"So, you can't be left alone, you can't drive, you can't lift things, you can't bend over to tie your shoes-does that about cover it?" Rusty asked Andy as the three sat in the living room. Andy had just explained to Rusty, and Sharon too, even though she'd already heard everything, the restrictions his doctor had placed. Rusty sat with in the orange chair with a pillow folded up in his lap. Andy was seated at one end of the couch with Sharon at the other. The two had been home from work for a few hours; they'd had some time to discuss Andy's condition, and Rusty had just recently returned to the condo. Sharon reached forward for her mug on the coffee table and took a sip of her tea. She looked to Andy, giving him a silent look. He nodded, and she reached for his mug as well and handed it to him. Rusty just watched the silent encounter and waited for more information.
"That's pretty much it," Andy sighed as he sat back and held his mug. He started to cross his legs, but Sharon nodded to that, and he nodded. "Right, add that to the list; I can't cross my legs."
Rusty frowned, "Those are some weird guidelines. I'm not sure if I understand, but okay," he nodded. "I'll make sure you don't do any of that while I'm here."
"Rusty, if anything happens, you know to call 911," she explained.
Andy sighed loudly, "See, this is why I wanted to stay with Provenza. You're going to worry too much, and now you've got the kid worried too," he gestured to Rusty who had a shocked look on his face at the thought of something happening to Andy. Sharon turned to him.
"Andy, we are covering all bases. Whether you are here with Rusty, Patrice, or me, we need to make sure we know the plan," Sharon told him. She turned to Rusty, "Rusty, why don't you get your chess board. I'm sure that would help ease the stress around here."
Rusty took the hint, at least to give Sharon and Andy a few moments alone. He stood and started down the hall. Sharon knew chess would help pass the time, but she also wanted to discuss something they hadn't yet.
"I'd like to offer you Rusty's room again, but I also wanted to talk to you about where you are most comfortable. 'Anywhere except the condo' is not an acceptable answer, but I do want you to know that if you are more comfortable on the couch, just say the word. I hate to put you out here; you're sick, and normally the couch is not appropriate for anyone over 30, but if you are more comfortable-" she continued to ramble, but Andy cut her off before she could say anything else.
"Sharon," he caught her attention before he continued, "the couch is more than fine. I'd prefer it, if you don't mind. I hate taking Rusty's room, and out here, I can sit up or even turn on the television if I can't sleep."
"Okay," she nodded and gave Andy a look to indicate Rusty was returning. "Rusty," she smiled at him as he put the chess set down on the coffee table and continued, "Andy is going to stay here on the couch this time."
"Oh, it's not a problem, Lieutenant. I don't mind you using my room," Rusty told him. Andy held up his hand.
"Rusty, I'd prefer to stay out here. My back and ribs are bothering me. Thank you for the use of your room, but someone needs to use the room who can sleep in the bed," he smiled at Rusty. Rusty listened as he continued to put the pieces on the board. He nodded.
"That's cool, but Lieutenant, if you need my room, it's like not a problem," he nodded.
"Thanks, Kid," Andy said. Rusty nodded and looked to the board. "So, let's do something normal and get this game started." Sharon watched for a few moments and stood then to tidy up the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she gripped the counter and let out her breath. Talking about Andy's condition seemed simple and methodical. It had to seem that way, especially where Rusty was concerned, but now, for the first time, she had a moment to really think about what could happen to Andy, and it was hitting her hard. He could die. Andy's clot could kill him. He could be here one moment and gone the next; the thought was terrifying.
"Need anything?" Sharon reached for the rag to wipe off the counter and busy herself. She hoped her voice didn't sound shaky.
"The lieutenant won't tell you, but I think he wants something to drink,"' Rusty yelled back. Sharon smiled at how direct Rusty was at times.
"Rusty, really, I'm fine. I can get myself something to drink," she heard Andy tell Rusty. Sharon moved around getting them both something, and she delivered it moments later.
"I know how parched you can get from playing chess," she enunciated, hoping they realized she was teasing. The two were focused, both thanked her for the drinks. "Well, I'll get out of your hair. I'll be in my room working."
Sharon spent the next two hours working in her room. It was odd knowing that Rusty and Andy were in the next room and barely a word had been said, but she also knew that was just chess. It was one of the reasons she didn't particularly like it; Sharon just couldn't stay quiet that long. She closed her paperwork and decided to go to bed. The exhaustion was setting in quickly.
"I'm heading to bed," she told them from the doorway of her room. Rusty moved his piece, and then both men looked up at her.
"Oh, what time is it?" Rusty asked.
"After 10:00 now," she smiled. "Some of us have to go to work in the morning. Others can play chess all day." Rusty grinned, and she looked to Andy. "Are you feeling okay? Need anything?"
"No," he said quietly. "Please, you don't need to treat me like some guest. I can take care of myself. I appreciate the hospitality, but don't walk on eggshells around me, please. Also, don't think you'll wake me up in the morning when you are going to work. If I'm not awake, it's really okay. The noise doesn't bother me."
Sharon pursed her lips, "Just please wake me if you aren't feeling well or something is wrong. I'm right here, and if you need anything-" she was cut off by Andy.
"I'll get you, Sharon. Thank you. Get some rest. I know you're exhausted," he nodded to her.
"Night, Sharon," Rusty told her.
"Goodnight," she smiled at both. "Don't stay up too late."
Sharon tossed and turned all night. She didn't sleep well and checked on Andy three different times. It was silly, really, but she was even more concerned about him now that a blood clot was an issue. He found an odd way to angle himself on the couch to sleep. It looked awkward, but he had been sleeping each time she had checked on him, so it seemed to do the trick.
She dressed for work and tried to prepare her coffee quietly. She was almost ready to walk out the door, the condo still quiet, when Andy startled her.
"Smells good," he said from the counter area, and Sharon, who had her back to it, almost dropped her coffee cup.
"Oh, you scared me!" she exclaimed when she turned around to him.
"I'm sorry," he sighed. "That wasn't the plan. I keep saying that. Seems like I keep messing up around here. I'm in your hair; I know I am."
"Andy, stop apologizing," she shook her head. "I just didn't hear you get up from the couch. Did you sleep okay?"
"Better," he nodded. "I slept better than I have in a few days. I've got a good feeling these meds are going to do the trick. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, the doc tells me I'm good, and then I can go home once and for all."
"Andy," she sighed. She glanced to her watch. "I'm going to be late. I need to get going. Rusty is just down the hall if you need anything, and I'm sure he'll be up soon anyway. Coffee seems to lure him out of his slumber."
"Well, try to relax at work, Andy offered a small smile. "You know," he put his hand to his mouth, "it's sad I'm telling you that as you go to work where you talk to murderers all day, but really, Sharon-I'll be fine here with Rusty today. Patrice comes over tomorrow, and the day after that, I have another appointment."
Sharon gathered her things as she listened to him. She nodded and glanced at him quickly again, "Well, call me if you need anything. I'll check in later."
Sharon patted his hand as she walked by him at the counter, which felt odd to do, but so did just walking out and leaving him there at the counter. She spent her drive to work thinking about all the things that could go wrong with Andy's situation. That led her to thinking about work without him there. He was very smart and very good at his job. She, as Chief Johnson had done, often asked him to check the financials because he had always had a meticulous mathematical mind. He thought outside of the box, something that wasn't a skill one could easily acquire. You either had it or you didn't, and Andy did that well. Her thoughts almost overwhelmed her when she walked into the office and saw his empty chair. She ran her hand over it as she entered her office, and if the team noticed, they didn't say anything. The day seemed to drag, even though they were closing quarterly reports. Sharon was called into a meeting with Taylor to review the quarterly reports after lunch.
Sharon and Taylor had been going over reports for almost 45 minutes when Provenza interrupted them. "Yes, Lieutenant, do we have a case?" Sharon asked when both she and Taylor looked to the door after he entered.
"Ahh, Captain, Taylor," he nodded to them. "Captain, no, we don't have a case. It's Flynn. Rusty tried to get you, but you're in here," he gestured to the room. "Flynn collapsed, and the paramedics are taking him to the hospital."
"What?" Sharon jumped from her seat, causing paperwork to go flying. Taylor moved quickly to catch the paperwork before it all ended up on the floor. Sharon looked to Provenza with a panicked expression. "What happened?"
Provenza raised his hand, "I don't know. I'm going to the hospital now to find out. Rusty rode with him. I'll have Patrice meet me there, and I'll have her take Rusty home. I'm listed as Flynn's medical proxy."
Sharon looked to the mess she'd created with the paperwork. "Ahh, Chief, this is going to have to wait. Lieutenant," she turned back to him, "let me grab my purse. I'm going with you." She rushed by Provenza, and Provenza put his hands in his pockets, pursed his lips, and looked at a surprised Taylor.
"I thought there was some issue with those two," he gestured toward Sharon. "I know she's always followed the rules, and nothing was ever formally going on with them, but I'd heard chatter the two had a big blow-up."
"Oh, there is," Provenza nodded. "The two of them are in the middle of a mess. We all better hope Flynn pulls through okay. She hasn't even figured out what the rest of us can see. This mess could get much worse."