I liked this episode, the change in pace, it being centered around Amy instead of Rusty, having Judge Grove and Rothman back and meeting the last of the competition for Assistant Chief. I didn't even mind the lack of proper Shandy. That being said, I have a little something regarding them in the works. But before I get to that, there's a little something about Rusty actually that I decided to write first.

It's just a teeny tiny bit that kinda bugged me and I had to get it out of my system. Sorry it's so short.

"Rusty?" Sharon said, putting a hand over the side of his arm.

"Yeah?" Rusty responded, coming to a stop.

Sharon exchanged a quick look with Andrea and Andy, letting them know it would only take a moment. They nodded and walked down the hall giving them some privacy.

"What was that?" Sharon asked quietly, tilting her head to the closed doors of the courtroom they just left.

"What?" Rusty said in response, frowning.

"I know a guilty look when I see one," Sharon said, raising an eyebrow at him and folding her arms across her chest. "And you definitely had a guilty look when I turned around, Rusty," she added.

"I hate that Rothman lady," he muttered.

"So how'd you make her laugh?" Sharon asked.

"She waved at me," he said, rolling his eyes.

"She waved at you?" she repeated, giving him an incredulous look.

He nodded.

"And what did you do?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

He swallowed and, probably knowing she wouldn't stop asking until he just told her what happened, he said, "I gave her the finger."

Sharon's eyebrows shot up. "You what?" she asked, her voice becoming lower, reaching those more threatening notes of hers.

"What?" Rusty asked defensively, raising his voice slightly, clearly ignoring their surroundings. "She deserves much worse and you know it!"

Suddenly, Sharon laughed, but it lasted barely a moment. "Rusty, I'm not her biggest fan either." Over a pointed look, she added, "For obvious reasons." When he gave her an unimpressed look, she went on, "But I'm sure you can think of more mature ways of dealing with her."

"Oh, come on, mom," Rusty let out, looking heavenwards. "It's not like I punched her or something."

"You want to punch her?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Like you don't," he countered in a low tone of voice.

She offered a small smile, effectively giving in to that point. Changing tactics, she uncrossed her arms and sighed. "What were the only two things I ever asked of you?" she asked.

Rusty gave her a puzzled look.

"I asked of you to be," Sharon clarified.

"Oh," Rusty's face fell, his features softening as it dawned on him.

"Yes?" Sharon encouraged.

"To be safe," he bowed his head for a moment before meeting her eyes again, "and to be kind."

"Exactly," she said on a soft smile.

He took a breath, looking around. "You're right, I-I," he stuttered, searching for the right words, "I shouldn't have done that. I'm better than that."

Her smile got wider and she squeezed his shoulder briefly. "That you are, Rusty."

"I'm sorry," he said.

Sharon tilted her head, indicating him to start walking again. "She pushes all our buttons," she said as they finally followed Andrea and Andy, "but there are better ways of handling her," she gave him a pointed look, "especially in a courtroom."

Rusty chuckled. "Yeah, you're right," he repeated. "Again," he added, rolling his eyes at her in an exaggerated manner.

She drew her shoulders together innocently.

"So you really didn't see me?" he asked when she offered nothing more, but just continued walking down the hall in silence.

She shook her head. "Just your 'Oh, she didn't see that, right?' look," she told him, a slight smirk on her face now.

He groaned. "Am I really that easy to read?"

She smiled and bumped her shoulder against his. "Only to me," she told him conspiratorially.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure being a detective helps, too," he mumbled, smiling at her though.

She shrugged. "It can come in handy at times, yes," she agreed.

He shook his head at her as they turned the corner to find Andy and Andrea waiting for them in front of the elevator.

"Thanks," Rusty said quietly.

Surprised, Sharon looked at him. "For what?"

"For being you," he said on a shrug.

She could only smile and run a hand down his arm affectionately, before Andy, whom they'd in the meantime reached, interrupted.

"Elevator's waiting," he told them just as the doors opened.

Rusty flicking her off was a great scene, Rothman totally deserved it, but I'd like to believe that Sharon wouldn't have appreciated the gesture had she seen it and it looked like she noticed something happened. So I wanted to explore what she might have done about it.