A/N: I had an anon message me and ask if I ever considered writing anything Sharon and Andrea, and they slipped me a prompt just in case I decided to write it. Well, here I am writing it just because it's unlike anything I've ever written and what can I say I like a challenge. Now, this isn't a typical romance kind of thing, and I honestly can't decide if I want to leave it here or write a follow up chapter…maybe you guys can help me decide…Enjoy!


It was just for one night.

That is what she told herself over and over.

It was just for one night.


When Andrea had gotten that call in the middle of the night, her world had stopped, until she heard the words, "Sharon is alive." Detective Sykes had rattled off a bunch of other things, but all Andrea wanted to know was where she needed to go. Her heart was able to beat, even if it was a little too rapidly, and then her feet started moving—next thing she knew she was there, standing amongst the chaos looking for Sharon.

When their eyes locked from across the doorway, Andrea finally felt like she could breathe. Sharon was standing in the middle of her living room, and Andrea could not have been more relieved. An officer started speaking, and Sharon turned her attention to him for a quick moment. The break in Andrea's and the other woman's gaze gave her a chance to let her eyes roam over the room, and take in the sight of all the destruction laid out before her. What she had not been expecting was the body her eyes found in the hallway, and upon further observation, she wasn't happy about the blood running down her best friend's arm either.

The sight is what sprung her into action, but as Andrea began making her way through the crowd of officers to Sharon, the other woman shook her head ever so slightly and Andrea stopped just a few steps inside the doorway. Sharon held up a finger indicating she would be there in just a moment. So, Andrea had no choice but to take a breath and wait.

Lieutenant Provenza joined her within a few seconds, along with the rest of the Major Crimes team. Each one filling her in on the details of the situation, and what they knew. All she really heard, or rather, all she was able to process was that they believed the body in the Captain's hallway was an officer, who had not been happy with the Captain's investigation into him during her time in FID, and that it seemed he was working alone.

Andrea knew that was a good thing because it meant there would be no one else coming to harm Sharon, and there would be no need for an investigation other than to take down the facts and file the report. She didn't need to be a Deputy District Attorney to know that this man had been killed in self-defense.

The DDA nodded to all of them and excused herself out into the hallway. She knew they had all been giving each other questioning looks as she made her departure, but it didn't matter; she needed some air and some space. So much space she found herself sitting in the hall by the elevators.

No one knew what her true feelings were, and half the time she didn't allow herself to acknowledge them. Everyone probably just thought she had seen what she needed to see and left, but that wasn't true. The truth was that she was trying to force her brain and her heart to get on the same damn page before she spoke to Sharon. This was one of those times, she had acknowledged her feelings and her heart had taken over, and now it needed to stop. Otherwise, she was going to walk in there, wrap Sharon in her arms, and tell the woman how ridiculously happy she was that she was safe.

It was stupid to fall in love with your best friend, even when you knew she had been married for so long, and only experimented with a girl in college before she met said husband, but hey you can't help who you fall in love with. Especially, when that woman was one of the genuinely best people that you had ever met; someone that loved and cherished family, understood what it meant to work hard, and knew intimately that the struggles of a person's life were what shaped them. How could anyone not love that woman?

How could people not understand that Sharon did her job to the best of her ability, and sometimes that meant that she had to go after her own people because that was what justice demanded?

How could someone seriously think they were going to break in and kill her? Ex-Cop or not, didn't matter.

Officers started filing past the DDA, who was still sitting on the floor, and some shot her questioning glances, others didn't even look her direction, but when the body rolled by, Andrea stood up. Knowing it was out of the apartment helped somehow, and she headed to find Sharon. The FID officers started exiting the apartment, and she knew that most of them still felt a tremendous loyalty to their former boss, meaning that this would be wrapped up very quickly.

As she entered the apartment, again, Sharon was surrounded by her team, all of them stating their opinion that she should go to the hospital and get checked out. She seemed to be profusely declining that suggestion though. As Andrea leaned against the wall, ready to wait for her turn with the Captain, Sharon spotted her. The older woman once again declined, and then simply said, "Excuse me for a moment."

The Captain made a direct line for her, and Andrea pushed off the wall, not really knowing what kind of reaction to expect from her friend, however, she was prepared for anything. Sharon walked up, grabbed Andrea's hand and led her to the kitchen, all without saying a word. As soon as they were out of sight from the rest of the team, Sharon latched onto Andrea hugging the other woman tight, and even though it took her by surprise, Andrea instantly returned the gesture.

"Andrea," the name was whispered directly into the owner's ear, and sounded like a plea. A heartbreaking plea that Andrea felt the need to answer, even though she wasn't sure what the plea meant entirely.

"I've got you," came the only reply Andrea could seem to manage.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, and then suddenly Sharon tensed up for no apparent reason. "Relax, Sharon, it's ok now."

The Captain's voice was emotional, but lighter somehow when she said, "I got blood on your shirt." There was also a stifled giggle Andrea felt against her neck. It made her shiver slightly, but she managed to mostly hide it by stepping back a half step from Sharon. The distance allowed her to see the other woman's face. They studied each other before Andrea replied.

"I hate this shirt anyway." The sarcasm was there and it brought a smile to Sharon's face. That's all Andrea needed in that moment, was to see the other woman smile. "Let me see your arm," she said gently now.

Sharon extracted her arms from Andrea's body and held it out for inspection. It wasn't bad, much to the blonde's relief, but it didn't look good either, though the woman's shirt made it difficult to see the extent of the damage completely.

"Don't say it 'Drea," Sharon said looking at her with tired eyes, "Please, I know what you are thinking."

There it was, the nickname, the name only Sharon had ever called her, and the name no one else was allowed to say or hear. A name that was strictly between the two of them. The name brought out when Sharon really wanted to get her way, but didn't have very many cards to play at the time.

"Ok, but on two conditions." The words were spoken in a stern, but still playful manner; a manner that she knew the other woman would respond well too.

"And those are?"

"You come home with me and let me take care of that wound and any others—but if it is worse than we think you will be going to the doctor—and secondly, you don't argue," Andrea finished it with a smile and a small chuckle. She knew Sharon would hate the no arguing part.

Sharon pretended to ponder the option for a minute, even going so far as to bring her fingers to her chin, as though she was in deep thought. "Agreed." When Andrea looked shocked it had been that easy, the Captain shrugged and said, "My house is a crime scene, I can't stay here," now Andrea looked indignant, "You know I couldn't refuse your offer Andrea. I never have."

And that right there. Those are the kinds of things Andrea didn't need to hear because those were words her mind and heart found hope in. Then, the smile on Sharon's lips said she knew exactly what was running through the other woman's mind, it was infuriating and captivating all at once. Sharon turned and walked back to the living room and Andrea followed.

"I have to go get my arm taken care of," Sharon said to the team as they turned to face her once again, but the Captain shot Andrea a quick glance, "I know you have to process and investigate and I can't be a part of it, so save your breath. We all also know, that until I am cleared by FID, I won't be able to work, so if anyone needs me I'll be with Andrea." With the finish of her announcement, there was no chance for rebuttals or questions, Sharon walked out of the apartment leaving everyone standing there, exactly where they were.

The team turned to Andrea and she heard Flynn mumble something about Sharon sure did change her mind quick, and the others had questioning looks on their faces, but Andrea just shrugged. "You know how she is." Then, she followed the other woman out the door.


The drive home had been silent for the most part, and Andrea had held back all of the questions that were burning in her mind waiting to be asked; things like what exactly had happened, and how Sharon had managed to take down the angry ex-officer that kicked in her door. But she knew that now was not the time, and if she pressured the other woman, it wouldn't be well received. So, instead she just drove, and tried to allow the Captain the time she needed to process.

She unlocked the door to her townhouse and ushered Sharon inside. The older woman went straight to the kitchen and perched herself on a barstool at the bar without saying a word. This was a routine they had followed in the past, when Sharon was injured, but not enough—or so she believed—to warrant a trip to the hospital. She would show up on Andrea's doorstep, and the younger woman would take care of her. It wasn't like Andrea was a doctor, and the first time it happened she had protested, but then eventually gave in and tended to the wound. Now, she didn't question it, she just did what she knew was needed for the woman she had been pining away about, for months…maybe years if she was truly honest.

Andrea went to the cabinet and got the first aid kit, and then washed her hands before coming to stand next to Sharon. She could tell that the adrenaline was wearing off, and the weight of the situation was starting to hit the older woman. It wouldn't be long, Andrea thought, before Sharon either started talking or crying, it was always one or the other. The DDA hated to see this happening to her friend…again…but just like every time before she would do whatever it took to make things right again.

Finally, Andrea met Sharon's eyes, and raised an eyebrow, silently asking for permission to proceed and Sharon nodded. There was no way to access the cut properly, given the long sleeves of Sharon's blouse, and the other woman seemed to realize that. The Captain slowly pulled her arm away from the blonde and began to unbutton her shirt, sliding her arm out carefully and then gently placed the blouse on the counter beside her. Andrea did the best she could to control her body's reaction and busied herself with the supplies before her, but with another glance she started to notice the extent of bruising rapidly appearing on Sharon's shoulder and chest, there was even a little creeping up onto her neck.

"Does it hurt?" Andrea asked quietly running her fingers gently across the newly formed bruise.

The small hiss from Sharon said everything, but words followed, "It is beginning to."

With a slight nod Andrea slid her hand down and captured the other woman's.

Andrea carefully examined what seemed to be a very clean cut, most likely from a knife, and it was deep, but not deep enough she thought it warranted stitches. As gently as she could the blonde began to clean and bandage the injury.

"I thought he was still in jail. They must have let him out early," Sharon said as Andrea worked.

"Who was he?" It was risky to ask because sometimes the Captain refused to discuss previous cases.

"Detective Farinha. He had a habit of beating criminals, witnesses, his wife, really anyone who didn't agree with him."

Andrea could hear the distance with which Sharon spoke about the case. It had probably been rough, and the Captain had put up yet another wall to protect herself. "I'm sorry," was the only response Andrea was capable of.

Sharon gave her a half smile and looked down at the floor for a moment before returning her eyes to meet the blonde's.

Andrea finished bandaging the arm about that time. "Are there anymore?"

Sharon smirked, "Look and see."

The DDA almost let out a yelp thanks to the words, smirk, and sultry tone of Sharon's voice.

"'Drea, thank you." They shared a smile and Andrea tried to regain enough composure to speak.

"You're welcome," she said and started to clean up, needing to put distance between them, and suddenly noticing the time. "It's 2AM Sharon, you should shower and try to get some rest." Throwing away the used supplies, she spun to face the other woman, "You know where everything is, and you have clothes in the dresser. You want some food or a drink…or something? I can make it while you shower…"

Andrea was silenced out of her ramble by Sharon's finger on her lips. She wasn't sure when the Captain had moved so close, but they were practically breathing the same air in that moment. "Shar—" Andrea tried to speak, but a shake of a head stopped her.

"I know Andrea, I've been here a thousand times. This time though, you seem more nervous than usual." Sharon removed her finger from Andrea's lips and quirked an eyebrow, obviously wanting an answer to her unasked, but somehow very clear question of why.

The problem was the nervousness was a combination of things and Andrea had no intention of explaining all of that tonight.

"I was just worried when Sykes called, and I guess I just haven't settled down," Andrea lied.

She could feel the Captain's searching gaze rather than see it, but Sharon seemed to be willing to let it go for now. "Ok, go lie down while I shower and try to calm down then." There was a pause as Sharon stepped away to grab a water off the counter. "I'm sorry I dragged you out of bed." Sharon was almost out of the kitchen when she turned and asked, almost timidly, "Wait up for me?"

"Of course," Andrea said as Sharon disappeared around the corner and down the hallway. "Of course I'll wait," she whispered to herself.

She knew she was waiting for more than a shower to finish, no, she was waiting for the rest of the story about what happened, she was waiting for the tears and comforting to ensue after the story, and she was waiting for the most important person in her life to fall asleep safe and sound in her arms; to be the protector of Sharon she so rarely got to be, even if she knew it was just for one night.