Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this! I'm so glad everyone has enjoyed reading it so far! I am trying to write more crime in to this one keeping in line with the show. Its my first try with crime, ever really, so we'll see how goes. Keep reading, keep reviewing! I love hearing what you all have to say!

Andy.

Andy sat on the corner of the desk, arms crossed, staring. No matter how many times he looked at the photos of Amelia, he couldn't get used to them, he couldn't make himself numb-not this time. He let out a sigh. He knew he should get home. Everyone else had left hours ago and the night sky was creeping through the windows as the sun disappeared behind the fluorescent lights of downtown LA. Amelia. Abigail. Even the names were too similar for his liking. He rubbed his forehead and pressed his hands in to his eye sockets. This case was going to take it out of him, and if he didn't watch it he was going to take it out on everyone else.

He needed to talk to Sharon as his boss, but he couldn't start the conversation. Not with her. She wouldn't understand. And yet, she really was the one he'd wanted to tell. Besides, he hadn't so much as muttered Abigail's name since he moved to the west coast. Why start now? No. He would beat this, just like he beat everything else. He would solve this case-for Amelia. For Abigail. He grabbed his coat and moved to leave. He glanced back at the photos of Amelia hung on the whiteboard one last time before he switched off the lights in the murder room. Her eyes were the worst part. He would never forget her eyes.

As Andy pulled out of the station and turned right, he found himself driving towards Sharon's house. He'd been there a few times as a favor to drop Rusty off or pick him up, but it wasn't on his way home at all. Did he really want to apologize for making her cry or was he just looking for a distraction? He knew she'd be pissed if he went to her house-but that was half the fun. He glanced at the discarded novel on his passenger floor as he sat at a red light. Rusty had left it there a few days ago and he'd been meaning to return it. Surely he was missing it by now; it'd only be right to drop it by. He breezed through another light as he contemplated the look on Sharon's face when she answered the door and saw him standing there. Would she still be mad? Or hurt? He still didn't know which she was today-she'd nearly cried, yes, but being hurt required having a heart and Sharon Raydor obviously didn't possess one of those. Andy chuckled to himself as he came to a stop in one of the visitor slots in the parking deck for Sharon's building. Hey, if this turned out badly, maybe he'd be off the case. If it turned out well, at least it was a good distraction, even if only for the slightest moment.

Sharon.

Sharon sat curled up on the couch, her feet tucked underneath her lithe frame. She had her favorite black cardigan wrapped around herself and was nursing a glass of white wine as she watched TV with Rusty. Normally this much television wasn't allowed, but it had been one hell of a day and she was too tired to pretend she wasn't upset. The TV kept Rusty's attention more than her bad mood would and she'd at least gotten him to agree on a historical movie instead of Family Guy-his original request. She jumped when the doorbell rang, and then rolled her eyes. As Rusty hit pause on the remote, she stood and wrapped her sweater tighter around her body before she moved towards the door.

As she looked through the peephole she spotted Andy, head down with a book in his hands. As if yelling at her at work wasn't enough, he had to show up at her house? This was totally inappropriate. She unlocked the door and opened it, wondering what on earth he was doing.

"Hello lieutenant Flynn. Can I help you?" Her tone was flat, as if she was making up for her emotions at work by having none at all now.

Andy cleared his throat. This was more nerve racking than he thought. "I uh-Rusty. He left a book in my car. I just noticed it… thought he might need it for school."

Sharon took the book out of his hands, careful not to touch him in the process. "Well, thank you. I'll be sure he doesn't do that again."

Andy looked at her almost pleadingly. Did she really never drop the damn act? "It wasn't a problem, Captain. Really."

She took note of his look-and his tone was softer than usual, too. Good. Maybe he was sorry for making her cry, for being a jackass, for being totally out of line. It still didn't excuse it. She watched him for a moment, half annoyed he was still standing in her door way. "Well goodnight then, lieutenant Flynn."

Andy caught the door as Sharon tried to close it. Now that he was in front her, he felt compelled to apologize. He hadn't meant to go off on her. And god, he hated making her cry. He hadn't expected seeing her in tears to affect him so much. She could make him feel bad even when she wasn't trying.

"Sharon, wait."

She raised her eyebrows. Insubordination was one thing at work, but invading her home was wholly unacceptable. "Lieutenant Flynn, you are totally out of line. Its fine that you came to drop off Rusty's book, but its time for you-"

"SHARON." He snapped again. He just needed her to listen to him.

She didn't know when he decided it was all right to call her by her first name. There was something commanding, something desperate in his voice that made her uncomfortable. She was used to Andy's snarky anger and the occasional hotheaded debate. She wasn't used to this emotion.

She stepped outside the door, effectively pushing him back in the hallway, then closed it.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't raise your voice to me in front of Rusty. Its bad enough you disrespect me at work in front of our colleagues, but I will not have it in my home in front of one of my children."

Andy nodded, backing away from her. "I'm sorry. For everything. I shouldn't have yelled at you today….or right now."

He was different. This wasn't her lieutenant apologizing for bad behavior. This was deeper, all of it, the outburst this afternoon, snapping at her now-it was out of character for him. Sharon's face softened as she watched him shove his fists in his pockets. If she stopped and thought about it, he'd really been different the last few days.

"Andy, what's going on with you?" She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. She was tired, but this was obviously important. "Are you alright? Ever since this new case... if you need to talk, I will listen."

Andy shook his head and gritted his teeth. He'd hoped it wouldn't come up, but he should have known better. Despite his little fit, he knew she was perceptive. It was one of the things he liked least about her sometimes.

"This case just uh, it hits a little close to home. I'll be alright." He tried to look tough, but his eyes told her otherwise. This was serious-a lot more serious than he was willing to let on. The lines on his face stood out as he looked down at the floor. He seemed exhausted, defeated, and suddenly the fact that he yelled at her just didn't matter. How could she miss that one of her team was in so much pain? She'd taken note that he seemed bothered at the autopsy, but this was a tough case for everyone. She felt horrible for missing it.

"Andy…" she wasn't sure whether to be Captain Raydor or just be Sharon. "This is hard. I can't make you talk to me, but I would like you to. I know it doesn't always seem like it, but I do care about my team…."

He felt her hand on him, her slender fingers wrapped gently around his forearm. He relaxed slightly as she touched him. It was nice to have someone touch him. He ached for a hug.

"I don't want to bother you, Sharon. You've got a lot on your plate and this is a tough case for the whole squad. The gruesome ones always throw things off a little. I just wanted to apologize for lashing out. I shouldn't have done that." His eyes met hers as he looked up to study her face. She seemed as shocked now as she did when he yelled at her. "I know you care about us. I know this job is what you live for. Its what we all live for." He couldn't stop the tears brimming his eyelids. It was partly an embarrassment, partly a relief. He'd needed to let go for years. Maybe this was the moment he would. Maybe he had no choice.

Sharon eyed him carefully. She wanted to help him, but he'd have to let her in before she could do that.

"Thank you for that. Truly. Andy, what can I do for you? Just tell me-anything."

She was normally good with emotions but she felt like she was grasping in the dark with Andy. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, make him feel better. She wanted to take whatever was on his mind and make it disappear, right along with this whole terrible case.

Both Andy and Sharon jumped as the front door opened and Rusty peaked his head out. In the intensity of the moment, they'd both kind of forgotten where they were.

"Sharon, are you-oh, hey Flynn. I didn't realize it was you at the door." Rusty smiled at the lieutenant and offered his hand for a high five.

Sharon watched Andy straighten up and change his demeanor almost immediately. Whatever moment they'd been in, it was gone. Andy returned Rusty's high five and did his best to attempt a smile.

"Heya kid. Didn't mean to keep you and Captain Raydor, I was just dropping your book off."

Rusty rolled his eyes. "Oh, yea, that. Guess I should read it before my test next week," he grumbled as Sharon handed him the book.

Andy looked between the two of them. They were comfortable together. "Yea, you should do that. This one over here is a slave driver. She won't feed you for a week if you do less that perfect."

Sharon playfully smacked Andy on the arm and he couldn't help but smile back at her. She was prone to touching his arm in the office or getting his attention by tapping him on the back, but the way she touched him this evening was softer, more casual, comforting.

Rusty laughed as Andy teased Sharon. "Okay, we gonna get back to the movie or what? Its already past your bed time, Sharon."

A hint of pink flushed in Sharon's cheeks. "Oh, it is not. You two are impossible together!" It was Rusty's turn for the smack.

Andy reached in his pocket for his keys and let out a sigh. Apologizing to Sharon had made him feel a little bit better, even if the subject of Abigail was still hanging heavy in the air. Maybe it would be enough relief to get some sleep tonight. He could only hope.

"Alright, Captain. Thanks for the uh, the discussion. I'll catch you tomorrow in the office."

Sharon glanced at him, searching his face for any hint of the emotion she'd just seen, but he looked perfectly calm and level again. "Alright, if you're sure we can leave the case here tonight, otherwise the movie can wait, lieutenant."

It felt unnatural to call him 'lieutenant' after she'd just been able to say his first name, and to address his feelings as a 'case' but the unspoken barrier went right back up as soon as Rusty had appeared. She could tell it was all business from here on out and no matter how she tried, the subject was closed for the evening.

"I'm sure. I'll see you in the morning. Rusty, don't give her too much of a hard time. Goodnight you two."

And with that he was off. Sharon watched him as he disappeared in to the elevator. In a way, she was relieved he was gone. The whole day had been an amalgam of unfortunate happenstance with him, and yet, she felt like they'd managed to turn a corner this evening. Whatever it was, there was a new respect there. Maybe even the beginning of a friendship. Who knew? She could barely even imagine what tomorrow would look like at this point.