Ricky stayed until early Monday morning, with Rusty dropping him at the airport on his way to school. Andy and the rest of the division were also back on their regular schedule. Sharon hoped for only one more week of medical leave, but she still was have trouble with dizziness and extreme fatigue. The nightmares also continued to plague her every night, a continuing variation on the same theme. And if she were totally truthful to Andy and Rusty, then she would have to admit to also experiencing the same nightmare one afternoon when she fell asleep on the couch. She still thought her visits with Dr. Joe were helping, well helping everything but the nightmares.

On Thursday evening, Sharon rode with Andy over to his place to check on things and allow him to pick up a few more clothes. While Andy busied himself getting his stuff together, Sharon crawled up in his bed, nestling herself against his pillow. When Andy returned from the kitchen a little while later she was sound to sleep. Knowing she desperately needed the rest, he went back into the den and started watching TV. Around 11:15 the buzz of Andy's phone startled him awake, he too had fallen asleep. Glancing at the text from Rusty, he got up, stretched and then went to his bedroom to check on Sharon. She looked so peaceful curled up in his bed. Andy went back out into the hall and called Rusty to let him know that they would be staying the night at his place. After going to the bathroom and getting ready for bed, Andy came back and debated whether he should wake Sharon in order to change her clothes. Watching her sleep so peacefully, he decided against it since she was just wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt anyway. Carefully, he settled into the bed next to her, hoping his movement didn't wake her.

SASASASASASASASA

The sound of his cell phone ringing pulled Andy from a deep sleep. Without even glancing at the phone he answered, "This better be good!"

"Where the hell are you?" Provenza groused.

"What do you mean? I'm in bed asleep. What time is it any way?"

"8:30," Provenza proudly replied.

"In the morning?" Andy said shooting straight up in bed.

"Yep, and you're late. What's the Captain going to think?" Provenza laughed before hanging up.

"Andy?" He felt a hand on his back. "I must have fallen asleep, what time is it?"

"Oh sweetheart, you're not going to believe it."

SASASASASASASA

Friday night, Andy was called out around 9:30 leaving Sharon home alone for a while. Rusty was out playing chess with friends. She spent the next hour or so talking on the phone with Gavin and even agreed to go shopping with him the next afternoon. Around 11:45, after Rusty came in, she texted with Andy on his progress and then settled into bed. It was close to 3:30 in the morning when Andy finally came home from rather quickly wrapping up the case. Needing to wash off the events of the night, he quietly crept into the bathroom to shower before crawling into bed with Sharon. He was pleasantly surprised that she didn't wake up when he snuggled in behind her. Andy hadn't been asleep long when her cries tore through his sleepy haze. The nightmare had returned with a vengeance. An hour later when he finally got her settled down and convinced that everyone she loved was okay, he held her tightly to him. He lay there listening for her breathing to even out and her body to relax back into the folds of sleep. He thought back to the previous night they spent at his place. She slept peacefully, all night long he thought. No nightmare, what made last night different he wondered.

SASASASASASA

The small café was quiet and not very busy for a Saturday afternoon. She sat in the chair across from Gavin, staring intently into her tea cup. "Sharon, honey, talk to me. Hello. It's me, your best friend, your confidant, your drinking buddy. What's going on in that pretty little head of yours? You've been quiet all afternoon and you certainly haven't been interested in shopping."

"I know, I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind," she mumbled still not looking up. Gavin was the only person she could talk to about extremely personal matters, but for some reason today, she just couldn't get the words out.

Gavin stared intently at her. She certainly looked better than she did just a week ago. Her cheeks had more color and the light was no longer totally absent from her eyes. Sharon wasn't wearing her glasses and even in her jeans and red pullover, she still seemed too thin and somewhat tired, but overall, Gavin saw a vast improvement in his friend.

Picking up her tea cup and taking a sip, she looked at him over the rim of her cup. He leaned across the table and looked at her, his eyes full of curiosity and concern. "Sweetie, talk to me. You're beginning to worry me, and I don't need any added worry lines on my face."

She rolled her eyes, placing her cup back on the table. "I'm just irritated that I can't go back to work yet. I mean, I understand it will be a while before I can go back out in the field again, but I don't think it would hurt me one little bit to sit behind a desk for at least a few hours a day. I'm going crazy being at home. I've tried to read, but I can't concentrate. Andy won't discuss the current cases with me...I just feel useless," crossing her arms tightly across her chest.

Gavin expected as much, "But I thought you aren't allowed to drive yet either? How can you go into work if..." he questioned.

"And how do you know that? Gavin, really have you and Andy been talking behind my back," she pouted.

"Darling, Andy and I both know that you won't always tell us the truth. At least now…"

"I've never lied to you Gavin or to Andy," her eyes flashing in anger.

"Not lie, I didn't say lie…but omit…yes. You and I both know when it comes to you and your feelings, you are the queen of omissions…to me, to Andy…Hell, even to yourself."

Well, he had her there she thought, damn, they both know me too well. "Okay, okay…I get your point," once again rolling her eyes at him.

"Sharon, Honey, look at me. Do you honestly think that you are ready to go back? We both know once you are there, it won't be just a few hours behind a desk. You will try to give two hundred percent, just like you always do. And right now, I don't think you have that in you. You're still having dizzy spells and nightmares...and honey, you are just entirely too thin. You need to build your strength back. Take this time to re-coup and rejuvenate, goodness knows you deserve it."

Taking another sip of her tea, "I know, you and Andy are both right, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it." Pausing, "And there's one more thing…but don't you dare laugh okay?"

Placing his hand to his chest in exasperation, "Me, laugh…never."

"Hmm…I don't know how to say this…It's Andy…well let me re-phrase that…it's me really."

"I don't follow. I thought you were happy with your handsome lieutenant?"

"Oh no, Gavin. Not that. I'm happy…I've never been this happy before. It's just…" she glanced back down at the tea cup, "we haven't made love yet."

Gavin burst out laughing, "Oh Sharon, sweetie, you scared me for a minute. I thought it was something serious."

"I asked you not to laugh," she said swatting at him across the table. "You don't think this is serious?"

"Okay, okay…why haven't you made love yet?" His eyebrow raising in question. "I assume you two sleep together every night. I've watched the two of you, I know there's plenty of passion there."

She looked up at him, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, "Yes, we sleep together and shower together most days. It's all very sweet and intimate but not in a sexual kind of way…It's me. I think Andy wants to make sure that I am ready after everything that's happen. I appreciate his concern, I do…But…"

"But?"

"That's not what's holding me back. Not what happen with Dunn…I know Andy would never hurt me and I feel completely safe with him."

Gavin reached across the table and took her hand in his, "Then, what is it?" Although he was pretty sure he knew before she even answered…Damn Jackson Raydor, he thought.

"What if it's not good? What if I'm not good? Gavin, you know how long it has been since…"she rolled her eyes in exaggeration, "well, too many years to even think about." she smirked. "And my only point of reference is…you know who. I don't want to disappoint Andy and he loves me so much, I think he would wait forever if I asked him to."

"Sharon, look at me." Gavin said, tugging on her hand, "You are a beautiful, sexy woman and Andrew Flynn loves everything about you. I promise you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Nothing..."

"You really think so."

"Oh, I know so. Now come on, let's get out of here." Standing he took her arm and led her out of the cafe. "You have somewhere to be."

"I do? What do you mean? Gavin, what are you talking about?"

"Just trust me sweetheart, we have a surprise for you."

"We?" her jade eyes full of questions.

Once the valet pulled up with Gavin's car, they got in. Sharon continued to ask questions, but Gavin just smiled and shook his head. When they missed the turn for the condo, Sharon knew immediately where he was taking her. Laying her head back on the seat, she closed her eyes and smiled to herself. With traffic it took almost twenty minutes to get to Andy's craftsman style bungalow. It was just beginning to get dark and the porch light was on. Once the car was stopped in the driveway, Gavin stepped from the drivers seat, stopping to get something from the trunk before he went around to open Sharon's door. He held his hand out to her and helped her from the car. Hugging her tightly to him he whispered in her ear, "Go...have a wonderful time, Beautiful." He placed a small brown bag on her arm before he let her go.

"What's this? She asked.

"Just a little something for Andy. You'll see. Now go."

Gavin stood and watched his friend go up the steps and open the door to the rest of her life.