Everything He Is - Chapter 4

by Kadi

Rated: T

Moving day. It seemed so abstract. They began to think that it would never arrive, and yet it came at long last. It came to them a week later than they originally planned, due to a scheduling issue with the moving company, but at long last it did finally happen. It dawned bright and early on a sunny Saturday morning. With Rusty's help, Sharon had the apartment packed and ready, with Andy pitching in during the evenings when he was home.

Systematically, room by room, the condo was emptied and the moving truck filled up. Rusty and Andy had taken over everything for the nursery the weekend before, and spent a day putting the crib together and installing the furniture. It was a good day, and despite the frustration that came with putting together furniture, Andy enjoyed it. Rusty had too, which had surprised the boy, but then he was getting more accustomed to having Flynn around every day.

It took a few days to get settled into the new house, and unpacking would be a process. Slowly, they found a new routine and schedule, and life began to settle into something which approached normal.

Ian was growing by leaps and bounds, and suddenly they were talking about a return to work date for Sharon, rather than some abstract idea as they coped with spending their days largely apart. With Sharon's next checkup it became more of a moment on the horizon. The standard for a cesarean was eight weeks leave time, but with her age and the complication experienced during the procedure, her doctor wanted her out for a full twelve weeks. In full Sharon splendor, she negotiated it down to ten. She would be back at work with her team as the new year began, and already they had Ian a place in the daycare located on the building's fifth floor. Rank had its privileges. It was just under a month away.

Andy was thinking about that as he sat at his desk. It was another late night. They'd wrapped up their latest case, and it was just a matter of getting the reports finished. The team was heading out as they turned theirs in. Already Sykes, ever the eager to please, was gone. Tao had left just moments before, and since Buzz had his video footage catalogued he'd gone home hours before. Only three of them remained. Provenza had his own report to finish, and then he had to read through and sign off on those the team turned in. Time sheets were due again, and he was grumbling about all of that. Andy was adept at tuning him out, as was Sanchez who sat typing away at his own computer.

Andy's phone chirped twice and he lifted it. He swept his thumb across the display and noticed the text from Sharon.

Dinner ready, home soon?

He glanced at the half finished report in front of him and sighed. Another hour or two. Almost done. Need me to stop on the way?

The response was a couple of minutes in coming. Andy wasn't surprised, she was always so deliberate. The response itself, however, made little sense to him. He turned his phone sideways and frowned. She had sent a photo. It was a picture of a traffic light, the top of which was lit green. Andy dropped his phone and shook his head. He turned his attention back to his report. Either Rusty was jacking with her phone again, or she was in an odd mood. There was silence in the room, broken by the occasional grumbling from Provenza and the sounds of all of them typing. When his phone chirped again, it seemed a bit loud. Andy sighed and reached for it. He tipped the phone up and squinted at it. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Guess the honeymoon is over if that gets me nothing?

"What the hell?" Andy scrolled back through their texts and shook his head. He put the phone down again. The woman was definitely in a weird mood. He wondered if maybe the sleep depravation was finally getting to her. He went back to work on his report, figuring the sooner he got done, the better. That could be, he decided, her way of indicating she needed a break. He knew that Rusty had chem lab and then a study group, and would be home much later than usual. That meant Sharon was at home with the baby alone. Not an issue, typically, but she was acting oddly.

"Problem sir?" Sanchez was frowning at him from his desk.

"Nah," Andy shook his head. "Wife wants to know when I'll be home." He smirked a little at the way his partner wrinkled his nose.

"That's the way it starts," Provenza muttered. "One day it's all ooh, I miss you. Next thing you know, nag, nag, nag." He shook a finger at him. "Mark my words. The nagging has begun."

Andy rolled his eyes at him. "My wife doesn't nag." He grinned crookedly. "She insists, politely. When that doesn't work, she gets her gun."

Sanchez laughed. He pulled open the top drawer of his desk and reached into it. From inside, he took out a familiar, round object. He wiggled the beanbag at them and wagged his brows. "She can nag all she wants, sir."

The lieutenant snorted a laugh. "I'd almost forgotten about that." Andy leaned back in his seat with a wide grin. "In stilettos no less. Damn, I miss those shoes."

"You're sick." Provenza shook his head. "Get back to work. You don't get overtime for daydreaming about the Captain," He shot looks at both of them.

Andy chuckled. His phone chirped again and he reached for it. "Rusty's not home tonight. I'm betting the baby is asleep and she's just bored." He swept his thumb across the screen and his brows shot up. Sharon had taken a picture of their bed. There was something red and silky laid out on it. "Hell," he wheezed. Now he realized what she was trying to tell him, and it occurred that maybe the sleep and sex deprivation had gotten to him. Andy tucked the phone into his pocket and leaned forward over his computer. He quickly began working up the rest of his report. He sent it to the printer and stood up. "Report's done, get it yourself." He jerked his jacket off the back of his chair and palmed his car keys.

He was out of the room before Provenza could even protest. He shot a look at Sanchez. "What the hell?"

The Detective shrugged. "Don't ask me, sir."

"I'm telling you, this is how it starts," he shook his head. "Nagging."

Sanchez shrugged. He lowered his gaze to his computer, and a smirk slowly tugged at his lips. "Lieutenant, how old is Ian now?"

"Do I look like the Flynns' keeper?" Provenza shrugged. "I don't know, about seven weeks, I guess. Why?"

The younger man arched a brow at him. He tilted his head and continued to smirk. "Seven weeks… I don't think she was nagging sir."

"Son of a…" Provenza rubbed a hand over his face. The Detective was looking entirely too cheerful. "Do not say it, Julio. Just let it go. Forget all about it. That's what I'm going to try to do."

He pressed his lips tightly together, but just couldn't stop himself. "She was sexting, sir."

Provenza groaned loudly. "I could have gone my entire life, Sanchez. My entire life." He shook his head. "Finish that up and get out of here."

"Yes sir," he continued to chuckle.

"Horny old people," Provenza muttered to himself.

Andy replied while he was in the elevator. Home in twenty. It actually took him twenty-five minutes to reach his car and make the drive across town to the neighborhood they'd moved in to. He parked his car and jogged up the walk. The first floor of the house was lit by soft lamps, but was empty. Andy dropped his keys on the table beside the door and locked it behind him. His jacket hit the back of a chair as he crossed the living room.

He met her coming down the stairs. Andy drew a breath as he gazed up at her. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders. The red silk that she had teased him with hugged her frame, enhancing new curves and revealing her slender, post-baby form. She had dropped much of the weight, and what remained only made her more beautiful in his opinion. He knew that with her last doctor visit she had started a light exercise regimen, but she still bemoaned the fact that she would probably never be a size five again. Andy didn't care, he'd never seen anything lovelier. He had faith in her determination. If Sharon set her mind to it, she would make it happen. Now, however, it was the farthest thing from his mind. He moved slowly up the last few steps separating them. He braced himself against the banister with one hand, the other he laid against her hip and slid it slowly up her side, and then around to her back. He drew her against him and lowered his head. Their lips hovered, scant centimeters apart, while he stared into her eyes.

He missed her. Missed them, but he hadn't wanted to push her. He knew that she hardly felt sexy or desirable when she spent most of her day caring for a newborn. He told himself that he was content enough to wait, age tempered desire, but now he ached to feel her against him. Their breaths mingled while they stood there. These were not the languid, comforting touches they had exchanged these past weeks. When he did finally close the gap between them, he felt the tremor that ran through her. A low groan rumbled in his own throat and he drew her more firmly against him. Her arms curled around his neck and Andy half lifted her as he moved them up the steps to the second floor.

He pressed her into the wall on the opposite side of the stairs while their mouths met and plundered. Andy slid a hand into her hair and tipped her head back, while his lips angled for better possession. At her whimper, he pressed his other hand against the wall and braced himself. He tried to slow his desire, even as she began tugging his shirt out of his pants and working at the buttons. When her hands touched his bare skin, he groaned loudly. At her nails lightly scouring up his sides, he shuddered. His teeth nipped at her lips, and he turned his head, sliding them along her jaw to her neck.

When his teeth scraped over her collarbone, she tipped her head back and angled her body against him. She reached for his belt, but his hands covered hers. Their eyes met, his burned, almost black with desire. He took her hands and drew them away from him. He pulled them over her head and pressed them into the wall. Sharon drew a slow, trembling breath when he inhaled deeply, and his jaw clenched. They continued to stare at one another, hearts beating rapidly, the only sound in the hall was their mingled, ragged breathing. Her heart fluttered, swelled with emotion when he lowered his head again, lips far more gentle. Their mouths brushed, barely touching, while his tongue traced the upward curve of her lips. Their fingers twined together and with their gazes still locked, he slowly captured her mouth again.

The soft sound she made burned right through him, but Andy held himself in check. He let go of her hands to cup her head, fingers tangling in the heavy weight of her hair. They were moving much too fast, and as badly as he wanted her, he wouldn't risk hurting her. Instead, his hands slid slowly down her body. Andy stepped back from the wall, he drew her with him, and then he bent and scooped her into his arms. The laugh that bubbled out of her was like music, lilting and joyful. He grinned as he kissed her again and turned them toward their bedroom. He made sure the door was closed firmly behind him.

Much later found them seated in the center of their bed. Andy held his wife, an arm draped over her shoulder, fingers toying with her mussed hair. She was wrapped around him, skin still flushed and glistening, eyes heavy and lips swollen. She was quite simply the most exquisite thing he'd ever seen. He leaned forward, nose nuzzling her cheek. "Hi stranger," he rumbled quietly.

"Hi," she whispered back. Her nail traced the curve of his jaw. His fingers danced across her skin as they moved down her bare back. She arched into the touch and sighed quietly. They had needed this. More than she realized until he actually touched her again. Her body still tingled, ached in ways it hadn't in far too long. He was solid against her, his hands gentle. "Missed you," she murmured.

He turned them, lay her back against the tangle of sheets and the single, lone pillow which managed to survive the evening without being lost somewhere in a sea of blankets and discarded clothing. Andy lay beside her, head pillowed in his hand and continued to gently trace the curves of her face. "Me too," he answered.

Sharon curled a hand around his wrist and lifted his hand. She turned her face into it, lips against his palm. "I love you."

Andy lowered his head. His lips brushed over the bridge of her nose, her eye lids. He kissed the tip of her chin, and finally, drew her bottom lip between his. "Love you."

Reality returned when the monitor lit up. Ian began to fuss, at first mewling plaintively, and then moving toward full fledged cries. Sharon's brow arched. She laughed at his timing. It was fairly decent. Of course, she had kept him up most of the afternoon in the hopes that he would sleep more during the evening. "I don't think he quite comprehended the full scope of the after nine rule," she drawled playfully.

"I might need to discuss it with him again," Andy chuckled. He bent, kissing her once more, and then rolled onto his back. "I'll get him." He rolled out of the bed with a groan, back and knees protesting, but it had been so worth it. Andy had to sort through the mess to find his boxers, which he drew on. He tossed his shirt onto the bed, for her.

Sharon considered it. She stretched, rather languidly before she sat up and pulled it around her body. Then she slid off the bed and started picking up the bed clothes. She tossed them across the bed in some semblance of order, along with the pillows and laughed when she heard her husband talking to their son through the baby monitor.

"We had an agreement," Andy said. "Six am to nine pm, you get mom all to yourself. After nine, her goodies are mine. Work with me, son. Dad's got needs too. Mom is number one on the list."

Sharon shook her head. She ran her fingers through her hair and was still smiling when he returned, a freshly diapered Ian in his arms. The baby was still fussing. She held out her arms for him. Sharon pulled her hair over her shoulder and scooted back against the headboard. "Nice try, but I think he gets his stubborn streak from you," she teased. She opened the shirt and allowed the rooting baby to latch on, his cries immediately silenced.

"Quite possibly." Andy sprawled out on his side next to her. He kissed her bent knee, then raised up and kissed her cheek before dropping his head into his hand. "He's a Flynn. You were expecting something different?"

"No," she laughed. "Not at all. Although considering he's also mine, we could be in a lot of trouble here." Her eyes were dancing. Already their son was displaying a proclivity for being both stubborn and demanding.

"Hmm." His lips pursed. "What were we thinking?"

"Oh honey," she smirked at him. "I think it's more a matter of what we were thinking with."

Andy snorted. "You can be so bad." He moved closer and nuzzled the top of his son's head. "Watch out for girls like her," he mumbled playfully.

Her brows lifted. "Girls like me," she asked, a bit pointedly.

"Mmhm." Andy smirked at her. "Stubborn. Demanding. Bossy. Beautiful. Sexy. Irresistible."

"Nice save," she decided.

"Yeah, I know." He rolled onto his back and curled an arm behind his head. "Don't worry, I'll teach him everything I know."

Sharon giggled. "Oh, that I look forward to seeing."

"Yeah?" He tilted his head at her.

"Yes." Her smile softened. "Andy, you're a good father. I think we're going to do just fine."

He thought about it for a moment, and realized that he believed her. At some point, he stopped worrying about all the ways that he could screw this up, and just started enjoying it. Maybe their time was limited with him, more so than if they were much younger. It didn't matter. They couldn't worry about what might be around the corner, they needed to concentrate on the now. There were plenty of people around them that would be able to step in. Her kids would be there for Christmas, and Nicole and her husband were only a phone call away. There was Rusty, and god knew that kid adored his little brother. Then there was the team. They had Sanchez, Buzz, and Tao, and of course Provenza. He couldn't forget his partner. Grumble though he might, and often at that, his partner was crazy about this kid. Any one of them would be there for Ian if the need ever arose. Rusty wasn't one for sports, but maybe he'd show him how to toss around a ball. Then, when it came time, he'd have a little help with teaching Ian to do the same.

"Yeah," Andy finally said. "We'll be alright." He sat up and tugged her toward him. His arms moved around her and he settled his chin against her shoulder. He cupped his boy's tiny head in his large hand and settled his other arm loosely around her waist. Downstairs, he heard a door close and realized that Rusty home. Part of him that he hadn't realized was concerned, relaxed. Everyone was in for the night. Safe, secure. When he put Ian back in his crib later he'd do a circuit, check the locks. He'd check on their older son, and then he'd return to his wife. This was his future, and damned if it didn't seem perfect.

~FIN