JUST THE TWO OF US
Chapter 5 (4)
by Stands With a Fic – Camima
Thanks for all your reviews and PMs. Please review as much as you can, your criticism is also very welcome, it helps me to see my limits and to be more aware of my work. I wish to express my overwhelming gratitude to my Beta Cmemlovr, thanks for your patience and support.
Sharon felt her heart sink. She swallowed hard and blinked repeatedly, her lips parted, mind blank. Andy looked at her, expecting at least a questioning glance. Apart from blinking, however, Sharon was paralyzed. "Listen Sharon, I know this is neither the right time nor the right place to talk about it," Andy said slowly. Sharon swallowed then licked her lips quickly, still bewildered, "and I don't even know if you even want to talk about it at all." Andy continued, his voice low and rough, a gloomy look in his eyes. He paused, but she remained silent, so he finished by saying, "talk to me, Sharon."
Sharon pressed her lips together, nodding her head twice. She then took a deep breath and said, "Andy," her voice shaking. She cleared her throat, "It is not my intention to push you into talking or changing your mind," she said, her voice She swallowed hard and lifted her eyes to the ceiling before continuing, "nevertheless, I would appreciate it if you could tell me why you feel we can no longer be friends," she paused for a moment then added, looking at him "Andy, I need to know, is it because of something I said or did?" she looked him dead in the eye.
"Oh, Sharon, no, no - it's not you, it's me. I just don't deserve you - your friendship." She jolted and grimaced but ignored the pain in her back, clasping her hands together and placing them on her lap.
"So…it's something you did or said?" Andy looked into her eyes, his own wide open, longing for her to understand as he nodded his head. She pressed her lips together, "and you don't want to tell me what it is." she muttered.
"Sharon -" he said, his fingers rubbing his forehead.
"No, Andy." she said, her voice slightly raised but steady, shaking her head repeatedly while talking. He looked at her taken aback and she continued, "what you are saying is that since you did or said something... not quite right to me - which, of course, you don't want to tell me, I simply have to accept the loss of your friendship!" she looked straight into his eyes with a frown, then closed her eyes, took a long breath and returned to look at Andy's puzzled face. "Andy," she said softly, her voice laden with care for him, "Please tell me what's wrong, and please let me decide whether what you did or said is actually wrong and if so, whether to doubt your friendship." As she spoke Andy's stare transitioned from bitter to moved. Her words ringing in his mind, he realized how unique, sensible and sweet she really was. "Before losing you," her voice broke, so she cleared her throat before pursuing her current thought, "I must be sure the loss is worth the feelings of regret and absence that will undoubtedly be much worse," she said tenderly. Andy looked at her fondly, reaching for her hand and kissing it, eyes closed and lips lingering on her hand.
"Alright," he said his rough voice fraught with emotion.
"What about testing your friendship through dinner?' she asked, her voice sounding a little teasing, a smile spreading on her lips.
Since her back was recovering quickly thanks to painkillers and a massage from Ricky that morning, Sharon offered to drive Andy home and cook him dinner. His backache was not that serious but he accepted to appease her. He loved to please her in any way that he could. On their way to his apartment, their conversation diverted to Sharon's cooking abilities – a skill she would readily admit was not one of her most outstanding. She could easily prepare her children's favorite dishes and a quantity of salads, but brand-new recipes always took a lot of time and energy. Andy smiled at the thought of her planning cooking operations, arranging tools and examining the text of a recipe. Captain Sharon Raydor - so competent and effective in her job - resolved to accomplish her cooking tasks. He was glad she was telling him something about her rather than having to learn it through close observation (as he had done plenty of other little facts).
Andy opened the entrance door and stretched out his arm to the far wall, flipping on the lights. He tilted his chin his lips curved, his hands now showing Sharon the way and inviting her to enter, "Ladies first," he smirked. Sharon entered his apartment, feeling a little awkward and weird. Finding her breathtaking and entirely tender, Andy started behind her as she walked in tentatively. She was not home, nor out with him, but right in his apartment and that was the first time they were together in his apartment to spend the evening together.
There had been Nicole's wedding, she had been sitting beside him on the bench reserved for the parents of the bride, but she had felt at ease. After all, Andy had been happily grinning at her the whole time, proud to have her admired for her beauty, class and kindness, but also exceedingly irritated to have her checked out by almost every man between thirty and eighty invited to the wedding. They had danced together - even a couple of slow dances - and she had felt right in his arms, their bodies and faces so close for the first time in years. He had placed his hand on the small of her back, holding her gently, then firmly, his thumb rubbing her body all the while - but it still felt safe. The night of the Nutcracker they had had a lovely dinner together and had talked about Andy's relationship with Nicole, with him occasionally slipping into stories about his childhood. Even if she had known there was something going on that night, something he had preferred not to tell her, she had enjoyed his company regardless and they had laughed heartily. She had noticed him looking at her fondly and also more than slightly-flirtatiously, but it was Andy and she had felt safe and grateful to him for the wonderful and amusing evening. After driving her home, he had opened the car door for her, offering his hand to help her get out of his car. It was then that she noticed his eyes lingering on her legs before looking away hastily. Her dress was form-fitting and up to her knees, leaving them and part of her thighs above them uncovered. Classily, she had whirled on her bottom and put her legs out first in order to exit his car. She had gotten out and stood up, yet he still hadn't moved - he hadn't even pulled back, their bodies and faces now closer than when they had danced. His eyes piercing hers, she had looked away blushing, and he had grinned with awareness. Escorting her into the elevator, he held his hand on the small of her back, leaning his own on the wall beside the buttons and looking at her all the while. A smile escaped her, her eyes already turned away from his. They had walked down the corridor in silence. He didn't need to talk to her, he merely needed to memorize every infinitesimal detail of her hair and face in him mind. She too felt as though they didn't need to talk, feeling appreciative towards him for such a great night and soaking in the content sensation that came with the easiness and intimacy of their relationship. An intimacy that allows two people to remain comfortably silent without the need for conversation. They were at her apartment, on the threshold of the open entrance door, neither of them willing to leave the other. She had smiled at him before pressing her lips together and biting her lower lip with a raised eyebrow. She wasn't aware. He wasn't either, yet.
"Well," Andy had said in a low intense voice, while leaning a hand onto the wall and over her, "thank you, Sharon," he grinned, nodding his head once as he said her name, his eyes interlocked with hers, "for the great night, it was lovely and entertaining - even if it wasn't a date."
He arched his eyebrows, his free hand palm up and his arm drifting outwards.
She giggled and nodded her head "Yes it was," she interrupted, her voice sultry.
"Oh really? So...it was a date?" he had asked, eyes wide open and grinning widely so as to clarify his teasing intentions (admittedly more to himself than to her, at that point), his eyes shining with amusement whilst piercing hers.
"Of course not, Lieutenant," her eyes now wide open to show shock but she couldn't restrain a smile despite pursing her lips, "I'm a married woman," she had continued, her eyes normal size again, eyebrows raising, head shaking.
Andy pursed his lips and nodded, "what I meant is, yes it was a lovely and funny night."
Andy had nodded his head smiling, "So, what are you doing now, Captain? Going to bed?"
Sharon was instantly taken aback, having expected to hear him bid her goodnight instead. However, she could not deny that she felt somewhat pleased that he was subtly attempting to delay his departure. He had smiled a surprised and lingering smile at her reaction.
"Well actually, I would like a cup of tea," she had paused "would you?" Her voice was soft and sultry.
"Sure!" He had smiled brightly, and soon they were talking and sipping tea on her balcony. Sat on the floor (barefoot) their shoulders touched comfortably, whilst his jacket, tie and belt lay discarded on the back of a chair, and her bracelet, necklace and earrings sat on the floor beside her. They had remained there, their voices low - almost a whisper – so as not to wake Rusty, Sharon muffling her giggles throughout his stories of a much younger Andy. She hadn't told him much of herself, but he respected that, she being more of a listener generally. This suited him just fine, as he loved to hear her muffled giggles, pleased to be the cause of them.
Sharon put her bag on Andy's couch, walking slowly and looking around. She saw Andy grinning at her, and reaching for her trench, she let it slide down her shoulders as he was behind her helping her to take it off. She took off her blazer too. She then turned, went behind him and helped him to take off his jacket and blazer.
"Thank you," Andy said, grimacing.
Sharon smiled at him and instructed him to make himself comfortable. As he sat at the couch, she hung up their jackets and blazers before pointing towards the couch and asking, "Are there other cushions?" her hands on her waist.
Andy smiled - she had just entered his apartment for the first time and she was already giving orders and organizing his space, "I only have pillows."
"Perfect, where can I find them?"
Andy looked at her, raising his eyebrows then frowning, "Well, in my bedroom?"
She rolled her eyes, but smiled "Really? Where is your bedroom?" she asked, her hands still on her waist, leaning on one hip with a leg outstretched, her lips pursed.
"I'll show you," Andy said, loosening his tie and removing it, grinning in that sideways manner that Sharon loved so much. Sharon followed him, her arms folded. As they entered his bedroom, she pursed her lips at the thought they were alone in his bedroom. Pulling the comforter down and fetching two pillows, she stopped and turned to Andy, who was watching her and shaking his head.
"What?" she asked, smiling mildly, her eyes questioning. "Oh, do you prefer the bed?" she asked with sudden realization.
"Oh, always!" he grinned, eyes teasing. She let out a breath and shook her head. "Sharon," she nodded her head once wrapping her arms around his pillows, "You wanna know, right?" she nodded again her eyebrows furrowing, knowing he meant to tell her what he had done that was so terrible to spoil their friendship.
"If you want to tell me, Andy, I want to know. If you really think you can't be my friend anymore, I wish and need to know why." she remained there beside the bed, her eyes piercing and fists clenching his pillows. He walked over her, took one of her hands, uncoiling her arms from around the pillows and threw them onto his bed. Then took her hand and went to sit on the edge side of his bed, pulling her slightly to have her sat beside him. Andy found easier to talk to her like this, feeling her beside him, but not having to look at her face while telling her all he had done and felt.
"So… I lied to you, spied on you and was mad with you and at the thought that you could see your husband or another man. I felt happy when I realized you're not dating anyone." Andy was furling and unfurling his hands, pacing a dent in the floor, his voice rough and bitter, speaking as though he were recounting a crime. He felt guilty, and wholeheartedly believed that he deserved that sentence. Placing his hands together, he turned silently to look at Sharon. Sharon looked at him from over the rim of her glasses; her chin tilted downwards, eyes narrowed, and fingers intertwined.
"Thank you, Andy," she whispered. Andy looked at her bewildered, shaking his head, "I really appreciate that you told me." Andy took a deep breath as to say something but just couldn't speak. He understood and knew why she was thanking him, but also knew that she meant more. She meant to tell him that he hadn't done anything so terrible and that she appreciated his honesty. He felt that in doing this he had reinforced their friendship. Looking into her eyes piercingly, he noticed that her eye were shining, a warm smile on her lips. She reached for his hand and grabbed it, squeezing it gently. Then she pulled it away to put it on his back rubbing it in circle.
"Sharon," he said, noticing the appearance of concern in her gaze, "I'm sorry." She nodded her head repeatedly, knowing how sorry he was. "How can I be your friend when I behaved like this? And I can't even promise you that it won't happen again." She shook her head, taking a deep breath before rolling her eyes back to meet his.
She sat closer to him he felt the sides of their thighs grazing, "How about being honest to me, and supporting me when I need you?" Andy smiled with fondness and a hint of bitterness in his eyes, for the most part, he had been true to her and he had supported her, and he understood that she was only asking him to continue doing so. "I really care for you, and I trust you, regardless," she said, her voice almost breaking. Andy put an arm around her, clasping her arm and pulling Sharon into him, one hand on his chest the other in her lap, her head against his pectoral and shoulder. Gently, he pressed his lips into her forehead, resting his own against hers. Sharon felt safe and right again knowing he loved her and that his hug and kiss came from his sincere affection. She knew he would never do anything disrespectful of her and of her will. Andy felt his heart overwhelmed by his feelings for her, as he breathed her in and held her to him, wishing only to always be there for her to protect and serve her, promising to never to anything to upset or harm her.
"Hungry?" He asked with a warm voice.
"Not really," she answered, her voice almost inaudible, eyes closed. They didn't move and remained as they were.
"You?" She asked
"Not really," he replied. She sensed him grinning against her forehead and soaked up the moment. He sensed her smiling back, her cheek quirking upwards against his pectoral.
Andy awoke with a sense of easiness and delight that he had never felt before, ensconced in warmth, wrapping around warmth. He blinked a few times before focusing on the sight of Sharon, sleeping with her lips slightly parted and her face relaxed against his neck. His arm was under her nape and her hair was spread across the pillows behind her. They were lying on their sides, her body cuddled up against his. His other arm was holding her back, his elbow on her waist, forearm upon her spine, his hand resting between her shoulder blades. She was barefoot and her legs had intertwined with his. Andy noticed that the hem of her dress had risen slightly in sleep, and had to quiet his thoughts at the sight of her exposed skin. His heart jolted in his chest, hammering against his ribcage. Barely able to swallow, he finally succeeded in swallowing hard, knowing that they couldn't remain in that position. He knew she would be shocked to wake up and find their bodies intertwined. Not least, he was a flesh-and-blood man with Latin blood, and she was Sharon! He couldn't help having certain physical reaction! Fighting his body, Andy started to pull his arm away from under Sharon's head softly, but paused when she sighed slightly. He then pulled his legs away from hers slowly, but Sharon reacted by clenching his tighter – Shit! He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, putting a hand the knee that had trapped his thigh and pushed it away, clenching his teeth and squinting his eyes. He released his breath when he managed to pull his legs away, letting her other leg lie onto the bed. He lay his back down on the bed now breathing more easily.
"Hold me," she whispered in her sleep, her voice languid. Andy's head tilted to the side, mouth open, and eyes wide. He looked at her sleeping, shaking his head, a grin spread over his lips
"I couldn't ask for more," he whispered his voice rough and almost breaking. He softly and slowly removed her glasses from her nose and put them on the nightstand, then returned to slowly lie down on his side beside her to watch her sleeping. He watched as her chest rose and fell in a wave expanding from her lungs to her belly and back. He lay with his head against his hand and his chest heaved up on his elbow, noting now that his back did not ache as much as it had last night. He caressed her hair, intertwining his wandering fingers with some of the strands. She slightly pursed her lips and shook. Andy unfolded the blanket over the back of his bed and covered her, suppressing the impulse to wrap himself about her. He lay leaning on her this time, his face close to hers and his eyes lingering on her lips and on the little wrinkles around them. Roaming the features of her face, he took note of her cheeks and eyelids, and smiled at the fact that she was almost the same age as him but that he was completely able to forget her age when he looked at her. He was growing and feeling far older. He saw a man growing old in the mirror every morning while shaving and he couldn't believe that it was him. But when he looked at Sharon and thought of her, he didn't notice the same process, her age still not evident from her features. She had the power to conceal age and not only look but be much younger than she was. He caressed her hairline looking at her fondly.
"Sharon, I love you," he whispered.
"mmmh," she smiled softly in her sleep and he gulped. His pupils widened with desire, his lips burning. He couldn't and shouldn't, not when she trusted him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then pulled himself away and sat up on the bed, turning to look at her and releasing his breath. Smiling bitterly at himself and aware he was doing the right thing, he stood up, his back beginning to ache again as he walked over to the door. "I love you too," Sharon let out in a breath. Andy turned to her, jolting, his heart bumping in his chest. She was still asleep but he had clearly heard her mumble, "Jack…"