AN: Here it is the start of a new part in the Shattered images series. I am overwhelmed by all the great reviews I have received and the enthusiasm in anticipation of this new part. I never believed I would get so many readers, who enjoyed this shandy universe I've created as much as I do myself while writing it.

Thank you so much for the many author follows!

I hope you will enjoy reading this part. It is complete, but as you know my RL can get very hectic at times, so there might be a wait for some chapters.

I worked very hard this week to upload this chapter as I had promised, I wrote three articles in two days, just so that I could do the final edit on this chapter.

A big thank you to glistening sun, who did the beta work on these chapters. All mistakes left are mine.

Rated M to be on the safe side, mostly for violence in the crime scenes.

Chapter one

Sharon was happy the holiday hectic was over. The first week she had spent at the station. Without Andy it had been quite dull, no one to talk to, no one to take her to lunch. Without Andy she avoided the canteen. Cohen and Zygerski were the only ones who talked to her, but both had been wrapped up in a murder case. Without her partner present, her tasks involved paperwork and filing.

Her time outside the station was spent at her parents' house. She had helped her mom plan the children's charity event at the hospital and the Christmas party her parents hosted this year. At least it had managed to take her mind off the turmoil her private life was in.

After she had closed the Landry case she decided to settle things with Jack. She called him once she returned home, left him messages at home and at work. The next day he got back to her with apologies. Something about being in meetings all night. Somehow she didn't care anymore whether he really had been wrapped up in meetings or whether he had been wrapped up in the sheets of a hotel room bed with Meyer's secretary or an intern. His voice had been hopeful. She wondered when that would end. She asked him to come over to pick up his things. He told her he would come over to talk. Talking invariably led to arguing, but she still allowed him to come in, hoping she would finally get through to him. She wondered whether she had. In the end he left with his things, and although he probably hadn't given up hope, the phone calls, flowers and cards stopped. Something she hadn't thought about was the fact that he would never be completely banished from her life. They lived in the same town. They were members of the same social circles. Even at work their paths crossed occasionally.

At least life would return to normal today. Andy returned to work today after spending the last sixteen days in New York with his family. She hoped that he had a wonderful time and managed to spend a lot of it with his children.

Andy had called her on Christmas day to wish her a Merry Christmas. She remembered smiling when hearing his upbeat voice and the sound of children in the background. He had even thought to call her to wish her a Happy New Year. She wondered what nineteen eighty-four would bring. It kind of felt like the old Sharon did not exist anymore. In a way it was scary, but she told herself to focus on the one thing she was sure of, her career.

Andy still suffered from a slight jet lag. He'd spend as much time as possible in New York, much to Sandra's discontent. If it had been up to her he wouldn't have spent any time with the children at all. Sharon had asked a lawyer friend of hers to help him out though. The guy had been great. At first he had been tentative about the idea. He just didn't do well with lawyers. This guy was different though. He pressured Sandra's lawyer for as long as he had to and it hadn't been long. In the end it had been very clear that Sandra had no other choice than to allow the children to spend the holidays with him. He had Sharon to thank for that. One more proof of the amazing woman she was. He had missed her so much. To be away from her for sixteen days, almost unbearable. Forced himself not to call her, although she had been on his mind every single day . Whatever he did, she had always been on his mind. What would Sharon say? What would she think? He would imagine her laugh, quirk her eyebrow, wrinkle them in that adorable way of hers.

When his parents exchanged looks he realized he brought up her name every other sentence. He must have been grinning like a lovesick fool while talking to her on Christmas Day while his siblings burst into laughter behind him. They teased him, tried to pry the details out of him. He had told them they were wrong, Sharon was his partner, his friend. They hadn't believed him. He could not blame them. No matter how often he claimed Sharon was nothing more than his partner and his friend, no matter whether he yelled the words or not, it did not change the fact that he longed for her with every fiber of his being.

A smile curled his face as he stood in the entrance to the murder room. Sharon was sitting behind her desk, a frown formed between her eyebrows, focused on the file she was reading. His eyes scanned her body, wandering over the pink silk blouse buttoned down far enough to see part of that perfect cleavage of hers. It was extremely warm for January. She wore her hair up revealing her slender neck. His eyes travelled down, one black heel beside their desk. Already kicked off her shoes. That made him smile even more. For a moment he was so caught up in seeing her again, realizing she was even more beautiful than her image engraved in his mind, that he missed her looking at him.

"Admiring the stack of paperwork I managed to get rid of for you?"

Her voice startled him. Her smile was like heaven. He loved her wit. He longed to say he was admiring her.

"No welcome back?"

Sharon smiled widely.

"Welcome back, partner."

He felt like hugging her, but he already felt the eyes of Sanders and Dixon burn on his skin, and what would Sharon think about him?

She rose from her chair. What was she doing? Would she come over to him, hug him, welcome him back with a kiss on his cheek?

"Andy?..."

"Hm, what?"

His cheeks flushed a bright red as he so obviously missed whatever she asked him.

"I need to bring these files to the city archive. The least you can do is carry them, since I did all the hard work."

She handed them over to him.

Hug him, kiss him? What had he been thinking? They were colleagues and friends, nothing more and they would never will be.

"Earth to Andy Flynn, again…"

"Sorry jetlag."

"When did you return?"

"Last night. I wanted to be with the kids for as long as I could."

Sharon smiled lovingly. Being with his children did Andy good. Whenever he talked about them he softened up. His ex knew how to hurt him, she didn't play fair in this war between them. Sharon didn't care what Andy had done during their marriage, what he had done to cause them to break up. There was no reason for her to play this dirty.

"Gavin managed to help out then?"

"Yeah, he was amazing. You know Sandra didn't allow me to spend any time with them when I first came over."

The look in Sharon's eyes hardened a bit, forcing herself to remain neutral.

"I feared for something like that. That's why I asked Gavin to contact you."

"I don't know what he said, how he managed to persuade Sandra to allow the children to spend the holidays with me."

"You're their father, that's your right. She didn't have much of a choice. I'm sure Gavin made that perfectly clear to her lawyer. Gavin can be extremely persuasive."

"Is he a friend of Jack's?"

"No, he's my friend. Gavin doesn't like Jack that much. In fact, he send me a card congratulating me on my engagement breaking up."

Andy smiled, he liked the guy's sense of humor.

"Uhm, could you give me his number? I'd like to ask what I owe him."

"You don't owe him anything. I took care of it."

She smiled at him. Gavin did this for her, as a friend, although he'd been very happy with the expensive suit she bought him. She knew the way to Gavin's heart.

"Sharon…"

"Don't worry about it."

She waved his protests away. She was too kind, did more for him than a friend should do.

"It was amazing to see the kids again. I can't believe how much they've grown. They grow up too fast. It hit me hard how much I've missed them."

"And I'm sure they've missed you too."

"It was nice to be together during the holidays. I can't believe we all fit into my parents apartment. My brothers, my sisters, their spouses, their kids. It was like the old days."

"Sounds like a lot of fun."

"It was. Nicole loved that ballerina doll you suggested by the way. She wouldn't let it go anymore."

Sharon remembered Andy's little girl, such an adorable doll.

"Brian terrorized his cousins with his new police car." Andy grinned, proud that his son came after him.

"Just like his daddy." There was a twinkle in her yes. She knew how much Andy loved both of his children and how proud he was of both of them.

"So how were your holidays? You spent them at your parents, right?"

"Yes, my parents hosted a party."

"Sounds like fun."

"It was interesting."

Andy frowned.

"Jack showed up."

"He didn't." Andy looked appalled, the nerve the guy had, showing up at her parents' house during Christmas.

"Was he invited? He wasn't, right?"

"No, well, at least not by my parents. He came with someone who was invited, an associate of his law firm. It was…awkward."

"I can imagine. Did he give you a hard time?"

"I didn't give him much of an opportunity, after an awkward 'hello' I tried my best to avoid him."

She recalled him calling her by her name, his voice had paralyzed her, she stood nailed to the ground. Every muscle in her body instantly tense. She had not expected him to be there. He used the moment of surprise to unnerve her. He knew how to get to her, maybe even found pleasure in it.

The guy was an ass, he could have known she would feel awkward. He had deliberately come just to unnerve her. Andy didn't know what he would have done if she eventually would have end up marrying the guy.

"The children's charity event was very rewarding though. I helped momma plan it. Got my mind off other things."

Andy sighed. "You need to banish Raydor from your thoughts."

"It's hard, because he ends up being there every time I turn."

"You want me to talk to him?"

"Talk?"

Sharon smiled. She knew how that conversation would evolve. They'd communicate with their fists. That would not be good. Andy was right, she would just have to move on, leave Jack where he belonged, in the past.

"I can be civil, Sharon."

"Sure you can, just not with Jack. I'll be fine, Andy."

"Okay."

Smothering her would not solve a damn thing. She had to deal with this on her own and on her own time.

"It's just strange to deal with this new phase in my life. Jack was my first serious boyfriend. I had never been in a long term relationship before him. We were engaged. I've never been with anyone else but him. It's strange to deal with men who are interested."

Without realizing it Andy clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened. The thought of men trying to seduce her was too much to bear. Jealousy engulfing him until he couldn't think clearly anymore.

"Interested?"

"Yes, is that so hard to imagine?"

"No of course not, you're…. …."

The look in her eyes changed from annoyed to surprised as he began to stutter.

He'd been about to say the word gorgeous. He could not tell her he believed she was gorgeous. Dammit Flynn, what did you manage to talk yourself into now? The messes you keep making...

"I'm what, Andy Flynn?"

She looked him straight in the eye, that piercing look of hers taking him hostage.

"The most amazing woman I know."

Her cheeks flushed bright red. She didn't handle compliments well, especially not the unexpected ones.

"We should better deliver these."

While talking they had already arrived in the parking lot. She turned to the files on the backseat of the car, but Andy cupped her chin gently guiding her face towards him. She looked so confused. He had to restrain himself from kissing her.

"Thank you, Sharon…"

Her eyes were killing him, causing this lump to form in his throat.

"For what?"

"Mom told me they didn't send me that ticket to come over… That was you, wasn't it? Because of you I was able to spend Christmas with my children. You have no idea how much that means to me."

Her chest tightened when she saw all the emotions playing in his eyes. She had never seen him like this. This raw in his emotions.

"You're amazing, Sharon Elliot. Thank you for giving me back my children."

He bend over to press a gentle kiss on her forehead, a tear escaped her eye, his warmth and love so overwhelming, moving her to tears.

"I knew how much you missed them."

Her voice wasn't much more than a whisper. He owed so much to her, his job, his health, his life, seeing his children. He had no idea how he was ever going to repay her.

"It was a Christmas gift."

"It was too much."

"No, it wasn't."

"I didn't get you anything."

She pulled back from him locking her eyes with his. Was he truly serious about that? How could he think something like that. Especially after everything that happened over the last year.

"Without you I wouldn't have managed to stay alive until Christmas."

He'd rather not think about her in the trunk of that car. Landry was away, locked up safe and sound, unable to harm Sharon ever again. She hadn't died, but he didn't want to think about how close she had come.

How was this ever going to work? Would he be able to hide his feelings for her? They were so close to the surface, like he had lost all control over them. That's why he had allowed himself to come so close, had allowed himself something as private and loving as a kiss, the touch too gentle and lingering for it to be a friendly kiss, no matter how hard he screamed at himself that it was just that.

But what was the alternative? Letting her go? A transfer? He'd spend the last sixteen days without her and although he'd been very happy surrounded by his family and his children, a part of him had felt empty. Something had been missing. Sharon. He had missed her terribly. He had to make it work out somehow.

He smiled, not breaking eye contact while he lifted his hand from her chin.

"Whoever it will be, Sharon, he will be one lucky bastard."

Her huge smile melted his heart. If only that lucky bastard could be him.