Time for a little backstory...

BACK IN 2003

"I don't think I can do this anymore with you Sharon," Sharlene sighed. "I just can't." This got Sharon's attention. She placed down the FID report she was reviewing on the couch and turned to face the other woman, confused.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I mean us, Shar. I don't know what we are anymore." The silence, which followed was deadly. Sharon glared at the woman who seemed glued to her spot near the TV console. She could not be serious!

"You don't know what we are anymore?! You have got to be kidding me!" Sharon got up off the couch and stormed past Sharlene, who was visibly shivering in her spot. She managed to get words out before Sharon opened a door down the hall.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I'm letting Charlie know that we're leaving. He doesn't need to hear this fight."

"Like he didn't hear the others?" Sharlene deadpanned. Sharon ignored her comment and picked up her keys.

"Let's go." She stormed out the front door before Sharlene could object. She had no choice but to follow.

The drive to wherever Sharon was taking her was quiet, save for the low voices on the radio. It gave them both something to focus on besides the elephant on the room. After the longest ten minutes ever, Sharon pulled up by the neighborhood playground. She turned to face Sharlene, whose eyes were red and glistening with unshed tears. At that moment, her heart began breaking; she just knew in her heart that their discussion was not going to end well. Their relationship was falling apart over the last year but she couldn't do it; no, she couldn't handle another failed relationship like with Jackson. She was even willing to beg the woman seated next to her to give them another chance.

"Do you remember when we used to sit on the car, and chat while we looked at the little children swinging from the monkey bars? Do you remember?" Sharon reached for Sharlene's hand and entwined their fingers. Sharlene only sighed.

"That was a long time ago, Shar. We were so happy then."

"Four years isn't that long ago." She squeezed Sharlene's hand. "I remember you wanted children then."

"We're not here to talk about what we wanted, Sharon. I don't think we fit anymore."

"And you know why that is? Because we never talk anymore." Sharon's eyes were filling with tears. "I miss talking to you like we used to. But we can change that-"

"-Sharon I've met someone." The words hit Sharon with as much force as a ten-ton truck. She could have sworn she heard her heart actually break at that exact moment. No, Sharlene-the love of her life of five years- would never be so cruel. She obviously heard wrong.

"You've met someone? How long ago?" Sharon's voice remained relatively leveled but tears were flowing from her eyes. This could not be happening.

"I met her a month ago." That was strike number two. There was no turning back now.

"Get the hell out of my car!" Vengeance was now at full mass within Sharon's being, spewing through her veins and escaping through her pores. She was on the verge of doing something she would regret. She needed to purge herself of Sharlene, for good.

The once terrified, hurt woman next to Sharon seemed to be replaced by a rigid, heartless demon within a split second. Sharlene calmly opened the door then turned back to face Sharon for the last time.

"I never dreamed of hurting you Sharon, but I always no when to call it quits when dealt a losing hand. You need to learn that. Maybe your marriage would have ended differently."

Strike three. How dare Sharlene lecture about marriage when she clearly has a problem with commitment herself? Sharon knew she was going to explode but there was no way she would let Sharlene see her completely unravel. She was going to remain in charge here.

"And get the hell out of my house!" she shouted to Sharlene's back as she walked away.

Sharon drove around the park at least six times. She needed to clear her head but it was not working. How was she supposed to just move on after being dumped so abruptly by the woman with whom she thought she would spend the rest of her life? The internal pain was becoming unbearable; she needed to numb the pain. Sharon made a quick turn to a nearby liquor store, stocked up with a few bottles and returned home to her son. She made sure he was okay and told him all that happened then locked her bedroom door and start to forget…

"Captain! Such a timely return, we've just picked up a case," Provenza snatched her out of her thoughts.

"Well, Lieutenant, let's go!" she made an 180º turn and exited the Murder Room with Provenza and the others.