I do not own anything, Major Crimes, and its characters belong to TNT.

The story is set between the 4th and 5th season

Danger in the shadow

Chapter One

Her favorite cup of tea held firmly in her hands, Sharon was leaning against the railing of the balcony, allowing her gaze to wander over the city beneath her. It was just after dawn and was one of the moments she preferred, when the city was no longer asleep, but still not entirely free from the night's inactivity, when the first light and the first voices started to fill the air and the sun's rays began to make their warmth known. It was a moment when she could still pretend murders and violence weren't two of the main activities in LA. She let out a deep sigh and took a sip of her tea, trying to drive out the bad thoughts creeping through her mind. "Enough," she said to herself, "you must think only of the good things in your life! You have so much for which to be happy and grateful."

The noise of the sliding glass door made her turn. Here was one of the reasons to be happy. "Ricky, I'm sorry I woke you up."

Her son moved close to her and, after giving her a kiss on the cheek, leaned against the railing, his back to the city panorama. "Don't worry mom, I like to get up early… usually. I've caught it from you," he said, accompanying his words with a big yawn.

"Yeah, I see it," she laughed, giving him a caress.

Ricky had arrived in Los Angeles two days before for a week's holiday with his family and, as always happened on those occasions, he slept on the living room sofa. Sharon was so happy to have him home, even if for a short time, the opportunities to be together were extremely rare with Ricky so committed to his job. So she decided to do something she almost never did: leave Provenza in charge of Major Crimes and take a completely free weekend to spend with her two boys. They didn't have anything special planned, but they dined out, walked around the town shopping - according to Sharon, Ricky absolutely needed a new wardrobe and a decent hair cut! They had gone to the movies but, above all, they had been together, talking and joking and laughing, so every moment spent together was really special for her. Sometimes with Ricky, Rusty and her there were also Gus and Andy, and her heart swelled with joy knowing that when they were all together they were a family and this was the image given to those who watched them from the outside. If only Emily had been there too, her happiness would be truly complete. Even if…

A wrinkle crossed her forehead and Sharon tightened her lips together as if irritated.

"Mom, what's wrong? You look worried." Ricky leaned to her and looked her in the eyes, then nudged her shoulder with his. "You can talk to me. Do you have problems at work? Or couldn't you sleep because your handsome lieutenant left you alone last night?"

A cheeky grin stretched the boy's lips. "Rusty told me that Andy stays here often for the night, I hope you haven't changed your routine because I'm here. There are aspects of your relationship I prefer not to know, but ... "

"Richard William Raydor, careful with what you're going to say," she admonished him, waving a finger at his face.

"Hey, take it easy, I just wanted to say that we are all grown people, and I wouldn't create trouble in paradise, I think I can bear to see him around the house early in the morning, furthermore Rusty says Andy prepares a great breakfast, and my stomach would appreciate that so much," he finished, rubbing his belly.

"I'm sorry for you, but you'll have to settle for my cooking. And, anyway, no, Ricky, you are not the reason for Andy's absence. Of course, Andy and I are discreet but last night he had an AA meeting and then he went to dinner with Nicole and her family. It was so long since he'd seen her and he hadn't spent much time with the kids."

"Well, I'm happy to know his absence wasn't caused by me." And he was sincere. Rusty kept him informed about the relationship their mother had with Andy, and Ricky knew, from talking with her and seeing them together now, that they were really happy together and that Andy was just what his mother needed at this time in her life. He could tell by how they looked at each other, how they touched each other as soon as possible and how they smiled and laughed together. He had to admit, he had never seen his mother so relaxed and spontaneous. But what really convinced him, had been seeing them kissing. He was coming back from the bathroom into the kitchen when he caught them red-handed, tight in each other's arms, completely unaffected by anything that wasn't the person they were clutching, completely lost in a moment of pure bliss. So, not wanting to embarrass them, he turned back and, before returning to the room, he had made enough noise to warn them of his presence and immediately he heard his mother ask Andy to pass her the salad. Ricky smiled at that memory and ran a hand through his hair. "I think it's time for me to go back inside and take a shower before the little brother wakes up and occupies the bathroom for an hour."

"Go my dear, I will stay here a little longer." Left alone, the smile disappeared from her lips, and a line returned to her forehead. How could she explain to Ricky she had not slept that night because she had a strange sense of unease that had not abandoned her? She had a feeling that something bad was to befall them, a visceral feeling becoming almost a physical pain that had forced her to leave the bed and search for comfort in her beloved tea. She wasn't the kind of person who trusted her emotions or took her own decisions based on them. She loved rules, real facts, with them she felt herself safe, with them she worked every day, but this time it was a perception too strong and too real to be ignored. Something bad, something dangerous, and, she trembled at the thought, maybe something deadly.

She looked one last time at the city now fully awake and put a hand over her mouth to hold back a sob. She just hoped she was mistaken.