AN:It's been a while again I know. I'm really bad at updating. RL is too busy. The highlight of my week are when I see another story fave, or another story or author follow. I really appreciate that! So thank you all so very much. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Again a big thank you to glisteningsun for doing all the beta work on these chapters. All mistakes left are all mine.

Rated M like always.

Chapter eight.

Hamilton had agreed with him that Sharon shouldn't risk coming to the station. They'd do their meetings at his apartment. Andy looked at the door of his bed room. Sharon was dressing herself. She'd been surprised to see him awake early. In fact he hadn't slept much at all, unable to clear her from his thoughts.

Even this morning he'd been staring at her. Her tousled wavy hair, the long legs underneath his t-shirt. She looked so hot. A cold shower was the only thing that did the trick.

He was happy to be able to escape to her apartment to get a few of her things. In her home, he had felt a bit uncomfortable going through her dresser drawer, searching for underwear. He felt dirty holding her bra's in his hand, the thoughts that entered his mind. A few times he passed a negligee. He couldn't help thinking about Sharon wearing it for Raydor. His hands gliding on the lace material, sliding the thin straps off her shoulders, before his fingers would trace over her arms.

Just the thought of it made him angry, jealous. Still. He knew they weren't together anymore, but they had been. The past would never go away. Fact was that Raydor had been intimate with her on a level, he couldn't even dare to hope he'd ever be. Maybe he'd been her first. They had been engaged. Whether he liked it or not Raydor would always be a part of her.

Andy's head turned as his bed room door opened. Sharon looked classy in just about anything. Even now she managed to pull it off while wearing a jeans and a simple white blouse. She smiled at him. Did she say something? He should pay attention better.

"If you miss something, just say the word I'll pick it up for you."

"Thanks. Shouldn't we go to the station?"

"They guy could be posting outside. I agreed with Hamilton, we'll have the briefings here. It will help you maintain your cover."

"If he's out there, won't he recognize they guys when they come to the hotel later?"

"No, they're going to drive into the garage, come up that way."

Sharon's attention turned to the door as the doorbell rang.

"I'll go make some coffee."

She knew Andy rather not had her come to the door. You never knew who was in front of it. Sharon decided to indulge him a bit. After last night she knew she'd been a bit stubborn and Andy had been more right than she wanted him to be.

The Commander entered. She had no idea he'd be here for the briefing. She wondered what Andy told him for him to come all the way over. She heard them talk in low voices. Their gaze burning a t her. She hoped Andy wouldn't pass his worries onto their Commander. She did not need that.

Sharon turned around with a smile on her face, meeting Hamilton's worried eyes. He looked her over.

"Would you like some coffee?"

She smiled neutral, ignoring his worried glance, hoping he would give up.

"Yes, thank you."

Elliot seemed alright, maybe it was just Flynn's overprotective nature. She was a big girl, tough. She'd been through so much already. It wasn't like she was alone in this either, one of the men would always be with her.

It all seemed quite like home. Sharon relaxed, dressed casual, bare feet. She sat down on the couch, pulling her legs underneath herself. Not planning on moving as the doorbell rang again. Cohen and Zygerski entered, although they were officially still on another case. If Sanders and Dixon would arrive they could finally begin.

Sharon was just listening to one of Cohen's lame jokes, when she heard Andy's fist make impact with apparently Dixon's cheek.

"You're such an idiot!"

Hamilton leaped up surprised. So did Cohen and Zygerski. All ready to get in between of the two men. Not that it would be any use. If Andy wanted to land a second punch he would.

Sharon stared at Dixon's shocked face, his fingers touching the sticky crimson red blood which flowed from his nose. Her eyes switched to Andy. He simply stood there not an ounce of regret on his face.

"You idiot!"

The anger spat from Andy's voice, while he got into Dixon's face.

"I warned you to better look after her to protect her!"

"I was there!"

"No you weren't she waited for you at the Residence and you didn't come. Where the hell were you?!"

"I thought we were calling it a night. The Residence today."

Andy fumed at Dixon's stupidity. Sharon walked over to him, knowing if Dixon kept talking that he'd dug his own grave. She put her hand on his shoulder. She felt his reaction at her touch. His muscles tensed, straining to hold back. Dixon now looked angry at her.

"Why didn't you just leave when I didn't show up?!"

Andy once again moved forward, threatening Dixon back.

"The guy was there, he took the bait. What should I have done? Tell him to come back tonight?"

Sharon looked agitated. So did Andy. This could blow up, he better cool them all down.

"What happened, happened. Elliot handled correct. Her cover is intact and the suspect took her bait. So we better discuss how to proceed next."

Sharon knew Hamilton was right, but Andy would not move an inch. She slowly rubbed his shoulder, calming him sown, trying to persuade him silent to let go and focus on something else. They didn't need words, their body language was more than clear for one another. As she felt his shoulder blade relax underneath her touch, she knew he let go.

Her eyes met his, as he turned towards her. She looked so calm, so accepting. For some reason she was not angry. She did not judge him. He could not help it. The guy put her in danger. That was all he could think of. He did not want to see her hurt. His anger faded as he saw the small smile on her lips.

Great, once again Elliot managed to calm Flynn down. Dixon sat down pouting. He had it coming though, so he wasn't going to show him any sympathy.

"The guy who took the bait… do you believe he's connected to the murder?"

"It was the same man who argued with Andrea on the security tape."

"The one in the room next to her?"

Sharon nodded.

"I believe this is the Mario, Carmen mentioned."

"Did he ask you to work for him?"

"No, he was just very charming and generous with the Champaign… I'm sure he was testing me."

"He probably was. If he killed our victim something went wrong. He does not want to make that mistake again."

"I agree."

"What's the plan, Elliot?"

"I go back there tonight. See if he seeks me out again."

"Play hard to get. The guy should have to put some trouble into it. Sanders, you go with her."

Sharon looked surprised, she had expected to go back onto this assignment with Andy. Was it because he hit Dixon? Andy looked surprised as well.

"Cohen and Zygerski are still on another case. Dixon will sport a shiner soon enough.. "

Hamilton gave Andy a look.

"And we don't want to scare him off don't we? One wrong touch and your hot headed partner will work him to the ground. It will have to be Sanders."

Andy looked at Sanders, who didn't show a lot of enthusiasm either. He narrowed his eyes. He better get his act together and have Sharon's back. Either way he planned to be there as a back up.

"I will be in the hotel's security room."

It was an announcement, not a question. As Sharon looked relieved, Hamilton decided to let him. Not that he would have a lot to say about what Andy could and could not do. Flynn believed he was the only one who'd be able to keep Sharon safe. It didn't matter anymore that in the beginning he didn't even want her a his partner. Now, he'd give his life for her.

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As time ticked away, Andy became more nervous. This anxious feeling coiled inside of his belly like a snake. A little while ago Sharon disappeared into the bathroom, to make herself ready. The thought of her near this killer was almost unbearable.

Sharon focused her eyes on her lips. In a fluid move she painted them red, like the night before. Desperately trying to keep her hand from moving. She didn't want to show Andy how nervous she was. He'd be even more protective over her. That was not going to work. She had to stop worrying. She was a police officer, she should be able to handle this. Andy's fears tend to rub off on her.

Her hands fluffed her hair. It would have to do. She opted for the same dress as the evening before. She didn't want Mario to believe, she had enough money to buy several of these. She could always buy a couple more when he took the bait.

Andy hastily sat down as Sharon came out of the bed room. He didn't want to start of awkward by gaping at her from the moment she walked through the door.

"What do you think?"

Andy closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, before he turned around to face her. He tried desperately not to stare at her. She looked gorgeous.

"Will it do? Hm?"

She was so natural with him. That made it so much harder. At this point he was pretty sure that she saw him just as a friend. There weren't any romantic feelings from her side. She behaved more like a sister to him. She didn't care she walked into his kitchen wearing his t-shirt, socks and tousled hair, fresh awake. And he loved her for that no nonsense attitude. The guys at the station mainly saw her as a spoiled little rich girl, but she was nothing like it.

"He'll look at you alright."

"Andy, come on, serious, do I look the part?"

She could never look like a hooker, no matter what she wore. Her body language too classy.

"You don't look like a typical call girl…"

Her eyes showed distress.

"But you never would. Hon, you're just classy. That's what makes us such an odd couple."

"Andy stop joking, this is not funny. He's supposed to pick me as his next girl."

"And he will. Stop stressing. He'll pick you out, because there won't be a man in that hotel bar, who would not want to spend an evening with you. That Mario guy will know they'll be willing to pay big bucks to be with you."

A deep sigh escaped Sharon's mouth as she plumped down on the couch, not far from Andy. If only she could share Andy's faith in her.

"Stop stressing."

Andy looked at her, his hand gently squeezing her thigh.

"You're going to do just fine. You did last night as well. Don't worry."

Andy wished he saw a little more faith in her eyes.

"I'll have your back tonight."

A small smile curled on her lips. It was reassuring to know Andy would be nearby. She wouldn't have to worry. She wasn't alone in this assignment anymore. She didn't trust Sanders, but she did trust Andy. She trust him with her life. Though she hoped it wouldn't come that far this time. She should be able to avoid putting herself in danger.

Sharon was still nervous, worried, that troubled him. it wasn't anything like her. She'd gone into this so confident. If she worried about something, there was reason to. He'd have to observe this Mario tonight. See what about him had made her this nervous.

Maybe it had only been the circumstances of Dixon not being there. Having no back up must have made her feel on edge. He wished he'd hit Dixon harder, broke his nose or something. Itiot.

Sanders wasn't much improvement either. How those guys managed to complete the Police Academy and even make it to Detectives was a complete mystery to him. If he would mess up as well he wouldn't care about what Hamilton wanted. He'd partner back up with Sharon. She was his partner after all. Hamilton wanted him to partner up with Sharon when he hadn't wanted a partner at all. He would not let him take her away from him now. Was he the only one who saw Dixon and Sanders simply dislikes Sharon? They'd rather see her go. What was the point of keeping her safe to them?

"I want to catch this guy, Andy."

He squeezed her thigh.

"You will."

Andy stared at her.

"You are the right person for the job. You know that, don't you?"

He was afraid his reaction contributed to the doubt she had in herself. The last thing he'd want was for her to doubt herself it would make her doubt her instincts. That moment of hesitance could make the difference between life or death.

"You were right and I was wrong. I could not think straight. I could only think about the possible danger you could be in."

"Andy we're cops. We're in possible dangers day in day out."

"I know…"

He forced a smile. It was fine to keep his feelings separate when she was just his partner to him, the nuisance he got stuck with. She was so much more now though. He had experienced the fear of losing her. The emptiness the thought left him. He couldn't imagine his life without her anymore.

"Hey…"

Sharon's hand covered his. Her thumb stroking the back of his hand. The smile on her lips softened him up.

"What's on your mind? Hm? Spill it."

He had to be so careful with his feelings. He didn't want to push her into anything.

"You promised me you'd talk to me."

Her eyes were burning at him. There was no escaping her, or the feelings he had for her.

"I don't want to lose you."

"Andy."

She squeezed his hand tight.

"I'm not going anywhere…."

Danger sought her out though. That serial killer, the bullet she took for him, Landry. It always lurked right around the corner. His thumb rubbed her fingers in a lousy attempt to soothe himself. The clock dinging crudely interrupted the moment. It was time. They'd have to go. If only this could be over. But who was he kidding there? This would never be over. There would always be new cases, new dangers. He would have to find a way to deal with this fear, before he would suffocate them both.