gathered her stuff, and walked down the hall to Rusty's room.

"Rusty, if you don't want to ride with me stay here, and I will try to meet you there."

There was no response, she let out a sigh and added, "I am grateful you invited me. I'm sorry." Still not hearing a response she headed for the front door, and went downtown.

9:15AM

Sharon was riding the elevator up to Major Crimes, still upset about her fight with Rusty. It wasn't the worst one they have had, but it still hurt her. The second the door dinged open she put on her Captain Raydor face, and headed down the hall. As she rounded the corner she stumbled upon Flynn and Provenza bickering in the hallway.

"Gentlemen."

"Uh, good morning Captain, that was quick," Provenza, said hurriedly.

"I have plans today, what was so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone?" Sharon was already impatient, and they were just staring at her. "Spit it out Lieutenants!"

Flynn started, "You have a visitor Captain, and we didn't really know how you wanted to handle it."

"Who is it?"

"The kid's mom." Flynn added.

"Which kid? I didn't think we had a case." Sharon's mind was racing trying to remember if they had a child victim or something.

Provenza rolled his eyes at Flynn, "Sharon, it's Rusty's mom."

Sharon's face dropped, and then anger flowed through her. 'What in the world was this woman doing here?' she thought.

"What does she want?" she said to them.

They looked at each other and then Flynn said, "We don't know. She wouldn't talk to anyone but you." Provenza took over, "What do you want to do?"

Sharon took a deep breath, "I want to know why she is here? Find out where she was? And if there are any warrants out for her?"

"Ok, you talk to her, and we will run her name, and find out what we can."

"Where is she?" Sharon hoped to God she wasn't in her office looking at her pictures.

"Interview one." And with that the Lieutenants walked away, and Sharon was left standing there dumfounded. She decided to go put her things in her office, and think about the best approach. She wondered what in the world had brought that woman back here. She had never met the other Sharon, but she had a feeling that she wasn't going to like her. After putting her things in her office she walked into electronics, to get a view of the woman that was potentially about to flip her world upside down.

The woman was petite and blonde, that was all that Sharon could discern about her. 'No better time than the present,' she thought looking down at her watch. Maybe they could just wrap this up and she could still make the chess tournament. Maybe. Exiting electronics she stood outside the interview room straightening her jacket before entering. Metaphorical armor in place she entered the room closing the door behind her. Reaching out her hand she said, "I'm Sharon Raydor." The other Sharon didn't return the handshake, and after a moment Raydor dropped hers. 'That's how it's going to be. Ok.' She thought, and then prepared herself for the probable battle about to ensue.

"You know who I am," Sharon Beck said harshly.

"I do, but what I don't know is why you are here." Raydor decided that the direct approach was the best solution. Obviously they weren't going to be friends.

"Where is Rusty?"

"He is at home getting ready for a chess tournament."

"Home? You let him call your place home?"

"Why are you here Ms. Beck?" Sharon was getting frustrated, and she refused to be attacked by this woman.

"I want to see my son."

Sharon knew that if this woman was off the drugs, and it appeared she was, that she would probably be able to take Rusty. Sharon's heart had sunk because even after all this time she knew how Rusty cared for his birth mother, and she feared that he would choose this woman over herself.

"That can be arranged Ms. Beck, and I will talk to Rusty to see when he would like this to happen. We can contact you and set something up." Sharon was hoping that would buy her some time.

"Actually," she said pulling a piece of paper from her pocket, "I want to see him today, or I file this with the court."

Sharon grabbed the document and read over it quickly. 'Petition for Custody' written at the top. 'Damnit.' Alright, Sharon would send someone to go get Rusty because if he drove here he could storm off and have a car to get away in. She didn't think that Rusty would run, but she knew their lives were about to get very complicated again.

"Ok, Ms. Beck, I will send someone to get Rusty and bring him here, but that will only happen on two conditions I speak with him first when he gets here, and second you leave and return this afternoon around 2." Sharon needed time to prepare for this little meeting, and she didn't need this woman in her building. She might be tempted to do or say things she wasn't ready for.

If worse came to worse she thought 'I can lock her up for taking the $500, that won't last long though. Maybe add child abandonment.' Her thoughts were interrupted by Ms. Beck's response, "Fine. I will see you at 2 and my son had better be here or I am filing the petition."

"See you then," Sharon replied. The woman got up and exited the interview room. She wondered why Ms. Beck was waiting to file the petition, and what was so important that she needed to talk to him today. There were so many unanswered questions.

10AM

Figuring she had allowed enough time for Ms. Beck to leave Sharon walked out of the interview room looking around for the Lieutenants. Spying them just down the hall she walked to them. "Do we know anything?" She questioned them.

"Sharon Beck was in a rehab center in San Diego, she got out 48 days ago. Her record is what you would expect, a few drug charges and some shoplifting. Nothing major though. She seems to have moved out of the halfway house into an apartment. We haven't had a lot of time to find out anything else." Provenza was looking at her with a giant question mark painted on his face as he finished his sentence.

"48 days ago, why is she just now coming here?" Sharon was now questioning the woman's motives even more.

"Not sure Captain, what did she say?" Flynn questioned.

"She wants to see Rusty, and if she doesn't see him today she will file a petition for custody, and if what you say is true, and she is clean; she could win." Sharon was trying very hard not to let her façade falter for one second, or she knew she would just lose it.

"What do you need Sharon?" Flynn was giving her that look that made her feel weak in the knees, and she didn't need or want to think about what was going on there right now.

"I need you to go get Rusty. She will be back at 2 o'clock to talk to him. I have to have time with him beforehand so I need him here as soon as possible."

"Not a problem. Leaving now." Flynn turned and headed for the elevators.

Sharon turned to directly face Lieutenant Provenza, "See what else you can dig up, if you don't mind."

He just nodded his head, and she headed for her office. With the comfort surrounding her she shut both doors and pulled the blinds closed. She sat behind her desk, holding a picture of her and Rusty. She wasn't even going to pretend to work because this situation was one of the ones she feared most. She wished there was something she could do to keep Rusty from speaking with his mother. It would be his choice of course, but she figured he would want to talk to her. Now all she could do was wait for Andy to bring Rusty to her.

11:10AM

The car ride there had been quiet, and he could sense something was wrong because usually he and Andy were able to hold a conversation, but today something was different. At one point he had asked what was going on, and Andy had just said, "I will let Sharon tell you."

"So Sharon is alright then?" Rusty had been worried that something had happened to her.

"Physically she is fine kid."

Rusty thought about that…physically. He knew they had fought this morning, but he didn't think she was upset enough about it to summon him to Parker Center. He wondered if he had done something else wrong. Finally after they had parked, they made their way to the elevators and up to Major Crimes. He was walking in front of Andy, and he just kept wondering what he had done to warrant this. As he entered the murder room was quiet no one was in there, it was Sunday after all, and Sharon's blinds were closed in her office. He didn't even hesitate he just walked over, and knocked on the door as he opened it.

Sharon was sitting with her back to him staring out the window into the city. "Come in," she said but he had already opened and closed the door by that time. Something was definitely wrong, he heard her sniffle and then move her hands to probably wipe her eyes. He heard a deep breath, and then she turned around. She had definitely been crying.

"Sharon what happened?" He really was getting concerned now.

She moved to speak, but closed her mouth again. He set his bag down, and then he pulled a chair around the desk to sit next to her. Their relationship was so different now than when it started. Sharon loved him, like what he thought a mother should love a child. If he really wanted to be honest with himself he loved her too. She was like him in the sense that they didn't let people see them upset or cry, and the fact that she was letting him see her right now meant something. It meant she trusted him, and that it was really bad. He sat there for a minute longer, and then said, "Did I do something wrong Sharon?"

"Oh honey, you didn't do anything wrong." Her voice was shaky and unlike her normal strong deep tone.

"Then what happened?"

"I don't know how you are going to take this Rusty. Just don't run out of here. You may be excited I'm not sure, but…your mother was here earlier, and she will be back at 2. She requested to speak with you, and I told her I would let you decide." Sharon was speaking faster than normal he thought, and she had her hands pushed down in her pockets. He knew that was her tell.

The news was still sinking in, and he didn't know how he felt about it yet. The thing he did know was that this was hurting Sharon. Just one more way she hurt because of him he thought. She was just looking at him with that comforting face she always gave him; she was waiting for him to process. He liked that she understood that about him. He had waited so long for his mother to come back for him, but now that she was actually back he didn't know that he liked it or even wanted it. She was still watching him, and she had been right he wanted to run…again.

"What happens if I don't want to see her?" he asked.

"As far as I am concerned that is your choice." Rusty thought that was a direct answer. The kind of answer she gave him when she was trying to steer the conversation away from something bigger.

"What are you not telling me Sharon?"

"To be honest, she said that if you don't see her today, she is going to file for custody of you today."

"What!?" He was up and pacing now. He wanted to know why his mother was doing this? She all of a sudden loved him and wanted him? Why now?

"Rusty, it is still your choice, and I will do and support whatever you want."

"It will be bad if I don't though right?" There were a million things running through his mind, and Sharon looked like she either wanted to shoot someone or go cry somewhere. All she did was look at him; that was the only answer to that question he was going to get. In that very moment he came to a realization about his mother and knew that she wanted something. She always wanted something.

"Ok, I will talk to her, and find out what she wants this time."

"Maybe she doesn't want anything Rusty." Her face said differently he thought.

"We will see. I am going to the break room."

11:50AM

Sharon felt sick to her stomach. She was rubbing her temples when someone knocked on her door. "Come in."

"Captain I haven't been able to find anything useful, but Reno PD is sending over a file that might be useful," Provenza said.

"Ok thank you Lieutenant. Let me know if anything useful comes of it."

"Ok Captain." He stood there for another minute looking like he wanted to say something, but she prayed that he wouldn't. Just as she was about to ask if there was anything else he turned and left.

'Thank goodness,' she thought, and then she went back to thinking about what she was going to about this woman. She sure as hell wasn't going to let her take Rusty.

2PM

She watched as Lieutenant Provenza escorted Sharon Beck back to interview one. Andy was sitting in the murder room tossing around papers obviously disgruntled. Once she was inside the interview room he headed to electronics. They had discussed whether or not they were going to watch the conversation and had decided it would be for everyone's benefit if they did. Sharon didn't want to violate Rusty's trust, but if this woman managed to undo what they all had worked so hard to accomplish with Rusty she would take care of Ms. Beck herself. The team would watch from electronics, and she would be right outside the door if Rusty needed her. No doubt that she would watch the tape later.

Rusty emerged from his cubicle looking toward her office. He looked so sad she thought. As he started her way she walked out of her office to meet him. Placing a hand on his shoulder she said, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I need to know what she has to say. You know I love you Sharon, but" he voice shook and he continued, "I love her too."

"I know." She smiled at him and then he turned to go see his mom, and Sharon said right before he went in, "I am right out here if you need me." She was so proud of the strong and smart young man he had become.

Walking into the room and seeing his mom was bitter sweet. He was still in shock that she was here, but he had a feeling that she wasn't here just for him. If she wasn't here because she loved him and really wanted to be his mom, he hoped that he could get her to say something that would help Sharon and the team. As he closed the door behind him he turned to face her. She stood up and said, "Rusty, my baby boy, I am so glad to see you." She moved like she was going to come and hug him, and he said, "Why did you come back?" That stopped her in her tracks.

"I'm doing so much better Rusty. I am going to meetings, and I have an apartment here now. We can be a family again."

"Why did you come back?" he repeated.

"I told you. I wanted to see you and I want us to be a family again."

"Why now?" He knew he was being harsh to her, but she had left him at the zoo and then she lied and took the team's money and left him once again standing at the bus stop waiting for her to come back.

"I heard what you were doing, and you obviously need someone to set you straight. You lived on the streets Rusty. Now you are testifying in a murder trial, and living with a police officer. What are you thinking?"

"What am I thinking! Are you kidding me? What were you thinking when you ran off and left me mom?"

"I was messed up Rusty. Paul said we had to go. He had an opportunity in Reno, and we had to go. I always planned to come back for you. I knew you would find a way to survive you're stronger than me."

He honestly had nothing to say to that. He knew he was stronger, the new Sharon in his life had taught him that, but she was going to come back for him? Really?

"Rusty, I need you to come live with me again. We are family. You are my son. We can make a new life. We can use our skills, and make a lot of money."

"What skills?"

"I know you made money on the streets. But we can talk about all of that later."

Rusty's face had gone red. 'Did she really just say that to me?' She wanted him to do those awful things again for her. She needed money, and she came back to use him.

"I don't care if you are gay Rusty, I figured you were a long time ago," she said.

"I am not gay, and you don't get to talk to me about things you don't know about!" He was getting really pissed now, and he hoped Sharon wasn't listening to them. He hated that she knew about that part of his life. He hated that she knew what his mother had done to him. It hurt Sharon that he had to do those things, and he knew that.

"Look Rusty, I just want to get to know you again. I don't expect anything from you. I want to make amends, and I want my son back."

"Well I don't know if I want you back," he replied.

"Well you don't have a choice, I am your mother and the courts are going to side with me. You will come live with me, and we will make a life together."

"You're still sick mom, aren't you? Have you been tested lately? Do you have those results?" He knew that would get a reaction out of her. He had spent the beginning of his life taking care of her when she was "sick", but he had plans now. Sharon wanted him to think about college, and a career path. He didn't know if that was possible with his mother now.

She was whispering now, "Listen here, you don't get to judge me you little brat. You are going to do what I say and need, or I am going to tell all the people at your preppy little school what you are and what you did, and then I am going to find a way to make sure that all your relationships are ruined. Everyone will know."

Rusty felt like he wanted to just runaway. She would do it and he knew it. The new her was mean and spiteful. He hoped Sharon had a plan, and hopefully what his mom said in here would go against her.

"Got it?" she added.

He opened the door walked through closing it behind him. Sharon was standing right where she said she would be, and she held out her arms. He walked right into them. His mother would have never done that for him. His mother would never accept him like Sharon does. He whispered to her, "Don't make me go with her." She leaned back and brushed the hair off his forehead. "I won't," she promised.

2:30PM

Sharon had put Rusty in her office, and closed the door as she walked out. As she was walking towards interview one Lieutenant Provenza appeared from electronics and said, "The kid did well, but I don't know if she said enough to be useful. You want me to sit with him?"

"No, he needs a minute." He was on the verge of crying and she knew he didn't like people to see that. They were so similar in so many ways.

"Anything I can do?"

"Can you go get a soda from the break room? I want to bring it back in to him when I finish up here."

"Sure thing."

Sharon nodded a thank you and then headed to see Ms. Beck. Entering the room she said, "How did it go?"

"It's obvious that you are brainwashing my son. The fact that he spends so much time in a police station makes that obvious."

"Ms. Beck I assure you that Rusty is not being brainwashed, and he is free to come and go from here as he wishes. This is a safe place for him. He is a smart kid who makes his own decisions."

"We will see about that."

"Just so we are clear Ms. Beck, I have no intention of letting you get custody of Rusty. So if you think the fact that you are his mother works in your favor, think again. You abandoned your child, and I promise you the court won't look kindly on that."

"Well Mrs. Raydor, I think you underestimate me."

"I assure you I don't. I need to go make sure Rusty is ok. Lieutenant Flynn will show you out."

Sharon stood not looking back at the woman. Provenza had left the soda sitting on Flynn's desk, she picked it up and headed into her office to check on Rusty.

3PM

"I can get a police escort for us to the chess tournament if you still want to go." She said it with a smile hoping to cheer him up a little bit.

"No thanks I already called and said that I wouldn't be able to make it."

"I'm sorry Rusty, I know this was important for you. I hated to bring you here today."

"I know Sharon. I needed to be here. Can we please go home? Please."

"Yes, we can."

Sharon didn't like seeing him like this. She wished she would have called the woman's bluff and just left him out of it until the last possible minute. She hated they were missing the chess tournament, but she would try her best to make it up to him. As she was gathering up her stuff she asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Maybe we can just make something at home. Is that ok?"

"Sure."

9:20PM

After they had eaten, Rusty had disappeared to his room. Since then Sharon had been alternating between sitting in the living room working and pacing the hallway wondering if she should talk to Rusty. Finally, she had resolved herself to finishing this report and then going to her room and taking a very long shower, in hopes of washing the day away. Just as she was finishing the report she heard Rusty's door open. She looked down the hall, but he didn't emerge. 'I can take a hint,' she thought.

She closed up her folders, and went down the hall. Standing in the doorframe she looked at Rusty. He was lying on the bed facing the other wall. It broke her heart to see him like this. She knocked softly on the doorframe. Rusty rolled over onto his back to look at her. His eyes were red, he had definitely been crying.

"You can come in," he said while sitting up and moving over so she could sit.

After sitting down next to him she said, "How are you doing?"

"She didn't come back because she wants to be my mom. She wants to use me."

"I know."

"What are we going to do?" He looked so desperate, she just wanted to hold him and tell him that everything would be ok.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do Sharon. After everything, you are one of the only people I can trust."

"I have a plan. In the morning I am going to talk to DDA Hobbs, and then I have a plan. We will only take this as far as you say is ok, but Rusty I will be honest, I think your mom will try to make this…difficult."

"What do you mean as far as I want?"

"Well there are things that she has done that are criminal, and there are other things that we can fight her with, but I don't want to make this any worse on you so it will all be up to you. And Rusty," she took a moment to suppress the emotion that was creeping up on her, "if you change your mind, and what you want to do is go live with her…that is your choice too." The last part she worded very carefully so as to not influence him one way or the other.

After what they had gone through together with Daniel Dunn, and Rusty thinking she didn't want him; she didn't want that to happen here too. She did want him, and she wanted to make sure that he knew that, but she also knew the hold his mother had on him. She wouldn't make this about her though because a real mother makes things about their kids, and they put their children first. She would let him choose the direction this would take. But if Sharon Beck thought she would just give up she had another thing coming.

"I trust you, but I did research when Daniel showed up and parents can get foster kids back even with a record if they show progress."

She knew this, but she was the Captain of Major Crimes and she had pull and tools that Sharon Beck couldn't dream of having. "Let's just see what Andrea says tomorrow. You should get your stuff ready for tomorrow, and then try to get some sleep." She stood up gathering her sweater around her, it was a comfort to her, and she headed for the door. Just as she was about to walk out the door Rusty said, "Sharon."

She turned to face him, "hmm?"

"I meant what I said earlier. I mean before I went into see my mom."

"I know Rusty…I love you too. I really would miss you if you were gone. I've always meant that, since the first time I said it."

When he smiled back at her she knew that he remembered what she was talking about. "Get some rest." She headed for her room to take that shower she had been thinking about for a while now.