Andy and Sharon stood watching Rory Brooks reunite with his mother. "Hell of a thing," he said again, then moved over to his desk.
Sharon watched him slump down in his chair, looking defeated. Following him over, she put a hand on his shoulder and leaned over to speak in his ear. "Come into my office, please."
Andy sighed again, then got up and went into Sharon's office. "Yes Captain?" he asked, closing the door.
"What's wrong, Andy?" she asked as he sat across the desk from her.
"Ah, it's this Christmas thing. I still haven't got anything for Nicole's kids and I'm out of ideas. Christmas is less than a week away, and I've got no idea if I'm even going to get to spend time with them. The whole thing is stressing me out."
"Christmas can be tough," Sharon agreed, "You're not thinking..."
"What? Of taking a drink? Nah, that's not the way I deal with things. It would ruin everything I've been working for."
"I'm sorry, Andy. I know that and I shouldn't have asked."
Andy shrugged, "That's okay. You're not the first. I'm used to it. Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic."
"In name only. You left that life behind a long time ago," she said gently, earning half a smile from him.
Andy took a deep breath. "Yeah, okay. We'll go with that." Smiling at her he tilted his head, "So what you want to talk to me about?"
"Christmas."
"Christmas?"
"Christmas. I want you to talk to someone, if you have the time."
Andy shrugged again, "All that's waiting for me out there is paperwork. That can wait 'til the new year for all I care."
Sharon gave him a reproachful look as she picked up her phone and dialed. "Melissa?" she said, not taking her eyes off him.
"Hi Mom, what's up?"
"Are you busy, Sweetheart?"
"Um... I've got a few. What's going on?"
Sharon could hear her daughter breathing heavily on the other end, and knew she was at the theatre preparing for the evening's performance. "This won't take long. Could you switch over to Facetime please."
"Uh, sure... gimme a sec." Soon Melissa's face appeared on Sharon's phone. "Okay, I'm here."
"Good. There's someone I want you to meet. Melissa, this is Lt. Andy Flynn." She passed the phone to Andy and sat back to watch.
"Hey Melissa, nice to meet you," Andy spoke at the screen, not really understanding why he was speaking with Sharon's daughter.
"Well, Andy Flynn... I've heard a few things about you," Melissa said cheekily.
Sharon bit the inside of her mouth, trying hard to contain herself and not sensor her daughter. This conversation was between them, not her.
Andy chuckled, "Well, I'm flattered. I've heard a few things about you too, all good."
"That's reassuring," Melissa asked. "So... I guess this call is about the present."
"What present?" Andy asked, confused.
"Didn't Mom tell you?"
"I wanted you to tell him," Sharon intervened, earning a nod of acknowledgment from her daughter.
"Ah, okay. Well, here's the deal. I put the package in the mail yesterday, special delivery. It should be there by tomorrow."
"One of you want to tell me what's going on?" Andy looked from one to the other.
"Sure," Melissa replied. "Mom told me how much your grandsons love the ballet, and how your family invited her to see The Nutcracker with you. So she asked me if I could send something special from my company for Tyler and Matthew."
Sharon sat back and smiled, enjoying the look of confusion on Andy's face slowly turn to wonder.
"What?" he asked.
Melissa started again, "I sent Tyler and Matthew a present that you can give them. It's got a few things from the American Ballet Theatre, and it's made just for them. Just tell them it's from you, and voila, happy boys."
Andy was practically speechless, and Sharon didn't miss the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "Wha... you did that? For me? For the boys? I don't know what to say."
Melissa simply shrugged and smiled. "It was easy. Just promise me one thing. Follow the directions on the package and I want both of you there when the boys open it."
"Uh... sure. Whatever you say..."
A knock on the door took their attention, as Rusty stuck his head in. "Sharon... Oh, hey Melissa."
"Hey Rusty."
"Sharon, do you have a minute?"
Nodding, Sharon rose and left the office to speak with Rusty.
"Mom gone?" Melissa asked when she heard the door.
"Uh, yeah."
"Good, okay what are you getting her for Christmas?"
"I dunno... I never really thought about it. You got ideas?"
"Yup... listen..."
Sharon noticed that Andy and Melissa were still talking, so she turned her attention to Rusty and tried to curtail her curiosity. "What is it, Rusty?" she asked.
"Listen, it's no big deal and you can say no. But Lt. Tao just asked me if I wanted to go over and spend some time with Kevin tonight. Have supper and I dunno, maybe play chess."
"Oh right, he'd be back from college now," Sharon nodded. "Sure, let me just speak with Mike."
Together they walked over to Mike's desk.
"What do you think, Captain? I can do a perimeter check when I get home, and then give the all clear."
"I highly doubt our letter writer is waiting close to your home on the off chance Rusty visits. He hasn't been there since Kevin left for college in August. I think it's a great idea. Thank you."
Mike shrugged, "It's pretty easy, and Kevin's been asking about him."
"Great, I'll let his security detail know and they can follow you there."
"Ah, what's this?" Provenza came over to ask. "Rusty's security detail is going where?"
"It's okay, Lieutenant. Rusty is just going over to Mike's house for the evening," Sharon explained.
Provenza cleared his throat, "So that means there will be no one at the condo with you?"
"I'll be fine," she said pointedly, hoping Provenza would let it go and not mention the threats against her.
"Right, right," Provenza nodded, moving away from them.
Rusty smiled, "Okay, then it's all set. I'll get my things."
"Great, I'm packing up and we'll head out. Good night everyone." Tao said to those around him.
Behind Sharon's back, Provenza leaned over to Sanchez, "You got this one."
"I'm on it, Sir."
None the wiser, Sharon returned to her office to see Andy sitting with a grin on his face, and her phone lying on the desk.
"Melissa had to go?"
"Uh, yeah, she was called back to get dressed."
"Mmm," Sharon nodded. "We were lucky to catch her."
"I can't believe you'd do this for me."
Sharon shrugged, "Why not? It was a simple phone call and the gift won't be terribly extravagant, but it will be something unique and it will prove to your family that you do have a distant connection to the American Ballet Theatre."
"Yeah," he shook his head in wonder, still grinning from ear to ear. "Looks like I owe you, again."
"Andy, I'm not keeping score."
"Listen... can I take you to dinner or something? You know, as a thank you."
"Can we have a raincheck? I have to get home and finish a project I'm working on."
"Oh, yeah... sure," Andy got up, suddenly feeling ill at ease. "How about you tell me when it's good for you."
"I will, I promise," she smiled at him.
"Well, okay... I guess I gotta put some time into that paperwork. And thanks again."
Just as Andy opened the door and started to head out, Sharon called to him, "Andy, I will let you know when I'm available."
Nodding, he smiled, "Right."
She almost called him back and said the project could wait, but she was already pushing the deadline and needed to get it finished.
An hour later she finally made it back home. When she got out of the elevator and turned to her apartment, she noticed Julio standing outside. "Was there something you needed, Julio?" Sharon asked him, concerned.
"No Ma'am."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Just my job, Ma'am."
"Your job?" Sharon looked puzzled for a moment, then realized what was going on. "Detective, did Lt. Provenza put you up to this?"
"Yes and no, Ma'am."
"I'm fine. I don't need extra protection, and Rusty's team will be back here before midnight. You can go home. Please, go home."
"Yes, Ma'am."
When he showed no signs of moving, Sharon walked passed him and opened her door, then turned and said, "You're not going to do anything I tell you, are you."
"No, Ma'am."
Shaking her head, Sharon sighed and went into her apartment, deciding Provenza was a cross between a Mother Hen and Chicken Little.
Setting her briefcase down, she went to change then collected a light supper for herself and a glass of wine. She sat on her sofa with her computer, and but in the USB key with the latest images. After arranging everything Buzz and Provenza had provided for her, she grabbed her phone and took pictures of the few items Sean had given her the day before. When she was finished, she reviewed her work, looking for any mistakes or better placement. She wanted to make sure the story flowed and captured the man she had come to know and respect.
"Okay," she said to the room around her, "here goes." She clicked the key to order the production, and paid the fee to make sure it was delivered as soon as possible. Then she leaned back on the sofa, satisfied in a job well done.
When Rusty returned a few hours later, he found her sound asleep on the sofa, computer still open on her lap. He moved the computer to the coffee table and closed it, then waited while his security team did their usual check of the apartment. Once they were back outside, he gently woke her up.
"Sharon..."
With a start she opened her eyes and looked around. "Oh... Rusty. What time is it?"
"It's eleven."
"Mmm... I didn't expect to fall asleep here. Where's my computer?"
"I moved it to the coffee table so you wouldn't knock it on the floor."
Sharon nodded and smiled slightly, as she sat up and tried to get her bearings. "Did you just get home?"
"Yeah... and look at this!" he exclaimed, pulling a box out of his backpack.
Sharon took it and read the title, "Deep Junior Yokohama?" She looked at him in confusion. "This is another computer chess game?"
"Not just another computer chess game," Rusty exclaimed, sitting down on the sofa beside her, it's THE computer chess game. This thing is the best there is. It's like a million times better than Deep Blue.
Sharon smiled at him, not understanding a single thing he was saying, and looked at the package again. "This is from the Taos?" she asked.
"Yeah, and it's so cool. This is winning, like all the International competitions. It's amazing."
"Well good, I'm glad. Perhaps it will give you enough of a challenge to make your protective custody just a little bit easier."
"Yeah... about that. Why was Det. Sanchez outside the door when I got home?"
Sharon thought fast, then shrugged, "It was Lt. Provenza's idea. He seems to sleep better at night knowing he's being over protective."
"There's nothing I should know about, is there?" Rusty asked cautiously.
Shaking her head, Sharon got up from the sofa. "No, Honey, I'm fine. Let's just chalk it up to how lucky we are that we have the whole squad wanting to keep us both safe. Now, off to bed with you."
"Yeah, okay... Goodnight Sharon."
"Goodnight Rusty, and I'm glad you had such a great evening."
