a/n: The Major Crimes episodes they have been handing our way lately have been perfect! Even when they're not about Shandy, there's usually a significant moment this season. Seeing Open Line I couldn't help but think that so many things could've gone wrong with Felix's take down. Like if Tao had not shot him sooner perhaps, and he'd been able to get his hands on the police officer's gun...

My tag to Open Line people.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Major Crimes.

The hospital was a hub of noises, and she didn't hear any of them. Stretchers being wheeled past, announcements and codes being ordered over the PA, and the general hum of machinery working overtime penetrated the air. Yet the sound that stood out to her the most was the tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump of the blood pounding in her ears.

With a lump in her throat and her wobbly knees; she followed the yellow arrows down an endless maze of hallways. Part of her hoped if she could just continue walking, just keep going and going, that she would never get there. That she would just continue taking twists and turns and hopefully never come and out at what could very possibly be the end.

And because the world was just what it was…when she took her next left turn it was straight into another waiting room. A waiting room that was largely empty except for four chairs filled with various members of her team.

Sykes, Amy, was varying from sitting for ten seconds and pacing for thirty. Julio and Mike were sitting beside Amy's chair matching solem expressions on their faces. While Provenza was five or six chairs away—the closest to Sharon (and the exit)—his elbows resting on his knees and his face hidden in his palms.

Amy was the one that spotted her first. In the middle of her lap; she stopped dead when she saw her…a strange look on her face, "Captain-"

"Amy…" at Amy's outburst Julio and Mike spotted her, the same look that Amy wore appearing on their faces too. The only one that didn't look up was Provenza. Her voice sounded strangled when she managed to choke out a question—"Louie?"

…Well…sort of a question…

"He's not dead." Provenza's answer was worded crassly; something that immediately incited a look of anger on Julio's face, but he held back from saying anything. Sharon was proud of him for that, even if some of her wanted to slap the man herself. "Or, at least, they haven't told us yet."

"Louie Provenza!" She snapped harshly; unable to stop herself. At her rebuke his head slowly lifted from the cover of his hands, and she wondered, for the first time, just how badly she looked herself. Because from her point of view, the man in front of her looked horrible, and yet when his eyes alighted on her he looked almost pitiful.

He didn't apologize—not that she had expected him to. Instead of saying anything; he patted the seat next to him. Gratefully, she sank down next to him; if she had stood a moment longer, she was pretty sure she would be huddled on the ground by now at the rate her legs were turning to liquid.

This day had started out bad—murders always were. But they were commonplace in their world, something they were used to, something they could handle. And now here she was...huddled outside the intimidating bay doors of the intensive care unit—helpless.

All she could do was wait as Andy fought for his life.

a/n: Figured this was a better 4th of July celebration than a sterotypical Independence fic that I would only butcher. Besides, I would like to try my hand at writing some longer MAJOR CRIMES fics in the future. Figured this was a good start.

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