The afternoon went by faster than Sharon thought it would. She was surprised to look at her watch and find that it was almost six. She looked out into the murder room, noticing that all of her team still sat at their desks. She should have known they wouldn't leave before her, not today. Leaning back in her desk chair she tried to straighten her shoulders, this sent a sharp pain through her upper back that almost took her breath away. Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, she counted backwards from five in her head trying to relax herself. It helped a little but not as much as she hoped. Leisurely she stood, a wave of dizziness washing over her. She placed her palms flat on her desk and leaned forward until the faintness passed. As Sharon walked out into the murder room, Andy turned in his chair sensing that she was near. She moved quietly to his side and even leaned against him slightly. It took all of his restraint not to slide his arm around her and pull her closer. But he knew better.

She cleared her throat, getting the attention of most of her team, "Let's all go home, it has been a long afternoon. We can start fresh in the morning."

"You heard the Captain," Provenza said as he stood, removing his jacket from the back of his chair. "Good night everyone."

After good nights were shared Sharon went back into her office and sat heavily in one of the chairs positioned at the front of her desk. This action did not go unnoticed by Andy who was just steps behind her. "You okay?" The worry and concern was evident in his voice.

"I just didn't expect to be this exhausted." Sharon looked up at him with a sad smile. "Take me home?"

Andy moved around to the back of Sharon's desk, retrieving her purse from the credenza. He checked to make sure her weapon was inside and then removed her jacket from the back of her chair. She stood carefully as he came back around the desk. He held her jacket open to her so she could slip it on. Shaking her head, "I'm too tired to put it on." Andy placed her purse and jacket on his arm, slipping his hand around her waist he moved her into his side as they walked slowly to the elevator. Once inside, Sharon stood in front of Andy, resting back against him. They rode in silence, both glad that today was behind them.

As the elevator opened in the parking garage, Assistant Chief Taylor stood waiting to ride it back up. "Lieutenant, Captain." He said curtly as he stepped on, passing Sharon and Andy as they stepped off.

"Have a good night, Chief." Andy replied as the elevator doors closed. Andy held tightly to Sharon as they walked to his car. He opened the passenger door and held her arm as she sat. He kneeled down and reached for her seat belt.

"Andy, I think I am capable of fastening my seat belt."

"Humor me," Andy grinned as he fastened it and then placed her purse on the floorboard beside her. He wisely took her jacket and placed it over her arms and hands knowing she would appreciate the warmth.

Softly, Andy closed her door. Walking around to the driver's side he pulled out his cell phone before cranking the car. "I thought I would order dinner from Franco's if that sounds okay to you?"

Sharon had shifted in her seat, pulling her knees up. "Whatever you want if fine with me, I'm really not that hungry." Sharon listened as Andy ordered vegetable penne with a side of meatballs, Caesar salad and breadsticks. "Meatballs? I've never know you to order meatballs."

"I thought Rusty would like them and you need to eat some meat." Andy started the car and backed out of the parking spot. "So, are you going to tell me what happen with Taylor this afternoon? I noticed he was less than cordial a few minutes ago."

"Why do you think something happened?" Sharon questioned.

"Because Mike said Taylor raised his voice to you earlier in your office. He said it was all he could do to keep Louie from barging in." Andy glanced over at Sharon and saw that she had her eyes closed.

"I can handle Taylor. I had hoped no one had heard our little discussion."

"I do not doubt that you can handle him, I just don't like the fact that he came in to your office on your first day back, barking orders. Mike and Louie were the only ones in the murder room; Louie doesn't even know Mike told me."

"Hmm." Sharon breathed heavily. Andy reached out and rested his hand on her knee. "He wasn't barking orders per say. He…" She sighed again knowing that Andy would not like what she was about to say, "He didn't like the way Provenza nor I talked to him Friday morning at your house. And since He had all weekend to stew about it, he couldn't just let it go. He said he thought that I was dismissive and that Louie and I both embarrassed him in front of Chief Howard." She chuckled lightly, "He also said he thought he would never see the day when you treated him with more respect than I did so kudos to you." Sharon added with a smirk.

Andy slowed the car and pulled off the road so he could turn to look at her, "Sharon, you have got to be fucking kidding me! Who does he think he is? Who cares how he felt Friday morning! It wasn't about him, it was about you and your safety! And the only reason I was halfway decent to him is because Provenza threatened to kill me if I made trouble for you."

Sharon gently placed her hand on top of Andy's. "Calm down, Taylor's not worth getting worked up over." She chuckled again, "He threatened to send me and Provenza to a class on remembering one's rank. Of course when I reminded him that I actually wrote all the documentation for that class he backed down. Andy, don't worry. Taylor will not be making things difficult for me or my division. He knows better, he just needs some time to cool off."

Andy got the car back on the road without saying a word; the last thing Sharon needed was Taylor breathing down her neck. Son of a bitch, Andy thought as he struggled to keep his temper in check. He glanced back over at Sharon and saw that she had her eyes closed again. When he stopped the car at Franco's, Andy realized that Sharon was sound to sleep. She never even realized they had come to a stop. Sharon slept peacefully all the way home, once Andy pulled in the drive he quietly got out of the car and carried the food inside before coming back to wake her. She stirred a little when he opened her door. Knees cracking, he kneeled down beside the car and carefully unfastened her seatbelt. "Hey…we're home. Wake up sweetheart." She hummed a low deep sound and her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey." She smiled. "That was quick."

Andy took her purse and jacket before holding his hand out to her. She stood, grimacing at the stiffness in her shoulders and neck. She wrapped her arm around Andy's back and held to the back of his suspenders as he pulled her into his side. "Do you want to change before we eat?" He asked as they entered the house where Rusty was busy setting the table.

"No, I'll stay like this for now." Sharon let go of Andy and walked over to the dining table while Andy put her purse and jacket in their bedroom.

"How was your day?" Rusty asked as he came from the kitchen carrying two glasses of water.

"Good, long… how was class?" Sharon tucked one leg under her as she sat.

"Oh, it was fine. Are you okay? You look really tired."

Sharon tried not to laugh, but couldn't contain the small snort that escaped from her. She could always count on Rusty's frankness, "If I look as tired as I feel, then I must look really awful."

Andy came back into the room catching the end of Sharon's and Rusty's conversation, "A little food and a nice long bath and you will feel better. I promise."

~~~~~~~sasasasa~~~~~~

The hot water swirled around Sharon's tired body gently easing the aches and stiffness. The bathroom was warm and smelled of vanilla. Andy had surprised her by placing candles on the vanity, the overhead light was off and the candles cast a soft glow around the room. Sharon closed her eyes and rested her head on the rounded edge of the tub. She was certain she had fallen asleep when she felt Andy's soft touch on her arm. Smiling she looked up to find him sitting on the edge of the tub with a towel in his hand. She was disappointed to see he was still in his dress pants and white undershirt. "You have on entirely too many clothes? Help me out?"

Andy switched the jets off and reached in to pull the water release before he carefully helped Sharon from the tub. He wrapped the towel around her body and before she could protest he lifted her to his chest and carried her into the bedroom. He sat her gently on the side of the bed before returning to the bathroom for her lotion and brush. Andy watched as Sharon lowered the towel and began covering her body with lotion. Slipping out of his dress pants, Andy joined Sharon on the bed and took the lotion bottle from her. Her beautiful fair skin was still marked with bruises and a few faint red welts. Andy instructed Sharon to lie on her stomach. Kneeling beside her, he massaged the lotion on to her shoulders and upper back. Careful to apply only soft pressure, Andy's fingers worked magic loosening up her taunt muscles. Andy continued to work his way lower. He skirted his fingers along her sides, just barely touching the soft edge of her breasts. She quietly moaned his name as he continued. He moved over her, straddling her lower thighs as he worked the lotion along her waist and the beautiful swell of her firm bottom. Andy had spent years imagining what her body looked like under all those tailored suits, but his imagination didn't even come close to the real Sharon Raydor. In his eyes, her body is absolute perfection and his heart aches to see her still bruised and battered. He moved off to the side of her again as he massaged the lotion in to her firm thighs. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of each knee, causing her to giggle. As he got closer to her feet, Sharon rose up on her elbows and turned to look at him. She rolled to her side and sat up beside him. "Andy, you still have on to many clothes." They both reach for his t-shirt at the same time. Sharon ran her hands up his chest, rising to her knees in front of him.

"Are you sure?" He whispered his concerned chestnut eyes locked on hers. She nodded ever so slightly as he reached for her waist and drew her to him. Sharon cupped his cheek as their lips met. Their kiss was soft at first as they took time exploring each other's mouths. Andy undid the clip in Sharon's hair sending her curls cascading to her shoulders. He bent lower taking her right nipple into his mouth. She moved her hands down and palmed his hardening member, causing Andy to bite down harder on her nipple. Sharon moaned into Andy's neck, pushing him back against the bed. They spent the next hour exploring each other's bodies. Kissing, touching and discovering those hidden, extra sensitive places, Andy brought Sharon over the edge twice before their bodies became one. As they moved together in a rhythm that was only theirs, each expressed words of love and thoughts of forever. As Andy brought Sharon to the edge once again, it was her muffled moan of his name that finally pushed him to fall with her. They lay together afterwards, a tangle of limbs and soft kisses as their breathing finally slowed down. They didn't even bother to dress for bed, after a quick trip to the bathroom, Sharon rolled on to her side and Andy tucked her tightly against his chest. He trailed soft kisses along her hair as her eyes closed. In a matter of moments she was asleep and Andy knew he wouldn't be far behind as her soft hums lulled him once again.