Two mornings later, Andy and Provenza found themselves sitting in a doughnut shop waiting on doughnuts for the team. As much as Provenza hated spending money on anything, he did have a soft spot for Julio, and Julio was returning to work today. Provenza and Andy had discussed doing something for Julio, knowing Julio wouldn't want much of anything, and they'd decided to get breakfast for the team. Doughnuts were the obvious choice. Julio loved them, as did the chief. The last time the team had breakfast together, Daniels had brought bagels, which had drawn some irritation from the chief. Today, they were getting doughnuts, and Provenza was polishing off his second while they waited for the two dozen they'd ordered.

"You have a date this weekend?" Provezna asked him, his face covered in powdered sugar. Andy glanced at him, rolled his eyes, and handed him a napkin. While Provenza was wiping his face, Andy shook his head.

"Nah, not this weekend. I'm going to this party for one of the guys in AA, his five-year sobriety party. You keep it up, your face covered in doughnut, you won't have a date either."

Provenza frowned, "That sounds dull. I mean, no alcohol, so what does one do at a party like that?"

Andy smirked, "We don't drink."

"Well, that's obvious! That's why I asked. So?" he asked again.

Andy shrugged, "We talk. We have coffee. Some have sodas. It's like an AA meeting without the sharing. I don't know," he shrugged. "It should be fun. Who knows-I might meet someone there."

Provenza eyed him, "I thought you weren't supposed to date other alcoholics."

"Well, not to start, at least. I mean, I'm not even talking like that. He -the guy throwing the party-said he was inviting a lot of his friends. He's younger too, so maybe," he shrugged.

"Order 113," they heard, and Andy held up his ticket and stood.

"That's us," he nodded to the lady walking toward them with the doughnuts. "Thanks," he smiled at her. She nodded and returned to the counter.

"You ready, yet?" Andy asked. Provenza stood and wiped his face again. He still missed some of the powdered sugar.

"Wipe off your face before you get into my car like that," Andy told him. "I don't know why we had to drive here together from work. I could have picked up the doughnuts myself. Instead, you made me drive to work extra early to pick you up, and then we had to come here together. Sounds like someone doesn't want to be away from me, or," he nodded, answering his own question, "someone wanted more doughnuts."

"Yes, but then I wouldn't have already had two. No one knows I had two. You don't count. When I get to work, I look like I'm the polite guy, taking two like the rest of the team. I'll get my two doughnuts, and it looks reasonable."

"Let me get this straight," Andy stopped and gestured with his free hand before he continued, "you made me pick you up at work, drive you over here, and it was all for two additional doughnuts? You didn't want others to see?" he asked, now laughing.

"I didn't stutter," he waved his hand. "Let's go."

"You know, the powdered sugar on your tie and face gives it away," he chuckled. "You should go wash your face."

"I am not washing my face. You have any napkins or wipes in your car?"

Andy glanced at him, an annoyed look on his face, "No, why should I? I'm not your dad."

"Excellent point," Provenza pointed his finger at him as the men got into the car. "Speaking of that, how you are NOT a dad, how's the baby momma? She looked rough in our office the other day."

Andy sighed as he backed out of the parking space, "That wasn't even the half of it. She and I got into it in the break room before all of that in the office. That's why I had to prod at her there. The onion rings," he grinned at Provenza, "that was her mood food, and I could tell the smell was making her sick to her stomach. Last time I took those to her, she pushed them away, and she was already pregnant then."

"That explains it," he sighed. "She can get your all worked up, Flynn, and the last thing I want to know or hear about is her 'mood food' from you. Seriously, keep things like that to yourself."

"Well, she gets into this nasty mode with me. I walked in and heard her talking to the baby, this nice, calm motherly voice. I start talking to her, and she goes off on me. Then, she tells me she isn't going to even tell me when she has the kid. Can you believe that?"

Provenza turned sideways to look at Andy, "I'm shocked the mother of your child, wait the mother of a child you signed away your rights, doesn't want you to know about the baby's birth."

Andy scowled at him, "I still should be there, Provenza. That's my kid."

"Flynn, what are you not understanding? You won't be the baby daddy. She is raising the kid alone. You agreed to it," Provenza pointed out to him.

"Can we just not talk about this? I'm getting irritated again, and I just want to enjoy my two doughnuts. Unlike someone, I didn't already eat two," he smirked.

"Fine by me," Provenza waved. He pulled his white bucket hat over his face and groaned, "I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."

The two men made their way into the building with the doughnuts and were waiting for the elevator. They got on it from the parking garage, and it stopped again on the first floor. Both men were silent, looking at the floor, and Andy sighed when his phone text message started to go off when they reached their floor.

"If the chief asks me to get her favorite jelly doughnuts again, I swear I'll eat them both before we get to the office," he sighed, and both men stepped off the elevator. Provenza kept walking, but Andy stopped to dig out his phone. "Crap," he said, his eyes wide. Provenza turned.

"What, is the chief now threatening to send you to dinner with her parents the next time they are in town?" Provenza chuckled.

Andy shook his head, and he stared at his phone, "No, ahh, it's from Gavin. Sharon had the baby."

"What?" Provenza's eyes widened. "She had the kid? When?"

Andy gestured to him, and he nudged the boxes at Provenza. Provenza, still speechless, took the doughnut boxes, and he followed Andy down the hall to the corner where there was some privacy. "I don't know anything. The text just said she had the baby. Let me find out. Oh," he ran his hand through his hair, "the baby is early, a few weeks early."

"Well, well," Provenza gestured, "find out more."

"Gee," Andy rolled his eyes at him, "what a good idea, you moron! You think I don't want to find out about my own kid?" he said, lowering his voice. He started typing out a message, and he waved off Provenza who was trying to look over his shoulder. The men waited, and both almost pounced on the phone when Gavin answered.

"She had the baby overnight. It didn't go well, but both are doing fine now. She's in Room 631, not that I told you. I am guessing you know the hospital," Gavin said.

"What is it? Did she have a boy or a girl?" Provenza asked, reading Gavin's text.

"You're seeing what I'm seeing!" Andy exclaimed and quickly looked around, realizing he was shouting. "Obviously, he didn't tell me. Let me see."

"Boy or girl?" Andy asked.

"I spent all night with Sharon and now have to work all day. She's alone for now until I go back this evening. If you are so interested, I suggest you find out for yourself," he told him.

"Gavin!" Andy yelled, clearly irritated he couldn't an answer from a text message.

"Go, go," Provenza waved at him.

Andy just nodded, and he ran his hand through his hair, "Work-the chief," he shook his head. "Tell her I had an emergency with one of my kids."

Provenza rolled his eyes, "They say the best lies are out of the truth. Go. I will let the cat out of the bag if you don't update me. Your kid was just born, and you don't even know what you had." Provenza shook his head.

"Hey," Andy pointed to him, "you are the one who keeps saying it's not my kid."

"Saying it, getting you to believe it, and walking away from the baby are all different things. I've been there since you fathered the kid-well, thankfully, not that moment exactly, but still. I expect an update, Flynn," he nodded. "Go."

Andy grinned and nodded, turning to leave the building. He turned back," I'm going to take the stairs. They are faster."

"Flynn," Provenza called to him, "congrats, even if you aren't involved. I'll still know the whole story."

Andy wanted to put on his lights and sirens as he drove toward the hospital, but he didn't. He couldn't run the risk of anyone asking him over his radio what was going on, and that would only lead to more problems. He had to play this cool when he got back to work because he would have to go back to work today. His baby had been born, but no one, except Provenza, knew that, and Andy had to remain calm at the office. That didn't change that his heart was ready to explode. As he drove, he thought about this miracle, this baby he never expected to have, with Sharon, of all people. The baby was a true miracle, born against all obstacles. He chuckled as he thought about it, sleeping with Sharon in the first place, the condom problem, Sharon's age, all of it-it was almost comical that out of all that mess, he and Sharon had created a life, one that had arrived apparently today. He glanced at his watch, just realizing this date would be forever on his mind now, August 30. He'd never forget the date. 8/30, and as he thought of it, a huge grin formed on his face. August 30, 8/30, or 830, the room number of their hotel room on Christmas. Oh, that had been an amazing night, really an amazing afternoon, night, and morning. They'd spent hours together, and he wasn't so sure that they didn't conceive the baby during that trip. Sure, he'd had protection, but he hadn't told Sharon there that day that after one of their rounds, that the condom had broken. Now, he realized, that might have been an important detail, but at the time, he really didn't consider she could and would get pregnant. It wasn't like the two had a full on conversation when they finished. She'd gotten up, disappeared into the bathroom, and she'd yelled out to him to go get something to eat. He had, and when he'd returned, they didn't waste time getting under the sheets again. She'd basically sent him out of the room after each time, and that was one oof the reasons the room number was so engrained in his head. He'd been in and out of that room many times on that trip. Still, now, here, it was impossible to know exactly what day the princess was conceived. The two certainly hadn't used anything during their rushed New Year's Even encounter, but it seemed fitting the baby had a birthday to remind him of the very heated Christmas he and Sharon had spent in the hotel.

While he wanted to throw the car in a no parking zone, he didn't. He parked, collected himself, and he started for the hospital. As he walked, he realized he looked and felt like a jerk. Sharon had just given birth to their child, and he'd done nothing. He hadn't brought anything either. He should have snagged a box of the doughnuts from Provenza, but he didn't do that; Provenza would most likely eat Andy's doughnuts too. He wanted to be mean and get her a bag of onion rings for not telling him anything, but he didn't do that either. Instead, he stopped in the hospital gift shop to pick out a few things.

10 minutes later, armed with a bottle of apple juice, a pack of crackers, a granola bar, a small stuffed animal, and some flowers, he found himself getting off the elevator. He stopped at the desk to check in with the nurse.

"I'm here to see Sharon Raydor," he gave them a small smile. He pulled out his badge just so they would know he wasn't some criminal.

"Ahh, we figured the LAPD would start parading through here," the nurse smiled at him. "I take it you are a friend, not family?"

Andy gave her a blank stare, not sure what to say. He finally just nodded, "Ahh, yeah. I'm a friend. How is she? How's the baby?"

The nurse smiled at him as she filled out the visitor paperwork, "I guess you will see for yourself. She's down the hall, Room 631."

"Thanks," Andy said, giving her a polite nod. He felt sick to his stomach. This was the first time he'd been asked about his own baby and had denied being related. It didn't feel good, but legally, he knew it was what it was. He shook off that thought for the moment and continued walking, nodding to a couple walking slowly down the hall as the mother was trying to get up and moving. He arrived at Sharon's door. The door was cracked open, but before he went inside, he took a deep breath. His life would never be the same. It already was different, but from this moment forward, he'd have another kid. Even if he couldn't shout it from the rooftops, he knew. Deep in his heart, he knew, and he also knew he had been a lousy father before and was trying to give this kid a better life by letting Sharon have the baby to herself. August 30. He had a new baby, another summer baby, he grinned to himself. He knocked slightly as he opened the door and walked inside.

The room was dimly lit, with the curtains closed. There was a faint light coming from the bathroom, and there was another one over off to the side of the bed, but it looked like the room had been dimmed so Sharon could rest.

"Sharon," he called to her, not sure if she was asleep or awake. She was not facing him, her head turned to the other side, and he could see the bassinet off to that side of her bed. He stepped inside and turned back to close the door. When he turned to face her bed, she was looking over at him.

"Wait, how did you know?" she asked.

"Gavin," he nodded.

"I'm going to kill him," she said groggily. Andy shrugged and walked further into the room, putting the food and flowers down at the end of the bed while he walked around to the bassinet to look at the baby.

"Yeah, you know, I wasn't surprised you didn't call me. You're stubborn like that, but I'm here because I'm at least trying to be a friend. So, is it a boy or a girl?" he asked, walking up to the sleeping baby.

"Boy," she said firmly and crisply. "His name is Alfred. You saw him. You can go."

Andy glanced, turned to her, frowned, and gestured, "Yeah? Why is SHE wearing a pink hat, then? Come on, Sharon. I am a detective." Andy looked back at the sleeping baby and didn't wait for Sharon to respond. He heard Sharon sigh as he stared at the baby sleeping soundly.

"Fine," she huffed. "I don't know why I thought you would just leave. I was sure it was a boy," she said. "You win."

He grinned looking at the baby and turned back to her, now her arms crossed, "Wait, you're mad? Are you seriously mad it's a girl? What do you mean, I win? This wasn't a contest. Here, I thought you'd be happy with a healthy baby. She's healthy, right She's a little princess, just like I said.?"

"No! I'm not mad she's a girl, not at all!" Sharon hissed.

"Oh," he nodded before he continued, "you just wanted a boy to remind you of me. Yeah, you wanted a boy with the charm and the looks I have. Well, she's beautiful and looks like you. She has your nose. Thank goodness she looks nothing like me."

Sharon took a deep breath, noting Andy was still there looking at the baby. She met his gaze when he looked over at her, and she said, "I'm exhausted and not feeling well."

"Yeah, I can tell," he nodded. "How about you let me help, just a little? I'm not here to cause trouble, Sharon. Does your work even know?"

She shook her head, "No, I haven't told them yet. I left yesterday afternoon for my appointment, and here I am," she gestured. "I called earlier and said I wouldn't be in today."

"You have to tell them," he frowned.

"I know," she nodded. "I'm just too tired now. I will later."

"Truce?" he asked. "I'm really not a monster, Sharon. I am happy, excited, and I want to know what happened. I just saw you, what two mornings ago, and you were out to here," he gestured with his hands, "with her," he hooked his thumb toward the sleeping baby. "Gavin sends me a text this morning saying you had the baby. Can we please have a truce? Can we do that for her?"

Sharon looked up at him, and the two stared at each other for a moment. Finally, Andy stuck out his hand. Sharon looked at it, and she finally put her hand up to shake his. She sighed, "Fine. I know this day has been a long time coming, and I appreciate you letting her go. I can indulge you for now, but then, we have to just walk away from each other."

"Work is different," he told her. "I will see you at work, and with the daycare in the building, I'll see her too."

"That's not an issue now," she pursed her lips.

"Okay," he nodded. He sat on the end of the bed at the edge, looking at her and then, with the baby next to him. He nodded to her, "You haven't told me her name."

She shrugged, "I'm not decided."

Andy narrowed his gaze at her, and he turned to the bassinet. He noted the nametag on the front and turned back to her, frowning at her blank stare. "Okay, I don't know if this is a guessing game or what-maybe 'Stump the Detective' or something like that, but why is there an H. Raydor there with your name under it?"

Sharon rolled her eyes, "Her name is Hannah. I've had that picked out for a very long time, but I really didn't think I would be using it. I really thought she was a boy."

"Yeah," he rolled his eyes and sighed, "well aware. That's all I have heard from you for months. So, Hannah," he nodded and smiled at the name. "I like it a lot."

"I'm glad you do, but I didn't need your approval," she stated.

"Just stop! I didn't say you did! I'm allowed to say I like her name. Friends say that. I'm sure I won't be the only one. I like it. It's much better than the Alfred you tried to convince me of earlier," he shook his head. "Like I would believe you'd have Emily, Ricky, and Alfred. Seriously? Hannah is sweet. How did you pick it?"

She shrugged, "I honestly just like it. I heard it on a television show one night, and it just stuck. That's the truth."

"Okay," he nodded. "That's progress, factual information," he smirked. "How much did big Hannah weight? I mean, I know she gave you a rough time. Wait, she's early. Is she okay?"

Sharon nodded, even as he was speaking, "She's fine. She's perfect," Sharon grinned and quickly looked away from him. "She is early, yes, but they said her lungs are developed. If she'd been born a couple days later, she would have been considered term. Technically, she's a preemie, but not by much. The doctor wants her to stay an extra day as long as she's doing well. They were a little worried about her lungs, but so far, she's doing okay. As you can see," she nodded to where Hannah was sleeping, "she's sleeping just fine. I think she just wanted to be born. I'm so glad she's here, and I'm out of my misery."

"Good," he nodded. "That's all good to hear. How big is she? You said the doc kept saying she was huge," he looked over at her.

Sharon grimaced when he looked back at her, "She's five pounds eight ounces. She's not huge at all," Sharon dropped her head. "She's my smallest baby, and I kept saying she was huge. I kept telling my doctor that. He never commented."

"Well, she was early," he nodded.

Sharon looked at him and shook her head, "Yes, but she wasn't early by that much. Emily and Ricky weren't late or anything. The problem is I gained 53 pounds! 53! She was barely six of that, and yes, I know there's other weight I lost with delivery, but still! I cannot believe it. I kept telling the doctor she was huge, and he never said much. I was so sure of myself and so stupid," she dropped her head back on the pillow and sighed.

Andy gave her a shrug, "It is what it is. I know you'll bounce back. You have a great body."

She eyed him, "That, we are not discussing. The focus stays on her and her arrival," Sharon sighed.

"Sorry," he raised his hands in defense, "I just wanted you to know that. It still looks great. You just had a baby, what a few hours ago? Can you tell me all the details?"

She groaned and rolled her head slightly, "It's so embarrassing."

Andy pretended to look around the room, "I don't see an audience. By now, you should know I don't gossip. I've only ever talked about this to Provenza. I know you have Gavin, and I have Provenza. Hannah, here, isn't talking either. What happened? Whatever it is, the outcome looks pretty good."

Sharon opened her mouth and pursed her lips, "This was nothing like I planned."

He gestured again toward Hannah, "Tell me something new."

She rolled her eyes, "I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday just before lunch. I haven't felt good for days, weeks really, but it's gotten worse."

Andy nodded, and while she paused, he said, "Yeah, I have to admit you haven't been looking good recently. I've noticed how tired you have been and just overall not feeling well."

She nodded, "I got to my appointment. The doctor had me put on a gown because well," she shrugged, "I told him I was having a tremendous amount of pressure and had been since I saw you in the break room I suppose, pressure I thought was her head, but after I had on the gown and was getting on the table again, my water broke. It broke right there in the office. I was standing there, and the nurse knocked to see if I was ready. I made such a mess, and then, I just started to cry. My emotions have been all over the place. The next few minutes were a blur, but I remember arguing I didn't need an ambulance and could drive myself," she rolled her eyes again and sighed. "Next thing I know, an ambulance is bringing me to the hospital, mainly because I was alone. They got me upstairs, and it was finally registering that I was going to deliver a baby and soon. Soon didn't come. That was all around 12:30 yesterday afternoon. Again, it was all a blur. I knew from Emily and Ricky it should go quickly and figured she would be here by 8:00 or 9:00 last night. It was nothing like that. I labored all night. I had awful contractions after my water broke."

"Did you get an epidural?" he asked.

"No," she frowned. "I wanted to tough it out. I had epidurals with Emily and Ricky. This time, I wanted to do it on my own."

He eyed her, "Are you against them? I know some women are. What were you trying to prove? You pushed out a kid!"

"Hmm, except I didn't, not this time," she sighed. "I labored all night. The contractions started getting stronger around 6:00 or 7:00 last night. I said no to the epidural, but by 3:00 A.M., I was regretting that. She just started having trouble. They put these monitors on both of us, and hers started showing signs of distress. Plus, I was exhausted after over 12 hours of this, really longer because my doctor said I was probably in the early stages of labor the last few days. At 4:30 AM, the doctor wasn't happy with my progress, and I was taken for a C-section. She was born shortly after that, at 4:48 AM. It happened so quickly after they decided she wasn't doing well. That is what surprised me so much. Here, I'd labored all day, all night, and suddenly, she's out. So, no, I didn't push her out, but I am feeling beaten up right now. I am exhausted from the contractions, but I hurt, too, from the surgery. I've been cut open, and I feel awful. I can only imagine how she feels. I hope she feels better than I do."

At the mention of that, Andy, who had his hand braced on the bed next to where he sat, sat up straight like his hand on the bed had been hurting her, "Oh, I didn't even think of that. Are you okay?" His eyes widened, as he stared at her still quite large stomach. "I didn't know you had a C-section."

"I know," she nodded. "I just told you. I won't say I'm good or great. I'm in pain, and I'm old. I'm so old right now. I'm feeling every bit my age."

"I'm sorry," Andy gave her a sympathetic smile. "I hope Hannah calms down now and doesn't continue causing trouble for you. It sounds like quite an ordeal. I wish you would have called. I would have come to help. Where is Gavin?"

"And do what? I didn't need you to play the proud daddy and hold her first. I didn't need that. Gavin was here, but he had to go to the office. You just missed him, and I was going to get some sleep. He called my kids. As I said, I understand you wanting to come, wanting closure, but now you have it."

"You can't expect me to walk away with you just having surgery," he gestured to her. "I'm not that kind of guy. I'm a decent person. You just don't believe I can be, and you don't see it in what I've already done. I can help. Your car," he nodded. "Where is that? It's not like you will drive yourself home."

She sighed, "My car is at the OB's office. Ricky is flying home for the weekend to help. He is excited to meet his sister," she gave a small smile. "He and Gavin will take care of my car and anything else. I'm already laughing, thinking about Gavin driving my ordinary sedan with a car seat in it when he normally drives a Mercedes. Look, I can't drive for a couple weeks, but I don't want to anyway. Any food, Gavin will get, or I can order delivery. Ricky can run out this weekend and get preemie sized diapers and anything else I need. Hannah and I will be fine. I've had an exhausting few months. Between adjusting to a newborn and just getting back on my feet, we will be fine. I don't want to do much other than sleep, eat, shower, and care for her the next couple weeks anyway. None of that involves you. I'm not trying to be mean right now; I'm stating a fact."

Andy frowned as he listened. He looked over at Hannah, "Can I hold her at least?"

"No, I mean," she shook her head and sighed before she spoke again, "I don't think that would be a good idea." Andy eyed her, and she could tell he was going to say something, but she spoke first. "I just fed her. She fell asleep on me, and then the nurse helped get her situated while I got myself settled again."

"Oh, like breastfeeding?" Andy turned back to her, a questioning look in his eye.

Sharon rolled her eyes, "Yes, like breastfeeding. They serve a purpose, and no, you can't watch."

"I didn't say that! I wasn't even thinking that!" Andy started to speak loudly and then dropped his voice when he heard Hannah whimper. "You give me no credit. I was asking because I was interested. My wife never did that."

Sharon clasped her hands in her lap and looked down at them, "I didn't either. Work was too much. Home was a mess. I didn't breastfeed, but I'd like to try now, at least to start."

"So, I mean, how is it? I've always wanted to ask, but I never had anyone around me I felt comfortable asking," he stated.

She sighed, "And, you feel comfortable asking me?"

"Yeah, I do," he smirked. "I think that considering I've seen it all and that you just gave birth to our daughter, I have a great reason to ask."

"You have to stop calling her yours," Sharon sighed and looked at her hands. "I know you wanted to see her, wanted to check on everything here, but we are both fine. Your part is done," she nodded toward Hannah. "Your part was done nine months ago when our carelessness led to her. I'm her parent, and I'm going to guard her with my life. She's my daughter and my everything. You don't have to worry about us. I think it's best you leave and not pick her up right now. She's sleeping and has had rough day, as have I."

Andy was quiet while he looked over at Hannah sleeping. She was all wrapped in her blanket. He wanted to unwrap her, to count her fingers and toes. He wanted to see if she had hair, but he just dropped his head. The reality of Hannah not being his was hitting him. He looked back to Sharon, "I'm glad she's okay. I'm glad you are okay. I never wanted this to be so hostile. I'm trying to get along for her."

"That is partly why I wanted you to sign the papers. There will be no shared custody. I appreciate the concern; I do. You've done more than you've needed to do. Really, we are okay," she explained to him.

Andy looked around and noticed the things he'd purchased at the gift shop. He reached behind himself to grab at them and nodded to her, "I brought you a few things. First, I brought some crackers and granola bars. I didn't know if you would have eaten, and this is what they had downstairs. I'll be glad to go get you something else. There's juice too if you are thirsty."

"No, that's fine. Thank you," she nodded. "I'm still a bit sick to my stomach, but those crackers might be perfect later today."

"Good," he nodded. "This little stuffed monkey is for Hannah," he pulled out from behind him. "It was either this or a pink unicorn. I didn't know if she was a girl or a boy. Gavin wouldn't tell me. You don't have to tell her it's from her dad."

Sharon's eyes widened hearing that, and she shook her head, "It's a monkey, like an ape?"

"Yeah?" he questioned. "Is that okay?'

"Fine," she said quickly. "It's fine. Thanks."

He nodded again, and he reached for the last thing, "I brought you flowers-yellow roses, which seemed neutral, in a bouquet because they were out of vases this morning. Now, this isn't some grand romantic gesture, but I mean, you are in the hospital. That's the decent thing to do, and after months of agony, you did just give birth to our kid. I hope they are okay. I can put them in water," he stood and looked around the room. Sharon just watched as he found a pitcher, filled it, and put the flowers in it. "There," he nodded. "I can see if the nurse can get you another pitcher."

"Those weren't necessary, but thanks," she pursed her lips again and gave him a single nod. He shrugged.

"Listen, I keep going over our argument from work. I'm sorry," he looked at her. "I went too far."

"Hmm," she nodded. She sighed and said, "The Jack comment bothered me."

"I know," Andy nodded. "I suppose that's why I said it. It bothers me when people assume Jack is her dad. I'm also sorry about the onion rings. I shouldn't have laughed about those. I know they make or made you nauseous."

"I'm sorry about a lot of things," Sharon paused, thinking over what she wanted to say. "We just need to part ways here, once and for all." The two were quiet. Without Hannah to look at right now, it was awkward, very awkward. Finally, Andy broke the tension.

"I guess I need to get back to work. You know I'll come if you need anything," he offered. She just gave a small nod. He walked back to Hannah, and he stopped to look at her. He stared at her a few moments while she slept. He leaned over and kissed her hat, and then stood toward Sharon. "She really is perfect. We made a good one, Sharon," he reached for her hand and squeezed it. She just looked to the baby, and he started for the door.

"Bye, Andy," she said, the use of his name almost startling him. He turned back to her, his hand on the door.

"Take good care of her," he nodded. "Can I come back later?"

She sighed and shook her head, "I don't think you should. It's best you leave us alone now. That's what I want."

"Knock, knock," both looked to the door. Andy was standing there, and one of the hospital staff was trying to walk into the room. "Hi, I'm here to look at her hearing." She walked to Sharon and showed Sharon her hospital identification. "I'm going to take her out and will bring her back if that's okay?"

"What's wrong with her hearing?" Andy stepped back into the room, a look of panic on his face. He walked to where Hannah was sleeping. The nurse was there too. "No one said anything about that. She's only a few hours old! How is there already something wrong with her?"

"Andy!" Sharon said, trying to get his attention. Hannah started to stir at that, and he looked to her. She gestured for him to move out of the way for the tech to take the baby. "There's nothing wrong with her hearing."

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry! I'm not trying to scare you. It's a hearing test. We check the hearing of each baby," she said with a sympathetic smile as she looked between the two. "It's standard procedure."

She looked between them, and Sharon nodded. Andy stepped out of her way, closer to Sharon's bed so she could wheel out Hannah. Andy ran one hand through his hair. Sharon reached over and patted his hand, "Her hearing is fine. That's standard, like she said. It's just like when you arrest someone. There is a standard procedure."

He looked over to her and nodded, "You're sure?"

"Yes, she should be just fine," she said, also with a sympathetic look. "I appreciate the concern, your worrying about her, but she's fine. You need to go, to get back to work. I'm going to rest. I'm her mom; I've got this."

He nodded. He thought about saying something, but he didn't. Instead, he walked toward the door and opened it. As he started to step out, he said, "You and Alfred-alone, just like you wanted. I know I was a crappy dad, but seeing her, I know I would have tried."