DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, except for Matthew and Moxie. The rest of them belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.
A/N: I'm back with a new story! This story picks up around 3 weeks following the events in "Shots Fired". Hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 1
It has been three weeks since Andy got shot and he was recovering well. He was on his third week of desk duty and the rest of the team kept giving him paperwork to file from their latest case. He sat at his desk looking over the files when Provenza walked over to him. "You know, we should just make you a new sign for your desk" Provenza said to him as Andy looked up at his friend. "Lieutenant Andy Flynn, Glorified Desk Monkey" Provenza added and laughed. "Ha, ha, very funny Provenza" Andy said to him as he leaned back in his chair. "Keep it up and I will leave these files to you when I get off my desk assignment" Andy said to him. "You really think you're going to be back in the field?" Provenza asked him. Andy took a deep breath. His therapy has been going well and he almost has his full range of motion back in his left shoulder. "Yeah, I do" Andy said to him, shortly. "Hmm" Provenza said as he shook his head at him. "I think the Commander wants you were she can keep an eye on you from now on" he added and then turned around and went back to his desk.
Andy turned his chair around and glanced in at Sharon in her office. Since her promotion to Commander she has been busy almost every day with meetings with the top brass. Andy smiled to himself. She deserved this and he was so very proud of her. "Hey! Romeo! Can you file those today?" Provenza called at him, snapping his daydreaming. Andy stood up and grabbed the file folders. As he walked over to the filing cabinets on the other side of the office, he gave a hand gesture to Provenza which made Julio and Mike laugh. "Ooooh, looks like you pissed him off, Lieutenant" Julio said to Provenza as he was sitting at his desk. "That's too bad, our desk monkey can daydream about the Commander on his own time" Provenza grumbled as he got back to working his crossword puzzle.
It was almost quitting time for the squad and Sharon was in another meeting with Assistant Chief Mason. She had sent a quick text message to Provenza letting him know that the team could go home. "Hey, everyone, the Capt., I mean Commander says that everyone should go home and enjoy your weekend" Provenza said to everyone as he read his text message. Andy sat at his desk and watched everyone else leave quickly. Provenza walked over to Andy. "So, any plans tomorrow?" he asked Andy. Andy sat back and crossed his arms. "Why?" he asked his skeptical about his question. "Do you have more filing for me to do?" Andy said. "Wow, Flynn, I was trying to be nice by asking if you had plans, but if you don't want to share" Provenza started to say to Andy and then Andy interrupted him. "Sorry, I guess I'm just frustrated that's all" Andy said to him.
"It's just I'm very proud of Sharon, for finally getting her promotion that she deserved all those years ago when she took over us, but a part of me misses her since she's always busy with meetings and other things" Andy said to him as Provenza looked at him. Andy shook his head and let out a deep sigh. "Go, I don't want to hold you up as I know you have plans with Patrice tonight" Andy said waiving him off. "You know, I'm not an expert on relationships but perhaps you two should talk" Provenza said to him but stopped as he heard Sharon walking into the office. Andy and Provenza looked at Sharon as she entered, carrying stacks of paperwork with her. Andy stood up and walked over to Sharon. "Here, let me get that for you" he said to her as he opened her office door. "Thank you" she said to him as she walked over to her desk and placed the paperwork on top.
"I'll see you on Monday" Provenza said to Andy and Andy nodded. "Good night Commander!" Provenza said to Sharon as he walked out of the office. Andy turned his attention to Sharon who was now seated at her desk. "So, what's all of the paperwork for?" Andy asked Sharon as he took a seat in front of her desk. "Assistant Chief Mason would like me to go over all of these new acquisitions and see what Major Crimes could use" Sharon said to Andy as she started to look over the papers. "Oh, so we are getting new stuff?" Andy asked her. "Yes, we are getting some new technology items that I want Mike to look over and see what we can use, what would be practical and such for us" Sharon said as she placed those papers to the side. She then looked up at Andy. "How are you doing?" she asked him. "I'm fine" Andy answered her. "And your shoulder? How's that doing?" Sharon asked him. "Good, I'm almost back at my full range of motion" Andy said as he watched her shuffle papers around her desk.
"That's good" Sharon said as she moved papers around and placed them in separate piles. Andy waited patiently for Sharon to be done as he sat there watching her. The room was silent for a couple of minutes before Andy spoke again. "What are your plans tomorrow?" he asked her. Sharon looked up at Andy and leaned back in her chair. "Well, I think we should open a bank account for Matthew. I was going to do that with him tomorrow morning" Sharon said to him. "Oh, uh do you want me to go with you two?" Andy asked her. "I mean, clearly I should also be on that account with him too" he snapped before she could answer him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Sharon said to him. Before he could answer her she started to speak again. "Do you think I don't want you on the account?" she said. "No, that's not it at all. It's just" Andy said as he took a deep breath. "I've been cooped up in this office for the past three weeks, on desk duty, doing nothing but filing paperwork for Provenza and the rest of the team and I guess I'm just frustrated!" Andy continued.
Sharon watched him as he shifted in his chair. "You're busy with your new promotion and I feel like you don't need me anymore" Andy said to her. Sharon shook her head. "Andy, of course I need you. I'm sorry that you've been feeling that way, it's just that with this new promotion, comes new responsibilities and Assistant Chief Mason expects great things to come by it" Sharon sat there, explaining to Andy. "Yeah, yeah, Mason" he grumbled and Sharon smiled at him. "Andy, do you think I like having one of my Lieutenants on desk duty until he's cleared by the doctor, again?" Sharon asked him. Andy looked at her and lowered his head. "No" he said, simply.
Sharon stood up from her desk and walked over to stand in front of Andy. "I'm sorry I didn't discuss the plan of opening a bank account for Matthew with you, of course I want you on the account with us" she said to him as she touched his right shoulder. "What time is your physical therapy session tomorrow?" she asked him as he stood up. "Early, 8 am" he said to her as he walked over to her desk and grabbed her bag, holding it open for her to put whatever she was going to bring home with her. "The bank opens at 9 tomorrow, we can either wait for you to come home and we can go together or you can meet us at the bank when you are finished" Sharon said as she placed some papers and folders inside the bag and zipped it up.
"I'm sorry you've been feeling neglected, Andy" she said to him, grabbing his hand as they walked out of her office. He shook his head. "It's not that" he said, almost pouting, as they made their way towards the elevators. "I'm just very proud of you Sharon, and sometimes I don't know how to respond to that and it comes out in anger, a little bit" he said to her as he pushed the button for the elevator. He looked into her eyes as they waited. She rubbed his back in an almost reassuring gesture. "I get it" she said as she gave him a little smile as the doors opened and they stepped inside. They rode down to the parking garage and headed to their car.
Andy opened the door for Sharon, but before she sat inside the car, she placed her hand on his cheek and leaned up on her tip toes and kissed him. He was caught off-guard, his lips parted and she deepened their kiss. He held her there in the parking lot as she kissed him. When they finally broke apart after having to catch their breaths, he smiled at her. She smiled back and sat in the car. He made sure she was all set before he closed her door and went around to the driver's side. Truth be told he was feeling a little neglected these past three weeks. Sharon was always busy during the day and when they went home, she always seemed busy there too with whatever she brought home from work and also with helping Matthew out with his homework.
Sharon watched Andy as he sat in the driver's seat before he started the car. He seemed to be deep in thought and she reached for his right hand. "Everything okay?" she asked him. Andy turned his head towards Sharon to look at her. Andy nodded and then started the car. He drove them over to Matthew's school and they both walked inside the school to pick him up. "Hey Matthew!" Andy said to the kid as he ran over to them where they waited in the hallway. Matthew gave Andy a hug, which was not unusual for him to do, since Andy had gotten shot. Sharon watched the two of them exchange hugs and then Matthew went over to Sharon and gave her a hug there as well.
Just then, another kid came out of the school room and was walking towards where they were located. "You really are a baby, Matthew!" the kid shouted as he walked past them. Matthew watched the kid as he walked down the hallway and disappeared into the bathroom. Andy and Sharon both looked at each other. "What's that all about?" Andy asked Matthew as Matthew picked up his backpack. "Nothing" Matthew said quietly as the three of them left the hallway and headed to the doors. "Who was that kid?" Sharon asked Matthew but he didn't answer her. Sharon gave Andy a look, that meant that she wanted to find out what happened, but Andy stopped her. "Let's go home, maybe he'll tell us when he's ready" Andy said to Sharon as he touched her arm. Sharon agreed, reluctantly and they made their way to the car.
Matthew climbed in the back seat and got himself settled in. Sharon closed his door and then sat down in the front seat as Andy got back into the driver's seat. "So, what do you want to have for dinner tonight?" Andy said to Matthew as he pulled the car out of the parking lot. Matthew didn't answer him. Sharon looked at Andy and then turned around to look at Matthew. Matthew was staring out the window and his head was leaned back against the head rest. Sharon faced forward as Andy drove. "There's some nice tilapia filets I bought yesterday, we could have those and I could make Matthew mac and cheese" Sharon said to Andy as he turned down the street to pick up Moxie at the doggie day care place.
Matthew's eyes perked up when he heard Sharon say mac and cheese but he quickly turned back to look out the window. He didn't want to let his parents know what was bothering him yet. Andy parked the car and got out. He went inside the place to pick up Moxie, giving Sharon and Matthew some alone time together. "So, Matthew, what's going on?" Sharon said to Matthew but got no response from him. She shifted in her seat to face him. Matthew was still staring out the window. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" Sharon asked him. Matthew just sat there in silence looking down at his hands. "We've been through a lot together, haven't we?" Sharon said to him as she watched him sit there in silence. "You can tell me or Dad what's bothering you, we won't think it's silly, or stupid. We're here to help you, Matthew" Sharon said to him, still no reaction from Matthew.
Sharon turned around to face the front of the car. Matthew listened to what she had to say. How could he tell his now parents that the kid that had called him a baby had also told him that they didn't have important enough jobs and that everybody hates the police for what they do to people. Matthew sat there and waited. Andy opened the back door and Moxie jumped in the seat next to Matthew. He sat down next to Matthew and licked his face. Matthew turned his head and laughed as Moxie continued to lick his face until Matthew started to pet him. "Well, at least he can still laugh" Andy said to Sharon as he got back behind the steering wheel and drove them home. Sharon grabbed Andy's right hand and held it as he drove.
When they arrived home, Matthew ran ahead with Moxie and was playing with him in the backyard. Sharon waited for Andy to get out of the car and they walked hand in hand down the path to the house. Sharon watched Matthew play with Moxie as Andy opened the back door to the house. "Let him play for a little bit, maybe it will help him with whatever it is that's going on" Andy said to Sharon as she stood there and continued to watch Matthew. She turned around and was led inside the house by Andy. "I'll get dinner ready for us, you can go change into something more comfortable" he said to her as he took the ingredients out of the refrigerator and placed them on the counter next to the sink. He had his back towards her and she walked over to him and placed her arms around his waist. She laid her head against his back and closed her eyes.
Andy's earlier outburst in the office did not come as a surprise to Sharon. She knew that the past few days were trying for him since he's been on desk duty. She knew that he missed being in the field and hoped by next week, the doctor would clear him for both of their sakes so that he could rejoin the rest of the team if they caught a case. Although, she would have to admit, she felt a little more at ease these past couple of weeks, knowing that he was at his desk and not chasing after some murderer or someone else for that matter. She could tell in his eyes that he wanted to be out there when they caught that serial rapist last week. She asked him that night when they closed the case if he was okay and his response was a simple 'fine'.
"Sharon?" Andy said interrupting her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. She moved her head and took a step back from him as he turned around to face her. "Sorry, I, uh" Sharon started to say to him and he looked at her. "I'll be right back" she finally said to him and then walked away. Andy let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he watched her retreat upstairs. He then turned his attention to making dinner when he saw Matthew and Moxie both run into the house. "Hey! Slow down" he said to them as they made their way in to the kitchen.
As Andy turned back around to face Matthew and Moxie, he noticed that both of them were covered in mud. Well, it was more like caked in mud. "What happened?" Andy said to Matthew as he stood there. "Um, we were playing in the backyard" Matthew said as he shrugged his shoulders. Matthew started to walk away and Moxie started to follow him. "Wait! Don't go anywhere" Andy said as he placed the fish fillets in a glass cooking dish. He then washed his hands and walked over to Matthew and Moxie. "Take your shoes off before your mother has a fit with you tracking mud all over the house" Andy said to him and Matthew took off his shoes.
Andy then grabbed a towel and walked over to where Moxie was standing and wiped his paws off as best he could. "You both are going to need baths tonight" Andy said, kneeling down, as he looked at Matthew while Moxie continued to pant. "Want to tell me what happened at school today?" Andy asked Matthew as he took the towel and wiped Matthew's face and arms with it to get the mud off of him. Matthew became silent again and Andy stopped what he was doing. They were eye level with each other and Matthew looked at him directly. "At recess we were talking about what our parents do for work and I said that you both were police officers and were very important" Matthew finally said to Andy as he continued to wipe off his arms. "And then Luke said that you and mom don't have important enough jobs and that everybody hates the police for what they do to people. I defended you guys and then he started calling me a baby because I started to cry a little bit" Matthew stated.
Andy looked at the boy and shook his head. "Well, some people don't like the police, Matthew, but that doesn't mean that you need to cry about it when other people make fun of us" Andy said as he wiped Matthew's face. Sharon came back down, wearing one of Andy's Dodgers shirts and jeans. She overheard the conversation going on in the kitchen. Sharon didn't want to disturb them but Moxie came over to her and gave her position away. Andy looked over at Sharon who entered the kitchen. Andy cleaned Matthew up as best he could as he stood back up. "Matthew, why don't you go upstairs and change your clothes" Sharon said to him and Matthew ran upstairs, with Moxie following him. "Come back down when you are done!" she called out to him.
Sharon then made her way over to where Andy was standing, still holding the towel he used. "So, he defended our honor apparently and was called a baby for it" Andy told Sharon as she took the towel from him and threw it in the laundry basket located in the mud room. "Is that why he didn't want to talk earlier?" Sharon asked as she came back in to the kitchen. Andy washed his hands and went back to preparing dinner. "I guess so" he said as he shrugged his shoulders. "So, have you heard from Rusty today?" Andy asked her, wanting to change the subject. "Yes, he said that Gus wants to speak to him about something important and that he wouldn't be home for dinner tonight" Sharon said as she made a salad for them to eat.
Andy placed the fish in the oven and set the timer for it. He then went to the pantry and pulled out a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese to make for Matthew. When dinner was ready, the three of them sat down at the kitchen table and ate. Matthew quickly ate his macaroni and cheese at the table. "Slow down buddy!" Andy said to him as he ate. "Can I be excused?" Matthew asked both of them as they sat there. Andy glanced at Sharon who nodded to Matthew. Matthew got up from the table and brought his dish to the sink. He then made his way to the family room where he turned the TV on.
"I thought that book I had gotten him would have helped with this" Sharon said to Andy as she turned back to him. "I think it has, he just needs to know, no matter how many times we tell him, that there's going to be people in the world that don't like what we do and criticize our jobs" Andy said to her as he continued to eat. "Yes, but from what you said, this was a kid in his class saying that, not some adult that he doesn't know" Sharon said to him. "How was it with Emily and Ricky growing up?" Andy asked her as he placed his fork down on his plate. Sharon looked up at him with a questionable look. Andy shrugged his shoulders. "They grew up knowing their mom was a cop, how did they cope with it?" he said to her. "Well, that's why I took the job with IA and FID, so that it wasn't as dangerous as it was being on the streets when I was a detective" Sharon said to him.
"They understood at a young age that their mother had an important job to do as a police officer" Sharon added as she started to clean up the table. "Yeah, but how did they understand that? I don't think Nicole or Charlie really understood what I did every day since I really wasn't there for them" Andy said as he brought the plates to the sink. Sharon rubbed Andy's back as he placed the plates in the sink and started to run the water to rinse them. "I think Rusty is still learning as well" Sharon said. "Sometimes I think he's still awestruck at how amazing his mom is as a police officer" Andy said to her as he pulled her in for a kiss.
Later that evening, Matthew was getting ready for bed after his bath, and Sharon walked in to his room. "Are you ready for bed?" Sharon asked as she sat down on the corner of his bed. "Yeah, I'm just putting away my toys" Matthew said as he cleaned up his room a little bit from playing earlier. "Tomorrow morning we are going to the bank to open a bank account for you" Sharon said to him as she watched him placed his toys in the plastic containers. Matthew stopped and walked over to where Sharon was sitting. "Why do I need that?" he asked her as he climbed into his bed. "Well, to save money for when you're older" Sharon said as she grabbed a book to read to him.
Sharon kissed Matthew on the forehead after reading to him and tucking him in for bed. Andy stood at the doorway and watched her. He needed to tell her how amazing he thought she was and that he was stupid for acting out in her office earlier. She walked over to him and smiled as she passed him up and headed for their bedroom. Andy turned around and looked at Matthew. "Good night buddy" he whispered to him and then closed the door behind him. Andy followed Sharon to their bedroom and closed the door.
He walked up behind her in their bathroom as she was washing her face and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled into her neck and placed soft kisses there. Sharon smiled as she watched Andy in the mirror. "What's gotten in to you?" she asked him as she turned around in his arms. "I need to apologize for my behavior earlier in your office" he simply said to her as he continued to kiss her. She relaxed in his embrace. "I know that you being promoted to Commander means you have certain responsibilities now than before and I guess I'm having a hard time sharing you with other people while we are at work, but I'm trying to work on that" Andy whispered in her ear as he slowly moved Sharon towards their bed. Sharon hummed as Andy moved her.
"Well, I can help you in that by setting aside some time with you, alone, do you think that would help?" Sharon whispered as Andy laid her down on the bed. "It couldn't hurt" Andy said to her as he leaned over her and kissed her.
TBC