Andy and Rusty quietly entered Sharon's hospital room. They found her – again – as pale as the white sheets, lying in bed, sleeping what seemed to be peacefully but both knew that that was only due to the drugs the doctor had given her. Andy sighted loudly, placed a kiss on Sharon's forehead and then sat down on the chair in the corner of the room. Rusty sat down directly besides his mother's bed and looked at his mom. This wasn't how it's supposed to be. Sharon had always made sure, that Rusty was safe. She was the mother, so in Rusty's eyes, Sharon was invincible. Seeing her suffer like that made him cringe.
"Andy, do you think she is going to be all right?"
Andy looked at Rusty and was a little surprised. It wasn't often that Rusty opened up like that towards him.
"Yes, I think she is going to be fine", Andy nodded but could see that Rusty wasn't convinced yet.
"Look, I knew this is… a lot. But Sharon has already overcome a lot in her life – she is tough. She isn't going to let this bring her down. It will take some time and I am not saying that it will be easy for Sharon but we will be there to help her in that process. She will be all right."
"Someone wanted to kill her, Andy", Rusty said in a shaking voice.
"Yeah", Andy nodded faintly. Rusty was still worried so Andy said: "but it's not the first time and probably won't be the last time as long as she continues to work for the LAPD."
"But this is different", Rusty argued, "this wasn't because of your jobs. This had not much to do with the LAPD. Someone got into our home and planned… you know. This man didn't react in the heat of the moment."
Andy sighted again: "I know what you mean. And honestly, there's not much I can say. You're right. This is different. But I honestly believe that this isn't going to break Sharon. And it's not going to have any effect on our relationships with her. Just look at what you went through, Rusty. Sharon will get through this too."
Rusty knew that Andy's words came from an honest place and nodded. There wasn't much talking for the next hours. Andy called the team and updated them on Sharon's wellbeing while Rusty informed Ricky and Emily. They were both more than upset but Rusty could convince them not to get back on the next plane since there wasn't much they could do for Sharon right now anyhow. He promised to have Sharon call them as soon as she felt up to it.

And finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sharon started to shift. Andy had fallen asleep uncomfortably in the chair and immediately woke up.
It took a couple of minutes until Sharon opened her eyes a little.
"Hey mom", Rusty whispered gently. Andy got up and stroke her cheek. Sharon smiled faintly: "Hey."
"It's good to see you awake", Andy murmured and Sharon hummed. She was still half asleep.
Rusty got up to get some ice and a nurse while Andy stayed with Sharon.
"What -?" Sharon only said and Andy didn't need more from her to know what she wanted.
"You remember Alexander O'Riley getting into the condo?"
Sharon nodded and ask with a raspy voice: "How?"
"Well, you may remember that he was working for the security division since a couple of months. The kids' and your guards? They all knew and trusted him."
"But-" Sharon started and again, Andy interrupted her: "But the guards in front of the condo had special orders to not let anyone inside that wasn't on the list we put together? That's right. Even though they knew O'Riley as well, apparently one guard, Peterson, went downstairs to check with his immediate supervisor whether O'Riley was allowed to go in. They were skeptical. Unfortunately not enough. While Peterson was away O'Riley knocked the other guard out. But don't worry, it seems like he going to be just fine."
Sharon was relieved to hear that.
"You remember what happened in the condo?" Andy asked carefully.
"Yeah, I remember. Is he dead?"
"Yes. He died…", Andy didn't know how to put it. In your bedroom? Next to the bed? "…at the scene."
Sharon kept her eyes closed and Andy couldn't tell how her wellbeing was.
"So, how are you feeling?"
"Hm", Sharon hummed, "a little numb." She still avoided to open her eyes because the light felt like needles poking her head.
Before Andy could ask her if she needed anything, Rusty returned with the doctor. He told Sharon the same he had told Andy and Rusty, did a few tests, adjusted her IV and then left the room.
Sharon kept lying in her hospital bed motionless and shifted in and out of a rather comatose sleep. The entire team came by but Sharon wasn't awake so they left rather quickly. She slept through the night dreamlessly due to the medications she had been given. Neither Rusty nor Andy left the room longer than ten minutes that night. The next morning Sharon woke up because of a sharp pain in her head. Andy was asleep in one of the fold-out chairs but Rusty noticed her grimacing with pain. "What is it?" he whispered and got to her bedside.
"Head", Sharon was only able to ground.
Rusty immediately pressed the bell that informed a nurse to check in with the patient. A young, blond woman arrived moments later and gave her a higher dosage of pain medication. About ten minutes later Sharon was finally able to relax a little. "Feeling better?" Rusty asked.
"Much", Sharon nodded.
"Good", Rusty sighted and then asked: "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you. I'm good for now."
"'kay. Emily and Ricky wanted to jump on the next plane after I called them yesterday. I could convince them to wait until you are awake but I promised them that you would call them immediately. Do you feel up to it?"
Sharon just nodded.
A little later Sharon had convinced her two oldest to stay where they are. There was no danger for Sharon anymore and the only thing that could help her recover now was time. And time was what she got from her family and friends.

A little later that day Rusty got home from the hospital for the first time. Gus had visited Sharon at the hospital and after Sharon encouraged Rusty and Andy more than once to get some real rest, Rusty finally agreed to spend the night following night in the condo. He unlocked the door and took a step back after her turned on the light. "What is it?" Gus asked, who was so concentrated on his boyfriend that he didn't see what Rusty saw.
"I forgot", Rusty aspirated.
Gus entered the living room until he stood next to Rusty and now knew what he meant. The condo wasn't exactly homelike. It was a crime scene. Nobody had had the time to clean the place so there was still shattered and partially bloody glass on the floor, withering roses all over the living room plus medical supplies that had been used on Sharon.
"Right", Gus murmured. Wordlessly Rusty got plastic bags and the vacuum cleaner and without talking the two started to remove everything that reminded of the obvious fight Sharon had put up. It took them almost an hour until Rusty was satisfied with the results.
"You hungry? I could whip something up", Gus suggested. Rusty just shrugged his shoulders. They were sitting on the couch, watching some senseless show. Gus got up and a little while later handed Rusty a plate with delicious looking pasta. They ignored Sharon's "no eating on the couch" rule Rusty enjoyed the feeling of normality coming back into the condo. Now everything that was missing was Sharon.

I know I keep repeating myself but I just can't say it enough: thank you so much for all your kind reviews on the last chapter! As you wished, I will continue working on this story a little longer, although I might need more time for the updates now. This chapter was a little bit Rusty-centered, I hope you liked it. I suppose the next will be mostly about Sharon's recovery. I am also open to wishes you might have for upcoming chapters, I am regarding the ones you have shared with me already:)