"We got 'em," Andy sighed as he sunk into his service vehicle. He ran his hands over his face, and he looked over to see that Sharon was silent and staring straight ahead. He reached over and took her hand in his. That caught her attention, and she turned to him.

She shook her head, almost ready to let the tears flow. Instead, to break the tension, she cleared her voice, "If anyone has ever fit your description of a dirt bag, it would be those two felons. Killing police officers in the line of duty," she sighed. "Senseless," she shook her head.

"Yeah," Andy grunted as he turned on the car. "We don't have to start driving back to work, but you've got to be warm in that sweater right now," he gestured toward her. She just nodded. "Great work with that dirt bag. He never would have imagined you would pull your weapon on him."

"Hmm," Sharon nodded. "The plan went very smoothly, which I am grateful. Thank you for being my backup," she turned toward him finally as she offered a small smile.

"Anytime and every single time," he winked to her. He tugged on their joined hands again. "What do you say to coming over for dinner later? It's quiet at my house, and we can decompress from all of this in peace and quiet, not that I mind Rusty being around if you would rather go to the condo."

"No, that sounds nice, perfect actually," she sighed as she looked out the window again. "Two men killed those good, decent police officers just because they wanted to do so. Andy, I just hate our jobs on days like this. That could be either of us, really any of our team, on any given day. I think this case is hitting me harder than others right now, and it's finally hitting now that we've caught the murderers and are finally catching our own breaths."

Andy nodded. He pulled Sharon's hand up and kissed it, "I know. I can tell, and I'd be lying if I didn't say it hit me too. You're pretty important to me, and I couldn't imagine standing there to watch that for you. It was all I could do to not reach over and grab your hand at the crime scene the other night when they were loading the officers. We never think a day could be our last."

"You're right," she sighed. "I don't know if that is good or bad. I don't want to live in fear, but I also feel we sometimes need to realize that life is short."

"Somewhere in all that, there is a balance," he told her. "Let's head back to work, to wrap this case, so we can get out of here this evening, okay? I just want to wrap my arms around you and sit on the couch and hold you all evening." He continued to look at her until she made any movement. She rubbed her thumb over his hand and nodded in agreement.

"That's all I want to do too," she nodded. Andy pulled the car out into traffic, and the two rode in silence back to the office. Both were reflecting on the events of the past few days. Losing police officers was always tough. Now that Sharon and Andy were in a relationship, an evolving, caring, personal relationship, it made it that much harder to fathom the idea of that happening to either one of them. It was almost too hard to digest.

The rest of the workday was quiet. No one wanted to talk; it was just the mood. They had been going non-stop since the shootings had occurred, and now, each person was taking time to process the situation. Life would go on, for them, at least, but the reminder that life was a precious gift, was not lost on them. Once they finished at work, Sharon excused the team. She wanted to remain behind to wait for their office to be cleaned up; she appreciated all the volunteers and extra help, but now that the case was done, she was ready to get back to having just her team in the area. She didn't feel right leaving while things were still out of order, so she stopped at Andy's desk to tell him to head home.

"I hope to be out of here soon, but please go ahead of me," Sharon told Andy. He opened his mouth to protest, and she raised one hand, "Please. I want to get out of here as badly as you do, but it will make me feel better if you head home and get whatever ready for dinner. I'll eat anything."

He nodded, "I'd prefer to wait, but I'll go because you asked me so nicely," he smiled warmly at her. "Chinese tonight?"

"I'll see you at your house," she nodded and turned to move away from his desk.

Later, as she pulled into his driveway, she thought about the drive over to Andy's house, and it disturbed her she didn't remember more. Yes, she remembered calling Rusty to tell him she'd be late; he had his own plans. She told Rusty she'd be at Andy's house for dinner and would see him later. After that, she didn't remember much of the drive, as she spent it thinking about the two fallen officers.

Andy opened his door as she walked up the front steps. She offered a small smile; it didn't surprise her he was waiting for her. Once she got inside, she quickly wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her tightly against himself, and the two just stood there and embraced. Neither said anything. They were just glad to hold one another after the case. Andy ran his hands up and down her back as the two continued to hold each other. Minutes passed, and finally Sharon let out a half sigh and half whimper.

"It's okay," Andy said quietly and kissed her head. He felt her head nod, and he sighed too. "It wasn't us. We are both still here."

"It could be either of us, any of the team, on any given day, though," she mumbled into his shirt where her face was pressed.

"It could, but it wasn't today. We're here. This is just hitting us hard because for once, we finally know the reality is there that it might not be just another officer, just another friend. I think we are both realizing that losing the other here would be a lot harder. Sharon, I know we just started dating, but Honey, we've been emotionally invested in each other a long time. We are already very much attached to each other."

Sharon nodded in agreement, "I think that is why it's really hitting me, this case, today." She pulled back and wiped the stray tear from her face. She looked up to Andy and offered a small smile. "That is why tonight, there's no place I would rather be. When we've had tough cases in the past, I've gone home alone, and it's taken me sometimes a long time to get over a case. I've never wanted to drag Rusty or any of my kids into my cases when I could avoid it. Tonight, I'm just glad to be here with you."

Andy smiled at her and pulled back, "Well, then, let's sit down," he gestured to the couch, "where I've prepared a very casual, no pressure dinner."

"Candles and everything," she let out a small chuckle as she saw a scented candle on the table.

Andy shrugged, "I know you like lavender, and I just happen to have a few of those candles around the house. Come on," he reached down to take her hand in his. "Chinese food and mindless television; I'll watch anything tonight except for Badge."

Sharon smiled, "I can live with that agreement."

The two didn't say much while they ate. They did watch some "mindless" television, and once they had finished eating, the sat back and relaxed on the couch. Sharon tucked her legs up and curled up into Andy's side. Nothing needed to be said.

A knock at the door had them both looking at each other. Andy wasn't expecting anyone, so he stood to go to the door. He motioned for Sharon to relax, but she sat up and leaned forward as Andy got the door.

"Hey Lieutenant," Rusty said at the door. "Can I come in for a minute?"

"Sure," Andy nodded, "of course, you can always come in. Your mom is here."

"Yeah, I saw her car, and she'd told me she was coming over here. I need to talk to her, and well, you too, I guess," Rusty said. Sharon had stood at the sound of Rusty's voice, and she made her way to the door.

"Rusty?" she asked, her surprise evident at Rusty's arrival. He seemed to be nervous; he was fidgeting.

"Sharon, sorry to interrupt your evening," Rusty said. "I told the lieutenant I needed to talk to you."

Sharon met Andy's gaze. He was standing behind Rusty and gave a quick shrug of his shoulders to Sharon. She nodded to Rusty, "Of course, come in," she gestured. Sharon led Rusty to the living room and motioned for him to sit in Andy's recliner. "Have a seat." Both Sharon and Andy resumed their spots on the couch. Rusty looked around.

"So, was I interrupting any plans?" he asked.

"No, not at all," Andy jumped in. "Highly exciting evening here with Chinese and crappy tv," he gestured. "There's still some food if you are hungry."

"I kind of need to tell you something, something you are probably going to hear about at work," Rusty said as he leaned forward. Sharon looked over to Andy, and both could tell something was up.

"Go on," Sharon nodded to Rusty.

"I didn't really come to help. I mean, I didn't come to volunteer, even though it's actually the only thing I should have done. I know you think I volunteered, but I really wanted to get some background information on a guy related to my story," Rusty explained. He looked around, visibly nervous.

Andy threw a quick glance to Sharon, "Rusty, what's going on?"

"Sharon, you explained the tips and categories. I had the tip lady run a background check on the guy for my story. His last name is Wallace, and I know he knew Alice and was trying to find her. I just wanted to know if he was like legit. I wanted to find out if he was some serial killer or something. Turns out he has a list of arrests, but that doesn't mean he can't help with my story."

Sharon's face showed her anger. She gripped Andy's hand, which was on the couch next to her leg, and she turned to Rusty, full of anger, "You used police resources to run a background check? Rusty, do you know how wrong and illegal that is?"

"Yeah, okay!" Rusty exclaimed as he held up his hands. "I get it. I feel terrible about it, like total garbage. That's why I'm here! It's been driving me crazy, and I knew you would be so disappointed in me. I screwed up; I know."

"Rusty," Andy sighed and shook his head. He looked away, but he continued to hold Sharon's hand, or rather, Sharon kept hold of the death grip she'd taken with his hand. He knew she was mad and trying hard not to completely lose it with Rusty.

"Rusty! This goes against everything we do. We do not break the law. We are the law! I spent decades of my career dealing with cops who wanted to break the law, who thought their ideas were worthy of breaking the law. I cannot believe you did that. You are better than that. I get you are a journalist, but you will not break the law through me, through our jobs. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble that could cause for you, me, for the division? Rusty, I'm very disappointed."

"I know," he sighed. "I know you well enough that while you can still love me, you are disappointed in me, which is what I know you've said in the past."

"Rusty, I don't just tell you that. I've told all my kids that," Sharon sighed.

"Same here," Andy nodded. "That's something all parents tell their kids. I've had the same talk with my two. Rusty, you could get your mom in a lot of trouble. You acted before thinking, and that can be a problem."

"I get it. Like, I really do, now, but I know that getting it now is the problem. I should have made a better decision," he told them.

"Yes, you should have," Sharon acknowledged. She put her hands on her knees and sat forward. Andy moved his hand since Sharon had released it from its death grip, and he ran it reassuringly across her back. Sharon sighed as she thought, and Rusty sat there awaiting further instructions.

"Rusty, I will have to deal with this when I have the energy. I'm completely wiped out from this case. I would rather not yell at you while I am this tired," she said.

Rusty nodded, "Okay. I just needed to tell you and get that off my chest."

"Feel better?" Andy asked.

Rusty frowned, "No, I still feel like I did a pretty crappy thing."

"Yup, that's kind of how it works. You did, and you shouldn't feel good about yourself. Now, you've just passed that along. Yes, you needed to tell Sharon, but that doesn't release all blame. I know from AA that making amends to a problem is only the start."

"I'm seeing that already," he sighed. "Look, I needed to come here and tell you that Sharon, well, you too Lieutenant, because I am sorry. I respect both of you, the whole division, and I made a big mistake."

"Yes," Sharon said simply as she nodded.

"I'm going to get going," Rusty said as he stood. "I'll see you at home later, Sharon?" he asked. Sharon just nodded and offered a half wave as she looked toward her feet.

"I'll be home later," she told Rusty. "Be safe," she said. Rusty nodded at her, and he made eye contact with Andy and nodded at him before he started to the door. Andy stood and walked behind Rusty to walk him out.

"I'm sorry to cause all this mess and interrupt your evening," Rusty mumbled when he got to the door. Andy nodded and put his hands in his pocket.

"Rusty, she will appreciate you came over here. I appreciate it," he shrugged, "but, yes, this is an error in judgement. You know she'll deal with you when she's ready."

"I get that," Rusty nodded. "Night, Lieutenant."

"Be safe, Rusty. We both want you to be safe. No matter how mad she is or how bad things are, remember she loves you. You're still here, and you two will work through this."

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I know I messed up," Rusty admitted again.

Andy nodded, "Forgiveness. You and I are both standing here, living proof, that your mom is good with forgiveness. Own up to it, as you did, and give her time."

Rusty threw a quick wave to Andy, and he walked to his car. Andy watched until Rusty drove away and then sighed as he closed his door. What a case indeed.