Chapter 8

It was before dinner time when the kids came back to the hospital and Andy left to help the team. "You want something else than that hospital food?" Rusty asked when a nurse brought Sharon's dinner.

"No thank you honey", Sharon shook her head and again only nibbled on some bread. Emily had brought a couple of DVDs so soon they were snuggled up as good as possible and watched a movie, even though Sharon's thoughts kept drifting off. She really wanted to call Andy to ask how things were going but she didn't want to disturb the team either. She had made a second deal with Andy and part of it was that he would come by in person to tell her if there were any important news. They were halfway through the movie when Andy finally arrived again. This time Provenca accompanied him.
"Hey Captain, how are you doing?" Provenza asked.
"Better, thank you Lieutenant", Sharon smiled quiet fake.
"Good. Well, we have a couple of news", Provenza said, "we interrogated Ruck. His alibi is waterproof. He picked up the car, delivered it at the mechanic and was there picked up by his girlfriend. They ate out, partied. A dozen of people saw him. There is no way that he is our guy." The little hope Sharon had shattered down. 24 hours since she was had found passed – everyone in the room knew that from now one things would get more difficult.
"All right", Sharon nodded faintly, "so that leaves us where?"
"The mechanic, what's his name?" Andy asked Provenza.
"Mark Cooper."
"So, Mr. Cooper said, that shortly after the car was dropped off, another police officer came in, said that there had been a mistake and that the car was fine. Cooper of course let him take the car."
"Does he remember the name of the officer?" Sharon asked.
"No. But he is right now sitting down with an illustrator to create a composite sketch of the man."
"Good", Sharon commented.
"We'll get this guy, Captain", Provenza reassured.
"I know. The sooner the better", Sharon replied.
Provenza excused himself and Sharon waited for the composite sketch. It got later and later and finally Sharon fell asleep again.
"You guys should go home and get some rest. I'll stay with her for the night", Andy said quietly.
"You haven't been getting any real sleep in the last 24 hours, we can stay here. You go home and get some sleep", Emily suggested.
"As much as I would like to do that, I want to be here when the sketch is done", Andy sighted.
"Right", Emily nodded. She had forgotten about that.
"What do you think guys, do you want to go home?"
"I guess Mom could use some peace and quiet", Ricky shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah. But call us, if you find anything out", Rusty said.
"Of course", Andy nodded.

It was a while after the three left when Tao sent Andy the sketch via E-Mail. Sharon was still asleep and Andy hated waking her up. But he knew that she wouldn't want it any other way.
"Sharon, wake up", he said gently while stroking her cheek. Sharon immediately woke up.
"What is it?"
"We got the sketch", Andy said and again, gave her his phone. Sharon looked at the face. And looked. And looked. Andy bit his tongue and gave her the time she needed.
"God Andy", Sharon sighted frustrated, "I don't know. I don't know."
"Talk me through it", Andy encouraged her. He sat down on the chair next to her.
"That face. It's familiar. But I don't know if I just WANT to think that."
"Don't think too much about it. Just tell me what comes to your mind."
"It's something from the past. Nothing recent. At least 15-20 years ago. It has something to do with work."
"Like a colleague or someone you just met during work?"
"I'm not sure. Like I said, it was over a decade ago, Andy. It's just that face that seems so familiar. I just can't be sure, it's so vague."
"Don't work yourself up about it, just keep it in mind, maybe you will remember more with time."
"Yeah", Sharon agreed, not taking her eyes of the picture. The night was uneventful. Sharon got some painkillers for the night that also made her very sleepy so she could sleep through the night. Before she felt asleep she told Andy: "If you are not going home tonight then please sleep in bed with me."
"Sharon, I –", Andy started talking but Sharon already knew what he was going to say so she interrupted him: "You are not going to hurt me. I have such a high dose of painkillers in my system right now, I can barely feel my toes."
Andy tilted his head and Sharon could tell that he was overthinking.
"Andy, please. I could use you by my side", Sharon finally said. And without another word, Andy took off his shoes, carefully and gently embraced Sharon and felt asleep.

It was an uneventful night. The team made slow progress to identify the sketched man. Sharon slept through the night and apart from her hurting body she felt freshened and so did Andy.
After waking up Andy talked to Tao shortly but there were no important news. Then the doctor examined Sharon and allowed her to go home.
"But you need to take the bed-rest very seriously, no walking around more than absolutely necessary, avoid any exertions. Your body needs the rest. I'll give you enough painkillers to get you through the next week and then you should get a checkup at your general practitioner."
Sharon nodded. She was just glad that she would go home. Reluctantly she even let a nurse drive her to Andy's car in a wheelchair where he helped her into the carseat. At her front door, two police officers were already guarding her condo. Inside, Sharon's kids had made her favorite pasta and all five of them gathered in the living room and – against Sharon's house rules – ate their noodles on the couch and armchairs. Even Sharon could stomach half a plate and felt much better in the privacy of her home. After everyone finished eating Sharon excused herself and took a much needed long hot bath. When Sharon joined her family in the living room she was dressed in a new pair of yoga pants and a black top with a comfortable cashmere cardigan on top of it. She walked towards the armchair when Rusty cleared his throat and simply said: "Bedrest", while he looked towards the couch.
"Right", Sharon sighted as she changed direction and laid down on the couch. "Where are Emily and Ricky?" Sharon asked.
"Running some errands", Rusty answered.
Andy got out of the kitchen and handed Sharon a cop of steaming tea.
"Thank you", Sharon took the cup and warmed her fingers, that just weren't warming up.

Just as she was succeeding in not thinking about the man that had been stalking her, Emily and Ricky got back. They looked like they had seen a ghost.
"What happened?" Sharon asked right the second they got inside. Wordlessly Ricky held up a small envelope. Sharon turned pale and sat up to quick which resulted in her ribs rebelling. She groaned frustrated because she couldn't get up before the pain was better. When her vision was clear again, Andy already took the envelope from Ricky and Emily put a hand on her mother's shoulder. Rusty looked from Andy to Sharon and waited for someone to do something.
"Andy, give me the letter", Sharon said through clenched teeth. Hesitating Andy handed her the paper. With a tissue, so that no more fingerprints were left, Sharon opened the envelope and read. Her stomach was about to flip and she took a deep breath in when she pulled a picture out. Without a word she handed Andy the letter and photo back and leaned back.
"My Rose,
I'm sorry I had to cut off a couple of your beautiful leaves but I just needed you to see that you need me. I was serious when I said that you should not let anyone but me into your home and I just wish that you could finally see that. What else do I have to do to make you realize that it's us who's meant to be together? All these years, my dearest beauty, all these years we have missed. But now it's time for us to be together until the end. The very end." Andy read out aloud, "that sick son of a…! How did he… how could nobody notice that somebody took a picture from us?!"

"Show the picture", Rusty said and Andy held the picture up. It showed Andy and Sharon lying together in the hospital bed, Sharon snuggled up in Andy's arms.

Hey everyone,
Thanks for reading! Things are getting serious for Sharon, I hope you liked the update - please leave a comment!
There are probably 3-4 chapters ahead of us until the end of this story. So if there is anything you would like to be integrated into this story, feel free to message me now:)