It was the middle of the next week when Sharon was at home, just getting ready to decorate the condo for Christmas when her phone rang. She tried to catch her breath; she and Rusty had just carried up her Christmas tree from storage, and it was now in a box by the door.
"Give me a minute, Rusty," she said, putting her hand up at him.
"Take all the time you want, Sharon," he smirked and walked back to his room. Sharon found her purse, still in the hallway where she'd put it after unlocking the door and dug out her phone.
"Andy, hi," she said. "If you are checking to see if I'm still available to work on your search later, the answer is yes."
"Sharon, hi, sorry to bother you, but we have a case," he sighed.
"A case?" she questioned. "Wait, Andy, we're on leave this week, no cases."
"Yeah, supposed to be that way, but I sort of stumbled into a murder, Provenza and I did," he admitted.
Sharon groaned and moved back into the condo, dropping her purse on the Christmas tree box before she walked to her desk and plopped down in her desk chair. "Remember our chat on the way to the ballet the other night-here, this is a perfect example."
"Hey, the restaurant wasn't a murder scene, and you liked the food; you told me it was great and would go back," he explained. "What was I supposed to do here? I couldn't ignore a burglary in progress."
"A burglary in progress is not exactly a murder. Was someone killed in the commission of this robbery?" Sharon asked.
"Maybe, but maybe not," he stated. "Just my opinion, but the guy looked long gone, like already dead. It's quite a story, but bottom line is we are back to work, thanks to me, and I'm sorry."
Sharon groaned and rested her elbow on the desk. She nodded, even though he couldn't see her, "Okay, just send me the details. Do you need me at the scene?"
"No, Provenza and I are handling it. He's on the phone with Mike now. We will probably be another couple hours but yeah, any working on my search later today will have to wait. I am really sorry. I wanted these few days off as much as anyone. I was hoping to really do some digging. I know it's a burden to the whole team," he admitted.
"What's done is done, and bottom line, someone is dead; someone will have the worst day of their life when notified about this death. Here, you are saving Rusty. He was not looking forward to putting up the Christmas tree. I'll tell him to thank you later," she chuckled, trying to put herself in a better mood.
"Oh, geez," he sighed. "Sharon, I hate to pull you from a normal holiday activity. Here, you were just talking about the kids not coming home and all. Maybe we can wrap this case up quickly."
"Hmm, we'll see," she nodded again. "Keep me updated, and I will meet the team at the office. If I need to go to the morgue first, just let me know."
"Will do, and again, I'm sorry, Sharon," he sighed.
"Andy, stop apologizing for doing your job. It's one of the things I like about you, your willingness to always do the right thing. By the sounds of it, you discovered this murder?"
"Yeah, I did," he admitted. "Christmas shopping with Provenza on Venice Beach."
"What were you-" she stopped and shook her head. "I don't even want to know what you were doing. I'll see you at work."
Hours later, as they were reaching a stopping point for the night, Sharon smiled at Andy through her blinds. He nodded back at her and stood to move to her doorframe. Her door was open.
"Hey," he said with a shake of his head, "listen, can I make it up to you and the kid with cheeseburgers?"
Sharon chuckled and shook her head, "It's not necessary to make up anything up to us."
"He's been sitting over there playing chess. I might have spotted him making two trips to the vending machine, and I know the kid has a stash of food over there too. So, by calculation, he's out of food and hungry. I know we all missed lunch, so what about a cheeseburger?"
"From a vegetarian?" Sharon teased.
"You know I'm desperate for something normal," he offered, a small smile on his face.
"Oh, so I'm your desperate plea, am I? Sure, dinner sounds good. I'm paying, though. I know how much Rusty easts, and it won't just be a cheeseburger. It will be fries, a milkshake, maybe more. He's eating me out of house and home."
"All the more reason I'm buying," he flashed a smile. "Come on, you feed him every single day. Accept this Christmas kindness, Captain," he said with a nod. "Nicole said I could stop by on Christmas Day for dessert; the boys want to see me, but otherwise, I'm flying solo. This could be my only Christmas meal."
"Oh, seriously tugging at the heartstrings," she said, shaking her head. "By now, you should know you are more than welcome to join Rusty and me. We'll be having turkey; he doesn't like ham, as you know. Simple meal, and maybe, if we finish this case, we could spend some time on your search."
"Really?" Andy asked, eyebrows raised. "I don't want to trouble you."
"It's no trouble," she shook her head.
"I don't want to interrupt plans," he tried again.
Sharon pursed her lips, "We are going to Christmas Mass, and for Christmas, I have no plans. I have plans later in the week, but Christmas is open."
"Thanks, that would be nice; I'd enjoy that. I'll find out what time Nicole wants me and let you know," he said.
"Our mealtime is flexible," Sharon admitted. "Honestly, I had wanted to get the Christmas tree up before now, and it still hasn't happened. If things continue, I just might be putting it up on Christmas Day while the turkey is cooking."
"I hate that I've ruined everyone's plans," Andy sighed. "I felt the stares from all around the room today."
"Let's just wrap the case so everyone can go back to their holiday plans, hmm? My tree will get decorated. I'm not worried."
"Okay, well, let's worry about dinner. Burgers?" Andy eyed her again.
She rolled her eyes, "Just what are you going to eat?"
"Maybe a salad," he shrugged. "It's all about the company."
Sharon pursed her lips and then said, "Tell Rusty we can go for burgers in 10 minutes or so."
An hour later, the three were almost done with their meals. Rusty excused himself to use the restroom, and Andy turned sideways to face Sharon, as they were sitting next to each other, and he gestured to the meal, "Thanks for this. I needed something normal tonight. I'm going crazy, trying to solve my own problems."
"Sure," she reached over and squeezed his arm. "Like I said, we can work on the case when you come over to eat for Christmas."
"What are you planning to tell Rusty? I mean, he's going to see us working," Andy explained.
"What I tell Rusty will be up to you. I'm not about to spill your family issues, but eventually, he will probably need to be told something. As we both know, he doesn't like people keeping things from him. When we find Michelle, you and I can discuss what you want to tell Rusty," she said with a nod.
"When?" he eyed her.
"You know we will find her," Sharon cleared her throat. Rusty came out of the restroom area, and Sharon gave a slight nod to him. Andy nodded, acknowledging he'd seen him, and the two turned their attention back to their meal.
"Still trying to figure out your case?" Rusty asked, looking at the two of them.
"Hopefully, we will solve it tomorrow, and then, we can get back to Christmas decorations," Sharon smirked at Rusty.
Andy chuckled, and Rusty looked at him, "Dude, you have no idea how many Christmas angels she has. It's almost disturbing."
"You're complaining about an angel?" Andy said with raised eyebrow, nodding toward Sharon. "Seems to me you have your very own angel here."
Rusty gave Andy an irritated look and looked over at Sharon, shrugging then, "Her angels are creepy."
"There was a day I might have described Sharon as creepy too," Andy said, in a loud whisper as he leaned toward Rusty. "I've also changed my opinion, as you might want to consider with the angels. I think she's keeping them. I wouldn't argue with her."
"You can never have too many angels," Sharon said with an almost flirty smile at the two. "Andy, since Rusty is still working on that milkshake, I think we should split a piece of pie."
Andy eyed her, and then, he shrugged, "As I said," he glanced at Rusty and then at Sharon, "I'm not going to argue with her."
The next two weeks ended up being more of a mess for the team. They solved their case, but their time off didn't last long. The team caught another case right before Christmas, and that ended any normal plans of a leisurely holiday. By the time New Year's Eve was rolling around, everyone was anxious for a couple of days off work; they all had been working a lot of overtime. Sharon was on edge because Rusty's undercover operation was about to take place. He'd been working hard to get ready, but that still didn't ease her mind. She found herself on the phone with Andy one evening after Christmas.
"Hi, I just wanted to check on you and see how your meeting went tonight. You seemed distracted at work," she explained.
"I was; I am," he acknowledged, sighing. "Sorry, I don't want you to worry about me. You have enough on your plate. I know this whole undercover thing with Rusty is weighing on you."
"It is," she added, nodding to herself. It was late, and she was in bed, unable to sleep. She was sitting against her headboard. Sharon wasn't sure if she should call to check on Andy, but she had been worried about him. They were friends, too, and that convinced her it was reason enough. "I can't have anything happen to Rusty."
"Sharon," he sighed again, "the kid will be okay. I get that you are worried, but we are going to keep him safe, all of us. All these things, what you've been trying to get him to do, you know, therapy, talking to us all, it seems to be helping. Kid is talking, asking questions."
"He didn't ask you about this search, did he?" Sharon said, sitting up, now worried. "I was worried he overheard us the other evening talking about the case." Andy had stopped by after seeing Nicole's family for Christmas. It had been after a case, and Nicole lived nearby. The two didn't end up with time to work the case, but he'd sat down with her for a few minutes to discuss what he'd learned on his own. He admitted to Sharon he was working it late into the night most nights.
"No, nothing like that. I don't think the kid heard us talking at all. He was asking me, asking Provenza, about becoming a cop. It just got me thinking about all of that," he explained.
"Ahh," she nodded. "He had the same question for me. I believe it's something Dr. Joe suggested he discuss. He spends all his time around the team, yet, he doesn't know much about any of you."
"Great, just what I'm worried about, what he'll think of me when he realizes what a screw up I've been," Andy groaned.
"What did you tell him?" Sharon asked, changing the conversation.
"About being a cop? I told him the story about my older brother and me. I think you've heard it," he told her.
"I'm not sure I have," Sharon said, trying to remember.
"Really? I thought for sure I'd told you," he said. "I was getting in with the wrong crowd. I'll have to tell it to you some other time. What I'd like to hear is what you told him."
"Oh, me? I have no exciting story there. Actually, the story sounds rather depressing. I'm the typical young wife who promised to work so her husband could go to law school with the promise he'd do the same for me. I got pregnant, and then, I got pregnant again. Jack left, and that's the end of the story. The LAPD provided me with a stable job, decent income, and I could do it raising two kids alone."
"Single mother," he said quietly. "Another one. Sorry, I know you had it rough, Sharon. I keep thinking that I did that to some woman, to Michelle, and I hate myself more and more."
"Andy," she said quietly, and the two dropped off in silence for a few moments. "Tell me what you've discovered on your search."
"I don't want to take your evening, Sharon," he explained.
"Fine, come over then tomorrow evening and tell me about it," she said.
"It's New Year's Eve," Andy said.
"I have no plans, other than to worry about how things are going with Rusty's detail," she told him. "I could use the distraction, that is unless you have plans."
"All I do anymore is work, go to meetings, and sit at home going over this paper trail, trying to find Michelle. I haven't been out with anyone since-" he stopped talking. Sharon could infer what he was saying; Andy knew it. Finally, he said, "Cooper starting that tomorrow still? You know he will keep him safe."
"I'm still unsure of how Rusty will handle things. I drove with him, and I'm not convinced he will stick to the story. I just have this bad feeling," she sighed. "Yes, they are still planning to start tomorrow. Rusty is out of school now, and it seems like the best time to do so-new year and all."
"I'll come over tomorrow then," he said. "I mean, if you do have plans, seeing anyone-" he drifted off.
"Right now, my focus is Rusty. I can't think about some outside life of mine, of anything new, anything I want," Sharon said. "I'm sorry."
"I'll be there, and if you are having trouble sleeping, I'm happy to keep talking," Andy said.
"Thank you-for being a friend, for being there when I need someone. It means a lot," Sharon told him.
Andy sighed, "You have and will continue to do the same for me. We'll figure this out, all of it. We'll get Rusty's stalker, and we'll find my kid. I'll see you tomorrow, and tomorrow night, we can talk about whatever you want."