A/N: Hi guys, I'm baaack... Who wants to know what Andy's reaction will be?

I think it's going to be tense.

Chapter 10

Brenda's southern accent rose through the square as she challenged Philip Stroh. Sharon, who was trying to slip away unnoticed, almost smiled, but the tension was too much that she didn't dare. Cautiously, she approached the others and tried to remain hidden. She still hadn't seen the full picture of what was happening and for a moment she was grateful, the fear of what she would find might overwhelm her.

Sharon was a little unsteady in her steps, she shouldn't be in such a stressful situation as this, and she knew that when Dr. Torres found out she would hear the riot act for this. However, she moved on, it was too late to avoid anything.

Positioning herself in front of Tao's car and cloaked in the shadows of the trees, Sharon managed to see Stroh and Rusty, her heart racing as adrenaline flooded her body. Blood smeared the boy's neck, but she knew that wasn't his, from what they heard on the radio that was the injured victim.

Sharon tried to find an angle to hit Stroh, not that she was capable of shooting from such a long distance with shaky hands and blurry vision, but she would try anything to free her son. As she listened to the exchange between Stroh and Brenda, the Commander came a little closer, two steps forward and found a gap, she had a shot at and two possibilities. Either it would hit Stroh's exposed neck or the tree next door.

However, before she could decide Stroh accelerated things for her. With a mocking tone he said he would kill her son, but what made her furious was him calling Rusty an orphan. As anger at what she'd heard filled her chest, she welcomed the invigorating feeling. However, before pulling the trigger her eyes met Rusty's and she saw the surprise in them. Sharon didn't have much time to think, she just pulled the trigger and heard the boy calling her 'mom', after that everything was a blur.

The weapon's ricochet was powerful, she had forgotten that she still didn't have enough strength for this, so that was no surprise when she was practically hurled at Tao's car. The air was expelled from her lungs and a hugging pain took over her body at the contact, and her legs didn't have enough strength to keep her feet. Sharon was breathing hard now and cursed herself as her vision began to dim.

Everything blurred as Rusty watched Stroh's knife go through his friend's neck, he felt this was all his fault and hated himself for bringing the girl into so much danger.

As he felt the blade at his neck and Clarie's blood against her skin, Rusty almost wished that Stroh would do the same to him and all the pain he felt would be gone. However, that wasn't done, Stroh argued with Provenza and Andy, an exhausting play on words that went nowhere, when he spotted a blond head Rusty almost groaned in relief. Brenda came towards them with that cocky smile and confident posture, she had a gun in her hand and her tongue sharp. For a moment that was like he was sixteen again: an ironic Déjà Vu.

But that wasn't what left Rusty trembling, stunned, and utterly thrilled. A few steps behind Brenda he saw movement towards them, but that was hard to see who was. But as soon as the person stepped out of the shadows he recognized the woman who changed his life, Sharon stared at them but didn't see him right away and he could tell even from this distance that she was a woman on a mission. But was before she pulled the trigger that her eyes met his, and he saw the emotion in her eyes.

It was at that moment that he felt the need to flee, but the sound of the gunshot and his voice calling out to her, made everything a little confused. Rusty didn't know if the shot had hit Stroh, but whatever the bullet's fate had caused the assassin to fall and take Rusty with him. The blade of the knife cut into his skin and the only thing Rusty thought about was the second scar the man would give him.

However, as soon as he was free he got up and ran past Provenza and Andy and tried to get to where he had last seen her. She couldn't be a mirage, he still wasn't crazy enough to imagine her, he felt his chest ache as he forced himself to breathe.

As she approached Tao's car, Rusty saw that Buzz and Julio were beside her. Both were talking quietly trying to calm her down or something. He didn't really care about that, he just wanted to know if it was really her.

"Mom?" He whispered and all heads turned to him. Brenda steadied him as his knees sank to her feet. "Is that really you? Are you alive?"

Sharon didn't say anything, just opened her arms and smiled. Without delay, he practically threw himself into her arms and cried disconsolately.

Brenda was enjoying Stroh's surprise, the man didn't expect her to show up there, but fate had a funny way of doing things. As they argued like a very wrong preliminary, Brenda tried to listen to Sharon, she knew the woman and knew she would approach her. But after a few minutes Brenda calmed down when she didn't hear footsteps.

The ex-Deputy Chief was a little annoyed as Stroh made fun of them, it was as if her efforts were useless and she hid the fear that all this would end up with two coffins. But her hopes were renewed when she saw Rusty's posture change, she knew the boy had seen his mother.

The sound of the gunshot was almost a relief to hear until she remembered Sharon's surgery and how debilitated her body was. And hearing Sharon hit the car made Brenda act. Julio and Buzz seemed to do the same and different from the team that ran towards Stroh the three of them went to her.

"Sharon". Brenda's voice was extremely worried and she kicked herself for being so reckless. She should have insisted on taking her back to the hospital.

"Commander". Julio's and Buzz's voices mingled in the air and she saw Provenza look at them, as did Andy. Both Lieutenants seemed stunned by what they were hearing.

"Breathe, Commander". Buzz was in front of her instructing her, but they could see she was going to pass out at any moment. "Come on Sharon, inhale and breathe".

Buzz's soothing tone and use of her first name drew enough attention for her to focus on the breathing orders. He was still uncertain, but he took her hands in his and continued the mantra of breathing in and out.

"Where did you learn this?" Julio wanted to know when Sharon was breathing better again.

"My mother had panic attacks after my father died. One of her doctors taught me this technique to help her maintain control". Julio and Brenda stared at each other in awe, it was still surprising to learn things about Buzz.

"Sharon, are you better?" Brenda questioned.

"Yeah". She whispered and closed her eyes for a moment. "I just need to slow down my rapid heartbeat".

"Damn it, Sharon. Why did you have to shoot? It could kill you and this time it would be for good. Couldn't you wait?"

"You know me, Brenda. I have to come first". Sharon smiled and looked at her with amusement. The blonde rolled her eyes, but she smiled too. She was happy to see the color returning to the other woman's face.

Hearing footsteps Brenda turned and faced Rusty, he looked totally lost. Her face had a desperate tone and she could see the cut on her neck and blood all over her shirt, she worried. However, the boy only seemed to care about the woman on the floor.

The scene in front of her unfolded with tears and Brenda couldn't deny that her eyes were stinging with all this. Rusty looked inconsolable and Sharon rocked him and whispered that everything would be okay.

The Lieutenants from her old team approached cautiously, perhaps still in disbelief at what they had heard. What she didn't blame them for, she only believed it when Pope gave her the hospital's name and room number.

Provenza and Tao looked confused, but at the same time she could see the touch of resentment in their expressions. Now she understood what Sharon had said in the car, she'd claimed that everyone would hate her when they found out she was alive.

But it wasn't them that Brenda worried about. Andy stared at his wife without expressing any kind of reaction, he had hidden his feelings and seemed to control his temper well. For some reason that sent Brenda a red flag and the way Julio approached Sharon the warning signal hit the detective as well.

"Stroh is being taken to the hospital". Andy spoke and faced Provenza. "I'm going with Nolan, Amy and Cami. We meet there".

That said, he faced Sharon one more time and left. Everyone around them stared at Sharon and felt their hearts tighten as she hugged Rusty tighter and tried to hide her tears.

"Sharon, we need to get you to the hospital". Brenda spoke and faced Julio and Buzz. "Your doctor will kill me when he finds out I kidnapped you".

Nodding, she tried to get Rusty to stand up, Brenda decided to help her and pulled the boy away, allowing Julio to lift her off the ground. Provenza, who followed everything silently, took a deep breath.

"Stop just a moment". He asked and his voice was filled with anger. "What the hell is happening here?"

"Hi Louie". Sharon looked at him affectionately. "This is a bit of a long story and I'd rather say it all at once, if it's not too demanding".

Provenza was going to retort and complain, but Tao was staring at Sharon meticulously and knew she wasn't doing as well as she tried to appear.

"Commander, I'm surprised and upset about this, but whatever happened, you need a hospital. Now".

Everyone seemed to understand the urgency in Tao's tone and started to stir, Sharon was still shaking, her chest ached and dizziness raged again. She just prayed to God she wouldn't faint there. Realizing this, Julio and Buzz approached her, one on each side, and supported her to Brenda's car, mother and son in the back seat and she headed towards the hospital.

Andy was numb, he didn't seem to feel anything. His mind was blank as he processed all this. The Lieutenant didn't seem to want to believe what he had seen, he was wanting to understand how this had happened. One moment he was seeing his adopted son's life at risk and the next the woman he loved, his wife who had been dead for nearly two months, showed up to save the day. It was as if the whole thing was a cruel comedy.

"It was her?" Amy asked suddenly, she had run towards Stroh when she heard the gunshot and only processed what Rusty had said when the boy took off running towards Tao's car.

The detective was too afraid to look and confirm that was just an illusion. Or she was afraid to know that Sharon was alive all along. The Commander's death hit her in a way that surprised her, it was like losing her guide. And now they found themselves facing a surreal situation and left her confused and resentful.

"It was her. She looked fine". Andy spoke, but his voice was so distant, even cold. He didn't want to think about what would come next, would be painful to see her again.

Cami drove in silence, she had just joined the team and was trying to fit in with the group, she was learning to keep her mouth shut and observe her surroundings more. At least that's how Nolan instructed her, if she wanted to get to know the Major Crimes team well she had to learn to listen to what wasn't said.

The rest of the trip was done in silence, no one willing to comment on what had happened and what was about to happen when everyone joined Sharon.

Andy was lost in thought when his phone beeped and a message came through from Emily asking what time he would be home and if he would be spending New Years with her and Rick.

Andy took a deep breath and tried to swallow the lump that formed in his throat, how the hell was he going to tell Rick and Emily that not only was Sharon alive, but that she was probably going to come home tonight?

Dr. Torres had arrived an hour ago, not happy to learn that his patient had run away from the hospital, wielding a gun, shooting the thief and still trying to calm him down with a smile on his face.

"Sharon, this isn't funny. Do you know what could happen to you?" He paced around the small room. Susan who had gone with him was smiling amusedly too, but she knew he was worried and rightfully so.

"But I'm feeling fine now". Sharon repeated it once more. "You've done all the tests I need, you've listened to my heart, made me swallow my meds and you have concrete proof that I'm fine".

"And even then you could have died and this time that would be for good".

"Good God, did everyone decide to say that to my face today?" She grumbled, losing her smile. "Peter, I understand what could have happened to me, God knows I'm still struggling with this feeling of being on the edge of a cliff. But I couldn't help it, that man had a knife to my son's throat, who is actually somewhere in this hospital being stitched up, again because of a stab wound that Stroh did".

"He's fine". Susan spoke and faced the older woman. "I spoke to a nurse and he is finished being taken care of".

"He must be so confused and scared". Sharon whispered and closed her eyes trying to push back the tears that filled her eyes. "My God, everyone is so confused, I don't know if I'll have the courage to leave this room".

"Sharon, they love you, they will understand in time". Peter spoke more calmly.

"It will be? You didn't see Andy's face. God, it was like he'd rather I be dead".

"Don't say that".

"Susan, he barely looked at my face, how do you want me not to worry? I'm afraid he..." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what the hell I'm afraid of anymore".

Sharon got up and started pacing restlessly, she was in no position to demand. This time she was going to have to let others take control and that was making her more than anxious.

"Sharon, don't go there". Susan said and looked at her knowingly. "You have to let go sometimes, remember?"

"Why is it so hard?"

"Because that's life. You're going to take a deep breath and wait a little bit, then you're going to leave here and go to where your family and friends are and tell them everything that happened. I will be here to help you, Peter will be too".

"You're not alone, Sharon. Remember this". Peter stated and watched as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The entire team was there waiting to hear from Sharon and Stroh, three hours had passed and nothing had been said. Andy had texted Rick and Emily and told them what had happened, hiding the part that Sharon had returned. They had arrived 30 minutes ago and were waiting with the others for news of the killer and no one dared to mention Sharon there.

Rusty was uneasy, not only could he not get to Sharon or even talk about her because of his siblings, but he was anxious to know if Stroh was dead for good.

When Provenza got up to question the nurse, a doctor appeared in surgical scrubs.

"Lieutenant Provenza?"

"Yes?"

"We finished the surgery on Philip Stroh". The doctor spoke and saw the disappointment on their faces and sighed in sympathy. He had to fulfill his job as a doctor, but it was one of the most difficult tasks he ever did. Knowing that he was trying to save the life of the man who not only killed several people, but put a girl in the ICU that night.

"So he's going to live?"

"Unfortunately, but not as you imagine. The shot he took grazed his neck, but the bullet hit the tree and its ricochet sent splinters of wood flying everywhere".

"And that hit him?" Tao approached as the clinical terms began to appear.

"Yes. A splinter of wood hit his spinal cord and C4 vertebra."

"Oh..." Tao was surprised.

"What does that mean?" Andy got up and went to the doctor too.

"It means that Philip Stroh is paralyzed from the neck down, he has no movement in any of his limbs. But that's not all, from now on he will have difficulty breathing, have episodes of arrhythmias and high blood pressure. Cases of pneumonia caused by the malfunctioning of the lungs and among other complications".

"Doctor, is he aware of that?" Rusty questioned.

"Once he wakes up we will see his neurological function. But most patients are aware of what is happening around them, some are even able to communicate and convey the pain they feel. Quadriplegia is a prison that no one would want to go through".

"Well, at least this time we won't have to make any deals". Provenza grunted and made everyone smile a little pleased with the result.

"Great, I think now we can go and celebrate the new year". Rick stood up and faced Andy.

Everyone looked at each other uncomfortably, no one wanted to tell him or Emily the news, it was like they were playing hot potato and passing responsibility off to each other.

Before he could say anything, however, Andy saw Sharon approach. He stared at her and felt his heart race, but he climbed the walls to avoid confrontation and pain. He wasn't ready for that yet and decided to wait for the explanations, to wait to know why she hid the whole farce from him.

"Okay, what happened. Why isn't anyone leaving?"

"Because they're waiting for me". Her voice reverberated through the waiting room, still the way they remembered it, steady and steady. With the same assurance that everything would be all right in the end.

"Oh my God- Mom?" Emily turned around as soon as she heard her voice. Rick stared at her with wide eyes, he was so shaky he had to sit down. Emily ran into her mother's arms and hugged her tight.

"Are you alive? But how?" Rick asked confused and resentful. 'We buried you".

"I know, there's no justification or explanation to ease the pain I caused you". She spoke and looked at everyone in the room. "But I will explain what happened and you will make your decision to understand all this".

"Great, because I'm curious to know if you faked this illness so you could put this plan into action". Provenza spoke up and glared at her, he was good with that. It was easier to be furious than to admit the pain he felt watching her die.

"What? Lieutenant! I wouldn't do that". She knew this wouldn't work, this was like going back to being the Wicked Witch of the FID.

"Well... you faked your death well". Andy accused her and she was a little relieved to see that he was just as angry as his partner. She could handle his anger, what she couldn't handle was indifference.

Buzz and Julio stared at her and was about to defend her when she shook her head almost imperceptibly. The two calmed down, but Tao saw the little interaction and wanted to know how long they'd known this.

"So, Commander. What happened? What is your explanation?"

Sharon opened her mouth to ask everyone to be seated and begin her report. But the sound of the television made everyone turn their heads towards the set. Chief Pope was giving an interview about the capture of the notorious Serial Killer Philip Stroh and how his ingenious plan to use his Elite Division Commander as bait served their good. And that now he would be running for mayor of the city.

Andy looked at Brenda who had the remote control in her hand, she had a frown on her face and seemed furious with what she was hearing. She took a deep breath and faced Sharon.

"He had no right to use you like that, Sharon. I'm going to talk to him and you need to tell them the truth". She said that and faced her friends. "You should listen to her, I believe that in all of this she was perhaps the most affected".

Without waiting for an answer Brenda left with the aim of confronting Pope, he didn't know the hurricane that was heading towards him.

Amy faced Sharon first, she admired the woman in front of her and wanted to know what happened to them being in this situation. And to her surprise the anger was lessening when she actually looked at Sharon, she looked a little frayed around the edges and unsure of what to do. Sharon was staring at everyone with a little fear in her eyes and this was perhaps the first time they got to see the woman behind the Commander. And looking around she knew that everyone thought the same thing, the detective then sat in the chair and faced her boss willing to listen and one by one followed her example.

Everyone was now staring at her and waiting anxiously for the explanation.

"I believe this confusion started when I discovered cardiomyopathy and went to inform Chief Pope that I was sick". She started and took a deep breath.

As she resumed her narrative the sound of fireworks filled the place and they looked at each other. 2018 was starting in a whirlwind of emotions, they just hoped they could survive this.

To be continue...