Andy steps cautiously into Sharon's bedroom, unwilling to give Rusty any reason to suspect…untoward behaviour. Smiling mildly at him, Sharon reaches behind Andy and shuts the door firmly, giving him plenty of time to inspect his surroundings. He is unsurprised by how tidy the room is, save the small pile of shoes at the foot of the dark, wooden bed. Decorated in complements of cream and mint, the room has a warm glow to it, one that would easily inspire sleep and relaxation. Andy steps further into the room, admiring the pictures of her children that stand on her boudoir, surrounded by necklace chains and earrings that Andy assumes had been cast off this morning. Turning to Sharon, he finds that she is already watching him, eyes alight with amusement at the fact that she caught him…inspecting.
"I trust everything is to your satisfaction," she grins wryly, teasing him about his unabashed interest in her.
Laughing quietly, he peers suggestively at the bed before commenting, "I don't know – have to test some things personally, first…"
She giggles at his response, swatting his arm affectionately. "Are you going to help me get changed, or what?"
"Or what," quips Andy with a straight face, "seeing as how we're in a bedroom and all…" Realising the insinuation of his words and the pressure they might put on Sharon, Andy backtracks immediately, not wanting Sharon to feel as though she has to sleep with him because they've been on a few dates. "I mean – not that I expect us to – only if you want to…" he finishes awkwardly, unsure of where to look but unable to meet her eyes.
"Is it because I'm old?" asks Sharon, mock offended. Andy looks up, horror evident on his features, expecting her face to be miserable. He's met instead with a completely straight face, but with eyes twinkling with mischief.
"No, I just – you're not old!" he insists. Sighing, he looks her dead in the eye, enunciating each word precisely and sincerely, "I just want it to be the right time for both of us. I want you to want to be with me because you want to, not out of some obligation because we've been dating."
Sharon's heart melts a little at the thought that Andy's put into their relationship – they haven't really discussed what they are to each other in great detail, but his consideration of her and her needs and wants makes her think that she might be ready, soon. She smiles softly at him, showing him that she is grateful for how carefully he's considered her comfort, leaning forwards to meet his lips gently in response to his sincerity. Andy smiles against her mouth, relieved that he hadn't actually offended her inadvertently – sometimes it was hard to tell when she was teasing him.
"Don't worry, Andy – I don't feel pressured at all. I just feel a bit bloody, currently," she quips dryly.
"Right, so – where do you keep your comfortable shirts?" asks Andy, relief that he hadn't hurt Sharon evident in his features.
"Second drawer of the nightstand," responds Sharon easily, unbuttoning her shirt with one hand as Andy extracts a soft, cotton shirt from her dark wood nightstand.
Turning to face her, Andy places the shirt on the bed, stepping closer to Sharon instead, and helping her shrug the blouse off her shoulders. He takes it carefully between his fingers, hanging it on her bathroom's door handle. Then, he helps Sharon put the soft t-shirt he'd selected from the drawer on from behind, his eyes fixed pointedly on her hair. Chuckling slightly, Sharon looks over her shoulder at Andy, a teasing grin fixed on her lips.
"I don't bite, you know," she laughs quietly.
"I know," acknowledges Andy with a brief smile.
"But you're a gentleman," she chuckles, charmed (and surprised) by how conservative he is. Despite the sweet nature of his gentlemanly attitude, she thinks that she'll probably be at the height of discomfort if she has to sleep in her bra tonight. Rolling her eyes affectionately, she peers over her shoulder again, muttering somewhat shyly to Andy, "Can you please unhook my bra?"
Grinning slyly, Andy nods, his fingertips practically trembling at the thought that he finally gets to feel more of her skin under his hands. He reaches underneath her shirt gently, his fingers trailing up her spine until he finds the clasp between his fingertips. Sharon shivers, his movements causing her spine to tingle. Damn stitches. Andy unclasps the bra deftly, coming around to Sharon's front to help her pull the straps out from under her shirtsleeves before watching her yank the rest of it out from the bottom hem.
"I'd never understood how women did that," he laughs quietly, noting the amusement in Sharon's expression at his admission.
"The height of feminine subtlety – and I've just let you in on the secret," she giggles, mock-disapprovingly.
"I won't breathe a word, scout's honour," he says, raising a hand to his forehead in the worst mockery of a salute.
Laughing uncontrollably, Sharon reaches for Andy's face with her good arm, cradling his face in her palm before coming up on her tip toes to kiss him softly. Despite the fact that this has become a common action between them, the novelty never quite wears off, and Sharon is still thrilled that she can do it whenever she wants to, with no complaints from Andy. Smiling against her lips, Andy pushes her back down onto her heels, leaning closer to her instead as he briefly deepens the kiss. Sharon breaks away first, smiling apologetically and gesturing to her skirt.
"I'll need some help getting this off, too," she murmurs apologetically.
In reality, Sharon was fairly certain she could've managed the pencil skirt and stockings by herself, but she didn't see any reason why she should tempt fate when Andy was on hand and, uh, willing, to help. Grinning easily, Andy waits for Sharon to unzip the skirt, coming behind her once more to help her slide it down her hips, enjoying the smallest moment of resistance as the skirt's narrow waistline meets her petite hips before falling and pooling on the floor. Sharon steps out of the skirt, her long, luscious legs now bare, save for skin-tone stockings. Meanwhile, Andy stoops to the floor and picks up her skirt, finding a hanger on the outside of the wardrobe and hanging it neatly so that it doesn't crease. Then, he turns back to Sharon, finding her struggling with the stockings. Laughing slightly, Andy attempts to school his features, scolding himself the minute his eyes wander past Sharon's calves. Directing her to the edge of the bed, Andy takes the waistline of the stockings gently between his fingers, tugging them down slowly, enjoying the feel of Sharon's bare legs under his hands as the fabric peels away slowly.
"Thank you," murmurs Sharon quietly, noting how the atmosphere seems to have changed considerably.
"Any time," rasps Andy sincerely, a ghost of a mischievous grin playing around his mouth. Straightening into a standing position, Andy rubs the back of his neck somewhat shyly. "I should get going," he says quietly, "you need your sleep."
Sharon nods slowly, agreeing that she does need some sleep, but is unhappy with the idea of Andy leaving – ending the pleasant evening they've had together.
"Stay," she whispers suddenly, her cheeks flushing with surprise at her own tenacity.
Andy meets Sharon's eye with surprise, a sweet smile flashing to his face. "You sure?" he asks considerately.
"If I weren't sure, would I have asked?" fires back Sharon dryly, having recovered quickly enough to realise that she does, truly want this.
"Then I'll stay," replies Andy simply, his face softening into a crooked grin, "but no monkey-business, understood?" he teases.
"Thwarted again! Damn it, you know me too well, Andy," shoots back Sharon, her tone very clearly indicating that she's too tired to attempt any so-called 'monkey-business'.
"So long as we're clear, then," laughs Andy quietly. Unbuttoning his waistcoat deftly, Andy slings it across the back of the chair to her dressing table. Then, he reaches down and removes his shoes and socks, unsnapping and removing his trousers in one fluid motion. Placing them on the chair beside his waistcoat, Andy quickly follows this motion with the unbuttoning and removal of his shirt, which he folds before placing on the chair with the rest of his clothing.
Sharon watches Andy undress himself, enjoying the impromptu (and unexpected) strip-tease with a wry grin. "I should've filmed that," she teases fondly.
"You'll have plenty of chances," grins Andy cockily, prodding her gently in the stomach. "Now, I thought I said no monkey-business?"
Chuckling at Andy's behaviour, Sharon moves off the bed, pulling the sheets away from the pillow. Settling herself in, she allows Andy to tuck her into the bed, covering her with the sheet and duvet snugly before sliding in beside her, himself. Sharon shifts her body closer to Andy's, enjoying the feel of his sturdy warmth at her back. Smiling lightly into Sharon's hair, Andy buries his face in her neck, his arms coming up to cradle her body closer to his. Together, they fall asleep far quicker than they would have apart.
Morning comes far too quickly, the sun streaming through the curtains waking Sharon gently as she realises that she is far warmer than she normally is, due (in no small part) to Andy's body spooning hers. Craning her neck, Sharon sees that Andy is still asleep; his arms comfortably situated around her body so that her injured shoulder is not restricted in movement, but is also not likely to have the stitches pulled by her movement in sleep. She moves slowly, extracting herself from Andy's firm but gentle embrace, doing her best not to wake him as she leaves the bed. Feeling her stirring beneath his arms, Andy cracks his eyes open slowly, blinking blearily for a moment as he remembers where he is. Remaining in bed with Andy, Sharon waits for him to fully wake.
"Hi there," smiles Sharon sweetly, her hair mussed from sleep. She flips onto her back so that Andy's arms are wrapped loosely around her waist, and so that she can face him, even if she can't fully turn towards him with her shoulder.
"Hi," he murmurs, his voice cracking from sleep.
"Sleep well?" she asks quietly, her nose just brushing his as her eyes drift shut again slowly.
"Like a log," he chuckles, his voice breaking through its post-sleep thickness, "you?" he asks sweetly, "did you shoulder bother you at all?"
"Not until about half an hour ago – so I think the painkillers took care of that pretty well," she replies, her lips quirking upwards in a half-smile. "But now I'm starving – do you want me to get the coffee on while you lie in for a little longer?"
"Nah, I need to call in to work anyway – I'll get up with you," sighs Andy, already anticipating Provenza's nosy questions at his calling in sick at the same time that Sharon's supposed to be on leave for her injury.
"Why are you calling in to work?" asks Sharon sharply, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"So that I can stay here and help you," replies Andy, as though it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"In that case, you can get your ass up real quick and get to work, Andy," she fires back at him.
"I said I'd take care of you – I'm doing what any good partner should do!" he defends himself indignantly.
"I'm not having you miss work for me – I can handle myself for a few hours until you come home," she says more kindly, her eyes softening at the mention of Andy being her partner – she likes the sound of that.
"But you do want me to come back, then?" replies Andy, slyly.
"Of course I do – you're my partner," grins Sharon, her voice only slightly hesitant as she uses the long-disused word, tasting it on her tongue.
Andy cracks a crooked grin at Sharon, enjoying the way her features seem to light up by his positive reaction to her affirmation of their status – finally. They're partners. They're not just dating or seeing each other exclusively – they're finally, actually together.
"Alright then, I'll go to work – but you'd better expect me home for dinner," chuckles Andy.
"It's a deal," responds Sharon gently, her lips quirking upwards into a smile as she leans in to press her lips to Andy's happily.
Hey guys! Thanks for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed it :) If you have, please leave a review! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and followed this story - I really appreciate it! I'd also like to thank Deb 57 for reviewing here as I am unable to via PM.