A/N: I got a comment on one of my other stories saying the characters couldn't do x, y, and z because they did a, b, and c in this story. Each of my stories is set in their own special little universe, they aren't one giant fic (as cool as that would be.) Any inconsistencies from story to story exist because they aren't meant to occur on the same timeline. Anyways, rant over! :)
~oOo~
Andy's Perspective
~oOo~
"Sharon?" I whisper, reaching over to wrap my arms around her waist, "Sharon, what's wrong?"
I feel her pull her knees up to her chest and shake her head, inching away from me ever so slightly.
"Come here." I groan as I sit up, pulling her into my lap, "Sweetheart, what's going on?"
She just shakes her head again, hiding her face in her knees. How can I help her when I don't know why she's so upset?
"Hey," I kiss her head and gently trace up and down her back, "I'm right here Sharon."
"I know." She finally sniffles, "And that... that's..."
"Take a deep breath." I try, reaching up to gently stroke her cheek, "Take your time sweetheart. I'll still be here."
"That's... That's what's wrong." She picks up her head, burying her face in my chest as she continues crying, "What if one day you're not?"
"I told you I'm not going anywhere, and I meant that. We're going to find the boy, arrest Stroh, and then we'll get married. Everything's gonna be fine."
"It's... It's too good to be real Andy. Just... I'm afraid I'll wake up and it'll all be some silly dream."
Too good to be real? Are we talking about the same thing here? Because having a serial killer after us isn't exactly my idea of a silly dream.
"This is real, Sharon." I coo, gently rocking from side to side, "This is all real. You, me, Stroh, and as much as I wish some of it were a dream, it's not. But as soon as we catch Stroh, we can start dreaming of our life. Together."
"What if I change?" She asks, lifting her chin to better look at me. Her eyes are swollen and her cheeks are tear stained, but her voice is composed once again.
"What do you mean?" I question, leaning down and planting a kiss to her forehead, "We all change. It's a part of life."
"No, Andy, what if I change. What if I push you away again and don't let you back in? What if something happens to one of us and I turn bitter? What if one day you wake up and you don't feel the same way about me anymore? I just..."
All of a sudden, I knew what -or rather who- had caused this: Jack. Trying my best to stay calm despite all the harm he had caused Sharon took nearly all my strength. If I ever get the chance to lay my hands on him, I won't even think twice about it. He was the reason that Sharon was curled up in my lap, crying in the middle of the night. He made her think that their failed marriage was her fault, and she had believed him.
"Have I ever not came through when I told you something?" I ask, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and watching as it quickly falls in front of her eyes again.
"No." She shakes her head, "You haven't. But I still feel like maybe-"
"No maybes." I interrupt, gently wiping away the last few tears that clung to her lashes, "When I told you I loved you, that was the truth, and it sure as hell isn't gonna change. I said I'd stay and take care of you and the Kid, and we said we would get married. I made you a promise and I'm going to follow through with it because I love you Sharon, not because I'm trying to string you along just so I can leave. This is real, everything I feel for you is so real, and I won't ever leave you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I'd be crazy to give that up."
"Really?" She lets out a watery laugh, her jade eyes locking with mine, "God, Andy, why do I keep doing this to myself?"
"Because you're Sharon." I shrug with a small smile, "That's another reason we go so well together, you overthink and I don't think enough."
She lets out a little laugh-snort and I pull her closer to my chest, "That's not true."
"Right. Mhm." I respond sarcastically, "So I was thinking straight when I called you the wicked witch and treated you like a piece of crap?"
"Hey." She places her hand on my cheek and forces me to look at her, "That was the past. We've both made mistakes, and if I'm not allowed to sit here and think back on them then neither are you."
"How did I ever end up with someone so wonderful?" I question as she breaks free from my grasp and curls up beside me.
"Ditto." She smiles happily, pulling my arms around her waist, "I love you, Andy."
"I love you too." I grin, gently kissing her lips, "Let's get some sleep. It's going to be a long couple of days."
~oOo~
Hectic. That's the best word I can use to describe the scene Sharon, Rusty, and I find when we enter the murder room. Chief Taylor had set up a call center in the middle of the room with phones and iPads, each station occupied by someone I didn't recognize, yet seemed to be working diligently.
"Captain," Chief Taylor's voice echoes throughout the corridor as he comes to stand behind us, "I'm glad to see you're doing such an outstanding job with your team. Lieutenant Provenza has been doing your job for almost two days now."
She reaches out and gently squeezes my arm as I angrily bunch my hands into fists, "Chief, I am doing the best that I can given these circumstances. My family," Did she say family? "is being targeted by a serial killer." Her voice raises ever so slightly, "Not only am I trying to devote my time to this investigation, I am also trying to ensure that my son is living the most normal life that he can given these circumstances. So excuse me if I'm not living up to your standards, I'll make sure to keep everyone late tonight to find this boy." She turns on her heel and starts towards her office when Taylor's voice rings out.
"Captain, I suggest you be very careful with your words." He glances at me for a moment, "You forget how much control I have over certain situations."
She shoots him a glare before nodding, her lips pursing into a thin line, "Yes Chief, of course."
He lets out a puff of air and casts Rusty and I one last weary glance before disappearing back down the corridor.
~oOo~
"Lieutenant, what did you find out?" Sharon asks, meeting him in front of the murder board, "Were you able to ID the boy or get a license plate on the car?"
"We're still combing through patient lists, but we haven't been able to identify the boy yet. No missing persons reports were filed, so he either lives on his own or in a bad family."
"Uh, Captain," Buzz pipes up, walking towards her, folder in hand, "I was able to get a license plate from the vehicle Stroh used to escape, and the car was stolen. It's a," he removes a picture from the folder and hands it to her. I come over and stand beside her, hoping to ease her nerves, "2006 silver Chevy Impala. The owner reported it stolen almost a day before the murder. We put a BOLO out and an APB as well."
"Good Buzz, good." She hands me the photo, her hands shaking slightly, "Any news on the previous victims?"
"Morales finished up with them last night." Sykes offers, "But he was acting weird. Wouldn't tell me what he found."
Sharon and I both glance at Provenza and he rolls his eyes theatrically. Who would have thought Morales could keep a secret? Louie must have told him about Sharon and I, and in order for us to investigate this case, they need to know the truth. I look to Sharon and she nods, pulling her lips into her mouth. She wasn't Darth Raydor right now, she wasn't even the Captain. She was Sharon, and a very emotional one at that.
"Let me do this." I whisper in her ear and she reluctantly shakes her head.
"No. They won't question it coming from me. And it's time they knew why Stroh is doing this."
"Fine." I rub my forehead, frustrated at the situation that stood before us, "But I'm standing up there with you."
She offers me a warm look, and that's how I know I'm doing the right thing, that we're doing the right thing by telling them this. They should've all been told sooner, but everything started happening so fast that it was hard to keep up. Things were gradually returning to normal -or at least this new sense of normal- and we all need to be willing to adapt to these changes. The team is no exception.
"Excuse me," Sharon clears her throat, walking cautiously towards the murder board. Everyone looks up at us expectantly as she clears her throat again, "Lieutenant Flynn and I have some information that is relevant to the Stroh case." She pauses for a moment and looks to me as Julio hesitantly raises his hand.
"Uh, ma'am, how did you get this information?"
"Well, Julio," her eyes fall to the floor, "you are all aware that the first victim resembled me, correct?" Provenza nods and Sykes mumbles a "yes, Captain." before Sharon continues, "The second victim resembled Lieutenant Flynn, and a startling piece of evidence was found at the scene."
"Just tell them already!" Provenza grumbles and I shoot him a glare, "I'm sorry, please continue, Captain."
"The man that we identified as Andrew Carnegie had an engagement ring in his pocket." She begins toying with her fingers nervously and I reach out to squeeze her elbow.
The whole team is focused on me now and I clear my throat, shaking my head as I look to them, "What the Captain is trying to say is that Stroh is profiling these victims based off of our relationship."
"Lieutenant, your relationship?" Sykes asks hesitantly.
"Yes, Amy, Lieutenant Flynn and I are engaged." She pauses for a moment, both of us looking to the surprised faces around us, "And our withholding of that information has obstructed the investigation of a very high-profile case. Now that all of the information we have has been brought to light, we can focus on locating and identifying this boy. Thank you everyone." She nods and starts towards her office when Buzz's voice echoes through the murder room.
"Congratulations, Captain." She turns and offers him a small smile, "And Lieutenant."
"Thank you, Buzz." She nods, "But right now we have a missing boy to find. Everyone back on task, please."
"Yes Captain." I give a mock salute as I head to my desk.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." She smiles, her eyes locking with mine, an air of happiness washing over her features, "This is time sensitive, let's go!"
She flees to her office and shuts the door, the team's eyes still locked on me.
