Major Crimes Mysteries

The Family McCoy

Chapter 1

Andy slept fitfully. In his sleep, he could feel the nightmare starting to begin and willed it away. He couldn't handle it tonight. The case he had just wrapped up had been horrible. Another husband kills wife case. In all his years as a detective, he could never figure out how the husbands didn't realize they'd look at them first, but ignorance always won out. Particularly tonight, he needed his restorative sleep but could feel the beginnings of the recurring nightmare that would often wake him up and make sleep difficult.

Sharon was standing over Mrs. Landon laying out the murders she had committed. As per suspect protocol, Mrs. Landon was denying it all. Sharon was tired. She wasn't taking it from this suspect. She wasn't letting this suspect get any less of her because she didn't feel well and health problems were plaguing her. The flu and continuing heart issues had her tired. This wasn't her personality. Sharon was never a burden. She was the support. She was the go-to. She was the alpha female. She never had to depend on anyone, and she liked that. This illness wasn't allowing for that and she just wanted it done. As she continued to yell at Mrs. Landon, she felt the tightness in her chest begin and she welcomed it. Maybe now it would be over. She wouldn't ask for help like she did before. She would let it ride. That was Sharon. She was always in control.

Andy felt the thrashing. He would always turn on his side to try to control it, but often found himself back on him back with the thrashing continuing.

Dr. Torres came out of the doors. The look on his face told them all. Sharon was gone.

Andy felt the thrashing. His sleep was so deep, he couldn't force himself to wake up. He begged his mind to let him wake up, but he couldn't. This time he was so tired, he simply couldn't wake up, so the thrashing continued.

Rusty and the team were on a boat. Rusty was slowly coming down the stairs of the boat and saw Phillip Stroh hiding behind a pilar getting ready to strike Provenza. Rusty's gun lifted, and the shot was fired killing Stroh instantly.

Suddenly Andy forced himself awake. Irritated, he looked over at Sharon and shook her awake. "Babe! Wake up please. You are having another nightmare."

Sharon woke up startled and sweating. She looked at Andy as though she was unsure of who he was and where she was.

Andy clearly irritated said "Sharon, you have to get to the bottom of these nightmares. It has been three years and I am more bruised than ever. Babe, you have to talk to someone to get to the bottom of this."

"Talking to someone isn't going to help, Andy" Sharon said.

"How do you know it won't help, Sharon. You haven't tried." Andy's tone softened. "You went through a lot. Sharon, 2018 was a tough year for all of us, but particularly you. Can I ask you a question?" Andy continued without giving Sharon a chance to answer. "You will send any of us to therapy for a moment's notice, but you have the worst time of your life and you don't go? It doesn't make sense. As you like to say, if it doesn't make sense, it isn't true. You need to take your own advice on this one, Sharon."

Sharon looked intently at Andy without saying a word.

Andy's phone ringing broke the silence. He grabbed the phone and took the address from Provenza. Before Provenza hung up, he said "Hey Flynn, tell the Commander it is bad. We need her here on this one." Flynn wondered what that meant. Provenza had said it before but used it mainly in cases that kids were involved. He tossed back the covers reluctantly without giving Sharon Provenza's message and walked into the bathroom to get ready to go to the crime scene. Sharon needed her sleep. She had been doing well since her defibrillator was implanted, but these nightmares stressed both of them out. He had been talking to Provenza about the nightmares and issues it was causing so he hoped Louie would understand. Sharon he wasn't so sure would understand his omission.

He came out of the bathroom and noticed Sharon had gotten up. She didn't come into the bathroom to get ready to go to the crime scene with him like she periodically did, so he guessed she had moved to Rusty's old room to try to sleep. It wasn't the first time she had done it with the nightmares. Given Sharon's response to him, he guessed it wouldn't be the last.

When he walked out the bedroom door, he could hear Sharon in the kitchen. He walked into the kitchen and Sharon had a travel mug of coffee ready for him. He looked at her and couldn't help but wonder how he was so lucky to get her. At any time in his life, he would never have guessed he would be married to someone as spectacular as Sharon. Except for his children, he never felt as much love for anyone in his life as he felt for Sharon.

"You know I love you, right?" Andy said. Sharon nodded her head yes. "You know this isn't over, right?" Sharon nodded her head again. "I have to get going. I am going to be late, and you know how Provenza will be." Sharon grinned widely and shook her head yes.

"I'll see you at the office." Sharon replied. "And Andy, I love you too." Andy blinked slowly at her, which he knew she loved, smiled and closed the front door.

TBC