Author's Note: See, I told you it would be a short wait.
-SHANDY-
Rose explained that Maura's mother was having financial trouble and the family had considered moving back to Ireland. Rose tried not to cry but when her mom opened her arms wide Rose let the tears fall and curled into her mother's side.
"It's so far away mom" She sniffed.
"I know it is but there's all the technology to talk to each other" Sharon offered.
"She was forced to drop out of school because they couldn't afford the fees, mom." Rose continued to cry. Sharon kept the young girl in a tight hold for a while.
"Will she be here for your birthday?" She asked.
"Yeah but she leaves two days later. My birthday dinner and sleepover will be the last time I get to see her, properly." Rose answered. Sharon sighed leaning a cheek on the crown of her daughter's head they sat quietly with only the sound of Rose's sniffs. The silence was broken by Sharon's phone going off.
"Raydor" Sharon answered.
"Yes, I am aware and I'll be on my way in a moment" Sharon spoke then hung up abruptly. She looked at Rose. "Do you want to stay with here or come with me?" She asked. Rose thought about it for a moment.
"Come with you." She spoke quietly, Sharon nodded and waited for the young girl to put on some shoes before they left.
Sharon arrived at the PAB to find the murder room in quite a mess, Pope was arguing with Provenza and Andy wasn't exactly acting that calmly.
"Why don't you go to the break room?" Sharon suggested to Rose, who shook her head stepped a little closer to her mother. Sharon cleared her throat once, then tried shouting, after a couple of failed attempts Rose took her phone and set off a loud alarm noise that silenced everyone.
"Thank you," she smiled at rose then turned to the rest of the group. "Would someone like to explain to me what on earth is going on?"
"You have to clear the chief" David told her.
"For god sake, she shot someone, the same guy she attacked earlier. Chief knows this is bad" Andy chipped in.
"Since when did you not side with Chief Johnson just because your sleeping with her, doesn't mean Chief doesn't need your support." Provenza growled sending daggers at Flynn. Rose clenched her fists.
"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm just saying that the chief knows the seriousness of the situation, you jump to so many conclusions about my relationship with Sharon, it's none of your damn business." Flynn shouted.
"It is if you talk about work." David piped up.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Flynn glared at the younger man, as though to dare him into his next sentence.
"Well, who knows what you tell her, you know the Captain of the rat squad and all." Rose tensed and Sharon noted it, shoving the girl towards the door with a warning glare which she followed.
"Detective Gabriel," Sharon addressed the young man who looked to her "I appreciate that you don't like me or my job but don't you dare accuse me or so harshly criticise me while my daughter is in the room". She warned, he looked at her sheepishly.
"If I remember correctly it was your girlfriend who was the leak" Andy chipped in.
"An…Lieutenant," Sharon shot him a look and he stopped his passive-aggressive mutters, "The rest of you, I have submitted my report; it is up to Chief Pope and the board of commissioners if Chief Johnson resumes her employment but…Brenda knows the consequences and is ready to accept them" She told them sadly she left the room slowly. Andy went after her much to the disgust of his team who rolled their eyes and groaned.
"Sharon, ignore them they're jealous and…"
"I'm used to it. Come over tonight, for the night." She smiled, he smiled back at her.
Sharon, Andy and Rose entered her house rather late. After Chief Johnson had shot Stroh it had been rather hectic the team were angry and confused but deep down everyone suspected what the outcome would be. Sharon did herusual check of the downstair doors and windows while Andy guided Rose to her room; the young teen was practically asleep. He walked her to her room and made sure she lay on the bed, he removed her shoes and pulled her duvet on her.
"I'm worried about Rose." Sharon told him when he entered her bedroom, "Maura is the only friend she is entirely comfortable with; and now she's leaving" She rubbed her temple and removed her glasses.
"Rose mentioned it the other night. She's not sure either, the other girls in their friendship circle are more…vain. Rose said they would choose make-up and boys over sleep and to quote; those girls have some twisted priorities." Andy told Sharon, as he undressed for bed.
"I don't want her to feel pressure but I know at some point she will. She's a lot more tomboyish than Emily was, Emily liked all the make-up and clothes thing, Rose doesn't. When she was little she'd always try to go with Emily when she had to go to the gym," She paused chuckling at Andy's confused expression "I know, at first I thought she just wanted to be close but apparently she was always trying to join in with the class." Sharon continued to chuckle.
"She's so active, maybe her teen years will change her." He shrugged turning down the bed as Sharon headed to the bathroom, when he returned she smiled.
"There's a spare toothbrush in the bathroom." Andy nodded and left to brush his teeth, when he returned Sharon was lying on her side staring at the door.
"Did you ever exercise while pregnant?" he asked climbing in next to her.
"I did with Emily and Ricky, nothing intense just a short jog that eventually became daily walks. With Rose I was older and my doctor didn't want to risk anything, so he prescribed some sitting and standing stretches." She explained.
"Who knows then, as long as she's good, right?" He smiled down at her as she lay her head on his chest.
"Exactly, all I ask is that she be safe and be kind." Sharon whispered.
-SHANDY-
In the morning, Rose popped her head around her mother's bedroom door, she suspected that she had gotten n rather late, she gasped when she realised that her father was also there. Rose giggled all the way back to her room.
Sharon felt so warm. Her eyes slowly opened and it took a moment before they adjusted to the light, she wasn't alone, Andy felt her stir and began to remove his hand from her hip but in need to stop him she laced her fingers through his and held it to her stomach.
"This is nice." He mumbled.
"So very nice" Sharon mumbled back, she briefly glanced to her nightstand clock and did a double take, with a gasp she shot out of bed.
"Sharon what…" he stopped mid-sentence when he saw the clock, half past 9, they were in real trouble.
The two fumbled around Sharon's room, Andy not quite sure what he would do about his clothes and he couldn't quite remember if he still had the spare shirt and tie in his car. He threw his shirt on before running downstairs and over to his car in the drive way.
Thank god. A semi decent green shirt and blue tie, walking back into the house he entered Sharon's room hearing squeal.
"Don't you knock" She hissed as she stood only in her bra and skirt.
"Sorry, I'm in a rush, babe." He apologised as he changed his shirt leaving the old one on a nearby chair along with the yesterday's tie. She hummed in agreement as she fiddled with the small buttons of her shirt.
Once dressed they half ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Coffee is brewed for you." Rose smiled at them.
"You brewed coffee but didn't think to wake me?" Sharon asked.
"I'm sorry but I don't go into your room when you have guests. I've done my time in therapy." Rose put her hands up drinking her own juice. Sharon huffed grabbing a travel mug while Andy grabbed an ordinary mug quickly drinking it, while simultaneously trying not to burn himself.
-SHANDY-
Andy arrived just before time and was scolded by Provenza as he sauntered in, heading straight for his desk.
It had all been smiles as the team said goodbye to Chief Johnson having bought her a bag to replace the one she shot through. They all laughed when she opened it to find her favourite treat: Ding Dongs. Brenda smiled and promised to stay in touch.
The team went out for dinner after Brenda's final day. Andy had tried to get Sharon to come along but she had insisted that she would only make it awkward, Andy had been displeased but knew she was right, Provenza didn't like her and certainly didn't like Andy dating her.
"C'mon Chief, who will you miss most?" Julio asked, slightly jollier thanks to the alcohol.
"I'll miss everyone of y'all, but I'm not leaving the state, just the LAPD" Brenda grinned, she herself was a little tipsy, she leant her head down on her husband's shoulder. Andy slowly drank his cranberry juice. He looked down at his phone to find a Sharon had sent a photo, opening he let out a quiet chuckle, Rose and Maura had decided to have a little art competition and drawn Sharon, Rose's was quite unsuccessful but Maura's held quite a likeness. Provenza glared at him over the table.
"What are you laughing at, Andy?" He growled.
"None of your business, old man." Andy replied just as frustrated. Brenda sighed looking at them both.
"Don't argue, please," she requested "what were you laughing at?" She asked with a small smile.
"Er…Sharon sent me a text she is trapped with a couple of pre-teens," he answered her smiling fondly.
"You are very close to her, I know you're datin' but the girl, is just as fond of you." Brenda commented.
"I guess, it wasn't always like that." He lied, there was a silence but suddenly one of the bartenders announced the opening of the karaoke submission and everyone's attention turned to this. Brenda watched her team get up to move closer to the singing area, so they could laugh at all the disastrous singers, but then her attention moved to Andy who was getting up and putting on her coat. He quietly headed for the door, with a look to Fritz she followed him out.
"Andy." She shouted.
"Oh, hey Chief. Just escaping while I still can." He joked.
"I understand, I want to say goodbye to you" She stepped forward and gave him an awkward hug "I know she loves you, it's deeper than some fling like Provenza thinks." She tells him.
"Yeah, it's complicated but we're going places." He smiled stepping back.
"because Rose is your child too." She whispered.
"how did you…"
"I'm a detective Andy, I hope it works for you, for both of you." She smiled again and turned away.
"I'll be sure to invite you to the wedding someday," he chuckled "Good luck Chief" he shouted behind him as he got into his car. Heading towards Sharon's maybe he could rescue her from the terrible pre-teens.
Author's Note: We are at the end of the closer timeline. The next chapter will be a transitioning period of sorts. I have some plans for the major crime's timeline and some are sad, some angsty and some fluff especially now that Rose is a teenager. I've also set up Sharon's 'promotion' slightly differently because you know plot device.
Next time: "What up pops" Rose greeted somewhat awkwardly, waving her hands around.
"You look beautiful" He hugged her and then back away giving each other awkward smirks.