A/N 6.03 Sanctuary City Part III missing scene. No beta, all mistakes are mine.
A/N2 Well, talk about last minute! This is not the chapter I originally planned on writing but I couldn't get this out of my head. The way Andy has been written in these first 3 episodes has really bugged me. This is my way of dealing with it. Thanks for your continued support!
It's weird, he thought. There was a time not too long ago that he felt awkward and shy when she hugged him; now, only a few years later, he feels safe and very much loved in the comfort of her arms. But not tonight, tonight when she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into the warmth of her small frame, he felt worried and scared. Really scared. "Mom?" Looking back at him, she stopped just inside the doorway of his room. "I can heat a bowl of that soup you like." The grimace that ghosted her features was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Thank you," her smile was soft, "but I'm going to have a nice long shower and go to bed. Goodnight Rusty." She turned, stepping toward the open bathroom door.
"Mom?" His voice was a little louder this time, drawing her attention once again. She turned with a low hum, leaning heavily against the bathroom door facing, she waited for him to continue. "Is Andy home yet?"
Slowly shaking her head, "Not yet, but he shouldn't be much longer. He was on his way."
"Okay…" Rusty nodded with a deep sigh, "Nite Mom…Love you."
"Love you too, Sweetie."
Rusty watched as she closed the bathroom door with a soft click. He turned, intent on continuing work on his murder board when something on his dresser drew his attention. His eyes grew wide at the dark object resting just in front of a stack of books. "Shit!" he muttered under his breath. Stepping closer he reached out to touch the gun, but at the last minute decided against it. "Shit, shit, shit…" Abruptly, he hurried out of his room, down the hall, running directly into Andy who had just come in the door.
"Woah…Kid. Slow down." He held to Rusty's shoulders. "Is every thing okay? Is Sharon okay?"
"No." Rusty shook his head, "I mean…yes…she's okay…I just…" Rusty turned around, pulling himself from Andy's loose hold he started back down the hall, "I need you to come to my room."
Unsure, Andy slowly followed, only to stop and stick his head in their open bedroom door. Finding it empty he resumed his pace behind Rusty, pausing only to stop at the closed bathroom door; the sound of water flowing from the shower somewhat eased his worry. Stepping into Rusty's room his eyes were drawn automatically to the far wall, "Wow, that's some murder board, you've got there." Moving even closer, his eyes moved from one side of the wall to the next, "Great job Kid!"
"Andy, that not why I asked you in here."
Finally looking the kid in the eyes, Andy quickly realized that Rusty was as upset as he first thought, "Okay…what's going on?" Instead of saying anything, Rusty pointed at a dark object resting on his dresser. Andy's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, the realization that Sharon's holstered weapon was in Rusty's room confused him, "Your Mom gave you a gun?"
"No…" Rusty fervidly shook his head, "You know I'm not ready yet. She brought it in to test me. You know…take it apart and put it back together."
"Okay." Andy's confusion still evident.
"She forgot it. Andy…don't you see. Mom left a gun in my room, a gun! She's not well! She needs rest…she needs to stay home tomorrow! You need to make her stay home tomorrow!"
"Rusty…" Andy sat heavily on the edge of the bed, leaning forward he ran his fingers through his hair, "I can't."
"What do you mean you can't!" his voice grew louder, "Are you blind! Do you not see that she's not any better! She could barely hold her head up tonight! And she has no business driving!"
"Keep your voice down!" Andy bit out through clenched teeth.
Defeated, Rusty moved to sit a few feet from his soon to be step-dad, "Explain to me…" his voice was low and even, "why you can't. I get that at work she's your boss and what she says goes, but that woman in there is about to be your wife and she is sick. Damn-it Andy. Why?" Rusty slowly shook his head, "Why does it always come back to me questioning your love for my mother?"
Turning his head, Andy's dark eyes shot daggers at Rusty, "You know… I love her."
With a low shrug Rusty countered, "Loving someone and having the guts to do what's best for them is sometimes two totally different things."
Leaning back, Andy rested his weight on his arms, "Look, I don't want to push her. Okay, it's as simple as that. With everything that's going on I think it would be more upsetting to her if I put my foot down and tried to force her to do something she doesn't want to do. You know as well as I do that she's never going to put herself first, but this case…" He deliberately shook his head, "and the connection with the Church…it couldn't have come at a worse time. Rusty, if I could convince her to stay at home tomorrow, I can't stay at home with her and I know you can't either. At work, we can all keep an eye on her. I agree about the driving, I'll make sure she rides with me. But, I won't try to force her to stay at home."
With a deep sigh Rusty stood, "But you agree that she's not getting better?" Unable to trust his voice, Andy simply nodded. "I want you to know that Emily and I both wish you would take a stronger stance with her, I understand why you think you shouldn't but, I disagree."
Clearing his throat, Andy rubbed his hand across his face, "And Ricky?"
"Ricky thinks that Mom is going to do exactly what she wants regardless of what any of us say."
With a low chuckle Andy stood, "Hmm, a family divided."
"But for the right reasons, I guess. Andy?" Rusty looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry. I know you're getting tired of me…"
"Hold it right there," Andy interrupted, "I appreciate the love and concern you have for Sharon. I know how much she means to you…how much she means to both of us. Don't ever apologize for being worried about her."
A small smile ghosted Rusty's features, "Okay."
"Now," Andy reached for the holstered gun, "I'm going see if I can talk a certain someone into having a cup of soup before she falls asleep." Pausing in the doorway, Andy looked back at Rusty, "Nite Kid, and…" he nodded at the murder board adorning the wall, "Nice work, really… good job."
Stepping across the hall, Andy paused at the bathroom door before opening it and stepping in. The room was still warm from Sharon's shower, but she was no where in sight. Closing the door behind him, he quietly walked into their bedroom. A single bedside lamp cast a soft glow across the bed, Andy was about to speak when he realized she was already asleep. Moving into the closet, he locked the gun away before changing into his pajamas. Padding quietly back to the bedroom he moved to Sharon's side of the bed. Bending closer he carefully studied her face; even in sleep, she looked exhausted. The circles under her eyes dark against her pale, makeup free skin; her still damp hair curled softly around her face. His hands balled into tight fists to keep from reaching out to touch her. Regardless of his desire to hear the smooth tone of her voice, waking her was the last thing he wanted to do. Shaking his head, he knew deep down Rusty was right, she needed to stay home tomorrow. Sharon Raydor desperately needed to rest, but Andy knew too well that rest would only come once this case was over.
