A/N Tag to episode 5.4 Skin Deep. No beta, all mistakes are mine.

Sharon Raydor sneezed for the fourth time in a matter of minutes. Even before she could recover, she felt Andy tenderly squeeze her knee, but it was the chuckle from the back seat that garnered most of her attention. "Yes?" she shifted slightly to look at Rusty.

"Oh, nothing," he grinned sheepishly. The raise of her eyebrow and purse of her lips told him that answer was not going to work. He looked up as Andy eyed him in the rear view mirror. Another chuckle escaped him, "Okay…okay. Mom, you do realize that it is the hand sanitizer you made us bathe in making you sneeze and not the black mold."

As the words black mold escaped Rusty's lips, Sharon unconsciously shook her hands in the air with a noticeable shiver running through her body. "Ugh, don't say it, Rusty."

Rusty's soft chuckle turned into an all-out guffaw at his mother's reaction, leaving Andy biting his tongue to keep from joining in. "See Mom, I just don't get it. You've seen thousands of dead bodies not to mention all the gross stuff that has to come along with a murder, yet a little black mold totally freaks you out."

"Rusty, I haven't seen thousands of dead bodies and I am not freaking out…Andy, tell him I don't freak out." She crossed her arms over her chest, giving Andy a pleading look.

Keeping his eyes on the road, Andy contemplated his words carefully. He had to admit that she is utterly adorable when she does freak out, so adorable, in fact, that he was having trouble wiping the grin from his face. He gently squeezed her knee again, "Rusty, don't give your mother a hard time over this. I kind'a feel a little itchy myself."

"So, you are not denying that she is, in fact freaking out." Rusty countered with a smile.

Andy shot him a look in the rear view mirror, but his eyes were still smiling, "Don't put words in my mouth. Very rarely, have I seen your Mother freak out as you keep calling it. At work, she has the uncanny ability to separate 'Sharon' from 'The Captain'. That is why she is so good at what she does." He stole a soft smile at her, as he felt her hand tighten over his. "You and I are fortunate enough to get to see 'Sharon, the Mom', 'Sharon, the girlfriend'," she blushed slightly at the word girlfriend. "Sharon, the adorable, goof-ball," he lightly chuckled.

She tenderly patted his hand, "I think he gets the picture, Andy."

"I do remember that time Mike had like a week's worth of garbage scattered all over the murder room trying to piece together where some dead guy lived. You freaked out a little over that one, or maybe that time we were reading fan fiction out loud. I seem to remember you getting just a little bit flustered," Andy grinned.

"Now is not the time, nor place to discuss fan fiction, but" She moved her hand to her nose, "I will admit, that trash smelled awful, worse than ten dead bodies," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"I am sorry the house didn't work out," Rusty quietly admitted, "I liked it, a lot more than I thought I would."

The look of sheer happiness on Sharon's face made Andy's heart swell, "There'll be other houses. Don't worry Kid, we will find the right one." Reluctantly, he moved his hand off Sharon's knee to grip the steering wheel. "How about an early dinner?"

Sharon shifted to look back at Rusty, "I actually was planning on spending the rest of the day with Gus. He got off work early today and is off tomorrow. I mean if it's okay?"

"Of course it's okay." Sharon smiled brightly, her gazing settling on Andy briefly as she turned back around.

"How 'bout I drop you and Rusty off at the condo; I'll go pick up dinner and we can have a quiet night in?

"Hmm," she leaned her head back against the seat, "I like the sound of that."

~~~~~MC~~~~

Andy balanced two bags in one hand, sliding his key into the lock, he pushed the door open with his foot. The condo was quiet, a single lamp burning in the living room. He made his way over to the dining table placing the bags there. He could see Sharon, her back to him, standing out on the balcony, her suede jacket replaced with one of her favorite cashmere cardigans. Leaving the food for now, he moved back to the entrance hall to hang his leather jacket up and toe out of his shoes. Quietly, he slid the glass door to the balcony open, she did not turn, keeping her gaze on the city lights. He moved behind her, pulling her into the warmth of his chest, his nose automatically moving into her hair. "You're going to miss this view," his voice was soft against her cheek.

"Hmm," she moved her hands over his, leaning all her weight against him. "Emily called to see how we liked the house." Andy chuckled against her, glad he wasn't home to hear that conversation. "Did I ever tell you that Emily was very upset with me for moving here?"

She could feel Andy frown against her, "Really, why? That's not like Em."

"No it's not," She turned in his arms, in her bare feet, her head came to rest just in the crook of his neck. Her eyes drifted closed as his aroma enveloped her. "It wasn't home, that was all she could tell me, but I know there was more. It's kind of funny if I let myself think about it. In Emily's mind, the condo will never be home; Ricky, on the other hand, has no opinion at all; and then there's Rusty. The condo is the only real home he has ever known." She sighed at the feel of his kiss against the top of her head.

"Let's go in before dinner gets cold." He slowly pulled her inside, leading her to the chair at the head of the dining table. "Sit, I'll get everything we need." She smiled softly, watching him move about the kitchen before settling in beside her. He plated their food, before he spoke again, "I need to tell you something." Her eyebrows rose in question as she rested her fork against her plate. "Rusty came to me earlier, he…was concerned that maybe he is in the way."

Frowning, "In the way, how?" She whispered even though she could guess the answer.

Andy reached for her hand, their finger automatically linking together, "He needed reassurance that he has a place with us." She stared at him, her bottom lip quivered as she pulled it gently between her teeth, unable to stop her eyes from misting over.

"I…I thought he knew."

Andy squeezed her hand, "He needed to hear it from me, sweetheart. I told him it wasn't just about finding the right place for you and me, but the right place for the three of us." He reached up to catch the single tear that slid down her cheek. "It was a really nice house. I think… you were already hanging ballet pictures in your mind." He reached for her other hand as she nodded softly, their food momentarily forgotten. "I really enjoyed seeing you enthusiastic about the possibility of us moving in together. Do know how happy you make me?"

"I hope as happy as you make me." She caressed the top of his hand with her thumb. "Andy, thank you for taking that extra step to re-assure Rusty. It really means a lot to me."

"I did think he seemed excited about the house, well until the whole bla..."

"Don't say it." She pulled her hands away to cover her ears.

"Don't say what?" He grinned. "Don't say…black mold."

"Andy!" She jumped quickly from her chair. Her hands running through her hair. "Please don't say it again. I already feel like I need a shower."

Laughing, Andy sprang from his seat. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her to him before she could get away. "Black mold…black mold." He whispered along her neck, chuckling as she squirmed against him.

"Andy!" She giggled, trying to push back from him, but his hold was firm, yet playful. "You just want to get me in the shower. Admit it."

"Maybe." He captured her lips before she could reply. Tugging on her cardigan, he slipped it off her shoulders, down her arms to flutter to the floor. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her; the feel of her toned legs snaking around him was pure heaven. She slowly teased his bottom lip with her tongue, as her hands moved into his hair. Finally breaking the kiss, his lips continued to nip at her jaw, down her neck, while his hands finally found purchase cradling her firm butt. Slowly he walked them down the hall, dinner and toxic mold long forgotten.