Thank you very much for all your wonderful feedback. I appreciate it so much!

Big thank you also to NarcissaNerea for beta reading :D

This OS is set after 2x4 (the epi in which Andy faints in the murder room)

Happy reading! :D

She expected to find the cleaning crew in the Murder Room, sweeping the floor and dusting the desks. Instead she encountered a rather casual looking Lieutenant Flynn rummaging through his desk drawer.

"Lieutenant, shouldn't you be at home resting?"

"Captain." Her unexpected presence surprised and even startled him a bit. "You're still here?"

"I am. But the question is, why are you?" she said and crossed her arms over her chest, expecting him to explain himself.

After collapsing earlier in the day, his doctor had told him to take it easy for the time being. That meant no sports and definitely NO work. Yet here he was at 9:30 at night.

"I forgot something."

"I hope you didn't drive over here by yourself."

"Of course I did. Why wouldn't I? "

"Lieutenant you fainted nearly 8 hours ago! You should be in bed."

He groaned. "Yes, I fainted, I didn't have a stroke or got shot or something! I'm perfectly capable of driving. I'm not a fucking invalid!" He sounded angrier than he had intended but he was just so annoyed having everyone fuss over him. Provenza, his daughter, and even his ex wife had called to tell him not to die before Nicole's wedding.

"No one ever suggested you were."

"I know. I'm sorry." His voice was softer now. He was already regretting his outburst. He had not meant to take it out on her.

Andy dropped down in his chair. "It's just... People are driving me crazy with their concerns. Provenza calls every ten minutes with a different excuse to check if I'm still breathing."

Sharon smiled and stepped closer, leaning against one of the other desks, facing him. "We are all worried."

"There is no need to be. I fainted because of high blood pressure. The doc gave me some pills. I'm perfectly fine now."

"Alright. You're fine." She repeated, telling him that she was not going to question him any further. "I'm still driving you home. Get whatever you forgot and let's go."

She actually had wanted to get some more paper work done, but she would do that tomorrow. The files needed to be on Taylor's desk by the end of the week so she still had time.

"Thank you but that's really not necessary."

"It wasn't a suggestion, Lieutenant." She used his rank teasingly, but deliberately to make it clear that she would not take no for an answer.

Andy wanted to be annoyed, but found himself grinning at her instead. "Well, Captain, if that's an order there really isn't much I can do about it" he shrugged. "You're the boss."

"That's correct," she agreed with a spark of amusement in her eyes.

They rode the elevator down to the parking garage. He was carrying some files for her and on top of them lay the little blue box for which he had come to the PAB. Sharon wondered what it was - it kind of looked like a jewelry box - but she didn't ask. She never would. It was none of her business.

They got into the car, both expecting the ride to be long and somewhat uncomfortable. They had to find something to talk about for the next twenty minutes or they would have to endure the ride in a stifling, unpleasant silence.

So far they hadn't spent any time together outside of work except for the few occasions they had gone out for drinks with the team. During those evenings they usually sat next to each other. But this, here and now, was an entirely different situation. There was no one else around and there was no option to escape when things got uncomfortable.

To their surprise however, things did not get uncomfortable. Not even for a second. They talked the entire time. About work, Rusty, and Provenza's ex-wives. He made fun of Taylor, mimicking him and she laughed harder than she should have.

The thirty-minute drive to his house passed by quickly and he only realized that they had arrived when Sharon stopped the car.

"That's it, right?" she asked, looking at the house. It wasn't big but it seemed very comfortable and inviting.

"Yes" he said, unbuckling the seat belt. "Thanks a lot for the ride, even though it wasn't necessary" he smiled teasingly.

"You are welcome anyway," she countered equally bemused.

He was about to open the car door and get out when he suddenly stopped. He turned his head and looked at her again.

She raised her eyebrows in question, waiting expectantly for him to say something.

"Can I ask you something?" He seemed a little unsure of himself which made her curious about what he wanted.

"Sure," she said, turning off the engine.

"What do you think of this?" He opened the little blue box in his hands and revealed a silver necklace with a swan pendant. "It's for my daughter, but I'm not sure if I should give it to her. Do women even wear something like this nowadays?"

Sharon took the box from his hand to get a closer look. She thought it was beautiful. Simple and elegant. "Why the swan?" she asked.

"Back when Nicole was a kid she'd always want to go to this lake up in the hills. There were a lot of swans and she loved them. She'd watch them, feed them bread crumbs, and when she was older she'd even draw them" he explained. "Watching those swans was something we used to do together. She's getting married next week and I wanted to give her this as a reminder of the old times... of the good times."

A soft "oh" escaped her lips and for a moment she thought she was going tear up. She knew he had made many mistakes when it came to his children, but now he was trying so hard to make up for it. Something her husband had never attempted to do.

"I should probably take it back and get her something else" he said, assuming her silence meant that the necklace wasn't all that pretty and fashionable.

"No!" She said immediately, looking at him. "It's beautiful and very thoughtful."

"You think so? Not too gaudy?"

She shook her head no. "It's perfect. She'll love it."

He smiled, relieved. He didn't know why but he trusted her opinion completely. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." She carefully closed the lid of the box and handed it back to him. He took it and once again their fingers touched, briefly.

"Good night." His voice sounded hoarse.

"Get some rest. I don't want to see you back at work until Monday" Sharon instructed.

"Aye aye, Captain" he said, playfully saluting her before getting out of the car.

She started the engine again, smiling as she drove off.

He watched the car vanish around the corner before he entered his house, smiling as well.

Thanks for reading :) I'd be really happy if you left some feedback. Please don't be scared to tell me when you have suggestions for improvement.

The next chapter is set after 2x8 - Shandy attends Nicole's wedding :D