Sharon

Sharon held her head in her hands as she sat at her desk, looking over the latest case files. Why the hell did she drink so much last night? In the morning light, Andy Flynn being attracted to her daughter was not worth this hangover, the sleep she lost, or any of her time today. When it came down to it, he was just another smart ass cop with an IA file so thick she could wallpaper her whole office with his past if she wanted to. Besides, Christine was a smart girl. Now that she knew Andy was an employee of her mothers, she certainly wouldn't go after him. As for Sharon being attracted to him, that was one big, dumb, drunken mistake. She wasn't attracted to him any more than she was attracted to Provenza. She was just letting her pride get in the way. Stupid, really, just like that last glass of wine was stupid.

Stop thinking. It hurts.

She held her hands up to her eyes, trying to make the pounding in her head stop. Maybe a smoothie was not enough on her stomach to make this go away. Deciding she just couldn't work this way, she tossed her glasses on her desk top and sauntered out of her office lazily, hoping no one else was there yet. As she walked in to the murder room, sure enough, there sat Andy Flynn. Of course he'd show up early today after royally screwing up at the bar. Or, kind of screwing up. Okay, not screwing up at all, but still-hitting on her damn daughter. How dare he. Why couldn't he call in sick today?

"Good morning, captain." His tone was quiet and awkward, not like her usual hot headed lieutenant at all. It was reassuring to see he was as embarrassed her.

"Good morning, lieutenant. I'm glad you made it in on time after your little foray last night." Her tone was decidedly not quiet or awkward, but forceful and garnished with a touch of bitter, if Andy had to guess.

He couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips. "You forget I don't drink, Captain? To be honest, I'm a bit surprised to see you here, an hour early I might add, after your adventure last night. Who knew you were a martini girl?"

She scowled, her hands placed firmly on her hips. "Number one, lieutenant Flynn, despite your taste in women, and obviously what you're used to as a result, I am NOT a girl. I thought of all things by you hitting on my daughter last night, you'd realize she IS and I am not." Whoops. That wasn't quite supposed to come out that way, but Sharon just couldn't help it; she was still furious with him. Her little outburst caused her to grab her head. She needed to eat something or she was going to be ill. Again. Wine and vodka-never, ever, ever would those two go together in her system again as long as she lived, provided she lived through today.

Andy shook his head, genuinely insulted by Sharon for the first time in a long time. "Sorry, captain. I was out of line with that comment," he sighed quietly, watching her as she looked like she was going to upchuck all over the murder room. She was pale, obviously hung over. Something about her was kind of cute, in a weird way. Maybe it was how vulnerable she looked, or maybe it was how much she wrinkled her nose when she was annoyed. New details about her seemed to surface every time she moved now. It was like she was a new woman, not the same captain who'd been standing in front of him for months, writing him up in FID for years. Yes, Sharon was definitely the woman he was attracted to.

She finally let go of her head and wrapped her arms around her waist. "I'm going to go run an errand. I'll be back by 8:30." She stared him down for another moment, then turned on her heel and marched back in to her office, grabbing her keys. This morning was certainly not one for another smoothie, or green juice, or even coffee. She needed something substantial and she needed, more than anything, to get the hell away from Flynn before she opened her big mouth again.

Christine

Christine sat on the couch, clad in a pair of floral print pajama bottoms and a black lace tank top, her long red hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She had a note pad balanced on her leg and several books splayed out next to her. She was nearly thirty, but she managed to look about twelve sometimes.

Rusty shot a glance her way as he walked through the living room, yawning. "Sup, little Raydor?"

Christine looked up from her book and laughed. She'd never get used to that nickname. "The sky, fool."

Rusty rolled his eyes. She was as cheesy as her mom. He looked around the couch at the coffee table for dirty dishes and only saw two empty glasses, a bright green film left in each of them. "You drink that disgusting crap, too, Christine?"

Christine nodded absent-mindedly, having already gone back to her work. "Yep. When Mom makes me." she let out a small laugh, then tossed her note book aside and grabbed the glasses. "There's a great little take out joint around the corner. They make the best breakfast burritos ever. Want to go grab a couple?"

Rusty liked that Christine didn't claim Sharon as her Mom. She was just Mom in the house. It felt weird, but it felt good. He never felt like he belonged anywhere so much as he did here, with these new women. He had yet to meet Sharon's son, but both Christine and Sharon assured him constantly that Nathan was excited to meet him. He nodded, then pointed at her pants, "Yea, we can go, as long as you promise not to wear your clown pants."

Christine looked down and laughed, "Deal. But I'm changing in to Mom's sweats. Its a holiday. No use in putting real clothes on, right?" Christine rushed off in to her Mom's room to change. She wanted to stay on the couch, to give her Mom her space, but Sharon insisted that Christine would stay in her room with her. She grabbed a pair of yoga pants and one of her Mom's police hoodies, then headed back out to the living room, a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on top of her head and her Mom's uggs on her feet. She looked perfectly LA.

Rusty locked the house and walked next to her, holding the elevator door open for her. "Its amazing how put together you and Sharon both look all day every day, and then what a mess you both turn in to once you're home," he teased, punching her lightly in the arm.

Christine glared at him, mimicking her Mom, then let out her own loud laugh. "Hey, can't be perfect all the time. Its important to be comfortable. If you can't do that at home, with the people you love, then where can you do it, Rusty?"

Rusty thought for a moment. She was right, but he'd never felt that. Even at Sharon's-he still felt like he needed to be as well put together as he could, even if his behavior wasn't always 100 percent stellar. "You're right, I guess. I just.. I don't know. Home's never been comfortable for me."

The thought made Christine sad for him. It was difficult for her to imagine how he'd gone through so many years without ever feeling safe enough to just relax. She made a mental note to take it less for granted. Rusty made her realize things like that a lot. She let out a small hum as they walked out in to the daylight, the city bustling before them. "Well," she finally said, wrapping her slender arm through his, his hand tucked in his pocket, "I hope you'll feel comfortable enough around us eventually to be able to do that. I know you don't call her Mom, but Rusty she loves you already. As far as she is concerned, she is Mom, you are son. That's the end of it. She'll never stop you from pursuing your biological Mom, but with us, you're home, bud."

Nobody ever called him pet names like these two crazy women did. At first he wanted to find it patronizing, but it had definitely grown on him. This was Christine's umpteenth visit since he'd moved in, and he was really getting used to having a big sister of sorts. Her enthusiasm and kindness always amazed him. As much as he did already love Sharon, she could still be intimidating. It was easier to talk to Christine. She was like.. Raydor light. Rusty laughed to himself as that thought occurred to him.

"I know, and I'm super grateful for everything Sharon has done for me-and you. You guys are great. I do feel comfortable at home...I just.. I don't ever want to get in Sharon's way more than I already have."

Christine frowned as they turned the corner to the little take out joint called Joe's. California was full of those little one-name dives. She loved it. The only thing that topped Joe'swas Pedro's, down in Laguna Beach. Sometimes she and Sharon drove the fifty five minutes just to get their hands on a couple of those famous burritos. She made a note to take Rusty there before she went back to New York this time.

"But that's the thing, Rusty. You aren't in her way. I don't know if you've noticed, but Mom doesn't really take shit from anyone, for anything. You are in her home because that's exactly where she wants you. You're in her heart because you've earned your way in to it. And once that woman loves you, its a death grip she keeps on ya, let me tell you."

Rusty's grin grew wider, "Yea, I know that already."

He lead her up to a table and then let go of her arm so she could sit, but she pulled her wallet out of her purse first. "You go ahead and sit, what do you want?"

Rusty glanced up at the large menu. They had about ten things listed, including a bacon and sausage breakfast burrito. He obviously had to try that. Christine took his order and committed it to memory, then walked up to the window, about fifty feet away from Rusty. She was nervous leaving him, even when she was still that close. It was her Mother's rule never to let him out of sight, but surely he'd be okay sitting there two minutes.

The Family

Sharon spotted the blonde head pretty quickly as she looked up from her book. She knew it was bad for her, but Joe's burritos had cured her hangovers for thirty five years. There was no use in finding a new cure now. Though she spotted Rusty quickly, she did not spot her daughter. Panic rose in her throat and she stood immediately and marched to his table. She touched his shoulder gently, not wanting to scare him.

"Rusty, what are you doing here?"

Rusty jumped. He always jumped, even when she did that at home. She hated how easily he could be startled. "Oh-Sharon. What are you doing here?" he asked quickly, confused as to why she wasn't at work.

Sharon exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding in, relieved he was okay. "I was just a little hungrier than usual this morning and had some extra time to get away from my desk. You won't tell anyone I snuck some junk food, right?" She had a goofy grin on her face as she shrugged her shoulders. They were always the tiniest glimpses, but he could definitely see how Christine could appear so youthful sometimes; Sharon could too, if you caught her in the right moment. Neither woman was naïve, in fact they were both far from it, but buried somewhere deep inside them there was a beautiful childishness preserved, like their goodness became animate and vital. It managed to escape at the tiniest intervals, but it was so refreshing for Rusty to see.

"Cross my heart." he smiled, resting his hand on hers, which was still pressed against his shoulder, "Christine is just ordering us some breakfast burritos. Do you have time to sit with us?"

Sharon smiled at the invitation. She always had time for her kids. "Of course, I can stay for about twenty more minutes before I need to get back."

Christine sauntered back, her glasses covering half her face, as she held a large box of food and drinks. "Alright, Rusty, greasy goodness coming righ-Momma!", she leaned over and kissed her Mom lazily on the top of her head, "too hung over to work?"

"Laura Christine, I am not hung over." Sharon's face was stern, but her facade was transparent. She nodded, resigned to telling the truth, then let out a guilty giggle. "Okay, fine. I was hungry and my lieutenants were driving me crazy this morning."

Rusty laughed and took a big bite of his burrito, "What, Provenza wear another barf worthy tie?"

Sharon placed a hand on him and rubbed his back soothingly. "Don't talk with your mouth full, please, and no, it had nothing to do with his tie... but now I think of it, the man does wear some ugly ties, doesn't he?"

Rusty raised an eyebrow at her, shocked she hadn't noticed before, and all three of them double over in laughter.

Catching her breath, Christine took a big bite of her burrito and opened her mouth just to defy her mother in solidarity with her foster brother, "So who's driving you crazy then, Mom? That lovely Mr. Flynn?"

Sharon glared at her, this time more seriously, "Lovely Mr. Flynn, huh? You mean my lieutenant, my subordinate, that man who I can't get to listen to a single word I say, police officer Flynn, Christine?"

Christine caught her drift. Okay, don't talk about it in front of Rusty-but yes that was the one. She looked back at her Mom with raised eyebrows, then let it go. Rusty looked between the two women, confused. "What did Andy do this time?"

Sharon sighed, her frustration from this morning resurfacing itself quicker than she'd like it to. "Oh, nothing. Just same old Flynn. I think I'd rather just be at home with you two today than be at work."

Christine's eyes brightened as a stroke of genius hit her. She wanted Rusty to be more comfortable at home and she knew exactly how to do it. "Mom, can you take the day off?"

Sharon thought for a moment, then pulled her phone out to look at her calendar. She scrolled through it, then nodded, "Well, I don't have any big meetings today. I really should be in the office, but I'm not feeling 100 percent... I suppose I could, as long as I don't get called out for a scene."

Christine squeezed Rusty's arm, then smiled a big, toothy smile at her Mom. "Well, I'm already in sweats, and Rusty has never had a relaxed day around the house with us. What do you say you call in sick and we all go home and you two can put your pajamas on, because its obviously the fashionable thing to do, and we can all watch movies all day like we used to do?"

Sharon looked between their two faces. She had to admit, they were irresistible when they wanted to be. She contemplated for another moment, then slumped her shoulders and pushed her lips out as she released a sigh. "I don't see why not. That could be a lot of fun."

Rusty and Christine shared a high five as Sharon pulled her cell phone out and dialed Flynn's number.

"Hello-lieutenant. This is Captain Raydor. Yes, Sharon Raydor, and that's not funny. Something came up at home, and I'll be out of the office today. No, no, Flynn, I'm not coming back today. I'll be available on my cell, and I'll work from home from 2:00 on. No, yes. Everything is fine. Ok.. okay. Bye." Her tone was short. She couldn't admit, even to herself, that she called him specifically so she could hear his voice. She'd still have to call Pope, but she had to let a member of her team know too, right?

After Sharon was done with her necessary phone calls she drove them home and they all got settled in their most comfortable pajamas; Christine still in her Mom's sweats. Christine and Sharon laid across the couch, legs intertwined, as Rusty sat on the floor, his back against the couch, sitting close to Sharon. Sharon mussed his hair and squeezed his shoulder occasionally as they watched the first film, which just had to be "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", just like she used to do with Nathan. It turned out to be a long, lazy day, filled with movies and popcorn and lots of laughs. It was simple, it was fun. It was a day Rusty hoped would stay burned in to his memory forever.