Andy put the letter in a plastic bag and sent a picture to the team.
Sharon leaned back into the cushions of the couch and tried to steady her breathing. She blocked out her surroundings entirely, didn't notice the existence of her children and boyfriend. It was the only thing that saved her from feeling completely naked and vulnerable. Everyone else in the room waited for her to do something. And then finally Sharon got up very slowly and walked towards her bedroom without saying a word. There she closed the door and curtains and sat down at the end of her bed, starting to come out of her frozen state. Her mind started racing: How? When? Why? Then Andy entered the room, without knowing what to say. So he sat down next to her on the bed wordlessly and took her hand into his.
"What are you thinking?" Andy finally broke the silence.
Sharon hummed.
"I'm not sure. I feel so vulnerable, Andy."
Andy nodded.
"We will get this guy", he ensured him, it was like a mantra that kept him breathing. We are going to find you.
"I know that, but honestly Andy, I absolutely underestimated him. I would have sworn that he hadn't been near us since the attack. I just – I just underestimated him", Sharon repeated herself, sighting.
So did I, Andy thought.
"The good thing is, that he is putting himself out there. He is getting sloppy. There will be leads, people must have seen him at the hospital and he couldn't have avoided the security cameras."
Sharon nodded faintly.
"Is it OK if I drop the letter and photograph off myself?" he asked, meaning the letter.
"Of course", Sharon nodded.
"Are you sure? Because I can call someone to pick it up right now."
"No, that's all right", Sharon murmured. They both walked towards the living room and Sharon kissed him goodbye in the hallway.
"Be careful", she whispered.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." Andy kissed Sharon and then hurried away.
"So, what now?" Rusty broke the emerging silence.
"Nothing much, Rusty. Nothing much. It was to be expected that new letters would come in at some point", Sharon answered while joining her kids in the living room.
"And the picture?" Ricky asked.
Sharon only hummed and the kids understood the clue to let the theme drop.
"Is there anything we can do for you, mom?" Emily asked.
"It's getting late. Why don't you get some sleep?"
"And leave you out her brooding?" Rusty said with raised eyebrows, "No way."
"I'm gonna go to bed too. There's nothing we can do right now." Even though Sharon had no intentions of sleeping she carefully got up again. She knew that none of the kids would go to bed while she was still in the living room. It took her a while but a little later she was situated more or less comfortably in her bed. Her kids kept fussing over her, bringing her water, tea, tissues, the phone and so one until Sharon chuckled and said: "Thank you. I have everything I need."
"Call us, if there is anything else you could use", Rusty said.
"I will, I promise."
"Goodnight mom", Emily said and kissed her on the cheek.
"Goodnight honey."
Ricky and Rusty followed Emily's example and then Sharon was alone. She knew she wasn't supposed to read due to her concussion but it was the first time she had some peace and quiet since hours and she was eager to go through all the material her team had gathered up to that point. She went through the files, one after the other.
"Who are you", Sharon whispered to herself.

When Andy got back home hours later, Sharon was asleep with the files around her on top of the bed-sheets. Andy gathered the files and piled them up on the nightstand. Then he gently took of her glasses, placed a kiss on her forehead, dimmed the light and went to the bathroom to get changed and ready for bed. He got into bed next to Sharon and turned the lights completely off. The next time Andy woke up the sun hasn't risen yet. It was still pitch-dark and Andy couldn't tell what woke him up at first. But then he knew. It was Sharon, shifting, panting and murmuring in her sleep.
"Shh, Sharon, honey, you're dreaming", Andy tried to sooth her but Sharon was still held captive by her nightmare so Andy shook her a little. His touch was enough for Sharon to shoot up. She opened her eyes but didn't seem like she realized where she are when she whimpered: "no, no, no, don't, please don't, I can't, please", frantically.
"Sharon, come on, wake up, it's me, you are safe", Andy said in a demanding voice until he got through to her and wincing, Sharon finally woke up completely only to be then agonized by the pain her movement had caused in her rib-cage and head. She stayed seated, leaned forward a little and tried to calm her breathing. Andy, who was desperate to help Sharon, laid a hand on her back but didn't say anything at first.
"Better?" he asked after a few moments and Sharon nodded.
"You wanna talk about it?" Andy asked while helping her back into a laying position.
"There's nothing to talk about", Sharon answered hoarsely but Andy didn't want to let go.
"What was your nightmare about? I'm so sorry to ask Sharon, but it might be able to help us find the –", Andy was defending his question but there was no need so Sharon interrupted him: "They aren't about anything specific. Just dark and rough. But nothing realistic."
"All right, OK", Andy murmured while thinking about what he could do to help her. Sharon read his thoughts: "There is nothing we can do about it either. Dreams pass, you know that as well as I do."
"But this is different, Sharon. You are dealing with memory loss here, you know that what happened to you cannot be compared to what we deal with due to our job."
"Well, if feels comparable to me", Sharon wanted Andy to let it go. She wasn't in the mood to discuss the possible emotional effects the attack had on her. Not yet.
Andy knew that he was going to start a fight and so he just said "Fine". Sharon was torn between feeling bad about treating Andy so harsh and being glad that he stopped pushing her into talking.
"I just need some time", Sharon whispered as an apology.
"I know."

The next day Sharon was up before Andy and slowly made her way out of the bed without waking him up. She made coffee, got her phone and sat down on the couch while checking her messages. They had been successful at locating the copy shop where the photo had been printed, whoever had sent it probably had thought that it was safer then printing it at home. But now the team was checking if anyone saw him in the store and could possibly identify him.

Sharon got up again to fill herself a cup of coffee and to start making breakfast when Rusty came into the kitchen, still sleepy.
"Morning Mom", he murmured while taking out another cup for his coffee.
"Good morning", Sharon smiled and filled his cup too.
"You weren't planning on making breakfast, were you?" Rusty looked at mother.
"Rusty, you realize that I'm not invalid, do you?"
"I do realize that but I also realize is that you are on bed-rest. No more running around than necessary, remember?"
"Rusty", Sharon sighted but she saw in Rusty's eyes that he was having none of it.
"If I were you, you would have tied me to my bed!" Rusty exclaimed.
"Oh, I wouldn't have!"
"Hell yes, you would have", Ricky chuckled. He entered the kitchen and gave Sharon a good morning kiss on the cheek.
"He's right. Go lay down on the couch, we'll make breakfast", Ricky then said and laid a hand on Sharon's back to guide her to the living room.
"Fine", Sharon said, starting to feel a little trapped by her beloved ones.

For breakfast – which was eaten in the living area so that Sharon could stay on the couch - Andy and Emily joined the rest of the family.
"So, Emily, Ricky, how long do I have the pleasure of having all of my children under one roof?" Sharon asked after she put her plate on the coffee table.
"Are you trying to get rid of us already, mom?" Ricky joked.
Sharon tilted her head and rolled her eyes which was a movement she regretted a little afterwards because she was still suffering from bad headaches.

"Well, I think I could explain my boss the situation and get a couple more days off before I have to get back into training", Emily said with a guilty look on her face. Just the thought of leaving her mother alone in such a situation made her feel bad, even though she wasn't exactly alone.
"Em, there is no need for you to feel bad about having to go back to New York. As much as I love having you here and as much as it helps I understand that you need to get back. And I will be fine", Sharon smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"I am sure", Sharon nodded, "when would you have to leave?"
"Well, I could get on a plane tonight and attend the next training tomorrow. But that's so rushed", Emily sighted.
"Sweetheart, don't worry. You will leave tonight then. I am truly OK with that."
Emily blinked away a couple of tears.
"How about you, Ricky?"
"I actually have a meeting tomorrow morning in NY and thought about taking the same flight as Emily. I can get back directly afterwards though, there's not much going on these days."
Sharon nodded, she liked the idea of her two kids flying together. Even if there was no immediate threat for them, she was a little relieved to know that they were going to be safe.
"That sounds like a plan", she said.
"And you are sure that's ok?" Emily asked one more time.
"I am", Sharon confirmed again.
"We'll take good care of her", Andy promised and Rusty nodded.

Sharon enjoyed the last day with all her children together as much as she could. The team moved along very slowly and with difficulties and Andy was with them all day. When it was time for Ricky and Emily to get to the airport Sharon talked Rusty into taking them.
"Kids, I am going to survive two hours alone. Besides, I am not even alone, I have two police officers right in front of my door. Rusty will drive you and that's the end of the discussion!" Sharon demanded and her children gave in.

As Sharon closed the door behind them after they said their goodbyes, Sharon took a deep breath in and laid a hand on her rib-cage. Just breathing in deeply already hurt. She slowly made her way to the bathroom to take a shower. She just turned it on when she heard a noise coming from outside the bathroom.
"Andy? Is that you?" she asked through the closed door but there was no answer back so Sharon thought she imagined the noise.

Thank you soooo so much for your wonderful reviews on the last chapters, they encourage me so much! Thank you!