AN: I know it has been a while but my holiday ended up a lot more hectic than I had believed it would be, like always. I'm still happily surprised when I see a new story follow or a review. So thank you all so much, also the guest reviewers.

Why an update today? It's my mom's birthday, being in a festive mood I believed I should also celebrate it with an update :) I hope you enjoy!

A big thank you to glisteningsun for all her hard work doing the beta on this story. All mistakes left are mine.

Rated M

Chapter eleven.

The last two weeks Sanders and finally Zygerski and Cohen had been taking rounds playing her customer. All underneath Andy's watchful eye. Sanders managed to restrain himself, only complaining about the price going up every day. As if he had to pay for it with his own money.

Andy wouldn't leave her out of his sight, not for one single second. His eyes were trained on her from the other side of the bar the minute she sat down.

She could only imagine how hard it must be for him to be in a bar surrounded by alcohol, temptation, every evening. All because he wanted her to be safe. She was so incredibly proud of him. He didn't show the slightest discomfort.

For over a month they were already living together. Getting used to one another, even more than they already were. Sometimes a look was enough for them to understand each other.

It became harder every day to see her simply as his friend and partner. They were too damn close. The fact that she didn't mind walking around him in almost nothing, didn't make it any easier either.

"What?"

She smiled at him looking over her shoulder, taking a pause from cutting up the vegetables. It became harder every time to talk himself out of the situation, when she caught him staring at her. How long before she'd notice there was more to his stares? How much longer before he would mess up their friendship?

"Hm?"

"What's on your mind? The case?"

"Mario's raising the price by day."

"I know."

"Still you're making far more than he is."

"Hm-mm.. I wonder when he'll start pressuring me to do more than drinks."

If that would be the case, they would have a problem. There was no way one of them could go up and pretend to have sex with her.

"Here let me help you with that."

Andy stood right behind her, his hand covered hers, to guide her in the cutting. She loved to feel his warmth, because it always made her feel so protected.

" You're really improving my cooking skills. Momma and daddy won't believe I've cooked all of this."

Andy smiled at the twinkle in her eyes. She looked proud.

"Thank you. It was very nice of you to invite my parents over."

"Well as long as you can't visit them…"

He wasn't thrilled to invite her parents into his humble surroundings. The doctor and his wife weren't used to crappy apartments like this. Normally he wouldn't care, but in the back of his mind he still thought about a chance of having a life with Sharon. Her parents wouldn't really see him as a catch, when they'd see where he lived. He knew Sharon, she wouldn't care about their opinion in this matter, not when it concerned his living conditions. She wasn't materialistic, although she grew up in a huge home, never having to worry about money. She looked as comfortable here, as in her own luxurious apartment. Not once she looked at this crappy old leather couch, she just sat down on it and pulled her legs up underneath herself.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh, that must be them."

She smiled huge and her eyes lit up. She almost made a small bounce while she turned around from the kitchen to walk to the front door.

Mark looked at Diane.

"Are you sure it's here?"

"The name tag says Flynn, doesn't it? Besides Sharon gave me this adress."

Mark sighed.

"Be kind."

How could he not when his wife gave him that look? A look Sharon seemed to have inherited from her. He wasn't looking forward to the scrutinizing looks from both his wife and daughter, so he would be on his best behavior.

They were met by Sharon's radiant smile. Her cheeks were a bit flushed and they hadn't seen her this joyful in a very long time. She looked beaming.

"Momma, daddy, hi… Come on in…"

"Hello darling." Mark kissed the side of her face, before he stepped aside for Diane.

"Sweetie.. Mmmm what smells so nice?"

"Dinner."

Their daughter smiled huge. Like this she reminded them of the time she was a little girl and had this twinkle in her eyes, when she accomplished something.

"I helped Andy."

"She's understating her part in this. A lot of it was Sharon. She's great with vegetables."

"I could not have done it without Andy's help."

Sharon smiled at him and he was enchanted by it, forgetting their guests for a moment. Mark and Diane stared at the interaction between their daughter and her partner. It was kind of a revelation to see her all smiles. It was Mark who eventually cleared his throat, resulting in a nudge from his wife.

"Momma, daddy, why don't you two sit down and Andy and I will get the food."

Mark and Diane looked at where she gestured, a small dining room table. Mark bend over to Diane, whispering to her.

"Have you been talking to our daughter, lately? Is this the kind of dinner in which she announces she's moved in with Mr. Flynn here, 'cause I'd like to get the heads up then. "

"No. She hasn't been talking to me about anything like that. They live here together, because of this assignment."

"You have just seen them look at one another right?"

"Yes. Our daughter just looked extremely happy. It's been a while. If Andy Flynn is making her happy like this, then I'm grateful to him for that. So be civil, okay?"

Mark looked surprised. What was she accusing him of? He smiled at Sharon, as she put down a big bowl of salad.

"That looks delicious, darling."

Sharon felt Andy's hand on the small of her back, guiding her to her seat. A smile on her lips naturally appeared to thank him.

"What can I get you to drink?..."

Andy was about to say he only had a bottle of wine for Sharon's sake, when Sharon's dad unbeknownst turned it into an uncomfortable situation.

"Some Scotch would be nice."

Sharon looked at Andy. She knew he was uncomfortable over this. For a moment she was tempted to speak for him, but decided against it, when she saw the strain on Andy's face. There was a definite struggle to deal with this himself.

"Sorry I don't have any alcohol in the house. Just one bottle of wine for Sharon's sake."

Andy took a deep breath before he met Mark and Diane's eyes.

"I'm an alcoholic."

He could feel Mark's eyes burn at him. He knew he had just dropped below zero on the scale of suitable candidates for the man's daughter. All this, while he didn't even know how his alcoholism almost cost him his daughters life.

There was an uneasy silence in the room. Sharon looked concerned at Andy. Her fingers instinctively sought out his hand. Gently squeezing it, while she gave him a reassuring smile.

"I've been sober for about eight months now."

Mark clenched his fists underneath the table, as that meant he'd been drinking during the time he worked with Sharon and put her in God knows what danger in the mean time. Blowing up now, or seeming hostile wasn't going to get him anywhere though. The only thing he'd accomplish was make Sharon angry with him. He hadn't missed the gesture of her squeezing his hand in support.

"I'm afraid I drank the last glass before going to bed yesterday."

"That's alright, sweetie. Water is fine."

Sharon was grateful to her mom for getting passed the subject of Andy's alcoholism.

They were making great dinner conversation, until her father brought Jack up. Sharon's spine straightened, a tight smile forming on her lips.

"You have?"

"Yes, at the club. He asked for you."

"Hm."

Diane knew what her daughters minimal response meant. The last person she wanted to talk about was Jack. She didn't quite understand why her husband brought him up anyway. He hadn't really been very understanding towards Jack during the break up.

"He misses you."

"Mark."

Diane gave Mark a look, very similar to the looks Sharon could give him, as a silent reprimand. Andy couldn't help but smile at the similarity.

"They were together for a long time… I mean sometimes all you need is a short break…"

"Jack and I are not going to get back together, daddy. Not now, not in a few months either. I can't be the wife he wants me to be, so that's not really going to work out. And I'm sure he only misses me, because none of the secretaries or interns were available at the moment. "

There was a bitterness in her voice. Andy knew the cold look and the tight smile. She was still hurt. She put her hands on the table and pushed herself up. So she could walk away from the situation. Which meant in this case, walking to the kitchen, as he didn't have a balcony. Andy put his napkin on the table and got up. Going after her to check on her, see if she was okay.

Diane saw Andy's hand on Sharon's back, slowly rubbing it. Whatever it was what truly happened between Sharon and Jack, Andy knew what it was. She looked at her husband.

"Why in Godsname did you bring Jack up?"

She hissed between her teeth, not wanting Sharon to hear their conversation.

Mark looked away.

"Something more than just the things she shared with us happened between Jack and her. Sharon was unhappy while they were still engaged. You supported her decision."

"I just thought maybe she rushed things, I definitely don't want her to rush into something new."

"So that's what this is about. Andy. Oh gosh Mark, she's not your little baby girl anymore. She'll meet a man one day and she will get married and start a family of her own."

"He's an alcoholic and this place is…."

"Stop it. We'll talk about this at home. Now no more talking about Jack and be civil."

Andy rubbed Sharon's back.

"You okay?"

She nodded, but he knew she wasn't .

"Do your parents know about what Jack did? I mean when you caught him with that…"

"No. And it's not important. I had already broken up with him at that point."

"A couple of hours."

"It didn't matter."

"No it doesn't I guess. He's an ass either way."

"Andy."

She gave him a look, so he smiled.

"You know your mom has the same reprimanding look you have."

A smile crept upon her lips.

"Let's head back, finish dessert."

Sharon nodded, pulling herself together. For a moment she looked into Andy's eyes, realizing that he was always there for her when she needed him. Patient, understanding, loving. A warmth spread through her heart. Andy would always have a special place in her heart.

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Diane studied her husband over the rim of her book cover. He stared at the embers inside the fireplace.

"What's on your mind?"

Mark looked up at her indifferent. She knew what was on his mind. A man named Andy Flynn.

"Stop making yourself crazy about something you have no control over whatsoever, Mark."

"Sorry I can't stay relaxed the way you are."

Diane sighed, closing her book, putting it on the salon table in front of her.

"They're friends. "

Mark squinted his eyes.

"Sweetheart, you did look at the two of them together, right?"

She had to admit. There had been times already months ago when she had believed there was more going on between Sharon and Andy than friendship, but as time progressed and no romance blossomed she resigned to the idea that they were nothing more than very close friends.

"Yes, I did see them interact between one another. I have seen them interact on multiple occasions. Yes, they are close. Maybe it's because they are partners."

"If I would be that close to one of my nurses, you would have a serious problem with that, Diane."

"Hm-mm. Your life's safety isn't in the hands of one of your nurses day in day out. I can imagine it's different for Police Officers."

Mark looked away.

"Alright. What if they were more than friends? Would that be so bad?"

Mark's eyes widened.

"Oh come on. You don't like any man who's interested in your little girl."

Diane smiled mocking him.

"You didn't like Jack very much either, when they just started dating."

"Well, you can't really blame me now. This Flynn isn't exactly a catch."

Diane quirked her eyebrow.

"A divorced alcoholic."

"A divorced recovering alcoholic."

"I don't care. Besides you saw how he lived."

"What are you a snob now… Sharon seemed quite comfortable there."

Mark took a deep breath, knowing Diane was right. Despite the fact that Sharon grew up with all her needs provided for as a little girl. Money wasn't important to her at all, neither was status. Family live, that was on top of her list.

"I don't care about his place on the social ladder, Mark. I don't care about his bank account, the place he lives, or his job. When Sharon opened the door before, she had the most radiant smile on her face I've ever seen. She looked truly happy. It's been a long time ago that Jack managed to make her that happy. Their split up had quite an impact on Sharon. I believe she only told us halve of what happened. I don't know if Sharon's in love with Andy. I believe he loves her deeply and what will happen between the two of them only time will be able to tell. What matters is that our daughter will be happy. "

Mark smiled sad. His wife was right about many things. He touched her cheek and gave her a kiss.

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Andy ran his hands through his hair, while Sharon was taking a shower, like she did each night returning from the assignment. He knew she needed to wash away the smell from the bar. At home she didn't want to be reminded of work, of Mario's watchful eyes, trained on her all evening. The eyes of a murderer. He could not blame her.

He poured himself a glass of water, looking at the remnants of dinner that were still in the sink. Sharon had offered to wash the dishes before leaving, but he told her it could wait. The entire evening he spend thinking about that dinner with her parents. Her father definitely did not like him. He could not really blame him either. In twenty something years from now he wouldn't be particularly thrilled if Nicole came home with a guy like him. Introducing him as her boyfriend.

He wasn't even dating Sharon and the man already didn't like him. Another reason why Sharon and he could never be in a relationship.

Sharon studied Andy, he was hovering over the sink, his mind far far away. A worried frown appeared between her eyes, as she walked towards him. She put her hands on his shoulders, gently kneading them. Feeling how tense he was she stood closer to him, her cheek almost touching his shoulder blades. She didn't have to ask him what was wrong, or what was on his mind, she knew what was bothering him.

"I'm sorry."

Andy held his breath, as he felt her hands on his shoulders, so close, he could feel her body heat. For a moment he believed it was one of his daydreams, until he heard her voice.

"I'm sorry daddy made you feel uncomfortable."

He shrugged, moving away from her hold, as no matter how good it felt, it also made him feel uncomfortable.

"The only way to recover from being an alcoholic is to admit you have a problem, not only to yourself, but also to others. I can understand your dad wasn't exactly thrilled to learn about my problem. I'm supposed to have your back, keep you safe."

"Andy you do. I feel perfectly safe with you. You admitted you had a problem and did something about it. I'm very proud of you."

He couldn't have done it without her. Almost losing her had been a serious wake up call. The promise he made to Sharon that night would never be broken again.