Okay, I know it's short, but I needed this to transition into Season 7. It's now late July of Season 7 The Closer, and Delk has just passed away. Also, thank you for the "please don't end the story" comments! It's not over, yet, as I mentioned, but I like to start thinking of new ideas to get them mapped in my head. I have a few, so not to worry! I'll continue to think through them as I work on this story too.

"What an unbelievable couple of weeks," Andy sighed, as sank down on Sharon's couch and closed his eyes. Sharon followed, carrying two steaming hot cups of tea.

"I'm about ready to turn in my badge and retire," Sharon stated, as she sank down on the couch. Andy opened one eye, surprised to hear that coming from her.

"I didn't think I would hear that from you dealing with Chief. It's just an audit, right? What's going on? We've barely had a moment to talk in the last couple weeks with Belk's death and funeral, a couple of cases, and not to mention Pope and Taylor battling it out for the LAPD hierarchy.

Sharon sighed as she shook her head. Andy pulled her into his side, and she curled up with her head on his shoulder. "I know everyone thinks I'm the bad guy, but I'm just doing what I've been ordered to do. I can't just walk away until those orders change."

"Yeah," Andy started, "but Delk was the one who ordered you to do the audit," he said, but Sharon sat up and gave him a look, a look he understood, and apparently, no matter what she'd tried to convey, Brenda had not. "Oh crap, it's not just from Delk is it? You can't say anything, but wait a minute," he started pointing a finger, "Pope wants you to continue with this, doesn't he?"

Sharon just hummed and turned around, leaning back against Andy. He let out a loud sigh, one they both understood. He got it; he couldn't say anything, and she couldn't say anything. They really couldn't talk about much of it.

"Sharon, I'm sorry," he offered, rubbing her arm. "I wish I could help and make this easier for you. I'll do anything I can to make it easier for you, okay?"

Sharon just patted his hand, still not saying anything. Andy continued to rub his hand up and down her arm as he thought.

"This is big; I can tell. You don't get worked up about things often, even things with my division. Chief normally doesn't bother you, but I can tell, it's not just Chief. You're worried about something. Provenza said you asked him for the case file from the Newton stuff. It doesn't take a lot to put some of the pieces together, and I'm sorry you are having to deal with this, Sharon. I've been so busy, so wrapped up in the last couple of cases, I didn't even see it. I knew Chief was giving you the run around, sending all of us out to do patrol work-grid searches and all, but really, I thought she was just irritated with you in general. I'm sorry. I wish I could help you more, but I'm stuck."

"I know," Sharon patted his hand, turning slightly to give him a small smile. "Thank you," she leaned up to kiss him. "It means a lot you have my back, or you'd like to have my back if your own hands weren't tied with work."

"Yeah," he sighed, pulling her closer. "There's a lot I wish I could do. I wish I could have stood with you at Delk's funeral. That was a mess. Even though I didn't like the guy, the thought of something like that happening to either of us, well," he shook his head, "life is short, Sharon."

"It is," she sat up and turned to face him. As much as she was enjoying her relaxed stance leaning up against him, she wanted to look him in the eye. "I can't believe he collapsed on the Murder Room floor and died right there! Andy, he collapsed right there in front of all of us."

"I know," he shook his head. "Scary, it really was. I can't even imagine something like that happening, collapsing there on the Murder Room floor. I'm just glad his wife didn't see it; talk about scary to see your loved one collapse right before your eyes. It was bad enough all of us had to see it."

Sharon sighed, as she shook her head, "I don't want to ever imagine or think about that. You mean too much to me," she leaned in and kissed him again. He returned it, and they quickly deepened their kiss.

When they broke apart, they smiled at each other, neither wanting to move far from the other. Sharon turned back around, scooting up so she was tucked into Andy's side again, and they continued to talk. Andy kissed her shoulder once she got situated. "So," he started, "I put in my leave request for October."

"I did too," Sharon smiled. "I took off an extra day at the start of that leave like we discussed."

"Good," he grinned. "I took off two extra days at the end. I figure I'm older than you and will need more recovery time from our cross-country travel."

Sharon swatted at him, "You're two years older than me. That's hardly ancient."

"I didn't call myself ancient; you did, my dear," he joked. "Now, as soon as that is approved, which hopefully will be this week, we can buy the tickets."

"I wish you would re-open our discussion about my paying for part of the tickets," Sharon pleaded. "You don't need to buy my ticket to New York."

"I know I don't. I have to pay a change ticket fee for my ticket, which is almost the cost of another ticket," he rolled his eyes. "I'm buying your ticket, period. My gift to you."

"For what?" she raised her eyebrows.

"Oh," he shrugged, "anything. For being amazing, loving, selfless, but today, let's say it's for doing an amazing job at work even when the entire police force appears they are against you, well, everyone but one stud of a guy," he flashed a grin. Sharon rolled her eyes again as she chuckled.

"Well, thank you, but really, Andy, I can get my ticket. I know it's not cheap," she explained.

"It's not, but I'll find a way to get the extra cash. It won't be an issue. It's not like I spend a lot of my paycheck on much, just treating my favorite lady to whatever she needs," he smiled.

"So, have you spoken to Emily since she returned to New York?" Sharon asked.

He shook his head, "No, just a text here or there. Been too busy, but I'm really glad the two of you have turned a corner."

"I am too," she sighed. "It was really getting to me. I hate arguing, just as I hated arguing with you."

"Well, hopefully, this work assignment won't be too bad. I know it's been stressful. Pope now being in charge isn't going to diminish the stress, unfortunately, but do you think you'll be done with your audit in a few days?"

Sharon gave him a look, "I think this one is going to break someone. Who, I don't know, but it's not going away easily."

"We'll work through it, Sharon. I promise, I will try to keep my cool, even if I want to get just as irritated as the team," he kissed her head.

"Just watch your back, Andy, and keep your thoughts to yourself. I don't say that insinuating you'd say anything out of line, but just take that advice from what I can tell you," she warned.

"I'll watch my back, Sharon, but no one in our division is cause for concern. Promise," he kissed her head again, as the two continued to sit and relax.