Chapter 38
5 years later ...
Sharon and Andy thought that love is sufficient to enable them to be together again, but definitely, it wasn't so. It'd been a long five years in which Sharon and Andy had understood what is right for them - namely, separation. After that meaningful conversation that night in the division, they suddenly decided to separate. Nobody knew what was the reason and Sharon and Andy hid the truth for years. Neither Rusty neither Nicole nor anyone of the team ... Nobody could understand why. Now Nicholas was 6 years old and he was going to school. Andy loved to spend his time with his son, but he still couldn't find his lost son, despite all this. Andy was really good father and Sharon could see it, but she couldn't be with him, especially after that conversation. One morning, Nicholas waited for his father to go to school, while Sharon was getting ready for work and the Rusty breakfasted.
"Mom, Mom!" Nicholas ran to his mother sadly. Sharon left her purse on her bed and knelt before her little son with a smile, watching him carefully.
"Hey, Nick, what's wrong? You look sad." she noted with concern. Nicholas pouted.
"My father said that he would come this morning to go to school together, but he still isn't here." he said, looking down. Sharon took a deep breath and kissed her son gently on the cheek.
"Don't worry, honey. You know that your father is a cop and that can happen something unexpected. I'm sure he'll be here any minute. Go to your brother. He's having breakfast alone." Sharon offered and tried to calm her son, but he refused.
"Why dad doesn't live with us? He always ignore me!" the little boy said angrily and walked into the kitchen. Sharon sighed wearily and shook her head. She hated the moments when Andy doesn't fulfill his promises. Nicholas went to Rusty as he looked at him carefully.
"Hey, kid, what happened?" Rasti asked confused and took Nicholas into his arms.
"Dad promised me he would be here this morning to go to school but he is not. He ignored me constantly." the little boy said sadly. Rusty hushed and kissed his brother on the cheek.
"Don't talk like that Nick, your father is busy. Look, he loves you an awful lot and he is always with you when you have a need. I'm sure he'll be here soon." he said encouragingly. The little boy shook his head.
"No, mom says the same but Daddy always is away from me. Why he doesn't live with us? Why?" he asked several times. Rysty didn't know what to say. It was quite difficult question because even he didn't know why. At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Seeing Andy, Rusty sighed with relief. Andy hugged his son tightly, apologizing for his delay.
"Nick, honey, I'm sorry I'm late." Andy said apologetically. The little boy kissed his father's cheek.
"Don't worry Dad, I'd wait for you forever. I'll get my bag." he said with a smile and walked to his room, while Rusty sat down to breakfast and Sharon decided to talk to Andy.
"I don't like that you ignore Nicholas that way." Sharon said sternly. Andy sighed and rolled his eyes, dissatisfied.
"Sharon, I'm always close to my son and you know that. I am sorry for my delay." he said firmly. A few minutes later, he and Nicholas went to school until Sharon decided to have breakfast before going to work. Rusty looked at his mother carefully.
"Uh ... Mom, I know you are annoyed by this, but I can't stop asking. Why did you and Andy decided to split? And why didn't you tell us why? Mom, Nicholas can now understands everything and he didn't stop asking for his father. He doesn't know why he doesn't live with us. " Rusty said, confused. Sharon took a deep breath and bit her lip.
"Rusty, I told you before. I can't explain this situation, understand me. Nicholas is living without his father five years. He's used to it. He'll continue to live this way. There is no other way." she said firmly and grabbed her purse. Rusty hated the fact that his mother doesn't want to tell the truth. What was the reason for their separation? On the other hand, Andy and Nicholas had arrived at the school. Andy crouched in front of his little son and kissed him tenderly on the forehead. But Nicholas wasn't very pleased. Yes, he understood everything and he wanted to know why his father didn't live with them.
"Dad, why are you away from me? Why didnt'y you live with us?" he asked again, causing Andy to feel worse. He swallowed the lump in his throat and hid his tears.
"Nick, believe me, I can't explain it right now. But I'll always be with you when you need me, believe me." he assured his son and hugged him tightly. The little boy gave him a kiss, then entered the building. Andy took a deep breath and got into his car. For him was quite difficult to be away from Sharon and their son for years, but he had no choice. However, he was to blame for everything. He'd split with Sharon after that terrible night. After he'd revealed his dark secret. Sharon was right and she wasn't going to forgive him. A few hours later, Sharon and Andy were in the department. They were used to work just as colleagues and talk only for their son. They no longer had a future together. Andy sat at his desk thoughtfully while Provenza approached him with a folder.
"Hey, Flynn, what happens? You seem distracted." he noted with concern. Andy sighed wearily and leaned back.
"This morning I took Nicholas to school and he asked me why I don't live with them. You know, I feel awful. My son is sad and I feel it." he said sadly. Provenza nodded and squeezed his shoulder.
"Definitely, the kid understands everything. He miss you. I understand your pain, but no one can understand why you and Sharon decided to split that way. She almost didn't talk to you, even at work. What happens between you? Why did you split and why don't you say what is the reason? What's the point of hiding all this? " Provenza asked confused. Andy closed his eyes for a moment and stood up.
"Provenza, I'm sorry but I won't tell you why. We decided it to be between us. It's been five years, but my pain is not over. Excuse me." Andy said sternly and walked toward the elevators. Provenza shrugged and sat down at his desk thoughtfully. That afternoon, Sharon had a conversation with Andrea. She also can't understand why Sharon and Andy broke up and why they hide the reason for 5 years. Maybe it was time for the truth.
"Andrea, I feel terrible. Nicholas constantly asks why his father didn't live with us. I'm tired and I can't give him an answer." Sharon said sadly.
"Sharon, you and Andy are to blame for everything. 5 years ago, you decided to split but you don't even shared with us why. What is the reason? Nicholas is right and he is right to ask. Andy is his father." Andrea said firmly. Sharon took a deep breath and removed her glasses, putting them on her desk.
"Andrea, how many times do I have to say that I can't tell you why ?! I can't say why. The only thing I can say is that Andy is the reason. He managed to break the love between us." she said angrily. Andrea shook her head.
"Sharon, you and Andy will not win anything, hiding the truth. Your son needs you. But, as if you do everything possible to get him to live in misery." Andrea said sternly with anger. Sharon wiped her tears and leaned back. But whatever happens, she couldn't reveal the reason. Neither she nor Andy. All day, Sharon was sitting in her office thoughtfully. She felt that the time for the awful truth was approaching - the truth that Andy had hidden the truth from her and that they'd split. While the team was resting, Andy decided to talk to Sharon and walked into her office. Sharon wasn't very surprised, because they needed to talk. She closed her laptop while he stood before her, looking at her coldly.
"Sharon, I think we need to talk." he said firmly. Sharon stood up ooking at him with anger.
"You think? Don't be ridiculous. Of course we have to talk about Nicholas. He constantly asks about you and you're the reason why now we are seperated. You're away from your son, but it's your fault! You hid from me the truth for you and Allison! " she almost shouted. Andy took her hand.
"Sharon, stop yelling! You did the same thing years ago. You slept with Jack until we had a relationship. For months I lived in terror, thinking that Nicholas is not my son." he said angrily. Sharon backed away.
"It's not the same!"
"That's it! Sharon, I made a mistake, just like you! Yes, I admit, I am guilty. I also committed unforgivable sin, just like you. Yes, I slept with Alison, but it wasn't on purpose. I didn't want to hurt you. " he said with anger, but behind his words there was pain. Sharon took a deep breath and tears streamed down her cheeks. That's was the reason for their separation and they couldn't tell anyone. The fact that Andy had slept with Allison years ago. And every time, remembering that moment, Sharon felt worse than ever.
Flashback
Andy was still tightly hugging Sharon. She stepped back and looked into his brown eyes lovingly.
"Andy, maybe we make a mistake. We love each other and we can't live without each other. Maybe it was a mistake to come here and give the engagement ring. Forgive me." she said softly. Andy shushed softly and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Sharon, stop apologizing. The only thing I want is to be with you and our son. But I have to confess something. Something which I hid from you." he said sadly. Sharon looked at him more confused than ever.
"I don't understand. What truth?" she asked again. Andy took a deep breath and grabbed her hand.
"Sharonm I did a terrible sin. I don't know how to tell you this, but I ... I slept with Allison." he admitted. Sharon's eyes widened and she fell into shock. She couldn't believe that Andy has done such a thing. No, that was impossible.
"What? You slept with Allison? You kidding?" she said, confused. Andy shook his head and swallowed the lump in his throat. Sharon took a deep breath to calm herself, but after this news, she couldn't be calm.
"You hid such a bad thing? How? I can't believe that I was together with an idiot like you. But you know, it's over! Now there is nothing between us! Go to hell Andrew Flynn!"
After the terrible dispute, Sharon and Andy returned home together. For once, they wanted to please their son. And yes, Nicholas was really happy with the fact that his mother and father are together. Rusty was happy because Nicholas was happy as never before. All night, the little boy was telling stories from school. But when it came time to sleep, he didn't want his father to leave. Sharon and Andy tried to dissuade him but the little boy didn't want to hear them.
"Dad, please stay here. Mom, tell Dad to stay here." Nicholas said plaintively, looking at his mother. Sharon looked at Andy coldly. Andy crouched in front of his son with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.
"Nick, honey, I can't stay here. You're a smart kid and you can understand dad, right?" he said quietly, but the little boy pouted.
"Dad, you don't love me. If you loved me you would have stayed with me." he said sadly and wept. Andy shushed softly and wiped his tears.
"Nick, calm down. Well, if your mother let me stay here, I can stay." he said softly and looked at Sharon. Sharon took Nicholas in her arms.
"Well, your father will stay here, but just tonight." she agreed. Andy shrugged. Nicholas hug them tightly, causing his parents to be close to each other. He led them into the bedroom and demanded to sleep with both of them. Maybe that was the hardest part for them. Sleep together, even for Nicholas. But they had no choice. They had to think about their son ...
~~~ TBC ~~~