not my characters just playing with them

Chapter seventeen

The station was an absolute chaos with all the evidence from the hospital being brought in. Everyone was making over hours, including the people from the lab. Sharon was the one trying to keep order in the chaos, making sure that all of the evidence would be treated with the care it needed. Not making herself very popular in the process. Most of the men had no idea why it was so important for them to do this now and not in the morning. Rolling their eyes when Sharon summoned up the rule book, talking about the importance of the chain of evidence.

Hamilton couldn't really blame her. Sharon had worked so hard for this. She wanted to arrest the man for murder. Give the parents of that little girl closure. That's what they all wanted. He respected her immensely for the way she dealt with the resistance in this case. Even from her own father. The suspect's lawyer being her ex-fiancé, couldn't be easy either. Still she made it look so effortless.

His eyes weren't the only ones fixed on her. Flynn's were as well. A frown edging between his eyebrows, looking concerned. He must wonder how long she'd be able to continue like this. Probably knowing her better than anyone else in this room. Andy probably knew exactly what it did to her to have her own father against her. She was very professional here, but at home she must also show that vulnerable side of hers.

Although no one was blind, they'd been very discreet about their relationship. They had been very close almost from the beginning. But he could see the subtle differences. Like now Flynn's concern and love for her, taking the upper hand. Andy had walked over to her, his hand resting between her shoulder blades. It was first his thumb that stroke her back. Then his hand moved slowly to the small of her back and back up. Flynn moving in closer to whisper something in her ear. That finally caught her attention. But it didn't seem like it had the desired effect, as she turned her face towards him and gave him a stern look, only she was able to give. Knowing Flynn, he returned that stern look of hers, but had to give in anyway, as Elliot certainly wouldn't .

He noticed the sigh that escaped Flynn's lips, as he walked away from her. Andy came his way, probably seeking his assistance.

"Everything alright with, Elliot?"

"She's being stubborn."

Hamilton couldn't help but smile. "That's probably why the two of you are such a match made in heaven."

Flynn squinted his eyes in annoyance. "You could help me out you know."

Frustration reigned his voice. His concern making him feel on edge.

"I want her to go home. She's tired. Sharon worked over time finding some loop hole to get that search warrant. Now she'll pull an all-nighter again, trying to find the evidence we need. And once we'll do she'll be in that interrogation room facing Raydor."

That's what concerned him the most. This last confrontation they would have with the guy. He'd be able to tell when she was tired, not on top of her game. Raydor would know how to hurt her, put her off balance like that. Andy was pretty sure Sharon would be able to gather herself after that, but he didn't want to see her hurt. And he definitely didn't want Raydor to win this.

"You could order her to go home, you know. You are still her superior officer, Flynn. "

"True and she would listen to me if I ordered her. I'd rather have the order coming from you, though."

Hamilton's mouth curved slightly. He could imagine why. Elliot probably would be angry with him if the order came from Flynn. That's what happened when couples formed themselves on the work floor. "She seems okay to me, Flynn."

He shook his head, annoyed. Andy didn't like pulling rank. Never had. Especially not with Sharon. As far as he was concerned they were equals in their partnership, at work and at home. This wasn't an issue of getting his way, though. He just thought about her and what her stubborn nature wouldn't allow herself to admit. Andy knew she would blame herself, if they were unable to catch this bastard, because Raydor would be able to pinch through her.

This was for her own good and in the end she would acknowledge that as well, right? He was watching out for her. Andy sighed deep before he approached her. She was like a hawk trying to hover over all the evidence, coordinate every little piece of information they got. Those guys would be happy to get her of their backs.

Putting his hand on the small of her back, he tried to get her attention. His thumb gliding over the soft silk fabric of her blouse, trying to calm her, making sure she'd take the time to give him her undivided attention.

The warmth radiated from his hand flat on the small of her back. She finished her sentence though, she wouldn't allow any mistakes. There would be no loop holes this time. Nothing for Jack to use to escape in. Her breathing slowed a bit, as she felt Andy's thumb stroke her back. Sharon knew he was concerned about her, but she was a grown woman, she could handle this.

The hard look in her eyes disappeared, when she looked at him. A soft smile lingering on her lips. The smile she only reserved for him. That small peek at the real Sharon, only he got.

"You need to go home, hon. Get some sleep. All of this will still be here in the morning."

"I don't want there to be any loop holes."

"You need to be fit when we question Haskell."

"So? I will be."

"So… Raydor will be there. He'll be able to tell you had no sleep. He'll know which buttons to push. That's why you're going home now and get some sleep."

Sharon stared at him like she had before. No lingering smile, just that stubborn look in her eyes. Andy wished he wouldn't have to, but he wasn't giving in, so she left him no other choice.

"That's an order."

His voice was calm, while his eyes wouldn't leave hers. She put her hands on her hips, one eyebrow quirking up. "An order?"

He gave her no response as he'd been very clear. He doubted whether she would have reacted the same way, if it had been Hamilton ordering her to do exactly the same thing. He knew they both tried to, but there would be no going around the fact that they were in a relationship as well. Her reaction had been at Andy, her partner, her lover, not her superior officer. The pursing of her lips told him she was annoyed. She'd get over it though.

"Come on, I'll drive us home."

Andy wanted to reach for her, but she walked passed him towards her desk. "I'll drive myself home, you wanted me to sleep, did you not?"

Andy bit the inside of his cheek. Guess she did take it personal after all. He grimaced, as Sharon grabbed her purse and walked out without as much as a word of goodbye.

Hamilton looked satisfied. So Flynn hadn't gone all soft. Andy had ordered her, because he'd believed it was the right thing to do. It probably was. Flynn knew Elliot better than he did. Knew more about her relationship with Raydor. If he believed Raydor would notice the difference in her, he shouldn't doubt it.

Hamilton saw Flynn's shoulders slump and walked toward him. "Why don't you go home as well?"

Home. To what? An empty bed. Sharon hadn't gone to his place, she had went to her own apartment, that was something that was sure. They didn't argue a lot, but it had been more than clear that she'd been pissed.

"No thank you."

"Afraid she'll tell you whatever it was she had to swallow here, because you're her superior?"

So he had noticed too. Nice to see his Commander was so amused over it.

"Glad you're so amused by it all. She won't be at my place. This could have been avoided if you'd ordered her."

"I'm not responsible for keeping your love life in working order, Flynn…."

This would have happened one day. They should learn to deal with the fact that they were in a chain of command position, no matter what they were in their private time.

"Come on, she will have forgotten all about it in the morning."

Andy frowned. Did he know anything about women in general? "She was pissed."

"She followed your orders a lot easier than you ever have mine."

"You don't know her. Sharon was really angry and she'll be even more angry when someone messes up the evidence. And to be honest I can't blame her, after all the hard work she's done. I'll stay here for as long as it takes and oversee matters, so Sharon's hard work won't be all for nothing. Make sure Raydor won't find some legal loop hole and get this bastard off the hook."

So until Sharon would be back, he'd be on their backs for her.

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Sharon looked in the mirror, her hair looked exactly like her night had been, a mess. Andy had send her home, no , ordered her to go home. She'd been so worked up, too much adrenaline raging through her body, to sleep. Part of it had been the case, the urge to nail this bastard. Mostly it had been the anger and frustration. She couldn't believe Andy pulling rank on her. He knew how important this case was to her. Still he ordered her. Her heart still raged in her chest, just thinking about it. It hadn't felt like following an order. It felt like him telling her what to do. Like Jack had tried so many times. She would not have it. Not from Jack and not from Andy either. She'd be sure to make that clear to him the first chance she'd find a moment for the two of them. She'd tell him everything she had to swallow down at the station.

First they would have to proof Dr. Haskell actually killed that little girl though. That would mean a tiresome interrogation with Jack not giving her an inch, most likely. She could only hope that by now they'd have found some substantial evidence.

An audible sigh escaped her lips, while she ran her hands through her hair, her fingers blindly reaching for the clip, so she could pull it together ,into something what would have to resemble a ponytail. Sharon didn't have the energy to attempt a bun, and spend the next ten minutes to pin up the strands of hair that fell out. It would have to do. With a bit of mascara she tried to make herself look a bit more awake than she felt. When this case was over she'd sleep an entire day. Or maybe two.

Her fingers tugged her blouse into her pencil skirt, trying not to think about how every muscle in her shoulders and neck ached. Willing herself not to think of how one of Andy's massages would make her feel so much better.

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Andy rubbed his neck, while his other hand reached for the mug filled to the rim, with an extra strong brew of coffee. He had lost count on how many he already had. He was definitely ready to collapse onto the nearest bed he could find, but first they would have to nail that Haskell. Andy still wasn't sure at how they were going to accomplish that. They'd spend the entire night going over everything found and related to Haskell. Unfortunately they hadn't found any cold hard evidence.

He sighed of the thought of being stuck with Raydor in an interrogation room. The prick shrugging everything of as circumstantial evidence with that cocky smile of his. He had wanted to spare Sharon that confrontation. At least she got some sleep. Andy looked to his left.

"Anything?"

"Nichols just came in. He'll test the latex particles first thing."

Andy nodded. This was one of the last straws to grasp at. He didn't even know if it would be enough to bring the bastard in for questioning. Not that they would get far with that. The guy would probably scream 'lawyer'. It was so damn frustrating, Andy didn't want the guy to win. He didn't want Raydor to get another one of these bastards off the hook.

For a moment Sharon stood in the doorway. Watching Andy rub his neck. Probably hadn't slept very well on his own last night. A satisfied quirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. That just served him right. She crossed her hands in front of her chest, taking him in. Her anger with him slowly washed away, when she realized he was still wearing yesterday's clothes. Andy rubbed his neck again. He must have been there all night, stayed to supervise.

"Hm…" A soft smile curved her lips.

Andy smelled her perfume. He breathed slow, unsure of what to do. Go to her, let her come to him? He didn't even dare look over his shoulder. He hadn't forgotten about her look of steel and he doubted that a night of sleep, had made her less angry with him.

Andy didn't look around, but she could tell by his body language, that he'd noticed her coming in. Maybe he was irritated, because of the way she had reacted. Sharon sighed. It hadn't been very professional in hindsight, maybe. Fact was though that they could both be just as stubborn. They should focus on solving this case first. Dropping her arms to the side of her body she walked towards him in a few long strides.

Sharon stopped right behind him and looked around his shoulder to search for his face. "Hey…"

Her voice was a lot softer than he had expected it to be. As his eyes met hers, they were softer as well. Maybe she realized he only meant well after all.

"Hey.." The corner of his mouth slightly curled, while he took her in. She didn't look like she got a lot of sleep. Maybe he shouldn't have send her home after all. His fingertips lightly touched her jaw, his eyes fixed on hers, reading her. Realizing she probably didn't have the best of nights. At that small endearment all her anger washed away. Sharon moved closer and he saw just how tired she was. His hand moved to her neck, so he could pull her closer, his lips murmuring at her hairline.

"You didn't sleep much, did you?" His hand stroke her nape.

"Neither did you…"

"Stayed here to supervise."

She should have known he would. "Anything?"

"Lots of circumstantial stuff."

"Enough to get a confession out of him?" Sharon looked hopeful.

"Maybe."

"You're concerned about Jack aren't you?"

"I just wish we had found enough, not to have to deal with that guy. I just don't want him to get away with it. I've seen it happen before."

Sharon backed away, so she could have a good look at him. Andy was still haunted by that child murderer that got away because of Jack. "Let me handle, Jack."

Andy looked concerned.

"You believe I don't have it in me… That I can't deal with him."

Andy pursed his lips, as he touched her cheek. "I don't doubt you can, hon. I just don't want him to hurt you. He will get personal and he'll get mean."

"I know he will and I can deal with that. "

Sharon could tell by the look in his eyes, that he wasn't less concerned. "Honey, I've dealt with Jack for a very long time… Long before we got together… If I was just Officer Elliot, your partner, would you have the same concern?"

"You're not just my partner."

"Andy…"

"You've never been just my partner. Sharon I know what you're getting at… even if I hadn't fallen in love with you, I would feel the same way right now. "

"Hmmm…" She smiled with so much love in her eyes.

"I know you don't need me to, but I will always look out for you."

Sharon took his hand in hers, capturing his eyes. "And I love you for that." Sharon smiled while she gave him a brief kiss. Stealing a moment, as long as they were still alone in the murder room.