Tag to 5.14 Heart Failure. No beta, all mistakes are mine.
The cold night air was piercing, but Sharon Raydor did not care; she longed to feel numb. Accepting Chief Howard's offer to drive her home to avoid having to wait for Andy, who was taking the written exam with the rest of the team, seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, alone with her thoughts in the darkness of the balcony, she wasn't so sure. Pulling Andy's dark green robe tighter, she slipped her nose under the edge of the fabric. Her eyes fluttered closed at the hint of his aftershave still lingering on the soft material. It did little to soothe the tightness in her chest, for she was sure she has yet to take one single deep breath since Phillip Stroh's name tumbled from Fritz Howard's lips.
The file lay closed on the foot of the chaise lounge, she wasn't sure why she had brought it out here with her, seeing as how she's already read it several times. Fritz had surprised her on the way home when he so bluntly asked if she was planning on sharing this new information on Stroh with Andy and Rusty. Instead of answering his question, she had simply asked if he was planning on sharing the information with Brenda Leigh. The soft chuckle that escaped him did not go unnoticed. It was a familiar boat they found themselves in; both desperately wanting to protect the ones they love the most, neither sure of how far they would have to go to stop Stroh. Stroh, Phillip Stroh…deep down she knew they had not seen the last of him. But why now, just when life was getting back on track.
Completely lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the balcony door slide open, it wasn't until Andy's hand touched her knee that she realized she was no longer alone. She jumped, even though she knew immediately it was him. "It's freezing out here, let's get you inside." Without a word, she watched as Andy lifted the file folder from where it sat. Sliding it under his arm, he reached to help her up. Once inside, he guided her over to the dining table. "I stopped and picked up some of that tomato basil soup you like so much. I don't think you're going to feel like chewing much." Sitting in her normal chair, Sharon's eyes followed the file as Andy tossed it gently on the side of the table. "Sharon?" the concern in his voice was palpable. Shifting her attention to his troubled brown eyes, she smiled until a cool bolt of pain shot through her left cheek. The grimace that followed had Andy kneeling in front of her, gently cupping the right side of her face.
"I'm fine." Her voice was slightly muffled. "Forgot that I didn't need to smile."
Turning her chin slightly, to get a better look at the left side of her face, his eyes narrowed has he took in the barrage of red and now darkening blue skin across her cheek and jaw. His finger lightly dusted over the top of her cheek bone noting the tender skin there. Tilting his head, his eyes shifted from left to right and back again. "Your left pupil is slightly dilated, maybe we should call…"
"Andy, I'm fine." Interrupting, she glided her finger tips across the rough stubble on his chin. "I promise, I'm fine."
"No headache?"
With a low hum, she shifted her gaze, "Nothing I can't handle."
Pushing to his feet, a deep grumbled escaped him. "God damn-it Sharon!" Before he could move away from her, she grabbed at his wrist, anchoring him in place. He looked down, instantly getting lost in her green eyes. Slowly standing, she burrowed into his chest; the strong, steady beat of his heart finally giving her cause to breathe the deep cleansing breath she so desperately needed. Holding her as close as he dared, he placed a soft kiss to the top of her head. He wanted to beg her to promise him, she would never do anything like that again, but it was promise he knew she could never keep. "Thank you," he whispered instead. Looking up, her eyes were filled with confusion. "Thank you for letting me take care of you earlier. I know how hard we both work to keep our relationship out of the murder…"
"Andy…" her muffled voice interrupted him. "I want you and only you to take care of me. I think after everything…" Her mind flashed back to her own actions after Andy collapsed in the murder room so many months ago, "I think…the ship has sailed on keeping our relationship out of the murder room."
"Oh, really?" the merriment glittered in Andy's eyes, "Does this mean we can make out in your office now, because you know that is one of my greatest fantasies."
Giving a soft shove to his chest, she stepped from his embrace, "Don't push your luck, mister." Turning back to him, her features now very serious, "While we are giving out accolades, thank you for stopping when I asked you to. I know how much that cost you."
"It would have cost you more if I had laid a hand on that piece of shit. I knew I couldn't, especially not with Winnie Davis out to get you."
A soft hum was her only response, her eyes moved from Andy to the folder still in the same spot on the table and back to Andy, "I'm really not hungry. I think I just want to go to bed."
He watched as she moved to the opposite side of the table and picked up the folder, cradling it to her chest. "Oh…okay." He couldn't say that he was surprised. "How 'bout a bath? That would help you relax some." Not wait for her to answer, he stepped around her. "I'll get it started for you and then come back and put dinner away." Without a word, she watched as he moved down the hall towards their bathroom. She lingered in the living room for a minute more, the file felt heavy against her chest. Moving to her desk, she shoved the offending folder into the bottom drawer with a loud thud.
She padded into the bathroom to find Andy sitting on the edge of the tub; his dress shirt and tie gone. He watched in silence as she twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head. Once she was finished, he reached for her, tugging on the tie of his robe, "Here let me help you," he let the green fabric fall from around her shoulders. He was surprised to find underneath Sharon was still dressed in her slacks and white shell. In a matter of seconds, she stood in front of him now clad only in her matching light pink bra and panty set. His eyes moved slowly down her body, "Shit…" she felt his fingers trace over the lower part of her ribcage before she looked down. There were several bruises smattering across her pale skin, the worst of which was on the top of her right thigh. "Does it hurt?"
"No, not really. I guess…I hit the table harder than I thought." She brought her hand to his cheek in an effort to pry his eyes from the darkening bruises. "Andy, I'm fine. It's just a few bruises." She searched his eyes, seeing the love and concern etched there made her heart ache. Leaning down, she kissed him gently on the lips before stepping back to give him room to stand. He reached to unhook her bra while she shimmied out of her panties. He held tightly to her hand and elbow as she stepped into the tub, only letting go when he was sure she was steady on her feet. The water was almost too hot but if felt good as she slowly lowered herself. Her eyes dipped closed as she allowed her body to relax against the warmth of the water.
"Good?" Andy asked from his perch on the tubs edge and he took her easy hum as affirmation. Leaning over he placed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'll be back, just relax." She nodded her head slightly but did not open her eyes. Pausing at the bathroom door, he watched her for a few minutes. How many times since those few horrible seconds in the interview room has she reassured him that she is indeed fine; how many times in the last few months has he said the same to her? He didn't like to think about what his recent health crisis has cost her. It killed him to think that he is the greatest cause of her worries. He can see the fear that she tries so hard to hide, yet tonight there was something more swimming in the depths of her mossy green eyes. Something haunting, that has nothing to do with him or what happen today.
