How long Amy Sykes stood there, neither one knew, but when she cleared her throat, they both looked at her. Andy pulled his hand away from the back of Sharon's neck, but reached down to squeeze her forearm to remind her he was still there for her.

"Yes?" Sharon looked over at the young detective.

"Uh... Lieutenant, can I speak with you for a minute?" Sykes said hesitantly.

Sharon and Andy exchanged glances where he shrugged and she nodded her head in Amy's direction, then walked into her office and pulled out her phone to see who had been calling her.

Andy came closer to Sykes, hands in his pockets, and shrugged again. "What's up, Sykes?"

Amy looked past him to make sure the Captain was out of earshot, then leaned in closer to keep her voice low. "We've got a problem with the other witness, Lieutenant."

"What problem?"

"Well... when we went to pick up Mr. Dunn, he was uncooperative and there was a woman with him. She wasn't happy either."

"Yeah, that's what Sanchez said, but what's the big deal? Witnesses who think they're suspects never want to come in. You guys did it right, brought them both in and we'll get around to interviewing her after we deal with Dunn. Just tell her to cool her jets."

Amy looked like she was ready to squirm. "It's not that simple, Lieutenant."

"Make it simple, Sykes."

"Sir, the witness claims she's Sharon Beck."

Silence rang through the hall. Amy waited for the full weight of her words to sink in, and Andy felt like he'd just been kicked in the gut. Neither moved.

"Excuse me?" a voice said behind Andy.

He turned to see the horror in Sharon's eyes, as she looked from Flynn to Sykes, and back again.

"Uh... just because that's who she says she is, doesn't make it true, Captain. She looks like she's coming down from a bender. She could be anyone."

Sharon closed her eyes as her mouth tightened, and she shook her head slowly. When Amy tried to speak again, she raised her hand to silence her, then took a cleansing breath, blowing it out slowly.

"What the hell..." Andy started.

"Tell me everything, Detective," Sharon said with a stronger voice, her Captain's mask falling into place.

"Sure, we went to pick up the witness... that being Mr. Dunn, and at first he wouldn't answer us. We knew he was home, and saw a woman open the curtain to look at us. That's the one claiming she's Rusty's mom. I kind wondered what was going on with them together since we were under the impression they hadn't seen each other since high school..."

Flynn groaned, then looked at the younger woman, "Sykes, just the facts."

"Right," she took a deep breath, "my apologies. Anyway we saw her and banged on the door again. This time Dunn opened the door and demanded to know what we wanted. We told him that he was wanted for questioning and please come with us. Then the woman got into it and said they weren't going anywhere without a warrant. I assured her we could get that done, and we wouldn't be as nice if we had to come back. She laughs, and then Dunn says introductions are in order. He tells her we were a couple of the officers who took Rusty from him, and we knew where he was."

"Oh, great..." Flynn started. Sharon reached out her hand to touch his arm, begging him to stop.

"Yeah, exactly. So this Sharon Beck, she changes her behaviour right away. No longer is she this flaky bleached-blonde house guest, she becomes fierce and starts demanding her son back. Lt. Sanchez tells her we are not at liberty to speak about Rusty, and please come downtown, the both of them. Dunn resists, saying no way in hell is he going to be forced into anything by us, and that he's already getting a lawyer to sue us. Beck was totally different. She grabbed her sweater and said let's go, she wanted to say a few things to the woman who stole her son."

"Stole her son? That's rich."

"Andy, please..." Sharon begged.

"Alright, alright..."

"We arrested Dunn, but Beck practically ran to the car. I took her into the interview room after we got here. She's demanding to speak to you, Captain. I'm doing what I can to put her off, but we can only keep doing that for so long, if you know what I mean."

Sharon nodded, then crossed her arms and moved away. She started pacing slowly, going to the murder board, then back through the desks spread out through the center of the room, then returned. Finally she stopped and looked at the board.

Andy and Sykes watched, looking helpless, waiting.

"Bleached blonde?" Sharon finally asked.

"Ah, yes, Captain. Shoulder length, bleached blonde, looks like she could use a good shower."

"Tell Ms. Beck she doesn't get to speak with me or anyone until we get a DNA sample."

"Can we do that?" Amy asked out loud.

Andy glared at the younger woman, "Do it!"

Suitably chastised, Sykes seemed to recoil with a simple, "Yes, Sir."

"Explain to the witness we have to confirm her identity. Tell her the life Rusty has been living these past few years is highly sensitive and confidential, and I have to be assured she is in fact who she says she is. Tell her we will rush the test to make sure, and as a mother she must appreciate the protection of her son's privacy is paramount. Then tell her I will speak with her."

"Captain?" Andy looked at her with surprise.

"Lieutenant, we need to get her talking. Don't you remember what Dr. Morales said? Bleached blonde hairs..."

"In the victim's hands, and he'd just had sex. Dammit, you think that's her?"

"Proximity means we have to ask, and this is the best way to get her to tell us what she wants. If it means dangling me as the prize, then I will do that. Anything to keep Rusty safe and free of the pain his parents always bring. She's not the only one with questions, Lieutenant. I want to know why she abandoned her only child for her boyfriend. I want to know why she stood him up again at the bus. I want to know how any mother thinks she has the right to be indignant and demand answers after what she did."

"Sharon, you're not going to get those answers, and you know it," Andy said gently. "She probably can't even answer that for herself."

"I know," she said softly. "Does she have any idea what is feels like to stand outside his door and here him cry after I've done something for him that his mother never did? My heart breaks for him daily. I would give my life for him, and she thinks she can demand I answer her? Andy... I just..."

"Sykes, go get it done," Andy dismissed the detection, who couldn't get away fast enough.

When it was just the two of them, Andy came a little closer, hands still in his pockets. Sharon appreciated that. She was glad to have his support but she couldn't be touched at the moment. "What did I do to the universe to deserve a day like this?" she asked him.

Andy chuckled, "Just lucky, I guess."

"Oh my god, Andy... first Jack, then Daniel, then Annie and now Sharon? And I have Taylor breathing down my neck, and all of you walking on eggshells trying to keep me from falling apart."

"You're not going to fall apart," he assured her. "I can't vouch for all the furniture being in one piece when you're done, but you'll be fine."

Sharon looked at him for a second, then lowered her head and laughed. "Dammit, it's only eight in the morning, and already it's the day from hell."

"Just deal with one thing at a time. Who's going to be first?"

"First? The coffee shop across the street," she started to walk towards the door, "and you're paying."