Under Different Circumstances Chapter 10, a major crimes fanfic

We've reached the end of this little AU story as this is the final chapter. Thank you to every single one of you who read, reviewed, favorited, followed, and supported this story! I appreciate each and every one of you more than I can express. As always, I welcome your feedback on this chapter and/or the story as a whole.

Just a warning, the final part of this chapter/story does venture into M territory, so avoid it if it isn't your thing.

I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters. That honor belongs to James Duff and co.

Chapter Ten

Tick

For some reason, the clock in the hallway was uncharacteristically loud. Or maybe it was just the deafening silence threatening to swallow her whole. Or maybe it was the waiting. That had to be it, the waiting was always the worst part. The only thing that Sharon Raydor knew was that she was this close to ripping the damn thing off the wall and silencing it for good. She couldn't imagine a worse sound in her current situation.

Bang!

She was wrong. Two shots in quick succession. Panic threatened to consume her. The walls of the hallway seemed to be closing in on her. And that damn clock seemed to have slowed down, its irritating ticks louder, just to mock her. As the seconds ticked by, feeling more like hours, her mind drifted to questions she couldn't answer. How had things gotten to this point? And why was she waiting down the hallway from the entrance to Major Crimes saying a silent prayer that the man she loved wasn't shot and bleeding out on the floor inside? Life had a funny way of screwing with you.

Three hours earlier...

Sharon was signing off on the last of her reports for the week. It had been a busy one, and she wanted to finish everything before going home for the weekend. She and Andy had plans to go out Saturday night, and she was thinking that she might not send him home at the end of it. Things had been going well between them since they decided to embark on a relationship almost two months ago. They saw each other as much as their jobs allowed. Sharon realized within the first month that she had fallen in love with him, but she hadn't been able to vocalize those three little words yet. She hoped that he felt it in her kisses and touches, and if she followed through with her plan on Saturday, that he would also feel it when they made love for the first time. The thought brought a smile to her lips that was quickly erased. One of her detectives burst through her doorway with an expression on his face that was anything but comforting.

"Captain, there's a situation in Major Crimes," he said, nostrils flaring and chest heaving for breath. She felt her own heart begin to race.

"What kind of situation?" She asked a lot more calmly than she felt. He looked at her, concern written all over his face.

"A suspect was being escorted down to lock-up when he somehow managed to grab a patrol officer's gun," he explained hurriedly. "He's holding them all hostage," he added. She stood up and began walking towards her office door. She stopped just short of the threshold.

"Has anyone been shot?" She asked without turning around to face him.

"No, but Captain... Flynn's in there," he said softly. She nodded before exiting her office and making her way to the elevator. So much for Taylor's promised discretion, she thought. They had informed him about their relationship right after it started. It had gone well, and he was content to oblige them as long as they both displayed professionalism and tact. It wasn't as if she and Andy were a secret, but they didn't want the entire LAPD gossiping about them, so they chose to keep a low profile. Apparently, the gossip was too good for Taylor. His idea of "discretion" was probably only telling one or two people who, in turn, told everyone else. Sharon couldn't worry about it now, not when the man she was crazy about was being held by a crazed gunman.

She wasn't sure how close to the squad room they were going to allow her to get, but she knew she had to try. She stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the ninth floor. As the elevator doors closed, she said a silent prayer.

Thirty seconds. It had been thirty seconds since gun shots rang out. She could hear shouting and commotion from her position down the hallway from the squad room. She was about to push her way through the SWAT members holding her and others back when suddenly, the door flew open and officers started piling out. More SWAT, she thought. They broke through, they got inside, things must be under control now, she reassured herself.

"The suspect has been neutralized," one of them announced, and she watched as the other members began retreating. As soon as the hallway was clear, she walked quickly towards the room.

Click clack

Her heels raced across the linoleum as she approached the threshold. She could see inside the room. Her eyes quickly scanning, searching. And then out of nowhere, he was there in front of her. She increased her pace, and he started moving towards her, the distance between them shrinking exponentially. When they finally came together, she practically threw herself into his arms. He wrapped his tightly around her small frame and hugged her close. She breathed him in, allowed him to fill her senses. He was here and unharmed. He kissed the side of her head through her hair, and she hummed. She could feel all the worry and tension leaving her body with each exhalation.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware that everyone was probably watching them, but she didn't care. She could have lost him, so she wasn't letting go anytime soon.

Later, she waited while Andy gave his statement and wrapped up everything from the incident. She was sidelined during the investigation because, even though it was patrol's fault that the suspect got ahold of the gun, it still involved Major Crimes. She watched as her division methodically conducted its investigation. Once Andy's presence was no longer required, he and Sharon rode together in the elevator down to their parked cars. She had managed to keep her emotions at bay throughout the ordeal, but they were beginning to consume her now. The doors opened and they exited and began walking towards Andy's car.

"You want to grab dinner?" He asked with a smile. She was quiet. He stopped and looked at her, he saw the unshed tears in her eyes and the fear from earlier playing out on her features. He pulled her into a comforting embrace holding her tightly and whispering comforting words. He could feel the silent tears, and his heart broke. When they seemed to have ceased, he slowly pulled away and studied her face. She looked better. He watched as a small, comforting smile graced her lips.

"Take me home, Andy," she said quietly. "We can pick up dinner on the way," she added. He smiled.

"What about your car?" He asked, even though he much preferred to have her in his.

"We have all weekend to worry about that," she replied before walking over to his car and getting inside. Once he was seated in the driver's seat, he looked over at her. She had a clarity about her that he hadn't seen before.

"I love you," she said quietly, but confidently. His heart started beating faster, and an incredible warmth flooded his body. He had been itching to say the words for a while now, but he had been too afraid. He took her hand in his and squeezed it.

"I love you, too, Sharon. Very much," he replied, voice thick with emotion. He saw the errant tear that ran down her cheek, and he leaned across the center console and kissed her hard. She eagerly kissed him back. When they pulled apart, they were both grinning like idiots. "Now, let's get out of here," he said before starting the car and driving off towards her condo.

When they walked through the door of Sharon's place, Andy set the bag of takeout food on her dining room table. Neither was all that hungry, so they didn't move to set the table. Andy found Sharon still standing in her hallway watching him. She had a curious expression on her face so he walked over to her to make sure she was okay. As he got closer, she took his hand and pulled him towards her. She ran her hands up his chest, over his shoulders and behind his neck. She laced her fingers together and pulled him down to her. They paused a moment, lips almost touching, breaths mingling, and intensity building. She leaned in and closed the small gap between them. Her lips moved urgently against his, and the kiss quickly deepened. He moved his hands to her hips and dug his fingers into her flesh through her skirt before hungrily pulling her closer to him until their bodies crashed together.

Sharon led him down her hallway to her bedroom. Once inside, she pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders and down his arms before she began urgently unbuttoning his shirt. Andy reached up and loosen his tie, and once Sharon had all of the buttons undone, she removed his tie and shirt in quick succession. She pulled his t-shirt out of his pants and moved her hands under it so she could caress the skin on his abdomen and chest. He leaned down and captured her lips, and they passionately explored each other's mouths. When they finally broke apart, they began slowly undressing each other, reveling in each new inch of exposed skin.

Once Andy was down to only his boxers and Sharon was left with only her bra and underwear, she pulled him over to her bed. She climbed onto it supporting her weight on her knees at the edge while Andy stood on the floor next to it. He kissed his way down her neck and continued to her cleavage. He kissed and sucked the flesh, allowing her moans and intake of breaths to guide him. He brought his hand up to the supple flesh and began caressing her through the lace of her bra. Finally, he pulled one of the lacy cups back and moved his tongue and teeth onto her hardened peak. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling his mouth closer to her body. He then moved to her other breast and repeated the action.

Sharon was already on fire and they had barely begun. She ran her hand over the front of his boxer shorts, feeling the desire he had for her. It spurred her on and she lifted the waistband of his boxers and slid her hand inside. He gasped when her hand encircled him and began moving up and down his sensitive flesh. She pushed his boxers down his waist and watched as they pooled on the floor. Her eyes quickly traveled up his legs to the junction of his thighs, and she couldn't help the smirk that crossed her lips when she laid eyes on him, all of him, for the first time.

She reached her arms behind her back and unclipped her bra allowing it to go slack against her upper body. She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth shyly and slowly pulled each strap down her arms until she was completely free of the garment. Andy gently, but passionately, pushed her until she was lying on the bed. He covered her with his body and began kissing, licking, teasing every inch of her that wasn't covered by her underwear. Before removing that article of clothing, he looked into her eyes to ensure that it was what she wanted. She nodded, and he quickly divested her of the last barrier between them. He moved his body between her legs when they parted welcomingly for him. He kissed her lips and caressed her body. When his fingers landed on her most sensitive area, he teased her lovingly, running his fingers over every inch of her upper thighs and their apex.

Then, he replaced his fingers with his hardened length. She moaned his name as he finally entered her and they became one for the very first time. He gave her time to adjust before he began a slow, languid pace of long strokes. He kissed his way passionately down and back up her neck, placing another kiss or flick of his tongue with each stoke inside and back out of her. Sharon was melting on the inside. He was literally making love to her, and the combination of his long, fluid strokes and his amazing tongue and lips on her neck was perfect. She alternated her hands between his back and his hair, caressing and then gripping onto him for dear life. And then he quietly reaffirmed his love for her.

"I", he said at the beginning of another long stroke into her before planting a kiss on her neck.

"Am so" another long stroke inside her and a tantalizing flick of his tongue on her neck.

"In love," another smooth stroke all the way in and all the way back out before another wet kiss on her neck.

"With you," another delicious stroke that seemed to hit every sensitive spot inside of her before his lips lightly sucked on her pulse point.

She wrapped her legs around him, and he began to move faster. Their breathing sped up, and their moans grew louder. She moved in counter motion with him, creating a wonderful sensation. It wasn't long before they were both on the precipice of release. Andy was about to fall over, but he didn't want to go without her, so he reached between their heated bodies and found her sensitive bud. He stroked her with just the right amount of pressure, and she crashed over the edge with him right behind her. They laid together, still connected, catching their breath. Their hands gently soothing and caressing each other's tingling skin.

When it became impossible to keep the physical connection, he rolled off of her, both of them bemoaning the loss of contact when he slipped out of her. They laid together in content silence for several minutes. Finally, she broke it.

"I love you," she whispered, the words floating into the room and settling over him.

"I love you, too," he replied before leaning over and kissing the top of her head. She rolled over and stretched across his chest before tangling her legs with his.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, suddenly remembering dinner.

"Nah, I'm good for now," he said, loathe to move from her bed. They were sated, naked, and in each other's arms. There was no way he was moving any time soon. "Hey, in the commotion today, I almost forgot to tell you about Provenza," he started, but she grinned against his chest.

"That he's retiring?" She asked knowingly. Andy looked down at her in surprise.

"Yeah, you knew?" He asked with a mix of shock and annoyance. She laughed.

"Yes, I might have heard something about that," she said coyly.

"How?" He asked incredulously. After all, he had only found out this morning and his grumpy friend had asked him to keep it quiet.

"Because... You're looking at his replacement," she replied hesitantly. He sat up, forcing her to do the same.

"What?!" He asked, shock ringing throughout the room.

"Chief Pope approached me this morning with the offer. I haven't given him my answer yet because I wanted to talk to you first, but..." She trailed off, and something resembling excitement crossed his features.

"You wanted to talk to me first?" He repeated with happy amazement. She held his gaze and nodded.

"What do you think?" She asked carefully. He stared at her a moment, and then his features seemed to darken.

"But what about this?" He asked cautiously. "I don't want to give you up again," he added genuinely. She smiled.

"You won't have to. Chief Pope knows about us and trusts that we will keep things separate. I assured him we would," she explained.

"I can be the picture of professionalism if it means getting to work with you during the day and sleeping next to you at night," he beamed. She laughed.

"So that's a yes?" She teased. He laughed.

"It's a 'hell yes'," he said enthusiastically, and then quickly added, "As long as it's what you want". She leaned over and kissed him sweetly. She pulled away slightly and grinned.

"Definitely, Lieutenant. Truth is, I would have taken it either way, but us being on the same page makes it a whole lot easier," she smiled before capturing his lips once again. They allowed the kiss to linger, and when they broke apart, he was wearing a shit-eating grin. She raised an eyebrow in askance.

"I just realized that I'm going to be sleeping with the boss," he declared proudly. She pursed her lips.

"And here I was thinking that we weren't going to be doing a whole lot of actual sleeping," she flirted. He scooped her up in his arms and laid them both back down, their heads softly hitting the pillows as they laid facing each other. He kissed her passionately.

"Oh, we can do both," he said before descending his lips on hers once again. The kiss easily fell into something more passionate. Dinner had been forgotten. The outside world shut out. The intensity of the day burned into the intensity of being with each other for tonight and the future. Whatever it may hold, they had each other, no matter the circumstances.

THE END