AN: It's a joy to read the reviews you leave me. They are really appreciated, it lights up my day to read what you think of my story. Thank you all so much!

This story is rated M.

Chapter seven

The morning could be described with only one word. Awkward. Andy had awakened with a killer headache, on an unfamiliar couch. With a drumming head he'd tried to focus while he looked around. The first thought that came to mind was that he'd gone home with someone he'd picked up at the bar. He had been fairly sure there had been a woman. The most beautiful cleavage had popped into his brain, round and about the same time, parts of the living room began to look familiar. His eyes had practically popped, as he turned around and saw Sharon in the kitchen. His heart completely out of control, his body reacting to what he saw. The flimsy morning gown, she'd been wearing, her hair cascading down her back, a bit messy. The fear that he'd picked her up, paralyzing.

Andy hadn't said too much this morning. She'd been amused when she'd seen the expression on his face, when he realized he woke up at her place. It was priceless. Unfortunately Andy hadn't really been in a good mood. It was probably the hangover. They hadn't talked much. She drove him to the bar so that he'd be able to retrieve his car. Now they were on their way to check on a missing persons report, that matched the description of their Jane Doe. The silence between them getting more awkward every minute. She knew that if she wasn't going to break the tension this was going to be a long day. There was no real reason for this awkwardness anyway.

"Do you believe this is our Jane Doe?"

Andy sighed. If they had some serious leads to check out, they wouldn't be in a car right now, driving across town.

"Could be... at this point we need to check out every lead.

"I've been thinking…"

Andy looked at her when she paused, somehow she still needed that extra little push.

"She knew the killer. There was some kind of trust. I mean she agreed to meet him there, alone, but she also knew she had something he wanted, why else hide that key in her shoe?"

"So how was she linked to him?"

"That storage room."

"Drugs."

"I don't believe she was an addict."

Andy frowned.

"There were needle marks."

"She hadn't used the last twenty-four hours, addicts can't go without that long. She looked too good, there weren't any visible signs of her being a long time user, besides the needle marks."

"I'd say that's good enough."

"Not when they were made post mortem."

"You checked this with Nichols?"

"He wasn't in yesterday. I asked daddy, we had dinner yesterday."

"Your parents must have loved that topic."

Sharon smiled.

"Daddy told me that as little as an intake of aspirins could stop the blood from clotting after dead. I checked the Coroner's report again, there was quite an amount of aspirin in her blood."

"Okay, so why?"

"Because the killer wanted to connect her to the drug find. Because he wanted to make her look like a worthless addict. Because he wanted to make her dead look like an overdose. Because he wanted to draw attention away from the real reason he killed her."

"Sounds good to me… the drugs found may not be hers then, but the killers."

"Maybe he wanted to draw away the attention from his connection to the drugs. He could be connected to the storage room as well, like something was in there what he wanted."

Andy nodded.

"We need to look into that again."

"Hm-mm."

Andy felt Sharon's eyes burning at him. Her eyes open, non judgemental. She managed by just looking at him to lure him into a conversation. Without saying a word he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about.

"I didn't do anything stupid last night, did I?"

"Stupid?"

"Yeah something I might have said. It's a bit of a blur."

"Yeah well you had plenty to drink."

"I'm sorry for anything I've might said."

"You didn't say anything wrong."

His head snapped towards her, his eyes a bit panicked.

"God, I didn't touch you, right? I didn't try anything?"

"Andy, no, of course not."

She saw a relieve wash over him. So had the awkwardness been all about that? His flushed cheeks, avoiding eyes?

She sounded so sure. So sure that he'd never do something like that. The trust she had in him overwhelming. Even without the booze he questioned himself whether he wasn't looking at her in an inappropriate way. He was pretty sure the cleavage he remembered was Sharon's. He remembered the way his body reacted to the memory this morning. He could only imagine what he must be like, uninhibited because of the alcohol.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Andy. So stop feeling awkward, will you?"

She quirked her brow, while she gave him the gentle order.

"You want to talk about it?"

What was there to talk about? How was he going to explain that he fucked everything up?

Andy shook his head, his eyes focused on the road ahead, clearly avoiding any eye contact. Something was clearly bothering him. He wouldn't talk about it with her though. She wished he would. She knew better than to push him. Andy didn't like showing his emotions, his inner feelings. He was quite complex. She wondered whether she'd ever know him. No matter what, when he needed a friend she'd be there. She was his partner after all.

MCMCMCMDCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMMCMC

Andy didn't believe he could ever get used to the disappointment and shock that came when someone wouldn't recognize the person on the picture as their loved one. They always seem conflicted. At one side there's the part they hope their loved one is finally found, even dead, as they'd finally have an answer.

The other part is always hoping their loved one is still somewhere alive. So they're torn between relieve and disappointment. Right after followed the shock, either because they'd finally realize their search was over, their loved one would never return to them. Or the shock of staring at the photo of a complete stranger, dead. The knowledge that there are others around whose search will be over soon, who'll never get their loved one back.

Like they had expected their Jane Doe wasn't their missing daughter. Andy looked at Sharon, she'd been very empathic with the parents. Gentle, patient, the exact right words passing her lips. Now it had been the third time in the last few minutes, she had looked at her watch.

"You have some place to go?"

Sharon stared at her lap, a blush covering her cheeks, feeling caught.

"Jack's taking me out to dinner."

Her voice was soft, hesitant. Andy frowned, he believed Raydor and she were growing apart, because of the recent events. Them going out on a date, was the last thing he'd expected.

"So you two have patched things up again?"

Sharon wasn't exactly sure about his tone of voice. She could imagine Andy wasn't too thrilled about them being closer again. He surely wouldn't have minded them splitting up. She knew Andy didn't believe Jack was good enough for her, matched with her.

"We had a good talk."

She saw his scowl.

"Managed to sweet talk you, huh?"

Sharon looked hurt, she didn't like the perception he had of her. Like Jack would only have to smile, say a few nice words and everything would be okay again. It was almost insulting.

"No not at all."

Andy noticed she sounded hurt, his anger took hold of him though.

"He's not representing that guy anymore then?"

"No, he still is."

Andy shook his head.

"So what? He promised he'll never do it again? Managed to convince you, he's just doing his job?"

"Like I said we had a good talk."

There was an edge of annoyance to her voice, wishing they could end this topic.

"You had him sweet talk you."

Andy's angry voice ticked her off.

"You believe I should have broken up with him."

"Yes, he's not the only guy on this planet you know."

"But he is the man I am engaged to."

"Just give him back the ring."

"It isn't that easy. It's a commitment we made to one another. I don't take that lightly. I agreed to marry him, to say our sacred vows before God. I take our engagement very serious. In a relationship you give and take. I believed you'd know that, since you're married yourself."

Andy stared, it felt like she had slapped him hard in his face. He didn't need to be reminded of his failed marriage. Of Sandra leaving him with the children. He turned his focus back at the road. There would only be silence as none of them felt the need to talk anymore. They had said more than enough.

MCMCMCCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM

Sharon walked towards their table, Jack's warm hand, on the small of her back, guiding her. She had fallen in love with him, because of his old fashioned charm. She still smiled every time he'd pull the chair back for her to sit on, help her get seated. Jack was the kind of guy who held the door open for her, always walked in right behind her, would take and hang her coat.

She loved the way he could sit across her like now and only have eyes for her. The smile on his lips, the glimmer in his eyes, as he'd stare at her. Sharon still fought the urge to blush when he looked at her like that.

"You look gorgeous tonight. Have I already told you that?"

Sharon smiled huge.

"Like only four or five times…"

Jack smiled, diverting his eyes to the menu.

Sharon did the same although she didn't feel much like eating. After reading the autopsy report over and over again. Calling with Nichols to ask him about the amounts he put down. Somehow it made her feel more sick than hungry.

"What would you like, sweetheart?"

Guilty she looked up at him.

"Not much, maybe only a salad."

"Is something wrong?"

His scrutinizing eyes studied her. It reminded her of the way her dad could look at her.

"Just not very hungry."

"You look pale."

"I'm always pale, Jack."

"No you've got fair skin. Now you look pale."

"I'm just a bit nauseous, that's all."

"You should go see a doctor."

"I don't have to. I'm not sick. I know why I'm nauseous."

Anyone would be nauseous if you stared at an autopsy report filled with pictures of a dissected body, for about an hour. She doubted whether Jack would understand. He'd probably had never even seen an autopsy report.

Jack looked up at her, his eyes slightly widened. Staring at her as if something had suddenly dawned on him. His hand taking hers in his.

"Sweetheart…are you pregnant?"

Sharon looked shocked. Pregnant. Where did he get that idea? She hadn't thought about children yet. One day, after she was married, but certainly not now.

What was maybe even more shocking, the upbeat in Jack's voice, the look in his eyes excited about the prospect. How could he believe her getting pregnant now would be a wonderful idea?

They weren't married, they weren't even living together. It wasn't either that their relationship had been all rosy lately. They were still trying to work out how to deal with keeping their work and personal lives separate. She was just starting her career within the force. This was everything but an ideal time for them to have a baby. She pulled back her hand without even realizing it.

"No. I'm not."

"Are you sure? You just said you haven't seen a doctor."

"I'm on birth control."

"Oh…"

"You sound disappointed."

He noticed the edge to her voice.

"You make it sound like it would be the most terrible thing that could happen to you."

Apparently he did not understand, both annoyed by each other's reaction.

"Now is not the ideal time for us to have a baby, Jack."

He raised his eyebrow, forcing Sharon to explain herself.

"We're not married yet. We don't even live together."

"If it were up to me, we'd be living together."

"You know I want to wait."

"Until we're married, yes. I'd marry you as soon as I could arrange the legal paperwork."

"It's too soon. You've just started at the firm, I've just started out my career. We could still marry in a year or two, once things are more settled. And that's the exact reason why we shouldn't have any children yet either."

"I don't see what the difference is. You still want to get married, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"And you want to have children, right?"

"Yes…just not now. The timing wouldn't be more wrong."

Just like the buzzing sound of her pager. Sharon put her purse on her lap and looked for the black pager. She looked at the code.

"I have to call in."

Jack pursed his lips, she knew he was not happy about this. As long as they weren't able to deal with work and their private life, how could he even think they'd be able to give a baby a stable life?

She smiled at the bartender handing her over the phone. Her index finger pushing in the digits of the station's telephone number. She waited. Knowing she'd be called out to a crime scene, she would hear the details in the next minute. Her fingers already searching a pen and something to scribble down the details on. She wrote down the address. Sighing, as she knew she would have to tell Jack she had to cancel their dinner plans and he had already been angry with her.

Sharon knew it didn't matter how she'd bring the news to Jack. He would be angry either way.

"Jack, I need to go."

He stared at her.

"You're not on duty."

"Jack I don't have the time to argue with you about this, a body's been found, it's connected to my case. I need to get over there."

"We drove here together."

"I'll take a cab and I'm sure Andy will give me a ride back. "

She saw Jack held his breath, not at all happy about her mentioning Andy. She wasn't even sure whether he would. They'd been arguing today as well. What was it about today that all the men in her life got annoyed with her?

"I'll drive you."

That would be the day, her colleagues would love her for bringing a lawyer to a crime scene.

"No I can't take you there. Remember we were going to keep work and private life separated. I'll take a cab."

Sharon bend down to give him a quick peck on the cheek, stopping him, although he was already halfway up from his chair. She could hear him sit back down with a sigh, while she rushed out.

MCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCNCMCMCMC

Sharon stepped out of the cab. She wasn't really dressed for a crime scene. Her heels too high, her dress too tight, her cleavage revealing more than usual. She had searched her purse for a hair tie, by lack of one, she now twisted her hair so she could knot it into a bun, while walking up to the house. It had burned out. Some of the firemen were still there. The glass was blown out, scattered everywhere, scratching under her heels.

She saw the guys from Narcotics, that was all she needed tonight, more aggravation and they'd have a field day over her outfit. Thank God she'd already seen Andy's car out there. She tried to ignore the nasty remarks made, while she walked closer. They differed from 'them having to wait for the dressed up doll' to ' who called for entertainment?'

Sharon tried to walk as stable and graceful as she could. She surely didn't want to give them more ammunition.

"Your partner has arrived, Flynn."

Andy turned around, his eyes seemed a bit glassy, there was something about his stance that seemed off to her as well. He seemed to take in her appearance.

"This is a crime scene, hon, not the country club, no need to dress up."

Tears stung her eyes. She could handle these remarks coming from those guys, but it felt like a slap in the face, coming from Andy. Obviously he was still angry with her. She didn't care how angry he was though, this was low and hurtful. She forced a tight smile on her face.

"How's this connected to our case?"

"Like I was just explaining to Flynn here, there's no sign yet there's a connection to your case."

"A considerable amount of heroin and cocaine went up in smoke here tonight, and the firemen found a dead guy inside."

"So just because there's heroin and coke this is connected to your case? That stuff is all over L.A.. No wonder you still haven't cracked that case yet."

"Until our Commander says different, or the evidence, this is connected to our case."

"This might not even be a murder."

"We'll know soon enough from either the firemen or the Coroner report. Until then we're staying."

Landry shook his head. Andy didn't seem very impressed. Sharon didn't like the knot forming in her stomach. She choose to walk to Andy, as he seemed the lesser evil out of the two now.

"How many are dead?"

"One."

"Do we know who it is?"

"If you would have been here earlier, you wouldn't have to ask."

"I had to wait for a cab. You know I went out to dinner with Jack."

"Ass made you take a cab?"

Andy's voice slurred a bit and Sharon looked confused.

"No, he offered to drive me over. I did not believe that would be a good idea."

Andy laughed, the odor of alcohol coming her way.

"Have you been drinking?"

Sharon frowned, that's why he was acting different.

"Andy?"

"A couple of beers… Geez, Sharon, you didn't drink some ridiculous expensive wine at that fancy restaurant Raydor took you to?"

"No."

"You never drink after work?"

"Of course I do."

"Then get off my back."

"But I don't get drunk."

"I'm not drunk."

"You're not yourself, Andy Flynn."

He huffed.

"Now what's going on with you? This is not the first time in the last couple of weeks."

He raised his voice.

"Nothing's going on."

"That. Just proved me there is."

She looked hardened at him.

"You're not my mother, you're not my wife and you're definitely not the boss of me, so stay the hell out of my business."

"You're my partner, that makes it my business. You're supposed to be able to have my back. How are you going to do that, drunk?"

"I'm not drunk."

"Sure."

Sharon turned and walked away.

"Where are you going?"

"To do my job, someone has to."

Sharon walked away. She would ask Hank Nichols for a ride to the station. There was no way she was going to get into the car with Andy. She was done with him for today.