"SHARON!" Andy yelled at her, as she dropped to the floor.

Everyone scrambled to get in close, but not close enough to hamper Andy's way.

"Sharon," he said, shaking her gently, "Sharon, wake up."

"Should I call someone?" Sykes asked.

"Not yet," Provenza counseled, "she told Flynn she hadn't eaten anything. She's probably just passed out and would have our heads if we made a mountain out of a molehill. Let's... let's take her... damn, why didn't she pick a sofa for her office."

"I don't want to move her, I'll just prop her up a bit and see if she comes to," Andy replied.

"How's her pulse?" Tao asked, bringing a cold compress for the back of her neck.

"Weak but steady. I think she just fainted. She's been pushing herself too hard."

"What if she doesn't wake up?" Sykes asked the obvious question.

Provenza bit back the sarcasm that was forming. He knew Sykes wasn't trying to be difficult, she was just reacting as a person who panicked at times, and he had to remember that. He always marveled how cool and collected she was in the field, but something about the office often threw her. "If she doesn't wake up, we'll have to call someone. Five minutes is still reasonable, I think."

"We can get Morales up here," Sanchez offered, "he'd know what to do without causing a stir."

"Good idea, you do that," Provenza pointed at him.

Sharon moaned slightly, but didn't open her eyes.

"Amy," Provenza looked at her, "go close the main door out to the hallway. I don't think we can lock it without rising suspicion, but I don't want anyone coming in here easily."

Nodding, Amy turned to go but stopped abruptly, "Too late, Sir."

"Shar... Shar..." Jackson squawked when he saw her on the floor. He fell on his knees beside her, then glared up at Andy, "What did you do?"

"Me? I'm the one who should be asking you that question. What did you do to her? She was fine when she left here, but when she came back this happened."

"She was fine when she walked out of the restaurant. Dammit, we need to call a doctor."

"Why?" Andy glared, "what are you not telling me?"

"I don't have to tell you anything," Jackson hissed, "I'm her husband."

"No, you're not. Legally Separated is one step down from divorce. You don't have power of attorney over her. You aren't considered next of kin."

"Wanna bet?"

"I know the law too, Asshole. The only people who can make decisions for her are her children, and I'm willing to bet I've talked to them a lot more recently than you have."

Andy tried to get his point across as thoroughly as he could. Normally he used his height and strength to intimidate someone into hearing him, but sitting on the floor with an unconscious Sharon lying in his arms, he was anything but intimidating.

"All it would take is a couple of phone calls, and I'd make sure you were gone and I was protecting her," Jackson countered.

"Yeah... and when I tell them you broke into her house in the middle of the night, no warning, no consideration, and then stressed her out by taking her bed last night, they might have a different opinion and arrest you instead. I'm the one that carries the cuffs, remember, and I'll be more than happy to slap them on."

"Enough!" Provenza yelled over the two of them. "Neither of you are helping the situation. Flynn... she said she hadn't eaten. How much coffee did she have to drink?"

"I dunno. Two that I'm aware of, maybe three if she did drive-thru with the kid before she arrived. She does that sometimes when she's over tired."

"She had a fourth cup at the restaurant," Jackson added. "She can't handle that much caffeine, it always makes her sick. She's even been hospitalized."

"He might on to something. I've only seen the Captain drink one cup in the past, and then she switches to tea," Sykes offered.

"If she has an allergic reaction to caffeine, food would balance it a little, but she was making herself a time-bomb."

Provenza rolled his eyes, "Not helpful, Tao."

Tao just shrugged and turned to look at the Captain who was rolling her head a little as she started to regain consciousness.

"And what do we have here?" Morales asked as he walked into the room.

"Sykes, the door," Provenza ordered again, and turned away as the Detective scampered off to complete the task.

"Let me guess, no food, too much coffee and she fell like a lead balloon," Morales said as he knelt beside Sharon's body.

"How did you guess?" Andy asked.

Morales just smirked. "I'm the only doctor in this building. Do you want to know the number of times I've been pulled away from the dead just to deal with the living who make bad choices? It's usually the women in management, interestingly enough. They're still trying to keep up with the boys."

"She'd have your head if she heard you talk like that," Andy shot him a look.

"Yes... well... she'd have to be awake to do that, wouldn't she. Look people, I'm flattered that you think my skills are needed, but her pulse is fine, her colour is returning, her moaning suggests she's waking up, and I'm sure the Captain will be ordering us all around in no time. My prescription? No more coffee, feed her and send her home for some sleep."

Jackson moved in closer. "That sounds good, I'll do that."

"Don't even think about it," Andy threatened through clenched teeth.

"Ah, Captain," Morales ignored the battling alphas, "glad to have you join us."

"Wha..." she looked around, realizing she was on the floor with everyone surrounding her, "what happened?"

"Oh nothing much. You just passed out because you're treating your body like you're 18 and you can't do that."

"Humph, you're not the first today to remind me of my age, Doctor. Help me up."

"I don't think so," Andy held her down.

"Lieutenant," Sharon warned.

"Yup, I'd say she's fine," Morales stood and smiled to everyone.

Andy relented and helped her to her feet with Jackson holding the other arm.

"Just a word of advice, gentlemen," Sharon smiled weakly, "you might want to rethink having Coroner standing over a person as they wake up. It's a little disconcerting."

Everyone chuckled in relief.

"Shar, let me take you home," Jackson said, getting in closer. "You need some sleep."

"I told you, back off!" Andy glared.

"I'll be fine," Sharon looked from one man to another, "I don't need to go anywhere."

"Flynn, take the Captain somewhere and make her sleep, I don't care where. Captain, no arguments, if you do that again I'm calling an ambulance. Our productivity will not improve if you work your way into a hospital stay. And Raydor, unless I'm mistaken, you have a client who needs your services. We all have work to do here, so let's do it!" Provenza gave the orders.

"Excuse me?" Sharon looked at him and moved closer to give her customary glare.

Provenza brushed it off, "Make me go over your head, I dare you."

Sharon continued her stare-down for a few more seconds, then sighed in defeat.

"If it's any consolation, Sharon," Provenza said quietly to her, "you'd be doing the exact same thing if the roles were reversed. Go get some rest, and take Flynn with you. He could use it before he becomes a real pain in the ass."

xxxxx

Sharon padded out of Andy's bedroom wearing his large LAPD sweats.

"Looks good on you," he smiled. "Here, eat something."

"I'm really not that hungry, Andy."

"Eat! That's an order."

"An order, is it? I think you and Provenza are getting a little too sure of yourselves."

"When it comes to you, we're going to do whatever it takes to keep you going, and don't forget it."

"Thanks," Sharon said appreciatively, then dug in to the lasagna before her.

Afterwards Andy took her hand and led her to his bedroom. Pulling the sheets back, he let her get in first, than got in beside her and pulled her close as he wrapped the blanket around her.

Sharon breathed deeply and tried to stifle a yawn. Slowly her eyes became heavy and she finally gave in.