AN: Thank you to all of you who left reviews! I really appreciate them a lot.

I have decided that this won't be the last three chapters I will post. Once the last chapters will be posted I will continue posting part two of this little alternate universe I've created. That one is finished in writing as well, so no need to worry it won't end.

It's also a lot longer than these thirteen chapters. I hope you won't mind. And who knows when you are all still interested in reading more, after that there will also be a part three, which is finished in writing as well. I'll see how long you are interested in reading .

Chapter ten

They found the ideal place to have their little stake out. A lot in between two vacant lots. Elderly living across the street. The ideal place for a murderer to do whatever he pleased, without getting detected. Under the cover of a moving company they had made the house ready to live in. They had agreed with the Commander to give it a try, until the next victim wouldn't match the pattern anymore. According to the murderer's MO, there would be a new victim within the next few days, the second victim soon following. With a bit of luck he'd pick her out to be the next one.

Jack hadn't been too thrilled, when she told him she wouldn't be coming home the next couple of days. She told him they'd be on the case twenty-four/ seven, to get a breakthrough. She would not tell him, she was offering herself as bait. He would not have it, he already was worried enough as it was. Just by thinking she would be at the station twenty-four/seven, he was worried about her safety. He told her to be careful, get enough sleep, eat at regular times. A bit overprotective, but she had indulged him. At least he was satisfied with her calling him.

Andy gave her a similar hard time, telling her to stay safe. He hadn't been too worried about her sleeping habits or eating pattern. Instead he'd given her a lecture about keeping her wire on all the time. Keep her gun on her or nearby. Be on her guard all the time. Check her car before driving, get straight into the house. Check the place out, every time she'd enter it. Call in. Make noises all the time, so they'd know she was still alive, he told her to sing, hum, whatever. Sleep during the day as much as possible, to keep awake at night. Andy had made her repeat everything several times, no matter how well she knew the drill. He'd been anxious as if he'd be the one having to face this murderer, whether it was the first time he was pulling off a stake out like this.

Sharon wondered if his paranoia was rubbing off on her. Halfway through the store she felt a pair of eyes watching her. Andy better not have any of the guys follow her around the store. It wouldn't surprise her if he would. She tried to keep her breathing pattern as normal as possible. Ignoring the goose bumps on her skin. Forcing herself not to listen to her instincts and walk faster. She had to appear normal. Just someone shopping for her groceries.

'Be calm, you want this guy to pick you out.'

She hummed to the music played in the store. It calmed her and probably Andy, on the other end of the wire, as well. She hoped the microphone wouldn't pick up the beating of her heart. It was racing and she couldn't calm it down.

Andy sat in the van, his foot tapping on the floor, while he listened in on Sharon's wire. Today was the second time she went shopping for her groceries at the super market, the victims all shopped at. Reluctant he had agreed to let her go into the store by herself. They didn't want to risk her cover to blow up. Although he still didn't like the plan, he did realize it was their only chance at this moment to catch this guy.

All they could do now was wait. He listened to her humming. At least she complied to his rules. He hadn't expected her to. Sharon was stubborn. Maybe she just didn't want to risk blowing it herself, by not complying to his rules. Sharon followed procedures. Somehow that calmed him.

Sharon checked her car twice, before driving off. You never knew. She turned on the radio, trying to find some music that would help her relax. Bach. Finally some way to escape the thoughts in her mind working over time. She should wind down. If she had to face that killer now, she doubted whether she could make a decent shot. In the end she couldn't know how she would react. Yes, she was trained for situations like these, but this was the real deal. Wasn't it normal to be nervous for something like this? Or were the others right? She couldn't possibly be up to this, as she was fresh from the Academy and a woman. Sharon believed she ignored them, but somehow their words implanted this seed of doubt in her mind.

Once again the classic music, the other guys already complained having to listen to it for hours and hours. It certainly hadn't made Sharon more popular amongst them. Andy rather listened to Sharon listening to music, than her talking to Jack over the phone. Although she was discreet, their talks made his stomach turn. She seemed so different on the phone with him. He had heard her giggle and laugh. At the station, she always seemed on edge. With him she was carefree. It envied him in a way. Andy wasn't sure what to think of that. Lately he had been in complete limbo. When he had first met Sharon, he didn't even like her. Now he could only think about hearing her laugh like that, over something he would say. Why would he feel like that? He had a wife and children at home.

Andy closed his eyes. Who was he kidding? His marriage to Sandra was as good as over. They hardly spoke to one another. The only reason why they were still together, their kids, although he wasn't sure how long they'd still be. Parents arguing all the time, weren't ideal parents either.

So what was this attraction to Sharon all about? She wasn't even his type. He's been attracted to blonds with blue eyes, for as long as he could remember. Then there was the fact that they couldn't be more different from one another. The worlds they grew up in so different. His parents working class. His father worked hard to make ends meet. Sharon was a trust fund baby. Her father a doctor. She'd been raised in a world of ballet, the theatre and opera. She probably already listened to that music when she was a baby. Their worlds couldn't be more apart. So what was it about her?

Definitely her eyes. She had captured him with those emerald green eyes, the moment she'd first looked upon him. Maybe it was what he didn't see in her eyes. The way she shut everyone around her out. Or maybe it were the small glimpses. The fire in them, when she was angry, frustrated or passionate about something. The way they sparkled, hypnotizing. The vulnerability softened her up and made him want to wrap his arms around her. The hurt he saw in them heart wrenching. He'd rather hurt himself, before ever seeing that look in her eyes again. So many feelings he hadn't been able to figure out yet.

It didn't matter anyway. Sharon was engaged. That prick Jack Raydor. He'd never like the guy, but he had seen her with him. She was in love, deeply. Surely her parents rather saw her engaged to a successful lawyer, than to a divorced, father of two small children, blue collar cop. Sharon would probably never forgive him for the way he treated her anyway. She was finishing up this case and then she'd transfer.

Like she was supposed to, Sharon made her walk through the house. Searching all the rooms, looking inside closets, under the bed. Everywhere where this guy could be hiding out. Unsure about what she'd do when she'd stand eye in eye with him, when he'd suddenly jump at her. Trying to push those thoughts to the back of her mind. She didn't want to be afraid. She shouldn't be afraid. She was a police officer and she should act like it…

The house was empty. Now the waiting would start. She hated the waiting. There were times she wished he'd just show up in front of her so she could get this over with. She startled as she heard the ringing of the phone. Her breath hitched. Just the phone.

Sharon took a deep breath, before she answered it.

"Hello."

Her voice sounded a bit shaky to him.

"Hey. How are you holding up?"

Andy's voice was warm, calm, somehow comforting.

"I just searched the house. It's clear."

"Good. Not what I asked."

Sharon smiled, when had this happened? When had he learned enough about her to know that she was avoiding the topic?

"I'm alright."

She wasn't, but he was pretty sure she'd never admit that to him.

"You're doing fine, hon."

That was nice, although he still called her 'hon'. At least she now knew he didn't mean it to make it sound demeaning.

"Really, you're doing great. All we can do is wait and see."

"There haven't been any more victims?"

"No. Just be extra aware okay?"

"It could be just me, but at the super market I felt someone's eyes on me."

For the first time he heard her unsure about something. She should learn to rely on her instinct. It was right most of the time. At least that's what he learned from experience.

"It won't hurt to listen to your instincts. Be on your guard and be prepared. Just say the word and we'll come in. You're not in this alone."

Was this it? Was she finally part of the team? She wondered if any of the others saw her as a part of their team. It didn't really matter, for now it was good enough to know Andy was on her side.

"Thank you."

"Now keep singing, humming, or read to yourself, as long as you'll make sure we can hear you all the time."

Sharon smiled.

"I will."

"Okay. Hang in there, hon."

Hang in there. He was right. Her eyes travelled to the clock. She'd better call Jack, before he'd become worried, visit the station and realize she was not in.

"Jack, it's me…"

"Hey, sweetheart.. How about dinner?"

"I can't I'm still on the case."

"This is getting ridiculous, it's been two days already, how much longer is it going to take?"

"As long as it will take. Jack there are no time schedules. When you're before trial it's the same."

"But I sleep at home."

"I can't do anything to change that."

"Yes you can. You can come home."

"No, I can't and you know that. Now if you'll continue like this, I'll hang up."

"No, don't hang up. Sweetheart, I just miss you."

"I miss you too."

"Do you?"

"Of course I do."

"Then come home."

"I told you I can't."

"You don't want to, that's something entirely different, Sharon."

Tears welled in Sharon's eyes. Why would he make her choose? She was always understanding whenever he had to work. It wasn't like he never let work come before them, their relationship, them being together. He stood her up on many occasions and she had been very understanding. Was it wrong to expect the same thing from him, now matters were reversed?

"Okay, if you feel like that…"

Her voice broke.

"I've got to get back to my case."

"Sharon don't ha…"

She cut off his voice by doing exactly what he didn't want her to do, hang up. Sharon wiped away the tears trailing down her cheeks. The doorbell ringing shook her up. Must be the delivery from the super market. Her fingers flexed around her gun. Be prepared, always. She knew the others were in one of the houses across the street, but she'd make the first contact. They'd never be in time at her side if this was their UNSUB, standing in front of that door. Her heart beat loud in her chest, too loud, it was drumming in her ears. She hoped it wasn't that loud at the other end of the wire. Sharon looked through the peek hole, a sigh of relieve escaped her, as she saw a woman carrying the grocery bags. This wasn't their UNSUB.

Sharon carried the grocery bags to the kitchen, putting them on the kitchen counter. There was no use to put them away. After all, she didn't live here. She took out a bottle of water and returned to the living room. She was so glad the others only had heard one part of her conversation with Jack. Although they had already heard enough. Anyone could have heard she'd been upset. She didn't want them to see her as a fragile little doll. They already had these prejudiced opinions about women joining the force. It wasn't like she was the first, maybe not even the first within their division. She didn't intend on being chased away. She'd prove them she could do this job just like any other of them.

Sharon turned on the radio. Some music would help her relax. Screwing off the cap of the water bottle, she sat down. The handle of her gun immediately poking between her ribs. She surely had lost the last of her baby fat over this case. She took her holster off, carefully stashing it away between the couch and the side table. Close enough to reach for if she had to. She doubted anything would happen tonight. Although she still had that nervous feeling in the pit of her abdomen. A glass of wine would surely help her relax more, but she couldn't, officially she was on duty. She took another sip of the water. All the energy drained from her. She shouldn't be this tired yet. She had taken a nap at twelve, so she'd go grocery shopping later and make it through the night without sleep. Her limbs were heavy, her head felt like a big ton of bricks, almost unable to carry on her shoulders. Why did everything feel so heavy? Her arms slacked, while her breathing slowed, her eyelids too heavy to keep open.

'Stay awake.'

The voice in her head not loud enough as her body went slack on the couch. Unaware of the dark figure merging from the basement stairs.