Andy wasn't sure how it happened, but Sharon ended up sitting between him and Provenza.

Andy watched her carry on conversations with the people at the table. Some how she'd managed to seem normal. Less up tight and less cold like she normally was around the rest of the team. Laughing, joking, and telling stories.

Andy was so fixated on her he hadn't heard the joke or knew who's told it. All he knew was it threw Sharon Raydor into a fit of laughter. Her hand landed on his thigh. She covered her mouth with her other hand leaning into him laughing.

Andy put an arm around the back of her chair letting his chest support her. He took in the scent of hair. She must have felt his face close to hers because she turned to face him.

Sharon gave him a quick smile before she straightened back and squaring her shoulder. His arm remain on the back of her chair and her hand stayed on his thigh the rest of the dinner.

After dinner Sharon had disappeared. Andy found her in the break room with Mrs. Johnson. He leaned against the doorway watching the interaction between the two.

"Dinner was amazing, Mrs. Johnson." Sharon gave the older woman a hug. "Are you sure I can't help you clean up?"

"No, it's fine." Willie Ray shook her head pulling back to look at her. "And please call me Willie Ray."

"Yes," Sharon gleamed. "Willie Ray. Thank you so much for inviting me."

"Thank you for helping me get it all finished." Willie Ray released her hold on Sharon. "And the marshmallows were just fine. I don't care what Brenda Leigh says."

"Thank you." Sharon nodded. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Willie Ray patted Sharon on the back. "Merry Christmas, Lieutenant Flynn. Make sure you get Sharon here home safely."

"Yes, ma'am." Andy smiled stepping further into the room. He watched Mrs. Johnson walk out of the room. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Sharon nodded. She grabbed her suitcase from the corner of the room.

"I'll take that for you." His hand covered hers on the handle.

"Thank you." She smiled pulling her hand away.

Once inside he elevator, Andy caught her hand with his own seeing that they were alone. She linked their fingers together.

Once the elevator stopped he pulled his hand from hers. They stepped out into the parking garage.

"I'm just over here." His hand went to her lower back guiding her to his car.

Once they reached his car he popped the trunk. He placed her suitcase inside while she got in the car.

Sharon gave him the directions to her condo, then looked out the window.

"What are you thinking about?" Andy asked her after a few minutes of silence.

"Nothing much." She shrugged then looked at him. "Just life. It's never turns out like we planned."

"No," Andy shook his head and smiled. "I didn't plan on spending the evening with you."

"And I planned on being in Salt Lake City." She sighed.

"What would you be doing right now if you were there?" Andy asked with interest.

"Right now?" She looked at her watch. "Right now I'd be enjoying hot chocolate by the fire with my kids and my parents. We'd be playing spades while my mother watched. She is always the referee. I'd be partnered with my dad sticking Emily and Ricky to be partners. They'd be arguing of course."

"Of course." He joined her in her slight laugh. He took his hand into hers when he saw a tear slip down her cheek. "Look, Sharon, it doesn't matter if it's Christmas or any other day of the year. You're going to get to Salt Lake City and have that perfect evening with your family."

"Thank you." She smiled linking their fingers together. She wiped her tears from her cheeks with her other hand.

"So does any of this deserve a kiss?" He asked trying to lighten the mood. "I'm running out of material here."

"You're so full of yourself." She laughed looking back out the window.

Andy saw a smile pulled at her lips through the reflection of the window.

Andy pulled into the parking garage. He found a spot near the elevators.

"Thank you for the ride." Sharon said before reaching for the door handle.

"Let me get your suitcase." Andy got out of the car.

Andy retrieved her suitcase from the trunk and closed it. Sharon reached for it but he pulled it away.

"Lieutenant?" Sharon frowned.

"Let me walk you up?" He offered. She shook her head. Are you afraid?"

"Of what?" She took a step closer to him. "Of what you would do to me or what I would do to you?"

"Of what we couldn't stop doing to each other?" He ran his finger tips from her ear down her neck. Goosebumps appeared on her skin.

Sharon leaned in close. Andy thought she was going to kiss him, but she grabbed her suitcase from him while he was distracted.

"Two can play at this game." She pulled away from him completely. She turned and walked away waving him goodbye. "Goodnight Lieutenant. Merry Christmas."

Andy could barely concentrate on the way home. He was thankful Sharon would be out of town for a a few weeks. Hopefully it would give him time to get her out of his system