The daylight was starting to peek through the curtains and Andy began to stir. He started to get up, but soon realized that his left arm was still under Sharon. He didn't want to wake her up because she looked so relaxed and so peaceful. He carefully maneuvered his arm out from under her. She moved ever so slightly and groaned a little. He worried for a moment that she was going to wake up, but thankfully she didn't. He sighed in relief. Then he spent the better part of five minutes shaking his arm, which had gone to sleep on him.

He went into the bathroom to wash his face and then proceeded to the kitchen, with plans to cook breakfast for Sharon. He knew that she probably couldn't eat anything heavy due to her injury, so he decided on oatmeal and some fruit. He heard footsteps approaching and hoped that Sharon hadn't woken up yet.

" Good morning, Andy." Emily stretched her hands above her head as she yawned.

Andy turned around. "Good morning Emily."

"You look a little lost, is there anything I can help with?"

Andy rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, as a matter of fact you wouldn't happen to know if your mom has any oatmeal around here, would you?"

"Um, let's see, if I remember correctly, she usually keeps it in the cabinet above the microwave." Emily stated while walking over and opening the cabinet. "Aha." She raised the box of oatmeal from its resting place. "So we have blueberry, strawberries and cream, and brown sugar cinnamon."

"Which one do you think your mom would like the best?"

"Umm, probably the Brown sugar cinnamon."

"Okay." Andy nodded as Emily handed him the oatmeal. "Thank you."

"No problem." Emily graced him with a smile in reply.

Andy started to work on breakfast.

" Andy?"

"Yeah?"

"I just wanna tell you how amazing you have been." .

"Well, I appreciate that Emily but it's just oatmeal." Andy shrugged with a chuckle.

Emily laughed. " Not just the breakfast, Andy. Though it is a nice touch. I mean for everything that you've done for my mom. I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. It's a shame that it took something as serious as her almost dying for you guys to see what everyone else has always seen. You're good for each other."

"Well, I'm glad to have your approval."

"You do, and you also have my thanks. I appreciate you being around to help take care of her."

Andy smiled. "Well, it's nice to be appreciated, but you guys really don't need to keep thanking me. I love your mom and I want to take care of her."

Emily smiled and nodded. " I know that Andy, it's just that mom has been alone and taking care of herself for a long time now. So it's really great to see that she has someone to look after her, someone who really cares about her. You might think that making her breakfast is not that big of a deal but, Andy, that's something that my father never did for her; among many other things. I guess the bottom line is that we're all just really happy that she's happy, and you're the reason for that."

"I'm really glad she's happy, she deserves to be. And I know she's independent and I respect that. I understand that it's going to be an adjustment, for the both of us." Andy chuckled. "But it's worth it."

Emily smiled, and nodded in agreement. "I'm going to take a shower, is there anything else you need help with?"

"No, I think I've got it covered.".

"Okay." Emily replied as she turned and started down the hall.

"Em?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind checking to see if your mom is still asleep? I want to surprise her with breakfast."

"Yeah, sure." Emily replied as she headed down the hallway. She reached her mother's room and as quietly as possible, opened the door slightly. She peeked in and saw her mom, still very much asleep. She smiled to herself and closed the door. She walked back into the kitchen. "She's still asleep."

" Ok, thanks."

"No problem." Emily replied as she headed off to take a shower.

Andy continued to work on breakfast. A short while later he heard footsteps and thought that maybe it was Emily, or that perhaps Sharon had woken up. He turned around to see Ricky and Rusty.

"So what'd you make us?" Ricky jested.

At that point, having finished with her shower, Emily walked into the room. She put one arm over each of her brothers' shoulders. "Nothing, that's for mom. You guys are on your own for breakfast." she joked teased them.

"Oh, come on, Em, do you really think mom would want the two of us in her kitchen?" Ricky questioned.

"Hey, speak for yourself, bro, I happen to be an excellent cook." Rusty chimed in.

"I better make these two helpless little boys some breakfast before they starve." Emily stated as she turned to Andy.

"Hey!" Rusty yelled as he threw his thumb in Ricky's direction. "I'm not the helpless one."

"Really, is that how it's gonna be, bro? I thought us guys had to stick together?" Ricky teased.

"Hey, I'm just trying to get fed." replied Rusty.

"Okay, okay boys, stop fussing. Now, go do whatever you need to do and I'll let you guys know when breakfast is ready, okay?" Emily asked, grinning.

"Thanks, sis, but what's the catch?" Ricky asked raising an eyebrow.

"There's no catch, bro, just don't expect me to do this all the time." Emily joked.

"Oh, I won't…You and Rusty can take turns." He quipped while grinning childishly.

"Ha Ha! Very funny!" Emily retorted.

" Hey, you guys are the ones that pointed out that I can't cook, so yeah." Ricky said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Do you want breakfast or not? Now shoo…." Emily waved her hands as she spoke.

"Okay, okay." Ricky said as he and Rusty headed down the hallway.

"Do you need any help with breakfast?" Andy asked.

" No, thanks. I'm good. You go ahead and take mom her breakfast." Emily answered.

Andy nodded. He put everything on a tray and took a flower from a vase in the kitchen and put it on the tray as well. He then proceeded towards Sharon's room. Quietly opening the door, he walked in, and sat down on the edge of the bed. He really didn't want to wake Sharon up because she finally looked so peaceful. He gently nudged her. "Sharon, sweetheart?"

She mad a soft, tired, whimpering sound.

"Sharon?" He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. This time she stretched her arms out slightly and yawned, before opening her eyes and looking up at him.

"Good morning, Sunshine." Andy said smiling at her.

"Good morning." Sharon smiled tiredly.

Andy leaned down and met Sharon's lips with his.

Sharon rubbed her eyes and as they adjusted accordingly, she noticed the tray of food beside him.

"What's that?"

"Oh, that?" He commented, realizing she was referring to the tray. "That is for you." He leaned over and picked up the tray.

" Andy, you made me breakfast?" She was clearly surprised.

"Yes, I did. It's nothing fancy, just some oatmeal and some fruit. No big deal."

Sharon started to sit up and let out a pained sigh.

"Woah, easy, let me help you." Andy said as he helped her maneuver into an upright position.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Andy, you really didn't have to make me breakfast."

"I know, but I wanted to. I figured it'd be a nice surprise."

"Well, that was very thoughtful of you. Thank you." She pecked him on the cheek.

"It was my pleasure, my dear." He took her hand in his and kissed it.

"So we've got your basic breakfast here; brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal, and some apples slices. I wasn't sure if your stomach could quite handle coffee yet, so I made you some tea. I hope that's okay."

"It's great."

"Oh, and this, is also for you." Andy picked up the flower and handed it to her.

"A flower, too? Wow, you really are quite the catch, Lieutenant Flynn." she smiled at him.

"Is that so? Well, I'm just glad that you're the one who caught me." He chuckled and made a gesture as if he was casting out a fishing line.

Sharon started to laugh and clutched at her stomach. She put her other hand up, knowing that Andy would worry.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just still very sore."

"Well, I should probably keep the jokes to a minimum then."

"And what fun would that be, besides your sense of humor is one of my favorite things about you."

"Really? Huh, and here I was thinking that it was my charm and my good looks."

She playfully swatted his arm grinning wildly. "You're impossible."

"I'm sure that's true, but you don't seem to mind it, Captain." He smiled like a little school boy.

"I tolerate it, because of your good looks, Lieutenant." She tossed a wink at him.

"Is that so?" He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It is."

Andy cupped her cheek with his hand and pressed his lips to hers. She deepened the kiss in response.

"Doesn't look like there's too much breakfast eating going on here." came a familiar voice.

Andy and Sharon broke apart and looked to the doorway, to find Ricky standing there, grinning widely.

Sharon's cheeks instantly became flushed.

"You're not a big fan of knocking, are you?" Andy asked, cocking his head slightly.

"I'm slightly offended. I mean I was just walking by, and the door was open, so…." Ricky shrugged his shoulders.

"A likely story. You were just being nosey, bro. Now come on, Emily said breakfast is ready."

Rusty stated as he came up beside him.

"Now when have you ever known me to be nosey?" Ricky asked, jokingly.

"Oh, you, never." Rusty replied sarcastically. "NOW COME ON." Rusty threw his head in the direction of the kitchen and gave him the 'take a hint' look.

"Ok, I'm coming." Ricky started to follow Rusty, but peered his head around the door frame once more and smiled. "Carry On."

Rusty grabbed Ricky by his sleeve and pulled him along.

Andy turned his attention back to Sharon, who at this point had her hands over her face, trying not to laugh.

"Hello, in there." Andy pulled her hands back from her face, to find that her cheeks were really flushed. He smiled widely at her.

"It's not funny, Andy." She smacked him playfully on the arm.

"It's kinda funny. 'Rulebook Raydor' getting caught making out with one of her lieutenants." He chuckled.

This earned him another swat on the arm.

"Hey!" He rubbing his arm in mock pain.

"We were not making out, Andy."

"Ok, what would you call it, then?" Andy grinned.

"I.. well...Um, okay maybe we were..." She started to laugh. " Oh my gosh, I feel like a teenager getting caught by her parents."

"Yeah, except in your case you are the parent." Andy chuckled.

Sharon just shook her head and smiled.

"Maybe next time we should close the door or put a do not disturb sign on the doorknob." Andy joked.

"That's not a bad idea." Sharon replied.

"You should probably eat, no one likes cold oatmeal." Andy offered Sharon the tray.

Sharon smiled at him. "Thank you."

"I told you it was no problem, I wanted to do it." Andy replied.

Sharon smiled at him and started on her breakfast.

Andy's phone started ringing. He picked it up off of the nightstand and looked to see who was calling. "It's Provenza." He informed Sharon as he answered the phone. "Yeah, Louie, what's up?"

"Just thought I'd call and see how the Captain's doing today." Provenza replied.

"She's doing well."

Sharon finished taking a sip of her tea. " Let me speak to him Andy."

" Shar.. um, the Captain wants to talk to you" he told Provenza. He handed the phone to Sharon.

" Lieutenant, how are things going there?"

" Everything's running smoothly. You didn't think that everything would fall apart in your absence did you?" Provenza joked.

" No not at all Lieutenant. I have complete faith in your leadership capabilities, though I am anxious to return to work."

" Sharon " Andy looked at her sternly and folded his arms.

Sharon rolled her eyes.

" Captain how are you feeling, really" Provenza inquired.

" I'm still pretty sore and don't really have a lot of energy, but I'm very thankful to be alive and I'm much better than I was."

" That's good to hear, it'll be nice to have you back."

" Thank you Lieutenant. Is the Phelps trial still happening tomorrow ?" she asked.

" Yes, it is."

" Good, what time?"

" The judge said 10:00 A.M., but listen Captain you don't have to be there"

" I'm aware that I don't have to be, but I need to be there. Do you understand why?"

" Yes ma'am I think I do. I will see you tomorrow."

" Yes you will Lieutenant" she said before handing the phone back to Andy.

" I'm going to step out into the hall for a minute" he informed her.

" Hurry back" she smiled at him.

" You got it "

" Louie, Listen, I really don't want her going to that scumbags trial tomorrow"

" And what exactly would you like me to do about it. The Captain can make her own decisions Andy, and she's my boss."

" I just don't think she's up for it and she doesn't need the added stress"

" Andy, look, you and I both know why she has to do this. The man nearly killed her, she needs to face him and she has every right to."

Andy rubbed the back of his head and sighed. " Yeah, I get that but…"

Provenza interrupted him. " Andy, just support her, that's what she needs the most right now."

" Yeah, you're right. I just worry about her, you know"

" I know Andy but you and I both know that the Captain is a very independent woman and she's not used to being fussed over so much. You've gotta give it time or else you're going to cause friction."

" Yeah, I hear you. Keep us updated, alright."

" Will do. And Andy, don't go telling anybody that I gave you relationship advice. I don't want people to think I've gone soft."

" No, we wouldn't want that now, would we" Andy jested. " Thanks Louie."

" It's alright. Don't mention it, and I mean to anyone."

They said their goodbyes and Andy made his way back into Sharon's bedroom.

He was greeted by Sharon, who had her arms crossed and was looking at him rather inquisitively.

" What?"

" How was your chat with Lieutenant Provenza?" She raised an eyebrow.

" Fine."

"Uh huh, and is that why you felt the need to step out into the hall?" Sharon inquired.

Andy sat down on the edge of the bed " Provenza just needed to talk about something and…."

She cut him off. " Andy, are you sure it wasn't you who needed to talk about something." She took his hand.

"Honestly?"

" Honestly" she said.

" Ok, you got me. We were talking about Phelps' trial"

" You still don't want me to go" she sighed.

" No I don't but I've realized something"

" Really, and what is that" she inquired.

He took her hand in his. "That I've gotta let you make your own decisions and quit being so overbearing."

" Andy, I appreciate that, and it's ok that you want to protect me. I think it's just going to take us a little time to find the right rhythm."

Andy nodded. " I agree, and I'm willing to put in the time and the work if you are." He kissed her hand.

" Sounds like a plan to me" she smiled.

Andy cupped her cheek and brought his lips to hers.