Andy opened the door to find Louie and Patrice both carrying bags of food. "Looks like you have enough food to feed an army!"

Patrice gently hugged Andy as she passed by, "I didn't want you or Sharon to have to worry about anything. I've got a little of everything. Where are the kids?"

Gavin stood, walking over to help Andy, "Well the oldest two had to get back to their busy lives, so Rusty is delivering them to the airport as we speak. Hi, I'm Gavin by the way," He smiled to Patrice.

"Oh yeah, sorry Gavin, this is my…uh…friend… Patrice," Provenza jumped in. "Isn't that a little quick for Ricky and Emily to leave? Is the Captain okay with them…"

"Sharon understands they are both really busy. If truth be known, it probably is for the best," Gavin added. "Even though she would never admit it, she will get more rest without those two here. But, I didn't say that," Gavin smirked.

Andy took the bags from Patrice and Louie and carried them to the kitchen, while the others got settled in the living room. "Andy," Margaret called as she moved down the hall from the bedroom. "Can you come back here for a moment?" As she entered the living room Margaret noticed Patrice and Louie on the sofa, "Oh, Patrice, what a surprise to see you here!"

Patrice stood from the sofa and met Margaret half way across the room, "Dr. Bailey, I didn't realize you know Sharon."

The two women hugged, "Oh Patrice, call me Margaret. Sharon and I go back a long time. So, you're dating Lieutenant Provenza. How nice fore the two of you."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Patrice offered.

"Well actually, yes. Maybe, give me a minute alone with Andy and Sharon first." Margaret led Andy down the hall to his bedroom and paused outside before entering. "Don't worry Andy, she going to be fine. I've put an ointment on her wrists and wrapped them with gauze just so she will be more comfortable and not irritate them. There were two places on her breasts and one on her hip where the skin is almost broken so I want to give her an antibiotic shot just to be on the safe side. I also want to start an IV for rehydration. It should be fairly easy to hang the fluid bag from the post on the headboard of your bed. It will probably take, oh maybe two hours to give her the amount of fluid she needs. I also want to give her a shot for pain that includes a muscle relaxer but so far she won't agree to it. I thought maybe you could help me convince her. How much do you know about Sharon's medical history?"

Andy leaned against the wall and dug his hands in his pockets, "Just what little bits and pieces she has told me. I know about the allergies and I know she hates needles. Really, that is about it. She hasn't been sick in the last few years so…"

Margaret nodded her head in agreement, "Hmm. Well, besides being allergic to numerous medications, she also has a very low tolerance for certain things. Like pain medicine for example, I could only give her one third of the dose that I would normally give an adult patient."

"And are there side effects associated with giving that to her?" Andy questioned, beginning to look more worried.

"Not in the general sense, she will just sleep for a long while. Which is why she doesn't want to take it, but she needs to relax and she needs to rest. She also needs to eat something before I give her any of medications we've discussed. I thought maybe you could sit with her and distract her while I put the IV in and then maybe you can get her to eat a little something? It will probably go even more smoothly if I get Patrice to help me, if Sharon will be comfortable that."

Andy ran his hand through his hair and then gently laid his hand on Margaret's arm, "But you think for the most part that she's okay? She's going to be okay?"

Margaret stepped closer and squeezed Andy's arm, "Yes Andy, I do. She was very lucky this time and she's got you to help her every step of the way. So I really do think that she is okay. Now, I'm going to talk with Patrice for a minute and then we will be back to get started."

Andy watched Margaret walk back toward the living room before he turned and stood in the doorway of his bedroom. How often had he dreamed of having Sharon in his bed, but never did he imagine it would be like this. He leaned against the door frame for a few moments before she looked up and saw him. "Hey," she smiled softly, the light not quite reaching her eyes. "Did the kids get off okay?"

He came around the bed and sat next to her, "They did. Rusty just let me know he's on his way back. You know they really hated to leave."

"I know. I'm okay about it, really I am. I'm just glad Emily is okay. I feel better now that I have actually seen her. Andy…I can't believe that I let him…get inside my head…I…"Her breath caught for a moment before she could continue, "I really thought that he had…that he had…hurt her. He made me believe… that he…Oh, god Andy."

In one gently sweep, Andy lifted Sharon into his lap. She laid her head on his chest and struggled to get her emotions under control. "Sweetheart, Emily is safe and you are safe. He can't hurt you anymore. I will never let anyone hurt you again."

"Andy," Sharon reached up to touch his cheek, "I don't need a knight in shining armor."

"I know that, I've always known that. Trust me; you more than proved that today. I just need to make sure you know that I am here… if you need me, when you need me. I'm here when all those thoughts inside your head get to be too much. I'm here when you are too tired to hide behind that mask of yours. I'm here to listen; I'm here to hold you and to love you. And by the way, I need you too. Do you not realize how much just one look from you calms me?" He leaned back against the headboard and pulled her tightly against his chest.

"I do need you. I hope I let you know that in my own weird, messed up way." Sharon held gently to Andy's wrist, her fingers toying with the chain there. "Andy? Don't ever let me shut you out. Even if you have to yell at me or fight with me…"

"I don't know about fighting with you," Andy interrupted. "But, I will always fight for you, for us."