Author's Note: This is something I've been working on for several weeks now. My intention was to finish my other story before posting this new one, but with all these new advances between our lovely couple, I thought it best to post before it sets sail.

A huge thank you to lontanissima who encouraged what was a little ramble to become another story. And to Roni who is wonderful to give her time and Beta for me. I appreciate both your support!


Chapter 1

Impossible

Sharon sat at the desk in her office and rolled her shoulders to relieve some of the tension building in her neck. She opened the last report and sighed when she saw Sykes' name printed on it. The young detective's paperwork was always the most organized. It wouldn't take too long to read through and sign off. She was ready to call it a day. It had been a long and tiring case that had drained the entire team. The only positive thing was that after four days of nonstop searching the murderers were finally behind bars. Rusty was on his way to pick her up, she had promised him dinner out to any place of his choosing. They hardly had the chance to spend time outside of the condo together. He was busy with school, his social life and she… Well, she was—

She looked up and spotted Andy sitting at his desk, the rest of the team packing up. They waved her goodbye from the Murder room. She waved back with a gentle smile and then turned slightly to glance at Andy, smirking and groaning internally when she caught him looking at her.

—She was busy walking a thin line with Andy. A very thin line which she was afraid she might have already crossed.

She looked back at her file and exhaled as she rubbed her forehead.

"What are you doing, Sharon?" She whispered to herself and remembered asking the exact same question more often than she should.

Especially since that night…

"Your favorite is double chocolate ice cream, but you aren't too fond of chocolate candy?" Andy chuckled a little, looking over at her as she hummed through her scoop of ice cream.

She nodded as they continued walking side by side, their arms grazing every few steps. They had watched a movie together and had gone for ice cream afterwards, straying from their usual goodbyes in the lobby or in the parking lot. Neither had admitted it, but they had both needed to spend more time with each other.

"Yes, it might be my secret little pleasure." She pursed her lips the way he loved.

"Is that so?" Andy smirked.

He certainly found her more beautiful with the flush of pink on her cheeks.

"Hmm, the intriguing thing to me is why all these questions?" She stopped and turned, looking over her glasses at him, and he shrugged. "Why do I like the top seats in the theatre better than the bottom seats, no butter оn my popcorn, the west parking lot?" She smirked as she pointed her gold spoon at him to punctuate each question. "Hmm, or if I have ever broken any bones? If I play an instrument?" Her lip quirked when she saw him get a little nervous.

He would never know where he gained the courage. It may have been the way she was looking at him, the green of her eyes darkened and a challenging curve to her lips. His heart was beating too quickly, he knew it wasn't healthy, but he needed to tell her.

"I want to know more about you," he said easily. She froze, then twirled the spoon in her cup and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.

The way he was looking at her felt so good and it made everything else in that moment stand still.

"Why is that, Andrew Flynn?" She smiled at him, he stepped forward and her skin tingled as he took her free hand in his. Her breath caught in her throat when he laced their fingers, it felt right. She looked at their joined hands and saw the perfect match. Her eyes moved back up to him and he did not back down. They had flirted and she was fully aware of that, but it was all for fun— or so she thought—it had never gotten this real. This honest.

"Do you really want me to say it out loud?" His voice was barely above a whisper. Something playful had turned serious, her stomach was doing summersaults. She wanted it, she wanted him. She knew the question wasn't a test, he was ready.

But was she?

She was scared.

Terrified.

She hated herself for pushing him away, it wasn't the first time. They had danced around this step many times. She also knew that as long as they didn't cross the line, they were free of all the questions, drama and possibly the thing that frightened her mostthe truth. The truth about all her feelings for him. The truth they'd have to face amongst everyone. The truth of it possibly ending as soon as it started.

She shook her head with a smile. Pulling her hand out of his and reaching for her spoon. She wanted to take it back.

It hurt.

Her heart ached.

"I wish you wouldn't." She looked up and met his eyes, she could see the worry and pain in the deep brown that melted her heart. The eyes she saw in her dreams. She let her hand rest on his arm and spoke honestly for the first time. Her voice was soft, "It would never work, Andy." He swallowed and felt as if a gust of wind had knocked him down. Never? She had said never. It took everything to not release a long breath and step back from her. "But this works for us, doesn't it?" Her hand squeezed his arm, hoping she hadn't pushed him away. Hoping he wouldn't leave her.

"It does." He whispered.

It was true, he loved whatever it was that they had. He wouldn't lie to himself and say he didn't hope for more. He wanted to be the person she wished to spend her days with.

"Good." She handed him her ice cream and took his, he lifted an eyebrow and followed her as she began to walk again. She hummed around the spoonful, "Hmm yes, salted caramel is my new favorite." Andy chuckled and took a spoonful of Sharon's double chocolate. He let himself wonder just for a moment how it would taste on her lips. "You are not getting this back." She teased, but he didn't mind. Watching her enjoy two large scoops of ice cream had become a favorite pastime of his.

But seeing her smile would always be his favorite hobby.

They had stepped close to dangerous territory, but it was so comfortable, things never felt awkward, she loved his company. She felt safe and happy around him. She had acquaintances and friends, but Andy had become her best friend.

And she was also his best friend and he treasured her company. He probably enjoyed it more than a friend should. He had feelings for her. He knew how wrong that was, in so many ways. But he was sure of one thing - he would take her company in any form.

Sharon, however, felt lost in all the feelings that were brewing inside her.

Friendship. She would allow only friendship.

"Sharon?" Andy called for the second time from her door. She was smiling while tugging on her earlobe, a sign that she was thinking. He grinned and watched her for a few more seconds before he called her name for the third time. "Sharon?"

She looked up and felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach as she saw Andy smiling at her from the door.

"Andy, sorry, I drifted off." She nervously waved her hand beside her head and returned his smile.

"Any interesting thoughts?" He asked with a soft smile. She had to look away, as to not give herself away.

Yes. Things were always interesting when she was daydreaming about him.

"A good memory, yes." She said softly and kept her expression gentle as she looked up at him. "Did you need something?" She leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand, elbow on her desk.

He was wearing the light grey suit that she loved, black shirt and tie that had loosened since morning. She didn't know when she had begun admiring the way he looked, adoring his smile or enjoying the scent of his cologne.

If he just wasn't so damn attractive, she sighed, maybe I could concentrate.

Andy drew her back to the conversation, "Well, since we are getting out of here at a decent hour, I was hoping you would join me for dinner." She couldn't help the humming sound that escaped her. It truly sounded wonderful, it had been a couple of weeks since their last outing. She missed the conversation that often left her breathless from laughter, his attention that made her blush and the warmth from the way his hand guided her by pressing on the small of her back. A mild chill ran down her back and through her body with that thought. She did her best to hold back the groan that warmed her stomach. She missed him.

"I have other plans." She voiced gently.

"Oh." He didn't hide his disappointment. He had been afraid of this; after their movie and ice cream evening, he had expected her to pull away. They hadn't been out together since. Was she avoiding him? Did she have a date? Had he put a strain on their friendship, because he had tried to reach for something that was, well—unreachable?

Sharon saw the unhappiness in his eyes and sat up. She thought about letting him continue believing that she was dating someone or pushing him away; she knew those were the ideas crossing his mind. It would make things so much easier. Yet she couldn't let it continue—it hurt too much. It sounded selfish, but she didn't want him to move on. She wanted what they had.

So she quickly clarified, "with Rusty, he's on his way to pick me up," and felt a sense of relief when his shoulders relaxed and his expression softened. "You could join us." She heard herself say.

He smiled, but shook his head, "I don't want to intrude."

"Andy," she said in disbelief, shaking her head. "You know that…" she sighed. She and Rusty both loved his company and it pained her, watching him think otherwise. "It wouldn't be intruding, you are always welcome to join us."

Rusty had started inviting Andy to their own outings after Stroh had escaped. He knew Sharon trusted him and he knew, like Provenza, he could also confide in him. The relationship Rusty and Andy had formed was solid. She had no worries there. Her relationship, friendly or professional, was confusing, but she knew Andy and Rusty cared for one another and had become friends of some sort. That would always remain strong. Rusty sought his advice and Sharon was relieved he had found a family within the team, especially with Andy.

"Yeah?" He scratched the back of his neck. Sharon smiled and nodded, she loved that nervous antic of his. His fingers making his already unruly hair more chaotic. "If you're sure." He sounded excited.

"I am." The corner of her lip quirked up, her voice matching his excitement.

"I'll wait out there." He pointed at his desk, she nodded and smirked while watching him walk to his desk. He sat down and quirked an eyebrow when he noticed her eyes had trailed him.

She looked away blushing. She had caught herself staring more often, fantasizing and admiring. However, this was the first time Andy had caught her. It made her blush, but it felt a bit liberating to show her physical interest in him.

She had a feeling he didn't mind. In fact, she was sure he didn't.

She wished the circumstances were different, that she had the courage to press her lips to his and let the rest fall in place. However, fear struck her body anytime she considered the possibility. The thoughts of all the consequences made her fight the urge. But it was a cycle, because then she thought of him again and found herself smiling more than she should.

She focused as best as she could on the file in front of her, suppressing the urge to call him into her office and enjoy his company.

Andy's gaze turned from Sharon to the sound of footsteps. He watched with curiosity as Rusty walked in with a woman. A fairly attractive woman. He lifted an eyebrow questioning Rusty who only shrugged his shoulders. Andy stood as they split and Rusty came to give him a brief explanation.

"Shari!" Sharon looked up at the familiar voice and grinned. How is it possible? "What, I don't get a hug or a hello?" Sharon pushed up from her chair after the initial shock and walked around the desk still feeling dazed.

"Abby?" She hurried over to her, flailing her hands, and hugged the woman tightly. It was a wonderful surprise. "Oh my, what are you doing in LA?" Sharon took a step back holding the other woman's hand.

"Visiting you, of course, and my nephew told me we are having dinner together." Sharon looked out of her office to see Andy and Rusty watching them with both curiosity and intrigue.

"Please tell me you did not interrogate him." Sharon asked as she squeezed her sister's hand before walking back around her desk.

"Of course not, that is your job," the other woman teased. Sharon rolled her eyes as she leaned over her desk and signed the last page of Sykes report. "Dish on the honey," Abby whispered. Sharon's eyes shot up to see the intrigue on her sister's face. "The silver fox." Abby's eyes shot in Andy's direction, but Sharon looked back down at the file on the desk.

She could feel her skin tingling unpleasantly, she had never felt this anxious before. Her sister was interested in Andy? And she knew that if Abby didn't respect the fact that they were in her office, she would have already started flirting. How would Andy respond?

"Captain, I'm going to get going." Abby spun around and Sharon looked up to see Andy with his things in hand.

"Andy?" She stopped when he looked hopeful. She hated to cancel their dinner but she couldn't continue with the plans now. Her sister would get the wrong idea. "Before you go, let me introduce you to my younger sister Abby."

"Abigail, only Shari gets to call me Abby." She held out her hand with a bright smile.

"And only Abby gets to call me Shari." Sharon called. Andy smiled walking into the office and shook the younger woman's hand.

He could see the resemblance. They had similar petite frames, the shape of their faces was identical and so were their smiles. Both their smiles were breathtaking. Yet the way they dressed was very different; Sharon was more conservative and professional, while Abby's style was bolder and more modern. One significant difference was in their eyes. Sharon's eyes were softer and she expressed everything through them.

"Andy Flynn," he introduced himself, "I'm a lieutenant on your sister's team, it's great to meet you." He cleared his throat when Abby held onto his hand a little too long.

She let go when Sharon also cleared her throat behind her.

"A Lieutenant?" Abby bit her lip and looked back at her sister, her eyebrows shot up with a look that was all too familiar to Sharon. She was looking at Andy like he was live prey. Sharon straightened up feeling sick to her stomach.

Abby looked back at Andy.

He suddenly felt uncomfortable under the looks of both women. "Yes, third in command."

Sharon swallowed the awful feeling in her throat. He wasn't just her Lieutenant, they were friends and she was supposed to have dinner with him, too. She hated herself for letting him demean himself, for belittling their friendship.

Before she could gain any courage to invite him to dinner, he was saying goodbye.

"Yeah, well, have a nice time. Good night," Andy said softly as his eyes dropped down to the ground. He didn't look at her again. He was disappointed, he wanted to spend time with her. He would have to wait and hold back until she had time for him.

He ran his hand over his face and sighed.

Sharon played with the pen in her hand as she watched him walk away. She could feel her heart beating rapidly, she hated seeing him leave.

"Please tell me he's the kind of guy willing to have an affair," Abby asked as she dropped in the chair with a loud groan. It pulled Sharon's eyes away from Andy's back. "How do you focus all day with that honey?" She asked.

Sharon took a second to compose herself as she organized her folders. She tried hard not to let the unpleasant feeling creep up on her. She had worked on hiding her expressions. When she looked at her sister, her emotions were composed.

"You never change, do you?" Sharon asked with a forced smile.

"So, what's his story?" Abby crossed her legs and shifted in the chair.

When Abby set her mind to something, she didn't give up. And it seemed Andy was on her mind.

Sharon blew out a long breath, looked up and met Rusty's eyes. He stepped further inside the office when he saw the expression in her eyes. He always teased Sharon and Andy, but he liked seeing them together.

"Should I order something for here?" Sharon smiled at him. "Burgers maybe?" He offered, returning her smile.

"Raydor, please don't tell me LA has you eating burgers." Abby giggled.

"It's his idea of a joke, Francis." Abby smiled as she stood up and helped her sister gather her things. "Rusty gets to choose tonight, so burgers will be on the menu." The older brunette quirked an eyebrow as she looked at her son who was smiling.

Sharon was sure it would be an interesting night.