A/N: Thank you all for your kind words and support of this story, I know I haven't responded to everyone, but I have read the reviews and messages and they make me happy that you are enjoying this story. As you can tell I have decided to continue it, and I present to you the next and final chapter! There might be a follow up story if there is interest and I can make it make sense.

There is one small thing I would like to address. I received a pm asking what about Rusty? Well for those that are also wondering about him here is my response: I left Rusty out on purpose because I tend to use him as a crutch, and write from his pov too often. I feel as though of all the characters I understand him the most. That being said, I chose to challenge myself, and if you really need to know where Rusty is, just pretend he is away at college or whatever floats your boat. I wanted to stay true to the prompt and I just don't see Rusty fitting into what my mind wants to do with this story.

Hope that helps, enjoy!

The day had been horribly long on its own, but the day had now pushed itself into the night. Everyone was losing precious sleep because of her, well really because of the maniac ex-officer she had once arrested—but still because of her. She had even asked Andrea to wait up for her…what was she thinking? The woman had been dragged out of bed to come running to her aid, and now the repayment she was getting was to stay up even later, all because Sharon couldn't stand the thought of being alone right now.

The water stung as it hit her right side. The pressure of it against her bruising body made Sharon wince and turn to avoid it. The Captain had avoided looking in the mirror before getting in the shower because she had wanted to avoid the reminder, but with the stinging, she decided she might as well look.

There was black, blue, and even some purple spanning her torso from her ribs and traveling to her neck and shoulder. Usually, she would say that it looked worse than it felt, but right now it felt as though she had been hit by a truck—well it wasn't a truck, but a 200 and something pound man was close enough for her.

As Sharon closed her eyes to run her head under the water, the images and memories started playing in her mind. She shook her head, opening her eyes, and telling herself to think about something else. Her mind changed directions and began thinking of Andrea again. She had felt guilty for having asked Detective Sykes to call Andrea, but she had needed the other woman, even though she knew the call would be waking Andrea up. Sharon hated that she had needed and wanted Andrea there so badly. It was always Andrea she turned to though, the other woman had been the only true constant in her life for years.

They understood each other, respected one another, and did everything in their power to make the other one happy. Sharon wasn't exactly sure when it had happened, but at some point, she had decided that if she had to live her life without Andrea it would be unbearable—and it just wasn't an option, or at least one she would even let her mind entertain.

The water was starting to cool and Sharon wondered exactly how long she had been standing under the flow of water for no other purpose than to think and hopefully ease her aching body. Only one of those missions had been accomplished and it wasn't the latter, that was for sure. She knew the only hope for that might be when she crawled into bed and snuggled up to Andrea.

Before her mind could carry that thought any further, the water went from cool to cold making her jump. Sharon got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself wincing as it made contact with her chest. After toweling off, she looked around realizing that she had forgotten to grab clothes before heading to the bathroom.

Just before she opened the en suite door, Sharon hesitated and stepped back, sitting on the edge of the tub. There was no denying that there was some level of attraction between the DDA and the Captain, and Sharon didn't know if she even wanted it to move past just the attraction and innocent enough flirting, but she knew for sure she didn't want Andrea seeing her body this way.

In the kitchen had been different because she had left her undershirt on, but now with the exception of what the small towel covered, her body would be on display. To be more accurate, it wasn't her body she was worried about—Andrea had seen it before—but the bruising was enough to make her doubt herself. She didn't want it to upset Andrea more so than she already was, and what if it disgusted Andrea when she looked at her. Andrea had always looked at Sharon with appreciation and at times bordering on desire, but what if this changed that.

Sharon let out a long sigh, why was she doing this? Why was she second guessing herself? She hated the uncertainty she felt because this man—Mike Farinha—had decided he needed revenge. That line of thought brought with it a flashback of what had happened. About the time, in the memory, Sharon was going to fire her gun, Andrea knocked on the door, causing Sharon to jump, consequently whimpering in pain.

"Sharon, are you ok in there?"

The captain sighed, defeated she answered honestly, "No."

She could picture Andrea on the other side of the door, running her hands through her hair. The thought made her smirk.

"Can I come in?" Andrea asked, uncharacteristically timid.

Sharon sat there staring at the door, mentally counting down from five. As she reached one, Andrea gently pushed the door open. Their eyes met, and the blonde raised an eyebrow. It was a silent question, not asking what was wrong, but asking Sharon how hard she was going to have to work to figure out what was going on. Sharon gave her a half smile and shook her head, eyes leaving Andrea's to focus on the floor. She didn't know what to say, so she sat there.

Seeming to realize this, Andrea held out her hand, which Sharon stood and took gratefully. The blonde looked around the bathroom, and then nodded toward the bedroom as she started leading Sharon that way. It was then, what seemed to be a slow dance between the two women began. Sharon was led to the foot of the bed, where she sat, while Andrea released her hand and opened one of the two drawers of the dresser containing Sharon's clothes. Pajamas were found and laid on the bed.

Andrea moved back and stood in front of the sitting woman. Sharon felt her head being lifted by gentle fingers under her chin. There was concern reflected from blue eyes and love. In that moment, Sharon saw and felt Andrea's love for her and it almost sent a shiver up her spine. Sharon just wanted to let Andrea take care of her, take care of her in a way she had never let anyone. She wanted to bare her soul to the other woman because she knew it would be handled with the utmost care.

That's exactly what she allowed to happen. Andrea removed the towel slowly, laying it to the side, then bringing her hands back to gently trace and lightly massage the injured space. Sharon heard herself gasp when Andrea bent and laid soft kisses to her shoulder before slipping the pajama top over Sharon's head, carefully feeding her arms through the sleeves. Andrea continued with her task of dressing Sharon, never breaking eye contact, even when she knelt before her to slip on the shorts.

Sharon found herself relishing in every touch, and when the process was over there was an immediate loss felt. The attention had somehow recharged her enough to not feel the uncertainty she had while sitting on the edge of the tub. Her worry that Andrea would be turned off at the sight of her had been unfounded, if anything Sharon had felt more emotion and attention being paid to her.

As she allowed herself to be guided back under the covers, and into Andrea's embrace the emotions of everything—the break-in, the shooting, the fear, the love, the comfort, the doubt—all became too much to contain. The tears welled up and then found their escape, running down Sharon's cheeks and onto Andrea's t-shirt clad shoulder.

The arms that had been holding Sharon, tightened around her and she felt the soft kisses to her head. She didn't hold back and hide the tears, Andrea's embrace allowed her to feel secure enough that there would be no judgement to let out all the tears, sobs, and strangled sounds that had been held in since the ordeal began. She didn't have to be Captain Raydor in Andrea's arms, she just needed to be Sharon; that was enough for both of them, just Sharon.

It was some time later, after the tears had stopped, and they had been lying in silence for a while, that Sharon was able to speak.

"I killed him 'Drea, I had to," she whispered as though it were a confession.

Andrea's hand stilled, where it had been running softly through Sharon's hair.

"I know," Andrea said, resuming the motion of her hand and planting a kiss to the top of the brunette's head.

"I heard the noises outside the door, like someone was trying to pick the lock, and I got my gun from the safe." Sharon paused shifting her head just enough to look up into Andrea's eyes. "He must not have been able to pick it because the next thing I knew the door was being kicked in. I was in the hallway." She stopped for a long minute, to get her voice back under control and Andrea just squeezed her uninjured side to let her know it was ok to take her time. "I was scared, and it was dark, I hadn't flipped on the hall light yet. He came at me and tackled me, my gun slid just out of reach. I felt the knife cut my arm as we struggled, but I knew I had to keep fighting." Sharon blew out a long breath, wondering how much more she wanted to share.

Her voice was softer with what she said next, "He said things to me 'Drea, while he was punching and elbowing my side, he said things…"

"You don't have to say them, Sharon, if it's too painful, you don't have to say them," Andrea said holding one of Sharon's hands with the hand not playing with her hair.

"I—I want to, but I don't want you to hear those horrible things. I don't want you to have to know them."

"Sweetie, if you need to say them out loud, I can handle it, you don't need to protect me. I work with the worst of the worst too, remember that."

Sharon took a minute to contemplate what Andrea said, but it just didn't feel right. "While he was focused on saying things and just randomly swinging his fist, I used his body weight against him, and managed to push him off just enough to get my gun." Sharon shifted her gaze down and away from Andrea, "I didn't hesitate, I fired twice, and he slumped to his side." She took a deep breath, "I just remember thinking, 'It's over'. That was it. Just it's over."

"I'm glad it's over," Andrea said softly. "I'm glad you were able to fight back, and it ended the way it did…God, Sharon, if it had ended differently—I'm glad I'm still able to hold you in my arms."

Sharon snuggled deeper into Andrea's side resting her hand on the other woman's stomach. She didn't need to say anything, she just let their closeness speak for her, to say all the things she couldn't make herself say just yet.

It had been well after five in the morning before Sharon had calmed down enough and fell asleep. Andrea had done everything she could think of to help the other woman relax, but it had just taken time and about ten different readjustments of position before the Captain allowed the sleep she desperately needed to overtake her.

Andrea cradled Sharon to her as she continued to alternate between staring at the ceiling and the sleeping woman's face. She admired this woman, not only her true strength, but also all the little things that made Sharon who she truly was. She loved the laugh and worry lines that had been etched into her skin over the years; the way her hair had started to gray just at the temples—even though it was covered by dye every so often. Andrea loved the way Sharon melted her body into the DDA as she slept, and the way they fit almost as two puzzle pieces would fit together. The list was unending really.

Andrea knew she only had a few more hours to cherish this woman that was lying next to her, before the real world started back around them. Soon enough, there would be work calls, emails, interviews, and meetings to deal with. They would go back to DDA Hobbs and Captain Raydor, until they were alone, then it would be Andrea and Sharon. But it wouldn't be until the next crisis that Andrea would get to hold Sharon in her arms and be just 'Drea. So, for now, she had to remind herself that this was just, once again, for one night—maybe one day it would be more—but for now it was just tonight.