The team shuffled quietly to their seats. They had failed one mission. Provenza glanced at the clock, they had an hour left in shift.

"Well," Pope mumbled, glancing at the pissed rookies. "That was unexpected. But now, I get to see how involved you guys get in cases. I know this is a terrible way, but it'll only help me, for future reference." Pope nodded to the group and headed off to his office. He drew the blinds, closing himself off from his nasty mistake.

The group stayed silent. No one was sure what to say or do, until Sharon spoke.

"Detective Tao, you mentioned you grew up around here, correct?"

"Correct," Tao mumbled.

"Can you name a good beach?"

Provenza's head snapped up. He was probably envisioning the young lady in a bikini.

Tao thought for a moment before saying, "There is a nice beach less than a mile from here if you would like to try that."

Sharon nodded and sat back in her chair, stretching her arms from the tiresome day. For the last hour, the group sat and chatted about places they've been to, and lessons they've learned. Sharon didn't offer much to the conversation but she listened intently and laughed at some stories.

When Pope came out of his office to announce shift was over, the happy, loose room suddenly became claustrophobic and tense.

"You guys can go. Be back here tomorrow morning," Pope said, leaving the rookies to gather their belongings and get out. Sharon mumbled her good-byes to the group and headed towards the elevator.

"You know," Flynn said stepping into the elevator next to Sharon. "Los Angeles isn't the safest place in the world. I could go with you to the beach," Flynn suggested with a boyish smile.

"Detective, I run on the beach, I don't think you could keep up with me."

"I beg to differ, let me come with you and we'll see who is faster," Andy said with the hopeful smile that played across his features earlier.

"No," Sharon said after a moment. All teasing was gone. Andy's smile fell. Before Andy could say anything, the elevator dinged and Sharon walked out into the parking lot.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Andy asked.

"Yes, detective, it is my job," Sharon said coolly as she started to her car. Andy waited till Sharon drove off, before he too drove off and followed Sharon. She stopped at a bank, then the dry cleaners, and finally a pharmacy. Sharon came out of the pharmacy with a prescription. If Sharon suspected she was being followed, she didn't let anything on. Flynn followed Sharon back to her apartment complex and parked across the street. He watched Sharon walk through the doors carrying two work suits and the prescription. Andy waited patiently for seven minute. By the ten minute marker, he was about to assume Sharon wasn't going to the beach after all. Andy was ready to start his car, but then Sharon came down and headed off in her car. Andy followed Sharon to the beach. It was a quiet beach, not many people. Actually, none at all. The parking lot was small and empty, and Andy had to make sure he parked far enough from Sharon. Sharon slipped from the driver's seat, standing behind the door and surveying the beach. She stood in a sports bra and short shorts. Andy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Sharon closed the car door, locked it and placed the keys under the front tire. Sharon tucked her sneakers under the tire as well and headed bare foot onto the beach. Sharon took a deep breath and headed towards the waterline. She turned parallel to the line and ran.

Andy watched as the woman who had said no more than hundred words (give or take) ran with confidence. With power. With each stride, Sharon's form grew. When she ran, her hair in its high ponytail swayed with her arms, Sharon seemed to lose herself. Andy climbed out of his car and walked closer to where Sharon's vehicle was parked. He knew the beach was two miles down and two miles back. Andy wondered if Sharon would run the four miles or not. The running figure was lost where sky met sand and water. Andy sighed and leaned against the hood of Sharon's vehicle, he would wait for her.

…

Tao parked in his driveway and looked into the house. His girlfriend laid near the window with a book. Her slight baby bump visible in the pink maternity dress. Tao smiled and clambered out of his car and up the front steps. The couple had moved in three weeks ago once Tao heard of his new job. She was almost five weeks along. The doctors worried about her capability to hold onto a child due to some complications they spotted. But so far everything was good.

"I'm home," Tao said weakly as he plastered on a smile and walked into the living room. His girl stood and smiled.

"How was your first day?"

"We already lost one. It was all supposed to be drills, but someone- someone fell," Tao whispered, wrapping his arms around her petite frame. "It was terrible."

Kathy buried her head into her boyfriend's shoulder and sighed. "I met with the doctor today."

Tao was surprised, he didn't know she had a meeting. "Oh really? How'd it go?"

"They're worried. I am too. What will happen if I can't hold this child?" Kathy asked worried as she tried to hide her tears. Many things could go wrong in the next nine months, and Mike wanted this child so badly.

"Have faith. You'll be fine, he'll be fine," Tao reassured Kathy.

Kathy wiped her eyes with a smile and said, "How do you know it's a boy?"

"I just do."

"Well, I hope she's fine," Kathy said, a weak smile upon her lips. She thought something would go wrong.

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