A/N: Thanks again everyone for the wonderful response to this story. I am having fun writing it. I hope you enjoy this next chapter, as it's got a certain Lieutenant in it...
Sharon waltzed into the Major Crimes office and headed straight for her own office, hoping to bypass anyone that may be working there today. She was not in the mood for conversation, or even small talk. She just wanted to hide out in her office and bury herself in paperwork.
She almost made it to her office door when a gruff voice spoke up behind her. "Captain?"
Sharon spun around. "Yes, Lieutenant Flynn. What can I do for you?"
Andy shrugged. "Nothing. Just wasn't expecting to see you here today unless we caught a case."
Sharon bit her lip, eager to escape into her office so she could be alone. "Yes well, I wasn't able to catch up on my paperwork last night so I decided to come in today and catch up on it while things were a little slower."
Andy could sense that she was not in a particularly good mood. "Everything okay, Captain?"
She rolls her eyes a bit. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
He chuckled. "Captain…I've never seen even you THAT eager to get paperwork done before."
Sharon sighed and looked down a moment, then back up at him. "Well…what's wrong with wanting to get paperwork done?"
Andy crossed his arms in front of him, giving her a skeptical look. "What's going on? Everything okay with Rusty?"
At the mention of Rusty, Sharon could feel her resolve start to give way. She shook her head, turning away from him as if trying to make a run for her office, but he gently grabbed her arm, spinning her around.
"Sharon, what's going on?" He was truly concerned, now.
She took a deep breath, willing the tears that had suddenly welled in her eyes to go away. She looked up at him as he turned her towards him. It was the first time she had heard him call her by her first name. "It's nothing, really. I don't know why I'm so upset over it."
Andy narrowed his eyes. "Is he giving you a hard time?"
Sharon shook her head. "No, no. Nothing like that. He's…well…he's going to be sleeping over Daniel Dunn's house next week. He wants Rusty to meet his fiancé and two kids…and I just…"
Andy nodded knowingly. "You just feel like he's drifting away from you."
She nods, tears filling her eyes again as she looked down at her hands, playing with them, fidgeting. She swallowed. "He's uhhh…well I've gotten used to having him around, that's all…"
He felt terrible for her. He, too, had gotten used to the kid and he didn't really trust Daniel Dunn. He wasn't sure why, it was just a Lieutenant's intuition. "Sharon…have you told Rusty that you want him to stay with you?"
She looked up at him again, a tear escaping and trickling down her cheek. She shook her head. "I can't…I can't do that…."
Andy reached over and put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. Seeing Sharon Raydor cry was heartbreaking. "Sure you can. Sharon, that kid has waited pretty much his whole life for someone like you to walk into it. He's only 16 but I am pretty sure he knows that. Maybe he isn't sure how YOU feel about him."
She wiped her tears away and cleared her throat. "Yea well…I'm not going to keep him from his father…." She stared straight ahead, at nothing. "I never should have…let myself get attached to him, Andy. I knew from the beginning that this was never going to be a permanent thing. I guess I just hoped…"
Andy sighed and interrupted her. "Sharon…you haven't done anything wrong. There is nothing wrong with loving that kid…"
Her head snapped towards him and her eyes widened. "Yes, well…it isn't going to matter once Daniel takes this to court. But it's fine. I'll move on with my life. I have this new position and since you all seem to be handling the fact that I am in charge now much better than you were before, I'm actually beginning to enjoy it."
Andy had to smile at that. "Hey…we tend to not react well to change. But you knew how to handle that, Sharon. You're a good leader."
She nodded and smiled sadly at him. "Thank you, Lieutenant."
Suddenly he reached over and put his arms around her, leaning down a bit to whisper in her ear. It was out of character for him, but he didn't care. He didn't like seeing her upset, regardless of their past relationship. "Sharon, everything will be fine regardless, you are right about that. But don't give up on Rusty. He needs someone to fight for him. I regret not fighting hard enough for my own kids when they needed me the most. Don't make the same mistake."
She let out a shaky breath as Andy held her. She was surprised at the action at first, but let herself relax in the embrace. "I do love him, Andy. I really do. I know that this shouldn't hurt so much but…it does…it….hurts…"
He nods and holds her a little closer to him. "Shh…I know. Do you want me to talk to him? He tends to listen to me."
She shakes her head, resting her head on his shoulder. "No, no. You don't have to. But you are right…I should tell him how I feel."
Andy reluctantly pulls back, keeping his arms around her waist. It felt oddly comforting and completely normal for him to be holding onto his Captain this way. "Yes, and make it sooner than later, all right? Living with regret is not an easy thing to do, especially when it has to do with the people you love."
Sharon glanced around the office, making sure that they were alone before she cupped his cheek in her hand, gently caressing the scruff there with her thumb. "It's not too late for you, either, Andy. I'm sure your kids need you, too. You should call them, try to make amends…"
He swallowed and cleared his throat, trying to bite back the emotion he was feeling at the thought of his children. "I do try, Sharon. I try every single week. They are finished with me, I know that. But I'll never stop trying…."
She smiled and nodded, dropping her hand and stepping out of his embrace. She suddenly felt awkward. Why did she caress his cheek? Why did she allow herself to become so vulnerable in front of him? "I…I'm sorry for getting so emotional. Rusty is a soft spot for me, I guess."
Andy shakes his head, holding his hands up as if to indicate that it wasn't a problem. "He's a soft spot for all of us. I understand. Don't worry about it."
She nods and tucks her hair behind her ears, clearing her throat, the Police Captain mask back in place. "Thank you, Andy…for the talk. I'm going to finish up that paperwork and head out of here as early as I can. I know Rusty and I need to have a talk, now."
Andy smiles. "No problem, Captain. Just make sure you make him understand how much he'd be giving up if he left you."
Sharon swallows again, nodding at him. "I'll try." She turned around to walk towards her office, stopping at her door. She spun around slowly to look at him once more. "Don't give up on your kids, Andy. One day they are going to want you back. I'm sure of it."
He nods sadly. "Thanks, Sharon. I'll uhh…see you Monday as long as no one gets themselves murdered in this town before then."
She nods. "See you Monday, Lieutenant."
And then Andy Flynn turned around and started to walk away from Sharon Raydor, both of them wishing that their arms were still around each other.
Three hours later, Sharon walked into her condo and was greeted by the sound of Rusty & Ryan, obviously in an intense but friendly game of chess, a game Sharon was never really good at herself. "Anybody home!"
"In here, Sharon!"
Sharon walked into the living room and saw the two of them sitting indian style on the floor, both of their eyes glued to the chess board. She shook her head and smiled. "You guys are a part of the chess team and when you get together all you want to do is play chess? Get a life! Both of you."
Rusty looked up at her and shrugged. "Would you rather I'd be out scoring extra money for my drug habit?"
Sharon rolled her eyes at him. "Not funny!"
Ryan laughed at the both of them and was about to join in on the conversation when his phone vibrated, signaling a text message had been received. He looked down at his phone. "Oh crap. I forgot I was supposed to watch my little sister tonight while my parents go to some benefit so, I gotta go. My mother is already downstairs waiting for me." He pointed to the chess board as he got up from the floor. "Rain check?"
Rusty gut up. "Sure. I'll see you later, man."
Ryan nods, grabbing his phone and his wallet before heading out, being sure to wave to Sharon in goodbye.
Once the two were alone, Sharon watched as Rusty took a picture of the chess set with his phone so as to be able to set it up this way the next time he and Ryan played, and then started to put the pieces back where they were before. As she watched him, she decided that it was time to bite the bullet. She needed to talk to Rusty and she needed to do it now.
She cleared her throat. "Rusty umm…once you're finished with that…do you mind if we have a little talk?"
Rusty nods. "Sure, Sharon. What's up?"
Sharon shook her head. "Finish up with this. I'll go and start dinner, then we can talk."
