After Andy's birthday, Sharon was glad for an upcoming weekend. Time to clear her head, that was what she needed. All of that, of course, the idea she'd have time to clear her head, ended with yet another case.
"Captain, we have multiple dead, dropped off at the hospital," Provenza told her. "This case, it smells; something is off."
Sharon didn't have a good feeling after that either, and as the case proceeded, she realized her gut instinct, as well as Provenza's was correct. The team returned from the airport, what should have been a simple apprehension of a suspect, but it wasn't that easy, nor apparently that safe. Sharon always counted as the team entered, making sure they had all returned safely. It was silly, really, but it had become a habit over the years. It reminded her when the kids were little, and as mostly a single parent, she would constantly count the two of them to make sure she had eyes on them. As she thought back to that, Sharon realized she still did it now, even with three grown children. She'd done it the last time all three had been home, and they had gone to the movies. That seemed unnecessary, but still it was an instinct. That motherly instinct, she suppose that is what it was, continued into her current job where she was always sending her team out into potentially dangerous situations. This time, as she looked up she noted the team looked off. She hadn't gotten a report of anything off during their return, just a text from Amy that they were headed back to the office. That was a little unusual; usually, Andy let her know that, but obviously, things on that front were strained. So, she knew the team was in transits and assumed all was well. She started her count: one-Buzz, two-Mike, three-Julio, four-Amy, five-Provenza, and six-where was Andy? She waited, expecting that he'd made a stop, either the restroom or for a cup of coffee, but after a few minutes, and no Andy, she stood to find out what was going on with the situation. It was also a bit odd Provenza had not already stopped in her office to update her on their suspect.
"Where's Andy?" she asked as she walked into the room. She scanned it quickly, making sure she hadn't missed his entrance from a different direction.
Somehow, whatever Provenza said was blurry to her; she didn't hear it all, just something about a dust up and doctor. She tried making eye contact with the rest of the team, and Sharon knew it was more than Provenza was letting on when no one would make eye contact with her.
"Why didn't he call?" she turned to look at the team, a little irritated. She frowned when Provenza held up his phone. That was not like Andy; he always had his phone on him.
"He's going to be fine," Provenza sighed as he shook his head at her. "Let's focus," and she again, knew he continued to talk, but her mind went blank. Andy had not returned with the team; he always returned with the team. The team was just that, a team, and they stuck together. She couldn't lose it, not now; they did have a case, and as his boss, because that is what she was, she had to focus. She would get an update on Andy, from Andy, when there was one. She continued to tell herself she would be this concerned had it been any member of the team; she was just doing her job as a boss.
She didn't have to wait long because Andy returned an hour later. He looked awful, and whatever had happened, it was worse than Provenza had told Sharon. She had been looking at something at Mike's desk when he entered the room. Mike nudged Sharon, and she glanced up, and she knew without a mirror, that her face had turned white. She stood and moved across the room quickly.
"Andy, you look awful. Go, have a seat," she nodded to him, glad when he walked toward her office. She looked to Provenza, and he shrugged.
"Lieutenant, we will discuss later that you didn't give me an accurate report on his condition," she said across the room.
"Captain," he sighed, "that was all Flynn. He didn't want to worry you. I tried to change his mind."
"He did, Ma'am," Julio nodded. "We all did, but he wanted to deal with things on his own."'
Sharon pursed her lips. She guessed she had that coming, the blurred lines between professional and personal. As the incident commander, Provenza had handled it as he deemed necessary, and while he hadn't been exactly upfront when they returned, he had reported to her, as she'd had to do with Taylor on things. She sighed and shook her head; she could feel a headache forming. "Lieutenant, please let Chief Taylor know. I suspect he's going to want to be part of this update, as will you," she nodded to him and started to her office. Provenza nodded at her and picked up his phone to call Taylor.
Sharon opened her side office door, walked in, and then she closed it. The main door was still open, which was fine as she expected Provenza and Taylor momentarily. Andy looked pitiful; he was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, and she could tell he was in pain. As she walked behind her desk, Andy opened his eyes at the sound of the door and the movement. He gave her a slight frown.
"Before Provenza and Taylor get here, want to tell me why this didn't warrant a call?" she asked.
He sighed and immediately grimaced in pain. She had just pulled her chair up and sat down, and at the sight of him in pain, she started to stand again. He caught her movement, and he raised his hand to stoop her. "I'm fine," he told her.
"You're not fine," she said, rather sharply.
"It was a stupid thing. I was thrown from the car as I tried to stop her. I'll be okay," he explained.
"Thrown from the car! Andy, you aren't 25; you aren't even 45! What were your thinking?" Sharon asked.
He raised an eyebrow at her, "I was thinking a suspect was going to get away if she wasn't stopped. Do I wish things had turned out differently? Of course! Story of my life, especially lately, but it is what it is," he sighed and sank back into his seat. He grimaced as he shifted again.
"What meds did they give you? I'm guessing you wouldn't take most of what they offered," she stated.
He just nodded, "Basic stuff, but it's not helping much."
Sharon glanced up to see Taylor walking toward her office, and then Provenza, when he saw Taylor, stood and followed him. Soon, they were all gathered in Sharon's office.
"Flynn, you don't need to be here," Taylor told him.
"Chief, I was just getting an account of the events from him, and yes, I agree with you," Sharon explained to Taylor. "Andy, we are going to send you home. We'll get someone to take you home."
Andy rolled his eyes, but he sat back in his chair as he listened and explained the situation. When the decision had been made for him to go home, Taylor and Provenza went on their way. Sharon stood to get back to work, and she had pity on Andy when she saw him start to stand too.
"Sit down,"she said quietly as she put her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her and started to say something, but he stopped himself, nodded, and he sat down again. She noticed he grimaced in pain again. "Stay here, and I'll get someone to take you home."
Andy just nodded, which told Sharon he was in a great deal of pain. He always had something smart to say about any situation, and the fact he was so quiet, Andy was in pain. The case progressed so quickly that Sharon didn't have a moment to stop and deal with Andy. At each moment she thought she could stop and address Andy's need to go home, the case took a turn, and she couldn't stop to address his needs. It was when she and Provenza were speaking to the limo driver again that Andy collapsed, or he almost did. Thankfully, the driver noticed Andy's odd behavior through the blinds, and Sharon was able to catch him while Provenza called for an ambulance.
"Mike, would you please go with Andy to the hospital?" she asked as the paramedics were assessing him. Mike had given the medical information to the paramedics, and Sharon knew he was the best one to send in this situation. They were about to close the case; someone needed to go with Andy, and in this moment, she needed key people for the case. Provenza needed to obtain the warrant and run the home search. Buzz was needed for that too with his camera. As for the other three, she only needed two to go with Provenza, and since Mike had the most medical knowledge, she asked him to go with Andy. Besides that, she was tired of not getting the full story, and she knew Mike would at least give her that, if not too much information.
"Sure, Captain," he told her. "I'll call you with an update when I know anything."
"Thank you," she said and walked over to the stretcher where they were just checking Andy before they took him out.
"I think I remember another incident where I sent you off in an ambulance," she said to him, not sure what else to say.
He grunted and sighed, "How is it that I feel almost worse now than I did when I was stabbed?"
"Probably shock," she sighed. "Then, you were in shock and passed out. Now, you are just too stubborn for your own good and came back to work instead of going home to rest."
"I've always been stubborn," he said.
"Hmm, yes, I've noticed," she agreed and crossed her arms. She looked to the paramedic while Provenza gathered Andy's jacket and wallet, both items had been dropped by his desk. "Mike is going to go with you, and he'll update us on things. I can call Nicole if you like."
"Ahh, no," he shook his head and grimaced. "She's out of town, a conference for work. I don't want to bother her, either of the kids. Neither are here to do anything, and I don't want them to worry. I'm sure I'll be okay. I'm just in pain, and my ribs are killing me."'
"Fine, I won't call Nicole, but do not give instructions to Mike to hide what is really going on," she looked to him sternly.
"Fine," he sighed. "I just didn't want you to worry; I didn't want anyone to worry."
"Yet, here we are," Sharon frowned.
"Captain, we're going to head out now," the paramedic looked to her. Sharon nodded, and they wheeled Andy away with Mike following. Provenza walked up to her as they left.
"He's going to be fine," Provenza told her as he patted her shoulder. She nodded. "Hard to not worry, I know," he nodded. "Let's finish the case, and you and I can head to the hospital to check on the idiot."
Three hours later with the case closed and paperwork to be done in the morning, Sharon and Provenza sent the team home for the night and drove to the hospital. He followed her, which was almost a relief; she didn't want to ride in the car and discuss Andy with anyone. Mike had updated them often; Andy had been sent for more tests, and it looked like he would be released.
"Mike, how is he?" Sharon asked as she and Provenza walked up to him at the entrance. Provenza had called Mike as they were arriving, and Mike had agreed to meet them at the door.
"He's doing okay," Mike explained. "The doctor is concerned about his ribs, and his breathing is a little off, but that would be from the ribs too. He said initially he didn't have a concussion, but that might be questionable."
"Mike, is he going to live?" Provenza ended the detailed report and looked to him.
Mike patted Provenza's arm, which caused Provenza to glare at him, "Your partner in crime will make a full recovery, no worries." Mike gestured down the hall, "He's this way, and he's just ready to go home. He's been, well," he shrugged, "less than pleasant."
"Well, that's nothing new," Provenza huffed. Sharon chuckled as she shook her head. The three arrived at the bay where Andy was still being worked up in the ER. He looked to all of them.
"Oh, please tell me I've been released and can go home. Wait, did you solve the case?" Andy asked.
"Flynn! Stop talking and just rest. None of us want to be here tonight," Provenza complained. Jus then the doctor walked back in the area.
"Ahh, Mr. Flynn," he said as he studied the paperwork. The doctor glanced up at the group now gathered. "Hi, I need to speak to my patient here for a moment."
"Doc," Andy waved, "it's fine. We all work together. Can I go home now?"
"You need supervision and really some basic care. I'm concerned about you being on your own, and you told me you live alone," he stated.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Nothing I can't handle," he grimaced as he shifted in the bed. The doctor turned to the three.
"I'd really like to send Mr. Flynn home with someone, that, or he's going to need to stay here overnight for observation. I'm not comfortable sending him home alone tonight."
Andy looked to Provenza quickly. "Don't look at me!" Provenza exclaimed. "You've been listening to my rants the past few days about Patrice remodeling the guest room. Right now, there is no guest room. There's a room with four or five paint samples painted on the walls. She got rid of my college bedroom set and said we were going to update. I have nowhere for you to stay."
Andy closed his eyes and sighed. "He can stay with me," everyone heard Sharon say quietly. They all turned to her, and she shook her head. "I'm not going to let him stay here overnight. Doctor, he can stay at my place. I'll have Rusty there to help as well," she nodded to Provenza and Mike.
"Captain, I can call my wife and figure out something," Mike offered as he started to pull out his phone.
"Mike, no, really, it's fine," Sharon waved him off with one hand. She looked to Andy, "I think we can be adult enough to get through the evening?"
"Captain, last thing we need is to respond to a domestic issue," Provenza sighed and looked to her.
"Lieutenant," she offered a forced smile, "thank you, but Andy needs a place to stay, and we would all like to see him on the road to recovery and back to work." She turned to the doctor, "Doctor, he can stay at my home with my son and me. Please let me know what instructions you have."
Ten minutes later, Sharon stepped out of the room to alert Rusty to their bed and breakfast situation. She was relieved when Rusty volunteered his room. She had wanted to ask him, but she knew it was asking a lot. After she got off the phone with Rusty, she took a deep breath before turning to go back in the room. It was one night; she could handle Andy at the condo for one night. Provenza and Mike had already offered to follow her home to get Andy upstairs. After that, it was just a few hours. Andy needed care and supervision for a few hours, and she'd survived worse.