Episode Tag 4*07 "Targets of Opportunity"

Last night's episode was epic and groundbreaking to say the least! I never thought anything could top TC's "Ruby" but last night did it for me.

This is from situation that bugged the hell out of me last night, while watching the episode, so I decided to approach but not from the usual person's point of view.

Enjoy!

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Andy is sitting outside of Sharon's condo trying to decompress from the horrible double police homicide case they just wrapped up and the information that Mike handed him as he was walking out the Murder Room today. He doesn't feel like it is his place to say anything, but he knows he must, because of he doesn't this could open a can of worms that none of them are ready to deal with.

"Uhh, Andy?" Rusty says breaking Andy from his reverie. "You wanted to see me? Why didn't you just come inside?" Rusty asks taking a seat next to Andy on the bench.

"Because I didn't want your mother to see this." Andy says handing Rusty the background check. Rusty eyes widen automatically and he starts to stammer, "I can explain!"

"Please do." Andy says trying to be mindful of his voice but he is slowly becoming agitated.

"It was a golden opportunity laying right in front of me, Andy! I need to know more about Gustavo, before I meet up with him and so put him down as a tipster." He confesses sounding timid and yet sure of the decision.

"What do you mean it was a golden OPPORTUNITY? Rusty two police officers were murdered in cold bold and an innocent civilian was gunned down for 300 lousy dollars and all you can is it was a golden opportunity? Come on Kid, you are smarter than this! Do you realize what you have done? Do you know what would have happened if Taylor had been given this or worse Pope?" Andy exclaims standing up to pace.

"Look, Andy I'm sorry! I know what I did was wrong, but it was the only thing I could think of doing! I'm really invested in finding Alice's identity! I just want to find out as much as I can! I didn't think about the ramifications! I admit what I did was stupid! But…" Rusty confesses but Andy interrupted him, "It wasn't only illegal, it was unethical! Kid I thought you wanted to be taken serious as a journalist! You can't be taken serious doing crap like this! They have codes they abide by just like us cops do!" Andy exclaims yanking on his earlobe.

Rusty is just sitting here with a flabbergasted expression plastered in his face. He can't believe Andy is talking to him like this. He never realized how bad his decision affects everyone. He never thought about the notion that Andy cares about him and what happens to him.

"Rusty do you even feel bad, for what you did?" Andy stops in front of him and ask.

"Yes, I feel really bad about it. I was supposed to be helping find a killer, but instead I was serving my own selfish agenda!" Rusty stammers out burying his face in palms.

"Does that make me a bad person, Andy?" He asks. Andy sits back down next to him and says, "No, it makes you human! You wanted something so badly, that you couldn't see past your own agenda! I'm not saying it was right, but it was understandable. But it doesn't make you a bad person! The fact that you feel guilty about tells me that you didn't truly mean any harm in your actions. It lets me know that Sharon has taught you so much! You are still young Rusty, and you will continue to make mistakes until you are old and grey like me!" He says and it earns him a chuckle from Rusty, and Andy chuckles slightly before he continues. "But you can't let those mistakes up-end your life! If the wrong person were to find out about this, this could mean serious issues for Sharon and our entire division. It could also mean legal issues for you! What you did is equivalent to filing a false report to a police officer, which is a misdemeanor and most often times comes with a light jail sentence and a hefty fine!" Andy says.

"Wow, really?" Rusty asks. Andy shakes his head yes. "What is this about you wanting to meet with Gustavo? I know that he is Alice's brother but why do you have to meet him? From this report I gather he isn't the type of person you need to associate with!" Andy says. "I feel like he is the lynchpin in this whole story for me. He knows things that I want to know. But I won't lie I am a little afraid to meet with him because of his record, but my quest to know to more overrides my fear!" Rusty exclaims. "Kid, that isn't a good thing! Your fear is there to protect you and you should listen to it! I know you know how to protect yourself and you've encountered worse, but you have no idea what you are up against! You need to listen to your fear, it is trying to protect you!" Andy says.

"Ahh you are the second person to basically tell me I am over confident lately." Rusty confesses looking at Andy shaking his head.

"Sounds like TJ, is a smart fellow!" Andy says laughing.

"He and I are just friends." Rusty corrects him.

"Like me and your mother?" Andy questions with a smirk on his face.

"No, real friends! You two were just in denial! The only reason, you two are still technically 'friends' is because she hasn't reported it to Taylor yet." Rusty teases.

"Good one!" Andy says smacking Rusty on the shoulder.

Rusty and Andy walk towards the door of the building and head to the elevator. "You know you have to tell your mother don't you?" Andy asks as he presses the elevator call button.

"Yeah, I know!" Rusty says looking down at his feet. "What do you think she is going to say?" He asks looking over at Andy.

"Worst case scenario, nothing!" Andy says as they step onto the elevator.

"Is it bad that I want her to yell?" He asks as the he watches the numbers ascend to their destination.

"Nope! I would too! But we both know that is not the Sharon we know and love!" Andy says as the elevator stops. Rusty walks off first and turns around and asks, "Did I just hear you say, you love Sharon?"

Andy rocks back and forth on his feet and starts rubbing the back of his neck and confesses, "Yeah, I did. Does that bother you?"

"Not at all!" Rusty says with a smile on his face.

"Good, because we want you to be comfortable with idea of us." Andy says as they walk down the hall.

"I'm comfortable, but I do have a couple of ground rules!" He exclaims.

"And what might those be?" Andy inquires with a smile tugging on his lips.

"Please no overly expressive PDA, I can handle hugs, hand holding, and light pecks, but if I see anything that looks remotely not PG, I'm going to puke! Don't hurt her, because if you do, you will have to deal with me and then Ricky and Emily! Last, but not least keep loving her, she deserves it!" Rusty says as he pulls his keys out.

Andy can't help but laugh at Rusty's rules. "Kid, I make no promises about the PDA stuff, but I will try to keep you in my mind! But I can promise you I will never intentionally hurt her and I will keep loving her for as long as she will have me!" Andy says.

"Well that's all I can ask for." Rusty says as he opens the door.

"Kid, I hope you are prepared for the silent treatment!" Andy says as they walk in the door.

Sharon turns and looks towards the door smiling as she hears it open. Rusty heads straight to her and hands her the report, she looks over the report and her face grimaces instantly.

"Rusty…"

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I hope you all enjoyed! Rusty really irritated my nerves with that stunt he pulled last night. I couldn't pass up the chance to develop Andy and Rusty's relationship some more!

Leave me some nuggets of love!