AN: Thank you so so much for all the wonderful reviews they always warm my heart and mean so much to me! I appreciate it even more, as I know I am terrible in regular updates and you are all still with me. Also a thank you to the guest reviewer, I couldn't send you a reply, but I appreciate everyone who took the time to leave me a few kind words!

A big thank you to glisteningsun for all the beta work. All mistakes left are mine.

rated M.

Chapter nine

Eyes fixed on the small black and white security screen, Andy didn't want to miss anything. His heart beat in his throat, he didn't even take the time to drink the coffee, that turned cold in the cardboard cup in front of him. The security camera gave a clear view of the hotel bar. There wasn't a man in the bar who would not look at Sharon. He could not blame them. She looked so gorgeous. She looked so erotic. It wasn't the dress she wore. It wasn't the make- up, or the way she wore her hair. In retrospect he'd been attracted to her the moment she stood next to his desk. He'd been annoyed by the situation, but the look in her eyes had captivated him in an extraordinary way. It were the little things that made his heart beat faster. It was the look in her eyes. The innocence and vulnerability. The sparkle and the joy. The way her lips curled when she smiled. Her little mannerisms. The way she bit her lower lip, the way her foot would rub the carpet.

Those men looking at her made him nervous. Who knew how many creeps were eyeing her at this moment. This Mario guy wasn't there yet. Maybe he would not come. He almost hoped he wouldn't. He wanted this to be over. The sooner this was over, she'd be safe and out of his apartment.

Sharon traced the foot of her wine glass with her finger. She tried to avoid the eyes that were trained on her. She'd only blush if she would see the men who were staring at her. She desperately tried to pretend it didn't make her feel uncomfortable.

The presence of Sanders just a few feet away not calming at all. She would probably feel a lot more relaxed if Andy was in the room with her instead of somewhere down the hall in a security room. She tried to calm herself down by telling herself Andy would be there in a heartbeat when she'd need him.

Andy's eyes narrowed as he saw the guys hand on her back, his lips near her ear, uncomfortably close. Sharon tensed, although she tried very hard to mask it. The guy probably didn't notice, but he did. It made him anxious to know she was feeling tense. He was too close. Andy bit his lip, his knuckles turning white, restraining himself not to go down there and force the guy to stay away from her.

He focused on the screen. It must be Mario. It was the same man who they'd seen on the security tape arguing with Andrea. This was their prime suspect. He seemed highly interested in Sharon.

Her breath hitched as he laid his hand on her back. A shiver went up her spine. A feeling of dread settling in her stomach, while his breath was warm on her skin. Sharon focused on her breathing, trying to keep her face masked. Forcing her lips to curve.

"You're back. Mmm you smell good."

Sharon tried to ignore him. Playing hard to get was the way to go. She didn't want to seem eager, or he might get suspicious. Slowly she turned her head towards him. Although she was nervous, she locked eyes with him. Playing seductive. She wanted to make him weak in the knees. She wanted him to see what she'd be able to do. She just hoped it would be enough.

That woman managed to put a spell on you. She captured you with her eyes and she wouldn't let you go anymore. She managed to keep all the men in the room hostage with just her presence.

"So are you…"

Her voice was slow, mesmerizing him, watching the movement of her lips.

"I hoped to see you tonight."

He gestured to the bartender for two drinks and sat down on the barstool next to her.

"What is it what brings you here?"

"Excitement."

He smiled as he saw the twinkle in her eyes.

"What is it you do for a living?"

"I study. I'm kind of in between jobs."

"Daddy won't pay your tuition then?"

Sharon's lips formed a tight smile.

"Daddy didn't like my boyfriends of the moment."

Plural. She didn't seem prude.

"So now he cut me off. Had to move to some ratty apartment. I can't even unwind anymore. If it wasn't for nice guys like you I wouldn't even have anything to drink."

She picked up her glass and brought it to her lips, her eyes looking up over the rim, never leaving his. That look made his blood ran faster. It was so promising, although he doubted she'd give him anything more than a sweet whisper in his ear. There was something about her that made alarm bells go off. It spelled danger. Still she was the only woman he'd met so far, who could turn so many men's heads.

"What if I said you could make three hundred bucks a night, just sitting here enjoying a glass of some ridiculous expensive Champaign?"

She finally had him where she wanted him. He bought her act. She should not seem to eager now, he might get suspicious.

"I'm serious."

"I'd say, what's in it for you?"

He smiled, she was not dumb. He wondered what she studied.

"Twenty percent."

That wasn't a lot. How was this supposed to be lucrative for him? it wasn't like he had lots of girls under his wing either, like they had originally thought. More questions. The only way to find the answers was to play along with him.

"Twenty percent for doing what?"

There was a sharp look in her eyes. Now he gave her the idea, she probably believed she could pull this off without him as well.

"To keep the creeps away from you, sweetheart. Some of the men here don't look the part, but usually the bigger the wallet, the sicker their preferences are. I make sure I'll keep them off your back."

She studied him. Probably weighing the deal in her mind.

"Just drinks."

He nodded, that was enough for now. He'd manage to persuade her when time would come for more. He always had.

"We have a deal."

"So how does this work?"

"Men with need know who I am. They come to me."

"You do this for more women?"

"I did before."

"Where's that woman now?"

"Had to start her internship. That put an end to all nighters'."

"I see."

"The men come to me. They pay. You entertain them for a couple of hours and then I'll pay you."

"Okay, but I have the last say."

"The last say in what?"

"Which guy."

"You can trust my judgment call, sweetheart."

"I trust myself. That's the deal, take it or leave it."

She stared him down, but inside she was a nervous wreck. Was it smart to play hardball? Would he call her bluff? What if he wouldn't agree? She'd messed things up then. Just when her stomach began to turn, he nodded.

"Alright we'll do this your way. You have the final say, as long as they pay enough."

"You determine the pay I'm fine with that."

Andy's fingers tapped on the table. He wished he could hear what was said in that room. Sharon looked less nervous. It seemed like she came to some form of agreement with the guy. He walked away from the bar and sat down at a table in the far end of the room. The dimly lit corner hid him from the surrounding people.

Why wasn't Sanders moving? He should be Sharon's customer, that was the main reason why he was in the bar with her.

He clenched his fists, as he saw another guy already walking towards Mario's table. Damn. He knew Sharon. She would suck it up, spend the evening with God knows what creep. You could leave it to Sanders to fuck things up.

Andy wanted nothing more than go down there, sit right next to her to protect her. Hamilton shouldn't have separated them. If anything would happen to her….

Sharon looked over the rim of her glass at Sanders. Hoping she wasn't too obvious. Was he stupid? Why wasn't he getting the idea? This was the deal. He was supposed to be her customer and he better be the first one interested. She turned her head to the side, quirking her eyebrow.

Finally he got up from his bar stool .She tried to concentrate on her glass, waiting for him to take the seat next to hers. She tensed as she felt his hand on her back.

"Loosen up."

His voice was stern. They did not like her, she knew that, but couldn't they put their dislike for her aside for one moment?

"You'll need to go to Mario first. If you don't want to be hauled away from here in the next few minutes."

Sanders bend into her, to whisper in her ear.

"He must have been really desperate to chose a stuck up bitch like you."

Sharon smiled tight, biting the inside of her cheek as he walked away. This was not going to be a walk in the park. She should just be professional, if Sanders wasn't, she should be.

Andy breathed in and out, slowly. He had a clear view of Sharon's face. He knew that tight smile of hers. Whatever Sanders whispered in her ear, hurt her. He better not make this uneasy for her. This was difficult enough for her as it was. Didn't he understand that? It was about time they'd begin to treat her as one of them. She was part of their team and they were all on the same side.

He frowned as Sharon looked over her shoulder into Mario's direction. There was a small nod. She must have the final say. A smile curved his lips. Very smart. They all underestimated her.

He watched Sanders sit down next to Sharon. She forced a smile. He could tell what it took from her to keep up this friendly mask. It should be him sitting on that bar stool. At least she would be a lot more comfortable then.

Sharon tried her best to smile and seem relaxed.

"Unbelievable that guy had me pay four hundred bucks for you... who in their right mind would pay that amount. "

"You did, didn't you?"

Sanders narrowed his eyes.

"Hamilton better pay me back. At least you won't have to be afraid some stranger will come onto you."

Sharon swallowed. At this moment she probably preferred a complete stranger.

"You better keep smiling you're supposed to sit here all evening."

"You don't have to tell me how to do my job, doll."

Her eyes steeled over. She felt like slapping him in the face. Instead she had to smile polite and take a few deep breaths. Sanders gestured the bartender for a drink.

"You shouldn't be drinking."

He cocked his eyebrow, looking at the wine glass in front of her.

"It's water."

"I'm the superior. Besides I need a stiff drink if I want to get through this evening."

Sharon looked the other way, she could not stop him from drinking. She could not order him. In his eyes she was still the rookie that did not belong in Homicide in the first place.

She'd been right. He shouldn't have started drinking. He was annoying sober, but intolerable drunk. He began moving closer to her. Looking at her in a certain way, that she could only feel uncomfortable with. She now wished she ordered a wine instead of water.

She looked at the clock, willing the time forward. When would it be okay for Sanders to call it a night? She wanted this to be over. Only it wouldn't be over after tonight. They had no idea how long it would take. She'd be stuck with Sanders the next evening and the next, for as long as it would take for them to get the evidence they needed. They weren't anywhere near getting evidence yet.

She was disrupted from the thoughts in her mind when she felt a warm hand glide between her thighs. Her body tensed. Did Sanders really found the liberty to slide his hand underneath her dress?

"What are you doing?"

She spoke between her teeth, doing her best to smile so no one would notice.

"This should look real. Loosen up."

He smiled and squeezed her thigh.

"Now I'm going to speak slowly so you will understand. Get. Your. Hand. Away. From. There."

Although she smiled her eyes were cold as steel.

"Relax. We need to make this look more real."

"I can make this more real for you. I can call Mario over and tell him you're pawing me, so he can show you what part he has in all this. Go to the restroom and sober up a bit before you return."

It sounded as a damn order. He still followed it. He knew her by now. She would do what she threatened him with. Even if it would risk their assignment, she meant her turning to him. So he got up from the bar stool and walked away.

Andy saw the scene play out in front of him. Sanders uncomfortably close to Sharon. His hand at a place where it had no business to be. He could tell by Sharon's face that she was uncomfortable.

He hurried down the stairs, to the men's' restroom. In just a few steps he was at Sanders side grabbing his arm, so he could push him against the wall. A deep frown between his eyes.

"What the hell were you doing? You're supposed to be there for her support. Not to make her uncomfortable."

"It should look real, right? But she's frigid."

"You keep your hands to yourself."

"Afraid I'll touch what's yours?"

A red haze formed in front of his eyes. He was done with Sanders. He raised his fist.

"You want to give me a black eye? Elliot is alone in there right now."

The fear of anything happening to Sharon, brought him back to his senses.

"Don't touch her again. I mean it. Now you get back in there and in a small hour you will leave, so you two can call it a night."

Andy released Sanders from his grip.

MCMCMCMCMCMCMMCMCMCMMCMCMCMMCMCMMCMCMCMMCMCMC

Andy followed the cab Sharon was in from a distance. She probably had been right the other night. Mario was following her now as well. The purpose could either be control or protection. Neither made him feel comfortable.

He watched Sharon walk to the apartment building. Earlier he gave her the spare key, so she'd have not trouble entering the building. Inside she'd be safe. So he waited outside, see what Mario would do. Would he camp out there in front of the building or would he leave for home himself?

Andy wished he'd leave so he could go up himself. See how Sharon was doing. Sanders had been the usual ass. He felt the need to check if she was okay.

Sharon did not turn on the lights in case this guy was watching the apartment building. She kicked off her shoes. All she wanted now was get out of that dress, wipe the make-up from her face and cuddle up in something comfortable.

Take a shower, wash away the smells from the bar, the alcohol, the tobacco, Sanders disgusting aftershave that still filled her nose. While pulling the zipper down she walked to the shower.

Mario drove away after a few minutes, so it was safe for him to go up. He heard the water run as he entered the apartment. Sharon was underneath the shower. He could not blame her. It had been a long day. He wished they would already know when this assignment would be ending. For now they still had no evidence whatsoever, just their suspicions.

He looked over his shoulder as the bathroom door opened. Sharon only wore his t-shirt, scrunching her wet hair with the towel.

"You're in already…"

"Mario drove off after a couple of minutes."

"So he followed me here…"

Sharon pursed her lips, thinking.

"You know I wonder what's in it for him. He only gets twenty percent."

Andy followed her gaze to his coffee table. The dollar bills on top of it.

"Three twenty for me, eighty for him. How's he supposed to live from eighty dollars."

"A night."

"Even then. It makes no sense. If he had more girls, yes, but how is this lucrative to him? There has to be more."

"We'll find it out."

Sharon nodded, her mind far, far away, he could tell. He studied her, wondering whether he should ask her about tonight, or just leave her alone. Sharon didn't open up easy. Normally they didn't share a home together. She would have her spare time, away from him, their job. She would be used to deal with this in the peace and quiet of her own home. Now she didn't have that. Should he also bug her with questions, that might make her uncomfortable.

His instincts spoke. His heart ruling over his brain. His hand reaching out for her lightly touching her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm-mm."

He knew that hum by now. She wanted to make him believe she was okay, but she wasn't. Something was bothering her. She chose not to talk about it though. He could not pressure her into it either. It was no use to begin with.

"I'm kind of tired would you mind if I'd go to bed?"

Andy shook his head. Sad as she wouldn't open up to him. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know how and that somehow made him feel so helpless.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Andy stared at her while she walked towards his bed room. There were days like today when he believed he did not know her at all.