A/N Tag to episode 5.20 Shockwave: Part One. No beta all mistakes are mine.

The chill settled deep in Sharon's bones despite the sheet and blanket surrounding her. She longed to feel not only his warmth, but the rugged weight of his body against hers. Yet, the last thing she wanted to do was wake him. He was already worried enough and if she sought him out in the middle of the night, he would know that she really wasn't fine. The tightness in her chest and the ache in her shoulder more than reminded her how lucky they all had been.

It was well after midnight when they finally settled into bed after a very long shower. It took several washings for Andy to get all the soot and grime out of her hair. But she didn't mind, the magic of his fingers against her scalp made her forget for just a little while, what they had been through in the last ten hours. Sleep came quickly for both; but as usual after an hour or so, she was now wide awake, unable to shut down the thoughts swimming through her mind. She wished, more often than not that she had Andy's knack for sleeping.

She shivered again, unable to shake the deep chill. With a soft groan, she rolled to her right, hoping she could settle against the contented warmth of his body without waking him. Instead of finding the solid warmth she longed for, she was surprised to find the space next to her empty and cold. With another muffled groan, she sat up, wincing at the stiffness in her arms and shoulders. She could only count on one hand the number of times Andy had gotten out of bed in the middle of the night and each of those times had been to look for her. After sitting on the edge of the bed for a few moments, she pushed herself up; the deep breath she attempted burned through the unfamiliar tightness in her chest. Tugging on Andy's oversized pajama top covering her, Sharon made her way into the bathroom, flipping on the light above the vanity as she went. The door to the hallway was closed, the lights instantly felt too bright and for just a few seconds she felt dizzy. Steading herself on the vanity, she closed her eyes waiting for the feeling to pass. After twisting her hair up into a messy bun, she took a few more minutes to herself, deciding to check in on Rusty before going to look for Andy.

As she stepped into the hallway, she was surprised to find a sliver of light glowing from the partially opened door to Rusty's room, stepping closer she couldn't help but hear the low voices inside.

"I'm not mad at you Andy, I just don't understand…"

The deep sigh from the man she loved was unmistakable, for she has heard it many times. "Look Kid… your mother doesn't need me to be her protector at work. She's got that covered."

"I understand that, but…" the tone of Rusty's voice was nothing but understanding.

"But?" Andy coaxed.

"It took hours for her to get back from the cemetery and you…"

"Did exactly… what I was supposed to do." Andy's low voice interrupted him.

"Really?" Rusty countered. The sudden silence was deafening. Out in the hall, Sharon leaned heavily against the wall next to the doorway. "She could have died…" his voice was now but a whisper.

Andy ran his hands over his face, "I know."

Rusty stepped closer, "Do you?... because I'm not so sure."

Andy turned, no longer able to look at the kid, "god damn-it Rusty!" It had been a long time since Sharon had heard that tone in Andy's voice, she debated on going in and putting a stop to this nonsense, but Andy's next words stilled her. "Do you honestly believe I wanted to be stuck at PAB while she…" his voice broke. The silence that followed was excruciating. Sharon turned, leaning her forehead against the door facing, she fought to gain control of her emotions. When he spoke again, his voice was barely audible, "Regardless of what I wanted to do…I did exactly what your mother needed me to do…what I promised her, I would do…" Turning back, Andy's dark eyes met Rusty's, "My job… and making sure that you were okay." With another deep sigh, Andy sat heavily on the edge of Rusty's bed, the memories of what happened at the graveyard flooding through his mind. "How dare you think… that I wasn't…" he paused, unable to put words to turmoil boiling within him.

"I'm sorry…" Rusty hung his head, his words coming too fast, "Andy…I'm sorry! I, I…" he stammered. "Damn-it…I was just so scared!"

The anger and irritation now vacant from Andy's voice, "Me too, Kid. Me too."

Wiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks, Sharon slipped quietly back across the hall. Her hand absentmindedly moved between the buttons of Andy's shirt to rub at the tightness in her chest. Eyes closed, she leaned heavily against the vanity, as a round of coughs shook her entire body. The arm that slipped around her was solid and warm. She melted into firmness of his chest. "I've got you…I've got you," his voice soft against her bare neck. Her eyes drifted open once the coughs subsided to meet his dark eyes in the mirror. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough…" her hand slipped down over his. "Are you…"

His smile was soft, "I'm fine, Rusty's fine…we…are fine." She turned her head into to his chest as a single tear slid down her cheek. "You know…he…just loves you so much. And while his approach was off, he had every right to be worried. I really was surprised he didn't corner me earlier today. This balancing act we have going, is more difficult with Rusty spending so much time in the murder room." She slowly nodded her head. "Now, let's get you… back in bed." Stepping back, his hands moved to her shoulders, loosely guiding her into the bedroom.

Rolling her shoulders under his touch, "I'm not sure, I can go back to sleep."

"Would a massage help?"

With a low hum, she sat on the edge of the bed. Wasting no time, Andy kneeled in front of her, his fingers making quick work of the buttons on the shirt covering her. She shivered as the garment slipped from her shoulders. "Cold?" He ran his hands up and down her arms.

"That's why I came looking for you. I was so cold when I woke up…" she shrugged slightly before easing back on the bed with a soft groan.

"Okay?" the concern shown bright in his eyes.

"Only a little sore," she rolled to her stomach, "nothing your magic hands can't cure." Eyes slipping closed, she lay there a few moments before she felt the bed dip as Andy moved beside her. "Hmm, lavender…" she sighed.

"If I hurt you…"

"Shh…" she soothed. The oil was already warmed somewhat by his hands as he started just below her hairline, working his way down her neck to her shoulders. "Andy?" her voice startled him and he quickly lifted his hands into his lap. She rolled slightly to her side, her hand coming to rest on his knee, "You're not going to hurt me… I promise, I'm fine." She rolled back to her stomach.

He gazed at her for a few moments, his eyes tracing the smattering of freckles down the milky skin of her back until they disappeared under the waist band of her pale pink boy shorts. He had long before memorized every inch of her, from the firm swell of her bottom leading down to her long, perfect legs. Shifting beside her, he carefully straddled her hips, his hands finally finding purchase against her shoulder blades as a contented sigh escaped her. His hands were magical as they soothed and kneaded the tense muscles of her shoulders and upper back. He scooted backward, now straddling her upper thighs, giving him better leverage against her lower back. She stifled a groan when his fingers met an area just below her ribcage on her right side. "Okay?" concern evident in his voice.

"Hmm…just a little tender right there."

Leaning down, he carefully peppered the tender area with kisses before moving his hands back to her shoulder blades. Using one finger, he traced a firm path down the center of her back sending a shiver through her. She arched into him, her bottom brushing against his already hardening desire for her. "Shh…shit," he moaned. She twisted beneath him, leisurely rolling to her back. Their eyes met in the pale light of the bedside lamp, desire filling both green and brown. His hands moved to her breasts, kneading her soft mounds, her pebbled nipples shone in the light from the oil still on his hands.

She reached out, palming him over his pajama bottoms. "Andy…please."

"I…I…" he stammered, shaking his head.

"We'll take it slow," she reassured him, while her grip tightened around him.

Slow was one of Andy's favorite things, it gave him the opportunity to give her the attention he felt she deserved. Taking his time, he kissed and worshipped her beautiful body until she shattered beneath him, pulling him over the edge a few moments behind her. Now some two hours later, Andy listened to the rhythmic sounds of her breathing as she slept curled against him, her hand tightly fisting his grey t-shirt just below his heart. Sleep had quickly claimed her and for that Andy was grateful. Exhaustion and fear settled deep within him; yet, sleep refused to come. He could have lost her today and it wasn't until now, in the darkness of their bedroom with the weight of her sleeping body pressed against him that he paid the cost of keeping his promise to her.

A/N2: Only one chapter left. Many, many thanks to everyone who has supported this story. I already have an AU Shandy story in the works but I would be interested in hearing what you want to see next. PM me or just leave in your review. Thanks again everyone!