DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, except for Matthew and Moxie. The rest of them belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.
A/N: Well everyone, we have come to the last chapter of this story. However, a new story, Sidelined, will pick up right where this one ends. I hope you have enjoyed reading this story and continue to read the next one!
Chapter 21
When he got to Matthew's school, Andy pulled into the parking lot and parked his car. He then got out and walked into the school. As he stepped inside, he heard a commotion coming from the hallway and saw two students fighting. "Hey!" Andy yelled out and then a teacher came out of the room and tried to break up the fight.
Andy ran over to the area and saw that one of the kids was Matthew. "Matthew?" Andy yelled at the boy as he helped the teacher pull the two kids apart. "Oh I see your dad is here now to rescue you, Matty," the other kid spat out. "Hey! Show some respect," Andy shouted back to the kid as he pulled Matthew to the side of the hall.
Andy looked over Matthew but only saw a cut on his lip. "What happened?" he asked him as the other teacher and now the principal rushed over to the area. "Lieutenant Flynn," Principal Gottardo stated as she came up to both of the kids. "What exactly happened here?" she asked the two boys who were separated.
"Sorry Mrs. Gottardo," they both said in unison. "Fighting in school is not allowed. Billy, I'm going to call your parents," she told him but just then, Billy's dad walked into the school to pick him up. "Hey what's going on here?" his father asked. "Your kid was beating up my kid when I got here not five minutes ago," Andy told the other father. "Is that true Billy?" his father asked him. "Yes," Billy answered quietly. "We are really sorry about this. It won't happen again. Is your son okay?" the father asked Andy. Andy looked at Matthew who was now sitting on a chair in the hallway and had his head down.
"Lieutenant, if I could have a word with you and Billy's father for a second, please," Mrs. Gottardo stated and then walked away from the boys. "I'll be right back," Andy turned to Matthew and told him before he joined the principal and the other father. Matthew stared at the other kid. Billy was in 7th grade but he stayed after school like Matthew so that's how they interacted.
"Fighting is not tolerated in this school, period," Mrs. Gottardo stated to them. Andy looked at her and then at the other boy's father. "Now, both Matthew and Billy will have to serve a punishment. For 1 week, they will be held inside my office during lunch and recess," she continued. "Matthew was just defending himself, I'm sure. He wouldn't start a fight," Andy stated. "Oh, so you're saying my kid started this?" Billy's father jumped in.
"Gentlemen, please. Regardless of who started the fight, they were both caught fighting with each other. As their parents, I will need you to sign a paper acknowledging the fact that they were fighting and that you are aware of the punishment," she stated to them and they both nodded in acknowledgment.
'This is not what Sharon needs right now' Andy thought to himself as he signed the paper and handed it back to the principal. The other father noticed that Andy had his badge clipped to his belt when he turned around. "You a cop?" the father asked him as they both walked back to the area where the boys were sitting with the teacher. "Yeah," Andy muttered and then gestured for Matthew to get his things so they could go home.
They left the school and walked back towards the car. Andy held the door open for Matthew who didn't say a word as he got in the back seat. He then shut the door and went around to the driver's side, getting in and starting the car. "Mind telling me what that was really all about?" he turned around to face Matthew. Matthew didn't say anything. "Because when I tell your mom about this, it's not going to go well," Andy added as Matthew looked out the window.
"He was making fun of me," Matthew finally muttered as Andy watched him. "What did he say?" he asked. "He kept teasing me about being adopted and how my real parents didn't want me and that I was adopted because you felt sorry for me," Matthew started crying and Andy hung his head. He got out of the car and went into the back seat to sit next to Matthew.
"You know that's not true at all, Matthew," Andy started to console his son but he kept crying. Andy pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Matthew to wipe his tears away. "How do you even know that kid, he's much older and bigger than you?" he asked him. "He's in the after school care, he's in 7th grade," Matthew muttered between tears.
Andy placed his arm around Matthew and they sat there in the back seat for a couple of minutes. "Matthew, how many times has your mom and I told you that fighting is not the answer," Andy broke the silence after Matthew wiped his tears away. "He pushed me first as I was getting a drink of water from the drinking fountain in the hallway," Matthew told him. "I went to get a teacher but then he started to make fun of me, calling me a tattle-tail and other names," he added.
"Okay, okay. Well, we're going to have to tell mom this, and for a week, you are going to be eating lunch and sitting in the principal's office for recess," Andy told him. "That's okay," Matthew muttered as he wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Alright, let me give mom a heads up and then we'll go home," Andy said and stepped out of the vehicle.
He called Sharon on his cell phone. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked her. "I'm sitting in the kitchen because Emily would only let me do certain things to help with dinner. Where are you?" Sharon asked him over the phone. "Just leaving Matthew's school now," he said and she looked at the clock in the kitchen. "Is everything okay?" she asked wondering.
"Well, when I walked in the school I saw two kids fighting in the hallway. I yelled out for them to stop and a teacher came out to break them apart. As I got closer, one of the kids was Matthew," Andy told her and then braced himself for her to start shouting into the phone.
"What!?" she shouted into the phone and Andy moved the phone back from his ear. "Hey, listen, calm down first. He's okay, just a little cut on his lip. The principal gave them both a punishment and I had to sign some paper acknowledging that, okay?" Andy said in a calm voice. "Okay," Sharon replied trying to keep herself calm.
"Now, Matthew just told me that the reason he was fighting with this boy, who by the way is in 7th grade and much bigger than him, is that this boy, named Billy, was making fun of him because he's adopted, and how his real parents didn't want him and that he was only adopted by us because we felt sorry for him," Andy explained to her.
Hearing Andy tell her that just broke her heart. Could that be why Matthew had been acting up lately? she thought. "I told him that wasn't true, but I think we are going to have to talk with him tonight, maybe after dinner, or before dinner if you want," he said and she nodded as she listened to him. She glanced over at Emily. "Okay, I'll see you in a bit," she told him. "Drive carefully," she added. "I will," he said and hung up his phone, putting it back in his pocket and then getting back into the driver's seat.
He glanced at Matthew in the rear view mirror and saw that he was now staring out the window, still holding the handkerchief in his hands. Andy started the car and drove them back home.
"What happened?" Emily asked her mom as she hung up her phone. "Matthew got into a fight at school, sounds like just as Andy was walking inside to pick him up," Sharon told her. "Wow, that's crazy!" Emily told her as she opened the can of vegetables and placed them in a saucepan and placed that on the stove. "Yeah, so," Sharon took a deep breath.
"Mom, you just need to remember that you are recovering, and you need to stay calm," she reminded her. "Of course I know that," Sharon stated as she sat there thinking of how they were going to handle this. "I told him over and over again that fighting is not the solution," Sharon added as Emily came over to sit at the table with her. "Maybe this will help in your decision to have him see Doctor Joe now," Emily suggested as they sat there.
Fifteen minutes later, Andy pulled the car up the driveway and parked inside the garage. "You okay buddy?" he looked at Matthew in the rear view mirror again and saw him with his head down. "Yeah," he mumbled and then undid his seat belt and grabbed his backpack. Andy got out of the car and went around to where Matthew was standing outside of the car.
Andy knelt down and looked at Matthew so that they were on the same eye level. "Hey, I want you to remember one thing, okay?" Andy started to tell him and Matthew nodded. "Your mother and I love you very much, and no matter what anyone else says to you, you are our kid, and nothing will change that," he told him and then gave him a hug.
Andy then stood up, using the car for support, and they both walked towards the back door of the house. Andy unlocked the door and Matthew stepped inside first, dropping his backpack off in the mud room before proceeding into the kitchen. Andy followed right behind him and as soon as they stepped inside, Sharon stood up and greeted them.
"Hi," she said to Matthew and he just stood there, not knowing what to say. He didn't want to look at her so his head was looking down instead. Sharon then glanced at Andy and then she returned her attention to Matthew. "Matthew? Can you look at me?" she asked him and Matthew raised his head to look at her. She saw that his lip was cut a little and there was some dried blood there.
"I'm sorry Mom," Matthew quietly muttered to her and Sharon held out her arms and he gave her a hug. "Oh Matthew," she whispered to him as she held him. "We need to talk," she told him as she glanced over at Andy who was still standing by the counter watching them.
"What time will dinner be ready?" Andy asked Emily who was still in the kitchen. "Maybe 10 more minutes?" she said as she checked the oven. "Why don't we go in the family room and talk, okay?" Andy ushered both Sharon and Matthew towards that room, leaving Emily in the kitchen.
Matthew and Sharon sat down on the couch and Andy sat down on one of the chairs closest to them. "Tell me what happened, first of all," Sharon said to Matthew as she looked at his face. "I went to the after school care like I normally do and sat down at one of the desks and started doing my homework," Matthew started to explain.
"Billy walked in with one of his friends and they sat down at the table across from where I was sitting," Matthew continued. "He was teasing me about being adopted but I ignored him and continued doing my homework. The teacher came over and spoke to Billy. After I was done with my homework, I went over to the library area in the room and was looking at a couple of books that I wanted to read. You know, trying to pass the time until Dad came to pick me up. Then I went outside for a drink of water from the water fountain and Billy followed me there," he added.
Sharon looked at him and then over at Andy with a sad expression on her face. She wondered how long this Billy had been bullying Matthew. "Matthew, did you ever have any other interactions with this kid? Maybe on the playground or something like that?" Sharon asked him. Matthew thought about it but his answer was no. "Then what happened?" she asked. "He pushed me first as I was getting a drink of water from the drinking fountain in the hallway," Matthew told him. "I went to get a teacher but then he started to make fun of me, calling me a tattle-tail and other names," he added
"He kept teasing me about being adopted and how my real parents didn't want me and that I was adopted because you felt sorry for me," he continued. "Oh Matthew, you know that is not true at all," Sharon wrapped right arm around Matthew and pulled him into her right side as they sat on the couch. "Your father and I love you very much. And you know your birth mother loved you very much as well, she did what she could do to give you a good life. We were very lucky to find you Matthew, and we wanted to take care of you," Sharon explained to him.
"I don't mean to interrupt but dinner's ready now," Emily cleared her throat and stood at the entrance to the family room. Andy looked over at her. "Thanks," he nodded and stood up, waiting for Sharon and Matthew to be ready.
"Come on, let's have some dinner and then I'll go over your homework with you and maybe even read you a bed time story, how's that?" Sharon asked Matthew as she shifted on the couch. Matthew nodded and started to stand up. "But, we are going to discuss why fighting is not the answer, after dinner," Sharon told him sternly and he nodded again.
Matthew went into the kitchen ahead of Andy and Sharon, while Andy waited for her. He walked over to her and gave her a hug. She sighed into his embrace and buried her head into his shoulder. "Seems like a lot of things at once, doesn't it?" Andy whispered into her ear and she nodded her head as he held her to him. "How are you doing?" he asked her as he rubbed her back. "I'm okay," she said but it was muffled by his shoulder.
Sharon pulled back after a tear started to fall and wiped her eye. "Let's go eat, and after we are done with everything tonight, I'm going to pamper you," Andy told her as he ran his hand along her jaw. She pursed her lips and then smiled. He gave her a smile and then held his hand out for her to grab and they walked into the kitchen together.
After they ate dinner, Sharon sat in the dining room with Matthew and went over his homework with him. Rusty had stopped by after he got out of work and was eating dinner in the kitchen. Emily kept him company while Andy joined Sharon and Matthew in the dining room.
"So how are things going in here?" he said as he sat down across the table from Sharon and Matthew. Sharon looked up at him and gave him a worried look. He then watched Matthew erase some of his answers with the pencil eraser and start over again. Andy reached his arm across the table and held out his hand for Sharon to take. He then rubbed his thumb over her hand as they waited for Matthew to be finished with his math problem.
Matthew showed the paper to Sharon and she looked it over. "Very good, now put this away," she handed him the paper and he placed it in his folder. "Do you have any other homework you need to do?" she asked and he looked at his assignment notebook. "No," Matthew answered and placed his book inside his backpack.
"Good, now we need to talk about fighting," Sharon told him and he turned around in his chair to listen to her. "Now what exactly did you do when your Dad was walking into the school?" Sharon asked Matthew. "Billy jumped on top of me and I was wrestling with him on the ground," Matthew answered quietly.
"Did you punch Billy?" she asked him. "No," he answered. "Did he punch you?" Andy asked him. Matthew shook his head no. "We were just wrestling and he was calling me names still and that's when the teacher came out and then I heard Dad yelling at us," Matthew stated. "How did you get your lip cut?" Sharon asked him as she brushed her finger across his bottom lip. Matthew shrugged his shoulders because he honestly didn't know how that happened.
"Dad tells me that you will be sitting in the principal's office for lunch and recess for the next week," Sharon told Matthew and he nodded. "I was defending myself," Matthew pleaded. "I know," Sharon said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "It was a bad situation and I'm sorry you found yourself in that," she added. "However, your father and I will both tell you that fighting, punching someone, or whatever the case may be, is not an option unless it is absolutely necessary," Sharon told him.
"But, don't you get into fights with people at work?" Matthew finally asked Andy after he paused a couple of seconds. Andy didn't know how to answer that question. "That's totally different, Matthew," Andy answered him. Matthew fidgeted in his chair. "How is that different?" he asked. "Well, sometimes the bad guys put up a fight, and in order to control the situation, yes, sometimes I fight back with them," Andy stated.
"So, here's what's going to happen," Sharon started to tell Matthew. "You will be serving your punishment from school at school, and when you come home, you will not be watching any TV," Sharon explained to him and he nodded. "Can I go to my room now?" Matthew asked. Andy and Sharon looked at each other. "Hang on one second buddy," Andy said as Sharon continued to tell Matthew what else was going to happen.
"There's one more thing we need to discuss," Sharon told him. "Matthew, we noticed that for the past couple of weeks, there has been something that's been bothering you. Now, we've asked you if everything was okay, and you said yes, but then we find out that you kept a big secret from us about your math test and now you got into a fight at school. We just want to know what it is that's troubling you," Sharon said and Matthew fidgeted with his hands.
"Do you remember Doctor Joe? You saw him when we first found you," Sharon told him, trying to see if he remembered him. Matthew nodded. "Yes, I remember him," Matthew muttered. "Well, your father and I think it would be good for you to talk to someone, other than us, about what's been going on with you," Sharon explained. "You want me to see a doctor?" he asked.
"Hey, Doctor Joe is here to help you, just like your mother and me. But, if you don't want to tell us, or maybe you think we don't understand, what's been going on with you, then Doctor Joe is the next best person," Andy tried explaining to him as he sat there. "Okay, so what can I do right now?" Matthew asked them. "Well, you could play with your toys in your room, or read a book, or hang out with your brother and sister, who are still in the kitchen," Sharon told him.
Matthew thought about it and then got up from his chair. "I'll go play with my toys in my room," he said and then he ran up the stairs. Moxie, who was laying down in the dining room, also got up and followed Matthew up the stairs.
Sharon let out a breath as she still sat there with Andy. "I'll call Doctor Joe tomorrow morning and see when he's available," she said to him. "It'll get better," he smiled, trying to reassure her. He then stood up from his chair and walked over to her. "Come on, I'm supposed to pamper you now," he winked and leaned down to kiss her. She hummed into his kiss. "And how are you going to do that?" she asked as he pulled away. "Oh, I'm full of surprises!" he smiled.
Andy poked his head in the kitchen where Emily and Rusty were sitting and talking. "We're going to head upstairs now. I want your Mom to relax a little, just make sure you guys clean up down here when you're done," he said to them. "We will Andy," Emily said and waved to her step-father. "How do you think Andy's going to get Mom to relax?" she asked Rusty as they sat there. "Ugh, I don't want to picture anything!" Rusty said in disgust and Emily just laughed.
"Ready?" Andy walked up to Sharon who was waiting in the hallway for him and she nodded. They both walked up the stairs and Sharon just wanted to make sure Matthew was okay. She saw him playing with his Batman figurines and the playset that went with them. She smiled and then turned around and followed Andy in to their bedroom.
"Now I know you can't soak in the tub with your stitches, but I thought you could sit on the edge of the tub and soak your legs and feet in the water," Andy explained as Sharon joined him in the bathroom. She looked around and saw candles and rose petals scattered throughout the bathroom. "Andy, when did you have time to do all of this?" she asked him as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"In between dinner and our talk with Matthew," Andy shrugged his shoulders. "Here, I have everything laid out for you to wear, I can help you undress and put these pair of shorts on," he told her as he shut the bathroom door. He did help her and once she was sitting on the edge of the tub, he lit all of the candles in the room.
"So, tell me what happened at work today," she asked as she sat there while he massaged her shoulders. "Andrea stopped by, those two dirt bags that shot at us and hit you pleaded guilty this morning so there'll be no trial," he explained to her as he rubbed his hands on a tender spot. "That's good news I guess," she responded and then closed her eyes. She let out a hiss as Andy massaged her shoulder.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Is this too much?" he rambled, stopping his hands and bending down to gauge her reaction. "I'm fine, Andy," she promised him as she looked at his eyes. "Just a little sore there," she assured him and he continued gently massaging her shoulders. He felt her relaxing into his hands.
Later on that evening, Sharon was lying in bed waiting for Andy to join her. He was in Matthew's room tucking him in bed. "Do you and Mom both want me to talk to Doctor Joe?" he asked him as he pulled the covers over him. Moxie jumped on the bed and laid down next to Matthew. "Well, I think it's a good idea to have someone to talk to, sometimes it helps," Andy told Matthew.
He looked at the kid and he seemed a little down. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with talking to someone either, okay? Your brother Rusty saw Doctor Joe for a long time, and he helped him," Andy said as Matthew hugged his Goofy stuffed animal. "When will I go see him?" Matthew asked as he yawned. "Mom has to call him and see when he's available. Now, get some rest," Andy told him and then turned on the lamp next to his bed and he shut off the overhead light as he made his way out the door.
Andy walked into their bedroom and closed the door behind him. He walked over to their bed and noticed that Sharon was laying on his side. It helped her sleep better if she laid there so he wasn't going to object. He climbed into bed and joined her. She snuggled close to him and he wrapped his arms around her, gently holding her. "Everything okay?" she asked him. "Yeah, Matthew's tucked in his bed and you're tucked in here with me," he whispered to her and she smiled.
"Emily's in her guest room and Rusty went to his place, so yes, everything is okay," he continued. Sharon settled in his arms and closed her eyes. "Good night," she whispered. "Good night," he kissed her head but he didn't fall asleep.
It was 3 o'clock the next morning when Andy's phone rang. He had reached over to answer it, waking Sharon up in the meantime. "Flynn," he said into his phone. "Andy, it's Tao, we got a dead body over in the Palisades, discovered by the owners of the house," Mike told him over the phone. Andy glanced over at Sharon who was now propped up on her right arm watching him. He rubbed his eyes. "Text the address to me, I should be leaving in 20 minutes," he told Mike and then hung up his phone.
Sharon swung her legs over the side of the bed and started to get up. Andy saw this as he was getting out of bed and went over to her side. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked as he rubbed his hand over his face. "I was going to help you get ready," she simply told him as she stood up from their bed and looked at him. She ran her hand through his hair and he smiled. "You need to get back into bed, Sharon," he told her as he ran his hand down her right arm.
"Doctor's orders," he spoke softly to her when she didn't budge. "The Doctor said I couldn't go to work, not that I couldn't help you get ready when you get called out to a crime scene," she ran her hand down his chest and his breath shuddered. "Commander, as your Lieutenant I must insist you get back into bed," he whispered to her and then gently took her in his arms and moved her back to sit on the bed.
"Fine," she finally conceded. "But, I want you to call me when you are done at the crime scene and tell me what is going on, deal?" Sharon was insisting on that part. Andy helped her get back into bed and pulled the covers over her. He leaned down and kissed her on her lips. "Maybe," he whispered as he pulled away and got himself dressed.
Once he was dressed and ready, he walked back over to Sharon, who was still awake and leaned down again to give her a kiss. "Be careful," she told him. "I will, now go back to sleep," he told her and then he left their bedroom. Andy made his way downstairs and grabbed his car keys. He then headed out the door and got into his car, driving away towards Pacific Palisades and the crime scene.
The End