Author's Note: Thanks for sticking with me, I am hoping for regular updates from this point on, I will commit as I am on holiday and leave halls in a few weeks so should have more time. Not aa lot I can say about this chapter other than it is now set in Major crimes but I think that was obvious from last time.
Enjoy
-SHANDY-
A week later, Sharon stood in front of the mirror in her room. She smiled thinking back to what Andy would say when he caught her frowning at herself. She wasn't proud to say that she had been avoiding him and was mostly talking to Rosa, who seemed to be slightly perkier than she had been at Rose's birthday party.
"Why are you asking me how Andy is, ask him yourself" Rosa scoffed at the younger woman as they sat at the table.
"He's busy at work, there's an imbalance since Chief Johnson left" Sharon replied
"Can't you use your phone" Eileen commented
"Mom" Sharon rolled her eyes "Is he okay, dealing with the exit of Brenda" Sharon turned back to Rosa with a smile.
"Yeah, he is fine but I know he'd like a call from you" Rosa pointed her finger towards Sharon with a serious look.
Sharon did call him but he had been in the middle of a case and she backed out of telling him the truth. Today, a week later, Taylor had told her that she had to come in and make her introduction as the divisions new commanding officer. She didn't feel particularly commanding as Taylor texted her the address to which she had to go to.
Her arrival was, as expected, met with hostility. Andy stared at her and she sent him a shy smile but it was not reciprocated. Provenza was obviously very offended that there had been no warning and she could understand that. Taylor did not have his priorities sorted when he made the decision to drop her in.
Asking Sykes to be an informant on the case was a mistake, she was condescending and it was obvious she needed to use Sharon as a step up on the male orientated career ladder. It wasn't long until Sharon had to actually work with Andy. He was angry, understandably.
"Every problem we're having is because of you!" Andy finished his rant, Sharon turned the realisation hitting her. This was not luck; their suspects knew how not to get caught.
"Andy, you are right about that. The LAPD is the only police department in this country that would have held Larry Martin on site for questioning." She relayed to him, his expression changed.
"Yeah…yeah" He began to piece together where she was going with her hypothesis.
"So, how did the killer know he could circle back round 30 minutes later and Larry Martin would still be there?" She asked, this could work, if they put their personal feelings aside, they were both exceptional officers.
"That's a very good question" He replied sitting down to look at the files and figure out the connections between the suspects and the police. They were getting along, they were piecing things together. As they realised there next moves he stood up and looked at her.
"Don't think I've forgiven you. You still lied, again. I won't ignore Rose and I'll stay professional at work but don't expect anything else" he told her with an icy glare before leaving the corridor. Sharon stood for a moment her hand shaking, she could deal with this; not having Andy so intimately in her life was better than him losing his job, he deserved better.
-SHANDY-
Sharon recognised the young teen immediately and from the state of things he had been left uninformed of Brenda's retirement. She led him into her office and proceeded to try and help.
It was true that to some she came across as hostile and cold. Rusty was no exception.
"I don't know you but I don't like you" Rusty sneered. She tried to help him and promised to find his mother, that would take a while and she didn't even nowhere to start but she would try.
Rose texted her at lunch time complaining of a sore head and asked if she could be collected early. Sharon narrowed her eyes but snuck out of the office when the team went into the break room for coffee. When Rose appeared in the school's office area she did look paler than normal.
"Can we go home?" She whispered falling into her mom's grasp. Sharon brought a hand to the teens forehead, slightly clammy.
"Has she seen a nurse today?" Sharon asked one of the secretaries.
"I don't think so" The woman replied.
"Alright, well I'll take you to the nurse." Sharon led her daughter to the nurse's office where she was examined.
"Definitely not good. Mrs Raydor" The nurse grimaced.
"What's wrong with her?" Sharon asked slipping a hand around her daughter's shoulders.
"High fever, cold hands. I'd recommend some rest," the nurse informed Sharon, "Rose, what have you had to eat today?"
"Just the usual, cereal, then an apple at break. Lunch I had…a sandwich" Rose mumbled her fingers wiggled causing her joints to crack, Sharon narrowed her eyes, something wasn't quite right.
The two left the school and headed back to the precinct. Sharon watched Rose nap as she drove, she tried to remember breakfast, she couldn't remember seeing Rose eat. It was true that she had made a packed lunch the night before in preparation but something was telling her she had packed an orange in there rather than an apple.
As they rode the elevator up Rose leaned on her mother heavily, Sharon headed straight for the break room and sat rose down, then she collected a bottle of water and a bag of crisps from the vending machine.
"Rose, I'd like you to eat something" Sharon requested placing the two things on the table. Rose shook her head.
"I feel sick" came the quiet reply.
"Rose, look at me," The young girl looked up "Look me in the eye and tell me what you had for breakfast." Rose looked up, her lip quivering, eyes filling with tears.
"I was in a rush." Rose admitted, Sharon kneeled on the floor and put an arm around her daughter kissing her temple.
"It's okay but why didn't you try to get food later?" Sharon asked.
"I hate it. The canteen is so loud and Maura isn't there, I don't have any friends. I went to the bathroom at break and read a book" She cried her head lulling onto her mother.
"Oh sweetheart. How long has this been going on?"
"Just today, I promise. We started school and I tried to fit in with the other girls but they had all these stupid rules about who we could talk to, what shoes we should wear and how our hair should be done. I refused to conform and they just sorta avoided me." Rose cried quietly.
"Ok sweetie. You can sit in my office and eat some food, maybe have a nap." Rose nodded and opened the crisps as they walked to the office.
Upon seeing Rose and Sharon enter, Andy stood looking at Rose who waved and disappeared into the office, her mother not far behind. He waited a minute before going in.
"You Okay, sweetheart?" He asked kneeling beside her, she smiled at him and nodded.
"Just not having the best day. Can you come over for dinner?" She asked, glancing at her mom.
"I…I don't mind but not tonight. Next week" Sharon suggested. There was a knock on the door, it was Buzz, Rusty trailing behind on his crutches.
"Captain, maybe it be best if he sits in here. He's not exactly polite." Buzz informed her.
"He is actually in the room" Rusty rolled his eyes. Rusty looked at the girl in the room, she was pale and seemed kinda small, probably because she knew Raydor.
"That's fine Buzz, thank you" She awkwardly smiled at him and he left. Rusty looked around the room, he made his way to the small sofa and plonked herself down. The girl glaring at him.
"Rose, this is Rusty. Rusty, this is Rose. While I'm working be nice" She glared at them both. Something at the back of her head told her that they would clash. She winked at Rose and left the room. The two teens sat quietly for a little bit.
"How do you know Raydor?" Rusty asked.
"My mom" Rose mumbled, her eyes were closed and her head back. Skipping meals was a seriously stupid decision. Rusty nodded then he glanced at her.
"Wait, she knows your mom or is your mom?" He asked, surely Raydor didn't have kids. Rose didn't answer.
"I'll tell you later." Rose draped her school blazer over herself and turned away. Rusty sighed heavily and turned the other way, this sure was fun.
Rose woke to a hand on her shoulder. She blinked letting the light filter in slowly, she looked up and saw a shape resembling her dad.
"Hey Kid." Andy smiled. The blonde boy was no longer in the room and a small part wondered who he was.
"Can I go home, dad?" She asks quietly, Andy nods and they walk out together, Rose leaning on him slightly, groggy from her nap.
-SHANDY-
Rose bounds downstairs at 8 to find the smells of a cooked breakfast. Sharon smiles at her and pushes the plate to her.
"I wish we had more time but I have some work to get down. If you need me, text me" Sharon kissed Rose's cheek and then she grabbed the toast and went upstairs. Rose smiled and started eating the food. Her mother didn't cook as often as other mothers might but she was capable.
She could hear voice in the hall and Sharon returned the blonde boy from yesterday following her. Rose stared at him.
"Mom, why is this guy in our home?" She asked pointing to half-asleep boy.
"So, she is your mother" Rusty sneered, grabbing a plate and placing some food on the plate.
"Rusty will be staying with us for a while, while I try to find his mother." Sharon informed.
"You have to be kidding, we just got rid of one annoying teen boy and you bring another one in?" Rose rolled her eyes, as the baby of the family Rose was looking forward to not having her older siblings around 24/7. Sharon chuckled.
"Well tough. I want you to get along and if I hear of any funny business consequences will be dealt." Sharon glared at them both as she laid out her rules.
"Fine. Where's dad?" Rose asked, Sharon blushed.
"He went home, you were sleeping." She answered.
"He didn't stay?" Rose asked.
"No, now you don't want to be late. Rusty put on some clothes, you're coming with me. Rose off to school please" Sharon stood and hurried out the room.
-SHANDY-
Rose sat in the computer lab at morning break, she decided there was no point asking her mom the hard questions, so she called her dad.
"What's going on with you and mom?" She asked as soon as she heard his reply.
"Nothing" Andy replied.
"Why didn't you stay? You normally would." Rose pointed out.
"Things are complicated, technically she's my boss now." Andy told his daughter, trying to sound neutral.
"Oh yeah that was a shock decision. I mean I was cool with it but…"
"She told you" Andy interrupted her.
"Um…yeah, we live in the same house. I'd notice if she got a new job, Dad. Did she not tell you?" Rose asked, already seeing how this had happened.
"No, she damn well didn't. Listen I gotta go but enjoy your day kid" He hung up and Rose hoped he wasn't going to have an argument with her mother. The school bell rang and Rose tided up her things and left for class. If Maura leaving wasn't bad enough, now her parents were back to the whole avoiding their relationship issues debacle.
-SHANDY-
Author's Note: If you have any questions or comments leave a review or PM me if that's more comfortable for you. Thanks for reading.
Next Time: "It's part of my charm babe" He chuckled holding her tightly.
"No more secrets unless it's illegal. I don't break the law, ever." Sharon informed with a fake glare which he simply kissed away. Andy spent Lunch in Sharon office talking about his mother's condition