More Than Luck

By: Kadi

Rated: M

Chapter 6

Christmas Eve came bright and early for the Raydor household. After Ricky and Rusty got the camp beds made up, they had decided that the boys would sleep in the living room and Rusty would give Katie his bed. Sharon had not expected that turn of events, he didn't even like her to clean in there, much less giving his room up to a complete stranger. When Sharon stared at him, Rusty had made a face at her. "What? I don't like people in my room, but I'm not going to make a girl sleep on an air mattress on the floor."

After that, Sharon had been up half the night with Ricky and Katie, just getting caught up on everything that they didn't normally discuss on the phone and a lot that they had. Rusty had sat with them, mostly just watching, but joining in the conversation when prodded. It was well into the wee hours of the morning before they had turned in. It was Sharon's phone ringing which had pulled her out of a comfortable, peaceful slumber. Of course, that peace was disturbed by the Chief.

She had wanted to get her report in before midnight, prior to the official start of her divisions Holiday Hiatus, and so while Rusty and Ricky had made up the beds in the living room, Sharon had sat down at the table with her computer and typed out the official notice informing her current, present, immediate supervisor of change in nature of the relationship between herself and a subordinate.

Pope had apparently read it this morning. He had a few choice words for her, mostly regarding the state of her sanity - or lack there of, and questioning whether or not she was certain this was a road she was willing to travel.

"I'm giving you a chance to change your mind," he told her. "If you want to rethink this, then I can forget I ever read that ridiculous notice, otherwise I'm going to begin to have serious reservations about your continued mental health. Lieutenant Flynn? Are you kidding me?"

Since his response seemed more geared toward who it was, rather than that it was especially irritated her. Especially so early in the morning with bright sunlight streaming through her windows because she had forgotten to close the curtains the night before. Sharon had run a hand through her hair and snapped before she could think better of it. "You would rather it was Detective Sanchez?"

"What I would prefer, Captain, is if members of my police force did not find it necessary to make my job harder on a daily basis." He sighed then. "And don't think I don't know why you waited to send this out, or that you have somehow quite skillfully dodged the matter of Assistant Chief Taylor in the process. Of course I'll have to copy him on my response, and unless I decide to suspend you indefinitely, or maybe even fire you, his hands are going to be tied by my decision since he can't very well go over my head."

"Well, that was the point, yes," Sharon rubbed her temples. "Chief, it is what it is, and might I remind you that I had the opportunity to retire and I was dissuaded from it… by you. Furthermore, we both know that my transfer was your idea. I'm not asking for any special favors or treatment, I'm simply following the rules as they are written."

"Leave it to you to know where to find all the loopholes." He ran a hand over his head. "Fine. Fine. At least it isn't a lawsuit. I suppose I can be thankful for small favors. Can I at least trust that you, of all people, will keep this out of the workplace? You know you've put me in a difficult position here right? You won't be able to conduct any of his performance reviews, that leaves me giving them to Taylor or Provenza. There's bad blood with one and the other is his partner… in absurdity."

"I thought of that," Sharon replied. "Major Crimes is now run by a Captain and three Lieutenants. Andy has seniority, but Tao has the rank and I believe the objectivity to be able to handle the administrative side of things. Lieutenant Provenza might bluster a bit at first, but once he understands the difficult position that we've avoided for him, having to review his friend, I think he'll be fine with being overlooked. The No Retaliation policy saves me from any backlash from Assistant Chief Taylor. And yes," she added, "you can trust me to keep it out of the workplace."

"Very well," he still didn't sound pleased. "Consider it handled. You'll have my response by the end of the day. For whatever it's worth, I hope this works out, Captain."

"Thank you, Chief." Sharon was preparing to hang up when the other shoe fell.

"I suppose then that I can expect Lieutenant Flynn will be your escort for the New Year's Eve gala?"

Sharon winced, and almost swore out loud. "To be honest, Chief, I wasn't planning on attending."

"Nonsense," Will frowned. "This is the second year that I've held this gala, and I would appreciate it if the head of my Major Crimes division would grace us with her presence. I could make your excuses last year, the division caught a case, and you were understandably occupied. I'm not looking forward to making the same excuse this year, am I understood Captain? Get the word out. I expect to see my elite squad."

There was the price for her continued employment and relationship with Andy. "I understand, sir. I look forward to it. I'll see what I can do about the others."

"Great. Merry Christmas, Captain."

"Merry Christmas, Chief."

Sharon felt like throwing her phone when it was over. She pulled a pillow over her face and groaned loudly into it instead.

After she enjoyed a few minutes of extreme frustration, she had thrown the blankets off and sat up in bed. A trip to the bathroom and a shower later, she was feeling more like dealing with the rest of the world. Sharon padded quietly to the kitchen in her Ugg encased feet and started the coffee to brewing.

The sound and scent of breakfast being made woke Rusty. He got up and ran a hand through his hair before he trudged into the kitchen to take a seat at the breakfast bar. "Morning."

"Oh, good morning honey. Did you do okay out here last night?" She topped off her coffee and walked over to pull milk and orange juice out of the fridge for Rusty.

"Yeah, it was okay. They're a lot more comfortable than they look, actually. Or I was really tired, I'm not sure which." He stretched and yawned. "I didn't think anyone would be up this early, at least not after last night."

"Well, you're always saying that I'm abnormally cheerful in the morning," Sharon pointed out. "I suppose today isn't any different from any other."

"It's abnormal for anyone to like mornings," Rusty agreed. "You are definitely not like most people, Sharon. But, that's a good thing." He took the glass she passed him and poured juice into it.

"I'm glad you approve," she said with a smile.

"Hey, Sharon," Rusty shifted on his stool. "Do I… is there anything I should apologize for? For last night, I mean. If I went too far with the whole… you know, the teasing thing." He gave her a wary look, "I just… well, it's different, having other people around that are closer to my age and also know you. And it was really weird to see you doing… you know, what you were doing."

"Oh. No, Rusty, there isn't anything for you to apologize for. I think all three of you had a bit of fun at my expense. What I would do is remind you that, well, what I do in my personal life might effect you, but there are some things that are off limits, even to my kids. My relationship with Andy could be classified as one of those things."

"So…" Rusty turned his juice glass. "It is a relationship, then? Lieutenant Provenza warned me that some things might be changing around here, and that I should.. be respectful. He said I shouldn't blab what I see and hear all over the police station."

"I'm not going to discuss specifics with you." Sharon told him. "What I will say is that I would appreciate it if you could follow the Lieutenant's advice." Lips pursed, she studied him for a moment, gauging his reaction to everything. "Does it bother you?" As she understood it, his mother had not been exactly… discriminating… in the company that she kept.

"No… not really." Rusty shrugged. "I mean, I already know him, so it's not like it's a thing. You know? Where I have to wonder what's going to happen the minute you turn your back." As he said it, he looked down, and toyed with the edge of the bar's granite top.

"Rusty," Sharon turned the burner off under the eggs and lifted the skillet off the stove. She walked over and stood directly across from him. "The one thing you will never have to worry about is that you are not safe with me, or anyone that I bring in to our lives. I don't know what's going to happen, and I'm sorry that you have to feel so uncertain about that, but I will always make sure that you are safe."

He met her gaze, it was hard to breathe past the lump in his throat. Rusty nodded slowly. "I understand."

"Do you?" Sharon's gaze was unwavering. "Let me hear it again?"

He smiled at that. She did this when she wanted there to be absolutely no question to whether or not he had understood, exactly, what she said to him, expected of him, or instructed him to do. "I understand," Rusty said again. "I am always safe with you."

"Good." Sharon moved back to the stove and turned the eggs back on. "Why don't you go get dressed. You have clean things in the laundry room that I didn't put away yet, you can use my bathroom if you're worried about waking Katie."

"I can be quiet." Rusty pushed away from the bar and slipped off the stool. "Your bathroom is too girly." He wrinkled his nose at her.

"Amazing, considering that I am in fact a girl." Sharon snarked back at him.

"No, you're a…" Rusty trailed off, and thought better of it. "Sharon."

"Breakfast in ten, if Ricky eats it all, I don't want to hear any complaints," she shot at him instead, while carefully hiding her smile.

"Well if there's food…" Ricky was about to begin complaining about being awakened so early, after such a long night. Hearing, and then smelling, that there was going to be breakfast shortly drew him out of his nest of blankets and pillows. He stood up and stretched before walking over to locate the coffee. He claimed Rusty's vacated stool and leaned his elbows on the bar. "He's right. It's abnormal for you to be this awake after being up with us all night."

"I'm not a stranger to long nights, as you well know." Sharon scooped eggs into a serving bowl and carried it to the table. By now, the waffle iron had warmed and she lifted the bowl of batter, stirring it as she prepared those.

"Oh, I know that alright." He rested his chin in his hand and watched her. "So, this kid… you made it sound like he was really fragile mom, but he's actually pretty alright. What am I missing?"

"I'm not sure that you are, actually," Sharon shrugged. "He's come a long way. There are still some hard days ahead of him, but I think…" She looked up, lips pursed. "I think that Rusty is, at some point, going to be just fine. At least, that's my hope."

"Good." Ricky shrugged. "We like him. Katie has decided he's her new favorite pet. If I were you, I'd make sure she doesn't try to smuggle him back to New York with her."

"Hm." She chuckled. "Yes, I can see that. Your sister likes to collect things and people. I don't think she's ever been alone in her entire life, much less met an actual stranger. It used to terrify me the way she would speak to just anyone, at any time."

"Yes well, speaking of the prima ballerina," Ricky stood up and stretched. He flashed a devious grin. "If I have to be up…"

"Richard…" Sharon shook her head. "Do not go…" He was already trotting down the hall and slamming into Rusty's room. "Scare your sister awake." She sighed when Katie's high-pitched squeal echoed down the hall. "The seventeen year old is more mature," she muttered.

After breakfast, the day proceeded in much the way that Sharon had intended before her children arrived. Ricky and Rusty stored their beds away for the day, and then sprawled out in front of the television with the game console that Sharon had bought Rusty for his birthday the previous year. That left her free to do the baking that she had intended, while her daughter alternated assisting with playing games with the boys.

For dinner, the four of them drove up the coastal highway to a favorite oceanside pizza parlor that had always been a favorite of both Ricky and Katie. They introduced Rusty to old family traditions, such as the two new angels that Ricky and Katie picked out for their mother, despite Rusty's comments that the condo was already an Angelpalooza zone. To prove his point, he got her an ornament that was decidedly not an angel.

For Andy, dinner with his daughter and her family was a lot less nerve wracking than preparing for the ballet. At least this time, when he talked about Sharon, he didn't have to worry about whether or not he was misleading anyone and if it was going to backfire on him later.

The kites, which he had gone back for after their baseball recruiter case was closed, were a hit with the kids. He would have to hand it to Provenza, the old man knew his novelty items. Andy just hoped his daughter never figured out that he bought the kites at a head shop.

He helped Nicole clear the table while her husband took the boys into the den to string the kites and prep them for flying at the first opportunity. "I'll wash, you dry," he suggested, explaining that he didn't know where anything went.

Nicole gave him an odd look, but he had already pushed the sleeves of his sweater up and was wrist deep in steaming, soapy water. "I was surprised you came alone tonight," she said finally. She hadn't commented when her father stepped through the door by himself earlier that evening, but she had been surprised. "You two have been joined at the hip at every gathering we've had for the last six months, I was certain you'd be bringing a date." Nicole's brown eyes were lit with amusement, and not a little curiosity. Her blonde braid slipped over her shoulder when she reached for the first glass he placed in the drainer.

Andy slanted a look at her. "Well, I uh… I can see where you'd uh, think that." He shrugged. He had Sharon with him on more than one occasion, and her name was usually brought up when he couldn't make it - although to be honest, it was all in conjunction with work and not being able to get away from whichever case was currently taking priority. "Her kids surprised her, she wasn't expecting them to make it home for the holidays." After a moment, Andy sighed quietly. "I didn't exactly ask her either, her foster kid wasn't much in the mood to do anything for Christmas last year, and we were working a case too, so this was really the first chance they had to do anything together. I didn't want to put her on the spot, or him."

"Mom's not here either," Nicole grinned. "You didn't need your own personal body shield to ward her off."

"That too." Andy chuckled. "People don't often change, and old habits are hard to break. It helps to have someone around who represents my new life, not just all the memories of the old one."

"I like her," Nicole decided. She had insinuated as much, but she wanted to say it too. "Drives mom crazy, but you know…" She shrugged. The only thing her mother could say about her father was how big a screw up he was and would always be. Nicole was finally at an age that she was starting to see beyond her mother's negativity, that life wasn't just cut and dry or black and white. She was understanding how difficult it could be to stay your course, and how hard it was to get back on it once you were lost. "Mom doesn't make my decisions for me, if she did, I wouldn't have married Jake."

"What?" That was news. Andy stopped washing for a moment to study her. "Why the hell not?"

Nicole shrugged. "She said I was too young for a ready-made family, and as far as first marriages went, it was a poor decision." She rolled her eyes. "I tuned her out at that point. I'm learning to make my own decisions, and I'm liking the results I'm getting. So stop worrying so much about mom's influence on me." She held out her hand and gave him a pointed look.

Andy placed the next plate in her hand and smiled. "Alright. You've got it. No more worrying. You're the boss."

"No, dad," She smirked at him. "That's your girlfriend."

"Yeah, don't I know it." He shook his head, but grinned.

"Oh please, no details." Nicole stacked the plates as they were dried. "So, I talked to Tony this morning. He might be heading out this way soon. He might not be opposed to coming over for an afternoon, maybe a little barbecue in the backyard. So if you wanted to ask Sharon, that would be okay."

"Yeah?" He cleared his throat to push away the sudden lump. "That… uh… that'd be nice. I'll talk to her about it. You'll let me know when?"

"Sure. It's all pretty up in the air. Tony isn't as… well, he's just Tony." Nicole shrugged, not wanting to explain his disbelief in everything she'd been telling him.

"He's older," Andy stated, understanding. "He remembers more than you do. It's okay. You don't need to make excuses for your brother, Nicole, he's entitled to feel the way he feels."

"He's stubborn," She pointed out. "A lot of that is in the past, and a lot of it was mom exaggerating things. You're not innocent, dad, but come on. It's not like it was all horrific or something. You weren't around, big deal, you've been trying to be around for a long time."

"Thanks Nic, I appreciate that," warmth filled him. He never thought he'd see the day when either of his kids would be willing to be around him again, least of all defending his efforts.

"Nonsense, you've earned it. Besides, the boys are crazy about you. Jake likes you too. I might still be in the honeymoon phase, but I'm all about new beginnings lately. Tony will come around." She nudged him over and away from the sink, deciding he wasn't washing fast enough. "He's a lot like you, ya know."

"Hopefully not too much," Andy said, but at the look she shot at him, he put his hands up and shrugged. "Alright, alright. I hear ya. More patience from the old man, less worrying."

"Good." Nicole smiled.

Andy pushed away from the counter. "It's getting late, you're going to want to get the boys into bed and… well, play Santa." He pushed his sleeves down and bent, kissing the top of her head. "I'd better get out of your hair so you can do it."

"Dad, you're not in our hair. It isn't that late." She smirked at him. "Unless you're wanting to swing by and see the girlfriend."

"It's late." Andy shook his head at her. "And I'll be seeing her tomorrow night." He winked as he walked toward the front of the house, Nicole trailing after him.

After saying good night to Jake and the boys, Andy made his way out to his car. He drove back to his house, only stopping once along the way to pick up the dessert he would be taking with him to dinner the next evening.

The house was an old split-level ranch that Andy bought a few years before at a city foreclosure auction, although he rarely advertised that fact. He liked the neighborhood, it was quiet, with a decent mix of younger and older families, and thankfully very little of the gang activity found in much of the rest of the city. It was a fairly quiet place, and given the nature of his work and the crap he saw every day, quiet was what he liked. An added bonus was the church where he attended his AA meetings, it was only a few blocks away.

Andy parked his car in the drive, and made a mental note, for about the three-thousandth time, that he needed to clean out the garage. He smirked slightly, maybe Sharon would let him pay Rusty to do it. The kid could do with a little hard won cash, legitimately and legally, and it would get him out of her hair for a little while. He thought about it further as he strode up the walk. Maybe he'd get some of the guys together for a barbecue, Rusty could work, eat, hang out - and there would be plenty of police protection around to keep an eye on him.

He noticed the note taped to his door before he put his key in the lock. Frowning, Andy tugged it down, thinking it was from one of his neighbors. He unlocked the door and pushed into the house. His keys were dropped onto the table near the door and he strolled to the kitchen. He didn't open the note until after he had stored the dessert in the fridge.

The contents stopped his heart and stole his breath away.

Dear Andy,

You won't be able to protect her. You won't always be hovering over her shoulder. When she's gone, no one will care what happens to the boy. When Sharon is dead, Rusty will know real fear. I'll come for him, and no one will be there to stop me.

Enjoy her while you can. I'm coming for her first.

Sincerely,

A friend