A/N: This is the ninth chapter! Special thanks to my amazing beta CMemlovr for beta reading! I hope you like it!

As Sharon and Andy sat together at the restaurant, he couldn't help watching how she played with her food.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" asked Sharon, oblivious.

"It's just – you said you were hungry, but you've hardly touched your plate. Is there something wrong?"

Rolling her eyes gently, Sharon replied, "I don't know, I think I might be coming down with something."

"Do you think it's serious?" asked Andy, panicking.

Sharon laughed softly, "Relax, Andy. I'm messing with you."

Andy sighed with relief. "Stop kidding around, Sharon. Do you have any idea how much I worry?"

"But you shouldn't! The baby and I are fine, so you've no need to worry. I'm sorry for provoking you to prove a point." Sharon smiled, content when Andy smiled gently in response.

"What was the issue with Julio earlier?" he questioned, attempting to change the subject.

"Same as usual, really…"

"Maybe he could use another round of anger management?"

"By this point, I'm not sure it would be beneficial. But, enough about Julio, please," requested Sharon. Andy nodded in assent.

"Sounds good – let's talk about something fun, then."

Surprised, Sharon asked, "And what would that be?"

"What are we going to name the baby?" countered Andy, smiling.

"We won't know the baby's sex until its birth – how do you propose to choose the name from now?"

"We don't have to know the sex to start thinking about possibilities," he replied, "We can choose the names we like for boys and girls in preparation."

"If that's what you'd like, Lieutenant. But I'm not rushing to choose just yet – we've still got plenty of time for that," cautioned Sharon.

"You're the Captain, boss, you can make the final decision," grinned Andy.

"We can talk about this at home, then. Let's finish up and get back."

********...********

Following a satisfying lunch, Sharon and Andy returned to work. Sitting at her desk, Sharon reviewed the case file for their current murder, preparing to interview the suspect with Lieutenant Tao. Andy hovered protectively over her, waiting for any opportunity to help Sharon.

Gathering the most important pieces from the file, Sharon conditioned herself to go in and deal with the suspect in one of the most grisly cases she'd ever dealt with. Standing to leave her office, Andy stops her delicately.

"Sharon?"

"Yes, Andy?" she replied, a touch of impatience colouring her tone.

"Are you sure that you have to be the one to question the suspect? You might get stressed, and that would-"

"Stop it, Andy! Stop imagining everything that might go wrong and trying to impede my work," interrupted Sharon angrily. She felt his presence beginning to stifle her, and couldn't help her outburst.

Leaving the office, Andy encountered Provenza, who regarded him questioningly.

"I thought you were following Sharon around, today."

"No," he replied heavily, "She's decided to interrogate the suspect with Mike."

Provenza sensed his friend's dour mood and decided to press him for information.

"What's going on with you, Flynn?"

"Nothing – just the usual stuff with Sharon," sighed Andy.

"Such as…?"

"I asked her if she was sure if she wanted to do the interrogation - y'know, I don't want her to get upset and harm the baby – and she freaked on me."

Provenza nodded before replying, "It's your own fault, Flynn."

"Why's it my fault?!"

"You keep pushing her like she doesn't know what she's doing! She's always been an independent woman, and now you're coming in and trying to do everything for her, but she doesn't need it. I know you worry, but she's strong enough and a good enough cop that an interrogation won't do her any harm. Stop fussing over her so much," replied Provenza, not unkindly.

"Maybe you're right. I'll try to talk to her after the interrogation. '"

"Good luck," replied Provenza as he made his way towards Sykes.

********...********

Andy waited anxiously outside the interrogation room for Sharon and Lieutenant Tao to emerge.

"We've got to find his partner at any cost," stressed Sharon firmly.

"Of course, Captain. I'll follow up with Amy and see if she has any leads," replied Tao earnestly.

"Let me know the second you find something," instructed Sharon before moving towards her office. Turning away from Tao, she caught sight of Andy, who had been waiting for her.

"How long have you been waiting here?" she asked warily.

"It's not important. Look, Sharon, we need to talk."

"Fine – my office, now."

The pair of them made their way to Sharon's office, lowering the blinds on entering. Sharon sat impatiently behind her desk.

"Well, what did you want to talk about?"

"I'm sorry, Sharon."

"For what?"

"I know that I hover too much and that you feel pressured, but I'm just worried and don't know how else to reassure myself that you're okay." Sharon smiled slightly.

"I know, Andy, but you have to understand that I have always been self-sufficient, and I'm not about to start being dependent now." She took his hand comfortingly, "I don't need anything more than your love and support right now."

Andy smiled softly before leaning in to kiss her gently. "You know I'll always be here, whatever happens," he whispered.

"I love you," murmured Sharon.

"I love you, too," replied Andy. Catching sight of the time on his watch, he glances at Sharon, "It's pretty late, let's call it a day?" he suggested.

"In a while – I still have to check in with Mike and Amy to see what they might've found to help the case." Sharon stood from behind the desk and left Andy in the office alone. Sighing, he decided to wait for her in the car while she finished up, and made his way down to the garage.

******** ... ********

"Did you have to wait long?" asked Sharon.

"No, but I'd have waited forever if I'd had to," he replied, looking lovingly at her. Sharon returned his sentiment.

"Well then, Andy, I suggest we get home soon, as we're already late."

Andy smiled and started the engine.

An hour later, Sharon and Andy were comfortably settled at home and having dinner with Rusty. The atmosphere was relaxed, with thoughts of Sharon Beck distant and almost forgotten.

"How was your day, Rusty?" asked Sharon with a smile.

"Good as usual, mom."

"I'm glad."

"I'm sorry to ask, Rusty, but you seem preoccupied. Is something wrong?" asked Andy.

Pausing briefly, Rusty hesitated before replying, "Everything's fine, Andy."

Sharon and Andy exchanged covert glances, noting that something was wrong

"Are you sure, honey?" pressed Sharon worriedly.

"I'm fine, don't worry. If that's all, I'm going to head to my room."

"What's going on, Sharon?" asked Andy, bewildered.

"I don't know," replied Sharon worriedly, "but I get the feeling that he's hiding something big from me."

Andy tried to reassure her, "I'm sure it's nothing. Don't worry, Sharon."

Unconvinced, Sharon returned to her meal, accidentally knocking her glass off the table in the process.

"Oh!"

"Careful, Sharon. Let me get it," offered Andy.

"I'm sorry, Andy, you shouldn't have to-"

"It's fine," Andy replied, waving off her attempts to help. Stopping, he noticed that her finger had begun to bleed.

"You've cut yourself," he muttered, grabbing a napkin from the table and wrapping it around her finger.

"It's just a little cut, nothing to worry about."

"C'mon, let me clean you up," replied Andy, nudging Sharon's hand with his own.

"Thanks," she mumbled, still unsure of how she'd managed to knock her glass that hard.

Once she (and the mess she'd created) had been cleaned up, Sharon and Andy settled themselves into their bed for the night. Still, unease regarding Rusty plagued her thoughts. Noting her preoccupation, Andy leaned over and kissed her forehead gently.

"How is my wounded Captain?" he asked teasingly, causing Sharon to laugh.

"I'm fine," she replied, snuggling into his side.

"Is everything alright, Sharon?"

"Yeah," she murmured; her mind elsewhere.

"Sure?"

"Yes," she repeated firmly, unwilling to worry Andy.

********...********

The next day, Sharon sat in her office with Andrea.

"Are you okay, Sharon?" asked Andrea, noting Sharon's mood.

"I'm fine," replied Sharon for now."

"So what's the matter?"

"I think that-" Sharon had begun to explain when Amy interrupted.

"I'm so sorry, Captain, but your-uh – Jack is here."

"Jack? What's he doing here?" questioned Sharon furiously.

"He said that he needs to talk to you," shrugged Amy.

"Don't tell me that you're actually considering-" began Andrea,

"I don't want to talk to him, but I will," interjected Sharon firmly.

"Do you know what he wants?" asked Andrea

"Nope," she replied, then, directing her attention to Amy she instructed her to bring him to her office.

"Should I stay?" asked Andrea.

"No, I'll take care of him alone."

"Are you sure?" she insisted, "I wouldn't want you to get stressed and harm the baby-"

"We won't be talking for long enough," she replied frostily, "I'll be fine. In fact, you might as well wait outside, because it'll be over pretty soon."

Andrea wanted to protect her friend, but also knew that resisting her would be pointless.

"Sharon!" greeted Jack from the doorway.

Moving to shut the door behind him, she regarded him with contempt. "Well, Jack, what do you need?" she asked bluntly.

"Relax, Sharon, I just want to talk."

"I assume that it's something about the children, since you and I have nothing else in common," she replied coldly, "and to clarify, by children, I mean only those who are biologically related to you."

"Well, you could say I'm here about the children," replied Jack slyly.

Sharon narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Outside, Andrea and Amy watched the conversation unfold.

"If Andy finds out, this could become a big deal," muttered Andrea nervously.

"A big deal? Flynn would have a coronary if he found out that the Captain insisted on dealing with Jack alone," replied Amy.

"It's not like we could do anything – Sharon's too stubborn, and refuses to allow us to handle the bastard."

Inside the office, Jack spoke smugly, "I'd like Emily and Ricky with me in the next couple of months."

"Why are you telling me this? They're both adults, tell them yourself!" she spat, irritated with the mere sight of his unctuous expression.

Andrea and Amy observed Flynn's approach before either Sharon or Jack had noticed his arrival.

"He's going to blow a gasket," commented Amy quietly.

She had a point.

"What are you both doing, standing around here?" asked Andy, directing his question towards Andrea.

"Waiting for Sharon to finish up her conversation," she replied evenly.

"Yeah? Who's she talking to?"

"Jack Raydor," replied Amy frankly, ignoring Andy's expression of shock.

"He's in there alone with Sharon? You left that animal with her?!"

"Cool it, Andy," advised Andrea firmly.

"Why did you let her talk to him alone? She's pregnant, and God knows that man causes enough stress under normal circumstances-"

Sharon's door opened abruptly, allowing Jack to vacate the office amidst several furious glares.

Moving towards Sharon, Andy asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Come into my office?"

At the invitation, Andrea and Amy moved away from the office, relieved that the threat had passed.

"Why would you allow yourself to be alone with him?!" seethed Andy.

"Calm down. I'm fine – everything is fine."

"You can't trust him, Sharon! And for Andrea and Amy to just leave you…!"

"I told them to," she replied firmly, "He is my ex-husband, and I should be able to deal with him by myself."

Andy sighed, "I'm sorry, I just don't trust him."

"I know, and you have every reason not to. But he just wanted to discuss Emily and Ricky. I've warned him to stay away from now on," replied Sharon reassuringly.

A knock interrupted Andy's response, and Rusty stood hesitantly in the doorway.

"Rusty, what are you doing here?"

"Mom – Andy – do you have a minute?"

"Always," replied Andy instantly.

"Is something wrong?" asked Sharon worriedly.

"There's something we need to talk about…something important," replied Rusty, chewing his lip.

~~~ TBC ~~~