"You cannot tell me to go to my room. I am not a child, first of all, and second of all, you are not my mother."

"You're right. I'm not your mother. And how do we know that? . . . Because I am here . . ." Sharon surprised herself with her words but there was no going back. "I'm here. And your mother is not. And you're gonna have to try and make the best of it."

The conversation rang through Sharon's ears as she laid down on her bed and pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"Hey, Captain, everything okay?"

"I don't know if I can do this, Andy." She sighed needing a friend.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

Sharon could hear the alarm in his voice.

"Yes, I'm fine." She knew he would be on his way over here if there was any doubt she wasn't. "I just don't think I can be what Rusty needs."

"Why do you think that?"

"Rusty told me I wasn't his mother," Sharon explained. "I told him he was right because I am here, his mother wasn't, I am, and he was just going to have to make the best of it."

"You told him the truth. You're doing more for that kid then his mother has his whole life."

"You didn't see his face." She could still see the hurt in the boy's eyes.

"Do you want me to come over and talk to him?"

"No," Sharon smiled. "I don't want him to hate you too."

"Do you want me to come over and talk to you?"

"No," She answered because they both knew if he came over it would be as more then him being just her friend. "Thank you for the offer though."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too." Sharon admitted.

"Don't let him get you down. Just remember, he's a teenager. Teenagers hate everyone.

"I know," Sharon sighed. "I just don't want to let him down or make him feel worse about his situation."

"Trust me. You're not. He needs a little tough love every now and then, because from the looks of things he doesn't even know what parental love is."

"You're right." She admitted. Rusty needed the harsh truth sometimes for him to understand.

"I'm right?" She heard the laughter in his voice.

"Yes, Lieutenant Andrew Flynn," Sharon smiled. "You're right for the first time in a long time."

"I bet that taste bad in your mouth."

"It did." She made a face.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Captain."

"See you tomorrow, Lieutenant." Sharon didn't want to hang up but knew it was for the best. "And thank you, Andy."

"Anytime, Sharon." Andy said before hanging up.

Sharon changed and climbed back into bed. She pulled a pillow against her chest. It still smelled like him from the last time he was there before they left for Willy Ray's funeral.