Author's Note: Thank you, for the response to this story, all the reviews, favorites and follows. It means very much. A special thanks to the reviewers, lontanissima for the support and brainstorming and Roni for taking time to Beta for me.

Chapter 3

Complicated

Andy sat in his car, nervously examining his watch for the twelfth time. He had always been early to meet Sharon, however this time he was extremely early. He had woken up long before his alarm was set to ring and wasted no time in getting dressed, anxious to see her. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and smiled as he put his head back and closed his eyes.

Andy watched Sharon pick up the black bowling ball, move swiftly towards the lane, her hand swinging back and forward, and release it. He stood up and observed as the ball rolled quickly down the lane and struck down all the pins. She jumped and turned around with her arms up in the air.

Andy smiled as she walked over to him.

"I win again," she teased. Andy grinned as she stood in front of him and playfully poked his stomach.

He dramatically huffed out a puff of air, making her slap his chest softly.

"Alright, I give up. You win." His hands moved into his pockets. "What do you want to know?"

It had become a tradition—whenever one of them beat the other at bowling, scrabble or anything they could make a competition out of, the winner would take the opportunity to ask the loser a personal question.

Sharon bit her bottom lip for a moment as she considered it, then her eyes lit up and he knew she had her question. She walked over to their seats and picked up her glass. She sat down and looked at him, her head tilted as she sipped from her straw.

"Your first kiss?" Andy was surprised, they always kept the questions silly and playful. Sharon had just changed the significance of the game. He looked at his feet and squinted. "You don't remember?" She asked half-jokingly and half disappointed.

Andy knew the answer immediately, but was nervous to share it in fear that she wouldn't believe him. He took a deep breath and looked up at her. "Third grade." Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Andrew Flynn, no one has a real kiss in third grade." She admonished.

"What?" He rubbed the back of his neck, rocking on his heels nervously. "Well, I did."

"What was her name?" Sharon challenged him, but he didn't respond immediately. "I'll make it easier, what did she look like?" She crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat. "Come on, blue eyes, blonde?" She smirked at the way his cheeks flushed.

"You asked your question and I answered," he said quickly. She had his type all wrong. When she pursed her lips and looked at him with pleading eyes, he sighed. "Arlene, she was a sweet little Irish brunette, two grades older than me." Andy replied sitting down beside Sharon whose challenging gaze softened.

He opened his eyes smiling and looked at his watch again, then opened his car door and started walking towards the quaint restaurant Sharon had introduced him to. It was family owned, he knew there was a connection to the owners, but she had never explained how she had met them.

"Lieutenant!" was shouted from the kitchen, Andy waved at the cook who was also the owner of the place. The older man smiled from behind the grill. "Is the Captain joining you?" He asked teasingly.

"Yes, I'm a little early." Andy called back and walked to the counter to talk to him.

"I'll start prepping your usual orders, yes?" The older man grinned already pulling things out of the fridge.

"Sure." Andy nodded.

"Good, Maria will be around with the coffee."

"Thanks, Juan," Andy said walking over to their usual table. He smiled up when Juan's wife Maria appeared with two cups of coffee.

"You're alone?" She frowned, Andy shook his head.

"She's on her way." He answered.

They had made this their place, it was hidden, which allowed them to spend their time alone in public without the worry of having to look over their shoulders. It was just them, Sharon and Andy. No titles, no hesitation, just two people who wanted to spend time together.

"Good, Sharon needs a boyfriend like you." Maria smiled at him, nudging his shoulder.

"Oh, no, we're not dating." Andy said quickly, not wanting to leave any confusion. He led his family on once and it had almost cost him Sharon's friendship. He had learned from that mistake and wouldn't do it again.

"No, but she still needs a boyfriend." She smiled as she walked away making Andy grin until she was out of sight.

A boyfriend? He hadn't been anyone's boyfriend since he was with his ex-wife. He had dated women after the divorce, but it had never been serious. The thought had always terrified him. That was why he had dated only young women, if it could even be called dating. He never expected it to lead to anything special. A second outing had been the most he had gone out with the same woman. Then there was Sharon, he smiled to himself at the thought. Introducing her as his girlfriend? Somehow that didn't terrify him.

Andy looked up at the bells ringing as the door opened and grinned as he spotted her. He sighed, yes, it didn't terrify him at all. Yet he needed to remind himself that Sharon had clearly stated that she was only interested in a friendship.

She didn't need to look around, knowing exactly where he'd be sitting. She wanted to be alone with Andy, but hated that she had kept the truth from Abby. She was behaving like a teenager who hid her boyfriend from her mother. But he isn't your boyfriend, Sharon.

Andy stood to meet her, she looked flustered and rushed, not making eye contact as she removed her jacket.

"Hi," he said softly, trying to gauge her mood.

"Hi, Andy, sorry I'm running late." She placed her jacket on the back of her seat. He was immediately next to her pulling out her chair and she thanked him. He didn't move away at first noticing she wasn't herself, something was on her mind.

After a few moments Sharon looked up to see him still standing there and her eyes focused closely on him. He quickly moved around the table, her gaze followed him with a small smile.

"You're ten minutes early." Andy said as he sat down. She smiled at him over the rim of her coffee cup as she took a sip.

"Yes, but you arrive twenty minutes early, because I always arrive at least fifteen minutes early, so that means you've been waiting for at least ten." Sharon responded and he smiled at the amusement in her eyes. "I'm right, aren't I?" She challenged him.

"I don't mind waiting." Andy said quickly as he shrugged his shoulders.

Sharon chuckled almost spitting out her sip of coffee, there was laughter in his eyes as he handed her a napkin from across the table.

She wiped her lip, "Andrew Flynn, you have to be one of the most impatient men I know." Her smile faded as soon as the words had left her mouth and she saw the way his eyes deepened and knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Not when it comes to you," he said softly.

Sharon could feel her heart hammering in her chest, she needed to swallow to suppress the urge to answer with an equally compromising statement. She was hoping he wouldn't say it, yet Andy wasn't someone who hid behind his thoughts. If he sometimes restrained himself, he did it for her. He may be impatient at restaurants, parking attendants, when driving, at crime scenes, almost anywhere, but he was patient when it came to her. He was patient every time she pushed him away, after each question she left unanswered, he was waiting for her even when she had told him they would never have a chance.

Andy was the most patient man she had ever met.

Sharon looked down at her coffee breaking their eye contact and the lingering moment between them. And there he was again, being patient, just waiting for her to gain some courage.

He wanted her to say something, anything that would tell him he was not crazy for thinking that they had the chance to try and make it work. He accepted her choice, but wished she would explain her reasoning. Why did it have to be never?

Sharon cleared her throat and looked toward the kitchen. "Did you order?" The words faltered, telling him it wasn't what she wanted to say, that she was hiding.

Andy's chest quenched in disappointment, but he was not surprised at her changing the conversation, it was a common occurrence.

"Juan started preparing our usuals." She nodded pushing back a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at the coffee between her hands. She was disappointed in herself. "Are you feeling better?" Andy asked trying to ease the tension between them.

"Better?" Sharon looked at him frowning and confused.

"Last night, you said—"

"That's right," she fell silent again. How could she explain it to him? That she felt sick to her stomach when Abby had asked about him, but couldn't gain the courage to tell him everything she felt for him? That she had needed to hear his voice for reassurance? "I'm alright now." She said softly.

Andy watched her for a few minutes and knew he needed to let it go. Instead he reached across the table and took her hand. Sharon looked at him surprised, he had only done it once before. That night where he laced his fingers with hers, that night of a movie and ice cream, that night when she told him they would never have a chance. Her heart however beat as loudly as if it were the first time.

"Whatever it is, you're not ready to say it yet. You know I'm here for you when you are." Andy said quietly.

Sharon looked at his fingers over hers thinking about the way her stomach fluttered and a tingle ran up her spine every time his thumb swiped her hand. Why did she keep pushing him away, if he made her feel so much? But she knew the answer, and it was that it scared her, everything he made her feel. Things she had not felt in years. Her gaze met his and he released her hand.

She closed her eyes for a second already missing his touch. When she opened them, plates were being set in front of her and she was pulled into a hug by Maria, but all she could think about was the disappointment in his gaze. The confusion and frustration she kept causing him. Sharon thanked the owner as she left and looked down at her food.

Suddenly she had no appetite. She didn't deserve him, didn't deserve his time or company.

"Did Abigail settle alright?" As her sister's name left Andy's lips, her stomach flipped, just as it had done the night before when Abby asked about him. It was an awful feeling, but she nodded.

"Yes, she's staying in town for a few days, may be back after she goes to New York." She looked up at him and gave him a stiff smile.

There was something else in her eyes, something that made him ache for her. He set his fork down and sighed.

"Sharon—"

He needed to know what was wrong with her. But she stopped him immediately.

"I know I'm not good company this morning, but I do want to have breakfast with you. I hate that we couldn't have dinner together last night." Her shoulders relaxed at saying something honest and heartfelt for the first time today.

"But you don't want to talk about it?" Andy asked.

"No." She answered quickly. "But it isn't because I don't trust you," Sharon smiled at him. It was the first honest smile that she had shared with him that morning, which instantly made him relax.

Andy knew now wasn't the time to push her. She ran and hid when she felt pressured, and he always wanted to make her feel comfortable with him. They began eating in silence until their coffee was refilled and Sharon chuckled making him look up at her. She leaned across the table and wiped his nose with her napkin.

"How you manage to make such a mess every time you eat, I'll never understand." He chuckled. She often teased him about that particular trait of his, he always succeeded in staining some piece of his clothing or splattering something on his face.

"Maybe it's my trick to get you to reach over the table every time." Andy grinned when her cheeks went pink and she let out a nervous breath, shaking her head at him. He reached over the table and ran his fingers through her hair, his thumb slightly grazing her cheek. Her skin tingled at the soft touch, leaving goosebumps across her skin. He showed her a piece of lint and let it fall away. "You look beautiful by the way," he said softly as he relaxed back in his seat. "Purple suits you, and that skirt," Andy hummed before he took another bite of his food and looked down with a smile when he saw her cheeks turn rosy again.

Sharon smirked, she always felt good when he expressed his interest in her appearance. "It suits you, too." He looked up at her surprised, then down at his tie and smiled. It always made him feel so much when she flirted and complimented him.

"Really? I was sure you preferred yesterday's grey suit," he said playfully. If she wasn't already blushing, she knew she would be scarlet red after that remark. "Or was I imagining it?" He asked before taking another bite, his eyes never leaving her face and the famous Andy Flynn grin on his lips.

"More coffee?" They both looked up at Maria and Sharon nodded.

"Saved by Maria, huh?" he said playfully as the owner walked away.

"I like all your suits," she smiled at him as they both took a sip of their coffee, "but maybe I have a preference for the grey one, yes." She kept her eyes on his, he looked away first that time. Sharon felt giddy and light.

Their conversation continued in a friendlier and lighter mood. When Sharon checked her watch, Andy grumbled. She looked over at him with humor in her eyes.

He sighed and pointed at her wrist. "When you start glancing at your watch, it means…"

"Yes, it's time to go." Sharon smiled pulling out her purse.

"You know, I happen to know the boss." Andy said with a smile.

She chuckled. "You think she would approve of our lateness," she asked playfully as she called Maria over and asking for the check.

"If I take her some of Maria's homemade sweet bread, I am sure she will." He leaned in a little and whispered, "Don't tell anyone, but it is her weakness."

Sharon tried to hide her smile as she rolled her eyes at him, but she failed miserably. He was right, because besides Andy she had another weakness and it was Maria's food, especially her sweet bread. She had never told him, but Maria had been present for a big part of her childhood. It had been a painful time in her life when the woman had quit working at her parents' home.

Andy took the bill again, Sharon had stopped fighting it knowing it gave him a sense of pride to be able to treat her to a meal and she had begun to treat him to her home desserts as repayment. When his hand landed on her back to lead her out of the restaurant, she felt like she would melt. Besides their talks and his company, she missed his touch.

Andy smiled when he felt her lean back into his hand. His palm fit perfectly in the arch of her back, he could feel her tremble every time his hand made a slight movement. He hoped it was a response to his touch. He resisted the urge to wrap his arm around her and pull her into him. They walked to her car and Andy opened the door for her. Sharon grinned at him when she caught him looking at her legs as she settled into her seat.

He didn't apologize, he knew he didn't have to when he saw the smile on her lips. He softly closed her door and watched her drive away before he walked to his own car.

The rest of the day went by slowly. There was no new case, the team sat around filling in reports they had fallen behind on.

Provenza looked up from his crossword and stared at the stranger who walked in. He straightened his tie. "Can I help you?" The entire team looked up as Provenza stood up quickly from his chair. When the woman turned and smiled at him, he noticed how beautiful she was. "I mean, what can I help you with?" Tao and Sanchez rolled their eyes at each other.

The older man's attempts at flirting always ended dreadfully depressing.

Andy grinned at Abby when she waved at him with a bright smile. The entire team looked over at him with confused expressions.

"Hello, Abigail," Andy stood up from his chair.

"Oh, please, don't get up for me. I'm just here to see Shari." Abby said softly.

"This is Abigail, the Captain's sister." Andy introduced her. Abby looked at the team and smiled as they all turned to Sharon's office in a bit of confusion. She waved again as Andy introduced her to each detective.

They could see a resemblance in the expression, smile and shape of their faces, but nothing else was alike in the two sisters.

"Oh, don't looks so surprised." Abby giggled at the team when they fell silent still looking at her in shock, "thank you for offering your help." She smiled at Provenza before walking across the murder room towards Andy. She stopped in front of him and ran her hand down his tie. She grinned when she saw he was caught off guard. "It's great to see you again, Lieutenant." Her hand smoothed down his tie once more before she walked to Sharon's office.

All eyes focused on Andy, but he ignored them, sitting down in his chair and pulling at his tie. Both Sharon and Abby had expressed an interest in it today.

"That's the Captain's sister?" Provenza asked shocked, his mouth opened as he stood in the same spot. "And what the hell was that?" He asked waving his hand at Andy, but got no response.

"She's beautiful." They all turned to Amy, who always pointed out the obvious.

Andy looked at the screen of his computer, his hand smoothing down his tie. He released a breath and sat back in his chair, his eyebrows drawn together.

Had Abby just flirted with him?