DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters. They belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.

Chapter 3

Provenza sat at his desk in the murder room. It was Friday afternoon, almost time to go, and it had been quiet so far. He was looking over some paperwork when his phone rang. He saw Andy's name pop up on the display. "Flynn, aren't you supposed to be on vacation?" he said as he answered his phone. "Yeah, about that, something's come up here" Andy said.

"Is everything alright with you and the Captain?" "Yes, we are both fine" Andy replied "Look, I need you to look up something for us." "Go on" Provenza huffed as he started to jot down what Andy was saying on a piece of paper.

"There's been 4 women in their early twenties that have gone missing in the past 30 days up here, no witnesses, no evidence left behind" Andy started to say. "What did you stumble into Flynn?" questioned Provenza. "Sharon and I were in town looking at the different shops here when she thought she saw Philip Stroh" Andy said. Provenza almost dropped the phone.

"Did you follow him?" Provenza asked as he got the attention of Mike who was sitting at his desk. "We went into the shop she saw him enter but he wasn't there" Andy concluded. "Look, the Captain wants you guys to look into this and find out what you can about the missing women. She's in touch with the locals right now and is persuading them to fax over all of the information they have to the murder room" Andy said as he was watching Sharon talk on her phone. "Okay, got it" Provenza said.

"Oh and one other thing" Andy said quietly. "What?" Provenza stated. "Could you maybe keep an eye on Rusty, he's supposed to be hanging out with Buzz tonight" Andy asked. Provenza looked up and saw Rusty and Buzz entering the murder room. "Buzz and Rusty just walked into the murder room. I'll tell Buzz what's going on" Provenza said. "Okay, but don't alert the kid, I don't want him worrying." "I'll keep you and the Captain posted" Provenza said as he hung up the phone with Andy. He held his face in his hands and muttered "Ye gods!"

Provenza looked at Mike and nodded as Julio picked up the faxes that were being sent over. He brought them back and placed a quarter in Provenza's jar. Provenza explained what was going on to Julio and Amy and left them to look over the papers while he went over to speak with Buzz. Rusty was sitting at Buzz's desk. "Hey Buzz, can you come in here for a second?" Provenza asked as he pointed towards electronics. "Yes Lieutenant" Buzz said as he followed him in the room. Mike followed them also.

Rusty sat outside looking at Julio and Amy diligently working on something at their desks. Maybe they caught a case? If so then his evening hanging out with Buzz will be over sooner rather than later. Gus was working late tonight so he'd be by himself. Provenza explained everything to Buzz and he understood. "I'll keep an eye on him sir" Buzz replied. "Until we know something concrete, we won't place a police escort on him" Provenza said and then they all left electronics.

"Did you guys catch a case?" Rusty asked Provenza as he walked out. "Oh, we are just working on something, not sure if it will lead us anywhere" Provenza said as he walked back to his desk. Rusty continued to look on as everyone was getting busy. "Do you need to go somewhere or do something Buzz?" Rusty questioned "because I can leave if you are busy now." "Nope, you and I are still hanging out tonight" Buzz answered and found Provenza staring back at him from across the room.

Meanwhile, back in Monterey, Sharon hung up her phone with the local police captain and walked over to where Andy was standing. "Provenza and the rest of the team are looking into it" Andy said as Sharon nodded. Sharon wrapped her arms around herself. The ocean air mixed in with the evening air gave a chill. Andy wrapped his arms around her and enveloped her in a hug. Sharon started to shiver. "It's going to be okay" Andy said as he soothingly rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

"What about Rusty?" Sharon asked as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of being in Andy's arms. "He's with Buzz in the murder room. He's safe Sharon, nothing's going to happen" Andy said as he leaned into the crook of her neck as placed a light kiss there. He pulled back and looked her in the eyes "nothing's going to happen to you either". Sharon looked away.

Andy knew that Stroh hated powerful women and Sharon was one of them. She was at the judge's chambers when he escaped that day. Plus she had those threatening letters sent to her back then. Sharon looked Andy in his eyes "let's go inside", she said as she grabbed his hand and led him back inside the cottage.

"Are you hungry?" Andy asked as they made their way into the kitchen. "I can make us something lite and quick" he added. Sharon joined him by the fridge to see what he was looking at. He pulled out ingredients to make a salad. She busied herself with washing the lettuce and all the vegetables as Andy started mixing the ingredients together.

Sharon became lost in thought. She had to trust her team now to look into all the info that was sent to them. She knew they would notify her and Andy if they found anything. When she spoke to the local police captain, she expected resistance from him, but he was willing to accept some help from the LAPD. When she had mentioned the name, Philip Stroh, the police captain remembered hearing the name a while back when a BOLO was listed when he escaped the LA County Sheriffs.

Andy reached over to touch Sharon's hand and she was startled. "Sorry" Sharon said as she carried the plates over to the table. Andy watched her. "So much for the romantic and relaxing getaway" he sighed.

"I'm sorry" Sharon said as she set the table. They both needed this weekend just to relax with all that happened to them personally, and the team. The relaxing part was nice while it lasted, and heck the romantic parts were very nice too, Sharon thought to herself and smiled.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, duty calls" Andy shrugged, looking defeated. He was also thinking about how nice it was to just relax with Sharon. His mind flashed back to all the times he held her on this getaway, from dancing to the bedroom, and then in the shower this morning. He also thought about the ring that she now wears on her left hand and that brought a huge smile to his face.

Sharon looked back at him and smiled. "I'm worried about you" she said as he walked over to have a seat at the table. "Me? What about?" he asked. "Is this too soon? You have not been cleared to go back to work by your doctor" she started to say to him as she grabbed his hand in hers. "I'm fine" he said in a reassuring voice. "You have your doctor's appointment this Monday and I don't want us to miss it" she said as she caressed his left hand.

"I'm worried about you too Sharon" as he started to caress her left hand, touching the ring as he went along. "Stroh is not very fond of you. Don't forget those letters that were written to you, I know I haven't and that was three years ago".

She reached over and pulled his chin up "You were in that house that went up in flames and barely escaped from the burning man, I haven't forgotten that part. Or all the times you were in harm's way either" Sharon said as she leaned over and gave him a simple kiss on his lips.

They ate their salads and when they were finished, Andy's cell phone rang. He looked at his phone and saw that it was Mike calling. "Go ahead Mike" Andy said as he put it on speaker so Sharon could hear.

TBC