A/N Finally an update! I want to sincerely thank those who have reviewed, followed and liked this story. And thanks to those who have encouraged me to update. No beta, so any mistakes are mine.

Andy Flynn was sure he had heard his best friend and partner incorrectly, "What?"

"Jackson Raydor is dead." Provenza repeated. "I got the call around four this morning. He's with Morales now and I have Tao and Julio waiting there as well."

"No. I don't believe..." Andy shook his head.

Provenza reached down to sit his coffee cup on the deck beside him, "The guards found him on the floor of his cell. There is no way of knowing for sure yet, but Morales thinks a heart attack. I told Mike and Julio to come here as soon as they find out the details."

Still in shock, Andy stood and walked down the steps to the grass below, his back to his best friend. "How am I going to tell them? This is crazy! After everything that has happen... I...guess I need to wake Ricky and tell him first."

"Tell me what?"

Andy turned, startled to find an exhausted looking Ricky Raydor standing on the deck just behind Provenza. He shared a glance with Provenza before looking back at Ricky. He was so much like his mother, Andy had already learned. He had no doubt that Ricky would handle the news of his father's death with great strength and dignity.

Provenza stood, offering Ricky his seat but the young man declined. "What's going on Andy? Mom's okay, isn't she…Please don't tell me something else has happened to her." The panic evident in his trembling voice, "I don't think I can take much more." In his bare feet, gym shorts and white t-shirt Ricky made his way down the steps to where Andy stood on the damp grass.

"Your mom's okay, Son. Let's take a little walk in the yard." Andy offered as he nodded to Provenza.

Provenza watched from his seat on the deck as Andy and Ricky walked slowly to the back corner of the yard. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he kept his eyes on the two men. He was so distracted that he didn't hear the patio door open. "Louie?" Patrice called from the door way. "Sharon's awake; I thought Andy would like to know." Provenza turned slightly and nodded at Patrice. Once he turned his attention back to the yard, he could see Andy holding Ricky in a tight embrace. Andy patted the younger man on the back before slowly making his way across the yard alone.

Andy sat heavily on the top step, resting his back against the deck railing. "He's calling Emily right now. As I suspected, his greatest concern is for Sharon and how she is going to react to the news. He said something that really caught me off guard though." Andy shook his head in unease, "I get the feeling that Ricky and Emily know far more about the way Jack treated Sharon than they ever let on."

"What do you mean?" Provenza questioned.

"Ricky's first words after I told him were, well at least the Bastard can't hurt her any more. And believe me when I say that was my first thoughts as well, but…I don't know." Andy shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "My own kids have been in the same boat as Emily and Ricky before…"

"Now you hold on one damn minute Flynn!" Provenza interrupted, pointing his finger, "You cannot compare yourself to Jackson Raydor! Yes you screwed up when your kids were young, but you were never as rotten and lousy as Jack. Besides you have proven yourself to be a damn good father time and time again!"

Andy smiled sadly, "I pray you're right. Rick said I have already shown he and Emily more love and attention in the short time Sharon and I have been together than they have ever had from their father."

"Ricky's right." Sharon's voice was hoarse and did not sound like her own.

'Damn! These Raydors sure do have the knack for sneaking up on people' Provenza thought with a roll of his eyes as he shifted in his chair to look at his Captain. Andy hastily jumped up from his place on the steps and was beside Sharon in seconds. Carefully, he placed a chaste kiss to her lips.

"I forgot to tell you, Patrice said the Captain was awake." Provenza mumbled as he quickly stood from his chair and moved past Sharon and Andy to give the two some much needed privacy.

Andy stood in front of Sharon, his hands loosely holding to her waist. She looked so much better than she did just the night before. The new bruises to her eye and cheek bone were still dark and violent looking, but her eyes no longer had that exhausted, dull look from the days past. Her hair had been brushed out and was now in a loose bun on the top of her head. She wore black yoga pants, a red tank top and her favorite charcoal cardigan. Sharon's glasses were absent and she squinted when she noticed movement behind them. "Andy, I know Ricky is here. Margaret told me before she left for the hospital." Sighing, "I just can't believe Jack called Ricky and involved him in this mess. What…"

"Sweetheart…" Andy tried to interrupt.

Sharon squinted again as she tried to resign herself with what or rather who she was seeing. "Andy, why is Ricky standing in the middle of the backyard at this time of the morning. And who is he on the phone with?" Sharon tried to move around Andy, but he tightened his grip on her waist.

"Sharon, why don't we go back inside?" Andy encouraged.

Sharon tried to step away from Andy, but he still held firm. "No…Andy, what's going on? I'm only going to ask you once." Sharon demanded.

Andy could see the fear flashing in her eyes, "Please, if you won't go back inside, then at least sit down. I need to tell you something and more than anything I need you to say calm."

Sharon moved her gaze from Ricky and looked up to meet Andy's concerned chestnut eyes. "I'm calm; And I'll sit, but you better tell me whatever it is you need to tell me and I mean right now!"

Andy held to Sharon's side as she sat in the adjacent Adirondack chair. Once she was comfortable, Andy knelt down in front of her, his knees cracking in protest. Carefully he took her left hand in his. "Andy, you're scaring me. Is Emily okay?"

Andy could feel Sharon tremble, and a single lone tear ran down her cheek. Andy squeezed her hand tighter, "Emily's fine. It's not Emily. It's…Jack. A guard found him on the floor of his cell early this morning. He was nonresponsive. He's with Morales now. Mike and Julio are at the morgue waiting to see what Fernando finds. He suspects a heart attack but he won't know for sure…"

Sharon was no longer looking at Andy; her eyes had drifted to her son, still standing with his back to them in the rear of the yard. "I've already told Ricky." Andy continued. "And he's talking with Emily right now." Andy paused, studying her face even though her eyes were still glued to where Ricky stood, "Sharon…please say something."

She slowly turned her head back to look at Andy, the shock and confusion evident on her features. "I…" Sharon whispered, shaking her head. Her gaze drifted back to Ricky and she stood suddenly, taking a still squatting Andy by surprise. She pulled her hand from Andy's grasp and held to his shoulder as she silently stepped around him. Carefully, she steadied herself on the railing and took the steps down to the still damp grass one at a time. Andy stood, but he did not follow her despite his overwhelming desire to.

Ricky ended his call and turned to face the back of the house just as his Mom was a little more than half way to him. His shock to find her walking toward him in the damp early morning grass, gave way to a hurricane of emotions. He stood for a brief moment watching as she slowly moved toward him. Her feet were also bare and she was holding her arms at her sides which Ricky found as odd. He knew she had to be chilled and he wondered why she wasn't pulling her sweater tight as was her usual habit. Taking several quick long strides, Ricky stood a few mere feet from his Mother. As she stepped closer, Ricky drew in a ragged breath. When he had watched her sleeping last night in the pale light of Andy's bedroom, he hadn't been able to see the intensity to the bruising across her cheek and eye. Ricky could feel the anger burn through him like a canon blast and he clinched his fist tight. "Mom…" He whispered as she finally stood directly in front of him. She was considerably shorter than him in her bare feet and Ricky felt like he was swallowing her whole as he carefully hugged her close.

"You need a haircut." She tried to smile as she stepped back to look closely at her son. His eyes were tired and his face was scruffy with several days' worth of stubble. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't…" Ricky interrupted with a tone that caused Sharon to pause. "You have apologized for him our entire lives and…I just really don't want to hear it. The son of a bitch finally got what he deserved."

"Richard William Raydor!" Ricky was shocked at the strength and volume of her voice. Yes, she still sounded a bit hoarse, but there was no missing her underlying tone. "You will not address your father that way! He may have made some very poor choices in his life, but he was still your father." Ricky crossed his arms over his chest and solemnly looked away from his Mother; he could feel the pressure building in the back of his throat, but he refused to cry, not now, not because of him. Reaching up Sharon lovingly placed her hand on Ricky's arm. "Please Ricky. Talk to me."

Ricky looked down, but instead of meeting his Mother's gaze his eyes fell to her hand resting gently on his arm. Despite the gauze wrapped across her palm and over the back of her hand to her wrist, he could make out deep bruising and a few scratch marks that peeked out from under the protective wrapping. "Did he…do that?" Ricky's eyes drifted to his Mother's pale green ones.

Sharon lifted her hand from her son's arm and slowly dropped it to her side. Frowning slightly, "Ricky…"

"Stop…Just stop Mom." Ricky said sadly with a shake of his head. "I …can't do this right now. If you will excuse me."

Andy watched from his place on the deck steps. He really couldn't hear what was being said, but he couldn't help but frown when he realized that Ricky was no longer standing with Sharon. Instead he was quickly walking toward him. "Ricky?" He questioned as the boy hurried past him up the steps.

Ricky paused only for a second, "Make sure she's okay. She shouldn't be out here wasting her energy…on him." Andy glanced back to Sharon. She still stood in the same spot, he couldn't see her face but he could make out the trembling of her shoulders. He longed to go to her, but he also felt the urgent need to make sure that Ricky would be okay too.

"Ricky?" Andy turned back to question the boy, but he recognized suddenly that he was now alone on the deck. Once again Andy's attention was drawn back to the petite figure of the woman he loved more than life itself. Her hands hung awkwardly at her sides and as he started toward her, he hoped more than anything that she would turn and look at him. But she didn't.

As Andy reached Sharon he wrapped his arms gently around her, pulling her back flush against his chest. "Let me take you inside. You're freezing out here." She continued to tremble against him, but she made no effort to move.

"He's…" Andy had to strain to hear her even though she was standing right in front of him. "So angry…"

"I know." Andy wanted to add 'can you blame the kid' but he knew better. Emotions were running too high and he certainly did not want to add fuel to the flame. Reaching down Andy cradled Sharon's left hand in his in an effort to get her to turn around and move back inside. Instead of the always cold hand he was expecting to hold, Andy was confused when her hand felt warm and sticky in his grasp. Glancing down, he found it hard to control the panic welling up inside of him. Blood, dark crimson, covered his hand and hers. It dripped from her finger tips on to her pants leg and had already formed a small puddle in the grass. "Damn-it Sharon, you're bleeding."

As if in slow motion Sharon lifted her hand and stared intently at the blood. "I'm fine." She whispered as Andy franticly pulled the arm of her sweater up to find that the catheter needle had somehow become dislodged causing blood to flow out of the IV site. "Andy, look at me. I'm fine. We'll go inside and Patrice will get this all cleaned up."

Andy's eyes met hers and the tired but composed, stunning jade eyes he found staring back at him instantly calmed his madly beating heart. Sharon held her arm adjacent to her chest, while Andy pulled her close into his side as they slowly made their way back to the deck and into the house.

Rusty was the first to notice them as Sharon and Andy entered into the kitchen through the patio doors. Andy could see the panic wash over the kid's face and he could clearly hear it in Rusty's voice as he called for Patrice to come quick. Sharon's face had paled considerably during their trek in from the yard, Andy was thankful when he finally had her seated at the dining table. Not more than ten minutes later, Patrice had Sharon taken care of and also helped her change into clean clothes while Andy showered.

Sharon sat resting against the headboard while she waited for Andy. She glanced at her cell phone every few seconds willing Emily to call her back. The fact that her daughter did not answer her call right away did not in any way surprise Sharon. Emily had her own way of dealing with things and sometimes that meant ignoring her Mother. Sharon resolved to give her oldest some time, but her patience would not hold out for long. Slipping off the bed, Sharon padded down the hall and peered into the guest room expecting to find Ricky, but the room was empty. Next she walked across to Rusty's room and found it empty as well. Frowning, she continued down the hall to the living room where she found Rusty, Provenza and Patrice sitting around the dining table. "Rusty, where's your brother?" She questioned as she moved closer to the table.

Provenza stood and pulled out a chair for Sharon. "The kid needed some space. He'll be back shortly." Provenza watched the alarm flood over Sharon's face. "He'll be fine. Sit…Rusty, why don't you get your Mom some tea."

Sharon sat across from Provenza, pulling her cream cardigan close. She placed her phone on the table, "Have you heard from Mike?"

"No. Not yet. Did you get a chance to speak with Emily?"

Sharon sighed, shaking her head. "No. I called and left a message, but I haven't spoken with her."

"I talked with Emily just before Ricky left." Rusty interjected as he placed a mug of hot green tea on the table in front of his mother. "She was going into a two hour rehearsal, but she said she would call when she was done."

"Oh. Okay…good." Sharon smiled sadly at her youngest.

"I'm sorry Mom. I should have let you know before now, I just kind of forgot with everything going on." Just as Rusty was about to sit, the door bell sounded, "I'll get it."

Rusty hurried to the door but was interrupted by Andy who was just coming down the hall. "I've got it, Rusty." Andy opened the door to find a very somber looking Tao and Sanchez.

"How's the Captain? Julio questioned as he followed Mike inside.

"She's hanging in there." Andy patted Julio softly on the back. "Come on everyone is around the dining table."

"Captain." Mike acknowledged as he made his way to the closest empty chair.

"Ma'am." Julio nodded.

Provenza stood, giving Andy his chair next to Sharon as everyone got settled around the table. "Before you get started Mike…" Sharon spoke up, as she shared a tired smile with Mike and then Julio. "I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of this. You'll never know how much I appreciate it."

Both men smiled solemnly at their Captain, before Mike began to speak. Taking his note pad from his pocket, "The official cause of death was a subarachnoid hemorrhage."

"English, Mike…english." Provenza's voice carried across the room.

"He died from a brain aneurysm?" Sharon questioned the shock evident in her voice, before Mike had a chance to continue.

"Yes ma'am." Mike continued. "Morales said there's no way of knowing how long he's had the aneurysm, but from the position and size of the rupture he thinks it has been there for quite a while. There's one more thing… not that it is any consolation really, but Jack was also suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. The doctor speculates that he probably wouldn't have lived more than a year, two max had he continued to drink."

Andy placed his hand on Sharon's leg, giving her a soft squeeze. Her expression had not changed and would not give way to the emotions brewing inside her. But Andy could tell just from the shift from light to dark in her beautiful green eyes that Sharon was struggling to hold it all together. She stood suddenly, "Mike, Julio…Thank you. Really…now if you will excuse me." Turning, she picked up her phone and slipped it into her sweater pocket as she hurried out of the dining room and down the hall.

Andy stood to follow her but was stopped by a hand on his arm. He turned to find Provenza next to him shaking his head. "I know you don't like it, but she needs some time to herself. Just give her a little while. Please."

Andy looked from Provenza to the worried faces of Mike, Julio and Patrice. Finally his eyes settled on Rusty who nodded in agreement. Andy sighed heavily, sinking into his chair. "What do we do now?"

"We saw Ricky when we were leaving the morgue. He was taking care of having Jack transferred to a funeral home."

Andy looked at Julio in disbelief, "Ricky was at the morgue? Alone? Oh, god" Andy ran his fingers through his hair, "Sharon is NOT going to like this." Andy stood and began pacing, "Damn-it…he's so much like his mother. Headstrong, stubborn, taking care of everyone else…Jeez, I would have gone with the kid."

Rusty and Provenza shared a mirrored look as Andy continued to pace. They both understood Ricky's desire to make sure Jack's arrangements were taken care of so his Mother would not have to focus on the details. But Andy was also right. Sharon would not like the fact that Ricky had taken on such a delicate task by himself; despite the fact that had roles been reversed Sharon would have done the exact same thing as her son. Mike and Julio took this opportunity to offer their condolences once again before excusing themselves. Provenza and Patrice also decided that they would give the family some space but they promised to come back later in the evening. Patrice wanted to be on hand when Margaret came back after her hospital rounds to evaluate Sharon just in case.

Sharon lay curled on her side in the middle of the bed. She hugged Andy's robe close as her phone rested on the bed beside her. She had yet to try Emily again, but she had dialed Ricky once she was alone only to get his voicemail. Never in her life had she felt so out of control and it took all of her strength not to give into the overwhelming anxiety threatening to consume her. She knew she had to be strong for Ricky and Emily, but for once in her life Sharon Raydor wasn't sure how much strength she had left. Thinking back to look on Ricky's face as they stood in the early morning air, Sharon couldn't stifle the mournful sob that escaped her. Over the years she had spent so much time and effort shielding Ricky and Emily from the fallout of their father's addiction and now she couldn't help but wonder if all of her efforts were for naught. Sharon felt like her mind was running in a thousand directions as another sob escaped her lips. The dull headache she had woken up with was now throbbing behind her eyes and she knew she needed to take something before it made her sick, but she just didn't have the energy to move. Sharon curled tighter into herself, pulling Andy's robe up over her nose hoping his smell would settle the fury churning inside her.

Andy leaned against the door way of their bedroom listening as each of her muffled sobs shattered another piece of his heart. He longed to go to Sharon and pull her tight in to the safety of his arms. He wanted to reassure her that everything would be okay. But Andy knew that was a promise he couldn't make. Once again even in death, Jack Raydor was making his presence known in all of their lives.