"So Dad, where's Sharon tonight?" Nicole turned to her dad who was sitting on a barstool at her kitchen counter. Nicole was busy finishing up dinner for the family. The boys were outside with Dean, running off some of their energy. Andy had already spent a half hour outside with them, and all that had done was exhaust him. Dean had tag-teamed him, and now, here he sat, catching his breath and ready for a chance to talk with his daughter.

He waved his hand as he spoke, "She and Rusty are on their way back from San Francisco. They were up there this weekend to see Ricky. Wait, I thought I told you that?"

Nicole nodded, "Oh, that's right! I'm sorry; work has been busy, and I've just been such a scatterbrain. You did tell me that. Well, that's good to hear; I was starting to get a little worried something had gone wrong. You haven't brought her over here in awhile."

Andy frowned, "Nic, she came to the boys' school play at the end of the school year-what was it-the end of May, right?"

"I know, but still, that was a month ago now. When you are dating someone, well, it's my experience you want to be with them all the time. You've come here for dinner several times since then, and she hasn't come with you. You know she's welcome, right?" Nicole inquired.

Andy sighed, "Nicole, I've talked to you about this," he looked at her, "Listen, things with Sharon are fine. Good in fact. She's finally getting over the Stroh stuff. That whole ordeal really threw her for a loop again. Here, she and Rusty thought things were finally coming to an end, and the dirtbag escapes. She was pretty freaked out for a few months, depressed a little even, and I think she's finally coming out of that. That's partly why this trip to see Ricky is so good for her. He's been really worried about her too. She hasn't seen him since Christmas, and neither she nor Rusty have left LA since then either. I know it was only a few days, but I'm hoping it really helped clear her head."

Nicole looked at him to say something, but Andy continued, "And, let me clarify again that we aren't officially dating. Not yet, anyway," he muttered.

Nicole crossed her arms, "Dad, what's the problem? Why this dance around dating or not? You and Sharon have been dancing around the term for months, really well over a year if we are to be honest. Everyone knows you are. What's the issue? It seems like you are hung up on the right terminology, both of you. She says the same thing."

Andy raised his arm to halt her, "Look, it's been complicated. Sharon and I are good with things. Besides, hopefully we can say we are officially dating soon. We were doing well back after Christmas even, and I thought we were finally making progress. As soon as the Stroh stuff happened, she tried to throw herself into work, obessing over finding him. She tried to push me away, nothing awful, but she kept telling me that Stroh would hurt anyone close to her, and she didn't that for me, even though in that extrememly bright and beautiful mind of hers, she couldn't see that I wasn't going anywhere, especially at a time some maniac was out there possibly hunting her. I've told you before, this spring was just a nightmare. A couple weeks ago, though, Sharon had sort of a breakthrough, and well, I think she's finally moving past it. Now, I'm hopeful we can get back on track, not that we were ever off track, but I guess we put developing anything further on hold."

Nicole smiled, "So you admit you have feelings for her and want a realationship, a real one?"

Andy got frustrated, "Of course I have feelings for her! I am well past the "feelings" stage. Nicole, I can't stand the thought of anything happening to her or her not being the one I spend time with, talk to, you know, the person I want to be around all the time."

Nicole grinned, "Dad you love her."

Andy rolled his eyes, "And, I thought I was the detective," he mumbled. Nicole, of course I do! I have had to let Sharon work out everything for a long time now. She's finally to that point. She's worked through all of her Jack baggage, dealt with the Stroh mess, gotten Rusty squared away, and now, she can focus on herself, on what she wants. I've been clear with her all along what I want, but I've also told her I'm in no rush. I think she was feeling awkward about everything since we'd been dealing with Stroh, and well, a couple weeks ago now, we had a really good talk, talks like we used to have all the time. I put her on the spot, to an extent, telling her to figure out where she needed me in her life. Told her to really think about it now that she'd taken care of everyone else close to her. It was time for Sharon to focus on Sharon. It was a good, natural conversation. It actually started with her talking about what she needed me to do for Julio at work, and it easily evolved into what she need me for in her life. Now, she didn't' really want to dive into that part, but I told her she was just talking to me, Andy, her best friend, and it ended up being a good conversation."

Nicole nodded, "Well, it sounds like you have been through it these past few months. Dad, I wish you would have shared more with me then. I knew she was stressed about Stroh and work, but I didn't know it was causing stress on your relationship."

Andy sighed, "It wasn't exactly stress on our relationship, but more of just a holding pattern. Let me clarify that she never shut me out; we never got into any sort of disagreement over things, but she was just distant-she pulled into herself, almost like she was protecting herself and everyone around her. Sharon's very complicated when it comes to her personal emotions and all. She is but she isn't. Jack did a number on her. With her kids, it's not complicated at all-unconditional love. With those around her, me, well, it's been a process."

As Andy was talking, his phone dinged, and he looked over at his text message. His face lit up, and Nicole rolled her eyes, not that Andy saw it, "I have one guess who that is texting you," she chuckled.

Andy looked up and shrugged his shoulders, "She's getting gas, about three hours out. Hold on, let me reply before she gets back on the road."

Andy turned to his phone while Nicole continued to work in the kitchen, getting dinner ready. Andy had not seen Sharon since Thursday at lunchtime; she and Rusty left after his class, and now, it was Sunday evening, and he was anxious to see her again.

"Stopped for gas, and of course food-Rusty's with me-always needs food when we stop. Should be home in about three hours. I'll call you then if it's not too late."

Andy started to reply to her text, "Call me anyway. It's never too late. Be safe driving home. If you get tired, let Rusty drive or call me. I've missed you."

Andy wasn't sure if Sharon was still at the gas station or not, but he soon saw her typing a reply, "Miss you too, Andy. Maybe we can have dinner tomorrow if we don't' catch a case?"

"I can't think of anything I'd rather do tomorrow evening. I'll also bring lunch leftovers to work. Eating at Nicole's house, and she made tons."

"Tell her I said hello, as well as to Dean and the boys. Looking forward to her leftovers tomorrow at lunch. Okay, Rusty's back-we're off!"

"Sharon said to tell you hello. Shen and Rusty are back on the road," Andy grinned.

Nicole turned back to Andy, "Dad, I'm happy for you, I am. So, what was the comment you made about being able to say you are officially dating soon?"

Andy folded his hands together, "Well, you see, back before Christmas, we put all our cards on the table. If you recall, she'd only just finalized her divorce. I didn't want to be that jerk of a guy who asked her out as the ink was drying on her divorce paperwork, even though we both knew, and well everyone else, that there was a potential for more. Her divorce was so odd because she and Jack had been separated over 20 years anyways. Sharon and I have spent the better part of the last two years spending more and more time together. I get why people say we've been dating a long time, but you know, I wanted to give Sharon a little time to just be Sharon, not Jack's wife Sharon, not my girlfriend, just Sharon. She needed that. Anyway, I told her that I wasn't going anywhere, and she admitted she knew that. I told her that eventually I wanted to move forward with her, as a couple. She said she could see that, but I also reassured her that I knew she wasn't ready yet. So, we agreed to keep things as they were-still spending time together and all that, and to just let things develop, somewhat naturally. Sharon sees dating as much more of a commitment, than to just go on a date. Sure, she believes in going on a date, but to say she's dating-well, that to her, is a major commitment, almost like a going steady thing or the first stop on the road to a marriage. I told her I wouldn't ask her on an official date until I knew she was ready. She was okay with that because she knows an official date is really a relationship changer for her. It's taking that next step, admitting we are in a relationship. Anyway, I think she's finally ready," he shrugged his shoulders.

"Dad, that's great," Nicole smiled. "I think I understand what you are trying to say. You are right; relationships are complicated. I mean, I dealt with that when Dean and I started dating. Of course, part of the complication there was his having the boys, which as you know, is the best thing that happened to me, but yes, things can be complicated. So, when's this official date?"

Andy pursed his lips, "Well, I'm not sure yet. I've been trying to figure out a way to ask her. Work has been rather busy. I thought about taking her on the 4th of July, but that seems a bit cliché-big date on a holiday like that. I don't know."

"Oh! That reminds me-do you want Dodger tickets, I mean for the whole team? I can get them from work for the 4th of July. When they heard my dad was an LAPD detective, they offered your whole team tickets for their law enforcement night-one of those appreciation nights. Interested?"

Andy's eyes grew large, "Of course! Do you need to ask? That would be fantastic. How many tickets can you get?

Nicole shrugged, "As many as you need. So, what do you say?"

Andy grinned, "Ahh, yes. That's amazing. I'll check with everyone at work tomorrow and get you a head count. Dodger tickets on the 4th. That sounds wonderful. Thank you."

"My pleasure," Nicole grinned, "Now, we need to discuss your former issue-the date. Any lcoations in mind?"

Andy nodded, "Ahh, yeah, that's already set. In fact," Andy chuckled, "I have a gift card to use."

Nicole gave Andy a strange look, "You are using a gift card on your first official date with Sharon, which is hopefully your last first official date ever? Dad, really?"

Any raised his hand again, "Hey, it's not what you think. The kids got me a gift card to this newer place, Serve, at Christmas and told me to take Sharon there. It was sweet. She didn't even know about it, well, still doesn't know the location, until I told her they had given me something. Ricky pesters me all the time, asking if I have used it yet, and I promised him I was going to use it very soon."

Nicole nodded, "Oh, that's sweet Dad. So, you talk to Ricky sometimes?"

Andy nodded, "Yeah, usually once a week. He texts me more than that, but especially with Stroh gone, he has been calling me about once a week to make sure Sharon is doing okay. He knows she won't admit anything to him. That's why we he asked for my help in encouraging her to go visit him, well, that was easy."

Nicole smiled, "Well, I'm glad he's worried about his mom so much that he's checking in on her with you. Dad, I am happy for you. Maybe you can ask Sharon out on this date AT the Dodger game?"

Andy nodded, "That might work. I'd have to get her away from the team, but yeah, I'll think about that. She does love going to the Dodger games."

"And going to the games with you," Nicole added, "Don't forget that part."

Another ding to his cell phone had Andy picking it up. He started chuckling. Nicole looked at him with a questioning glance.

"Rusty," he nodded to the phone, "Rusty asked me what he could do to get Sharon to stop singing in the car. Rusty hasn't been on that many long car rides with Sharon, so he doesn't know she loves to sing in the car," Andy continued to chuckle.

"What did you tell him to do?" Nicole asked.

"Sleep," Andy replied, "I told him if he didn't like listening to his mother, he should sleep. I also told him it could be worse. When I'm not driving on long car rides, apparently I snore. I told him he could be listening to me snore, and he told me back that he never needed to hear that. Hate to break it to him, but if things work out, Rusty will definitely be in for some long car rides with both Sharon and me from now on."