Thank you for all the reviews, enjoy!
Andy climbs into bed, Sharon looks up smiling. "Are you sure you're okay being back here?" He rest against the headboard with her, intertwining their fingers. They had just come back from the hospital and even with Andy's persistence on going to a hotel so she wouldn't have to remember what happened to her they decided that coming back was important for her recovery.
"I'm sure, it'll get some getting used to." She smiles as he plays with her fingers. "I made an appointment to see someone, Kate said yes too." Andy watches her as she looks at their hands. "Although I think she wants to talk to someone concerning her father." Andy looks at her, she examines him. "How about you?" She had seen something in him that he hadn't shared with her. He was afraid to tell her about the nightmares of hurting her. It scared him.
"Nicole and I had talked about counseling together, so the therapist agreed we needed individual sessions first, I brought up this situation and she said we could discuss it. And I have Lou." He kisses her cheek.
She stays quiet, not completely accepting just this. "AA meetings? She whispers, he examines her. She always let him take care of this on his own. They had conversations and she wasn't a complete stranger to it but pushing him to meeting wasn't something she did. "You haven't gone." Her voice is soft. "I don't want you to think I'm worried about you falling back into drinking but you usually use them as therapy." She looks back at their hands. "You can go Andy, it wasn't because you left that I got attacked. It's because there are maniacs out there. And it so happens that our job is to deal with them."
They stay silent for a while playing with each other's hands. "Lou's been calling me twice a day, telling me to make a meeting." He says softly. He didn't want to leave her but he was feeling anxious.
"You see." Sharon tells him. "The boys are still sleeping, once Kate is back from her run, you should go. You can see Lou even." She looks up at him and pulls his chin so he will look at her. "Andy I want you with me, I need you with me." He lets out a heavy sigh. "But you need to take care of yourself too." He kisses her softly, he needed her too.
"I'll have my phone on." She nods, smiling. "If I knew how or what to do other than leave. I wouldn't go." He admits truthfully. It pained him to leave her and not be by her side especially right now.
"I know, come here." She scoots down so he could lay on top of her resting his head on her chest. He groans in pleasure. She smiles running her hands through his hair he hums. He was exhausted and this calmed him entirely. "I'm going to have to be alone, without you sooner or later. Better to start now that my kids are here." She admits out loud. She was scared not having him there too, but she was trying to tell herself that she would be fine.
"You'll never have to be without me Gorgeous." He kisses her chest. They lay there, Andy's eyes closed his hands under her shirt, caressing her bare skin along her waist as she runs her hands through his hair. "Sharon before I go, there is something that's eating at me and I need to tell you." She continues stroking his hair as he breaks the silence.
"What is it?" She asks softly, the wait of his body and his soft caress comforting her.
"It's about Jack, I have to tell you he has impeccable timing." Sharon frowns, her fingers stop playing in his hair. He swallows deeply and she can feel it run through him.
"I'm sorry Andy but I don't understand." She tells him at his sudden silence, a worry rushing through her.
"Well, if it wasn't for him. You'd probably have been in Canada now." Sharon brows deepen, he feels her fingertips in his hair again. "Jack came to see you and found the door open, he called it in." He lifts his head and looks at her. "He was here when Sanchez and I arrived." She runs her hands to his neck.
"You saw him?" Andy nods, she can see it in his eyes there was more to the confession. They argued. "Andy don't tell me." She whispers almost as if frightened.
"I was scared and furious and I took it out on him." He gets up, on his knees she moves against the headboard. "I beat him and pulled the gun on him." Andy runs his hands along his face almost as if in pain a heavy guilt in him.
"Oh Andy." Sharon grabs his arm.
"Please don't withdraw. I know I shouldn't have." He tells her through a heavy breath, he couldn't bare her distancing herself now. After going through so much.
"No, no, no. I won't withdraw." He lets out a deep breath, she pulls his arm again. "Come here." Her knees are bent up, he bends his, beside hers he pulls her into him she's cradled in his arms their foreheads touching, his hands running up her back, hers on his chest. "Look I lost you this way once. Remember? And I couldn't stand it. I understand the panic. The fear you probably felt. I just." She looks at him softly.
"It disappoints you." He whispers.
She shakes her head against his. "No, it makes me mad, upset." Her voice strong. "It's not the Andy that's sitting with me, it is an Andy I met years ago, but I love you and I don't want you to struggle to tell me these things, because I love that Andy too. And I know you would have never shot him." Her hands run through his hair.
"It's a good time for a meeting." He says heavy hearted, they look at each other, holding one another. "I love you. I need you to know that." She can hear how much he means this confession.
"God I would never doubt you." She pulls away, to kiss him gently. "I'm upset but that doesn't mean I'm about to push you away. After everything you've done for me." They look into each other's eyes again, not letting each other escape. "With all that I love you? No. There is no way." She smiles, reconfirming it. He runs his hand along her legs, his fingertips meeting her ankles, she shakes her head retreating.
"Together Beautiful." She swallows still not being able to look at her leg. Andy pulls up the pant leg. "It looks better." He runs his finger along her scar sending a tingle through her leg. She keeps her eyes on him not looking down.
"Andy." She says heavily, he looks up at her. Her eyes are closed but he can still see the heaviness in her body.
"Beautiful look at me." He whispers, his hand holding her chin. He smiles at her and she finally looks at her own leg, releasing a shattered breath. She was stitched almost from the ankle to the knee, bruises beside her wound. She swallows deeply as he holds her hand to trail her own wound. "You see." He meets her eyes, filled with tears. "They are still extremely beautiful." Andy says running his hands along both legs, caressing her legs softly. His voice and eyes express nothing but sincerity. He kisses her, Sharon hums. It made her heart race, looking at the wound but Andy calmed her by just looking at her. He made it non-important which was just what she needed, he made her feel perfect.
"Mom, I'm back." Kate calls through the hallway, Andy pulls away from Sharon quickly moving out of the bed as Sharon watches him, pulling down her own pant leg. He leans in kissing her as he sees her expression, almost begging him to get back into bed with her. She holds him by the neck, he smiles sitting on the bed again. "Oh, sorry." Kate withdraws from the bedroom as quickly as she came in.
"Kate." Andy calls her. He smiles at Sharon as he stands up.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so used to Mom being here, alone." He can see her embarrassment.
"No, Kate." Andy smiles at her. "This is your home. Please." She nods, still breathing heavy from her run. "I want you to please watch your Mom for me." She looks at Sharon, who only shrugs.
"Yeah of course." She says, still moving on her toes.
"I'm going to an AA meeting or two," he looks back at Sharon "and I'll be back." Kate nods. "If you guys need anything." He continues, hesitant to leave.
"I'll call you. I promise." She assures him.
"Thank you." He returns to Sharon and kisses her goodbye, running his hand on Kate's shoulder as he walks out of the bedroom. It was hard for him but he made sure the officers were told they needed to be extra careful and he knew that feeling this anxious wouldn't lead to any good. So a meeting was necessary.
"He really loves you." Kate says, still moving on spot.
"I love him." Sharon says easily. "Honey, I need to talk to you about something." She taps on the bed beside her.
"I'm all sweaty, plus I'm not done." She starts stretching in front of her mom. "Tell me." She looks at her as she lunges.
"Well," Sharon hesitates. I need to tell her. She had already told Ricky. "I filled for a divorce." Kate stops stretching for a moment. Then raises her arm above her head pulling on her arm.
"It's about time." She says, shrugging. Sharon frowns deeply. "I mean it's awful." She says sarcastically as she reads her Mom's expression.
Sharon laughs. "Kate!" She shakes her head at her daughter.
"Well Mom, what do I say?" She finally sits on the ground and stretches her legs. "You're obviously with another man. Your clothes collection even shrunk to make room for him." She points to the closet, frowning. "Shame on you because it's against our religion." She says sarcastically. "We don't live very Catholic." Sharon rolls her eyes. "You're sleeping with a man, that's not your husband I think the church frowns at that." Kate says quickly, jokingly.
"Honey?" Kate looks up from her stretching.
"Oh, no Mom. I'm not judging you." She finishes her stretching and folds her legs under her and looks up at Sharon. "You know since it's not Dad and all, can I ask?" Kate smiles.
"Ask?" Sharon asks confused.
"Well you know." Kate grins, Sharon knew nothing good could come next. "How is he in bed?" She says fairly loud and confident. Sharon blushes immediately.
"Bean!" She shouts. "Please," her face turning red. She raises her hands to her face. "I'm your mother." She finally says.
"So?" Kate watches Sharon, enjoying how much this is making her freak out. "Come on." Kate continues grinning, standing up and walking to the restroom. "Other than Dad and Andy?" She calls from the restroom. "How many men did you have?" She comes back to the room, wiping her face with a towel.
"Bean do you not know me?" Sharon frowns. "There has been no one else." Her voice confident.
"Really." Kate asks shocked but calmly. "You went for twenty years with no one?" Kate suddenly frowns, not believing it. "Or did you and Dad have something when he came around? Her voice is serious trying to really understand her Mom now that she was willing to talk about it.
"Kate, I'm really not comfortable talking about this." This wasn't something they usually discussed. Sharon was very open to hear her children's personal stories and problems, but she never shared her intimate details with them. She looks at Kate who is patiently waiting for an answer. "No your Dad and I weren't together for over twenty years. Even before our separation." Kate listens carefully, respecting her mother, allowing her to talk. "It has only been Andy since." Kate leans on Sharon's dresser, watching her carefully. She can hear a pain a strain in her mother's voice. "But I don't want to talk about this anymore." Sharon says, getting up from the bed.
"Okay, I will stop. Just one question." Sharon stops at the edge of the bed. "And you have to answer honestly." Sharon nods. "Dad or Andy?" Sharon throws the pillow at her daughter. Kate giggles hysterically as Sharon gets out of the bed, hurting but not as much as the day prior. "You're very cute Mom." Kate smiles at how easily she gets embarrassed
"Kate, I can't believe you." Sharon fixes the pillows she squished, putting her back towards her daughter.
"Oh it's normal." Kate sighs coming around giving her Mom the pillow. "Compare them and…" Sharon looks at her trying to figure out why she stopped. "You can't answer because it was Dad?" She says, her eyes wide. Kate crosses her arms in front of her chest.
"Oh lord, no." Kate laughs at Sharon's sudden admission.
"Alright there we are." Kate grins. "I'm happy to see you happy." She says genuinely.
"I'm not happy because of the, well." Sharon hesitates.
"Sex the word is sex Mom." Kate helps her Mom walk to the restroom.
"Well yes, it's not because of the sex that I'm happy." She says as she reaches the sink, Kate sits on the counter.
"I'm sure it bonus after twenty years." She says as she smells her Mother's perfumes. Yes, a fabulous bonus. Sharon smiles to herself. "And after Dad who I assume was nothing but selfish. Then twenty years of celibacy, I am sure it was a wonderful bonus." Sharon shoots her a look of disbelief, even though it was definitely the truth. This conversation had gone too far. "Okay, I'm done!" Kate raises her hands in surrender.
Sharon washes her face. "Andy does everything to take care of me and make me happy he never complains even though I can be a pain in the ass." Kate has a giggle fit as Sharon dries her face. "I'm not that awful am I?" She asks as her daughter continues laughing.
"I don't know, you are my Mom." She says still giggling. "You are the perfect Mom, even if you're a pain in, what was it?" Sharon rolls her eyes as her daughters chuckles continue. "No, Mom I'm kidding." She finally calms down still smiling. "But Andy is amazing." Sharon watches her daughter through the mirror. "He called me and Ricky to come out, to make the holidays better for you. And I was awful on the phone and yet, he acts like he does. The way he watched over you at the hospital. Not everyone does that." Kate smiles at her, shrugging her shoulders. Sharon expected Andy to win them over but for Kate to speak of him this highly this soon, made Sharon feel nothing but happy and grateful that things could happen this way. That her kids could love him and accept him.
"He is perfect Bean." She turns to her daughter, slapping her lightly on her leg. "Now go shower. You're staining and dripping all over my things." Kate gets up quickly. "And he never told me you were awful on the phone." She admits.
"You see." Kate adds. "I'm going to use your shower." Sharon nods.
"Hey Andrew." Sanchez finds Andy at the bottom of the building. "I was just coming up to see you." He holds out a brown paper bag.
"What is this?" Andy takes it confused.
"I had to interview the witness from your accident one last time." Andy examines the bag. "If you remember he studies out of state but since he was here over the holiday break, I was able to reach him. He is an intern at a hospital for traumas so he was able to pull you out of the car and contain your injuries." Andy listens carefully still confused. "His girlfriend helped and since she's not used that kind of thing, she was more panicked then him and by mistake took your jacket." Andy's eyes widen. "He saw it when he came home again and pulled the car out of the garage. It was in the back seat." Sanchez points at the brown paper bag.
"My jacket?" Andy pulls it out quickly Sanchez watches him, never expecting so much excitement because of it. He quickly moves to the jacket pockets and grins immediately pulling out a satin bag. He smiles even broader at the feel of its contents still inside. "Julio," Andy gives him a hug, he pulls away Sanchez looking shocked and confused. "Sorry, I just looked for this for weeks and finally gave up." He pats Sanchez on his shoulders.
"Can I ask you what is?" Sanchez asks smiling.
"A vey prized possession. That was handed down to me." Andy answers easily. "Sharon is upstairs, if you can hang out with them till I get back. I'm going to a meeting. It would make me feel much better." Sanchez nods still smiling. "Oh, don't tell Sharon about this please." Andy opens the satin bag as Sanchez leaves pulling out its content and grinning. It was unbelievable that he had it back. He returns it to the satin bag holding it tight and then he puts the bag into his leather jacket. He wasn't planning on losing it again, he had other plans for it.
Sanchez, Rusty and Kate sit in the dining room playing a game of cards as Rusty helps Sharon prepare lunch in the kitchen. Rusty offered to cook, but Sharon couldn't stay still so he finally pulled up a stool for her to chop vegetables, while she gave him directions.
"Can I help?" Kate comes into sight, Rusty accepts her help, ready to give her a task.
"No!" Sharon and Ricky shout together. Rusty and Sanchez look at them. "You never give Kate liberty in the kitchen." Ricky calls from the dining room table where they continued with their game.
"I set fire to the kitchen one time." Rusty spins to look at her. "And everyone freaks out." She says frustrated.
"Bean it was like five times and what about all the runs to the emergency room." Sharon replies.
"Um, is it safe for her to squeeze lemons?" Rusty smiles. Ricky shouts no, causing Sanchez to laugh. Kate accepts the task. "How did you set fire to the kitchen?" Rusty asks as he slices the lemons for her assuming the emergency visits where probably knife related.
"Um, foil in the microwave." She stops looking up, trying to draw memories back. They all grin. "I didn't know." She smiles at Rusty. "I don't remember the rest." She looks embarrassed.
But Ricky continues for her. "Oven mit inside the oven, rag on the stove, microwave and popcorn, I still don't understand that one." They all laugh. "My favorite was burning the cake when we tried making one to surprise Mom for her birthday." Even Kate laughs this time.
"Wait I don't remember that one." Sharon turns to face her daughter.
"Yeah because we tossed it and instead made you birthday cards." Kate says easily, making a mess with the lemons. Rusty frowns, cleaning up after her, she smiles apologetically. Someone knocks roughly at the door, they all tense up. "They didn't call it up." Kate says, dropping the lemons.
"Probably because it's someone from the team, I got it." Sanchez assures them watching them all worry. They all look at each other, Sharon stands up moving to the door, Rusty helps her she accepts even though she is capable of doing it on her own.
"Jack?" She breathes out heavily. As she sees a grin reach his face. "How did you get in?" Sharon's voice frustrated. This day had been going easily. She didn't need his presence to make that fact different.
"Captain." Sanchez says looking at the door. She understood, it was the same worry she had. Andy.
"Detective, I know." She tells him. She needed to get him out before Andy returned.
"You look good Sharon." Jack says looking her up and down. She had bruises on her forehead, under her chin on her neck, her arms and legs, amongst other places in her body, she was positive he was only trying to infuriate her, "And to answer your question the officer that's following me, supposedly for my protection got me through." Sanchez stands back listening, Rusty still holds Sharon. She is thankful now he's there or she might have just crumbled.
"Jack, you need to go. Please. I don't want any problems." Sharon says patiently and softly.
"Dad?" Ricky comes into the living room.
"Richard, its good go see you, son." Sharon holds onto Rusty as Jack looks intently at her. Ricky walks to his Dad and gives him a hug. Sharon shakes and Rusty can feel it. The grin on Jack's expression is one he's used many times, the only effect it has now is making Sharon feel sick.
"Sorry about the other day, I, Mom was missing." Ricky excuse himself, Jack's grin grows. Sharon knew he would use his knew relationship with Ricky against her one day but she couldn't stop her son from getting to know his father.
"Not a problem son." He pats him on the back. "Where's Kate?" He asks casually.
"I'm right here." Sharon turns, shocked to hear her voice. Jack's sudden grin disappears also surprised by her appearance.
Jack lets out a heavy breath. "I've been trying to call you." He looks at her careful. "You look just like your mother when she was your age." Sharon smiles at her daughter. "You're beautiful." Jack almost whispers. This was a change for him. It was honest, Sharon can hear it in his voice.
Sharon reaches for Kate's hand. "I can't do this." Kate shakes her head. Jack looks at Sharon and Ricky almost as if begging for help. Kate grabs her shoes and goes, leaving the condo. Sharon looks at Julio and he follows her immediately.
"Sharon you need to sit down." Rusty whispers, she nods feeling the strain on her leg as he helps her move to the sofa. He puts a pillow on her back and she sits back thanking him.
"Rusty, it's good to see you." Rusty nods from the distance. Sharon takes his hand. "How do I get to Kate?" Jack looks around anxiously.
"Maybe show up for her once and awhile not just to see me. You wouldn't have ever come to see her Jack. You're lucky your son is forgiving." She looks up at Ricky. "Jack, Andy will be here soon." There was no use in arguing with him. "I'm sure you don't want another altercation." She says angrily.
"He's staying here, even with my children here." He looks at Sharon then at Ricky in disbelief. "This is unbelievable!" He shouts, making Sharon jump. Rusty grows furious, feeling Sharon unconsciously gripping tighter onto his hand.
"Ricky, Rusty go look for Kate please." She lets go of Rusty's hand, looking up at him and smiling.
"I'm not leaving you." He tells her, Ricky stops in his tracks watching Rusty. He was defending his mother more than he was, he suddenly felt ashamed of himself.
"Make sure an officer stays at the door." She tells Rusty. "You can even leave it open if it'll make you feel better." She adds to make him feel more comfortable. Rusty looks furious at Jack but goes. He stations himself outside the door as Ricky goes down the building followed by an officer, one staying behind with Sharon and Rusty, Jack's security there too. "Jack tell me what it is you want." Sharon's voice is bitter. She was tired of this, it needed to be done with he couldn't continue coming back just to hurt her family.
"You." Sharon scoffs rolling her eyes. "Oh come on." Jack smiles. "Having our kids here together it doesn't bring back memories?" He lifts his eyebrows hopeful.
"Yes," he grins, walking closer to her. "Many but none with you Jack. You were never around." Not even for Kate's five fires. She keeps her voice calm, even though all she wants is for him to leave. "It's a different family now, I have Rusty and Andy." Jacks lets out a heavy breath, Rusty listens through the cracked door. "Even the team." Her voice honest.
"Bullshit!" He screams making her jump and Rusty. He peaks in to check that Sharon is okay, ready to rush in and help her. Jack waves a folder in the air, she just noticed he was holding. "This whole thing is bullshit." He shouts louder. "I deserve a chance." He steps closer to her. "Not a paper that finalizes us with a signature." He looks at her intently. Sharon realizes it's the divorce papers. She pushes herself up to stand.
This was enough, there was so much she had never said. If he signed the papers or not she needed to let it all go. "A chance? What about the years I spent waiting for you? Working for you to succeed? Taking care of this family?!" Her voice is louder then she expects. Ricky, Kate and Sanchez return and stand with Rusty in the hallway listening along with the officers, Sanchez sends them down trying to give Sharon some privacy walking away himself to keep his distance but an eye on her children. "I waited! Your children waited. Until I got tired. You put a drink before me, then before your children!" Her voice is rising making her shake to the core, Kate and Ricky look at each other feeling their Mom's anger rise through them too. Rusty clenches his fists. "Then it was the game and then every woman that batted her eyes at you." Jack is ready to defend himself but she doesn't give him a chance. "I don't know what you expect Jack, for me to still be waiting?" She runs her hands through her hair in frustration. "I waited but we were done thirty years ago. We never worked." She walks around the couch standing behind it, holding onto it for security, for strength, for something to keep her standing. "I never felt." She struggles, Jack looks up at her as she swallows deeply. "I never felt with you the way I feel with, Andy." Her breath shatters. There is the truth.
"And what is that?" Jack asks forcefully. "Lust, desire!" He is screaming loudly.
"I feel loved." Sharon lets out quickly and easily. Kate looks at Ricky finding Andy standing there too. "Not one year compares to the months I've been with Andy." Andy shifts uncomfortably. She can see pain in Jack's eyes, she didn't mean to cause him this, but she needed him to let her go. "They are years, I don't regret because I got two wonderful children. That I love unconditionally." Jack shakes his head, trying to ignore her words. "But who you have never truly met." Her voice soft. Ricky leans up against the wall, releasing a heavy breath, Kate takes his hand.
"Don't start that again." Jack says forcefully. "Don't!"
"Don't start what again, Jack? Hurting you with truths!" Her voice rises again. "Did you see Ricky fall off the couch time and time again, rush him to the hospital when he shoved the carrots up his nose." Ricky laughs silently remembering, the others smile at him. "When he terrified me because he stood at the top of stairs ready to fly like a super hero. The multitude of sports that he played to make you proud." Ricky swallows deeply in his throat. Sharon's voice shattering. "When he graduated with honors. When a girl broke his heart for the first time and he didn't know what to do with his life." Ricky holds back his tears as Kate's run down her face. "How proud he was of himself when he got the job of his dreams. How he promised me he'd watch over me, just like I did when he was a kid." Jack swallows deeply, he had never heard Sharon talk this way before. "When Kate," Sharon chokes up and stops for a few seconds trying to compose herself. "When Kate prayed that her Daddy would feel better when he came home from work because he was always throwing up," Ricky and Rusty look at Kate she looks away from them. Her ballet recitals, when she was into poetry, her singing classes." Kate turns around ready to run again but instead she walks to Andy. He is surprised when she stops in front of him and leans into his chest. But he lets her cry, running his hand along her back. She needed the love of a parent and she knew he would offer it. "When we sat here crying because she had been accepted into the dance academy, when I received the first postcard from her travels. When she told me she was in love." Sharon's voice is breaking. Jack shrinks smaller and smaller with every one of her words. "When we opened Christmas gifts or went trick or treating. The presents I wrapped in your name for their birthdays." Ricky lets a breath out of disbelief, Sharon shakes her head. "Those memories come to mind Jack, tell me how much of that do you remember?" She waits for him to respond, but he drops his hands to his sides in defeat. "And yet, those kids still adore you." Jack looks up at her, Ricky turns to Andy who is still holding onto Kate who has her hand over her mouth trying to cover the sobs. "Stop trying to make things better with me and look for the relationships you can fix, because this one Jack, this one ended the first time you slammed a door in my face and left, decided a drink, gambling and other women could please you more than I could." He steps closer but stops when she retreats and looks away. Jack pulls into his jacket pocket, pulling out a pen, signing the papers.
"I remember. Loving you. I still do, but if this is what you want." He tosses them as she turns back to him hitting her dead square in the chest. "You got it." The papers shatter along the floor as e storms out seeing everyone outside, walking past them with a growl and a noise of disgust targeted toward Andy.
Ricky's eyes follow his father, Rusty looks inside. "Ricky, Kate you want to go in?" Andy asks. They both nod. He kisses Kate on the head, holding onto her face to look at her. She smiles as he wipes her tears. "Will you be okay?" She nods. Ricky embraces her as they walk into the condo. Andy runs a hand over Rusty's shoulder. Andy wanted to be the first to console Sharon but he knew the right thing was for them to go in first.
They find Sharon bent gathering the papers crying, whimpering in pain. Ricky comes over to her picking up the papers as Kate helps her Mom sit down. Sharon wipes her tears. "You guys heard?" She says not looking at them.
"We heard you finally tell Dad his truths. Something you deserved to do since a long time ago." Ricky says handing Sharon the papers, but she doesn't take them.
"Truths we needed to hear too Mom." Sharon looks at Kate. "I told you, you were the best Mom, I wasn't kidding." Kate kisses Sharon on the cheek as Sharon hugs her. Ricky runs a hand on her back, she takes his hand in hers.
"You're father isn't terrible. He just hasn't gotten it together. And he caught me on a bad week." She smiles trying to make light of the fact.
They smile too. "You're unbelievable Mom." Ricky says smiling.
"I don't want this to effect the new relationship you're building with him Ricky." He nods. "And Kate," she pulls her face to look at her. "You have a guilt deep inside of you that I don't understand because nothing that has happened between your father and I is your fault." Sharon wipes Kate's tears. "We have to take care of that." Kate nods.
"He signed." Kate and Sharon look up, Ricky hands her the papers again and she takes them. "He signed Mom, now all you need to do is turn them in." Sharon looks at the page and back at Ricky. She hadn't even realized it until seeing it in front of her. She should be excited, but something inside her turned and made her sad? No. She didn't understand it. She stared intensely at the paper, trying to process it.
"Thirty years of a marriage to Jack Raydor done with." Kate says. Sharon puts them down and stands up. Kate follows her as Ricky takes her hands to help her.
"Please know that I love you two with all my heart and I would not change anything, I mean nothing in my life because I have two amazing children." She looks at both of them who have a smug smile, Sharon smiles too. "Three amazing children," both of them look at each other knowingly. "That I would do anything for." Rusty listens carefully from the outside too. "Don't ever forget that." She kisses them both. "I just need a minute." They look at her as she grabs the papers and walks slowly to her bedroom.
Andy walks into the room a few minutes later and finds her leaning onto the bed, she turns around wiping her tears. "He signed." Her voice shaky as she holds out the papers, he shakes his head taking the papers and putting them aside, pulling her into him. She cries into his chest. He could remember what the final signature finally meant in his marriage, closure. It was mutual and still it was hard he could only imagine, thirty years of her life and then it ending this way. He felt heavy for her. He lifts her carrying her to the bed laying her against his chest. Her frustration with Jack was never ending, but finally telling him half of what she always wanted to tell him made her feel vulnerable. Andy lets her cry until it subsides and he feels her resting on him, controlling herself. "You were strong Sharon." She stays quiet not expecting him to have heard too. "I'm sorry things ended this way, but you two will have time to talk." He massages her scalp with his fingertips.
"I didn't." She runs her face on his chest, things felt too hard to say. "I had no idea everyone was listening." Her voice still shaky. "I would have never said so much."
"I can tell you. I'm happy you did." She looks up at him. "You stood up for yourself." He tells her kissing her nose.
"You've been doing this a lot." She tells him running her hand along his face.
"What is that?" He smiles, taking her hand in his and kissing it.
"Cradling me in your arms, consoling me." She rest her head on his chest again.
"And yet I feel like I should be doing more." She closes her eyes, humming out a soft noise.
"Andy, sometimes I feel I don't deserve you. Well, all the time if I'm being honest." She chuckles.
"What are you talking about?" He rolls to his side meeting her face, bringing her into him tightly. "How is it that I deserve you?" Sharon smiles, outlining his face.
"I guess it's something neither one of us will ever get answered." Andy nuzzles into her neck, smelling her, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He closes his eyes as she runs her hands through his hair. "I just have to turn those papers in and I'll be divorced. It's just a matter of days." Andy smiles in her neck she can feel it and closes her eyes smiling too. They fall asleep this way, holding each other resting off their exhaustion. Kate comes around to tell them that lunch is ready, she sees them asleep and lays a blanket over them. She closes the door and walks back to the kitchen.
"They fell asleep." She tells Rusty and Ricky. Sanchez had left as soon as Andy had returned.
"Good, they should rest." Ricky tells her, setting up the table. "It's been a long few days for everyone." Kate and Ricky watch as Rusty sets the plates of food down, keeping to himself. They look a each other frowning. "Rusty you're going to take care of them. Right? We leave in a few days." He looks at Ricky.
"Yeah, uh, sure." He tells them.
"What's going on?" Ricky asks.
Rusty looks at them and decides to be honest. "Sharon, she's had some hard days and still she worries about everyone, and then I heard her tell Jack about everything she did for you guys." He stops and they didn't need him to continue.
"That's what a Mom does?" Ricky says simply, biting into his food. Kate frowns at Ricky.
"Not my Mom?" Rusty says staring into his plate.
Ricky looks apologetically at Kate, she turns to Rusty. "Rusty, you may love your Mom and I can't come to understand your life. And I don't know enough because Mom hasn't told me anything." He looks at her expecting her to have known everything. "But I know that you do have a woman who would do that for you." Rusty swallows thickly, Kate hesitantly reaches for his hand and he doesn't pull away. "You may never consider her your mother but don't push aside the love she is willing to offer, because like I told you, it's pretty incredible." Rusty meets her eyes and she smiles. "You heard it yourself, everything she's willing to do for us." Rusty thinks about the way she gag him a home and slowly made him family. How much they had lived together and he had taken it for granted.
"And it's a pain sometimes, but siblings aren't so bad either." Ricky smiles as Kate rolls her eyes.
"We aren't around very much but we are a call away, whenever you need us." Kate smiles as Rusty nods, getting up to serve all of them drinks. Ricky and Kate look at each other they knew the love their mother had for Rusty and Andy and they were willing to accept them into their lives not only because how much they loved Sharon but because of the people they learned they were.
I hope you enjoyed!