Chapter Seventeen
Author's note: I am trying to keep ahead of myself but I just have this writer's block, so I hope this an okay chapter and isn't too ramble-y, I don't think that's a word but oh well.
-SHANDY-
The days following Nicole's wedding was tense as the Major Crimes filed paperwork surrounding the death of Charles Frey, the risk of a lawsuit loomed over them. Taylor was constantly on edge and his bad mood was projected onto the team; specifically, their leader Captain Raydor.
"You should have had this all under control" He had raged at her the following day after the shooting.
"How? He was put through standard security checks; no gun was found." She told him, how dare he question her abilities.
"Maybe if you had done some further checks, especially after he was told the truth." He retorted.
"I want to make something very clear. Mr Frey arrived almost an hour after Mr Torres left, you are the one who seems to value the budget. To send uniformed officers out to scope the area was not an option for me. Chief." She stood hands on her hips.
"You should have the skills to work around that. Instead, you left, for a wedding." He scoffed. Sharon took a deep breath.
"Yes I had left, Provenza was in charge but I'd like to point out that you were also here and if you had been really concerned you could have ordered Provenza to do something yourself, Chief." She told him firmly and then before her urge to slap him takes over. Not that she would ever but it was tempting.
She stormed her office and slammed the door.
Now, the threat had passed there were only reports to file and sign; rather tedious work. As Sharon signed her name for what seemed the millionth time that day she heard a knock.
"Hey, you got a minute?" Andy asked, she smiled and pointed to the chair in front of him.
"What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" She teased.
"It's about the boys, Laura and Bill, Dean's parents wondered if I wanted to take them Friday until Sunday morning and I thought that we could go to the beach with Rose and Rusty." He explained. Sharon smiled.
"I'd love that. Rose I'm will too, Rusty not sure but I can always ask." She continued to smile only prompting Andy to grin back at her, they seemed to look at each other for a moment until Provenza came in.
"Ye gods, while you two idiots are staring into the voids one another's souls we have been called out. Flynn, move it." He scowled before leaving them be. Andy rolled his eyes and followed Provenza out of the murder room.
-SHANDY-
The team got stuck into the investigation. A young man had been found in a barrel and after informing the parents they found out that he had been missing as was their daughter. Sharon had been able to contact the upset mother using her own phone and Provenza's and they were able to set up a wire and quietly help them.
Brian Barlow was a family attorney and Laurie Barlow worked at a center for women in abusive relationships this led them to find about Gerald and his wife, Susan, he was an avid firearm collector and seemed to have a vendetta against Mr Barlow as he was responsible for taking his kids away.
Sharon placed a hand on her forehead, this was tough; the kids were older, granted but having your children kidnapped shook her to the core.
"I think we need to look at Gerald's father." Tao told her bringing her an iPad with information on it; it displayed the firearms Gerald's dad had, almost treble his sons.
"oh god, alright I think we need to talk with Gerald." She got up and entered the murder room. "We need to see Gerald so, Sanchez, have you the address for the shop that supplies him?"
"Yes, M'am. Do you want us to get him there?" He asks.
"Yes and take Sykes with you. I'll get Andrea to meet you there." She instructed. The team got ready to make a deal with Gerald, he told them where to find the daughter and the team prepared to go and save her. Along with some help from fritz Howard.
It was an intense few moments as they used the new technology to detect where the girl is in the trailer. Sharon kept a lead on the task and tried to stay calm when she heard Andy, and Provenza, were going in without nearby backup; she pushed those feelings to the side, this young girl was more important.
She was safe. As soon she heard that Julio had found her she let out a huge sigh of relief. It was a success.
Her parents were glad to have her back and the team were looking at a work free weekend, if they could get all the paperwork done on Friday. Rusty and Rose entered after school, Rusty seemed distant but refused to talk to her about it.
"Rose? Do you know what happened?" Sharon asked her daughter.
"Not sure but I didn't see him in his usual spot at lunch." She shrugged and went to study for her debates. Sharon watched the two of them before returning to her office to complete as much paperwork as possible so Friday could be a chilled day.
At 6, Sharon sent the team home and, for once, she left with her team. Rose talking away about the latest debate, while rusty stayed quiet vaguely answering Provenza.
-SHANDY-
Andy followed Sharon home and they decided to make dinner together. Rose and Rusty went upstairs to change.
"Rusty, what is with you?" Rose hissed on the way upstairs.
"Nothing." He shrugged.
"You sure because I noticed you were missing from the dinner hall, so I had to talk with your friend, Kris." Rose informed him.
"I can't tell you because Sharon is your mom. You'd tell her." He told her standing outside of his room.
"Fine, don't tell me, just tell someone because if you get killed…I will blame it on your stupidity." Rose rolled her eyes and moved into her room to change.
Downstairs Sharon and Andy are making some burgers.
"Andy, would you talk to Rusty for me?" She asked as she cut some carrots for the side.
"Yeah, what's wrong with him?" he countered as he combined the meat mixture.
"I wish I knew but I was hoping a male figure might get it out of him" She explained, Andy nodded and agreed to talk to him. They continued to chat planning some things to do for the boys visit to their grandpa Andy's. Soon they were laughing over the wedding and how cute the boys had been.
"What are you two giggling at?" Rusty asked as he came in.
"Nicole's wedding." Andy replied, he looked at Sharon who nodded. "C'mon kid you can help me cook these outside" Andy grabbed the tray and held the back door for him, which he reluctantly walked through.
Rose came in shortly after to see her mom watching Andy and Rusty cook burgers.
"I don't think you could get any subtler, mom" Rose scoffed, scaring Sharon slightly.
"Don't sneak up on me, when I'm…" Sharon began.
"Spying" Rose finished for her, to which Sharon rolled her eyes.
"Cooking. I'm just cooking" Sharon shrugged turning away. Rose hummed not quite believing her mom. Rose asked what they were eating, and Sharon told her about the burgers they were making.
Outside, Rusty and Andy were talking.
"So, how's school going kid?" Andy asked as he put the burgers by the grill.
"It's fine. The nuns aren't that fun though." Rusty shrugged.
"Nuns tend to avoid fun" Andy chuckled.
"You went to a catholic school?" Rusty questioned.
"Er…no but I was forced to go to Sunday school and one thing I learned is that Catholics really admire honesty." Andy started to cook the burgers.
"You want me to tell Sharon the truth." Rusty rolled his eyes, not at all fazed.
"Or if you aren't comfortable telling her, tell me." Andy suggested, Rusty nodded.
"My mom is at a rehab centre not too far from the school. I've been going to see her." Rusty admitted.
"Alright well, that's not terrible Sharon gets that you love your mom." Andy tried to comfort Rusty as he kept an eye on the burgers.
"Yeah, I know but, she's been getting letters. She went to the rehab because she was being followed and…she's really freaked out Andy." Rusty confided in the older man. Andy nodded trying to act calm while inside his head so many alarm bells were going off.
"Ok, Rusty. We need to help protect your mom, so we have to tell Sharon." Andy told him firmly.
"I know, I just know that Sharon will be disappointed in me for lying. I think that catholic guilt is starting to rub off on me" Rusty scoffed as Andy finished the burgers.
"We'll tell her after dinner. Yes, she'll be disappointed but glad you told her." Andy told him, turning off the grill and carrying the burgers inside. The four of them sat down at the table and began to eat both Rose and Rusty not being very keen on the vegetables on the table instead of chips.
"So, this weekend, Major Crimes has off. Andy's grandsons are going to his and we thought it would be nice to go to the beach with them. You want to join us?" Sharon explained with a smile.
"Grandkids? God my parents are old," Rose mumbled, "Wait does that make me an Aunt?" Rose asked, an almost disgusted look on her face.
"Half-step Aunt" Andy suggested. Rose scoffed but agreed to go. Rusty stayed quiet but agreed to come along with them. Sharon and Andy grinned at each other excited about the day.
After dinner, Rose and Andy went to the dishes and Rusty asked to speak to Sharon. They sat in his room to get some privacy.
"Sharon, my mom is in LA. She's at Rehab centre and I've been visiting her." Rusty admitted to her. Sharon nodded quietly.
"Ok, is she well?" Sharon smiled.
"Mostly, this is the best I've seen her in a long time, but she's been getting letters and was so scared she was being followed that she sought out the centre. Flynn says you guys could help her." Rusty explained standing and handing Sharon the letters his mom had received at her old address and some from the rehab centre. Most of them were non-threating just listening off some things the letter writer had seen her do. However, the last few made threats on her life. Describing how they'd kill her; all in all very gruesome.
"Okay. We are going to get these analysed right now. I'm calling the team in. We can't risk your mother's safety" Sharon announced pulling out her phone.
"No. Sharon the rehab knows, they have extra security. It can wait till morning." Reluctantly Sharon agreed to wait until morning.
The mood of the night changed and both Rose and Rusty went to bed early, Sharon sat on the couch her hand in Andy's as they watched the late-night news.
"Andy? Do you think I should have Rusty, and Rose, put under surveillance while we investigate these letters?" Sharon asked, not looking over.
"Maybe, but let's hold it off until we're sure it's something. It'll be ok" He squeezed her hand.
"I know, I'll inform the school to keep a closer eye on them," she decided, "you are staying tonight, right?"
"There's nothing I'd love more babe." He brought her hand to his mouth and gently kissed it. Switching off the TV after the news finished they went around the house checking the windows and doors before meeting at the bottom of the stairs and walking up together. Both quietly peeking into the kid's rooms before retiring to Sharon's.
Sharon undressed and slipped underneath the covers in just her panties prompting andy to do the same. He curled his arm around her pressing his chest to her back craving the feeling of her skin against his; slowly they both fell asleep.
-SHANDY-
Author's Note: I am sort of taking the crimes that were shown over the 6 years and moving them about to fit this new AU character plot line, I hope that makes some sense. Hope you're enjoying it.
Next time: Rusty and Rose came into the murder room, twenty minutes later less than happy. Glaring at everyone, arms folded defensively.