A/N: Thank you for all the comments and reviews about the first chapter - I'm glad so many of you are on board with this. Thanks also to quirkette100 who has kindly agreed to beta this story for me. You should check out her stories too, she's very talented. Just a heads up, I can't promise updates will be this regular in the future... I am back to work next week, with a class of thirty 5 and 6 year olds to keep me busy. But I will try not to keep you hanging for too long.


Chapter 2

Sharon leant against the wall of the elevator as it made its journey up to the trauma centre at Cedars Sinai. Her head was spinning; she'd gotten dressed and made it to the hospital in just over half an hour and hadn't really had time to process what Provenza had told her.

"It was Flynn's daughter."

Provenza's words hit her like a wrecking ball and she fell back against the pillows in shock.

"And her husband was in the passenger seat."

"What about the boys, Nicole's stepsons?"

"They were with Gina; she was babysitting." That was right, Nicole had mentioned that Dean was taking her out and that her mother was watching the children.

The relief she felt knowing the boys were not harmed was fleeting. "Why are you…? I mean, how did you…?" She shook her head in attempt to organise her thoughts. "What happened?"

As Provenza began his explanation, Sharon got up. She grabbed the first jumper and pair of jeans she could find and began dressing, putting the phone on speaker so she could continue to communicate with her Lieutenant.

"I'm not clear on the details of the accident itself yet. Just that when they ran her details to look for next of kin, the incident commander, Detective Phillips, recognised Flynn's name – they'd worked together before. They sent a black and white to both his and Gina's houses. Gina was in, but Flynn wasn't home. Wasn't answering his phone either. Phillips knew that he and I were partners so he called me, figuring I'd know where he was."

"He had an AA meeting."

Thursday nights were one of the few nights Andy didn't spend at Sharon's condo. The meeting tended to run late, they'd had a surge of new attendees and they often needed extra support. Andy would sit and talk with them for a while after the meeting, maybe take them for a coffee at the all night diner across the street. It just made more sense for him to go straight home. She'd suggested that he maybe give it a miss last night, and go home and rest, but he'd said no, that he needed to be there. That he couldn't let people down like that.

"Right, just like every Thursday. He's becoming a creature of habit. I blame you for that by the way. Anyway, I swung by the meeting, picked him up and brought him to the hospital. I was going to call you sooner, but the idiot insisted that we wait; that you needed to sleep."

Sharon shook her head; that man could be so stubborn at times. "Which hospital?"

"Cedars. We're in the trauma centre."

"I'll be right there." She went to disconnect the call but changed her mind. "Lieutenant? How bad is it?"

"They've taken them both straight through to surgery. Doctors aren't saying anything as per usual. They both had to be cut from the car, Phillips said it was a right mess." Sharon heard him swallow gravely. "It doesn't look good."

"Thank you Lieutenant."

Hanging up, she quickly ran a brush through her hair before picking up her jacket and heading out into the living area. She was surprised to find Rusty sprawled out on the sofa.

"Rusty! I thought you were in bed. What are you still doing up?"

"My movie just finished." He indicated the credits rolling on the television before looking Sharon up and down. Taking in her appearance he deduced that she wasn't heading to work. "Is everything okay?"

She pulled on her boots. "I need to get to Cedars. Andy's daughter has been in a car accident."

"Nicole?" Sharon nodded. "Is it bad?"

"I don't really know, but it sounds pretty serious."

"Do you want me to come with you? I could drive you?" he suggested.

"No, no, you've got classes tomorrow," she said, holstering her gun and donning her badge, more out of habit than of need. "Go to bed. I'll call you if…" Her voice trailed off, the implication of what wasn't said weighing heavily in the air, "…if we need you. I mean it Buster. Bed. Now."

The sound of the elevator doors opening drew Sharon from her thoughts. She stepped out and looked up and down the corridor, searching for Andy or Provenza. When she didn't see them, she approached the desk.

"Captain Sharon Raydor, LAPD. I'm looking for the family of Nicole Rodgers. I believe they're on this floor?"

"They certainly are Ma'am," replied the desk clerk with a tight smile. "They're in one of our designated relatives' rooms. Room 608. Just down the hall there," she pointed. "Fourth door on the left."

"Thank you." Though confused a little by the attitude, Sharon nodded at the young woman and made her way down the corridor. As she approached room 608, she could hear raised voices coming from inside. The desk clerk's exasperated response was suddenly becoming clearer. She paused with her hand on the door knob and listened.

"I don't even know what you're doing here!" The woman was clearly hysterical and Sharon could only assume it was Gina.

Andy's gruff voice growled back. "I have every right to be here, she's my daughter too."

"Yes, when you're sober enough to remember you actually have one." Yes, it was definitely Gina.

"Now you listen here!" When Provenza's voice entered into the mix, Sharon decided that enough was enough. She knocked briefly on the door before opening it.

She felt like she had walked in on a standoff. Andy and Provenza were stood on one side of the room, the latter wagging his finger at Gina, who was stood on the other side, her new husband, Martin and another, younger man sat behind her. Nicole's step-sons, Devon and Kodey were lay along several chairs. Thankfully, they were sleeping so deeply that the argument between Andy and Gina hadn't disturbed them.

At the sound of someone entering, everyone's heads snapped to the door, expecting a nurse or a doctor. Provenza sighed with relief – perhaps now Sharon had arrived, he could leave before he said something to the former Mrs Flynn that he would regret. Gina rolled her eyes, muttered something unintelligible under her breath and then turned away and Andy looked surprised. "Sharon?" He turned to his partner. "I told you not to call her."

Provenza shrugged. "Yeah, well, you're an idiot."

"Andy?" Sharon stepped close to him and placed her hand on his arm. He was far too tense and it wasn't good for his blood pressure. She felt the murderous gaze from Gina burning into the back of her head and knew she needed to get them out of there before the situation deteriorated any further. "Why don't we go and find some coffee, hmm? You look like you could use some."

"I'm not leaving. Not until I know how Nicole is."

Sharon looked pleadingly at Provenza, as she rubbed Andy's back soothingly.

"I'll stay here," he offered. "If anything happens, I'll call. You have my word. Go on, go with the Capt- with Sharon," he corrected. Here she wasn't his boss, she was his best friend's girlfriend.

Under the hard stare of his partner and the calming effect of Sharon, Andy visibly deflated. "Okay," he nodded and let Sharon lead him out into the corridor.

Out of sight from Andy's ex-wife, Sharon now felt free to wrap her arms around him and give him the comfort he needed. He leaned into her embrace, burying his head in her neck. She continued to rub his back until he calmed. "Why didn't you call?" she whispered.

Andy shrugged. "All we're doing is waiting around for information. I thought it better to let you sleep and call you when we knew something definite."

Sharon looked at him sceptically, sensing there was more to it than that. "And?"

He sighed. "And… I knew Gina would be here and I didn't want you to have to deal with any of her… drama."

"Andy…" She pulled out of the embrace and took his hand, leading them to sit down on some plastic chairs. "I have dealt with murderers on an almost weekly basis for the past four years and before that I was the Wicked Witch of Internal Affairs. I think I can handle Gina."

He smiled. "Yeah, you probably can."

"I would much rather be here surviving on three hours sleep than at home, oblivious to what's happening. I want to be here for you and for Nicole. I care about her too; you know?"

"Yeah, I know that." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I should've called. Provenza's right, I'm an idiot."

"I think I'll forgive you, given the circumstances." She stood up and tugged on his hand to get him to join her. "Come on, the sooner we find that coffee, the sooner we can get back and wait for the doctor."

Andy fell into step beside Sharon as they walked towards the cafeteria. He reached out for her hand, interlacing their fingers. The next few hours and days would most likely be filled with uncertainty but he felt stronger facing it with her by his side.


A/N: Reviews keep my muse fed and watered...