DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, except for Matthew and Moxie. The rest of them belong to James Duff and the Major Crimes franchise.

A/N: No spoilers from tonight's episodes. I can't even put into words right now. I decided to post a new chapter instead.

Chapter 9

Rusty was sitting on the chair by the window while Emily was sitting on the chair closest to Sharon and Ricky was sitting at the foot of Sharon's bed. Andy smiled and caught Sharon's eye as he stepped in. "How'd it go?" she asked him as he stepped forward. "Not bad, he's ready for you if you feel up to it," Andy told her and she nodded.

"We all can leave the room," Ricky said as someone else stepped inside. "Knock, knock, Hello Sharon, I'm Gabrielle, your physical therapist. Your doctor wants you to start walking around some so let's get you up!" Gabrielle cheerfully said.

Andy rolled his eyes as Ricky stared in awestruck when Gabrielle entered the room. He then slapped him gently on his shoulder and Ricky turned to him. Andy just shook his head and Ricky huffed. Gabrielle walked over to Sharon's bed and helped her to stand up.

"Why don't you guys go get something to eat while I go for a walk with your mother," Andy suggested to the kids as they were sitting around. "Sure Andy, we could do that," Emily said and then stood up and gathered her brothers. "Come on," she gestured for them to head out of the room.

Sharon stood up and walked a few steps with her IV pole and paused for a moment. "You okay?" Andy whispered to her as he placed his hand on the small of her back. She nodded and then continued to walk. The physical therapist then walked with her out of the room and Andy followed behind them.

"Sorry Sergeant, I think this is a bad time," Sharon heard Andy say to Sergeant Elliot. "Andy, it's okay. I can talk with the Sergeant as I am walking, as long as that's okay with him?" Sharon said as she looked at Elliot. He nodded and joined her in her walk.

Andy was behind Sharon as she started to walk down the hallway. Sharon told her recollection of the events yesterday and Sergeant Elliot wrote them down as they walked. He then left and it was just Andy, Sharon, and the physical therapist walking now.

They reached one of the intersections in the hallway and Sharon paused for another minute. Gabrielle turned to her. "Are you alright?" she asked Sharon. "I'm okay," Sharon said quietly and Andy was right by her side.

"Maybe we should head back now?" Andy suggested as he didn't want Sharon overdoing things. "Okay Sharon, let's get you back to your room," Gabrielle said and they turned around and walked back.

Sharon walked back into her room with the physical therapist. Andy walked behind them. "You did very well this morning," Gabrielle said as she helped Sharon sit back down on her bed. "I'd like to just sit here if I could?" Sharon asked her.

"Not a problem. I'll be back a little later this afternoon for another round of walking if that's good with you," she said and Sharon nodded as she sat there. "Thank you," Andy said to Gabrielle as she left the room and he walked over to where Sharon was sitting on the side of her bed.

"You did well, Sharon," he said to her as he sat across from her. She smiled and was grateful for his support. The truth was she didn't want to alarm Andy because she felt exhausted after her walk. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she sat there. Andy knew she was tired from her walk, he could tell.

Sharon sat there as Andy watched her and she opened her eyes. Andy's eyes met hers and showed concern. "Why don't you lie back down, sweetheart," he told her as he reached his hand and placed it on her left arm. She didn't say anything but scooted back on the bed with the help of Andy. He then adjusted the head of her bed so that she would be sitting more upright. He helped her get settled and she let out a slight moan.

"I know I keep asking you this, and I know what you'll tell me," he started to say as he looked at her. "I will let you know if something really hurts me or if I'm not feeling good, I promise you," Sharon quietly told him. He stood there and watched her but then was interrupted by the nurse coming back into her room.

"Okay Sharon, we are going to draw some more blood again and see where your numbers are ranging since you had the platelet transfusion a couple of hours ago," the nurse washed her hands and then stepped towards the right side of Sharon. She placed the vials on the tray and started to find a vein on Sharon's arm. "There we go," she placed the small needle in her arm and blood started to flow down the tube into the vial she had attached to it.

Sharon winced at the pinch this was causing and Andy grabbed her left hand and held it as the nurse drew the blood from her. She filled up four different vials and then placed a Band-Aid where the needle went. "Alright, you're all set my dear," she handed the vials to another nurse who stepped into the room.

"I'm just going to check everything, make sure your wound is healing on your side and your arm," she made her way around to the other side of the bed as Andy took a couple of steps away. "I understand you went for a walk this morning, how was that?" she asked Sharon as she undid the dressing on her side.

"Tiring," Sharon wanted to be honest with the nurse. "That's to be expected after what you've been through," the nurse moved about, placing a new gauze and covering on Sharon's side. "You know, you're pretty lucky to have such a caring husband, not to mention cute as well," she whispered to Sharon as she checked her left arm. "I am," Sharon chuckled at that comment and then glanced around the nurse to catch Andy's eyes.

He stood there watching the nurse take care of Sharon. He gave Sharon a smile when she looked at him as the nurse was changing the dressing on her arm. The nurse finished up and told both of them that they should get the blood test results within a half hour.

Andy moved back to sit next to Sharon. "What was the nurse telling you that made you laugh just now?" he asked her as he held her left hand in his. "She told me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful, caring, and worried husband," she smiled. "Well, someone has to be worried about you," Andy smiled back.

Her kids came back to the room after having been in the cafeteria of the hospital. As they walked in, they spotted their mom and Andy watching TV. "Did you get something to eat?" Sharon asked the three as they made their way back into her room.

Emily went to sit on the chair by the window and Ricky leaned up against the wall. "Yes, Mom," Rusty answered for all three of them and Sharon wondered why her other two children were quiet all of a sudden. She glanced at Andy who shared in her worry.

Andy then stood up from the chair he was sitting in and grabbed the extra change of clothes they had brought him. "I'd like to change my clothes quickly; do the three of you think you can watch her while I do that?" Andy asked them.

"Of course, Andy!" Emily answered him as she started to stand up from her chair. "Take your time," he heard Rusty say as he gathered his new clothes and smiled at Sharon. He then made his way into the bathroom in her room and closed the door behind him.

Placing his clothes on the shelf inside the bathroom, he took a good look at his face in the mirror. He definitely needed to shave this morning as he looked closely at the stubble across his jaw. He then turned the water faucet on and started to wash his face.

Meanwhile, outside in Sharon's room, Emily, Ricky, and Rusty were sitting with Sharon as she watched the TV. She quickly turned the TV off and cleared her throat. "Okay, would one of you mind telling me what had the three of you so quiet when you came back?" Sharon asked her children and they all looked at her.

Emily was the first to speak. "I had told Dad that I was in town and he wanted to know why," she started to say as she cleared her throat. Sharon knew where this was going but she stayed calm for her health sake. "I told him you were shot, and that's why I flew here last minute," she continued.

Sharon looked at Ricky as Emily spoke and his head was down. She then turned her attention back to Emily. "He insisted on coming here to see Ricky and me," she finished as she looked at her mom. She couldn't tell if she was mad or upset or anything at that moment.

Sharon shook her head as she processed what Emily had said. "No, Emily I don't think that is a good idea to have your father come here to my hospital room," Sharon protested. "I understand you want to see your father and I would never stop you from doing so, but, I don't want him here," Sharon added as she glanced at Ricky.

"I told her you wouldn't want that mom, but she didn't want to listen to me," Ricky added as the three of them continued their banter. Rusty watched as the three of them continued to discuss Jack. "Yes Ricky, but then I agreed to meet him downstairs in the waiting area there," Emily answered and then turned to her mom. "I won't bring him up here, Mom," she assured Sharon.

Sharon sat there and took a deep breath. "When is your father coming here?" she asked as she glanced at the bathroom door that was still closed. Emily looked at her watch. "In an hour," she looked at her mom.

Andy had changed his clothes. He was now wearing a white t-shirt underneath his lavender V-neck sweater and a pair of jeans. As he stepped out of the bathroom, he noticed that everyone was silent when he walked out. "What's going on?" he asked as he placed his clothes in the duffle bag. He looked around at everyone there.

"I was just getting ready to leave," Rusty cleared the silence as he stood up from the chair and walked over to Andy and Sharon. "So soon?" Sharon questioned him but she knew he had to get back to his internship at the DA's office. "I'll check in on both of you later today," he kissed his mom on her cheek and then waved to his brother and sister before leaving the room.

"Alright, what did I miss?" Andy asked Sharon and then glanced at the other two who were still silent. "Andy," Sharon said to grab his attention back to her as she reached out to take his hand. He turned his head and looked at her. "Did I miss the Doctor? Did he tell you something else?" he chuckled nervously.

"No, sweetie," Sharon started and then took a deep breath before she continued. "Emily contacted Jack to tell him that she was in town, and he wanted to know why so she told him that I had gotten shot," she explained to him.

"Oh geeze," he muttered as he stood there and then glanced at Emily. He gave her a small smile because he knew the importance of rebuilding relationships. He turned his attention back to Sharon as she continued to speak to him. "He will be here in an hour, but, Emily will be meeting him downstairs," she told him. "And under no circumstances is he to come up here to my room," she told Emily as she glanced over at her.

"Yes Mom, I get it," Emily answered her mother's stare as she looked at her and her step-father. "What about you, Ricky? Are you going with your sister to meet your father?" Andy turned the question to Ricky who was still leaning against the wall.

"Um, well, I haven't decided yet," Ricky shrugged his shoulders and Andy nodded, knowing that it was his decision to make. Andy then turned to Sharon and squeezed her hand. "Well, there are worse things than Jack coming here I suppose," he told her and she gave him a smile. He then sat down next to her bed and waited.

An hour later, Emily and Ricky both left to go downstairs and meet their father while Sharon and Andy were still waiting for her latest blood test results to come back. Andy glanced at Sharon and saw she had fallen asleep. He took this opportunity to stand up and walk over to the window in her room. He looked outside and saw the busy streets filled with cars and people.

He leaned his head forward against the glass. It felt cool against his forehead and he closed his eyes for a minute, thinking about everything that had happened to them. A knock at the door brought his attention back and he turned around to see Chief Mason standing at the doorway. Andy glanced at Sharon and saw she was still sleeping so he walked over to meet Chief Mason and gestured with his hand for him to step outside.

They stood in the hallway of the hospital. "I just stopped by to see how she was doing," Chief Mason informed Andy as he stood there with his arms folded in front of him. "Yeah, well, she's doing okay," Andy replied not fully trusting Mason still.

"Look, Lieutenant, I'm not the bad guy here," Mason said which threw Andy for a loop. "I knew as much about this robbery ring as you all did. It wasn't until late last night and early this morning that I found out about the FBI's involvement," Mason continued.

"I know I'm still considered an outsider to Major Crimes. You guys are a family and family bonds are strong," he added as Andy stood there. "What are you asking me?" Andy interrupted him for a second. "Give me a chance, Lieutenant. Sharon did and I think you will find that I am on your side," Mason extended his hand for Andy to shake.

Andy looked at him. Truth was he never trusted the higher ups in the department. He learned that from early on in his career. He shook his hand anyway. "Please let me know if you need anything, Lieutenant. Also, take as much time off as you need for the both of you," Mason added and then left the hallway and headed towards the elevators.

Andy joined Sharon back in her room and sat down next to her. He wondered how Emily and Ricky were doing meeting Jack downstairs. Andy shook his head. He'd like to punch him in the face for once; after all of the things he had put Sharon through over the years.

Just then, another doctor entered her room. She glanced at Sharon, who was still sleeping, and Andy who was sitting by her. "Hello, my name is Doctor Yu, I'm an associate of Doctor Fishman's," she softly spoke to Andy as to not disturb Sharon. Andy nodded to the doctor as she greeted him.

"How is she doing?" she asked Andy as she looked over her chart. "Well, she seemed to be a bit tired after she went for a walk with the physical therapist earlier," Andy explained to her, slightly wishing that Sharon was awake so that she could hear what the doctor was saying.

"I have the results of the latest blood test, but I would like to tell both of you," Doctor Yu walked around to the other side of Sharon's bed as she looked at the monitor and the IV pole. "I can wake her up," Andy gently touched Sharon's arm. "Sweetheart," he gently nudged her awake and Sharon opened her eyes.

"What time is it?" she asked groggily as she woke up. "It's a little past 11:30," Andy whispered to her as she tried to adjust her body on the bed. Andy helped her. "The Doctor is here and has the results of your latest blood test," he told her as she looked at him and then at the doctor.

"Hi Sharon, I'm Doctor Yu, I work with Doctor Fishman," the Doctor told her. "Oh, nice to meet you," Sharon sat up more. "Sorry I was sleeping," she added. "Don't worry about it, you need to get better and your body knows that," the Doctor told her as she held her chart.

Sharon grabbed Andy's hand as they both looked at the Doctor and waited to hear what she had to tell them.

TBC