Gasping for breath, Sharon sat straight up in bed clutching her chest as her heart beat wildly. Reaching a shaking hand over to the lamp, she quickly turned it on wincing at the sudden brightness of the room and leaned back against the headboard closing her eyes as she worked to regulate her breathing. Memories of her nightmare flashed up and a tear rolled down her cheek followed by several more as she grabbed a pillow brought it her to face and sobbed.

As the tears subsided she set the pillow aside and slowly slid out of bed. Walking to the bathroom she turned on the hot water, waiting as it warmed up before washing all traces of her tears away. Glancing at the alarm clock, she sighed when it read two am. Too keyed up to sleep she grabbed her purple robe wrapped it around her white nightgown and headed towards the kitchen to make some tension reliever tea.

Filling the red teakettle with water, she set it on the stove turned on the gas burner then leaned on the counter, her head resting against the cabinet. The same nightmare had plagued her every night for the past two weeks and it frightened her to core. She always woke up at the same spot, running towards Rusty who was on the ground bloody and writhing in pain. Tomorrow was the day he would go out on the streets to hopefully flush out the man who had been writing them threatening notes. Half of her team was going to be there watching over him while the other half was going to stay at the precinct to work on any potential cases that were designated to them.

Sharon, against her will, had agreed to only be on the streets one day a week and she had to stay in the van with Buzz. After Chief Taylor accidently disclosed that she was receiving threatening letters too, Rusty had freaked out and had made the decision with Leut Provinsa and Chief Taylor that she couldn't be there. It was the hardest thing she had agreed to do in some time. She was his mother and she wanted to be there to make sure he was safe because she knew for certain that anyone who laid a hand on him was going to have a bullet through their head from her gun.

Sighing, she stretched the kinks out of her neck and shut off the burner before the teakettle began to whistle. Filling her teacup with warm water she brought the cream colored cup to her lips took a sip then jumped when she heard

"Sharon?"

"Rusty? What are you doing up at this hour?" She asked taking another sip of warm tea before setting it on the counter and walking over to the boy she thought of as her son.

"I… I heard you up and I wanted to make sure you were ok," he said softly looking down at the floor. His dirty blonde hair was sleep mussed, and his sleep deprived eyes seemed greener as he was dressed in a green pajama set she had purchased for him a few weeks ago. Sharon's heart melted with love for this kid who had been dealt an unfair life.

"Oh, I'm fine Rusty. I couldn't sleep so I thought some tea might help. Would you like some?" she asked aching to draw him into her arms but afraid he would bolt.

"Sure," he replied walking towards the table where he sat on his knees on the cushions and gave her a weary smile. Bringing him his tea she sat down next to him. Taking a sip, Rusty looked at Sharon and took note of the dark circles and the tired weary look in her eyes that she couldn't quite seem to erase even when she was smiling and trying to reassure him. He felt bad. He knew she wasn't thrilled about him going on the streets but he needed to do it for their safety. He owed her that after everything she had done for him. Besides it was his fault she was in danger.

"Sharon, I'm sorry that my decision to go out there is causing you to worry," he said softly unable to look her directly in the eye. Looking over at her charge, Sharon couldn't stop the tears from filling her eyes. He was so young and he was putting himself in danger and she had promised herself she would keep him safe. So many things could go wrong and the thought of him being hurt or losing him was too much.

Hearing her sudden intake of breath, Rusty looked up at her dismayed to find tears in her emerald green eyes.

"Please don't cry Sharon," he whispered his face falling.

"Oh Rusty," he murmured her voice strained as she leaned out of her chair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Surprised, Rusty froze for a minute. He wasn't sure what to make of her sudden outburst. He had seen her close to tears before but she had always ordered him to his room or turned around so he wouldn't see them. For a brief second he almost pushed away, but this was Sharon, the woman who had taken him in, given him a safe place to live, the woman who he loved and thought of as a mother, and she was in need of comfort.

Turning slightly towards her he wrapped his arms around her and held her as her body rose and fell. He felt horrible he was the reason for her tears and at the same he was surprised to realize how nice it felt to be held by someone who loved him. He couldn't remember the last time his biological mother had given him a hug and here was Sharon, crying because she loved him so much and was worried about his safety. He knew he complained a lot and he knew he told her things he didn't mean especially when he was scared, but he would do anything to see her smile a real smile again.

Squeezing a little tighter he realized he could care less if his biological mother ever came back. He realized that Sharon was all he needed.

"I'll be ok Sharon. Detectives Sanchez and Sikes will be there along with a bunch of undercover officers. I promise I won't do anything stupid," Her response was to squeeze him tighter as the image of him laying on the ground in pain filled her mind.

After a few more minutes she slowly pulled away saying, "I wish I could be there with you to protect you,"

"You're in danger too and I couldn't stand it if you were to get hurt because of me. You're husband and children would hate me and I would hate myself," he honestly replied

"Honey, those threats mean nothing, and they're not the first threats I've had against my life,"

"You don't know for sure that this sick person won't hurt you, and I need you to be safe," he told her throwing the words she used so often with him back at her.

Smiling sadly she nodded. Since he had found out about the letters written to her, his attitude and demeanor had radically changed. Instead of complaining about everything, he had become more eager to please and more compliant. He had quit complaining about the security detail and was never more than twenty feet away from her. However, Sharon had noticed the worry in his eyes ever time he looked at her. Every time she made a noise or shifted, his eyes were on her with an uncertain or concerned look. She wished with all her might that Taylor hadn't slipped up, but it was done and now she just needed this perp to come out and come out fast so they could both get on with living their lives.

"Finish your tea so you can get back to bed," she murmured sitting back in her seat emotionally and physically exhausted and a little embarrassed that she had broken down in front of him. Draining her tea she took his cup from him as he finished and set them in the dishwasher.

"Good night," she said as they both headed down the hallway towards their rooms. Pausing at her door she said,

"Rusty, I'm so sorry you saw me cry. Tears aren't what you need right now,"

Shrugging his shoulders Rusty simply said

"You truly care about me," before looking down at the floor and walking towards his bedroom.

Smiling at the realization that he understood how much she loved him, she headed inside her room closing the door behind her.