Summary: Sharon's first day at Major Crimes and Sharon's last day at Major Crimes.

Pairing: None

Rating: K

Timeline: Set way beyond the current timeline of the show

Note: This is the third of our "double up" stories; stories created by just throwing two random prompts together and see what happens.

Prompt II: Third drawer down

There came a point in everyone's life where they would stop and think about where they found themselves. In the last couple of years, everything around her had changed and Sharon had found herself reflecting on the future and the past more and more. Whenever she looked around the Murder Room she no longer found the familiarity of those who had been at her side for so long. Their desks had been taken over by detectives who were younger and quicker and, most of all, cheaper. The changes that had been pushed through from higher up the food chain had meant that Sharon had seen most of those she trusted most walk out the door. One or two to different Divisions, two others to retirement.

She had always enjoyed her job and the fact she got to not only bring justice but closure too. The relief on the faces of relatives when they heard that whoever was responsible for their loved one's death would go to prison still brought a feeling to Sharon's stomach for which she did not quite have the words. And she used to bring that feeling home and share it with Rusty but the condo was empty now that he and Gus had moved to New York. The opportunity for Gus to work in a luxury Michelin star restaurant in Manhattan had been a dream come true and just over a year ago, they had boarded a plane and left. The last time Sharon had seen her son was at Christmas; five months ago.

Rusty had come a long way from being the scared and angry teenager she had met on her very first day as Captain of Major Crimes and some days Sharon almost forgot how long the road had been. Stroh was back in prison and Rusty had testified against him three years ago. Since then life had become calmer and Rusty had finally gotten the chance to live the life he always wanted. She'd watched him grow from a boy into a man and she couldn't be more proud.

Ricky and Emily had come a long way too. Emily no longer danced but had recently gotten married and now ran a small dance studio in New York. She and her husband Kevin met up with Rusty and Gus once a month. Ricky had moved from San Francisco to Miami after meeting Sara and they recently welcomed their first child, and Sharon's first grandchild, a boy named Thomas. He was the double of Ricky but had Sharon's green eyes.

Reminiscing about life, Sharon felt the warm Los Angeles sun on the back of her neck as she walked through the rows of gravestones. She hadn't been here in a while, not as often as she used to, and today felt like the right day. She clutched the flowers, always tulips, in her hand and readjusted her black sunglasses as she approached the familiar looking gravestone. The neighbouring grave was ornate, complete with a statue of a weeping angel that always left Sharon feeling like she was being watched, but the grave she came for felt quiet and calm, almost serene. Which wasn't exactly the way she remembered Louie Provenza but it still felt fitting.

Sharon propped the tulips up against the headstone and smiled. It had been a little over a year. One day Provenza's heart just gave up and he died in his sleep. No pain. No suffering. If anyone deserved to die in dignity and peace, Sharon thought it was Louie Provenza. But not a day went by that she didn't miss his sarcastic comments or dry wit. But most of all she missed his guidance and his support, the friendship they had built over the years.

"Today's the day," she said as she took the withered flowers out of the vase next to the headstone and put them at her feet. She'd throw them away on her way out. She put the fresh flowers in the vase and smiled at how their bright yellow, pink and orange colours formed a contrast against the grey marble. She wiped a little dirt away from the side of the stone. "Never thought this day would come."

She stood in front of the grave for a little while longer, the sun warm on her skin and a breeze brought in the from the ocean in her hair. When Sharon eventually turned away, the old withered tulips in her hand, she walked slowly back towards the entrance of the cemetery and dropped the flowers in the trash. It was a strange thought; throwing something that had once been beautiful away like that. It felt almost as if that was what she would be doing today. But she wasn't really throwing anything away. Not really. She was simply closing the book.

An hour later she walked into he brightly lit Murder Room and found it buzzing with life and noise. Phones were ringing, people were talking and two of her latest additions, Detectives Finch and DiBlagio, both transfers from Vice, were standing in front of the Murder Board writing down details on one of their cold cases. Everyone turned around when Sharon came in and she felt all their eyes on her. She was well aware her Division knew what day it was.

"As you were," she said softly and a collective sigh of relief ripped through the room before people returned to their work.

Sharon closed the door to her office behind her and her eyes fell on the cardboard box on the floor next to her desk. She had left it there yesterday. It was one of the few things still remaining in this office and she looked around. The bookcase and filing cabinet were empty. The plant she had desperately tried to keep alive for the last year – Rusty's idea of a Mother's Day present - had finally been removed and now stood in the breakroom where it was sure to die a miserable death within a week. Something about this familiar space felt hollow and Sharon let out a sigh as she sank down in her chair and folded her hands on her desk.

In a flash she was back in the moment she had walked through this door the first time, knowing she was now in command of Major Crimes. The office had felt uncomfortable and strange, the chair hadn't shaped itself after her body and the desk seemed a little too low. People had stared at her and she had felt their resentment, least of all Rusty's, and after opening the top drawer, she had been confronted by a pile of candy of a size she had never seen before.

Sharon's eyes drifted to the top drawer. There was nothing in there now. She'd emptied it out the day before. Several files and some paperwork and a handful of pictures and stationery. It all now lay at the bottom of that cardboard box. Thirty years in the LAPD and her career somehow fit in a box that could hold no more than six A4 sized files.

There was a soft knock on the door and Sharon looked up. In the doorway stood the woman who was to become her replacement. Sharon knew her well. She had guided her through the last few years, had watched as Amy Sykes grew in her skills and ability and proved herself to not only be an excellent detective but also a smart and powerful woman. Now Lieutenant Sykes, Sharon felt proud of her young protégé and she smiled.

"Captain," Amy said as she stepped into the office before closing the door. "I didn't know you'd be here today."

"I just needed to get a few things," Sharon answered and she pointed at the cardboard box. She had seen many men and women before her carry these boxes away from their desks. "These things always make me feel like the job we do is reduced to nothing when we retire."

"That's not true," Amy countered and Sharon knew Amy was right. It was simply her own melancholy talking. "You have left a legacy here, Captain." She smiled and took a step back to the door and opened it. "I'll leave you to it." She went to step outside but then changed her mind. "Oh, Chief Johnson was here earlier."

Sharon looked up. After all this time, everyone still called Brenda by her title. She worked for the local FBI office now and would appear from time to time in the Murder Room.

"Oh? What did she want?"

Amy shrugged. "She said you'd know."

Sharon watched as the younger woman left the office and then her eyes drifted down to the third drawer in her desk. She hesitantly reached out her hand and opened it. Yesterday it had been empty. Now it wasn't. The plain white envelope lay in the middle of the drawer. No writing. Sharon picked it up and found it wasn't sealed. The note had been neatly folded inside and she took it out. Brenda's handwriting was unmistakable.

Didn't I tell you that they'd be in safe hands with you?

Sharon smiled as she clutched the piece of paper a little tighter. Then she rummaged around in the cardboard box until she found a blank piece of paper and a pen. For a moment she hesitated but then she began to write.

Clutching Brenda's note, Sharon picked up the cardboard box and walked to her office door. When she stepped outside everyone was watching her but she did not feel sadness. She felt a sense of happiness and relief and as she passed Amy, she paused to kiss the younger woman on her cheek, se then shook her hand before walking out of the Murder Room one last time.

Moments later Amy Sykes stepped into the now empty office and took a deep breath. She slowly circled around the desk and sat down. As she did so she found the third drawer open and noticed the piece of paper inside. Amy picked it up and unfolded it. She knew her Captain's handwriting as well as she knew her own and as she leaned back into her chair, she let the message sink in.

Amy,
I knew it would be you. Who else would they ask?
Good luck. They're in safe hands with you.