Major Crimes Mysteries

The Family McCoy

Chapter 11

When Sharon got home that evening, Rusty was waiting for her. He had let himself in and was eating a hamburger from his favorite burger joint that was right around the corner from the house. It was the place he and Sharon used to go to all the time when she was too tired to make dinner after a long day at work. Rusty was never sure if it was his favorite place because the burgers were truly remarkable or if it was because he enjoyed the long talks he and Sharon would have over them. His first Sharon never did anything like that because she was too busy with guys who had absolutely no desire to be any type of father figure to him. Not that it ever bothered him.

"How nice it is to see you here. Did you get off work early?" Sharon asked him. Normally he would never come this late in the evening especially if she and Andy were working a case.

"Yeah. Andrea had to go to an appointment, so we wrapped early for the day. I did some running around and wanted to come spend some time to talk to my favorite Sharon. That had been a joke between Rusty and Sharon for a bit now.

Sharon went to the refrigerator and poured herself a small glass of her favorite white wine. One of her happiest days of 2019 was when her doctor told her she could return to her routine of coming home and relaxing with a glass of her wine. While she kept the amount smaller on doctor's orders, she now savored every drop as she felt the pressures from the day release as she would stand on her balcony and watch the horizon while drinking her wine.

She looked at Rusty and smiled. "Where's Dad?" Rusty asked. After the incident involving Phillip Stroh, Sharon noticed that Rusty started periodically calling Andy dad. When she asked Andy about it, he just kind of shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure, Sharon, but I don't want to discourage it if that is what makes him feel comfortable." Andy told her. Sharon hinted around to Rusty as to the change. Rusty simply dismissed it. "Ya know, Mom. He has been much more of a father than that abusive sperm donor I am lucky enough to have. Why? Is there a problem with it?" Rusty asked knowing he had put her on the defensive. Sharon stammered, "Not at all. I actually love it." Rusty looked at her with a smirk that let him know the topic was behind him.

Rusty finished up his dinner and directed Sharon to the couch.

"So, Mom, I actually came here for a reason. I knew Dad wasn't going to be here. There is a reason Dad is the Lieutenant tonight. It isn't just the case." Rusty said with a straight look on his face. "We need to talk, Mom." Sharon felt panic rise in herself. "Are you ok?" she looked at him with concern. "I'm fine, Mom. You are not. What is going on with these nightmares? They have been going on for a really long time, Mom and you are not addressing them. Dad and I have been talking. He is super worried about you, Mom." Rusty was firm in his tone with her. "I'm fine, Rusty. You do not need to worry about me." Sharon said to him. When he looked at her with a side glance and roll of his eyes, Sharon implored him to drop the topic. "Not this time, Mom. You are going to lose him. Dad loves you, but this is killing him, Mom. He has bruises from you beating on him in your nightmares. Forget about his physical injuries, Mom. He is emotionally frustrated and worried about you, and you won't talk to him about it. The same thing you are doing to me right now. You are not taking care of yourself, Mom." Rusty would not let up. "Can I ask you something? When I didn't want to address everything going on in my life, everything bad that had happened to me on the streets, you made me. Looking back, Dr. Joe was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. You go through something where you nearly died, and you don't think it is important to talk to someone. Seriously, Mom? Does that make ANY sense? Rusty responded sure to emphasize the word any to hit his point home.

Sharon became quiet. She knew both Andy and Rusty were right, but she was truly terrified at what Dr. Joe would uncover and how it would destroy everything good in her life. She knew she couldn't let anyone know what she had already suspected.

"Think about it, Mom. I gotta go. Early day tomorrow." Rusty said as he got up from the couch and walked towards the door. "I love you, Mom. You need to take care of what you need to take care of." With that, Rusty walked out the door.

Sharon was very quiet when Andy came home. He was unsure how to take it and was nervous to ask. Normally, he and Sharon had open communication and could talk to each other about anything, but the stress of the nightmares and her refusal to address it had put them into a different place.

Once she knew Andy was home safe, Sharon kissed him and let him know she was going to bed. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes. I'm just going to sit her for a bit." Andy told her. She blew him another kiss and disappeared into the bedroom.

Andy had considered just sleeping in the guest room. This case would demand his full attention. He was worried about it being a bad night with Sharon, but he truly missed sleeping with her whenever they were apart. In the end, Andy ended up climbing into bed next to her.

Sharon rolled over in her sleep and reached out to him putting her hand on his chest. They always seemed to connect with one another. He took her hand and kissed it afterwards returning it to its place on his chest and put his hand over hers. He looked over at her as she slept and breathed in deeply. He loved this woman more than life itself, but his concern for her weighed just as heavy. Even though Andy was concerned for Sharon, he found this case zapping him of any energy and he ended up falling asleep almost immediately.

That night, there were no nightmares and the Flynns slept well.

TBC