Now with everyone knowing about the little life growing inside Sharon, her days were full of calls which regulated her schedule. When it wasn't Andy calling, it was Emily or Nicole, Rusty even. Everyone seemed in need to constantly hear from her, making sure she was okay. Of course, it was very sweet and adorable to see everyone so concerned about her and the baby but at the same time, oh God it was tiring to be interrupted every half hour. And God only knew how exhausted she already was because of her small nights. She kept struggling with insomnia and her body was definitely fighting to keep her going. The mornings were more and more difficult for her but thankfully she could go home and rest in the afternoons – well when she wasn't answering her phone to reassure Andy she was okay. He hated to know she was alone for a few hours, moreover Rusty had started attending some classes a few days a week so the kid couldn't watch over her while he was away and obviously the patrol followed him, leaving Sharon completely by herself.

On top of that, Major Crimes had caught a serious case. They had been called earlier that morning to be at the murder scene before 6 am. The mayor's butler had been murdered right in front of the City Hall and obviously it was a very public case forcing the Captain to join Chief Taylor in facing the journalists and the cameras. Despite her now very obvious and prominent middle, she was still the very impressive Captain Raydor, the despised walking rulebook everyone avoided. It's probably why things got out of hand so fast as the turn of events was more than unexpected.

/

Alongside Taylor, Sharon was calmy reporting to the media a tiny part of their recent conclusions after analyzing the crime scene. A journalist started vividly insisting on asking for confidential content. She proceeded to explain to him how he wouldn't be able to access that kind of information. He then attacked her verbally, probably frustrated, and insulted her, of course mentioning her age right before mentioning the weird and gross nature of her pregnancy.

Out of nowhere Andy jumped into the picture as the tempered cop she had always known he was. She first called for him several times using his rank but as he wouldn't even turn to face her, she started calling him by his name. He stopped in his tracks having almost punched the man. Teeth clenched, he hid his fists into his pockets, turned his back to the creep and knew when he met her eyes that he had gone further than he should have. What he didn't see coming though, was that the guy apparently wasn't done with him and brutally pushed him in the back. His hands being deep into his pockets he lost balance and collapsed, bumping into his wife. Thankfully she took a few steps back to regain her balance and no one was hurt. She caught her Lieutenant's arm to catch his attention and told him what she needed to tell him with only one gaze. Sharon mumbled a conference closure and left, discreetly apologizing on his behalf to Taylor. She knew she would be in trouble for such display in front of the press. She had always promised her superiors that her marriage with another member of the same division would never cause any trouble and yet Andy had made quite a scene. She knew why and could even understand him, but she would have to talk to him about those impulsive reactions because they could both get in serious trouble or even lose their jobs for that matter.

The drive to the station had been silent. She knew he didn't need to be lectured about what had happened earlier. Andy knew only too well what he had done wrong and he was mad enough. Sharon knew her man by heart, he would need a little while to let the anger go so that they would be able to talk calmly. As he parked the car in the Police underground, she caressed his arm until her hand would meet his. She squeezed it, silently showing him her support. She wasn't mad after all, she was just worried about their professional life. With a baby on the way, they couldn't risk losing their jobs and their financial stability with it. The situation was already so unpredictable with a possible early maternity leave and the uncertain nature of her future in the Police Department after the baby would be there. Taylor wouldn't tolerate much more trouble caused by them. Not to mention that kind of incident wasn't worth the risk he had taken.

Sharon went up first, letting Andy cool off a few more minutes before going back to work. As she reached her office, she barely got the time to put her purse and her jacket down, that Taylor was already knocking on her door. She tensed when she recognized his voice. Captain Raydor knew exactly what was coming at her and it wouldn't be pretty. Her authority was questioned by her superior, just like she had anticipatedly predicted and worried about. The Assistant Chief was clearly upset and wouldn't let any other incident like this one slide. She was warned. Her heart was beating quite fast although she managed to keep a very professional and impassive face on, not letting him see her weak side. She wouldn't offer him the win not even for all the money in the world. When he finally left after tearing a strip off her, she met Andy's eyes who was now sitting at his desk. Taylor gave him a glare and left the Major Crimes floor. Once his steps had faded throughout the corridor, Andy rose from his chair and joined Sharon in her office, closing the door behind him.

The blinds were still closed and what a luck because Andy was about to fall in. The tempered Lieutenant was feeling weak, pacing back and forth for several seconds before finally stopping, his back to her. She walked from her desk she had been leaning on towards him and came gently behind him, smoothly touching his back, making soothing circles. She grabbed his arm and turned him around so that he would face her. Her arms came around his waist, her face nuzzling into his chest.

- Honey… I'm fine… she reassured him.

His arms returned the embrace and remained for several seconds tightly around her, not quite ready to let her go just yet. She knew it was what was bothering him the most - bumping into her and risking to hurt the baby.

- Sharon… I'm… I'm so sorry… she could hear in his voice that he was invaded by his emotions.

- I know and it's okay. We're okay, Andy, she pulled him out of her arms willing to see his face.

- I feel like… I failed you again, Sharon… he confessed not daring to look at her in the eye.

- Andy… look at me… Andy… she grabbed his chin and turned his face so that their eyes would finally meet. Andy, you didn't fail me, stop saying that. You wanted to protect me and I love that about you but…

- But I almost hurt you and if I had… he let a few tears escape at the thought of hurting his wife or the baby.

- Honey… the baby and I are fine, okay? You didn't hurt us. You just have to be careful, we don't want any trouble with Taylor, right? That journalist wasn't worth it, Andy, she explained smoothly, her hands on his chest now.

- I know but he told you all that crap about our… his teeth were clenched again.

- Andy, we knew it would happen, she chuckled, we're old and we know it. When people are frustrated and need to hurt us they will use anything to upset us but they're not worth it.

- I know, you're right. I'm sorry again… I hope I didn't cause us anymore trouble with Taylor… he was feeling so guilty.

- Well, he wasn't happy at all and he did his job, lectured me, bla bla bla… we're gonna have to be wise and careful from now on or he might not be so flexible when we'll need him to be.

- You know what? I should go right now and apologize to him personally. Maybe I can make it up to him...

Andy kissed his wife's forehead, not taking the time to look at her, suddenly in a rush to attempt fixing the damage he had caused. His arms left her and he turned around in a sudden move now walking in a determined pace, already past Julio's desk after barely a few steps. Only he caught Provenza hurrying out of his chair looking at the Captain's office. He was confused, not quite understanding what was happening. He turned around and heard her mumble his name while standing in the doorframe, her legs visibly weak. She seemed dizzy, her body looking heavy. Her knees finally broke under her limp body and her eyes closed. She had just shut down out of nowhere before his eyes. Unconsciously his legs started running for his life, laying out his arms hoping to catch her before she would reach the floor. He had to catch her. What would happen if he didn't? He shouted her name several times, a tiny hope to wake her up. No response. Her knees would soon hit the ground. He had to catch her before she would hit her head or her belly somewhere.

/

She had been out for barely a few seconds but when she regained consciousness, she felt a knot forming in her stomach. What had happened? Was she hurt? Worse, was the baby hurt? From what she could decipher, everyone seemed as panicked as she was inside. She blinked against the light, sound and sight slowly coming back to her. Her hands instinctively came around her swollen middle. A fall like that could be really dangerous for the baby. She had barely started her sixth month – the baby was in no way ready to be out so soon, it wouldn't make it. Dread. She looked around disoriented, desperately looking for Andy. She needed Andy. Finally, she laid eyes on his hands. She was safely in his arms, he was holding her from behind, Provenza, Julio and Mike around them, checking on her.

- Andy… she mumbled while her hands looked for his.

He knew what she needed and met her hands on the sides of her prominent baby bump.

- Easy, Sweetheart, he kissed the top of her head. We caught you before you fell. You're alright, he murmured gently in her ear, kissing her head again while caressing the side of her stomach.

She let out a sigh of relief. Now more awake, she noticed she was laying on the floor of her office, her back against Andy's chest and Andy's back against her desk.

- You didn't put my legs up? she randomly asked surprised to find herself half sat.

- No, you were out and back in a split second, just the time for us to catch you. What happened, Sweetheart? You were not feeling well? Why didn't you tell me? Andy's concern could be felt in his hurried questions.

- I don't know honestly… I was fine just a minute ago… she answered confused.

- Are you feeling dizzy, Captain? asked Mike, still doing his medical check.

- No, no, I'm fine… I think.

- Can you walk to the couch over there? I think you should have a glass of water and lay down for a few minutes, he advised her.

- Yes, I should manage to the couch... she answered still a bit taken aback.

Slowly but surely, they managed to put her back on her feet and helped her reach the couch to lay down and rest for a few minutes. She was feeling alright as if nothing had happened really. She was exhausted though. As she relaxed, her body finally resting, she felt the baby move. What a relief. The baby was fine, now she was more reassured having had a sign of life from the little one. She had the recommended glass of water and heard Andy already on the phone with her obstetrician. She knew he was right, they shouldn't take any risk, they needed to make sure everything was alright. Although half of her wanted to protest knowing already she would be reduced to bed rest for at least a week. She needed it anyways even if she hated the idea to announce to Chief Taylor she would need some time off again. After the recent press incident, he would surely be grumpy.

/

The visit to her doctor had been done almost immediately, barely an hour after her fall. Luckily, the baby had been spared. Its heartbeat was strong and steady, their little miracle preserved and now weighing approximately 1,540 lbs. Aubergin week. The ultrasound looked perfect, their precious baby was developing normally so far and seemed more than healthy. The doctor still gave Sharon a quick check but no need to be a doctor to know she was exhausted and definitely too stressed. Sharon had done her best to deal with everything and everyone while resting but that damn insomnia wouldn't let her rest properly. And as predicted, she was granted with two weeks off her feet. Forced bed rest for the poor exhausted mamma-to-be. At least it would make Provenza happy and probably Andy too. Her adorable husband kept being worried about her all the time. Knowing she would be able to rest as much as she needed for two weeks was just perfect to him, only he would need to figure something out about her having to stay alone. He knew he wouldn't be able to focus on work if he knew her alone for hours. Even more after her faint.

That night, reaching their marital bed together felt like a small victory. What an endless day full of scares! As usual, Sharon and Andy fell asleep in each other's arms, Andy's grip around his wife and his baby being extra tight tonight. He couldn't imagine losing neither of them. Before drifting off, he made a silent prayer for them, deeply hoping they would make it through the last months without any more trouble.

/

Rest. Oh how she needed it. She spent the first two days of bed resting literally sleeping. Her body was protesting, rebelling and there was no way she would go out of bed except for the bladder issues. The baby was currently weighing on it and it meant for her that wee time was close to every half an hour which was the longest she could hold it. Andy had taken a few days off to stay with her although he hadn't been very useful in the last 48 hours. He had enjoyed just being there with her, watching her sleep peacefully. He had been so scared that the baby's health or hers would be endangered that he couldn't tire of seeing her so well. Her face looked much healthier, her cheeks flushed with life and her eyes vivid green. He felt like he added to her stress with his impulsions and needed to make it up to her. He couldn't help but follow her around, massage her feet or her scalp whenever she needed it.

The mother hen he had become had of course already taken care of Sharon's "custody" once he'd go back to work, making a full schedule with whose turn it was to watch over her. He was totally aware that he was probably over doing it but he wouldn't take any more risks than needed. Picturing her fainting by herself with no one to help her out for hours was more than he could take. So Rusty and the girls had volunteered to take part in the turn and so did Ricky to everyone's surprise. He knew Sharon was secretly happy about those turns because it was the only way for her to enjoy some alone time with the children nowadays.

The team called every few hours checking in on who had become their beloved Captain. It was impossible for them not to be under her spell now. Seeing her in her condition, so vulnerable and fainting at the station had quite marked them. It was crazy how before her story with her abusive husband, their vision of her was completely different. And the idea of who she truly was, had kept evolving up until now where she was six months pregnant with Andy's baby and a totally different person to them. They had learnt to see all of her, putting aside her taste for rules and structure. They could complain all they wanted but as soon as the brave Captain Raydor had taken command of the Major Crimes division, they had never looked better. Even Provenza was struggling to hide his appreciation for the excellent work she had accomplished. They would miss her leadership and her kind words for sure. Two weeks of Lieutenant Grumpy's lack of leadership was already too much... but they would hang in there, looking forward to her coming back healthy and in good shape.