an: thank you so so much for the lovely the guest reviews. You all made my day! To the guest reviewer looking forward to me writing part 6 and 7. Part 6 is already completed, just need to type that one writing on part 7. I have this story figured out in my head until part 11 so a lot more to come as long as people are interested.

As this is kind of an in between chapter, I might upload another one later this week. I hope you all enjoy this one as well!

just playing with these characters, they are not mine.

Chapter two

Andy fumbled with his tie, as they made their way from the car, to the church. The clicking of Sharon's heels fast. They were a bit late. Showering together hadn't been time managing after all. It never was.

"Will you stop fumbling with your tie? It looks fine."

She was just one step ahead of him, so how she knew with her back turned towards him, would always remain a mystery to him. Andy raised both of his eyebrows and followed her in.

Sharon felt the prying eyes, the stares. People fell silent, staring disapproving at her. Just like the last weeks. That's why she was so glad Andy came with her. She didn't want to go through this alone again. It was enough to have these hostile stares at work.

Andy's brows furrowed, seeing what happened in front of him. The people stopped midsentence, looking accusing in Sharon's direction. His hand found the small of her back fast. Andy just wanted her to feel him. No wonder she asked him to come with her.

"You okay?"

"Hm-mm…"

The slight tremble made it less convincing.

What was this? Was this because of the Jensen case? Because she went after one of their own? That she'd been right, obviously didn't matter. He narrowed his eyes, silently threatening them to back off. Her father looked at her and not. Her mother had turned towards her, the moment the climate in the room changed. She smiled sad. The whole situation hurt the both of them. Sharon knew her mom would want her to sit with them, but she couldn't. Halfway across the church aisle her steps faltered, turning towards Andy for a brief moment, to let him know she wanted to sit down here. She felt the eyes still trained on them. Andy's face looked hardened. All bets were off, if one of them would say a word in an audible fashion. Here she wouldn't blame him for it. She'd asked him along to get his support.

Andy quit his stare, as he felt Sharon looking at him. She wanted to sit down. Halfway, not in the front with her parents. He hated to think about the times she had to endure this alone.

Taking her hand in his, his thumb began to rub the back of her hand. Sharon glanced brief at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She was so grateful he came along with her. At least now she didn't have to feel so alone.

These people were so ignorant. He didn't get it. Why were they looking at her, like she was the criminal? She had done the right thing. She had made sure that a child murderer was now behind bars awaiting his trial. It shouldn't matter that it was one of them. They should be the ones ashamed for believing in his innocence for so long.

Now they were complete strangers. Probably not knowing Sharon and how good she was at her job. Her father should though. He had expected him to come to Sharon, the moment he heard there was a substantial case against his friend, the good old doctor. It hadn't happened though. Mark hadn't come, he hadn't called. Was it about him losing face? Was he afraid for his daughter's stubbornness? In fact Andy wasn't so sure Sharon would talk to him if he came. He didn't know. All it would take was an apology and time. The man must know that. Sharon was his daughter, his own flesh and blood. Most likely she had inherited that stubbornness from him. Was it that trait that kept him from going to his daughter and admit that he'd been wrong?

To top the uncomfortable tension, Raydor was seated only two rows in front of them. He didn't get any disapproving looks send his way, for defending a child murderer. No that was probably perfectly acceptable in their society. If he wouldn't know better, he'd say Sharon didn't belong here. She was so pure and down to earth. Nothing like all these hoity toity's surrounding them now. He rather had the working class kind then. Sharon would be respected for her actions in their church community.

Raydor looked over his shoulder, more interested in Sharon than the sermon. When would he finally accept the fact that he lost her and let her go? In his own depraved way he'd enjoyed Sharon countering him. Irritated and frustrated at the moment, but now long forgotten. He looked at her with a mixture of lust and admiration. That confident twinkle in his eyes, mocking him. As if Jack wanted to tell him to enjoy it while he still could, because he would have her back. Just the thought of his assumption made his blood boil. Every time Jack countered him it took all it had in him not to punch him down and wipe that stupid grin of his face. Andy's fingers flexed subconsciously before balling them into fists. He only realized he had when Sharon's hand stroke his arm. She had a calming effect on him. Always had, from the moment he had stopped fighting her and allowed her in.

Andy hardly listened to the words. The only reason why he went to church was because Sharon asked him. She knew he didn't care much about the words spoken in the sermon, knew he was only there for her. Sharon accepted that. Like she had never pressured him to join her. Studying her face, he knew she actually listened. She looked so beautiful. Eager for knowledge. Listening with an open mind and heart. There was one thing Andy did. He thanked God with an open mind and heart Thanking God every day for bringing her into his life.

Sharon had a tighter grip on his hand, during the final words of the service. She must know all the eyes were back on her again. He brought her hand to his lips, kissing it gently .

"Would you like to go to your parents?"

There was a moment of conflict in her eyes, before she shook her head.

"It's okay."

Sharon swallowed, she couldn't make that first step. It wasn't that she didn't want to go to her mother, but she didn't want to face her father. He should come to her, not the other way around. She hadn't done anything wrong.

"You want me to go to your mom?"

Tears formed in her eyes. He was so sweet, so caring. Sharon knew he rather didn't speak to her dad, still he was willing to walk over to them. Again she shook her head. She couldn't expect that from him. He shouldn't have to do that for her.

Andy knew it was too much. She was so complex. Every time he believed he knew her a bit better, something like this would happen, her wall would come up again. Knowing when he shouldn't pressure her. So he nodded, holding her hand even tighter.

"Sharon. Darling."

Andy bit his lip, that was all they needed, Raydor. He squared his shoulders, while he turned around. His eyes shot a warning glance at Raydor. He wished Sharon would simply ignore him and walk away. At least she was a lot calmer than he was, maybe it was because the wall already had been up.

"Hello, Jack."

She sighed the sentence, before she simply turned around. Andy saw the angry grimace on Raydor's face ,before he turned around to join Sharon. He didn't like being ignored especially not by Sharon. They only made a few steps towards the exit when they heard his spiteful words.

"In a rush are you? On your way to ruin another respectable citizen's life?"

Sharon froze, her spine going rigid, the cold feeling of his spiteful words travelling upwards. Her jaw clenched, her shoulders tensed, while her hands clenched themselves in tight fists pressed against her thighs. Desperate to control the anger, that caused her limbs to tremble. How dare he? The accusive tone in his voice. Jack should know this was wrong, but then again, this church was filled with people who believed she'd done something appalling, targeting one of their own. Part of her wanted to just walk out of that church. Head held up high and never look back. This was just as much her community as his though. Her parents took her there, ever since their move to Los Angeles. Her parents were still in the front. Her father probably agreeing with Jack, but her mom wasn't. It didn't even matter, whether she had any friends there. She would not allow Jack to chase her away, make her feel uncomfortable, at a place where she belonged.

Sharon turned around and in a few steps she was back, right in front of Jack. Their eyes locked. Sharon's eyes shot fire, but Jack's eyes only hardened. There wasn't any love in those eyes of him. She wasn't sure whether she could call it hate. It was a sure thing though, that if he couldn't get to love her, he'd hurt her.

Andy didn't like the look in Raydor's eyes. The hate in them. He didn't know what else to call it. Jack only cared about one thing at this moment and that was hurt Sharon. Andy took a few steps towards them. Mainly because he couldn't help himself. Sharon wouldn't want him to interfere.

They had an audience. She could feel all the eyes staring at them, but she didn't care. She'd fight for moral standards, no matter what.

"Respectable? You really want to call thát man a respectable citizen?"

"And clearly I'm not the only one here."

Jack's smug smile, build up the rahge in her so fast. Feeling an itch in her hands, they tingled, Sharon really wanted to hit him. He could push her buttons way too fast.

"That just proves how naive these people really are. And that they all rather live in this dream world of theirs, than admit to the horrible truth of one of them killing an innocent little girl."

Jack frowned angry, getting in her face. "My client is innocent until proven guilty."

"Your client is guilty, Jack. He killed that girl and it is about time that you and everyone else starts to acknowledge that."

"He's not branded guilty simply because you want him to, my dear."

"It's because there is evidence."

"That's simply not how it works in the real world. There's a fine line between good and bad. You still have to learn so much."

"Like not everything is like you believe it to be? Believe me, I already learned that lesson. I learned not everyone is who you believe them to be either."

Her eyes shortly travelled to her father. She couldn't prevent the tears from swelling in her eyes. She bit her lower lip as she looked back at Jack.

"You're certainly not the man I believed you to be, when I fell in love with you."

Andy wasn't sure what Sharon said. He only knew it hit a nerve, as Raydor's face went blank. He sought Sharon's eyes as she turned around towards him. Raydor had done some significant damage as well. Sharon's eyes were moist, vulnerable. She was so easy to hurt, as Raydor knew exactly where to hit her. At least she hit him back. Andy touched her cheek, smiling sad, only releasing her, when she returned a small smile. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her tight against his side.

Andy opened the car door for her. All he wanted was to take her away from there. Hold her, kiss her, show her how much she was loved.

"Sharon…."

She turned around, as she heard her mom's soft voice. The worry was edged on her face. Sharon could imagine she must feel caught in the middle. She couldn't remember ever witnessing a real argument between her parents. No doubt her mom felt torn. Not wanting to argue with her husband, but not wanting to distance herself from her child either. They had always been so close and now they hardly spoke to one another in weeks.

"Sharon, sweetie, are you alright? I saw you talking to Jack, and…"

Diane had seen her daughter's eyes. So many conflicting emotions. The fire in her eyes, the rage. She could understand it. The mere thought of someone hurting an innocent little girl. All she could think of was, what if Sharon had been killed when she was a little girl. She didn't understand why her husband closed his eyes for everything. She didn't understand Jack defending the man either.

Once they'd been so happy that Sharon and Jack fell in love. They'd seemed the perfect fit. She had never imagined back then he'd be capable of hurting her daughter, but he had, several times and he still was. She'd seen the moist in Sharon's eyes, earlier, the vulnerability.

"I'm fine, mom."

"Jack said something that hurt you."

"It's not like that never happened before either. Mom, I'm fine, really."

Diane touched her cheek, slowly rubbing it with her thumb. A sad smile covered her lips.

"I miss you, sweetie."

"I can't …" Her sentence broke before Sharon could finish it, overruled by emotions. Casting down her eyes, she didn't want her mom to see the pain in them.

Diane cupped her chin, lifting Sharon's face, so her eyes could meet hers. Her other hand stroking the lock of hair from her face, tugging it behind her ear.

"I know… Listen to me, sweetheart. Your daddy has been very stubborn throughout this ordeal. He knows he has hurt you, believe me, he does. He's got no idea how to make it all better."

What would make this all better? Sharon had no idea. There was no way they could turn back the clock. Undo the things that happened, or were spoken. He had lied to her. Favored his friend before her. An innocent child had died and he had worried about his friends reputation, the hospital's reputation. He had helped to undermine her. Now he knew it was wrong, but to be honest, now it was too late. The trust she had in him was gone. Sharon didn't want to see her mom hurt. She hated to put her in the middle of this. She didn't have the answer either , though.

"I don't know either, momma."

Both women stared at each other for a moment. Diane knowing Sharon wasn't going to be the one giving in. How was this going to be solved, when she couldn't even get the two of them together in one room? If they would only talk. Sharon was hurt too much and her husband was scared of a confrontation, seeing the pain in their daughter's eyes, the pain that he caused.

Andy could see the conflict within the both of them. "Sharon, honey, maybe we could all have dinner together or something."

Sharon looked at him, as if he'd suggested for them to have dinner in the middle of a battle field.

"Just dinner. Forget for a moment about the things that have happened."

"And talk about what? About his job, ours? His friends, or maybe the acquaintances in there, who all believe I've committed a sin, arresting one of their own. Or about him favoring Jack over you?"

Neither Diane nor Andy had expected the amount of anger, clearly still lingering inside of her. If they would get together now, it would only end in an argument and that was something they were all trying to avoid.

"Mom, I really miss you too and I'm sorry you're in the middle of all this, but I can't do that. I can't just sit at the dinner table and act like there's nothing wrong."

Andy knew Sharon had made up her mind and nothing was going to change that.

"Maybe we could have lunch together. Only the two of us." Diane tried.

" I'd love to, mom. Call me later this week and we'll plan something."

Diane bend in to wrap Sharon in a hug. "I will."

"Just to be sure, try to reach me at Andy's place first. You do have his number, right?"

Diane nodded, releasing her hold. She gave Sharon a kiss on her cheek, before letting her leave.

Mark looked worried at Diane. "Was Sharon alright?"

The look she'd given him, during her conversation with Jack, had felt like a stab in the heart.

"No. Our daughter is not alright, Mark. She's both angry and hurt."

"Maybe I should go talk to her."

"That's the worst thing you could do right now."

"I was wrong, maybe if I'd let her know that…"

"She already does. She knew you were wrong from the start. That's part of the problem. You admitting you were wrong is not going to do it."

"Then what will?" His frustration seeped through.

"I don't know, Mark. Maybe this has destroyed your relationship with her forever."

Diane looked sad. Sharon was right, she was caught in the middle. She so desperately wanted things to be normal again.