Sorry for the wait everyone, especially too Taylor who I know is addicted to this one.

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Chapter 36

…

Julio had decided that instead of driving back to the precinct that he would drive to visit Gabriella's brother Jason, he felt he deserved to hear what happened to his sister in person rather than an impersonal phone call. He pulled up outside the house and got out to see two young children playing in the yard. The looked up when he approached them, the little girl smiling up at him.

"Who are you?" She asked a little shy.

"My names Julio, what's your name?"

"Sasha." She grinned.

"Wow, that's a very pretty name he said, kneeling down to her level.

"This my brother Timmy."

"Hey there Timmy."

Timmy was a little younger than his sister and hid behind her as Sasha eyed Julio. The door to the house opened and a woman in her mid thirties stepped out, a look of worry on her face.

"Excuse me, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

She came rushing over to her kids and ushered them inside the house.

"Sasha go and get you brother and yourself something to eat."

"But Mom…"

"Go…now."

Sasha grabbed Timmy's hand and took him inside as the woman looked back to Julio.

"What right do you have talking to my kids, who are you and why are you…?"

"Ma'am, my apologies, my name is Detective Julio Sanchez…I'm with the LAPD."

"Police, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize."

"It's fine Ma'am."

"Were you looking for me?"

"Actually Ma'am I was looking for your husband Jason, it's regarding his sister Gabriella."

"He's inside, has something happened."

"If we could talk inside."

She nodded her head and took Julio inside the house; it was beautifully decorated, well maintained. They seemed like a really happy family, the sounds of the kids echoing throughout the house. He walked in to the study to find Jason at his desk typing on his computer.

"Jason sweetie, this is Detective Sanchez, he's with the LAPD."

"LAPD, has something happened."

"Sir, are you the brother of Gabriella Monroe."

"Gabby, yes I am. Is she in trouble?"

"I'm very sorry to have to tell you this but Gabriella's body was found late last night, I'm afraid she's dead Sir."

The colour drained from Jason's face as he took in what Julio was telling him, his wife was immediately at his side, her arms wrapping around him as tears fell from both their eyes.

"What happened to her?" Jason asked.

"She was stabbed."

"Oh my god, it was that boyfriend of hers wasn't it?"

"Jason honey we don't know that."

"Oh come on Claire, we all know what he was like. How many times did we tell her to leave him huh? Detective Sanchez, was it Damien who did this."

"We believe so Sir, he was being taken in to custody earlier today, I have no new information at this time but we do need someone to identify Gabriella's body. If you're up to it, would you be willing to come with me to clarify that it's your sister."

Jason could only nod his head as he began to cry harder in to his wife's chest. Sasha came in and saw her father and immediately ran over to him and hugged him.

"Don't cry daddy, Sasha will make it all better." She cried.

"Oh honey, come here."

He picked up his daughter and sat her on his knee as she watched him intently.

"What's wrong daddy."

"Darling girl, your auntie Gabby had an accident."

The little girl's face fell as she looked up at him.

"Will she be back soon?"

"No honey, Auntie Gabby won't be back, she's sleeping now."

"With the angels?"

"Yes honey…with the angels."

…

Louie and Mike walked back from custody and heard laughter coming from Major Crimes, when they entered Louie looked shocked when he saw Brenda sitting beside Sharon, laughing and joking. Mike was over to them in seconds welcoming back Brenda. She looked up to see Louie watching her, his facial expression blank. She got up and went over to him, a little nervous.

"Hey Lieutenant." She smiled.

"Chief."

"How are yew?"

"Well…if you'd ever bothered to drop by…you'd know."

His tone was bitter, Sharon got up and came over to them. She gave him a warm smile, softening him a little.

"Lieutenant, be nice."

"What does she expect, she walked away, said she'd keep in touch and did we ever hear from her, no."

"Please let me explain, all of yew. Look, I know I should have kept in touch and I'm sorry, it's not because I didn't want too."

"Then why Chief?" Mike asked.

"Because, yew needed to accept Sharon as Captain, as your boss. Havin' me drop in all the time wouldn't have helped. I know yew all resented her when she took over, a lot of yew hated her but look at yew all now…y'all comin' together to help her with her pregnancy, looking after her. If I was still around, would yew have still been here for her, no because yew would all try to remain loyal to me and I didn't want that. Yew all mean the world to me, yew know that but it's nice to see that now…so does Sharon and not just too yew…but to me too." She smiled, turning to Sharon. "I'm glad to count you as a friend Sharon."

"Oh Brenda…me too." Sharon smiled, before hugging the blonde.

"So…do yew forgive me Lieutenant?" Brenda begged.

Louie stood watching her and watching as Sharon's hand lay around Brenda's shoulder, both women eyeing him closely.

"Well Lieutenant?" Sharon's voice of authority coming through.

"What's past it past I guess." He grumbled.

"Good, well now that we have that cleared up, why don't we get back to work huh and perhaps later we could all go down the road for dinner before we head home." Andy said.

"That sounds like a lovely idea Andy." Sharon smiled.

…

It was an hour later when Julio arrived back at the station, Sharon looked up from her desk, Brenda following her gaze as the pair were looking through a baby magazine.

"I wonder who that is with Julio." Sharon stated before getting up and going to see for herself.

"Captain."

"Detective Sanchez, who's this?"

"Captain, this is Jason Monroe, he's Gabriella's brother.

"Mr Monroe, hello my name is Captain Sharon Raydor. I'm so very sorry for your loss."

"Thank you Captain, can I see my sister."

"Yes of course, I'll just ring down and let Dr Morales know that you're coming down."

"Actually Captain I called him on the drive back, he's expecting us."

"Okay, well why don't we go down then…follow me."

Jason and Julio followed Sharon as they made their way down to autopsy, when they arrived Dr Morales was waiting for them in the hallway.

"Jason, this is our medical examiner Dr Morales." Sharon smiled.

"Hello Jason, I'm so very sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, can I see her."

"Yes of course, follow me."

Jason followed him inside along with Julio while Sharon waited for them outside. A few moments later Dr Morales stepped out and came over to join her on the couch that was in the hallway.

"Well?" She asked.

"It's Gabriella Monroe, which we already knew."

"Mmmm, sometimes I wish we weren't always right though. Where's Julio?"

"Jason wanted him to stay with him while he grieved."

"Right."

"So, while we're waiting, how are you Captain?"

"I'm very well thank you." She smiled.

"Baby okay?"

"She's perfect."

"She?"

"Yes, we found out this morning. A little girl and she's healthy, I couldn't be happier."

"That's great Captain, I'm very happy for you both…Andy seems ecstatic."

"Well that's certainly one word for him; I've never seen him so happy."

"I guess your husband was like that when your kids were born."

"Jack, not quite. Jack was more interested in women and gambling than his children."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

"No it's okay; I don't mind talking about it. Perhaps at one time but I've made my peace with it now. I don't think Jack was ever really ready to be a father, it's only now that he realizes what he missed out on all those years ago. He is trying very hard to make up for it now but it takes time, he's been great with this one too, feels strange. I'm sorry Doctor, you don't need to be hearing all this."

"No really, I don't mind. I don't really get to talk a lot being hidden away down here, it's nice to talk to someone."

"Are you busy tonight?"

"Not especially…why?"

"Would you like to join us at Lucini's a few blocks from here, we're going there for dinner after work, welcome Brenda back in to the fold."

"Chief Johnson's here? See what I was talking about."

Sharon laughed at the irony "Yes I do, so how about it. Do you fancy joining us. We'll all be there and I'm going to as DDA Hobbs to join us and of course Rusty."

"Andrea, well you've twisted my arm. I haven't seen my best girl in a while."

"Good, I'll come and get you when we're ready to go okay."

"Great."

They both looked up when Julio and Jason came back out, Jason drying his eyes."

"Jason, how about we get you some tea, or coffee if you'd prefer." Sharon smiled.

"Coffee would be good, thanks."

Julio led Jason away from Autopsy as Sharon followed, smiling as the Doctor as she left.

…

To Be Continued…