Hi, just a quick thank you for all the lovely reviews!

Chapter 6

It was way after 9 p.m. when they exited the Police station. Rusty had been monosyllabic ever since the Pizza and Lauren too exhausted quickly gave up on trying to engage him into a conversation. When they came in Lauren stretched "I so need a shower."

"And I need to get ready for bed."

Before Lauren could reply Sharon cut in "Go on Rusty we have something to discuss here anyway."

Lauren rolled her eyes taking a seat on the couch and hugging a pillow. It was like an armor for the lecture she was about to get. She knew she should have called but she hadn't dared. After seeing the file Phillips had given her she knew why he wanted her to go. She also knew her mother wouldn't be pleased, since she had gone over her head. Sharon fell into the wing chair and got out of her heel eyeing her daughter. Lauren had settled on the couch playing innocent by looking at her with huge green eyes, her chin resting on the pillow she tried to hide behind.

"Trying to look cute isn't working here."

"But it doesn't hurt to try!" she said silently.

Sharon's lips twitched she wouldn't smile now. No this was too serious to allow Lauren to talk her way out of several things they were about to address.

"Why didn't you call?"

"First I learned that it was your case after I saw the file. I came back from New York the same day. I went to Norton straight from the airport and he briefed me. I saw why he wanted me to go. He had really contemplated to go himself but he's needed at the university and he didn't want to send Jim." Jim would have been eaten alive by her mother's squad. Lauren smiled at the thought of her brilliant yet nerdy colleague. "And when you knew? Lauren after the stunt your father pulled in July…"

"That was entirely your own fault", Lauren interrupted cold and snappy "and don't you dare to compare me with him!" she added threateningly low. "But you understand that it's complicated to have yet another family member in an investigation."

"I understand and I voiced these concerns to Norton. He's sure I'm able to do this, are you?"

She knew it was probably a bad idea to take this conversation down that lane. Questioning her mother's professionalism was never a good idea.

Sharon rose a brow and stared at Lauren over the rim of her glasses "Really? Attacking me to get out of this conversation isn't working either. So your professor thinks you can do it. The question is why didn't you call?"

Lauren hugged the pillow tighter and pulled her legs under her before she continued in a small voice "Partly because I was really busy I had only some hours to go home and get ready and partly because I knew you didn't like it but I really think you could use my help and I wasn't sure you would give me a chance if I told you in advance. Look mom I know you always try to protect me but I'm grown up and you have to admit I gave you at least a new perspective."

Sharon hummed. Grown up and hiding behind a pillow fearing a lecture she thought smiling a little; but she had to admit Lauren had helped today. They were still none the wiser but they had a new angle. Her daughter relaxed visibly and leaned back.

"What have you eaten today?" she asked addressing another matter that had concerned her since lunch.

"I had breakfast on the plane and that salad for lunch."

"You didn't eat that salad you just poked around in it."

"I'm sorry I didn't feel like eating after I saw that crime scenes on tape. Besides you haven't had any dinner too!"

Sharon bit her lower lip. She was right; Rusty had had a sandwich when her detectives got dinner, she had declined because she wasn't hungry. "Ok here's the deal you get a shower and I'll fix something for dinner."

"Only if you eat too!" Lauren gave back unfolding her body and got up. "Damn, my luggage! They didn't deliver it so they haven't found it yet" the young woman exclaimed moaning. "Your things are in the back of my closet. I put them there when Rusty moved in", Sharon, who had moved from her chair to the fridge, examining its contents, said calmly. Lauren nodded and headed to her mother's room. It was eerie to be in her walk in closet. When she was younger she had sometimes sneaked in and tried on her mother's clothes.

"It's not as much fun when you have permission", she said to herself looking at the hangers. She found some of her old stuff and quickly decided she wouldn't work in a faded blue jeans and her favorite hoody. She tried on the suit jacked of an otherwise fine pantsuit "Mom!" she called down the hall. Sharon appeared in the doorway moments later "What is it?"

"First I don't have nightwear here anymore, second this isn't fitting anymore." Sharon examined her daughter and laughed. The jacket was at least two sizes to big in the shoulders, while the whole thing was too short. "I see", she said and rummaged through her closet producing black pants a cream colored blouse and a pinstriped jacket. "Try that on."

"As I said it isn't as much fun with permission", Lauren mumbled jumping out of her clothes to try the other stuff on. "You have no idea how embarrassing that is!" Lauren exclaimed when she saw herself in the mirror. "Hey you can always take your jeans. The cowgirl look always suited you. If it's comforting I haven't worn this outfit in ages so they probably won't recognize it's mine."

Lauren ended up in a pair of Sharons jogging pants and a faded LAPD shirt. While Rusty had made himself scarce since they had arrived at home, After a quick shower Lauren padded back to the living room to find a bed set up for her on couch and smiled. After all coming home wasn't so bad. Two plates of sliced fruits accompanied by a glass of iced milk waited on the kitchen counter. Her smile broadened and she sat down at the counter. Sharon joined her moments later. She had traded her work clothes for a nighty and a robe and sat opposite her daughter. "That look's yummy mom", she said and got a "Than eat and don't just look at it."

Grimacing Lauren took a slice of apple and started eating. "How's Rusty doing? He isn't very talkative."

"He's mad because I didn't tell him you'd visit. He doesn't like sudden changes."

"But you didn't know I was coming."

"Exactly"!

"Ok, but why is he mad at me?"

"He's just uncertain. Insecurity always goes with meeting new people, more so, if they present a change or breach in privacy for Rusty."

"Perhaps he just doesn't like me, feel's challenged in his position or something like that."

"I'm confident since you are the grown up here you know how to approach this sensitive matter."

Lauren rose her brow's "He won't get a white pass for being rude to me mom. He can act out on you or whoever he wants but if he want's a confrontation he'll get one."

"He comes with a big package to deal with."

"Now is Darth-Raydor going soft?" Lauren asked smirking. Sharon rolled her eyes at the nick name "Play nice Lauren. He's a child."

And if he continues to be unpolite he has it coming, the younger one thought. They let the subject go and traded news about Laurens work and the family and called it a night around midnight.

When Sharon lay down she noticed she had received a text message. Curious although her eyes were burning with exhaustion she checked her messages. Flynn! He was either stupid or very cocky, maybe both. She opened the text.

Still mad?

What do you think? she fired back and snuggled into the cushions.

That you need a bedtime story, it's way after bedtime

Oh I belief you would find a way to tame the wolf she hesitated over the send button and sent it anyway. "As if my life wasn't exciting enough", she sighed to herself when she placed the smart phone on her nightstand and allowed sleep to take her.