Andy POV

"She said no."

I looked up from my monitor to where my partner was lurking next to my desk. He just came from Sharon's office, where he suggested having a unit sit on her building.

"You thought she wouldn't?" I replied.

I knew the answer before he even went in there. It didn't matter that Tao found evidence of Diaz doing repeated slow-rolls for weeks. She likes her privacy, and in spite of what happened with Wade Weller, she still feels safe in her building.

"I thought she was smart," he grumbled. "But apparently she thinks having you around is enough."

"She doesn't need me," I deflected. "She can take care of herself."

"Of course she can, Flynn, but I've got a bad feeling about this."

I know what he means.

I've got a bad feeling, too, and I'd be a lot more concerned about her decline of security if I weren't going to be there.

We've beaten the bushes so hard looking for Diaz that surely someone has told him about us, so he has to know we know his identity. He also has to know by now that none of his games have worked. So what does that mean his next step will be? His wife seemed to think he's fairly obsessed with taking Sharon down, and since everything he's done so far has failed, I'm worried that he'll take things to the next level.

And just because I have the utmost confidence in her ability to handle any situation doesn't mean I want her to have to do it alone.

"I'm going to send Sanchez and Sykes over there, as soon as she leaves," Provenza stated, his determination catching me by surprise.

I looked at him questioningly, and he shrugged and said, "What? You finally found someone who can tolerate you, so we should make sure nothing happens to her."

Only Provenza can twist caring and sarcasm and insult into one simple statement.

I nodded my agreement, smirking at him as I said, "Let me leave first, so they don't see my car."

He rolled his eyes and went back to his desk, but I know he'll do as I said. Not that I care if Sanchez sees me, but Sykes still doesn't know. Although I could probably bend Sharon over a desk in the murder room and Sykes would still be clueless. She's a sharp detective, but when it comes to personal observations, she's a little slow.

Sharon came out of her office a few minutes later, her jacket over her arm and her purse on her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Captain," Sykes spoke up, her tone perky and full of adoration. I used to think she was just ass-kissing all the time, but I've come to realize she actually idolizes Sharon, like that's who she wants to be when she grows up. I can't say as I blame her.

I shut down my computer as Sharon said goodnight to everyone, so that as soon as she's gone, I can go, too. Funny that we used to take the elevator down together, and walk to our cars, but that was before we started sleeping together.

Seems like so long ago.

I can't imagine my life anymore without Sharon in it. She's just so…exactly what I need.

Last night, it took every bit of my fledgling confidence in our relationship to ignore her suggestion that I leave. Honestly, if that scenario had happened a couple of weeks ago, I probably would've left. I would've taken it personal, thinking she didn't want me around.

"Just go, Andy. Before I say something I can't take back."

That's what she said to me, and at first, I felt like I couldn't breathe, but then I realized that she didn't trust herself to be angry around me, and she was past the point of being able to control it.

But I didn't want her to control it. I wanted her to let down her guard and let me see all of her, the good and the bad.

So I took a chance, and I put my arms around her as I told her I wasn't going anywhere, and that was all it took. She relaxed against me and started to open up about how she was feeling, and it wasn't long before I had her smiling again.

I love that I can do that for her, and I love that she trusts me enough to let me.

"Flynn," Provenza said sharply, and when I looked up, he was conspicuously gesturing towards the door. It's been two seconds since Sharon left, and I have every intention of making a hasty exit, so I don't need my partner yelling at me, especially when it caused Tao and Sykes to turn and look at me questioningly.

"Don't you have that thing to get to?" my partner asked, almost making it worse with his lame attempt at being casual.

"Yeah, sir," Sanchez added, barely suppressing a smile. "You don't want to be late for the thing."

I rolled my eyes at him as I grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair and headed for the exit. I have no doubt Sanchez and Sykes will be less than five minutes behind me, and that's fine. I actually think it's a good idea for them to be outside the building, and not so much because I think Diaz will try to break in, but more because if he does another drive-by, they'll be there to grab him.

He'd be crazy to do it, since the license plate recognition program is what got him into trouble last time so he has to know we'll use it again. But I think maybe he is crazy.

The drive home - and by home, I mean Sharon's place - took me almost twenty minutes, and during that time I let my mind wander back to this morning.

She woke up in such a great mood, smiling and fun. She seduced me into the shower with her, although honestly it never takes much more than a look from her to get my motor running. I didn't have nearly the staying power this morning that I would've liked, but it was most definitely quality time, and considering how often we make love, I think my body's holding up pretty good. I never thought I'd have such an active sex life at my age, but like I've said, I can't help myself around her. She's everything I've ever wanted, and then some.

It makes me wish I'd realized a long time ago how wonderful she is, but I'm sure as hell going to appreciate every minute I have with her now.

We finished showering together and then dried off and moved into the bedroom to get dressed.

"You called me sweetheart last night," she remarked as she buttoned her blouse.

I've found that I like watching her get dressed almost as much as I enjoy undressing her. Maybe because of the transformation that takes place, the shift from Sharon to the captain, and the fact that I love both personas.

"I did," I said with a smile. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Only if you do it in the murder room," she responded, bringing her eyes to mine and flashing me a mischievous smile. "Although it would be funny to see the look on Provenza's face."

"I think he's getting used to the idea of us," I said, and then I started chuckling, thinking about what he said the other night.

"What?" she asked, walking over to me and taking over the task of knotting my tie.

"I was just thinking of something he said, that night I took him out. You probably don't want to know," I teased.

"Too late now. I think you have to tell me."

"He said he was having trouble picturing Rulebook Raydor doing unspeakable acts with a subordinate."

"Oh my God," she murmured, dropping her head and shaking it slowly, and at first I thought she was upset by it, but then I realized she was laughing. "He really said that? Unspeakable acts? What exactly is it that he thinks we do? What have you been telling him?"

"Nothing," I said as I buried my hands in her hair and tipped her head up. "Just, you know…favorite positions…the dirty things you say in bed…"

"Andy!" she objected, shoving at my chest, but she was still laughing, so I didn't let her go.

"I'm kidding," I promised, taking in the way she was looking at me, and the sparkle in her eyes, and how she leans into me, going up on her toes to kiss me. I love all of that.

"You'd better be."

"Or what?"

"Try me and find out," she warned, the playful look still in her eyes. I won't, of course, because I'm not about to give Provenza any details, but it might prove interesting to tease her about it.

I pulled into the parking garage and found a place in the visitor's section, which is along the backside, furthest from the lobby doors. Last night, I was able to use Rusty's spot, but he was getting his car back today, so I'm once again relegated to the back lot.

Not a big deal, though, and certainly better than where I used to park my car.

In my driveway. Outside my place.

Where I lived alone.

Yeah, life is pretty good these days.

I cut off the engine and got out of the car, locking it up and then heading for the other side of the lot, and that's when I heard someone talking.

"I don't get it. After everything - everything - you're still working. Nothing has changed!"

I could hear the voice echo throughout the parking garage, and it took a second for it to register.

Actually, it took hearing Sharon's voice before the reality of the situation hit me full force.

"That's because I haven't done anything wrong," she said, her voice calm and accommodating, like she's in negotiator mode.

Are you kidding me? The guy actually showed up here? He really is crazy, and that thought scares me because it means he's playing by his own rules now.

Fear and adrenaline rolled through me as I toed off my shoes and went around the corner, ducking down behind a car to keep from being seen, and then I took stock of the state of affairs.

They were twenty yards away from me, and only five feet apart, each with weapon drawn and pointed at the other.

Thank God she wore pants today, so her gun was clipped to her waistband instead of in her purse.

But the fact that she's got a gun pointed at her chest is almost debilitating for me. At that distance, it doesn't matter that he's only got a twenty-two, and he sure as hell won't miss, should he decide to take her out, and a wave of nausea and helplessness flood through me for a moment, but then I forced myself to get a grip and think rationally.

It's a twenty-two single action revolver and it's not cocked. In the time it takes him to thumb down the hammer, she'll shoot.

But then I looked at Sharon's weapon. Did she get the safety off as she drew it, or is it still on? I can't tell from this distance, although the gun is steady in her hand, so I think she must be good to go.

"Of course not," Diaz scoffed. "Miss perfect police captain. You probably haven't broken a single rule since you entered the academy. Instead you sit in judgment of everyone around you. Who are you to decide what's right and wrong?"

I drew my gun and clicked off the safety and then pulled out my cell phone.

Sanchez answered on the first ring.

"How far away are you?" I whispered.

"Two minutes. Why?"

I explained the situation as quickly and quietly as possible and then shoved my phone back in my pocket. Sharon was still talking to him, doing a great job at stalling for time, and I'm guessing she knows that I'm either here, or almost here, but at the moment, I don't have a good shot at him - obviously, or I probably would've already pulled the trigger - because my angle makes her vulnerable to a through-and-through, so I began working my way between the cars, trying to get around closer to where she's standing, which is near the lobby door.

"What do you hope to get from this?" she was asking him. "You want me…what, suspended? Fired? For the purpose of what? How is that going to help you?"

"I want you to feel how I feel," he snapped back, and I don't like the way his gun hand is so unsteady, or how his thumb is now resting on the hammer. I mean, sure, she's aiming at him, too, but a split second is all it takes. I wish she'd just shoot him. "I want you to have your life turned upside down…to have everything you love taken away from you. That's what you did to me."

"I'm not responsible for what happened to your daughter. It was a terrible tragedy, but it was no one's fault except Eric Riley."

"He deserved to die for what he did!"

"Maybe so," she agreed. "But that wasn't your decision to make."

"But I didn't kill him!" he shouted, and I can tell that's part of what's really bugging him.

I think maybe he wanted to do it so badly that having someone else beat him to it was a debilitating blow. And then to still be punished for planning to do it…I mean, I get why he's upset. Not with Sharon, but with life in general.

But I'm not about to let him take it out on her.

I was almost to the car parallel with Sharon by this point, so I eased towards the front of it, so that I could look around the bumper. I carefully maneuvered in a crouched position, keeping my head below the windows, and that's when I heard the lobby door open.

"Rusty!" Sharon called out in alarm at the sight of him stepping into the garage.

"Oh, hey, I just left my…"

He stopped cold when he realized the situation he'd stumbled into, and Diaz seemed unsure about where to point his gun, so it was somewhere in the space between the two of them, and I figured that was the best time to make my move, so I stood to my full height and set my sights on Diaz, center mass.

"It's over, Diaz. Put the gun down," I ordered.

He glanced at me in surprise, and then hesitated briefly before cocking the hammer and looking back at Rusty, and then it seemed like everything slowed down to a crawl as Diaz shifted his aim to the kid and at the same time, Sharon lunged forward, catching Diaz around the waist and taking him down to the ground. A gun went off, hers or his I couldn't be sure, and I vaulted over the hood of the car, racing to where the two of them were scrambling for control.

"Get down!" I shouted to the kid without looking in his direction, and then I could hear footsteps and yelling as Sykes and Sanchez came barreling through the garage.

Sharon was on top of Diaz, with her hand around his wrist, trying to wrestle the gun from him, and as I reached them, I stepped on his forearm just as he finally relinquished his grip.

"Don't move!" Sanchez was saying as he and Sykes surrounded us, and I kicked the gun out of the way and then put mine back in its holster. Sharon moved off Diaz, getting out of the way to let her detectives take over.

"Turn over and put your hands behind your back!" I heard Sanchez shout as he forced Diaz to follow his direction. Sykes put on the cuffs while Sanchez held him still, and then they hauled him to his feet and Sykes began reading him his rights.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I knelt down next to Sharon. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest, and I'm trying to look her over everywhere all at once for any signs of blood or injury, and basically, I'm just completely freaking out.

"I'm okay. Rusty?" she asked as she started to get up. I hopped to my feet and then took her hands and pulled her up.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I heard him say from over near the door.

She looked in his direction, presumably to confirm he was unhurt and then her eyes locked on mine as she exhaled with relief.

Diaz was mumbling complaints, but Sanchez told him to shut up and then looked at Sharon and said, "That was a hell of a tackle, ma'am."

She flashed him an acknowledging smile, but she still looks shaky, and all I want to do it take her in my arms, and I'm so glad this whole crazy situation is finally over.

She must be, too, because as I stood there debating over whether or not she'll be mad if I hug her in front of Sykes, she stepped up to me and put her arms around me, holding me tight. We stood there like that for a long minute, and then she moved away and turned to Sanchez, who was patiently awaiting instruction.

"We need to call this in," she stated smoothly, and I love how it seems that the brief contact with me has centered her. "Andy, you should go with Julio. Get Diaz processed and put him in holding overnight. Amy, you stay here and take charge of the scene."

Smart decision, considering our relationship. We don't want any hint of cover-up or bias, anything that might keep Diaz out of jail.

"Me?" Sykes questioned, glancing over at me. "But shouldn't Lieutenant Flynn…"

See what I mean? I'm here…we were hugging. And she's still clueless.

"It'll be good practice for you," I said, patting her on the shoulder.

I started walking towards Sanchez, who was leading Diaz out, and I looked back at Sharon to find her watching me. I hate leaving her, but she looks steady.

In fact, she looks downright triumphant.

I love you, I mouthed to her, and when she smiled in return, I gave her a wink and then turned to go.

TBC...