"Yeah, no, I mean - " Brenda laughed, setting down her wine. "The DA's office isn't my ideal job… it's definitely difficult to adjust to not being on the job anymore but it's good. Andrea and I are getting to be good friends. I haven't had a woman friend since college."

Sharon snorted, "what do you call me?"

"You don't count. We weren't friends before we started sleeping together. She's the first woman friend since college that I didn't want to sleep with."

"Okay, fair enough." Sharon took a bite of her penne all'arrabbiata. "We should have her over for dinner some time; I like her too."

"Should we invite Lieutenant Provenza too?" Brenda teased.

Sharon scoffed. "Not a chance in hell. Maybe Andy though."

"Oh, you're friendly with Andy?"

"Yeah, he started out more helpful than the rest and he's been supportive. They've all been really good to Rusty too."

"Speaking of… how are you doing?" Brenda asked carefully.

Sharon sighed, "I'm keeping myself busy and distracted. I know I'm biased but I don't really like Daniel. He just rubs me the wrong way."

Brenda put a great deal of stock in first impressions. Between them, Sharon and Brenda had almost 60 years of experience and she knew that if Sharon didn't like him – bias or not – there was something rotten in the state of Denmark. Brenda took a sip of her wine as way of holding her tongue.

"So what should we do for the rest of the night?"

"I'm very glad you asked that." Sharon grinned, "I thought we could open a bottle of wine…"

"Mhmm…"

"And watch Sixteen Candles…"

"Mmm, my favorite…"

"I know." Sharon whispered, leaning closer, lips almost brushing Brenda's. "And also a surprise."

"I hate surprises; tell me now." Brenda murmured.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I got you…" Sharon said slowly. "A box of…"

"Just tell me!" Brenda giggled.

"Hostess snack cakes."

Brenda let out an embarrassingly high squeal of excitement. Sharon laughed when several restaurant patrons turned to look at her. Brenda blushed and asked – considerably more softly – "where did you get them?"

"I know a guy who knows a guy."

Once through the door Brenda headed immediately for the kitchen, "I'll get the wine, you get the movie!"

Sharon stripped out of her blazer, hanging it up in the closet, kicking her shoes into its depths. When she rounded the corner into the living room she immediately noticed Rusty's bag. He never left the house without that bag so he must have returned…

"Rusty?" Sharon called, "Rusty are you home?"

"Rusty's here?" Brenda came in from the kitchen. "Is everything okay?"

Sharon heard movement on the other side of Rusty's door. "Rusty? What happened?"

"Can we talk about it in the morning?" Came the muffled reply.

"Is everything alright?" Sharon put her hand against the door. "Do I owe Daniel a call?"

"Wait, wait, wait. I'm coming. Just don't freak out, okay?"

"No promises."

Rusty opened the door slowly. Sharon couldn't help but gasp and Rusty winced at her reaction. He hadn't wanted to worry her or cause her any problems – but that's what he was, he was a problem.

"Oh my god!" She covered her mouth with her hand.

"Don't worry, I didn't hit him back." Rusty assured, "I just ran and used the $100 you gave me to get a cab."

"Oh my god…" Sharon repeated, unable to articulate further. Finally she managed, "what did he do to you? Come over here and sit in the light."

"Rusty!" Brenda stopped in her tracks as Sharon guided him to the couch and turned on the lamp.

"What happened?"

"Annie, his obnoxious fiancee, was asking me all these, like, really personal questions about, like, how I'd gotten along without my mother and I thought why not just get the whole gay hustling thing out there. And then when I did that Annie kind of freaked out and Daniel took me outside to talk and then he accused me of trying to ruin his wedding and then I told him that I could care less about his stupid wedding..." Rusty stopped for a moment and then continued slowly, "and he hit me..."

Sharon pressed a cold compress to the bruise on his temple and he winced. "Why didn't you call me?"

"Because, Sharon, I knew you'd be upset and I wanted to think things through" Rusty sighed as Sharon started to root around in the first aid kit for antibiotic ointment. Rusty gently pushed away the ice pack, "we're past the ice stage on my face."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I'm sure. My, uh, my mother's boyfriend used to do this sort of thing to me like once a week - until I beat the crap outta him and then the next day he and my mom dropped me off at the zoo. Now you know everything."

Sharon's heart ached and, in an attempt to stay calm, dabbed antibiotic ointment on his split lip.

"Look, did I do anything I need to apologize for?"

Sharon scoffed, "no." She shook her head vehemently. "We are past the apology stage of our relationship with Mr. Dunn and we have moved on to the 'please don't let me drive over his house and shoot him in the head phase'"

Rusty smiled sadly, "On the bright side I guess I don't have to go back to Daniel's house now, huh?"

Brenda sat down on the couch on Rusty's other side. She nudged his arm gently and when he turned she held out one of the Ding Dongs from the box Sharon had bought her. Sharon felt overcome by love for Brenda and for their family. Brenda had given Rusty one of the few remaining Ding Dongs on earth.

"Thanks." Rusty accepted the snack cake and unwrapped it.

Sharon wiped the tears out of her eyes with the back of her hand.