Sharon thought about Andy's situation all the way home, in fact she realized she had been so lost in thought she didn't even remember the drive. Rarely had she been so distracted, and she knew she had to do something about it.

"Rusty, I'm home," she called, when she entered the house.

"Good, I'm starving."

"Hello to you, too," she replied sarcastically.

"Sorry, you just said you were leaving work almost two hours ago."

"I texted you to tell you I had an errand to run."

"I know, I just thought it would be faster," he slumped down on the sofa.

Sharon shook her jacket off and toed her shoes by the front door, then sat down on the sofa beside him. "What's really going on?"

"What's going on?" he looked at her surprised. "I'm under house arrest, I don't know if you'll let me help find the guy who's threatening me, I am a witness in a trial that never starts, and I'm starving. Isn't that enough?"

Humming and nodding, Sharon pulled one of the cushions to her chest and hugged it. "My, that's a lot of first person pronouns."

Rusty just looked at her, "What? You're giving me a grammar lesson? Now?"

Chucking, she shook her head, "No, actually, you've given me an idea. The errand I ran earlier was to Lt. Flynn's house."

"Is something wrong?" Rusty looked surprised. Sharon didn't go to her squad's houses. Even when she dropped him off to spend time with Kevin Tao, she didn't go inside.

"Mmm, yes and no. His personal life is a little challenging at the moment, and I've been trying to think of ways to make things easier for him. Perhaps if you help me, that might get you thinking about someone else for a change."

"Sharon, I'm always thinking about someone else," Rusty huffed, which earned him a look.

Getting up from the sofa, Sharon put the pillow back in place and went to her desk to open her computer.

Rusty watched her type for a few minutes, and huffed again. "So that's it? All you want to do is think about Lt. Flynn and I have to make my own supper?"

Sharon glanced at him over the top of her glasses frame again, but said nothing.

"This is the part where I shut my mouth before I say anything more to get in trouble, right?"

"That would be one suggestion," she said dryly.

"It's just..." he started.

Sharon quickly put her hand up, bringing silence to the room, then finished what she was doing. "Okay," she announced finally, "I've ordered pizza for us, and I've just sent messages to Ricky and Melissa asking them to facetime in about an hour."

"Facetime? What's going on, Sharon?"

"I told you, you've given me an idea. I realize most of your mood is because your stomach is empty, and I do apologize Rusty. It's been a few days since I had the opportunity to shop for groceries, and there's not much in the house to eat."

"So you're not mad at me?" he looked up unsure of himself.

"Mad?"

"Well, I've been pretty unfriendly since you walked in."

"That's true, but what you don't seem to understand is how happy I am when you act like a typical teenage boy. Being belligerent when you're hungry is normal. There was a time when you wouldn't be that honest. But enough about you, okay? When I said it's time for you to think about someone else, I mean it. I want us to work on something that has nothing to do with you or me or the LAPD or the trial or the person sending you threatening letters."

"What's going on?" Rusty was starting to get worried. "Is Lt. Flynn alright? I mean is he sick or something? I heard about him passing out and having problems last summer. Is he worse?"

"No thankfully, he seems to be on track with that. No, his issues are with his family."

"His family? I forgot Lt. Flynn had a family."

"Mmm... that might be part of the problem. He doesn't talk about them at all, and he doesn't have many pictures on his desk. Rusty, Lt. Flynn has a son as well as the daughter who's wedding I attended over the summer. They are just a bit older than Ricky and Melissa. He doesn't talk to his son very much, but he's trying to spend more time with his daughter and it doesn't always go well."

"Why not?" Rusty was surprised to hear Sharon speak so openly about Lt. Flynn. The one thing everyone could count on with Sharon was that she didn't gossip or tell other people's stories without their permission. He wasn't sure how to take her interest in the Lieutenant.

"Mmm... well a number of reason. First his ex-wife is quite determined to punish him for everything that went wrong in their marriage, even though she's been remarried for years."

"Doesn't the other guy mind?"

"What are you suggesting?" Sharon was surprised and hadn't thought about Nicole's stepfather.

"I dunno, it just sounds like she's still hung up on Lt. Flynn, otherwise why would she even care?"

"Mmm... I never thought of that... You're might be on to something," Sharon replied, looking off in the distance.

"Yeah, I mean if I liked someone and all they did was talk about their ex, I'd wonder if they were really interested in me."

The phone interrupted them, and Sharon answered to buzz in the pizza delivery person. After the guards at the door thoroughly checked the pizza and drinks, she paid for the delivery and brought it to the dining table. Their conversation forgotten as they ate. Only a bell from the computer reminded Sharon that something else needed her attention. Bringing it over to the dining table, Sharon adjusted the computer so both she and Rusty could see the screen.

"Hey kids," she greeted her son and daughter as they signed on to Facetime.

"You summoned, we obey," Ricky replied, with a rolling bow. Sharon couldn't help but giggle.

"Good! How are you two?"

"Hey Mom," Melissa started, "you texted this morning. Not much has changed. I get up. I work. I come home. It's the Christmas season, so we have more performances. Is... is that pizza you're eating?"

"Yeah, it's good too," Rusty teased her. Since moving in with Sharon, Rusty had gotten to know her kids and quite liked their sense of humour. It surprised him in the beginning that they were so lighthearted when Sharon was always so serious. But as he got to know her, he realized Sharon had a really great sense of humour, you just had to look for it. She wasn't slapstick or sit-com, she was dry British wit. It took him awhile to get used to it.

Melissa groaned, "I'd kill for pizza."

"Just a few more weeks, Honey," Sharon smiled at her. "You can start eating it again after your show ends.

"I know... I just hate being this disciplined."

"You'd hate the sluggish feeling after eating it more, though," Sharon reminded her.

"Yeah," Melissa sighed. "Are you almost done, because watching Rusty devour his food isn't helping one bit.

"It's pepperoni and olives and three kinds of cheese with hamburger," Rusty rubbed it in, earning a swat from Sharon.

"Be nice!" she said to him, with a touch of laughter in her voice.

"You are a cruel, cruel person, Rusty Beck," Melissa said, shaking her head.

"Okay you two," Ricky intervened, "Some of us are professionals with real careers that we need to get back to."

Sharon snorted while Melissa laughed, "Yeah, you tell yourself that, big brother. We all know the nurses are running the show."

Ricky rolled his eyes, "Whatever... seriously Mom, why the summons? Something wrong?"

Sharon wiped her mouth and put her food down. "I'm fine, we're both fine. I really want your opinions on something. One of my officers is having difficulties with his daughter, and I want to help. I want to create something special for Christmas to help their relationship. She's not that much older than you two, and her mother is causing problems."

Melissa started to smile, "One of your officers you say... rhymes with win?"

"Hmmm," Ricky started pulling on his chin, pretending to be deep in philosophical thought, "I dare say Mother does seem especially attached to the fellow."

Sharon rolled her eyes, "Be serious, you two."

"It's not how serious we are that's at issue," Melissa giggled.

Rusty looked from the computer to Sharon, "Did I miss something?"

"It's probably better that you have, buddy," Rick assured him.

"Okay kids, you have lives to live and I brought work home with me. Can we please stay on topic," Sharon chastised them, earning another giggle from Melissa.

"Sure Mom," Ricky sobered, "what are you thinking?"

"I don't know, really. What... I know this is going to be hard for you, but if your father came back into the picture, what would make it easier for you?"

Melissa rolled her eyes and turned away while Ricky blew a long breath.

"Look kids," Sharon said gently, "I know this is hard and we all know the likelihood of it happening for you is pretty slim. Your father has let us all down too many times. But I really need your insight."

Ricky rallied first, "What's the issue with this guy, Mom?"

"He's a recovering alcoholic, Honey. He's been sober for almost twenty years, but before that he was pretty negligent with his kids."

"We know that one," Melissa said.

Sharon smiled thoughtfully, "I know you do, Sweetheart. The thing is I tried to keep things positive for you two about your father. Maybe I made a mistake in doing that, but I thought it was best. Andy's ex-wife made the opposite decision and told her kids he was no good. Seeing how strong the two of you are, and how unsure of herself Andy's daughter is, I think I made the better choice."

"Okay, let me get this straight, Andy... interesting that we're using his first name..."

"Melissa..." Sharon sounded a warning.

"Alright, alright. So Andy's daughter, what was her name again?"

"Nicole."

"Right Nicole doesn't know if she can have a good relationship with Andy, but he wants to after all these years. Has he been gone the whole time?"

Sharon tilted her head and thought about it for a moment, "No... no I think he was around. I know he paid child support when his kids were growing up, and and he's got pictures of them over the years at his house, so he was definitely in their lives."

"More than we got," Ricky said bitterly.

Sharon smiled gently at her son, "I know... and I'm sorry if this is hurting you."

"It's okay Mom, you get dealt the hand you get. We got a looser. Your officer sounds like he's a better father."

"He's trying to be, but every time he makes an effort, his ex-wife criticizes him. I've met her..."

"And I'm thinking she's a beotch?" Melissa said in a sing-song manner.

"I don't really like that word, Melissa. But I did use it to describe her recently."

"I think she's jealous," Rusty contributed, after finishing his food.

"Jealous how?" Ricky asked, folding his arms and looked at Rusty to continue.

Rusty shrugged, "I dunno... just why else would she be so hung up on Lt. Flynn after all this time.

"That does make sense," Melissa said. "I've seen a picture of him and he's really good looking."

"When did you see his picture?" Sharon was surprised.

Melissa shrugged, "When you started talking about him last summer, I googled him. I think I remember him from when I was younger, but I'm not sure."

"You might have seen him." Sharon nodded.

Paging Dr. Raydor, Dr. Richard Raydor, the sound came over the intercom.

"Mom, I've gotta go," Rick said, rising from his seat and looking more closely into his camera. "All I can say, is I'd like to be proud of Dad. I don't even care if he talks to me, I just wish I could say his name without feeling like I never mattered or that he wasn't a loser."

"Okay Honey. And thanks for that. I'll talk to you later."

"Yup," Ricky said, and his screen went blank.

"I've really got to call him later and see if he's okay."

"Mom, this is just the way it is. There's only so much you can do to make it better. But the good news is you were more than a mother and father to us, so we didn't really suffer. We just get reminded of what we missed out on when we hear stories like this Andy person making so much effort. It's kind of like... what's wrong with us that our father won't do that."

"There's nothing wrong with you, Sweetheart." Sharon looked directly at the computer and willed her daughter to understand the depth of her meaning.

Melissa smiled cheekily, "Of course not. It's Dad's loss. Okay, about Andy..."

Sharon realized the topic was closed, and her heart broke for her children once more. They really deserved better.

"Ricky said he would like to be proud of Dad, and I think that makes sense. Nicole has probably heard so many stories about how bad he is that she can't remember how good he is. Why don't you find a way to remind her?"

"Mmm..." Sharon nodded, and looked off again. "That's a good idea. She needs to know about that. Thanks, Sweetheart."

"You're welcome. Hey, can you contact the AA people or whoever got him to stop drinking? They might be able to reassure her that he doesn't drink anymore so she can stop worrying about that."

"Another great idea. I obviously went to the right people." Sharon smiled.

"I still think you have to take out the ex-wife," Rusty said, having listened to the conversation. He knew a thing about parental neglect, but he also knew something about jealousy.

"We'll see," Sharon said noncommittally. "Okay Missy, I have another request," she said, turning back to the computer.

Melissa rolled her eyes at the nickname, but didn't say anything. "Yeah? What's up?"

"Well... the other week I attended the Nutcracker with Lt. Flynn's family."

"Oh yeah, how did that go?"

"It was fine. It was quite nice actually, and Nicole's step-sons were really cute. They are quite interested in ballet and I want to give them something unique."

"You're wanting to give Andy's step-grandsons a Christmas gift?" Melissa smirked.

"Yes..." Sharon said slowly, with an undertone of warning that Melissa didn't want to push her assumptions too far.

"Okay," Melissa responded, getting her mother's secondary message loud and clear. "What can I do for you?"

"I was thinking, perhaps some pictures of yourself and the male leads in your company. Signed, maybe. Something unique like that. Their names are Tyler and Matthew."

Melissa shook her head back and forth, "Yeah... that can be arranged. Any particular reason you are giving these kids a Christmas present?"

"Well, it won't be from me, I'll give it to Lt. Flynn to give to the boys. He needs a leg up on this conflict with his ex-wife. Apparently one of her favourite things to say is that Andy is lying about everything, and he's told them you are a professional dancer. It might make a difference if he can produce evidence to back up his claim."

"Huh... this Andy guy, we like him, right?"

"Melissa..." Sharon warned again.

"No Mom, I'm serious. This guy is worth all this effort?"

"Yes, Sweetheart, he is."