Andy's phone rested on his desk, the screen lit up with the latest message from Sharon. She had a class to teach and he had a case to help solve, but he only wanted to see her again. Half a dozen dinners and hours spent together only made him want to see her more and he hoped this case would be over in time so he could drive over and bring her lunch. A glance at Provenza's frustrated face told him otherwise.

"Where the hell is your mind at, Flynn?" Provenza grumbled as he dropped a stack of files on Andy's desk, covering his phone. "Chief wants us to interview the victim's brother when he gets here."

"Yeah, yeah," Andy grumbled in response, pushing the papers to the other side of his desk so he could grab his phone and realize Sharon was still teaching.

He stood up and forced himself to concentrate as he followed his partner into Electronics. He was somehow able to stay focused throughout the interview and was all too eager to arrest the dirtbag and return to his desk.

"Uh, Lieutenant?" Andy looked up to see Buzz lingering near his desk and he raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Your phone has been ringing nonstop since you went into the interview," Buzz answered, gesturing to Andy's phone as it started ringing once more.

"Thanks," he murmured as he grabbed his phone. He saw Sharon was calling and his brow furrowed as he hurried out into the hallway. "Hello?"

Andy? This is Andy, right?" He was surprised to hear Rusty's voice instead of Sharon and it only caused his concern to grow.

"It's me, kid. What's wrong?" he asked immediately.

"I don't… I'm not sure. I just know Sharon's hurt and I'm meeting her at the hospital," Rusty explained quickly and Andy could hear the fear in his voice.

"Shit. Shit, okay. Which hospital? I'll meet you both there." As he spoke, he returned to his desk and gathered his things, ignoring Provenza's curious glances.

He slipped his phone into his pocket once he hung up with Rusty and pulled his jacket on. "I gotta go," he quickly told his partner. "Sharon's hurt and on her way to the hospital."

"Your girlfriend, Sharon?"

"She's not my girlfriend," Andy retorted, shooting Provenza a look. "I'll be back later." He hurried down to the car, trying to quash his increasing worry as he drove to the hospital.

He found Sharon's room in the emergency room easily and knocked on the door. The curtain moved aside and then Rusty slid the door open to allow Andy inside. He stepped in and smiled reassuringly at Sharon who was settled in the bed.

"Hey, kid," Andy told Rusty before approaching Sharon's bed. "What happened, Sharon?"

She wrinkled her nose and shot a look at her son. "You called Andy?"

"I was just worried about you, Mom. And I knew Andy would want to know." Rusty shifted his weight and crossed his arms. "I'm gonna grab something to drink, want anything?"

Both Sharon and Andy shook their heads and Rusty nodded before leaving the room, the door and curtain shutting behind him. Sharon sighed and shifted in her bed with a wince. "We're waiting for the x-rays to come back."

"For what? What happened?" he repeated, taking a seat beside her bed and taking her hand in his.

"I demonstrated a move for my students and I landed wrong," she answered, rubbing her free hand over her face. "It's just a broken ankle and I don't know why Rusty called you."

"Because he didn't know what was wrong and he was worried," he answered softly, gently squeezing his hand. "I was worried too."

"Oh, don't worry about me. It's just a broken ankle. The worst part will be staying off it for work," she muttered, her eyes sliding closed. He could tell she was in a lot of pain.

"You're injured, Sharon!" He leaned forward to look at her. "And I am going to worry about you because I care about you. The same for Rusty."

She shook her head and sighed, opening her eyes to look at him. "I'm okay."

"I'm sure you are, but you're still injured." He squeezed her hand and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.

He stayed by her side while the doctor went over her x-rays and then put the cast on her right leg and foot. When she was cleared to go home, he helped her up and onto the crutches, gathering her things while Rusty got the door.

"Are you okay driving her home?" Andy asked Rusty, walking close by Sharon's side in case she needed help.

"I think we'll be fine," Rusty answered, glancing at Sharon.

"Okay. I'll grab your prescription and meet you at your place, if you want." He smiled at Sharon and kissed her cheek.

"You don't have to do any of that, Andy. I'm just going to go home and rest, honestly." She smiled a little at the kiss and slowly followed them out to Rusty's car.

"I want to do it. Besides, Rusty has class this afternoon and we wrapped up our case before I came down," he explained, matching her smile.

"You should go to class, honey," Sharon told Rusty when he started to protest. "I'll be fine, even if Andy doesn't stay."

"If you're sure…" Rusty sighed and opened the door so Andy could take Sharon's crutches and help her into the car.

"I am," Andy answered for her. "I'll be over in half an hour."

"Thank you," she murmured, squeezing his hand before she let go and shut the door.

Andy made sure Sharon and Rusty were okay before he retreated to his own car. He stopped and filled Sharon's prescription before he grabbed lunch for them both and made his way to her condo. The doorman waved him up with a smile and Andy sighed to himself as he knocked on her door.

"Sharon was just saying something about lunch." Rusty smiled and Andy walked in, setting the food and prescription on the kitchen table.

"I think there's some leftover spaghetti. I can just heat that up," Sharon piped up from the couch and Andy shot her a smile.

"I actually brought sandwiches from that place down the street. Or rather, your favorite salad and sandwiches for Rusty and me." He pulled the food out as he talked and Rusty approached the table.

"You didn't have to get me anything…" he murmured.

Andy shrugged. "I figured you'd be hungry. If you don't have time to eat it now, I can put it in the fridge or you can eat it on the way."

"Thanks, Andy." Rusty grabbed the sandwich offered to him and then slung his bag over his shoulder. "I do have to get going. Mom, are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I'm sure, honey. Stop fretting." She leaned her head back and smiled at her son. "I'll see you after class."

He nodded and waved, unwrapping the sandwich as he left. Andy brought Sharon a glass of water and a pill before he returned with their food and sat beside her. She swallowed her medication and set the glass aside, a soft sigh slipping out as she accepted the salad and fork.

"How are you feeling?" he asked after watching her for a moment.

"It's sore," she admitted, "and the cast isn't exactly comfortable."

"I'm sorry." He kissed her temple and settled into the couch with a reassuring smile. "Hopefully the painkillers will help."

"They'll probably just knock me out." She laughed a little and started eating her salad.

They settled into comfortable silence as they ate, the noise from the television filling the space. Andy noticed how comfortable they seemed to be together and he wondered where they stood together. Were they dating or just occasionally enjoying time together?

Sharon set her finished salad and empty glass on the coffee table before she curled up against Andy's side, her foot resting on a pillow to keep in elevated. He wrapped his arm around her to gently pull her close, her head turning so she could kiss him softly.

"Thank you for being here," she murmured and he could tell the pain medication was starting to kick in.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," he admitted, kissing her again.

"You're a good boyfriend, you know." She shifted her leg a little and rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes sliding closed.

"Boyfriend?" he repeated softly.

"Mhmm."

He smiled and kissed her head, his arm tightening a little around her. "You're a wonderful girlfriend." He liked how the word sounded on his lips as he held her, his head coming to rest against hers. "Get some rest."

She nodded slowly and carefully shifted so her head rested in his lap. He adjusted the pillow to keep her ankle propped up and ran his fingers through her hair as she fell asleep. He smiled down at her, rolling the words 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend' around in his head as he held her.

He gradually spent more time at her place during her recovery, stopping by on his lunch breaks and even spending the night when Sharon was sure Rusty would be okay with it. They spent long hours talking and exploring, testing the boundaries on their relationship. By the time she had her cast off and was free to walk around, they started discovering the physical aspect of their relationship. Within another month, he spent more nights at her condo instead of his house. She was all too happy to have him there each night.