While You're Making Other Plans

by Miss Shannon and Glistening Sun

12

Andy felt like he had only just climbed into bed when Sharon stirred and then sat up with a start calling out Rusty's name, looking around visibly disoriented, one hand pressed to her stomach. Instinctively he reached out and took her back into his arms, "Sweetheart, Rusty's asleep in his bed just across the hall. He's safe, he's here with us and he is safe."

"I need to see him!" She jumped out of bed more quickly than he could react, but only got as far as their doorway before she started swaying, gripping onto the frame to keep her balance. She hummed gratefully when she felt herself being pulled against a solid chest, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other strong and dependable around her waist. "Not so fast, mummy, your blood pressure is still on the high side," he murmured, trying to calm her down, her rapid breaths warm against his neck.

"But I need to see Rusty. I need to see if he's alright!" She tried pushing him away with both her hands, but he only strengthened his hold on her, worried she might have another episode. He didn't think he could deal with another one so soon.

"Sweetheart, Rusty's in his room."

"But what if he isn't, Andy? I need to see him!"

"Sykes and Julio are camped out in the corridor and two of Cooper's guys are downstairs, the whole building is being monitored and Tao has equipped all windows and balcony doors with alarms." That was the truth, and it had all been set up in the last couple of hours. He had felt so helpless: Stroh, or whoever was doing his dirty work, had been inside their building, had come as far as their front door! Hell, that creep could have waited there for Sharon and he wouldn't have been able to protect her, because he had left her alone! Andy had pushed hard for every bit of extra security he could get for his family. While Provenza still maintained that they were delusional mumbling something about a phantom pregnancy he had at least quickly agreed to the extra measures. They were only temporary until the higher levels approved them, but for this night, they were as safe as the LAPD could keep them.

"When did that happen?" she asked, the police officer in her briefly winning over the mother. She recalled talking to Rusty and giving her statement before she had fallen asleep rather quickly in Andy's arms, but nothing else.

"While you were sleeping … you've been out for a good four hours. How are you feeling, sweetheart?" He cupped her face and ran his thumb over her cheek in a motion he hoped was soothing while rubbing circles over her back with the other hand.

"Not much better," she sighed leaning into his touch, "Honey, I know you want me to go back to bed, but I need to see my son. I know it's irrational, but I need to see with my own eyes that he's okay."

Andy pulled her a little closer so he could feel the solid curve of her stomach against his own, "We'll go check on him in a minute. Just tell me how the little guy is doing."

The little guy. Their little guy. Sharon craned her neck to look at Andy and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Our Little Peach is fast asleep, honey. She knows her daddy's looking out for her."

"Little Peach?"

Sharon nodded and snuggled closer to him. Her head hurt and her legs still felt a bit wobbly, but for the most part she was fine. She felt for Andy and she remembered the terrified expression on his face when she had all but collapsed in his arms. "Our Little Peach is fine, honey," she said soothingly, "and I'll be okay once I've seen Rusty."

"Good," Andy pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Tell me when you're ready to walk and we'll go together."

Her response was immediate and he wouldn't have expected anything else. Keeping his arm around her waist, ready to catch her should she so much as sway they crossed the short distance to Rusty's door. Sharon gently tried to turn the door knob, but it didn't move. Without warning the cold dread from earlier once again swept over her. "Rusty!" she shouted in panic, banging on the door, "Open the door! Rusty, open the door right now!"

"Mom? Is everything okay?" Rusty took one look at Sharon and pulled her into a hug. "What happened, Mom? Is the baby okay? Are you okay? Mom?" When Sharon wordlessly held onto him for dear life he looked into Andy's eyes, raising his eyebrows in question.

"We're all fine, Rusty, your mom woke up and needed to see for herself that you're okay."

Rusty nodded and squeezed her a little more tightly. "I'm fine, Mom," he whispered into her hair, "Sharon, I promise you, I'm okay."

"Don't you ever lock that door again!" Her voice was muffled against his shoulder and he tried to wriggle out of her grasp, "No, Rusty, promise me …"

"It's okay, Mom, I won't lock my door again, okay? Now … can you maybe let me go? I'm running out of air." What was up with her? This wasn't the sentimental Mama mode that made her tear up and hug random people, this was like a combination of Mama and Darth Raydor. Darth Mom. Scary Darth Mom.

She released her hold on him, "Stop complaining when your old mother wants to give you a hug. You're still talking, it can't be that bad."

Although Andy and Rusty both laughed at her joke, they both felt helpless in their own way. Rusty tried rolling his eyes, but Andy wasn't in a mood to indulge him. He stood there, hands balled into first, rocking on his toes, worried and ready to pounce should someone dare to come near or upset Sharon - and Rusty was getting pretty damn near to doing the latter.

"I promise you, Sharon, I'm not leaving the condo, I'm staying right here."

Sharon sighed and sat down on his bed pulling him with her "Good. Good … now go to bed, honey. I'm just going to sit here for a while."

"On my bed?" He didn't want to send her out, but he did feel a bit odd to have her watch over him while sleeping. Sharon nodded pulling at the hem of Andy's shirt she was wearing, squeezing the material between her fingers. "Okay, you can sit on my bed if you like," Rusty conceded. She looked small and exhausted and a little helpless and that scared him even more than her Darth Mama look earlier on. Sharon was never helpless. They had gotten many messages from Stroh over the years, first Weller's letters and now the photo guy, and she had always been cool and calm. Now she looked weak and scared, cradling her belly in her hands, alternately looking at Andy and him. And the Lieutenant also looked scared and tired, the frown on his forehead more pronounced.

"Don't you want to sleep, Sharon?"

"It's fine, I'll just sit here for a while. I … I need to see you tonight."

"The Little Peach should sleep in a bed, and so should you."

"The kid's right, sweetheart. He's fine, and he won't lock the door again." A quick glare telling Rusty what would happen if he so much as dared to think about it assured his compliance. "You should rest. Come back to bed."

"I can rest here. Andy, honey, bring me my blanket and I'm going to sleep in the chair over there," she said indicating the upholstered chair in the corner, "I'll be fine."

Rusty and Andy both protested, but Sharon squared her shoulders. The boy and the man looked at each other, then Andy spoke up. "You're coming to bed with us," he declared.

"Are you crazy? I'm not going to share a bed with you!"

"You don't have a choice in the matter, Rusty. Your mom needs to sleep, and she'll only do that if you're nearby. Now, get up and come with us." The tone of his voice made it clear that this was an order he expected to be followed.

"But I'm not going to sleep between the two you."

"Fine, now shoo, you can take the left side of the bed."

A tired but happy mother, a reluctant teenager who couldn't quite believe what was happening to him and a fiercely determined father made the short trip back to the bedroom and climbed into bed together. Rusty carefully eyed the two people he considered his parents as Sharon settled down on her side facing him, her back against Andy's chest.

"But you're not gonna, like, you know … while I'm in here?"

"Rusty, contrary to what you might think, we are not the horny teenagers around here! What do you think we're going to do? I'm just going to hold your Mom, okay? It's all very clean."

"Sure, that's why I'm going to be a big brother soon."

"It's three am, we're all exhausted and you're in bed with us. We are going to sleep – all of us!"

Andy could have sworn the boy rolled his eyes, but then he settled down and took one of Sharon's hands in his and within minutes, she was sound asleep. Andy breathed a sigh of relief and buried his head in her hair, taking a moment to calm himself down. It wouldn't help anyone if he was next one with a blood pressure crisis.

"Thank you for doing this, Rusty," he said when he felt a little more like his world wasn't collapsing around him. "The past few hours were difficult and having you and the little one both here means the world to Sharon." And me, he added in his thoughts.

"Is Little Peach going to be okay?"

"Yes, the little guy is fine … and Sharon will be, too, once she'd had a chance to rest. Good night, kid."

"Night." Rusty whispered although he had no idea how he should sleep in a bed with Andy and with Sharon who was still holding onto his hand. Sighing, he decided to watch the shadows on the ceiling and when her grip on his hand loosened a little, he found himself holding onto it so it wouldn't slip from his grasp. What a strange life he led – and yet it somehow felt good, like the sort of thing families might do.

"Just so you're warned – Sharon is a bit of snuggler in bed."

Well, weird families like him and Sharon and the Little Peach and Andy.