Author's Note: Thanks for your support, it means a lot.
-SHANDY-
When Sharon awoke Andy was watching her from the chair in her room. She sits up and smiles at him which seems to bring him out his day dream.
"Thanks for setting the suit out." He tells her.
"Your welcome. It's the least I could do. Have you eaten or just sat watching me sleep?" She asks as she leaves the warm covers of her bed. He shakes his head.
"I hope you don't mind. I enjoy watching beautiful things." He takes her hand and kisses it.
"That's very endearing but you watch Provenza a lot too" Sharon murmurs leaning on the chair and hugging Andy, his head leaning on her front. He chuckles into her tummy making her shiver slightly. "Are you okay?" She asks after a moment of silence.
"I don't know yet. Nothing has sunk in, I guess I'll have to go to lunch with Soph and Nio. You don't mind if I take a long lunch do you?" He sighs, his arm still on the small of her back.
"Long Lunch? Andy you're entitled to bereavement leave. I'll settle it with Taylor." She scoffs, how was he thinking about working right now? Andy huffed and stood up.
"No I'll do it. It'll give me something to do. Do you wanna shower before waking up those cheerful kids" He smiled but his expression changed "Oh shit, Rusty is gonna hate me right now, how'd it go with his mom, is he even here?" He asked brushing a hand through his hair with a worried look.
"It didn't go well, she never arrived. He was disappointed more about that then you not taking him." Sharon explained. She went into her closet and returned with some clothes which she neatly laid on her bed then disappeared into the bathroom. Andy turned his phone on and sat back down. His eyebrows raised when he saw that he had 8 missed calls, 2 from Provenza and 3 from Sophia and Sharon. There were also a couple of texts from his brother, Sophia and of course Rose, who had spammed his messages, with varying levels of seriousness and panic.
He wasn't sure what he had expected when he turned his phone on but it sure as hell wasn't an explosion of missed calls and texts, although the feeling was appreciated. He thought about all the times he had gone off somewhere in his drinking days the only messages then were from Provenza asking where the hell he was. He sighed deeply, he'd have to call his kids; tell them about Grandma Rosa. He allowed his head to fall back for a moment it was far too early to call them so he had time to figure out what he was going to say. For now, though, he decided to relax his mind with Words with friends, a game Rose had showed him; who always managed to beat him, maybe he should try talking Provenza into getting it and finally be able to beat someone.
-SHANDY-
When Rose came downstairs that morning she could smell bacon, her mom wouldn't cook bacon on a school morning, surely. As she entered the room she saw Rusty serving it onto three plates.
"Um, are pigs flying this morning which has caused you to do something nice?" Rose asked. Rusty rolled his eyes.
"No, it's an apology, for running off." Rusty replied coolly. Rose nodded and sat down taking the plate off the side and grabbing some bread to toast.
"Good morning, are you two going to make a habit of being so responsible in the morning? She joked, both teenagers rolling their eyes.
"I just want to apologise. I shouldn't have run away from Lieutenant Provenza. I'm sorry I worried you." He looked at Sharon and she smiled, thanking him for going to the trouble of making breakfast. Andy then appeared.
"Dad." Rose got up and hugged him. "Where'd you go, we were worried" She exclaimed. He hugged her back and kissed her crown.
"I'm sorry honey, there were things I had to do." He told her. Rose smiled and went back to her breakfast. Rusty watched the exchange sadly.
"If I'd known you were here" his words trailed off as he looked at Sharon with a disapproving look.
"Would you have liked me to wake you at 2 in the morning, I can make it happen if you want." She replied, Rusty scoffed simply joining them at the table for food
"Thanks anyway kid. Rose when your done with breakfast, I'll drive you to school" He smiled awkwardly and ate the eggs he had been given. Sharon left with Rusty Andy and Rose not that far behind.
"So, dad why are we taking two cars to the exact same building?" Rose asked once in the car.
"Because, we need to have a serious talk and I don't want the kid interrupting." He explained. Rose hummed staring out the window.
"It's about Rosa, right?" Rose asked. Andy nodded sadly.
"How'd you figure that out?"
"Well there is only one other conversation that I could think off and I'm expecting that from mom. Unless you want to give me the sex talk" Rose chuckled.
"Absolutely not" He answered shaking his head. They stopped at the lights giving Andy the opportunity to look at his passenger. "Listen, sweetheart. Ma passed last night, it was very peaceful and painless." He explained. The light changed and Andy made a turn so the journey would be longer.
"Ok. It's what she wanted; she was tired, Dad." Rose told him.
"Is that what you guys talked about that time we went to see her?" He asked.
"Yeah among other things. You, my place in the family, some other stuff" Rose shrugged her gaze fixed on the passing houses and cars.
"You know, we could take the day off. I have to talk to Taylor and then we could drive somewhere have a day out. I'll tell you some stories about Ma." He suggested.
"It sounds great but debate club is tonight and I don't want to miss it." She replied.
"If you're sure," he nodded, "there isn't some boy you like at this club, is there?" He asked more seriously, prompting Rose to laugh.
"Absolutely not. The boys in my school are pathetic and I need to practice my social skills. I didn't get confidence in the gene pool and after all that drama with Jeff and Maura leaving; I need a place where I can work on that particular skill without getting so anxious." Rose explained finding her hands very interesting.
"Sure thing, kid. Well, the offer is there for tomorrow." He told her and they continued to drive in a comfortable silence. Neither were particularly emotional people, they found it difficult to communicate emotions properly and thus they were known for short tempers and being quick to anger. Andy stopped in front of the school and they watched the other students walking around.
"Dad, how do you make friends?" Rose asked out of nowhere.
"I guess I make myself stand out; make my life look like fun. When I was a kid, we couldn't afford the new stuff and I got bullied for having patched up clothes so I lashed out and behaved poorly, not that you should do that, don't do that. I don't know kid, I was popular because I had a rebellious reputation you have to be popular for other reasons." He tried to explain to her.
"Okay. Well I do have an exciting life. Although I think I'd be referred back to a therapist if I boast about watching my mom kill a man." Rose attempted to joke but was met with a concerned expression.
"It's getting late, you don't have to go in at all but if you are, you're cutting it kinda fine." Andy told her looking at his watch. Rose nodded and looked outside. She kissed her father's cheek and got out the car jogging towards the school doors. Andy watched as she looked over her shoulder before going in.
-SHANDY-
As Andy drove towards the office Provenza called him. He groaned before taking the call.
"Flynn, you're needed. We got a murder." Andy huffed at the call.
"I've got a meeting with Taylor, I'll see you at the office." Andy hung up quickly and headed to the Precinct.
Taylor narrowed his eyes when Andy entered his office; trouble always found Flynn so the impromptu visit made the Chief feel uneasy. Taylor pointed to the seat in front of his desk and Flynn sat, for a moment they were silent. Taylor noticed the older man was paler than normal, perhaps he was stressed.
"So, what is the issue Flynn? I know having Raydor as your commanding officer must be difficult but she is here to stay. Or is this about your disappearing act last night?" Taylor began Flynn looked at him; was he trying to hide his smugness? If so, he was failing.
"Actually, Sha…The Captain and I have worked past our differences, and she was the one who recommended I come here. My mother, has been sick and she passed away last night. That's why I left in such a hurry." Andy explained, Taylor's eyebrows raised he looked at his computer screen and clicked a few keys. Then left the room, when he returned he handed Andy a small collection of paperwork.
"Get that back to me by the end of the day and you can leave as you hand it in." Taylor returned to his seat and remained quiet. Sensing the awkwardness Andy stood and left. He met Sharon in the corridor.
"How did it go?" She asked and raised an eyebrow when Andy held up the paper work. "That's all he said?" She asked.
"Yup, he's too smug for his own good. Sharon, I don't know how I feel taking time off; I'd prefer to be busy." He admitted to Sharon; she nodded, she understood his situation, when her father died special treatment and more attention was the last thing she wanted. She wasn't surprised at Andy's willingness to work, he had always been had working and committed to the job.
"Ok, have you got much to do?" She asked as the two walked to the murder room. Andy nodded.
"We've a whole funeral to arrange, gather the family. Call the kids, I'm dreading those phone calls." He explained.
"Please take at least a week; you'll need all your energy for the funeral. There'll be lot of people there wanting to offer condolences." Sharon tried to sway him.
"I doubt it, we're only asking the family to come, most of her friends are too old to travel. Sophia said something about getting a couple of obituaries for here and New York. Ma had told Sophia about what she wanted I'd just get in the way," Andy shrugged walking over to his desk sluggishly. Sharon made a mental note to keep an eye on him; he was so used to concealing his emotions that he didn't quite know how to express them, he never seemed very confident when it came to his family and Sharon suspected it was due to a lack of trust; not from his family but of himself. Allowing himself to trust his sobriety and being there for his family only to let them down all over again. As she walked passed his chair she let her hand catch his shoulders and when he turned she smiled; letting him know she would be there for him.
-SHANDY-
Andy seemed to be working very well he was less than talkative but he didn't let his work suffer. Andy took a morning break around 11, he seemed aggravated but the team felt it best to give him some space.
"Sandra, would you stop being difficult. I know they are both there I need to talk to them" Andy growled into his mobile.
"You should have thought about that before you lied to them, Andrew. I should have known" Sandra chided, Andy could all but hear the eye roll.
"They are both adults, you have no right to not let me talk to them. As for lying I have not lied to them, not recently so I do not know what you could be mad about." Andy sighed rubbing his eyes, this conversation seemed to be more frustrating than he had anticipated.
"Rose. Did you really think I wouldn't know about what you discuss in therapy?" Sandra scoffed, Andy groaned, this woman could be so petty.
"If you really knew, which I doubt, you would know that it's been two years since that was discussed because I only found out about Rose 2 years ago. What is so bad about them having a little sister anyway?" He dared to ask.
"You have no idea. She has a different mother, it's upsetting." Sandra tried to explain.
"Sandra, you are aware that Rose is 13 and that we weren't married at that point. If you think I had an affair then stop, because I didn't. Listen, I just want you to put the phone on loud speaker, no secrets." He tried to negotiate, he heard a huff then a mumble of hellos from Nicole and Charlie.
"Listen Guys, I wish I was calling with good news but…" he paused, he looked up and just for a second he thought he could see her, dressed in her favourite summer dress, that she would take out for special occasions. His eyes began to sting, his hands became warm and clammy and his throat felt tight.
She was gone.
His own mother was gone; never again would she call him Yutz or make an unnecessarily large amount of pasta to make sure he ate.
"Dad, Dad are you there?" the sounds of Nicole broke his thoughts.
"Your grandmother died. We're having a small funeral at her local church and drinks at her neighbour's house. I…I'm sorry" He hung up abruptly sniffing as the salty tears fell onto his cheeks. What did he do now?
-SHANDY-
Sharon looked up as Andy entered her office closing the blinds on his way in. He sat down and looked at her; his eyes glazed over with tears.
"She's dead Sharon" He stated, Sharon approached him slowly placing an arm around his shoulders. Hs head lulled onto his shoulder.
"I called the kids and I saw her, in her Sunday best. After everything she went through she was always dressed us up for church. Every time dad left; she'd straighten her shoulders and smile her way through church on Sundays. How'd she do that?" He asked quietly.
"She did it for her children. For your security and safety." Sharon kissed his head and held him close. They stayed huddled on her couch for a few moments in silence small sobs emanating from Andy.
He sat up and wiped his eyes shaking his head muttering to himself about looking so ridiculous; a grown man sobbing, what a sight.
"Andy, don't be ashamed, you're in a safe space I'd never judge you; I love you." She smiled cupping his cheek her thumb stroking stray tears away. He took a deep breath and wiped his face again.
"I love you too and thank you for being here," he smiled, "I'll go and finish that paperwork, might be able to make a couple of AA meetings before lunch with Soph and Nio." He told her with a somber grin.
Author' Note: Oh so sad, I don't remember ever seeing a huge emotional display from Andy, that wasn't anger of course, so I don't quite know how he would react but in some way, I see him as a tough who struggles with the expression of his own emotions.
Next Time: Panic washed over him he looked around frantically