DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters except Matthew and Moxie. The rest belongs to James Duff and the Major Crimes Franchise.

Chapter 7

They both slipped back into the car and Andy drove them over to the doctor's office inside Keck Hospital of USC. He was getting hungry as he drove over to the hospital. His stomach was growling as he was sure Sharon's was as well, considering they hadn't had breakfast yet. "Do you want to grab a bite before my appointment?" he asked. "No, you need to fast in order for them to take your blood" she shook her head. He looked over at her as they were stopped at a red light. "How do you know they are going to draw blood this morning?" he asked her as the light turned green.

"Andy, what does your doctor normally do for these checkups?" she asked him and he thought about the answer. He just sighed as he pulled into the parking lot of the professional building on the hospital campus. He found a place to park and then turned the vehicle off before looking over at Sharon. Her eyes were closed but he knew she wasn't sleeping. She was silently saying a little prayer before they went inside. She opened her eyes and looked at Andy. "Please don't worry" he told her, above a whisper.

As they stepped inside the building, Andy steered her towards the elevators that would take them up to his doctor's office. They held hands as they waited for the elevator to open. Once it did and he noticed they were the only ones inside, he pressed the button for the floor and the doors closed. Sharon leaned her head onto his shoulder, they were still holding hands. He hated being poked and prodded during these checkups but he truly didn't want to worry Sharon.

They stepped off the elevator together and made their way to the doctor's office. He opened the door and Sharon stepped inside first before him. She went to go sit down on the chairs in the waiting area as Andy checked himself in with the receptionist at the window. He then sat down and joined her. "You know with everything that has been going on lately, I never truly asked how you are doing" Andy started but before Sharon could answer him, the nurse called his name. Sharon gave him a small smile and they both stood up and followed the nurse inside.

"Okay, Andy we are going to weigh you first, and then we will draw some blood samples, did you fast this morning?" the nurse asked him as he stepped on the scale. "Yeah" his response was simple. The nurse noted down his weight and then they went into the exam room. "Have a seat and roll up your sleeve for me" the nurse said as she washed her hands at the sink in the room. Andy sat up on the exam table and took his suit jacket off, handing it to Sharon. She was sitting on a chair next to the table. He then rolled up his shirt sleeve of his right arm.

"Okay, let's see if we can find a vein that's good" the nurse said trying to ease the tension from her patient. She felt around for one and found a good vein to try. "Okay, this will just sting a little" she told Andy as she placed the needle inside his vein and he hissed. The nurse got the vein because Sharon saw Andy's blood in the small tube. A million things flashed through her mind as she saw the nurse changing the tubes catching Andy's blood. Sharon released her breath she didn't know she was holding when the nurse was done, removing the needle from Andy's arm and then placed a band-aid on the spot.

"I'll send these to the lab and another nurse will be in to take an EKG" the nurse left the room, leaving Sharon and Andy inside. "Sharon?" Andy whispered, trying to bring her back from wherever her mind went. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "I love you Andy" she whispered back. Another nurse knocked on the door and opened it, bringing in the EKG with her. Andy didn't break his eye contact with Sharon as the next nurse was setting everything up. "Okay, unbutton your shirt please" the nurse informed him and he did as he was told.

The nurse placed the electrodes on his chest and told him to lie back on the table. Sharon watched him. It had been 2 years since he collapsed in their office, it was always in the back of her mind, whenever he had these checkups. She had been very grateful to his doctor that night. "Okay, you're all set, the doctor will be with you in a few minutes" the nurse said, breaking Sharon's thoughts as she then saw Andy sit back up. The nurse then left the room, leaving them again.

"What are you thinking about?" Andy asked her as he grabbed her hand in his. "You, everything you've been through" she told him. "I'm fine, I promise you" Andy reassured her. The doctor stepped inside the exam room. "Lieutenant, nice to see you again" the doctor said. "Mrs. Flynn, nice to see you as well" the doctor added and Sharon gave a smile. "It's been 6 months since you were last here" they said as they washed their hands. "How have you been?" the doctor asked. "I've been feeling good, no issues to complain about" Andy told them.

"No heart racing, palpitations" the doctor asked as they felt Andy's neck. "No" Andy answered. "Any soreness in your neck?" the doctor asked next. "No" Andy replied. "Good, so, let me listen to your heart" they said as they placed their stethoscope on Andy's chest. "Take a deep breath" Andy heard and he did. The doctor listened a little more and then moved away from Andy and took a seat on the stool.

"Looks like your current medication is working well" as the doctor looked over Andy's chart. "Alright, your EKG is normal, and your blood work looks good, nothing to be really concerned about" the doctor told them. "You've been following your new diet?" the doctor asked. Andy nodded his head and Sharon spoke, "yes he's been following it". "Everything else, okay?" the doctor asked. "Yes" Andy answered. "Um, doctor I have one question about his blood work" Sharon started to ask. "Of course, Mrs. Flynn, what do you want to know?" the doctor asked her.

"You said nothing to be concerned about, but is there something that could be concerning?" she asked them. "Hmm, well Andy, all your levels are within the normal ranges, so I would keep what you are doing" the doctor told them both. "Your blood counts are good, liver values are within normal, and kidney function looks fine" they continued and Sharon took a relieved deep breath. "But I'm not going to change your diet, just keep eating what you're eating, exercising, and staying out of trouble" the doctor finished. "Your next visit I'll want to run an echo/ultrasound of your heart, and also a stress test" the doctor added. "And that will be when?" Sharon asked. "In 10 months. Again, if anything comes up between now and our next visit in 10 months, call my office or go to the nearest ER if it's warranted, got it?" the doctor pointed to Andy and he acknowledged. "Got it doc, thanks" Andy said as the doctor left the room.

Andy turned to Sharon and grinned as he placed his shirt back on and buttoned it up. She handed him his tie and his suit jacket. "I told you I'm fine" he winked at her and she smiled, leaning in to kiss him. "I want you to be fine for a very long time" she told him and then they left the room. Andy stopped at the window, getting some paperwork, and then they were ready to head back to the office. "Can we get something to eat on the way back?" he asked her as they made their way to the car. "Yes, I'll order some fruit and bagels, we'll pick them up on the way" Sharon said as she pulled her phone out.

By the time they got back to the office, Provenza didn't have any new updates for Sharon. Sharon placed her purse back in her office and then stepped out into the Murder Room. The Murder Board was already up with locations and names and a basis timeline. Andy had placed the bagels and fruit on the empty desks and everyone helped themselves. "Is Mister Plummer sober yet?" Sharon asked Provenza. "Yes, I have two officers bringing him up here as we speak" Provenza informed her as he ate one of the bagels.

"Good, have them place him in Interview Room 2 please" Sharon stated and then helped herself to a bagel and fruit. She saw Andy had already started eating his bagel. Julio and Mike walked into the Murder Room. "There's no sign of this kid at Silver Lake reservoir, ma'am" Julio informed Sharon and then eyed the bagels and fruit. He helped himself and then started eating at his desk.

Buzz walked back into the room. "Commander, I think I may have found the boy" he said and the team all turned around to look at him. Sharon took a deep breath, glancing at Andy, and then followed Buzz back into the RACR room, with Andy and Provenza. "Walk me through Buzz" Sharon stated as she looked at the screens. "The camera on Sunset and Western picked up someone who looks like Ralph going North on Western around 4pm Saturday" Buzz stated and then zoomed in on the picture that was now up on one of the monitors.

"Can we tell the make of the bike that kid is riding?" Andy asked and Buzz then tried zooming in on the still picture. "It's a little fuzzy but I think it says Mongoose" Buzz stated. "We'll have to ask what type of bike Ralph has" Andy turned to Sharon and she nodded. "Where does the next camera pick this kid up?" Sharon asked. "Western and Hollywood, about 4 minutes later, waiting to cross the street" Buzz answered and placed the new picture up on the next monitor. "Anything after this one?" Provenza asked as he leaned on the back of one of the chairs.

"One more camera picked him up at the corner of Western and Franklin Avenue" Buzz stated and placed that picture up on the next monitor. "Lieutenant, send Mike and Julio with patrol officers to the area of Western and Franklin, tell them to pan out the area" Sharon informed Provenza. "Meanwhile I want to speak to Mister Plummer" Sharon stated to Andy and he nodded his head. "Good work Buzz," she said as she left the room with Andy.

"So, the kid didn't go to any of the places that his parents told us about" Andy said as they walked back towards Interview Room 2. "Commander, Tao and Julio already left, and Mister Plummer is ready" Provenza met up with them in the hallway. "Ok, thank you" Sharon sighed and then nodded at Andy who opened the door to the interview room.

"Finally! Did you find Ralph yet?" Charlie asked them as they walked into the room. "No, we are still looking for him" Sharon said as she took a seat and Andy sat down next to her. "What type of bike does Ralph have, Charlie?" Andy asked him. Charlie looked across the table. "Um, ah Mongoose, silver color" Charlie answered. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened Saturday when you, your wife, and Ralph got home from the ballgame" Sharon told Charlie.

"Um, we got home, Ralphie went into the house ahead of us, Katie followed him inside and I stayed in the garage" Charlie started to explain. "Katie made some lunch, we all ate, then Ralphie went to his room, because Katie started arguing with me" Charlie added. "I left and went into the garage and had a couple of beers because I couldn't take her arguing and blaming me" he continued. "What time was that?" Andy asked him. "3 o'clock, I know that because I turned the game on the little tv I have in there" Charlie answered.

Sharon looked at Andy and she nodded to him. "Charlie, have you taken Ralph anywhere recently that he enjoyed and wanted to go back, and see?" Andy asked him. "Um, I took him bike riding in Griffith Park on his last day of school" Charlie stated. "When was this?" Sharon asked. "Two weeks ago," Charlie stated. "Why didn't you say something about this last night?" Andy stated to him in a louder voice. "I didn't know where Ralphie went" Charlie raised his voice.

"Look, I'm sorry Andy that I'm not like you, and that I can't stay sober like you, but I love my boy and I would do anything for him" Charlie stated, gritting his teeth. "Anything, Mister Plummer?" Sharon asked. "Did you go out looking for him when he went missing?" Sharon continued. "We didn't know he was missing until Sunday morning" Charlie answered her. "And why was that?" Andy asked him. Charlie just looked at his hands that were on the table and didn't answer. "Why didn't you go after him on Saturday when he didn't come home?" Andy asked another question to Charlie.

Sharon patted her hand on Andy's arm to calm him down. "Alright Charlie, so you didn't know he was missing until Sunday morning, then what did you do?" Sharon asked. "I drove around different places looking for him" he stated. Sharon glanced at the camera. Provenza caught it and turned to Buzz. "Buzz, see if you can find Charlie's car leaving their house Sunday morning" he told him. "Yes sir" Buff huffed and turned to his laptop to work on the new request.

"Did Katie go with you?" Sharon asked Charlie. "No, she called her mother to see if Ralphie was over at her house" Charlie said. "How long did you drive around looking for him?" Sharon asked. "I don't remember" was the answer they heard. "You know Charlie, you're making this awfully difficult" it was Andy's turn to grit his teeth at him. Sharon tapped his shoulder, a sign that this interview was over for now. "Go home Mister Plummer" Sharon told Charlie as she stood up. Charlie just looked at the both of them.

"Ralphie is missing! What are you guys doing about it?" Charlie shouted. Andy looked right at him. "We are trying to find him!" Andy pointed at Charlie. "If this was Matthew, you both wouldn't stop" Charlie started to say but was interrupted by Andy. "Matthew was missing, and we both went looking for him, and we didn't stop until we found him, unlike you Charlie" Andy was now in Charlie's face. "I'm not going to tell you again, Mister Plummer, go home" Sharon insisted and then she placed her hand on Andy's shoulder and he straightened up and followed her out of the interview room.

They both walked into Electronics to join Provenza, Amy, and Buzz. "Did you find his car Buzz?" Sharon asked. "Yes, I found it yesterday morning, a camera picked his car up at 3rd and Vermont heading West, and then back east about 10 minutes later" Buzz answered and turned his laptop around to show Sharon. "Where did he go?" Sharon wondered and then her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket, looking at the caller ID, seeing it was Mike. "Lieutenant Tao, anything yet?" she answered.

"Commander, we have patrol officers going up and down the streets around the vicinity of Franklin and Western, nothing yet" Mike informed her. "Lieutenant, what is just north of the area you are currently located?" Sharon asked. "Ah, according to a map, there's a nature trail" Mike informed her. "Charlie's father stated that he took Ralph to Griffith Park two weeks ago and Ralph had a good time there" Sharon stated to everyone. "Mike, how far away are you from this trail?" she asked him. "Um, maybe a mile?" Mike answered.

"Start canvassing that area Lieutenant, we will meet you there" Sharon informed him and hung up her phone. "Let's head over there, we at least know the direction that Ralph was riding his bike, maybe he took it onto the trail" Sharon walked out of Electronics and everyone followed her out. "Do you think he'll be there?" Andy asked her but Sharon just shook her head. Andy stopped at his desk and watched Sharon continued to her office.

"Griffith Park is huge Commander" Provenza said as he followed her into her office. "I'm well aware of how big the park is Lieutenant" Sharon quipped back as she gathered her things from her desk. She turned around looking at him. "Are you ready to go?" she asked him. He gestured for her to walk out of her office first before he followed. Andy was standing, waiting for her and when she walked out, he joined them and they all followed in step towards the elevators.

They took the elevator down to the parking garage and 3 minutes later they were in their cars heading towards Griffith Park. They drove towards Western Avenue and then turned north on the street, heading the same way that Ralph did on his bike. They saw the patrol cars up ahead once they got closer to Franklin Avenue. Andy slowed the vehicle down. "Keep going, the trailhead is just a little further up" Sharon told him and he did. Seeing the parking lot on the left, he turned in and saw Mike and Julio waiting for them.

Sharon stepped out of the car and walked over to join them, Andy right behind her. "I have a map of the park, Commander. This trail here leads north towards a different trail that goes into the park" Mike showed her on the map he was holding. "Ok, let's spread out and take this trail up, then once we get to the other trail" Sharon started to say as she looked at the map. "The different trails go in different directions" Mike stated. "This kid could be anywhere here ma'am" Julio added and Sharon nodded.

"Have patrol head over to this side of the park" Sharon pointed at the map and Mike walked over to some patrol officers to let them know what their assignments would be. "Once we get here, we'll split up" Sharon pointed. "Julio, you and Lieutenant Provenza will head north" she told them. "Amy, I want you and Mike to head east" she added. "Andy and I will head west on this trail" she pointed to the map and they all headed out into the park.

Once they all arrived at the junction of the different trails, they headed out on their assignments. It was still mid-morning and not that hot out but Sharon knew once that sun came overhead, the temperature was going to rise. The trail that they were taking west was paved due to it being a bike trail. There were benches along the way but there was no sign of Ralph yet. There was a small building up ahead, a sort of picnic shelter, off to the side in some of the wooded area.

Sharon and Andy gave each other a look and she nodded to him. They both walked over to the shelter. It was open and they stepped inside. It was then that Sharon saw the boy that they had been looking for. "Ralph" she sweetly called his name as she walked over to him. The boy looked up at her. "I don't know if you remember me" Sharon started to say. "You're Matthew's mom" he said back to her. She nodded her head. "Yes, I am" she took a deep breath. Meanwhile Andy texted the rest of the team their location and informed them that they had found the kid.

"You know, your parents are worried about you" she told him as she knelt down in front of him. He was sitting on the floor of the shelter. He had a backpack with him and a book that was next to him. "They didn't seem to care Saturday afternoon when they were arguing" Ralph muttered as he looked at his hands. "Do they argue a lot?" Sharon asked as she tried to look over the boy, making sure he was ok. "Sometimes" Ralph shrugged his shoulders. "Why did you run away?" she asked as she glanced over at Andy to see what he was doing. He was standing watching her and the boy. "Because they were yelling at each other, and they didn't want to answer me so I took my bike, packed my backpack, and left" Ralph told her.

"Do you run away when that happens?" she asked as she stood back up and gestured for Ralph to do the same. "I usually ride my bike to my grandma's house but I didn't want to get her in trouble" he said as he looked down at the floor and picked up his book. "Why would your grandma get in trouble?" Sharon asked. "Because I went over to her house the last time, and then I asked if I could spend the night there, my mom wasn't too happy about it but when she came to pick me up the next day, she spoke to my grandma and told her not to let me spend the night without her permission" Ralph stated as he started to rummage through his backpack.

"Ok, well, we are going to take you home to your parents but I have to ask you a question first" Sharon told him and he nodded. "Do your parents hurt you? Does your father or your mother ever hit you?" she asked in a soothing voice. "No, my parents don't hit me" he told her and she relaxed. "Sharon?" Andy called her and she turned to look at him. "The rest of the team are on their way over to our location" he told her and she nodded. "Ralph, you know Matthew's dad" Sharon said introducing the two. "Hi Mister Flynn" Ralph said as he stood there.

"Hey kid, can I ask you a question?" Andy said to Ralph and he nodded as he packed his backpack up. "What did you do while you were here?" he asked and Ralph didn't hesitate at all with his answer. "I rode my bike on the different trails here, looked at the different birds that fly around here with my binoculars, and then looked at the stars at night" Ralph said. "Have you had anything to eat?" Sharon asked him. "I have some food in my backpack that I took from my house" Ralph answered. "Are you hungry?" she asked and he nodded his head.

"We can stop and get you something to eat on the way home to your parents" Sharon told him and then Provenza and the rest of the team started to arrive at the shelter. "Wow, all of you were looking for me?" Ralph said in wonder. "Yes, we were all looking for you" Andy said as the kid was amazed. "Commander, I alerted the patrol officers at the parent's house so they know that we found him" Provenza informed Sharon. "Good, thank you" she told him as they all walked out to the trail.

TBC