Andy paced as he cursed himself. He couldn't believe he'd lost the kid. He had one job and blew it.
"Would you sit down?" Provenza scolded him.
"I screwed up." He shook his head. "If we don't find this kid alive and well, she's never going to . . . I mean I'm not ever going to forgive myself."
"They're going to find him." Provenza pointed at Andy's desk chair. "Now sit. You're wearing out the new tile. Since the team isn't here, we need to talk."
"About what?" Andy frowned.
"You and Raydor." Provenza folded his hands in front of him.
Instead of setting in his own chair he pulled Sanchez's chair closer to Provenza's desk. So their conversation could be less easier to hear. You never know when Taylor was lurking around.
"There's nothing to talk about." Andy assured him. "We're just friends."
"Tell that to your face when she's around." Provenza countered. "The looks between you two and the flirting."
"It's harmless." Andy shrugged.
"Until one thing leads to another. Then something goes wrong and someone gets hurt. It could put the whole team in disarray." Provenza pointed out. "Then what? Like you said our next transfer is retirement and so is her's."
"We're just friends." Andy insisted. "I'll let you know when it changes."
"Good." Provenza picked up his cross word puzzle.
Andy rolled his eyes. He stood and pushed Sanchez's chair back under the desk. He was beginning to pace again when Provenza's phone rang he picked it up in the first ring.
"Yes, Captain?" He answered putting the phone on speaker.
"Lieutenant Provenza, thank you for picking up so quickly . . ." Andy could hear the emotions in her voice. "Um . . . you can tell the department to stand down. When I came in the door, Rusty was here, so..."
"Rusty is home?" Provenza asked looking at Andy.
"Yes." She answered sounding unsure if the word "home" was the right word to use. "So, I guess he ... uh, Rusty is home."
"Okay, we'll let them know. Have a good night Captain." Provenza smiled.
"Thank you." Sharon said before hanging up.
"Thank God." Andy collapsed in his chair as Provenza called the department to stand down.
". . .Have a goodnight." Provenza hung up the phone and stood. "Come on, let's call it a night."
Andy grabbed his jacket and they walked to the elevator.
Andy didn't go home. He needed to apologize again in person. He'd let the kid down, he'd let the team down, and he'd let Sharon down.
He texted her when he stepped into the elevator. She opened the condo door before he could knock on it. Her tear stained cheeks crushed his heart.
"I'm sorry." He pulled her into his arms.
"I know." She sighed melting against him. "It wasn't your fault."
"I should have kept a better eye on him." Andy ran his hand over her hair and back.
"I'm just glad he's safe." She pulled back to look up at him.
"Home safe." Andy smiled then asked. "Did he say why he ran off?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "He left because he didn't want you to see him cry."
"Sounds like someone else I know." Andy cupped her cheek with one hand. "Isn't that why you left the murder room so quick? So no one would see you?"
"Yes," Sharon smiled. "Wouldn't want to ruin my Ice Queen reputation."
"You're far from an Ice Queen, Sharon." Andy leaned in and kissed her cheek. His lips lingered against her skin. "I want to kiss away all of the pain I caused you tonight."
"Andy . . ." Sharon whispered his name in protest.
"Tell me no and I'll go." He whispered.
Instead of "no" Sharon's lips met his. She reached behind her and pulled the condo door closed. His arms tighten around her while his tongue slipped into her mouth. Sharon's hands came up and gripped his jacket. A moan escaped her throat when her back hit the door.
Andy moved a hand to caress her breast through her night gown pulling another moan from her and causing her to break the kiss.
"You should go." Sharon whispered against his lips. "Before Rusty sees us."
"Yeah," Andy agreed even though he didn't want to. He took a step back and put his hands in his pockets. "Provenza thought we were back together and is worried we're going to mess everything up."
"Probably because you keep flirting with me." She smiled and playfully smacked his shoulder.
"I'm not going to stop." Andy shook his head with a grin. "I don't ever want you to think I've given up on us."
"I haven't given up on us either." She assured him.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Sharon." He stepped away.
"Goodnight, Andy." Sharon smiled slipping back into the condo.