Author's Note: To all of those who review and I don't get the chance to respond to, thank you! A very special thank you to Roni, who has been so wonderful and given her time to Beta for me.

Chapter 6

Not In That Way

Sharon found Andy standing barefoot in the sand looking out at the water. The morning chill still lingered in the air, but balanced perfectly with the warm sunrays. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and enjoyed the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of the water that made her lips tingle, there was nothing like it. She opened her eyes, spotting Andy in the same place, and took a deep breath. Both the water and that man brought the same feeling of calmness. Yet, the questions and confusion she had about him and Abby were still forming and clouding her emotions. There was one thing Sharon knew for sure - she loved spending time with him. She took a calming breath before she walked towards him and timidly ran her hand down his back; he looked over at her with a smile.

"Hi there," Andy said putting his own hand on the small of her back, he loved that she never pulled away or tensed. It was comforting, to feel her so close. He caressed her back gently and smiled when he felt the chill run through her. He took her bag and tilted his head to the side as he guided her down the beach. "What happened to the others?" He looked around trying to spot the kid who would immediately run to the water whenever they came to the beach.

"Rusty wanted to go out surfing," Sharon said softly, "We were going to rent, but Abby likes spoiling her niece and nephews, so they went shopping." When the cloth she wore around her waist began shifting, she twisted it around her hand to prevent it from lifting in the breeze. He had noticed that she wore a similar outfit every time they came to the beach - and every time he watched as the wind brushed her hair aside and exposed her neck, and restrained himself from running his fingers along the bare skin. On this outing the wrap around her waist was a gentle yellow. She had combined it with a light blue tank top which allowed her to showcase her toned arms. It was a rare occasion, but he was lucky to witness it.

There was one thing that never changed, she looked absolutely beautiful every time.

"You look really nice," she tilted her head up and smiled at him, then looked back down where her feat disappeared in the sand. One compliment and her heart was already racing.

"You like seeing me blush," she said softly.

He smiled and hummed in acknowledgement. Yes, he liked seeing her respond to his words and his touch. He enjoyed seeing her freckled skin turning that rosy hue. "Is here fine?" He asked and watched her take in the view before nodding. He pulled out the familiar purple blanket from her beach bag, laid it on the sand and waited for her to take a seat.

In the beginning of their friendship he made mental notes of the places where she wasn't looking over her shoulder, worried that someone would see them out together and misinterpret it. There were few spots where she let go and relaxed. After Stroh's escape he noticed she didn't unwind anywhere anymore. Even on the beach, where she usually laughed or would lay back and lounge under the sun, he could see her looking, end to end and from person to person. It worried him. He noticed it wearing on her day by day, but didn't want to overstep. She had drawn a definite line and he was confused as to where he stood in her life.

As he got comfortable beside her, Sharon closed her eyes and inhaled his cologne.

"You smell good," she heard the words slip out of her lips and could not stop the blush that crept up her face.

"Likewise, you always do." He said softly with a smile and rubbed her back. Flirting and compliments were not uncommon between them, but he could see she was nervous about saying that particular comment out loud. They both looked out at the water and his hand slipped away from her back when he felt he had lingered too long.

Andy's focus was drawn to her as she extended her legs to feel the coolness of the sand underneath her skin. The yellow cloth ran up above her knee. Just like the nape of her neck, he was tempted to reach out and stroke her glowing skin. He had many fantasies involving those legs. Many that were created while she spoke to him over the phone during her run. Fantasies that would have to stay as just dreams.

"So you want to tell me what happened?" Sharon tilted her head to look at him.

He released a long breath. It was just like her to want to get straight to the point and solve the problem. He also needed to remind himself that they weren't here on normal terms, it wasn't a regular outing; they were here to talk about his family problem.

Andy played with the sand as he spoke softly, "My ex-wife and I shared some words and…" he dusted his hands off and shook his head.

He felt like he couldn't do anything right. It was one mistake after another. He continuously disappointed the people he loved most. His children had been on the list for many years and he hated that Sharon had become part of it too. The lies to his family about their relationship and having to live through those unbearable weeks of her being distant were painful. He had been to more meetings than he had in years and expected to lose her friendship in its entirety. But when she'd been ready, she had listened to him, understood and forgiven him. It didn't take long for things to return to normal.

The more he thought about it, the more he understood her never, he was no good for her.

Sharon softly placed her hand on his knee, not letting it sit there for too long. "You and Nicole had a disagreement?" It was so easy to read him, there were few things that broke him so deeply. She knew how hard he berated himself and it hurt her. She wished Andy would see the biggest and most positive thing—that he was trying. And that his daughter loved him. "Have you called her?"

"I don't know what to say." He said frustrated.

"Andrew Flynn, don't disappoint her now," he looked over at her and she was smiling. It made him instantly relax and lit the usual desire he had to suppress of pulling her into his arms. She always sounded so optimistic like she had so much trust in him and it never failed to surprise him.

"Come on," she bumped his shoulder. "You're a changed man, don't run from your problems."

Andy shook his head as she pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Changed man? How many times can I mess up and keep expecting her to forgive me?"

He sounded so deflated and hopeless, she instinctively reached for his hand. It was the first time she initiated it, but the warmth that rushed through their hands was the same as the first two times.

"Andy? What's going on? Why are you so negative?" When he didn't look at her or respond in any way, Sharon took a long breath and squeezed his hand. He deserved some trust, some understanding and most importantly - love. Love. She closed her eyes and shook away the thought. "Talk to me, please." It was barely a whisper.

And there was the drawn out please again. The woman knew how to get her way with him. Her hand slipped out of his, he wanted to take it back and ask her not to let go, to humor him for a few minutes and let him pretend there could be more. Then once again he needed to remind himself and accept that she was there as his friend.

"My ex-wife will never forgive me," he shook his head.

"Hmm, but Nicole is not your ex-wife." Sharon folded her knees and ran her hands down her legs dusting off the sand, then hugged them closely to herself.

"She takes her mother's side every time we have an argument. It just… it sucks!" He said loudly.

"Andy?" She had been in a room with his ex-wife three times and had only shared a few words on two of those occasions. Both times were at the Nutcracker. At Nicole's wedding the mother of the bride had not come close to their table. She knew what a life with an alcoholic was like, the struggles and the pain. She could not fault the woman. But here was a man trying to honestly fix his errors, she wished she had that. She wished she had Andy. "Explain to your daughter that you need a relationship separate from the one she has with her mother. You deserve it and she knows you do. You just have to tell her, be open and honest with her." Sharon knew it was going to take some time to get through, she was happy she had an entire afternoon.

She playfully bumped her knee against his. Andy rubbed his hand over his face and looked at her. He released a long heavy breath when he saw her smiling at him. She always had a way to make him feel better. His frown disappeared and he looked back at the water.

"Tell me how do you change everything with a smile?" He said softly.

She hummed and then said, "I think it only works on you." Their eyes met and both their smiles grew. She bowed her head, but he kept his eyes on her - he treasured her timidness. "Now let me help you figure out how to solve the problem, tell me exactly what happened. Hmm?"

He sighed and nodded.

"Don't you two look cozy?" They had both forgotten they were not alone. He looked up to see Abby smiling down at him. She dropped Rusty's shirt on the blanket. Unlike Sharon, her white one piece bathing suit was only covered by a pair of faded short jean shorts and she wore a large tan beach hat. Andy watched as her hand landed on top of her head with the shift of the breeze and she closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of it against her face. Abby smiled and opened her eyes again. He found her hypnotizing, there was something that just drew his gaze to her. "I love the beach," she said grinning before pointing at the spot beside Andy. "Can I join you?"

"Yes," he answered with a smile and watched as she sat down beside him.

"You're not a swimmer, Andy?" She purposefully took the time to turn from the water and look him over carefully, wanting to get a reaction out of him. She flashed him a bright smile when he shifted nervously in his spot.

He was indeed handsome, even without the suit and suspenders.

"Hmm, no, not a swimmer," he said nervously watching as she checked him out. It wasn't a disagreeable feeling, but it was bewildering for someone like her to find someone like him attractive. He knew he wasn't in the best shape, he was sure she could find men much younger than him. His attention was drawn to her legs as she lathered them with sunscreen—he had a feeling long, sexy legs ran in the family.

"So I assume no surfing either, do you build sandcastles?" She smiled at him teasingly when she caught him staring.

Sharon listened to the two and closed her eyes. She had no right to be jealous, the same words kept repeating in her head: I am not jealous. Andy is your friend, your Lieutenant. Plus, she loved seeing her sister happy and enjoying herself, even if it was with him. However, when Abby giggled and she realized she was bitterly fisting sand in her hands, Sharon pushed up from the blanket. She hated sitting there, waiting for a turn in the conversation.

Two pair of eyes landed on her.

"Rusty," was the only thing she could say before she walked away without looking back. Why did it affect her so much?

Sharon stood on the sand and felt out of place again, awkwardly positioned in between other families who were lounging on chairs and towels. She looked across the water and spotted Rusty paddling further out. It was something Ricky had started teaching him and he had continued practicing on his own. She was happy to see him enjoying new things and creating a life outside the condo walls. She knew the security detail she had hired was close by and out of sight - if Rusty was in any danger, they would give her a call and break their cover, but she still liked to keep her eye on him when they were so exposed like this. She watched him catch the wave and grinned proudly.

Abby smiled at Andy.

"I was never as good as Shari, but I know my way around the water," she said with a small grin.

"Sharon swam?" Andy asked intrigued.

He pictured a young Sharon out in the water, just like her son. She had never done more than let it run up to her knees when they came to the beach. There was so much he didn't know about her and it made him curious to find it all out.

"Yes, she swam before she walked, according to dad. She was on the varsity team as a freshman in high school and got gold for her team, then again during her sophomore year. But then she joined debate and dance class in the summer before junior year and swimming took a back seat." Andy smiled at the way she spoke so proudly of her sister. She shook her head. "I shouldn't be sharing so much about the boss." Abby placed her hands beside her hips and looked over her shoulder with a bright smile.

She radiated happiness, it was so contagious, making him feel serene. The few times he spent time with her, his curiosity about her life grew. It was easy to see by looking in her eyes that she was not only a pretty woman, but also an intelligent one.

"So what were your extracurricular activities as a girl?" Andy asked smiling back.

"Oh," Abby looked out at the water, surprised by the question. "I liked having fun mostly, I worked hard, but also went out a lot. I was not an overachiever like my brother and Sharon." She shrugged.

"So we have something in common." Andy said softly thinking of himself as a teenager.

Abby grinned. "Do we?" She hummed seductively her teeth grazing her bottom lip. "Let me guess, you owned a motorcycle, wore a leather jacket and the girls called you a bad boy?" She raised her eyebrows in challenge and by the way he smiled at her she knew she was right or at least partially so.

"I still wear the leather jacket." He admitted.

As soon it left her lips he realized how much he liked the sound of her laugh. He noticed it caught the attention of the others sitting nearby and brought a smile to their lips, too.

"I have a few of those myself, and a bike." Abby said with a flirty grin, "Maybe I can take you for a ride, Andy." She raised one eyebrow in question.

Picturing her on a bike and wearing a letter jacket only fascinated him more. Who was this woman? He leaned back on his hands, getting more comfortable under her gaze.

"If you ever bring your bike to LA, sure." He said playfully. They both kept their smiles while keeping their eyes on each other. She was bold and didn't look away, he found he liked it. "How about your family?" He asked cautiously, but did not hide his intrigue. When she looked away and swallowed, he knew he had pried too much. "I'm sorry."

A melancholy had fallen over her like a mask. "I married as soon as the law permitted it and lost him too soon." She smiled at him again, but it was soft, showing him another side of her. She slipped on her sunglasses and hid behind them. In the few occasions he had been around her she had always been cheerful and bright, it was a much softer side of her that he was witnessing.

"Tell me about your family," she said softly, trying to change the topic. She regretted it as soon as he let out a heavy and heartfelt sigh. "Well, we both know how to ruin the mood, don't we?" She clapped her hands together brushing the sand away. They both chuckled. "How about you join me in the water?" She bit her bottom lip and even though it was hidden under the dark glasses, he knew she held a hopeful look in her eyes.

Sharon watched as Andy and Abby sat closely and smiled at each other, they looked comfortable together. She was upset that she couldn't help him feel better, but it seemed like Abby had done the job. Then her sister nudged his knee and slapped his shoulder, gaining a roar of laughter from Andy.

God, it hurt.

Sharon looked back at the water to see Rusty running towards her.

She glanced at the blanket again and saw her sister was gone, but Andy was still sitting and looking straight ahead. She noticed he was watching Abby walk to the water. She unconsciously shifted the yellow wrap around herself and frowned. She felt self-conscious as she thought of her two children and even though she had lost the weight quickly after giving birth, becoming a mother had left its marks, and being an officer had also left other traces, just like marriage and age. There was no way to compete with Abby.

She pushed her thoughts away and smiled proudly at Rusty as he approached her.

"You did great out there." Sharon said honestly walking with him towards the blanket and Andy.

"Thanks, this board is amazing. I just came out to get something to eat," he said smiling while standing the board up in the racks. "I'll pay Abigail back," he looked over at his mother as they moved towards Andy.

"Oh, don't you dare tell her that or she'll be extremely upset. It's a gift." She rubbed his back as they reached the blanket. Rusty shook the Lieutenant's hand saying hello before he went to search through his mother's beach bag, knowing she always brought something for them to eat.

Andy looked over at Sharon and when she diverted his eyes, he noticed something was wrong—something he couldn't decipher. She had slowly opened herself up to him and because of it they had become great friends, but there was something going on in the past few days which had her pulling away.

Rusty straightened up as he peeled back the wrapper of his granola bar, took a large bite, looked from Andy to Sharon and frowned. The two of them together were never quiet. Usually by this time into their beach outing they were sitting so close that in one simple movement Sharon could be on his lap. Something was off. Even though he was curious, he didn't want to get involved and instead grabbed his board while rolling his eyes. He decided to follow Lieutenant Provenza's example and ignore the two of them.

Sharon stared out at the water where Abby was swimming. She looked down at the man that had begun to consume her thoughts and sighed when she saw he was fascinated with her sister. What was new? Abby always caught everyone's attention. She released a long cleansing breath before walking around the blanket. No matter what was happening with them, she was here as Andy's friend, he needed her help.

"You're in a better mood," she said with a sad smile while sitting down beside him.

He kept his eyes on the water, there was something incredibly peaceful about watching it slowly shifting, the waves growing and crashing. "Well, you and your sister are professionals when it comes to lifting someone's spirit."

He grinned in that charming way of his. However, in that particular moment it only made her mouth go dry. She was losing him second by second and to no other but her sister.

You're still his friend.

She spoke softly trying to keep her voice controlled. "Are we? Hmm." She wrapped her arms around her legs and kept her eyes forward, if she looked at him she could give herself away. "Abby is a very good entertainer, I told you she could make anyone smile."

So good she thought that he was already looking at Abby the way he ordinarily looked at her.

He nodded, oblivious to everything going on in Sharon's mind and heart.

"Thank you for coming out," he said softly as he played with the sand thinking of everything he needed to fix in his life.

"What are you going to do?" She asked, it was why they were there in the first place. To solve his personal problem, not to watch him flirt with Abby. She grimaced at the thought and took the chance to look over at him. He was still captivated by her sister whereas before he would have been enthralled by Sharon. She pulled her legs closer to herself.

"I will call my daughter…" he trailed off. Then turned and looked at her. "Tell me something, hypothetically, if you and Jack had a disagreement at a grandchild's party, would Ricky or Emily toss their Dad out?" He waited for her to look at him, but she only hummed. That sound was very familiar to him, something was definitely wrong. He lifted his hand and rubbed it again his shirt brushing the sand away. Then cautiously slid his hand down her back. "You alright?"

She felt the lump in her throat when she heard the concern in his voice. Then tilted her head and looked at him, smiling softly.

Her eyes looked tearful, he had seen that same gaze before. After difficult cases, once after one of Jack's visits. Rusty had told him he was drinking and gambling again and had tried to win her over with a large sum from one of his winnings. He'd also seen it when Rusty was in danger. This time he knew it was something else.

She spoke gently, purposefully ignoring the second question, because no, she was not alright, and stopping him from asking anything else. "Jack never showed up for a birthday party after Emily was three. So, if we had a grandchild, I don't know if he would make it to their party. If he did, I don't think they would tell him to leave, even if we argued. They'd want him to stay. Especially Emily." When his hand left her back, she closed her eyes for just a moment, she wished he wouldn't have pulled away. She pushed herself to continue. "But it is because I have never once prohibited them from seeing their father while sober, or spoken ill of him. It's very different from you and your children." She cleared her throat, "Are you still going to therapy sessions?"

He folded his legs up and rested his arms on his knees, hands joined in front of him. "We are."

She was aware that he didn't like talking about it, but it was necessary.

"Then use that as your safe place, tell Nicole you want time alone with her without her mother being around. You'll never build a relationship with your children if she is always involved. Once there is an individual bond built, she will not take sides. Will you try opening up at your next therapy?" She smiled at him, but he noticed it wasn't her usual smile. He nodded.

"I will," he promised her. "But will you tell me what's wrong?" He squeezed her shoulder and the touch sent shivers through her. "I know your smile and something is impeding it." He said smiling gently at her.

It hurts to see you flirting with my sister.

It sounded so pathetic.

"I just worry about Rusty in this exposure," she lied despite it being a partial truth and looked towards her son in the distance; hopefully the distraction would give her enough time to hide behind the many masks she had learned to procure over the years.

It hurt him to see her so adamantly push him away. He was not behaving any differently than they always did, he had continued being just a friend. The only thing he could think of was to let her know once again that he was here for her.

"Hey, how about some food?" They both turned to see Abby running up to them only wearing her swimsuit, the water still running down her bronzed skin as she picked up a towel and rubbed it against the back of her neck. "What do you say?" She asked grinning when both of them remained silent.

Sharon did not dare look at Andy, he would be eyeing Abby from head to toe and she could not blame him, her sister was beautiful. Instead she nodded at her and excused herself to go find Rusty, leaving her best friend and Abby alone.