"How are you holding up?" Chief Taylor watched the back of Sharon Raydor, but he could imagine what her face showed... or in the case of Sharon, tried not to show.

Realizing she wasn't meant to be part of this conversation, DDA Rios left the room and closed the door behind her.

"I'm fine, Chief," Sharon replied.

"I didn't ask you as your boss, I asked you as your friend. We go back a lot of years, Sharon, and I've never seen you in a tougher situation. Even Jack didn't cause you this much stress."

Laughing derisively, Sharon tried to catch herself before her laugh turned into a cry. "I'll be okay. I can get through this. We... we can get through this."

"I didn't ask that, either. Of course you will get through this, I don't doubt that for a second. I'm asking how you are now, right this minute. Talk to me."

Slowly Sharon turned around and lowered herself into the nearest chair. Stifling the sigh this time was much more difficult, and she couldn't stop the tears forming at the edge of her eyes.

"I'm... I don't think I can hold on to my objectivity. I want this killer so much I can't stand it. What he did to Rusty... what he almost... almost..." the gasp couldn't be kept out of her voice this time.

Taylor watched and waited. Part of him wanted to give her the hug she so desperately needed, but he knew Sharon, and he knew it wouldn't be appreciated. She had to be untouchable at the moment. Hugs would come later.

"Would it be easier if I was your boss and not your friend?"

Sharon tried to smile, the message not lost on her. "If you would, please Sir. I have to get my equilibrium back."

"Fine, fine... Captain, I can tell you I haven't seen any hint that your equilibrium is gone. You are handling this as well as any other case Major Crimes has had to deal with. You are methodically going through each and every possibility. So, what does your instinct say about the mother. You think she's going to be our answer?"

Sharon took a deep breath, grateful that their roles were defined along work lines once more.

"Honestly Chief, I don't think she will be overly helpful, but maybe she will give us the key we need to discover this man's identity. Ms. Rothman obviously knows something."

"Knows something, or is bluffing. You never can tell with lawyers."

"I agree... however that is not an issue. She had a message to deliver, and she delivered it. Did you see her face? I don't think she realized how deeply deranged Philip Stroh was until she heard that there were six names on that list. That surprised her."

"Whatever else I might say about Linda Rothman, she's a professional. She will do the job she was hired to do, no matter who gets in the way. But I don't think she was prepared for how depraved Philip Stroh really is."

"Or his associates."

"You do know she's going to go at Rusty with everything she has," Taylor said, watching Sharon's response.

She was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath to steady her voice, "Yes Chief, I know. And I'm confident he can handle it, at least on the stand."

"You're preparing for the fallout?"

Sharon shrugged slightly, "What more can I do? We all know this is going to be harder on him than he can imagine. I just... I wish I could be there with him."

"You can't do that."

"I know..."

"He couldn't handle your being in that court room listening to what he's done. It's one thing for him to know we have a pretty good idea of what he did all those months on the street, but to actually say it out loud with the woman who has become his mother listening..."

"I know, Chief. I haven't made any attempt to go to the courthouse. Lt. Provenza is with him."

"I'm not suggesting otherwise. I just know you wish things could be different."

Sharon stood and straightened her jacket, "I do. I want this to be over. I want him home and safe, and able to play chess, and go to school, and all the things a boy his age should be doing. But I can't change anything for him, so I'm going to stay here and do my job."

"And you do it well, Captain. What can I do to help?"

"I don't know, Sir. My team is following up on those names. Hopefully we will have information on the couch covers shortly. With any luck the suspect's mother will be more help than we are anticipating, and we will find our killer."

"Good... good," Taylor stood as well. "I'll leave you to it. That's the suspect. Now, what can I do for you with Rusty?"

"Chief?"

"Captain, you can't be there, but I can."

"At the courthouse?"

"Exactly."

"Oh, Chief," her breath rasped, "could you be my eyes and ears? Rusty needs to see a friendly face, and no one from my team can be in that courtroom to hear his testimony."

"I can definitely do that, Captain, and I will report back to you anything I think you want to hear. I can make sure he returns to the station when it's all over. I suspect by that time you will be out catching our John Doe, and putting the last piece of this puzzle together."

"I hope you're right, Chief. And thank you."

"Don't mention it."

"I'm serious, Chief. I really appreciate this."

"I know that, Captain. If it was my kid down there, I would be out of my skin right about now. You're doing a good job. Keep it up."

"Yes Sir."