I'm back with my add-ons to season 5!
I've written these 3 added scenes almost right after 5x14 aired, but I wasn't sure how canon-compliant they would be. That's why I've waited for 5x15 to air, hoping to get a few more answers to some of the questions I had.
Anyway, I concluded that these should work no matter what happens in the next episodes, so here I am posting them.
Can't promise when the update for the next episode will be. It depends on what I come up with and how worried I am about straying from canon. But I can tell you I'll update after the finale at the latest. ;)
Either way, give this a read please. As always, I'd love to hear what you think of it!
"So what did she say to you?" Andy asked.
Sharon had retreated to her office once she sent part of the team out to check out their victim's ex and, being on light duty only and unable to join them, Andy found himself keeping her company, sitting in a chair in front of her desk. As much as he despised not being allowed to go out in the field, he had to admit that light duty sometimes didn't sound half as bad if it meant he'd get to spend more time with Sharon.
She had been concentrating on some paperwork and truthfully, he was supposed to be doing the same, but as it so often happened, curiosity (and a bit of concern) got the better of him and now his paperwork lay splayed across his lap forgotten for the time being. At the question, she lifted her head to raise an eyebrow at him.
"Winnie Davis," he added, not that he thought she actually needed the clarification.
And she didn't, for her eyebrow stayed up. "Like I said earlier, she's wanted to complain about me for a while," she shrugged and refocused on the piece of paper in front of her. "And she finally got her chance," she added almost as an afterthought.
It was Andy's turn to raise an eyebrow at her. "What else did she say to you?" he asked.
She looked up at him again, this time, the faintest trace of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Why do you think there was anything else?" she asked in return.
He grinned. "Because when you came back you looked like you literally had to swallow," he paused, frowning slightly, "something," he finished lamely.
She put her pen down and smiled, rolling her eyes at the same time. "You're good at your job, Lieutenant," she quipped.
He chuckled. "It's why they keep me on light duty," he muttered sarcastically, rolling his own eyes, but quickly went on before she could, for the umpteenth time, remind him of the real reason why. "So, what did she say?" he asked.
She turned slightly in her chair, facing him sideways now. "She dismissed me by saying, and I quote here," she gave him a pointed look, "'Go ahead, your boyfriend's calling you." She spoke in an almost venomous tone of voice he knew wasn't aimed at him.
Andy's jaw momentarily dropped but he quickly recovered and smirked. "Well, he was," he quipped.
A brief look of surprise crossed her features and suddenly she snorted, her head dropping into a hand between two fingers. "Well, I most certainly hope that's not true," she told him, looking up again seriously even though she was still smiling in amusement.
Andy just shrugged. "Well," he started, throwing her a crooked grin, "your Lieutenant maybe called, but I'm pretty sure your boyfriend was happy to end your, what was it Provenza called it? Pleasant conversation?"
"Andy, that's not funny," she scolded even though she couldn't help but laugh at his words.
He ignored it, glad to see her a bit more relaxed than a moment ago. "Although, I think it's safe to say all of your colleagues were happy to end it," he told her over a meaningful tilt of his head.
Sharon scoffed. "Which just might add to her list of complaints against me," she mumbled.
"Now," he shifted in his seat and pointed a finger at her, "I may not be as good at rules and stuff as you are," he waved a hand at her and she suppressed a smile, because no, he certainly wasn't, "but I'm pretty sure getting along with your co-workers is not against department policy."
She finally smiled again, then threw an almost wistful look behind him at the murder room. Only Buzz and Mike were there. "Which is part of why I like working here," she said, returning her attention to Andy again to shoot him a knowing look.
It didn't take a detective to recognize the jab at his little scene earlier in the morgue, so, knowing what was best for him, he merely said, "She's just trying to get under your skin, Sharon."
"Oh," she let out in a low timbre, "I'm well aware."
He smirked, knowing that tone of voice all too well. "So what are you gonna do about it?"
To his surprise, she shrugged and said, "Nothing."
"Nothing?" he repeated, disbelief evident.
She glanced toward the murder room again. "Let's see how this case goes first," she said, before grabbing her pen again and dropping her eyes onto the file in front of her, effectively putting the matter to rest for now.
...
"Go ahead. Get it off your chest."
Sharon was sitting at a table in the break room, watching Andy as he rummaged through the freezer looking for an ice pack. She had caught her breath finally and was now bracing herself for Andy's upcoming little rant. She had, after all, put herself in harm's way, not only on purpose, but without letting him in on her plan. She'd rather get it over with now than later when she was bound to be fighting a major headache as well.
Finding what he was looking for, he turned around and walked over to her. "You're crazy," he told her, taking a seat next to her and giving her the ice pack.
The words surprised her and she laughed mirthlessly. "What else is new?" she asked, the question followed by a sigh of relief when her cheek made contact with the cold remedy.
"Ha-ha," Andy sarcastically let out. He then shook his head and added, "Letting him punch you?" His voice went up with the incredulity in it. "I know we needed something to hold him on, but," he trailed off, shaking his head at her again.
"I did not let him punch me," she disagreed, giving him a bland look.
"Of course not," he replied sarcastically, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest. "You just pushed all his buttons hoping for what? A hug?"
She half scoffed, half smiled. "Well," she shrugged guiltily, "I may have hoped for a shove rather than a punch, but," she trailed off, waving a hand through the air.
He rolled his eyes at her and took a deep breath. "I can't even be mad at you," he told her, the words leaving him on what she could only label as a whine.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Why is that?"
"I've used the tactic myself once," he told her, rolling his eyes again. "Only I let a girl punch me," he added on a shrug.
She smiled, then hummed absentmindedly, feeling a slight throbbing underneath her ice pack. "I wish a girl had punched me, too," she said jokingly, grimacing slightly, more for effect than due to actual pain, even though each smile and laugh did send a few prickles through her cheek.
Andy didn't laugh though. "I wish nobody had punched you," he muttered darkly.
She sighed. "I know."
He watched her for a few moments in silence, and briefly, she wondered if he expected an apology. Apart from feeling a bit guilty for scaring him, she had no regrets about finding a way to hold their murderer until they could actually prove he was their guy and there was no way she would apologize for that.
Their next words left them at the same time.
"I'm sorry for scaring you like that," Sharon said.
"I'm sorry for going off like that," Andy said.
They both chuckled but fell silent again, just watching each other.
"You listened when I asked you to back off," she finally said, addressing his apology.
He nodded, briefly looking away, as if trying to reassure himself of that. "I really would have beaten him to a pulp," he told her, his tone of voice close to the one he threatened their suspect in a few minutes ago.
"I'm glad you didn't though," she told him on a small smile.
He looked at her. "I take it threatening him wasn't my smartest move then?" he asked sarcastically.
"No," she said, shaking her head slightly, "it wasn't."
Andy frowned and she knew it wasn't really directed at her. "I meant it though," he told her through gritted teeth.
"I know," she said gently. She wasn't unfamiliar with Andy's protectiveness of not just her, but of anyone he was loyal to. "But yo-"
His eyes suddenly got wide and he asked, interrupting her, "You don't think this Winnie Chief is going to shove this into your face, too?"
She took a moment to think about it before a regretful look crossed her features. "She might."
"Dammit," Andy hissed, abruptly getting to his feet to start pacing. "I didn't think, Sharon," his hands went up in agitation, "instinct kicked in."
"Doesn't matter now," she said soothingly, reaching for his hand to make him stop. When he finally did, she added, "You're not the first cop to threaten a suspect either."
Andy suddenly chuckled. "You've been around our squad for way too long," he told her, shaking his head at her, "if that's all you have to say about it."
She laughed softly. "I'm not saying I condone the behavior," she defended herself pointedly. "However, I do understand the sentiment behind it," she added on a more softer note.
"I'll try to reign it in next time," he promised, sitting down again.
"I know you will," she said honestly, patting his hand before letting go of it. "I do hope there won't be a next time though," she added as she leaned back in her chair, readjusting her ice pack. She sounded hopeful, too.
"Well, stop provoking people and there really won't be," he retorted, suddenly throwing her a dark glare.
"I'll try," she said, laughing again, but sobering quickly when his glare remained in place. She dropped the ice pack into her lap. "You know this," she pointed a hand at her face, "is part of the job, Andy," she told him, meeting his glare with one of her own.
He took a breath accompanied by almost a groan. "Well, then you know, I hate that part of the job," he finally replied.
One of her eyebrows briefly went up and she nodded slowly. "I do," she confirmed.
He gave her an irritated look, and she knew it wasn't aimed at her, but rather at the situation, but said nothing in response. Instead, he leaned forward, his look softening. He tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear to trace his fingers over her injured cheek. "Maybe we should have a doctor look at that?" he suggested quietly. "You didn't hit the table, too, did you?" he added, his concern raising his voice slightly.
She briefly closed her eyes and smiled. "No, Andy," she told him on a sigh. "Didn't hit the table either," she added. "Although I can already feel a headache coming on," she admitted, "I'm sure it would hurt much more if something was broken."
He looked at her for a long moment, as if deciding whether to insist on it or not, but finally pulled his hand back and leaned back into his chair. "Alright," he relented.
"Okay," she said, taking a deep breath, glad to put the matter behind them for the time being. She pressed the ice pack against her cheek again and stood up. "Let's finish up," she told him, "I believe we both have paperwork to get to. You have that test, too."
He rolled his eyes but got up as well. "Can't take part in the exercise but have to take the stupid test," he muttered under his breath.
She, of course, still heard every single word. "You're worried you'll fail?" she teased, walking toward the door with him.
He shot her an unimpressed glare, but only huffed in response.
She grinned at him, trying to ignore the slightly more intense pain that shot through the left side of her face. She grimaced involuntarily anyway.
He was about to open the door for her but, of course, noticed her expression and stopped. "You okay?" he asked worriedly.
She rolled her eyes. "I forgot how many muscles there were in a cheek," she mumbled, sounding more annoyed than bothered by the pain.
He offered her a sympathetic smile. "Yeah, I know the feeling. Keep that ice on it," his lifted his chin, indicating her ice pack, "it'll numb it a bit."
"I will," she said on a nod, then looked at the door expectantly, since he had his hand on the knob.
He still didn't open it, however, and instead gave her a long, hard look. He spoke only when she quirked an eyebrow at him in question.
"Don't do that again," he told her in a low, quiet tone of voice, which let her know she was definitely not talking to her Lieutenant at the moment. She was already ready to protest and again remind him of the job description but she quickly deflated when he added, and in a less intimate tone of voice, "At least not without telling one of us first."
"Okay," she said quietly. That much she could do. That much she should do actually.
When he just stood rooted to the spot watching her, not completely convinced of her response, she threw a quick glance through the window and, satisfied with what she saw, or rather didn't see, took a step closer to him and, bringing her free hand up to his cheek, pressed her lips to his.
"I promise," she said when she pulled back, giving his cheek a quick caress before dropping her hand.
He smiled and briefly rested his forehead against hers, running a hand down the side of her arm. When he took a deep breath, she knew he had finally put the matter to rest as well.
He straightened up then and nodded.
"Let's go then," he told her in a lighter tone, finally pulling the door wide open for her. "Before I'm accused of being your boyfriend again," he added on a forced eye roll.
She chuckled and walked through the door. "You are my boyfriend," she quipped as she passed him.
He grinned smugly and went after her.
...
It did not surprise Andy to find Sharon sound asleep when he got home. He smiled to himself when he realized she had left the lamp on his side of the bed on for him, and quietly went about his evening routine before slipping under the covers next to her. He settled in on his back and reached out to turn the light off when Sharon stirred and scooted closer to him.
"You're home," she mumbled sleepily.
He hummed in confirmation. "Didn't mean to wake you," he whispered, finally turning the lamp off.
She hummed, too and wrapped her hands around his arm as she settled her forehead against his bicep. "It's okay," she said, sounding more awake now. "I would have waited up for you but," she ended the sentence on a tired sigh.
"How's the head?" Andy asked, knowing that was why she had probably admitted defeat and decided to go to sleep without him.
She stayed quiet for a moment as if having to actually check on it before being able to answer. "Painkillers do wonders," she finally said and he could tell she smiled even though he couldn't see her face.
"Good, sleep now," he told her, covering up a yawn with the palm of his hand.
"Mhm," she said in agreement only to add, after a brief pause, "How'd the test go?"
He scoffed. "Even rookies would have nailed it," he muttered.
She chuckled. "Good," she said, then pressed a kiss to the side of his arm before snuggling into it again.
He smiled and dropped a kiss to the part of her head he could reach. "Will you go back to sleep now, please?" he asked. He wanted her to get some rest. He knew getting sucker punched could leave you with one hell of a headache, despite painkillers or aspirin.
She let out another, "Mhm," a more contemplative one this time and it had Andy narrow his eyes at her, even though he could barely make her out in the darkness.
"Something on your mind?" he asked.
She took a deep breath before exhaling and then suddenly let go of him to sit up and turn on the light on her side of the bed.
It took him a second to readjust to the lifted darkness, but once he did, he found her silent, just watching him. "What is it?" he asked, growing quite concerned now and pushing himself up into a seated position as well.
She took another breath and as she let it out again, he heard a breathy "Phillip Stroh." leave her lips.
He instantly tensed up, a dreadful feeling washing over him. It had been a while since last he heard that name. He shifted sideways slightly to get a proper look at her. He could make out the bruising on the left side of her face, but what worried him more now was the obvious tightness in her jaw.
"What about him?" he asked, almost hesitantly.
When she swallowed, he knew it wasn't anything good. "He's back in the country apparently," she said quietly, meeting his concerned gaze.
Andy frowned. "Apparently?" he asked.
"Nothing's been confirmed yet," she said, the breathy quality to her words giving them a both exasperated and anxious edge. "Just a thin lead connected to Pennsylvania." She gave the door a quick look. "Chief Howard gave me a report on it, it's in my purse."
Andy's frown remained in place. "Not that thin a lead if he told you about it," he told her.
She shook her head. "No," she said, placing a hand on his thigh, probably trying to calm him down, "right now there are more guesses than actual proof. He just didn't want me out of the loop is all."
"In case they stumble on actual proof," he muttered.
She sighed in response, giving his thigh a gentle squeeze before pulling her hand back. When she stayed quiet, he gave her a concerned, questioning look.
"I've not forgotten about him, Andy," she finally said. "But when he said 'Phillip Stroh'," she trailed off, letting out a shaky breath.
"Your heart uncomfortably skipped a beat?" he offered.
She rolled her eyes. "That's an understatement."
"Does Rusty know?" he asked.
She sighed and shook her head. "He's so excited about law school," she gave him a sad look, the one he had last seen nearly two years ago after they had arrested Burning Man and it only intensified his concern. "And things with Gus are going well," she paused, then, on a shrug, added, less certain of herself, "I think." He smiled despite himself. "I promised never to keep things from him, Andy," she went on much more seriously, her look turning pleading now, "but, at this point it might just be a false report, right?"
She looked on the verge of tears, seeking reassurance, so Andy snaked an arm behind her and pulled her into his side. "We'll keep him safe regardless, Sharon," he told her, rather heatedly. "Both of you," he added, squeezing her close to himself.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I just wish," her voice hitched and instead of trying to end her sentence she took a deep breath.
He put his other arm around her and pulled her closer to him, if that was even possible. "I know, Sharon," he said soothingly. He too, wished Stroh was no longer in their lives.
Silence fell over them for a while and Andy did not bother trying to lift it. There was not much he could say anyway, he would need to read the report himself first. But since he knew she would not have left it in her purse had she wanted him to read it right away, he decided against asking for it. Besides, if it couldn't wait until morning he would not have found her asleep when he arrived home in the first place.
Sharon did not cry. He knew she wouldn't. Not because she did not want to in front of him, but because she refused to allow someone like Stroh to be the reason for it, at least not while they had no conclusive evidence about his current whereabouts.
It didn't stop her from worrying though. Or him.
As he let his mind wander he started feeling more irritated than worried all of a sudden. Before realizing what he was going to do, he let out a frustrated sigh, the movement of his chest, of course, snapping Sharon out of whatever thoughts she was in. She gently pulled out of his embrace and looked at him.
"I need to think about it, Andy. I don't know if or when I'll tell him," she said, sounding slightly irritated herself.
He shook his head and reached out for her hand, dropping his gaze on it. "I know you do," he told her. "It's your decision to make anyway, that's not what this is about," he added. And it was true. He could offer input, opinions, support, of course, but she was the one who would decide what to do with the little information they apparently had so far.
A small frown creased her forehead. "Oh," she let out, surprised, clearly having misinterpreted his sigh.
He chuckled briefly and finally looked at her again. "It's just," he sighed again, "whenever we catch a break, something crops up and turns everything upside-down again," he told her on a resigned shrug.
Her features softened and she looked at their joined hands for a moment before meeting his eyes. "You," the word left her on a much lower timbre than he was used to, "do not turn everything upside-down," she told him over a stern look.
He looked heavenward. Of course she would guess where he was coming from. Sarcastically, he replied, "Because blood clots, surgeries and heart attacks are a delight to be around."
She gave him one of those indulging looks he was rather used to by now and said, "All of you moved in with me, Andy, your health issues included. Just like you moved in with all of me, my kid included." The corner of her lip and an eyebrow quirked up at her reference to Rusty and he had to smile at her. On a somewhat bitter note though, she added, "Serial rapists and murderers apparently included, too."
That wiped the smile off Andy's face. "That's not funny," he grumbled, letting his frustrations out by sliding down the bed to lie flat on his back again and forcefully hitting his pillow with the back of his head.
Surprisingly, she chuckled and dropped a quick kiss to his cheek, before lying down on her side. "Neither are your heart problems," she told him seriously.
In response he only shot her an annoyed look, but she merely smiled at him, before turning around to turn the lamp off and settling against the side of his arm again.
"Let's sleep," she said quietly.
He grunted. "Nothing we can do about any of it now, anyway," he muttered. He was tired and he was sure she was, too. "Good night," he added when she hummed in agreement.
Instead of wishing him goodnight in return, Sharon suddenly lifted her head as they heard the front door open. When she spoke, he could tell she was giving him a surprised look, despite the darkness in the room.
"Rusty's home."
"Hmm, that a good or a bad sign?" he asked, really not sure.
She stayed quiet for a moment, listening to Rusty's quiet footsteps in the hallway. When they heard the door to his room close, she dropped her head again and said, resigned. "We'll find out tomorrow, I guess."
He hummed in acknowledgement and turned to his side to face her. "Night, Sharon," he told her before giving her a quick kiss and closing his eyes.
He smiled when she found his hand and laced their fingers together. She hummed rather sleepily as she shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Night, Andy," she finally mumbled, closing her own eyes.