It had been a day. It had been a week, actually, and all Andy wanted to do was go home. He'd barely had time to think about work the last few days. His sister was sick, really sick. That news, now, he'd had for a couple of weeks, but that kind of news didn't just blow over easily. She'd been diagnosed with cancer, and it wasn't good. He'd spent way too much money on a last-minute plane ticket on Thanksgiving Day to fly to New York to see here again. He knew it was silly to fork out the almost $1,000 for a ticket, but it was what it was. It was the holiday season, yes, but his sister needed him. It also didn't help the dumb ticket had come with two layovers, and honestly, after everything with the long flights and travel, he'd only seen her 32 hours before he had to fly back to Los Angeles. Still, she was family, and he would do anything for his family.

Now that he was back in L.A., he'd been trying to balance work with his family issues. It was the first of December, the month of Christmas, and it was bound to be a busy month. Aside from the holiday bustle, the murder rate usually skyrocketed this time of year. Today, he was grateful for a mindless desk day. He needed it. He still hadn't caught up on sleep from his travels, now over a week ago, but that didn't matter. They'd caught a case right away, one now they were filing paperwork to close. At the end of the day, he was healthy; his sister was sick.

The two had talked during his very short visit. Andy really had wanted to stay longer, but work just wasn't making that possible. He'd taken one day off for his travels, but anything more would have required a big scheduling mess. It wasn't that he couldn't ask the chief for that, but right now, he needed to save those days for when Angela was in the middle of chemo. He figured he would set aside a block of time to really go and see her, when he could help. This trip, while costly, was priceless just to be with his sister. What was money now when someone he loved was fighting a battle for her life? Their dad was still alive, but he was very old and lived in a nursing home. Andy took an hour to see him on the trip too, but his father really didn't understand what was going on with Angela. The trip had been sad, but necessary, even with the cost. Today, he just wanted to walk out and go home. Work didn't seem important, not when he had a sister with cancer.

"Good afternoon everyone," the team glanced up and saw Taylor stroll into the room. Andy glanced up at him and groaned. He wanted to wipe the smug expression off Taylor. The two used to be close, but over the last few years, Taylor had rubbed him the wrong way too many times. Provenza let out an actual sigh, one heard by the team, and many started to chuckle.

Brenda, who really didn't like Taylor just wandering around, walked out of her office. Yes, Taylor worked with them, but anytime he was just walking around, grinning, they all knew he was up to no good. She slowly walked out of her office with a stack of paperwork in hand, which Andy knew was only a cover to fish out Taylor's reason for appearing.

"Commander Taylor, what have we done to be so lucky?" Brenda asked with her fake smile. "Last I saw you early this morning, you said you were in meetings all day, mostly with Pope. Now, normally, we can't pry you from his side," she flashed another fake smile at him. "Why are we so blessed today?"

"Oh, just taking a quick break," Taylor offered a playful shrug and grin. "I'm just stretching my legs, you know, checking on my team."

Brenda narrowed her gaze, "My team and I have been functioning just fine. Now, the team is hard at work, and I think you are distracting them," she nodded to the group. They all had turned to watch the interaction, and at the mention of being busy, the team all turned back to their paperwork.

"Right, right," Taylor nodded. "I understand. We've been busy too, all day already. It's amazing just how much needs to be done in a department of this size. Glad we can have this meeting of the minds to fill the gaps and cover everything."

Brenda tried not to roll her eyes at him, but Provenza didn't hide it. He looked up to Taylor, "Commander, anything we can help you with today? You must have come back here for a reason because there are plenty of places to stretch your legs. I know I wouldn't choose to do that by returning to my office," he chuckled.

"Nah," Taylor waved. "I'm just walking and thinking. Honestly, I'll probably walk around a few floors, try to get a feel for who might fill our big hole with Captain Raydor retiring."

Andy, who was desperately trying to ignore Taylor, spit out his coffee at that admission. Brenda started to choke on the food she had in her mouth. She coughed twice before she cleared her throat. All eyes turned quickly to Taylor, and as expected, his eyes sparkled knowing he was sharing a secret.

"Wait, oh, you hadn't heard," he shook his head and sighed. "Sorry about that, but just for now, keep this between all of us," he used his finger to draw a circle.

"Raydor is retiring?" Brenda said quickly. "When?"

"Retiring?" Andy stood quickly. Provenza caught his eye and shook his head, warning him to be careful with what he said. "Are you serious?"

Taylor started to chuckle and nodded to Andy, "Flynn, try to contain your excitement. I know," he nodded. "It's shocking. We didn't see it coming. I wasn't sure who would be more excited, you or the chief." Buzz walked over to Andy with a roll of paper towels to clean up the coffee he'd spilled. Andy took the roll only after Buzz gestured it at him. Andy was speechless and just stood there.

"Taylor is this one of your dumb games?" Provenza looked up at him and gave him a shrug. "I can't get to excited about anything until I know the source. Where did you hear this? I know how rumors get out of hand."

"Oh, it's happening," Taylor said. "That's from Pope directly."

"Retiring," Brenda repeated. "Well, I'll say. When does this happen? When is her last day? Here, we've all been enjoying not having her around during her maternity leave, and you are telling us it's permanent?"

"Chief, you were asking for her during that last case when one of her sergeants messed up the paperwork," Mike pointed out.

"Oh hush," she waved him off and looked to Taylor. "We just need the right person for that job. When does she retire?"

"It's already happened," he explained. He grinned to the team, "She's gone. Paperwork is signed, sealed, and delivered. She talked Pope into rolling it all into her maternity leave, so she's not coming back. Even her office, apparently, we are supposed to pack and notify a lawyer," he paused to remember the name. "I can't remember his name, but apparently he's will have a courier pick up her things when her office is emptied. No, this was all done with Pope behind closed doors."

"She's retired? Like, she's already gone?" Andy repeated and crossed his arms. "Something is off. Why wouldn't she come back for her things? Raydor, of all people doesn't strike me as one to sneak off into the retirement sunset. Why isn't she even coming back to her office?"

Taylor shrugged, "Not sure, exactly, but she told Pope she had another job. I don't have the details. He doesn't have much either. She asked him not to say anything, and well," he shrugged. "Pope didn't. I mean, it had to come up in our meeting, but I was not asked to keep it under wraps. That may have been implied, but" he shrugged again and winked, "I just knew some of you would be glad to get the news."

Andy ran his hand over his face. He was shocked and felt like he needed to sit. "Flynn!" he heard and looked to see Provenza now standing glaring at him. "Flynn let's celebrate. Let's start a pot of coffee. We can enjoy that in honor of her leaving." Andy started to argue, but he caught Provenza looking at him again and just nodded. He'd been a little slow to see that Provenza was trying to pull him out of the situation.

"That's it?" Taylor shrugged and looked around at everyone. "Man, I thought you would all start jumping up and down and throw a big party. Let me repeat this-Raydor is retired. She's already gone. It's happened."

Julio frowned, "I hope everything is okay with the baby. I'd hate to hear she retired because there was a problem."

Andy, who was already following Provenza to the door, paused at the mention of that. Provenza turned back to him and gestured with hand to keep going.

"Maybe she wanted to slow down," Brenda offered. "I know she's not my favorite person," she paused and when she caught many of them staring at her, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, we don't like each other, but she seemed really happy with her daughter. Maybe this job is just too much."

"Taylor," Andy paused again, turned, and pointed at him, "you said another job? What is she doing?"

"Beats me," Taylor gave him a simple shrug. "What I told you is all I know, and quite frankly, all Pope seems to know. Anyone else want to see what I might know?" he flashed a grin.

"Taylor, always, always a pleasure," Provenza said in his most sarcastic tone. "Chief, we'll be back with coffee."

Provenza waited in the hall for Andy, and then he grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him down the hall. Andy started to say something, but Provenza glared at him and made a gesturing "zip it" comment with his own finger across his mouth. He pulled him into the men's bathroom, the first door the two came to outside of the office.

"Retired!" Andy bellowed as soon as Provenza pulled them inside and checked the stalls. He walked back over and locked the door to let Andy talk without interruption.

"Keep it down!" Provenza hissed.

"She retired?" Andy gestured with his hand. He spun around to look at Provenza again. "Provenza, I was counting on her back at work. I need to see Hannah, and that's the way I can do that. What is she thinking?"

Provenza leaned back against the sink while Andy paced. He crossed his arms and shook his head, "I'm guessing she was thinking this through all along. She got the kid away from you, retired, and she's out of the LAPD. In her eyes, she won't need to see you again."

"Yeah, well, I need to see Hannah," Andy sighed. He ran his hand through his hair, "I have given her space, and now, I don't know why. I've been miserable. As crappy as she's been to me, I need to see her and Hannah."

Provenza eyed him and sighed, "Please, tell me you need to rephrase that sentence. I don't know if I can be around you, Flynn, if you are still stuck on her. It couldn't have been THAT good. It's been almost a year, and surely, by now, we can find you someone whose company you enjoy more."

Andy stopped pacing and looked at him, "The woman is nuts. She's treated me like crap, yet, I can't get enough of it. I have a kid, Provenza. Don't you think I owe it to her to try?"

"Try what?" Provenza eyed him.

"To try!" Andy exclaimed, as if that explained everything.

"Try being her dad?" Provenza asked. "That ship has sailed. She cut you out of her life, or rather, you allowed that to happen."

"That," Andy nodded, "and more. I told you I liked her. She's a total mess, an emotional train wreck, but it's like fatal attraction," he sighed. "I haven't stopped thinking of her, of them, of either one of them."

"You remember how a fatal attraction ends, right?" Provenza said. "We see them almost every week right here in our office. Let me spell it out, R."

"Oh, stuff it," Andy waved at him.

"Just what did you think would happen, Flynn? Did you honestly think she'd come back to work, she'd let you play with the baby, see the baby, and you two would walk out of here one night and live happily ever after?" Provenza asked.

Andy gave him a sheepish look, and Provenza threw up his hands. "Flynn! Are you delusional? Wait, don't answer that. Of course, you are delusional. She's gone. She left. She doesn't want you anywhere near her."

"Yeah, I'm aware now! I see that, but I'm telling you, she's making a big mistake. I mean, just think of the medical information I need to give her. I wanted to talk to her about that, to tell her about Angela. I've got to call her. She might let it go to voicemail, but she's going to get an earful from me," he said and dug out his phone.

Provenza just ran his hand through his hair. He watched as Andy waited for her to answer. Andy's eyes widened, "Disconnected! She changed her number?"

"Probably didn't want the department calling her all the time, not to mention delusional lieutenants," Provenza scoffed. "We can't stay in here. Lock down your," he gestured to Andy, "feelings, and we need to go back in there. Oh, we have to go make coffee. Come on," he nodded. He unlocked the bathroom and walked to the break room area. Andy was still standing at the bathroom door, going through his phone.

"Flynn!" he hissed. Andy waved at him, and Provenza started back to him.

"I'm coming," he grumbled. The two walked into the break room, and thankfully, found it empty. Andy closed the door and stood by it while Provenza went to find coffee, so they at least completed their mission.

"Gavin Baker, please," Andy said. Provenza turned back and found Andy on the phone. "No, I don't want advice on a legal matter. I called his cell, so I'd like to speak to him. No, I'm not paying a fee to talk by the hour. THIS ISN'T A LEGAL MATTER," Andy said loudly into the phone. "He's in court? Can I somehow leave him a message on his personal cell? No, I don't want to text him. Tell him to call me or else," Andy said sternly.

"Flynn! Provenza hissed. "That's going to sound like a threat to that lowly assistant. Clean it up!"

Andy rolled his eyes, "Fine, tell Gavin that Lieutenant Andy Flynn, LAPD called, and I need to speak to him on an urgent matter." He paused for a moment. "No! I just told you this is personal. He'll know. Trust me," Andy snarled again. "Andy Flynn, and yes, he has my information. Believe me, this isn't something you want to see come across in a text message," he said again. "What, is he too good to just turn off his phone in court? He has to give it to a person like you?"

"Flynn! You want the guy to call you back!" Provenza yelled again. Andy waved at him.

"Have him call me immediately. I will find him later if I don't hear from him," Andy threatened and hung up the phone.

Andy smacked his phone down onto the table and let out a loud sigh. He gestured to Provenza, "I can't get him."

"Gee, I thought you two had set a lunch date," Provenza smirked. "I'm just waiting for some patrol cop to come and arrest you after that call. You probably have that poor assistant thinking you are coming after him or her."

Provenza waited on the coffee, and Andy started to pace again. He shook his head, "She has known this for how long? I can't believe it. She had no intention of letting me see Hannah, none. Retired! She's left the LAPD."

"Taylor, if we can trust his information, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but right now it sounds like we can, said she had another job. Maybe she's working private security or something," he shrugged. "You and I know this job is demanding. I'm guessing she wanted something away from you and away from this mess of a job."

"No," Andy put his hand up to his mouth and shook his head. "We actually discussed this one day on that stupid drive. We talked about retirement. She said she was going to retire when her kid finished college. I know he's not done. It was like at least another two or three years. Hannah changed it," he nodded to himself. "Wait, she said she wanted to teach when she retired."

"Teach?" Provenza asked, a horrified expression on his face. "Wait, like she wants to teach at the academy?"

"No," Andy shook his head, "like college, community college or whatever. You know I've done a couple of night school lectures in the past for some extra cash. Places are always looking for decorated and experienced cops to lecture. That's what she wanted to do."

Provenza nodded and started pouring coffee into the Styrofoam cups. He cleared his throat, "Well, as much as I'd hate having her as a teacher, I can see that. It would certainly free up time to be with Hannah, and we both know this job can be dangerous, even for Raydor. No cop is exempt from injury. So, teach," he nodded. "You think Gavin will tell you?"

"If he doesn't, I'm just going to her place when I leave here. I can't believe she retired! I've tried to respect her space. I've been counting down the days until she is back at work because I want to talk to her, and now, she's gone!"

"She is, but let's remember, she's done nothing wrong, legally. Is it crappy? Probably," he nodded. "She legally doesn't have to inform you of anything, something she was obviously well aware of when she got you to sign those papers. Flynn, she's not required to let you see Hannah at all."

Andy waved at him, and he jumped when his phone rang. He flew over to the table, and as he reached for it, he swatted at it, and it flew across the table and onto the floor. Andy moved quickly and groaned when he saw the phone had a crack on the screen now. "Gavin?"

"Lieutenant Flynn, I assume you are locked up in jail where they are ready to throw away the key after calling my assistant like that. "Care to explain before she calls the police-and I don't mean you," he stated.

Andy sighed, and nodded, "Yeah, sorry about that. Look, I just heard Sharon retired. She won't answer her phone. What's going on? I'm going to her place after work."

"Hmm, yes, that was my other thought regarding your call. I said to myself it was jail or Sharon," he sighed. "Don't waste a trip to her condo. She's not there."

"Where is she?" Andy asked.

"Gone," Gavin told him. "She moved out of state a month ago now, or just about. I'm going crazy without her here," he let out a slow chuckle, "but sounds like you are the one going crazy. She and little Hannah are gone."

"Gone! She's moved!" Andy exclaimed. Provenza looked to him, his eyes now wide at the mention of moving. "Where did she move?"

"That, I can't say," he told Andy. "Look, before you do something stupid, just come by my office-no wait," he chuckled. "My assistant would probably call for security. Let's just meet at the courthouse, outside the courthouse. I'm still here and will be here for another hour. I'll meet you just outside the courthouse, say the coffee shop next to that mailing supply store. 4:30 work for you?"

Andy glanced at his watch, but he didn't register the time. He nodded, "Yeah, 4:30. I'll be there, and you are going to explain."

"Don't threaten, Lieutenant. It's unbecoming," he sighed. "So, I suppose this means someone has spilled Sharon's retirement secret there. Hmm, she thought it would leak before Thanksgiving. Impressive."

"You'll tell me what's going on, Gavin," Andy told him.

"Hmm, more like I'm going to go back to court, and I will meet a much calmer Lieutenant Flynn at 4:30. Bye," he said and hung up the phone.

"She moved?" Provenza exclaimed when Andy hung up the phone. Andy just nodded, and Provenza continued, "Where?"

Andy shook his head, "Gavin won't say, just that she moved out of state."

Provenza whistled and just stood there, looking at Andy. "Grab some coffee," he nodded to the cups. "Let's get these to the team. Then, you need to collect yourself. Tell Chief you have a family emergency. I'll back it up, and it is the truth."

Andy just nodded. He walked across the room, grabbed the coffee, and the two walked back to the office. "Provenza, she played me. She took Hannah away, knowing she wanted to move away from me."

"She didn't force you to sign. Remember, you are the one so convinced you can't be a father. Sure, you can FATHER a child, but you keep saying you can't BE a father. She took the kid you gave her and left," he pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I want to be there for Hannah. Since I first saw her, I haven't stopped thinking about her. People make mistakes. I made one thinking I could walk away from Hannah. Sharon is making a huge one. She's so controlling. She always has been, and I've got to talk to her," he sighed.

Provenza put his hand on the office door and turned back to Andy. He closed his eyes and shook his head, "Flynn, this is a slippery slope. You can't have it all. You can't just get her to change. You and I both know that."

Andy sighed and dropped his head, "Look, I realize she's a control freak, but if nothing else, I have to tell her about Angela. That is important medical information for Hannah. I've got that paperwork, paperwork Angela copied. I gave a copy of it to Nicole, one to Nathan, and I have one for Hannah. I am hoping Gavin will at least tell me where she is, so I can get that to her. I just want the best for my daughter. I'm not sure Sharon, alone, is the best, but she still haunts me."

"There you are," Gabriel said as he came down the hall from a different direction. "We were all wondering if you went out for coffee."

"No, just the office junk," Provenza said, handing him a cup. "That coffee pot is slow."

"Yeah, well, I'm not coughing up my own cash for a new one. "Thanks," he said as he accepted a cup. "Chief is ready to celebrate," he grinned.

Andy just gave him a small smile, and Provenza gestured for Andy to walk in the office while he held the door. 4:30 couldn't come soon enough.