Chapter 6

…...

Sharon was already in the office the following morning when Andy and the team arrived, Louie made a bee line for the coffee machine and filled his large mug up figuring he's need it if he were to spend all day searching for Casey's relatives. Andy sat his smoothie he's bought en route on his desk before knocking and entering Sharon's office.

"Morning."

"Andy, good morning."

He closed the door behind him and came further in. He walked around to where she sat and leaned against the desk, looking down at her.

"Did you get much sleep last night?"

"A little, you?"

"Yeah no bad."

They lapsed in to silence for a few moments, Andy noticing the foster care number on a piece of paper beside her files.

"So I spoke to Rusty last night about the possibility of Casey coming to stay with us for a little while." She suddenly said.

"Oh right, okay so how did he take it then?"

She turned around in her seat so she was facing him, her long legs crossed in front of him. He couldn't help but notice how her navy dress went a little higher and she straightened up.

"I think he took it a lot better than I thought he would, I suppose being in the same situation, he understands what she's going through."

"It's good to know he's supportive of your idea."

"What about them, did you manage to ask them last night at the bar?"

"Just Provenza."

"Ahhh, let me guess…he thinks it's a bad idea."

"Not a bad idea, he just feels that you could be taking on a lot. You already have Rusty and you work long hours. Believe it or not, he does care about you. You and the kid have been through a lot in the last year and he…we all just want to see you happy again, no more looking over your shoulder."

"He can be very sweet when he wants to be." She smiled.

"I told you, he's just a big teddy bear deep down." Andy laughed.

"I thought about this long and hard last night when Rusty went to bed and the more I thought about Casey and where she is right now, the more I want to take care of her, protect her. She's so young Andy and she's been through such a traumatic experience that no child of that age, any age should have to go through. I want her to have a stable home, with people around her who will look out for her. Rusty, you…all of you. You've all made such an impact on Rusty's life; I'd like to see that happen for Casey too."

"Okay but Sharon listen, you're talking as though she'll be with you permanently like Rusty and I'm not saying she won't be…but you need to remember that there's the possibility that we could find a relative and then Casey will have to leave you, I don't want to see you get attached to her and then get hurt like that."

"Andy I…"

Andy stood back from the desk and came to kneel in front of Sharon, taking hold of hands as she watched him closely.

"I care about Sharon; you're an important person in my life. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I can't take her in and not get attached to her in some way and when the time comes for her to leave…if the time comes, yes it will probably break my heart but I'll get through it."

"You're really sure about this."

"I am, you know me…once I set my mind on something."

"You better make the phone call then, no point keeping her in that place any longer than necessary."

"Thank you."

"What are friends for; I'll go make you some tea while you make the call."

"Okay."

Sharon watched Andy leave before turning back to her desk and picking up the phone, ready for the change in her life.

…

Rusty was getting in to the elevator that would take him up to Major Crimes, the door was just closer when a hand came in between the doors stopping it closing and Andrea Hobbs jumped inside.

"Oh Rusty hello, everything okay."

"Um yeah I guess so."

"You finished for the day."

"Yeah, Sharon wanted me to come back here and do my homework. I think she still worries about me being on my own even though the Stroth stuffs over with now."

"She'll never stop worrying about you; it's what Mother's do." She smiled. "Oh, not that I meant Sharon is your Mot…."

"It's okay, actually I kinda think of her as my Mom now you know…do you think she'd mind me saying that?"

"Oh Rusty of course not, as far as she's concerned…you're her family."

The elevator door opened and they stepped out in to the hallway, Andrea was about to walk ahead when Rusty stopped her when he placed his hand on her arm.

"Hey Andrea, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"That case the other day, you know the hostage thing with the little girl."

"Casey, what about it?"

"She wants to take her in."

"Take who in…Casey?"

"Yeah, she wants to look after her until they can find her family."

"Right and are you okay with that?"

"What could I say?"

"You tell her how you feel; it's important to Sharon that you feel at home and if you're not happy about Casey staying then you need to tell her before she starts the process."

Rusty went silent for a few minutes before looking back at Andrea.

"She's just a kid."

"So are you."

"Yeah but she's little and scared, Sharon gave me a chance…I should give her a chance too."

"You're really growing up you know that." Andrea smiled.

"Yeah so Sharon keeps telling me."

…

Sharon placed her mobile back down on her desk and held her face in her hands, the knock at the door startling her as she sat up and saw Andrea walk in.

"Afternoon."

"Andrea, this is a surprise. What brings you down here?"

"Well I thought you might like to know that Simon Taylor's hearing is tomorrow at eleven, I didn't know if you wanted to be there or not."

"How long do you think he'll get?"

"25 years to life if I can get it, I'll try my best I promise."

"I know you will." She smiled.

Andrea sat down on Sharon's couch and signaled for Sharon to join her, she got up from her desk and took a seat beside her friend.

"Is everything okay?" Sharon asked concerned.

"I'm fine; I'm more concerned about you."

"Me, why?"

"I've been hearing on the grapevine that a certain someone wants to adopt Casey Taylor."

"Ahhh, who told you?"

"Rusty."

"Is he alright?"

"Yeah he's fine."

"Really, I know he said he was okay with it but I sensed he wasn't fully on board with the idea."

"He's been where she is now and the last thing he'd want is to see Casey some place she wasn't wanted."

"I called Adelaide Drydon earlier, she's dealing with Casey's case and I asked her about the possibility of having guardianship of Casey until we find some family."

"And what did she say?"

"Well because I've done it before with Rusty and the fact that I'm a police officer…it's certainly giving me an advantage."

"Well, so is it a yes or no?"

"She said she'd get back to me by the end of today."

"So Casey could be with you by the weekend?"

"It certainly looks like that, I need to go and talk to Rusty. I need to be certain he's on board with it."

"Okay, well how about later I bring some Thai by for you and Rusty later."

"That sounds wonderful, thank you."

"Six okay?"

"Perfect, I'll see you then."

…

Sharon walked in to the break room to see Rusty working on a report when he looked up at her.

"Hey, did Andrea find you."

"Yes, she's just left. Rusty, could we talk for a moment?"

"Sure." He said, setting his books aside.

"When we talked last night about my looking after Casey for a while, I know you said you were fine with it but after talking with Andrea I'm not so sure."

"Oh god Sharon, no seriously I'm cool with it."

"Really, Rusty I don't want you to think that by bringing Casey in that it would mean any changes for you because it doesn't. Your home is with me, for as long as you want it to be."

"Really?"

"Oh honey of course, you should never have to ask."

"What's she like…Casey I mean?"

"She's 5 years old and she's scared, she's been through a lot and right now I think having people around her is what she needs, people who care about her."

"So when's she coming."

"Well I've contacted the woman dealing with Casey's case, I made the call this morning and I'll hopefully hear from her by the end of tonight."

"We really need to organize space in the condo…it's not exactly built for more than 2 people."

"We'll figure it out I promise, I'll let you get back to work. Andrea's bringing some Thai food over later, sound good."

"Can't wait." He smiled as he watched her leave.

…

To Be Continued…