Chapter 2

…...

Sharon turned over in bed when her alarm buzzed beside her, she stretched out, hitting the off switch before lying back down for a few moments just staring at the ceiling.

"Sharon, come on…we'll be late." Rusty yelled, from the kitchen.

"I'll be in a moment."

Sharon took a few minutes to gather her thoughts before finally easing herself out of bed and jumping in the shower. She pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a red blouse before running a brush through her long hair and made her way through to the kitchen. Rusty was at the table eating his cereal, Sharon sat down…noticing a bowl ready for her and her coffee waiting for her.

"Is your coffee okay, I didn't make it too strong."

"Mmmm, its perfect…thank you. How long have you been up?"

"I got up about 6am."

"Late night?"

"I was just finishing off some homework, that way I don't have to worry all weekend."

"Wise move." She smiled.

"So what's this beach house like then?"

"I've no idea but according to Amy it will certainly accommodate all of us and more so."

"So, is like everyone going then."

"Mmmm, Lt. Provenza, Amy, Julio, Tao and his wife, Buzz and Andy of course Andy." She smiled.

"Yeah of course." Rusty smirked.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Rusty I…."

Sharon was interrupted when her mobile began buzzing; she prayed they hadn't a crime scene to attend too. She looked at the screen and saw Andrea Hobbs name flashing in front of her, relief leaving her body.

"Andrea, good morning."

"Hey, I didn't wake you did I?"

"No, I'm not long up actually. What can I do for you?"

"Well I was wondering if you fancied joining me for lunch today, I know you finally have a weekend free and I thought I'd pamper you a little. We need a good catch up."

"Oh Andrea I'd love too but Amy Sykes had invited the Team to her friends beach house for the weekend."

"Oh, well that's okay…maybe another time. Go and enjoy yourself, you deserve it and I'll call you when you get back okay."

"Andrea wait…why don't you join us."

"Oh no I couldn't, I wouldn't want to impose and besides, I wasn't invited."

"I'm inviting you and the others won't mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me, anyway they like you a lot more than DDA Rios…trust me. Andy's picking us up in about 40 minutes, pack a bag and get over here."

"Okay, thanks Sharon."

"We'll see you soon."

Sharon hung up and placed her phone to the side of her bowl as Rusty looked over at her.

"So Andrea's coming too?"

"You don't mind do you?"

"Me no, Lt. Provenza on the other hand might have something to say about it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Seriously, Sharon…he hates her."

"What…why?"

"I don't know, something to do with taking over when he was interviewing some escort a few months back."

"How do I not know about this?"

"No idea…and you call yourself a Detective." Rusty smirked.

"Yes alright, finish your breakfast and we'll get packing."

…

Sharon had just finished putting her swimsuit in her weekender bag when she heard the front door; she grabbed the bag and sat it down beside the door before opening it to see Andrea standing in front of her.

"Andrea." She smiled.

"Hi, I'm not late am I?"

"No, Andy's not even here yet…come on in."

Andrea followed her in and through to the kitchen as she poured them both a coffee.

"So, how are you?" Sharon asked.

"I'm good, been hectic but nowhere near as bad as you. Are you doing okay?"

"Mmmm."

Andrea noticed the way Sharon tried to avoid eye contact and began wiping the surface in front of her. Andrea came around the counter to Sharon's side and gently laid a warm hand on her arm.

"Sharon, talk to me."

Sharon looked up at her, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's just been such a long haul, especially for Rusty…he's been through so much and nearly losing him."

"Hey, you've been on an emotional roller coaster too."

"I know but I'm meant to be the strong one…it's who I am, Captain Raydor, Darth Raydor…touch as nails."

"Not all the time, you have to let go too…let your emotions out. It's not good for you to bottle it all up because it will only drag you down into a depression and we don't want that now do we?"

Sharon looked Andrea in the eyes and saw the concern for her; Sharon could only nod her head in agreement as the tears began to fall. Andrea moved closer wrapping her arms around her friend as she cried into her shoulder.

"He's safe now Sharon, the trials over and now it's time for you both to move on with your lives okay."

Sharon moved from Andrea's arms as Andrea handed her a tissue to dry her eyes.

"You're right, as usual…thank you."

"What are friends for?"

"Hey Sharon I…are you okay?" Rusty asked, entering the room.

"I'm fine." She smiled.

"You've been crying."

"I'm alright, really. Wait here with Andrea, I won't be a minute."

Rusty watched her leave before he walked over to Andrea who was now seated and drinking her coffee.

"What's wrong with Sharon and don't say nothing."

"Don't worry okay; she was just letting out all the emotions that have been building up over the last few months."

"Because of me?"

"She was afraid she'd lose you when Stroth made plans to kill you. Rusty, in Sharon's eyes, you're her Son, perhaps not in blood but never the less her Son and there's nothing she wouldn't do for you."

"She's always so strong; I keep forgetting she feels stuff too."

"We all do, perhaps we can all work at paying closer attention to how she's feeling in the future huh."

"Yeah, I'm glad you're coming too, she needs friends around."

"Go and get your stuff, Andy should be here…oh, speak of the devil." She smiled, as the door went.

…

Andy looked up to see Andrea standing in front of him, a look of surprise on his face.

"I'm not that bad to look at am I." She smiled.

"Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see your face. Where's Sharon, is everything okay?"

"Yeah fine, she invited me along…you don't mind do you."

"The more the merrier, does Provenza know you're coming?"

"I thought I'd surprise him, you know how much he adores me." She joked.

"This could turn out to be a fun weekend."

Rusty came out with his bag and handed Andrea hers.

"Hey Andy, Sharon's just coming."

"Great, why don't you two go down to the car, it's just parked out front…the boots unlocked, just dump your bags and I'll wait for Sharon."

"Great, come on Rusty."

Andrea and Rusty headed downstairs as Andy stood inside the doorway looking up to see Sharon walking his way.

"Andy, I didn't hear you arrive."

"It's okay Andrea let me in. She and Rusty are waiting in the car, just your bag to come."

"Oh right, right here."

"Here, let me take it for you."

"Thank you."

"You okay, your eyes are red."

"I'm fine."

"Hey you've been crying, what is it?"

"It's nothing really, I'm fine. I was just unloading onto Andrea about the last few weeks."

"So you're okay now."

"Never better." She smiled.

"Good, because this is going to be a weekend to remember and you are going to relax and let us take care of you…deal."

"Deal."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

He placed his arm around her waist as Sharon locked up the condo before heading out to the car with him for their fun filled weekend.

…

To Be Continued…