Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters

Sharon told Rusty that he could pick any restaurant that he wanted so it came as no surprise that he found one that made gourmet burgers. She sworn that in his mind, hamburgers were part of the food chart. Rusty sat there wondering what a fifty dollar hamburger would taste like. He started to feel bad, the place was a little overpriced, nice, but way more than he had expected. Maybe he should suggest that they leave.

As if reading his mind, Sharon looked up from her menu. "The salmon sounds great, are you going to get their famous rossini burger, it sounds amazing, Sharon asked her eyes shining in amazement from the description. It consisted of australian kobe wagyu, sauteed foie gras, shaved truffles and black perigord truffle sauce. That alone made the price seem cheap.

"You think? Rusty asked looking again at the price, "maybe I should get something else."

Andy chuckled to himself, the kid was a brat sometimes but he had a way of also showing some consideration when it came to Sharon.

"Rusty, I told you, this is your day. You can get anything you want."

"So does that mean I can order a drink?" He smiled. He was sitting across from her with Provenza to his left and Andy seated across from Provenza seated next to Sharon. Provenza decided to just give up trying to keep him away from her. If he tried something and she slipped him, well then, served him right.

Provenza smiled, "Of course, why not." He said placing his menu down and winking at Sharon, "I'm getting one."

She shot him a look. "Nice try but no."

"Oh come on, it's one drink and we are all here watching him." Provenza said trying to help the kid out.

"Yeah Sharon, just this once."

"I don't think so, underage drinking is against the law…

"Oh for crying out loud, Provenza said rolling his eyes.

….."And, she continued ignoring Lt. Provenza, "what kind of guardian would I be if I allowed you to drink before you turned 21?

"A very cool one." Rusty replied with a big smile.

"Don't worry kid, come by later and I'll fix you a real drink."

"You will do nothing of the sort lieutenant."

Andy laughed and shook his head. For a minute he thought that she would say yes, being that it was his day after all, but this was Captain Sharon Raydor. She loved to follow rules. He imagine that if there wasn't a rule for something she would make one up just so she could in force it.

"Well, I'm getting the vegetarian lasagna, what about you Provenza?"

"A heart attack from looking at these prices, they all laughed, "but I can tell you I'm getting something that has parents that much I can assure you." He looked at Andy. Really who was he trying to impress with this new diet? If meat didn't kill you something else would, so why not just enjoy life.

Sharon who was still laughing at Provenza's comment about his meal. Placed her hand on Andy's shoulder. "Honestly Andy, I don't know how you put up with him, you shouldn't let him talk to you like that."

He couldn't explain why her hand felt so warm through his jacket. "It's fine, he's been giving me lip all day today but I'll fix him later." He looked over at Provenza and winked.

"Well if you would excuse me gentlemen, Sharon said as she stood. Andy too stood and pulled her seat from behind her so she could step out properly. She turned, taken aback by the show of chivalry.

"Why thank you Lt." He simply nodded. She smiled, picked up her clutch and walked pass him toward the ladies room.

When he sat back down he found Provenza giving him a disapproving look. Rusty was too busy looking over his menu to have noticed anything. Andy frowned, "What?"

"You know what, stop, just stop." He gave him one more final look to make sure he understood exactly what he was talking about.

Andy decided to just ignore him, he was having a good time and he wasn't going to let Provenza's sunny mood kill it. Besides, the Captain was a lady and shouldn't she have a gentlemen stand and pull out her seat for her once in a while. Not that he did such things for her at work. That would be weird. Or even for his actual dates, some of them had been a bit young and the sentiment would have gone over their heads. All that was beside the point, she deserved to be treated like a lady and he meant nothing by it.

Provenza looked away from Andy just in time to watch the maître d walk toward them. He was beside a tall man. Something about the guy seemed familiar but he couldn't place why. He was sure they had never met. But he seemed to know Rusty who he was looking right at. Provenza hoped that this didn't spell trouble.

"Here they are sir, the Raydor party." The maître d turned and walked back to his post.

"Hey Rusty."

Rusty hadn't even noticed the man as he was so engrossed in figuring out what to order but hearing his name he looked up.

"Hey Luke, he responded excitedly, he stood and shook his outstretch hand." It's good to see you. I didn't know you were coming, Rusty wondered how many more surprises he was going to receive today from Sharon. He turned back to the others. "This is Luke Raydor, Sharon's brother-in-law."

That's it, Provenza thought to himself. He kind of reminded him of a better looking Jack. If Jack was slimmer and taller.

"Hey." Luke said playfully elbowing Rusty in the arm.

"Oh I'm sorry, favorite brother-in-law."

"That's more like." He smiled.

"Luke, this is Lt. Provenza and Lt. Flynn."

Luke shook hands with both lieutenants.

"I'm Louie but everyone just calls me Provenza, nice to meet you Luke."

"You as well."

"I'm Andy, people call me either Flynn or Andy, whichever is cool with me."

"Got it, he decided to take the empty seat so as not be standing over their table. Rusty too sat back down. Luke leaned toward Rusty making sure he had his complete attention.

"Rusty listen, he started, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation today. Something's come up and I've actually been trying to get a hold of Sharon all morning. Where is she by the way?" He looked around wondering if she was behind him perhaps talking to someone she knew.

"Ladies room" Rusty answered. He wondered what was up, why had he been trying to get a hold of Sharon all morning and why hadn't she answered his call.

"It's ok, if something came up, something came. I'm glad to see you now though. I'm sure we will have to get a different table but we actually just got here so it shouldn't be a big problem."

"No, no, it's okay. I actually can't stay."

"Oh." Rusty frowned. This was weird who stops by a restaurant to say they can't stay, and it hit him that if he hadn't talked to Sharon all day how did he know where they were.

"Hey, how did you know we were going to be here if you haven't spoken to Sharon all day?"

"I went to St. Josephs' and ran into your friend Kris she said that you guys had already left and told me what restaurant to find you at, he took a breath judging how to phrase what he was going to say next, "Look Rusty, Sharon's phone is clearly off, it kept going to voice mail and I couldn't for the life of me remember her home number, he paused again then continued, "Last night, Jack had a heart attack in a casino and died."

It seemed like the whole room had gone silent. Rusty blinked at him, unsure if he just heard him correctly. Provenza and Andy had leaned toward the guy too, now very interested in what was going on. None of them could believe what he was saying, this had to be the worst day ever and Sharon had no idea what was going to happen. Rusty began to wonder if he was cursed, was he not allowed one day where nothing bad happened to him or people he knew and loved. He wondered how Sharon would take the news.

"I'm sorry to come here and bust up your fun but I need to tell Sharon what's going on, Katie and Richie don't know either. I didn't want to tell them until I talked to her first. How is she by the way, I know you two have been going through a lot lately."

Rusty was still in shock and couldn't answer or didn't realize he had asked a question.

"She's good." Andy answered. He gave Luke a small smile. "Hey man, look, I'm really sorry about your brother. I knew Jack, he looked toward Provenza, "we both did, he was, he was an….a…ok guy." Andy didn't know what to say, it was wrong to speak ill of the dead but Jack, though he liked him ok, was a man who left his wife with two small kids.

"Thanks man, I won't pretend he was the world's best man but still, family is family." Provenza and Rusty was still silent not know what to say but happy that Andy found his voice.

"Oh my goodness, Sharon exclaimed, "Luke what on earth are you doing here?" Luke and the others turned to see Sharon standing before them with a big smile on her face. Andy inwardly grimaced he didn't want to be here to see what happens next. He decided he will excuse himself, he looked over at Provenza he looked like he had the same idea. Good thing he had that big breakfast lunch was looking very unlikely.

Luke looked up at Sharon, the women looked great. She looked like she had just sent a month on some private island who would have thought that a few months ago she was running down flights of stairs to bust down a door to save her son. Luke stood, "Sharon, hey, sis you look great. He smiled pulling her in to a hug.

She laughed and playfully hit him. "That's like the third time I've heard that today, do I normally look bad? I'm beginning to wonder what everyone is trying to tell me." She pulled back and wrapped her arm around his waist.

They had been good friends before she married Jack. In fact that's how she met Jack. He was more than a brother-in-law to her. They have always gotten along even after her separation from Jack. Luke, just like Jack, was charming but unlike Jack a far better man. Her kids adored him, he was their favorite uncle and at times like a dad to them. Even Rusty had taken to him when she first introduced them months ago after it was becoming clear that he may be a permanent fixture in her life.

Jack looked down at Sharon. He couldn't do this to her, it was bad enough that he had rushed over and told Rusty. He realized in that moment that he had made a mistake. "Actually, I just stopped by to give Rusty his graduation present, he slipped his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out a card and handed it to Rusty.

Rusty couldn't believe it, the guy's brother dies and he still make sure he gives his foster nephew a gift. Rusty shook his head in disbelief.

"Thanks a lot Luke." He said his voice slightly cracking. He gave him a sympathetic smile. He was still reeling from what he had told them only moments before.

"I can't stay, he continued, "I heard that you guys were going to be here. I have a client that I'm meeting not too far away and didn't want to miss seeing Rusty on his big day, he playfully gave Rusty a punch in the shoulder, "Congrats man." He smiled again at Rusty, hoping that she wouldn't see through his lie.

Provenza and Flynn couldn't help but marble over how well Luke was taking all this. They were impressed but then maybe it hadn't hit him just yet. They hoped that Sharon wouldn't burst into tears and make a scene, they had all rode together, leaving her car back at the garden. Andy didn't want to drive to the sound of her crying in the background, he wasn't sure he could take it. If it came to that he would ask Provenza to sit up front. He shook his head, what was he thinking, the women was about to find out about her dead husband and he was thinking about what a bummer the drive back was going to be.

"Anyway, I'm going to get going sis. It was great meeting you Andy and Provenza." The two looked up in shock. What was he doing? He hadn't told Sharon anything. Andy looked at Provenza in horror. Provenza hurriedly stood up.

"Um Luke, you sure you want to leave just yet? I mean we haven't even ordered yet surely we can have them pull up another chair and we could all break bread together."

"Oh yes, Sharon said clapping her hands together, "Please say yes Luke, can't you reschedule your client? Big time lawyer as yourself, can't you have someone else take the meeting or push it back a little?" She gave him a sweet look. It would of work if Luke wasn't trying to flee.

He smiled down at her. "Oh sweetheart I would love to but I just simply can't."

She pouted. "Okay if you must save the world, fine then. But you must come by tomorrow evening." Rusty looked up wondering what was happening tomorrow evening. "I was going to wait to tell you this later, she looked over at Rusty and smiled, "But, Katie and Richie are flying into see you, they wanted to come today but it didn't work out. So they are coming tomorrow and I was going to have dinner for all of us she frowned, "I suck at surprises I know."

Rusty was shocked. He hadn't actually meet Sharon's kids. He has skype with both of them. He and Katie had formed a closer relationship than he and Richie probably because he was the oldest male or something like that and wasn't sure about how he felt about his mom having a foster son, maybe he thought he was trying to replace him. But the guy was cool, both of them were, but he often chatted via text to Katie. She was a lot like Sharon, big heart and easy to get along with. Well, Katie was easy to get along with, some might not describe Sharon that way. But she was in her own way it just so happened that Katie was easier and she didn't live by a rule book. Rusty smiled at that notion.

"Really Sharon, that's so cool, I can't believe it." He was worried about all of them being together but happy because that meant Sharon would finally see her kids and she was going to need them after today, and them her.

"So you see Luke, she continued, "you simply must come by tomorrow. The kids would love to have their favorite uncle with them. And it's not like Jack will be there, she laughed, "so you have no excuse for not coming." .She knew that he and his brother hadn't been getting along from past conversations

Provenza, Rusty and Andy grimaced at her choice of words. She would probably feel bad about that one later.

Luke smiled sadly. "Then I promised to come by tomorrow, you have my word." He figured if he couldn't do it today he could do it tomorrow. Dead was dead, it didn't matter when she found out the point was that she will find out and knowing now won't change a thing. "But I really must get going, he avoided Andy and Provenza's eyes.

"Um, we'll walk you out, Provenza who was still standing said. He pointed between he and Andy, "We have a legal question we want to ask you, right Flynn?"

Andy quickly stood too. "Oh yes, almost forgot." He smiled.

Sharon frowned, what legal question.

"Nothing to worry about Captain, it's just a little thing, Andy nodded at Provenza who nodded back and smiled at the captain.

"Well ok then." She said hesitantly hoping it wasn't something that would kick her in the butt later. She heard about them doing side jobs sometimes, whenever they got some scheme going it always went very wrong very fast.

"Well Luke, she said turning to him once again and give him a hug and a kiss. She noticed that he held her a lot longer this time and whispered in her ear that he loved her. It was a bit odd but she shook it off as nothing, maybe he was in one of those moods. She didn't care she was feeling great. "Love you and I will see you sir, tomorrow." She smiled again as he released her.

Once outside by Luke's Lexus, Provenza grabbed his arm to get him to stop from getting in. "What gives, you're not going to tell her what happened to her husband?"

Luke shook his head. "I just couldn't, she looked so happy, I couldn't spring that kind of news on her and mess up her day. You guys understand right?"

They both looked at each other. "No, they said in unison, "Look Luke, Andy continued, "you have to tell her, what if someone from your family or a friend calls her to offer their condolence. She would have no idea what they are talking about and will be caught completely off guard. Not to mention how horrible it would be for to find out that way."

"And how do you think she is going to feel finding out from someone else instead of her "favorite" brother-in-law." Provenza added using air quotes when he said the word favorite.

Andy frowned at him and rolled his eyes. "Hey man, we get it, this isn't a good day for you either and we are truly sorry for your lost but you can't do this to her. She needs to tell her kids who by the way are flying in tomorrow."

Luke knew that they were right, he shook his head again. "I'm sorry, but it's not like not knowing today will change the fact that he will still be dead tomorrow." He loved his brother but he was feeling a little conflicted and pissed off. He didn't want to hurt Sharon, not right now.

"Hey, he said as if a light bulb had just gone off in his head, "how about you two tell her?"

They both frowned. "Are you crazy, we're not family. She's our boss and I don't need that women pissed off at me because she didn't like me sticking my nose in her personal business." Provenza answered

"And besides, you told Rusty, you can tell her too. It's not fair that you're going to hang him out to dry like this. He knows but she doesn't."

"That was easy, he's a kid who is no way related to Jack besides Kris told me that she and Rusty were going to hang out all day and he wasn't expected home until tomorrow afternoon."

Provenza wondered if it was possible for Kris to keep anything to herself. "Regardless, it's not any of our business." He said with a definite wave of his hand.

"You guys do this for a living, giving people bad news is a big part of your job, Luke turned and opened his car door and got in, "Look you could tell her or not. Either way she will know by tomorrow that I can promise. Besides she knows I hate giving people bad news, so it would come as no surprise if she did hear it from you. Rusty was easy to tell and at the moment I had every intention of telling her. I just, I just couldn't, he said reflecting on her smiling up at him. How could his brother ever leave a women like that he will never know? He shook his head. "I'm sorry guys, about all of this, but I really must go."

Provenza frowned. "I thought you made up that stuff about having to see a client."

"Oh I did, I had to get away from her but either way, I got to go." He closed the door, waved at them through the window and in less than thirty seconds he was gone.

Andy turned and looked at Provenza. "What are we going to do, tell her or see what happens?"

"You mean wait till someone phones her and accidently tell her about her poor dead husband while we sit across from her enjoying our food pretending we didn't already know? What do you think she will do to us after she learns the truth, stab us with her folk or knife?"

Andy chucked. "Maybe, maybe it won't be that bad. Luke seems fine with it and the Captain hasn't been really married to Jack in over twenty years. She might take it kind of well."

Provenza shook his head, he was beginning to think that all the Raydor men were a bit crazy. "I say we make a run for it, leave her and the kid and go eat somewhere else."

"We can't leave Rusty here, he knows too."

"Hey, kid got to learn, every man for himself. He'll understand….one day."

Andy slapped him on the arm. "Come on, we have to get back in there before she starts getting suspicious."

Rusty had been conversing with Sharon and keeping an eye on what was going on outside. Sharon couldn't see them because they were behind her and she still hadn't seemed to catch on to the fact that something was up. She was happily telling him about their plans for the rest of the weekend and checking to see if he was a bit nervous about officially meeting her kids.

He smiled and told her that it would be fine and he was looking forward to it. But he was seriously doubting that things will go as she planned once she learns what has happened to Jack. He wondered if he should cancel all together with his friends and Kris. He still had time to text and tell her that something has come up, she'll understand and he would explain once he was home and in the privacy of his room.

He noticed Provenza motioning for him to the back of the restaurant. He stood and told her that he need the restroom and quickly left before she could say anything else.

"So what happened, he asked the lieutenants once he reached them, "Is he coming back after we eat or something?" He looked at them pleadingly.

Provenza looked down at his shoes and shook his head. "No, he said he'll do it tomorrow."

"You're kidding right, you can't be serious. She's going to flip out when she learns that we knew and didn't tell her. I can't hide something like this from her. I learned my lesson from the last time I tried to pull the wool over her eyes."

"See even the kid thinks this is a stupid idea." Andy stated.

"So what will you have us do? Tell her ourselves. I don't see how we got involved in all of this. All I wanted to do was go to a graduation, come here to have a beer and a nice steak but instead I find myself in someone else's drama filled life. Is it too much to ask to just be able to mind our own business?"

"Is this case, yes. We have to tell her, and you're the senior officer so you do it."

Provenza shoot Andy a look, he shook his head in disgust. "Fine. We'll do what none of the Raydor men can seem to do, finish something. I'll tell her after we eat."

They both looked at him.

"Don't give me that look, I'm hungry and we are here, let's eat first burst her bubble later. Rusty you go along with your plans with Kris, trust me, she might need some alone time." He stated when he saw that Rusty was about to disagree with him on still going along with his plans. "When you leave we will tell her, less likely she'll make a crying scene with all these people around." The last thing he wanted was to witness that. "Okay, everyone got it?"

Andy and Rusty both nodded in agreement. "Good, then lets man up and show the Captain a nice time because after today, it's going to suck."

They managed to make it through lunch without Sharon suspecting a thing. The men were rather proud of themselves. When Kris showed up to pick up Rusty, he hesitated, not sure if this was the right thing to do. Provenza gave him a look, he was going to blow it if he wasn't careful. But finally he leaned over and kissed her cheek stating that he would text her later to check in. She laughed telling him that she wasn't all that bad, she wanted him to have a good time and not worry about her. But would appreciate a text nonetheless. She smiled and wink at him when she told him that last part. Once they were gone, Sharon turned to the two left at the table with a content smile.

"This was great you guys. I know we don't always get along but I can't tell you how much I appreciate the love you show to Rusty. He really looks up to the two of you." They didn't know what to say so they nodded.

Sharon clapped her hands together. "How about some dessert I hear the cheesecake is to die for."

"No, they yelled in unison causing her to jump and look at them with a worried expression.

"Sorry Captain, we just mean that, we are stuffed and since we've already paid the bill why have the waitress go through all that trouble?" Andy finished with a reassuring smile, hoping she brought it. He looked at Provenza as to say go ahead.

Provenza cleared his throat and took a deep breath. He leaned forward and folded his hands together laying them on the table. He had slide over to Rusty's seat when he left so he was now seated directly in front of her.

Sharon got the feeling something was up. She looked at Andy who was now sitting with his arm across the back of her chair.

'Oh god, she thought to herself, 'they had done something stupid and was now going to ask for her help out of it.' She looked back at Provenza with a worry expression bracing herself for what he was about to say.

"There is no easy way to say this, he paused, "but Captain, he paused again and looked her in the eyes. "Sharon, last night Jack suffered a heart attack and...and he didn't make it." He stopped to gauge how she was taking it thus far.

She frown and looked at Andy then back at Provenza. "Jack who?"

They both leaned back and looked at one another. Sharon looked at them both confused.

"Sharon, Andy began, "Jack Raydor, your husband."

Sharon frowned and looked back at Provenza then Andy. She wasn't sure if she was following what they were telling her. She saw Jack a few months ago and he was fine. She started to feel dizzy like she had been hit in the head with something. She brought her hands to her head and started shaking her head. "What are you guys talking about?"

This wasn't going the way Provenza had thought it would, Sharon didn't seem to understand what they were telling her. "Sharon, he tried again, "Luke actually came here to tell you himself but couldn't. He had been trying to call you all morning but said that your phone kept going to voicemail. We are so sorry."

Andy placed his hand on her back in hopes of offering some kind of comfort.

For a few minutes she just sat there processing what they just told her without moving or saying anything. Provenza wished to God that something would happen. Usually people started crying, praying, telling them how wrong they were. This reaction, this frozen in time response was not one that he was custom to. He didn't know want to do or say at this point. He looked at Flynn who seemed just as confused. He would have killed Jack if he wasn't already dead for putting him through this.

Andy always knew that Sharon had a good porker face, sometimes you couldn't tell what she was thinking. Watching now, waiting for a reaction. Andy began to wonder if she was mad about how they told her or hurt about what they told her. And if telling her about her husband in a restaurant full of people was beyond a stupid idea. She might actually kill them later when she has had time to consider the fact that two lieutenants on her team was too stupid to actually show some kind of sympathy and tell her properly in the privacy of her home.

"Sharon, is there anything we can do for you." Andy asked soothingly.

His words seem to wake her up. She shook her head. "No, I'm ok. I need to get home, can you just take me to my car now please." She didn't look at either of them.

"Sure no problem. Ummm, how about we just take you to your place and Provenza and I can go get your car and return it for you."

She simply shook her head without saying a word.

"Ok." He looked at Provenza who shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

Her car was closer to the restaurant than her home. It darned on Provenza that by not doing this particular notification in the comforts of her home he was now going to enjoy the most uncomfortable car ride of his life. The thought of throwing himself from said car cross his mind as they all stood up to leave and Sharon still hadn't spoken a word and was avoiding eye contact with both of them.

Andy shook his head as he followed out behind them. He felt so helpless and like a complete idiot for pushing Provenza into telling her about Jack in a restaurant. He wouldn't be surprised that after it was all said and done, she sent them both to a sympathy seminar.

Thanks for reading, more to come soon