Thank you for all the kindness, I know I left you all in suspense, sorry.- Please enjoy!


"Rusty!" Sharon crawls over to him another gunshot is fired around them making Rusty release a noise of fear his hand wrapped around to his left holding himself, blood escaping his wound, he shutters. Sharon is kneeled at his head looking down at him, trembling. "Honey." She pats his cheeks, he opens his eyes with a deep breath escaping him then a groan. "That's it breathe, please hang on." She cries seeing the pain in his eyes. Gunshots still being fired around them. Everything goes mute, at the terror and pain that she sees in Rusty's eyes. She pushes her hands where his hand sits and pulls his body to rest along her chest as he cries in pain she rests against the wall. He's shaking, trembling in her arms. She kisses his head. "Honey, just hold on." She shakes with him now, his out of pain and hers from fear of losing him.

Sharon Beck watches as Sharon holds him tight her hands at her lips mumbling to herself, crying as she looks down at her son "Help." He looks at his mother who moves forward tears running down her eyes. "Sharon," he cries in a painful whisper closing his eyes. "It hurts." His voice cracking like a child. As his lips begin to tremble, his body betraying him.

"Honey," Sharon cries, his mother moves back as she hears him call Sharon. "I'm right here. I'm not leaving, now breathe for me." He coughs as he tries to take a breath, letting out a loud groan. "I know it hurts but breathe." She kisses his head, holding him tighter. He had gotten in the way to take the bullet for her. "Why did you do it?" She cries letting the words spill from her lips.

"It hurts!" He cries. Sharon's tears run, the only thing she can do is hold him tighter. "It's cold." He coughs. His body shivering now, sweat covering his body.

"You're the bravest person I know." She whispers to him through his heavy breathing her tears running heavily. "You can't leave me." She tells him causing him to let out a sob. "Ms. Beck please, apply pressure." Sharon looks up at the woman who is watching them shaking, her hands at her ears mumbling. Why she hadn't ran Sharon didn't understand. Why did she just stand there?

"I can't, I can't." She shakes her head. "I have to go." She turns to the door.

"You cannot go anywhere!" Sharon screams holding Rusty tighter to her. Tao and Nicole appear at the door. "Mike arrest Ms. Beck!" She shouts through her tears, looking down at Rusty when he gasps.

"Sharon." Nicole crouches over Rusty's body removing her jacket pushing against Rusty's wound, Sharon letting her hands slip out as Nicole applies more pressure she looks at Rusty's color go pale.

"Lieutenant, please." Sharon cries begging Tao to do something.

"The paramedics are coming Captain." Tao assures her, sitting Mrs. Beck on the floor with handcuffs.

Sharon feels Rusty's body go slack. "No, no Rusty." She swipes his hair. "Wake up honey." Sharon wraps her hands under his armpits. "Nicole please hold tight." Pulling him up, he takes a deep breath. Sharon cries hearing him struggle his body get weaker and weaker against her. Life escaping him lying in her arms, for the bullet that was directed towards me. This was not supposed to happen, I was supposed to protect him. How did I let this happen? The paramedics come in as Sharon rest her head on his, hearing Nicole calling out to Rusty.

"How is it we got here first?!" Tao shouts angrily Nicole looks up tears also in her eyes, she lets someone replace her.

They kneel in front of him working on him everything fazed to Sharon as she can only feel him tremble and his breath escaping him with more difficulty each time. "He's bleeding through, we got to get him to a hospital." They say as Sharon continues holding him. "How long has he been out?"

"No more than two minutes." Nicole answers as they lift him off of her putting him on a board and lifting him to the gurney. She sits there shaking, looking at herself filled in blood. Rusty's blood, for a bullet aimed at me.

"Ma'am have you been wounded?" She hears someone ask her she shakes her head looking at Rusty's blood on the floor. She sees her tears falling beside the blood and moves to wipe them but stops herself her hands shaking uncontrollably. She feels someone take her hands and pulls her up. She knows her body is in shock, yet she can't think clearly. Her tears stop, her crying stops, the world stops.

Nicole takes Sharon's hands in hers. "Sharon." She calls her, but there is no reaction her entire body shaking, blood along her hand and arms, her blouse, hair and face. "Sharon, Rusty needs you." Sharon's eyes meet Nicole's she reacts to the words. "Come on." She pulls on her hand lightly to see if she'll follow.

"Your Dad, Andy." Sharon stops looking around.

"Captain he went after Michael." Sharon jolts her head to look at Tao. She had missed it, Andy was in danger too. They see her expression change. "Provenza, Julio and Sykes are with him. He sent me up here." Sharon nods looking at Sharon Beck on the floor of the hallway, her hands in her hair head on her knees shaking and mumbling to herself frantically. She moves closer to her, ready to attack her, ready to hurt her, even hold her or maybe cry with her. She doesn't know what she's feeling other than pain and confusion. Tao looks at Nicole a worried expression as to what will happen next, but Nicole stops her.

"Sharon." Nicole pulls her hand. She looks at her, her face filled with tears the sight making Sharon respond nodding. "We need to go with Rusty. They walk out, meeting an officer at the stairs and stopping, neither one capable of driving.

"Captain Sharon Raydor we need police escort to the hospital." He leads them down the staircase, Sharon realizing she's barefoot, ignoring the thought it didn't matter. They sit silently in the police car. Sharon can only think about Rusty bleeding out and Andy missing. Nicole reaches for her hand when Sharon doesn't stop shaking. They pull up to emergency and move quickly coming up to the receptionist. Sharon unclips her badge and holds it up.

"Captain Raydor, my son Russell Beck was brought in with a gunshot wound." The woman types.

"Yes, taken into emergency surgery." Sharon lets out a shaky breath. Nicole comes close putting a hand on her back.

"Ma'am is there any way we can talk to someone?" The woman looks at Sharon and Nicole's hands. "Please." Nicole says calmly.

"Let me see what I can do." She gets up and leaves. "Sharon." She pulls her hand. "The nurse is going to go check. Please come so we can clean your hands." Sharon looks down her entire body shaking as if she wasn't part of it. She sits her on a chair nearby and walks over to another receptionist. "Ma'am wipes or towels please." She holds up her hands, the woman hands her wipes, she moves to Sharon who is on her phone.

"Andy, answer." She whispers making Nicole hold her breath. Sharon looks into her eyes she was supposed to be comforting her. "I'm sorry sweetheart." Nicole shakes her head, sitting beside Sharon taking out a wipe and taking Sharon's hand and wiping them. "I can do it." Sharon says softly as one of Nicole's tears land on her hand.

"Let me, or I'll go crazy." She whispers, Sharon lets her gently wipe both hands when most of its removed she pulls up her chin, Nicole's worried eyes meeting hers.

"Nothing is going to happen to him." Nicole nods taking the wipes and cleaning her own hands. Sharon helps her as Nicole's hands begin to shake. "Your Dad is excellent at his job." Sharon holds her breath for second realizing what she is doing, wiping Rusty's blood off of Nicole. "I've just have this bad habit now." Nicole looks up and meets her eyes. "I can't function properly without him." Nicole smiles weakly at her confession.

"Your ring." Sharon looks at her hand. "You'll have to get it cleaned." Nicole wipes her eyes.

"No one knows but Rusty and Lieutenant Provenza, sorry you shouldn't have had to find out this way." Nicole shakes her head.

"No, I'm happy for you." Sharon smiles and holds her hand tightly.

"Russell Beck." Sharon looks up to see a nurse, she stands up still holding Nicole's hand.

"Yes, I'm his mother."

"Your son, was shot to the spleen loosing lots of blood unconscious when he arrived." She sees Sharon's and Nicole's clothes. "You were present. Where you injured?" Both of them shake their heads.

"Please how is he?" Sharon practically whispers.

"The doctor is trying to contain the bleeding to see the damage. If she cannot stop it she will have to remove the spleen. He is critical and it will be a several hours, I will come and give you an update when the Doctor has managed to stopped the bleeding." This gave her absolutely no comfort.

"Thank you." Nicole says. "Sharon sit, please." Sharon shakes her head.

"I can't or I'll go crazy." She replies making her smile, using the words she had told her. "I need to walk, pace." Nicole nods, sitting back continuing to wipe her hands for something to do.

Sharon paces the hallways of the hospital. Please protect Rusty and Andy. She calls Andy over and over but no answer, an hour passes than two. Sharon couldn't call the team she didn't want more bad news, she was going to wait for Andy to call he has to be okay. Nicole sits watching her worried, turning as the doors slide open. "Dad." She cries standing up quickly. Sharon turns around and sees him walking in, letting out a heavy sigh. Nicole wraps him into a hug. He holds her tightly. "You worried us." He kisses her cheek.

"I'm safe. You alright?" He whispers, Nicole nods. "Rusty and Sharon?" Sharon walks over to him a relief running through her entire body. Nicole lets him go pointing towards Sharon. He squeezes his daughter hand.

"Sharon." Andy says softly. She walks over to him wrapping her arms around his neck he holds her tight, kissing her shoulder over and over. She pulls out and holds his face closing her eyes at finally having him there, safe. He holds her around her waist when he sees her start to cry. "I'm sorry I left you." He holds her tight as he brings to rest his forehead against hers. "How's Rusty?"

Sharon shakes her head. "He's in surgery." Her voice breaks. "He was bleeding, I couldn't stop it." He rubs her back as she shakes her head again. "I can't lose him." She cries letting him go and folding into his chest.

"We are not going to lose him." Andy holds her tight her arms in between them as she cries his around her back. "We won't." He tells himself more than her.

"He was bleeding," she sobs onto his chest, her knees crumbling, "I didn't protect him." The cry is loud and desperate. Nicole standing back watching them this fragile makes herself cry, he holds her up from dropping to the floor, her feet practically off the ground. "It was coming to me." She sobs not being able to finish. "I'm supposed to be in there." The thought makes Andy sick, neither one was supposed to be in there.

"You saved him." He holds her up as her weight pulls down on him. Her sobbing uncontrollable. His head leaning onto the top of hers, his arms around her sustaining her. The team comes in, staying back with Nicole as they see them. "Sharon you saved him." He pulls her up. The others look at him, trying to find a way to help, but they all wait as he continues sustaining her. "Andy, he's my son." The others look at each other hopelessly.

"Yes and no one is saying otherwise, alright?" Provenza signals all of them to the waiting area a few feet away trying to give them their space, Nicole stays grounded not moving.

"I need to see him. Please," she begs, "he was bleeding out, I couldn't stop it." Andy knew there was more to this. The guilt, the fear of losing him. That he himself had disappeared for hours.

"Sharon." His voice gentle. "He's going to wake up and he's going to need you to be strong. So don't break on us now." His grip is tight of her and she's glad because it is the thing making her feel present, feel protected.

"He's going to wake up?" She asks him after a long silence. "You promise me?"

"Yes." His voice breaking. "He is going to wake up. And you are going to be there when he does." He kisses the top of her head. Emma and Buzz come in stopping next to Nicole at the image in front of them. Andy lets her go as she stops crying she lays her forehead into his chest and he runs his hands up and down her back.

"You're Lieutenant Flynn's daughter." Emma asks Nicole. "I saw you when Captain, I mean Sharon was in the hospital."

"Oh yes." Emma notices the blood on her clothes and looks at Sharon, Buzz walks around seeing the team in the distance. "Sorry, just seeing them break that way makes me feel like I should do something." Nicole says crying and looking at Emma. "I'm going to call my husband." She excuses herself, Emma looks at Sharon and follows Nicole outside. Andy looks up to see the team, he kisses Sharon's head.

"Everyone's here." She pulls out and looks around spotting all of them.

"Where's Nicole?" She looks around again. "She saved Rusty." Andy looks at her. "She stopped him from bleeding. When I couldn't and his mother wouldn't. She did." Andy swipes her hair and takes her hand beginning to walk towards the team. They stop when Emma comes through the doors. She comes up to them and holds out UGG boots to Sharon, she smiles looking at her feet. "Thank you." She takes them with a faint smile.

"I'm not sure your size but I think they'll do." Andy sustains Sharon as she slips them on. "I have them in the car for when I drive." Sharon looks up.

"They fit perfect. Thank you." Sharon wipes her eyes.

"How's Rusty?" She asks, Sharon can see the worry in her eyes. Andy points to the team. They walk over to them. They all stand up.

"Thank you all for coming, Rusty is in surgery, he was shot." She bows her head trying to stop herself from crying again. "Um," she looks up trying to gain her courage. "Michael if that's his name," she starts to react as she speaks. "What happened to him?" Sharon looks around.

"Your shot helped than I shot him twice, it slowed him down but Provenza took the shot to his head." Andy explains Sharon looks up and sees him shrug.

"It was dead on." Sanchez says impressed. "And Sharon Beck is being held." They all stiffen at the name Sharon merely nods.

"We wanted to see the Kid." Provenza says even knowing the impossibility.

"Well he'll be in surgery for several hours." She takes Andy's hand for something to sustain her. "I got there Michael was holding Sharon Beck, pointing his weapon towards Rusty when I asked him to drop his weapon he turned on me. I shot and hit him on the shoulder he shot back." Sharon swallows thickly everyone seems to understand, Andy holds her hand tightly. "Rusty got in between." Andy runs a hand up her back as her voice cracks. "The nurse says it hit the spleen, there trying to stop the bleeding and they'll go from there." Everyone stays quiet not knowing what to say. "I know you all care for Rusty but I need you to work on closing this case." She turns to Lieutenant Provenza then knowing he was as out till cleared just like Andy.

"Um, Lieutenant Tao. You are in charge." They all look at him. "I am sure Chief Taylor will give you more help." He nods. "I haven't even given a report so I cannot be a part of this at all," they all nod understanding. "Emma please, help them in any way you can." She agrees following the team out. Provenza slumps into a chair. "Nicole?" Sharon asks before they leave.

"She's outside, calling her husband. She was crying seemed a little dizzy." Emma tells her. Andy runs out they all look at Sharon.

"I'll be right back." She tells Provenza moving ahead of the team, Provenza groans feeling sick himself. Andy finds Nicole sitting on the curbside, he walks over to her and sits beside her and he runs a hand down her back.

"You feeling okay?" She nods turning to him tears in her eyes. Sharon stops when she sees the image. "Oh," he pulls her close. "What is it?"

"You scared me, Rusty. I'm just a mess." He kisses her head and sees Sharon he waves her over but she doesn't move quickly giving them time. "I never realized how much you risk yourself." He smiles hugging her. "When I saw Sharon nervous who does this thing, it hit me." Sharon crunches behind both of them and runs her hand up her back. The team smiles as the leave watching the way they interact.

"Nicole, you have to eat something. You had a scare, it's never good especially when you have someone else to take care of." She whispers, she stands up Andy after her and he helps Nicole who gives Andy a hug, he holds her tightly.

"Cole, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere not again." She cries softly Sharon only watches them as they embrace understanding her worry.

"I'm sorry." Nicole pulls out wiping her eyes. "Mom always said so many things it caused me to drift away from you." Andy holds her as her crying deepens. "The way you worried for Rusty today." She shakes her head. "I lost all that time believing her, when you were telling me the truth."

"Hey we're together now." Andy hugs her again. "Sweetie, I promise you I'm here with you now."

"Nicole?" Sharon turns around smiling to see her boys and husband there. Andy and Nicole look over at him.

"Jeff." She says wiping her eyes. "I told you didn't need to come." She smiles, walking over to him and giving him a hug, she kisses him then hugs to the boys.

"Nicole, why are you full of blood?" The oldest of boys asks.

"Oh yes. We were playing detectives and got a little messy with the fake blood, for the fake bodies." She says in a fairytale voice.

"Cool." Both boys say in unison and grin. Andy and Sharon smile. They all say hello to each other. The boys enthusiastically greeting Sharon with blood all over her too.

"Sharon." Nicole hands her a shirt. "It's nothing special but I think you'll feel better getting out of that."

"Sweetheart you take it." Nicole holds up another.

"I told Jeff, he came prepared." Sharon thanks him.

"Boys will you do me a very big favor." Sharon looks at them and they nod. "Take Nicole to have something delicious to eat." They nod. "Jeff she needs something." He agrees, taking her away to the cafeteria.

"Come here." Andy pulls Sharon close, running his hands up her back. She lays into him, just resting. "I love you." He whispers. She grabs hold of his shirt.

"You worried me today? I thought we had a promise, that you wouldn't scare me this way."

"That we both broke today." He says calmly. "We both put ourselves in front of the gun."

"I love you too." Says softly she takes his hand and they walk inside and take seats next to Provenza all of them silent Andy runs his hand up and down her leg. "Oh no." Andy looks at her. "Behave alright." She whispers to Andy and stands up. Andy looks over and sees Lieutenant Drew walking over, he grumbles annoyed. "Drew." He smiles.

"Captain, I have a few questions to ask you. But first how are you?" He says with a soft smile.

"I'm alright, considering." She answers respectfully.

"We need to do this in private." Andy stands up not being able to sit still, Provenza rolls his eyes.

"Can we be quick, I'm waiting for the nurse." They walk together as he quickly begins his questioning. Andy knew it wasn't the moment to be jealous, but Drew was never one he praised. He sighs frustrated at himself looking at his watch, Rusty had been in surgery for too long. If something happened to him, he knew Sharon would never forgive herself. He would never forgive himself. He sits on the seat and looks at Provenza.

"The Kid is going to make it." Andy nods running his hands through his face. "You know you and Sharon." Andy looks up at him. "You didn't make sense at first, but now," he shrugs. "But now it makes a lot of sense." Andy smiles.

"Russell Beck." Andy stands up, looking over at the door Sharon rushing over to the nurse. The nurse recognizes her. "Ma'am. The doctor managed to stop the bleeding but he's still in surgery doing some repair." Sharon takes Andy's hand. "It will be several hours."

"How is he doing?" Sharon asks.

"He's critical. He lost a lot of blood. And he's still open on the table." Andy wraps her into him. "We will give you another update in a few hours." They thank her as she leaves. Andy runs his hand up and down her back. Provenza walks back to his seat and sinks in.

"I'm not going back to work." Sharon says softly Andy frowns in confusion. Provenza looks at him. "Drew said it shouldn't take long to clear me, but I'm not going back." Andy pulls out and looks at her tears in her eyes. "For now only until Rusty is on his feet again," Andy is ready to tell her it will be long process but stops himself. "Then after we will see." Provenza stands up. "Yes, Lieutenant that means you get my job." Her voice slightly bitter. Both Provenza and Andy look at each other worried. Her phone rings, she walks away answering it.

"I didn't." Provenza begins. Andy still looking at Sharon.

"I know Louie, this is much more." He looks at him. "It's been one thing after another for her." Andy runs his hands over her face and sits down. "This has nothing with you taking over her job, believe me." Provenza sits beside Andy they stay quiet both of them knowing this is far from over. That Rusty was fighting for his life and they had no idea what came next. Andy hangs his head and for the first time, finds himself doing something he had never done, praying. Provenza pats his back when he hears a soft sob escape him.


Sorry for the long wait, I'd love to hear from all of you. I thank all the new reviewers and those who've been with me from the beginning.