A/N Tag to episode 5.16 Quid Pro Quo.
Sorry I have been MIA for a while. Between the push and pull of real life and some health issues that made typing not much fun, I've fallen way behind. But, I'm not one to leave something unfinished. Please bear with me and be patient, I'm not 100% yet, but getting there. Thanks to those of you who checked on me. Words can't express how much I appreciate your thoughts and support. And once again, No beta all mistakes were mine.
The restaurant was bustling. Even from the small table for two in the back near the kitchen, the noisy chatter was grating on Andy's nerves. He flicked his straw repeatedly against the edge of his glass, unable to keep still. Glancing at his watch, he frowned at the late hour. Taking another sip of his cranberry soda, the sweet tartness felt somewhat calming. The hand to his shoulder startled him, "Sorry I'm late." Obviously flustered, Gavin Baker slipped into the chair across from Andy, "My deposition ran late and then traffic was a real bitch."
"Don't worry, I understand." Andy waved the waiter over, waiting while Gavin ordered a glass of white wine. "Thanks for coming on such short notice," he continued once the waiter was gone.
Leaning slightly forward, Gavin rested his hands on the table, "I have to admit, I was a little surprised when you called. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah," absentmindedly, Andy ran his hand through his hair, "Fine, everything's fine."
"Fine…" Gavin repeated with a raise of his eyebrow. "Uh huh."
"What?" Andy shrugged his shoulders.
"It's just…in all these years you've been not dating, then dating, and now cohabitating with my best friend; you've never once called me like this. I can't help but be worried. Is…" Gavin paused for the waiter to place his wine glass in front of him. Taking a small sip, he swirled the pale liquid around in the glass before continuing. "Is Sharon okay?"
"She's fine." Andy mumbled.
"You're not convincing me." Reaching in his pocket for his phone, "Do I need to call her right…"
"No…No…" Andy interrupted.
"Okay." Gavin sat his phone to the side, "Obviously, something is going on, so spill it."
Taking another sip of his drink, Andy let the cool liquid slide down his throat before he spoke, "Has she spoken with you about all this promotion bullshit?"
"Hmm." Finally, Gavin thought. "I know that she is happy right where she is." The roll of Andy's eyes did not go unnoticed, "So…you don't agree that she's happy?"
"Yeah, sure she's happy, but is there more to it? Something she's not saying."
Leaning back in his chair, Gavin crossed his arms over his chest, "Andy, I'm just a tad bit confused here. Do you want Sharon to leave Major Crimes?"
"No." Andy's eyes drifted to his almost empty glass sitting in front of him.
"But…" Gavin gently nudged.
"If she's staying just because she wants to keep an eye on me, I don't want that. I would never want that."
"Oh…" Gavin breathed.
"You and I both know she would be great at the job. Better than those other two…"
"Two?" Gavin questioned. "I thought there were three…"
"If Fritz was really in the running they would have made it permanent by now. He's former FBI, they are never going to seriously consider him." Gavin slowly nodded his head, Andy did have a point. "Winnie Davis is doing whatever she can to make Sharon's life a living hell. We may all very well be out of a job if the promotion goes to her. And then there's Mason."
"Hmm." Gavin smiled brightly, "Commander Mason; he seems like a nice enough guy. Smart, young and let's not forget attractive." The roll of Andy's eyes was even more exaggerated this time, "You keep that up Andy and your eyes are going to get stuck."
"Ha…ha," Taking his last sip of soda, Andy sat his glass down a little too heavily, "Look…there's just something about the guy I don't like. All the sudden he's being too nice, coming upstairs wanting to help us and the way he says 'Captain'." Taking another sip of wine, Gavin couldn't help but smile at a now very animated Andy, "Did she tell you? He's already offered her a deal!"
Gavin couldn't help himself as a wide smile covered his face, "Well, she is rather fond of deals."
"Just forget it. Forget I called." In a huff, Andy started to stand. "If you can't take this serious, I'm wasting my breath here."
Gavin reached quickly across the table, "Andy…sit down." The firmness of Gavin's voice, stopped him immediately. The two men sat in silence, waiting while the waiter refilled their drinks. The redness of Andy's face was beginning to cool slightly, Gavin thankfully noticed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous of this Mason guy. Which is stupid by the way! Listen, Andy…You can't let yourself get all worked up over this promotion crap; something you have zero control over. Sharon would not want you stressing…"
"She's talked to you about me?" Andy's voice was low.
It was Gavin's turn to roll his eyes, "Of course she has! She's worried about you!"
Andy's deep brown eyes dropped back to the glass sitting in front of him, "I don't want her to worry, the last thing she needs is to be worried about me."
"Yeah! Well, she would say the exact same thing about you." Taking another sip of wine, Gavin watched Andy over the rim of his glass. "Have you considered that maybe Sharon doesn't want the promotion because she's at a point in her life where there are just more important things? Yes, she's happy at work but… if you think about it, that really is nothing new. She's always gotten along just fine at work, she doesn't need any help with that." Andy softly nodded his head in agreement. "And then there's this dark eyed, fiery spirited Lieutenant that she came very close to losing, not so long ago." The sadness that washed over Andy was palpable. "How much do you remember about those first twenty-four hours after you collapsed in the murder room?"
The question surprised Andy. "If I'm honest about it, not very much. I remember holding to Sharon's wrist and the feel of her ice-cold hand against my cheek. I remember the fear ingrained in her eyes, I'd never seen that before. And then I remember she was there beside my bed, smiling at me." Lifting his glass, Andy took a slow sip.
"In all the years that I've known Sharon, I've never seen her so…" Gavin shook his head, searching for the right word.
"You were there?" The puzzlement etched across Andy's brow.
Gavin looked down for a few beats before his eyes met Andy's, "Provenza asked Rusty to call me, they didn't know what else to do. She was literally inconsolable, almost to the point of making herself sick."
"I didn't know, she never told me. Rusty and Provenza never told me," Andy's voice raised slightly.
"Because she made us promise that we wouldn't tell you. But," Gavin smiled, "I've never been good at keeping those kind of promises. And while we're talking, I'm going to voice something here that I don't think either of you have been willing to do. What happen in that courtroom set something in to motion that neither of you nor Sharon can change." With a deep sigh, Andy's eyes quickly closed in an attempt to shut out those brutal memories. "I honestly can't imagine how it felt to watch the woman you love advance on that maniac. And I'm also sure that somewhere in Sharon's mind she knew she had to stop Dwight before he could hurt you. You don't go through something like that unscathed. It affected you both in ways that you never expected. You had a heart attack. And Sharon, for once in her life couldn't keep it together. So what!" Gavin's voice raised an octave, "you're both human and you both are, to use your word... fine now. Andy…quit worrying about those things that are not important and focus on the one thing right in front of you that is. All I have ever wanted is for my girl to be happy and she finally is thanks to you. So, don't screw it up!"
Running his hands through his hair again, a small chuckle escaped him, "I was about to wasn't I?" Gavin slowly nodded his head. "She talked to you about that day in the courtroom?" Andy couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice.
"Nope. She won't. No matter how many times I've asked her to."
"Yeah," Andy slowly nodded, "She won't talk to me about it either. She says it needs to stay in the past where it belongs. And she's right, but for me that's easier said than done." Glancing at his watch, "I should get going before she starts to wonder what's taking me so long. "Thanks, Gavin." Standing Andy reached out to shake his hand. "I really do appreciate your honesty."
"Give her a kiss for me when you get home."
Andy's grin was undeniable, "will do."
The condo was quiet much to Andy's surprise. Toeing out of his shoes, he hung his suit coat in the entrance hall. Rusty sat at the dining table, his nose buried in his laptop. "Hey Rusty," Andy called softly on his way to the kitchen, not surprised when the boy barely looked up. Opening the refrigerator, he frowned at the two grilled chicken salads still sitting on the second shelf. "Where's your Mom? She didn't eat her salad."
"I haven't seen her, she was already in her room when I got home."
"And, how long have you been home?" Concern seeped into Andy's voice.
Looking back at his laptop, Rusty shrugged, "I don't know, a couple of hours."
Placing his salad back in on the second shelf, Andy rolled his eyes at an unknowing Rusty. The boy definitely had gotten better, but he could still be so self-absorbed sometimes. Making his way to the closed door of their bedroom, Andy slowly turned the knob. The bedroom was dark, a lone sliver of light shining from the partially open closet door. He thought for a moment Sharon was asleep until she spoke, "Don't turn on the light." Her voice was low.
Making his way around to her side of the bed, he carefully sat next to her, "You okay?"
Her response was a low hum, "headache."
"Can I…"
"No," she felt for his hand in the darkness. "I'll be fine, just has to run its course."
"Did you take something?" His fingers traced along the top of her hand. She hummed again. "I know, you just want me to be quiet." With a gently squeeze of her hand, Andy stood from the bed. Making his way into the closet, he put his gun away before changing into his pajamas. Flipping that light off, he padded into the dark bathroom, careful not to turn the light on until he had the door almost closed. Once he was finished brushing his teeth, he took a bath cloth from the linen cabinet. He let the cool tap water run in the sink for a few seconds for dousing the sage green cloth and then squeezing out the excess water. Opening the bathroom door just enough to slip through, he once again approached Sharon's side of the bed. Folding the cool cloth, he placed it gently over her closed eyes and forehead. She jumped slightly at first, but with a soft moan she relaxed into his touch. Leaning forward he placed a soft kiss against her cheek, "I'll be right back. Wake me up during the night, if you need me." A soft sigh was her only reply. "Love you, Sweetheart." She found his hand before he could move away, her soft squeeze said more than words ever could.
Rusty sat still absorbed in his laptop, "she okay?" he questioned as Andy walked back into the living room. Choosing to ignore the kid, Andy continued into the kitchen where he poured a glass of cold water from the refrigerator. "Andy, I asked if Mom is okay?"
Taking a long drink of water, Andy waited several beats before answering, "No, not really." With a frown, Rusty stood, moving closer to the bar separating the dining area from the kitchen. "She has one of those sick headaches. But, you know, she says it has to…"
"Run its course," Rusty finished his sentence. Nodding, Andy took another sip of water, his eyes meeting a very somber looking Rusty. "I'm sorry. I should have checked on her."
With a shrug of his shoulders, Andy placed his glass in the dishwasher. "Not much we can do, she doesn't want us fusing over her. But next time, yeah; maybe check on her and then call me if I'm not at home."
"I will." Rusty watched as Andy walked toward his mother's bedroom, "Night Andy."
"Night kid."
Andy wasn't sure what had awakened him, but when he reached his hand out to an empty bed he quickly sat up. The telling noise from the bathroom, swiftly sprung him to his feet. A single light burned inside the shower stall, casting a dim light across the bathroom. Sharon sat on her knees beside the toilet as the awful retching continued. Grabbing another bath cloth, Andy was quick to run it under the cool water before moving to kneel behind her. Lifting her hair up off her neck, he placed the damp, soft cloth at the base of her skull. Struggling to catch her breath, she leaned her forehead against the edge of the toilet. With his other hand, Andy took this opportunity to flush the toilet. "Done?" he started to ask, but she lifted her head and began to heave again. After a minute or two, she reached to flush the toilet again. Shifting to sit behind her, Andy moved the cloth off her neck to gently wipe at her face. She settled in against his chest, while struggling to get her breathing to even out. "I've got you, just rest for a minute," his voice was soothing against her ear. Her head lulled against his shoulder while she took full advantage of the warmth and security of his chest.
"Thank you," she finally spoke, "I think I'm ready to get up." Andy held carefully to her waist as she slowly got to her feet before getting up himself. It was then that he realized with a small grin that she was wearing his favorite Dodgers shirt. Moving to the vanity, she rinsed her mouth out, before reaching for her toothbrush. Looking up, her eyes met Andy's in the mirror. "I'm fine, I promise. Go back to bed, I'll be there in a few minutes."
The look on his face told her he wasn't so sure, but he turned, walking back into their bedroom. A few minutes later, the bathroom light dimmed and it wasn't long before she was snuggled in to bed next to him. He had missed her earlier, even though she had been less than a foot from him. Wrapping his arm around her, he cradled her into his side. "Better?" his voice vibrated against her ear.
She hummed softly before replying, "Much. How was Gavin?"
"You knew…of course you knew." Andy's hand drifted to her hip, "You don't mind?"
"Mind?" he could feel her lift her head to look at him, "Of course not. Gavin is my oldest, most trusted friend. I'm happy you felt comfortable going to him with whatever is bothering you. I know you feel like you can't talk to Provenza about some things that involve me because that may put him in an awkward position. But Andy, you could talk to me…"
With a deep sigh, he pulled her even tighter, "I don't want you to worry about me, any more than you want me to worry about you."
"Yet, we both worry all the same."
Nodding slightly at her reply, he hummed against the top of her head, "When did you start feeling bad? You seemed okay when I left work."
"On the way home. I…ran into Winnie Davis in the parking garage." She could feel Andy stiffen against her.
"What did she say," his voice was a low growl.
"Doesn't matter. I'm just annoyed that I let her get to me." Slowly she moved her finger in a small circle against his chest. "Andy, I really don't want that promotion but, I don't want her to get it either."
"Tell me about it."
"And, I can't decide just yet, if I can trust Commander Mason." With a muffled yawn she shivered against him, despite the warmth of his body.
His hand slipped from her hip, moving just under the hem of his old t-shirt he pulled her even tighter, the beautiful curve of her body fit so perfectly against him. He hated that she had to deal with the likes of Davis. He wished that there was something he could do, something that would make her forget for even a few hours.
