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

Chapter 21

Sharon knew that dealing with gangs was not part of the plan tonight. She wanted a nice, relaxing evening at home but that was quickly washed away when there were bullets flying at their car. Now, she was sitting in their dining room, with Matthew sitting next to her as he ate some pieces of pizza, and the rest of her team was trying to figure out what their next step was in the solving of this crime. "Sharon?" Andy said in a low voice and she turned her head to look at him. "Hmm" she said in response. "Julio contacted Gang Intel and they gave us the information they had on this dirtbag Kill Dog" he told her as he placed his hands inside his pants pockets. Sharon started to stand up from the chair she was sitting in but Matthew quickly turned to look at her. "Where are you going?" he asked her, innocently. Sharon huffed. "I'm just going over here to speak to Julio, ok?" she sweetly told him and he nodded.

Sharon glanced at Andy and he just shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to say anymore. Sharon stepped over to where Julio and Buzz were sitting. "Ok ma'am, this is his location" Julio pointed to the computer screen as Buzz zoomed in on the street map. "And he's there right now?" she asked and Julio nodded his head. Sharon knew they had to act fast before word got out that they were looking for this suspect. "Lieutenant Provenza, please be careful with apprehending our suspect tonight" she spoke and Provenza acknowledged. "Of course, Commander" Provenza placed his plate down on the table and grabbed his suit jacket. Everyone else from the team started to get their things ready to go out. Sharon then focused on Andy as he stood next to her. "Please be careful" she said as she ran her hand down the front of his tie. "I will" he whispered back, knowing that she was staying behind with Matthew. He leaned down and kissed her on her cheek before grabbing his stuff and heading out with the rest of the team.

"Where's Daddy going?" Matthew wondered when he asked Sharon. "He's going out to grab the bad guy and I'm staying with you like I promised" she sat back down next to him at the table and ran her hand through his hair. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. Meanwhile, Andy was riding with Provenza as the team headed to the location for their suspect. Andy was looking out the window thinking about what had happened that afternoon. "What's bothering you?" Provenza asked as he was following Julio in front of them. Andy took a deep breath before he answered. "Just thinking about how close we came to being shot, or worse" he mumbled. "Yeh, well your instincts kicked in and everyone is fine, that's what's important" Provenza said as he turned the car down the suspect's street. He pulled right behind Julio's car, which was down the block from where they needed to go. "Alright, vest up everyone" Provenza said over the police radio. Andy took his vest and placed it over his head and put it on. He stepped out of the car and joined the rest of the team in front of the car, waiting for Provenza's directions.

Meanwhile, back at the Flynn house, Emily walked down the stairs and made her way towards the kitchen, but saw her mom was sitting in the dining room. "Where did everyone go?" she asked as she stepped into the room. "They went out to arrest the suspect in our shooting" Sharon said as she looked at her daughter. "Andy went too?" she asked and Sharon nodded her head. "Matthew, why don't you go into the family room and pick out something to watch and I'll join you in a few minutes" Sharon turned her attention to Matthew and he got up and left the dining room. Sharon took a deep breath before standing up and walking with Emily towards the kitchen. "So, I know you're an adult but be safe tonight" she pulled Emily in a hug. "I will Mom" Emily answered and the two broke their embrace. Emily grabbed her purse and walked out the back door. Sharon pulled out her phone from her pocket and texted Rusty. 'Matthew and I are going to watch a movie if you want to come down and watch' was the message she sent him. 'Ah ok, I'll be back down there in a few minutes' he replied back.

"Alright, Mike and Amy, you two cover the front door, Julio, cover the side of the house, patrol will cover the back area and Buzz, I want you with me on the porch" Provenza gave orders and everyone nodded except for Andy. "And where am I supposed to be?" he asked him. "Flynn, you are our witness, you can't" Provenza started to say but Andy waved him off. "You can't be serious" Andy told him. Provenza looked at his friend. "Fine, you can be with Julio and cover the side of the house" he told Andy and he joined Julio. Provenza walked up to the house and waited for Mike to knock on the door. A woman answered the door. "Uh, LAPD ma'am, does Raphel Rodriguez live here?" Mike informed the woman. "I'm his mother. What did he do now?" the woman stated with her arms crossed in front of her. "We just need to ask him some questions" Mike said as he looked behind the woman into the house but couldn't see anything.

Meanwhile, Raphel was trying to slip out of the first-floor window on the side and slowly started to lower himself down. Julio and Andy both looked at each other before making their way closer to him. Julio grabbed Raphel's legs and pulled him down from the window. "Raphel Rodriguez, AKA Kill Dog, you're under arrest" Andy said to him as Julio placed him in handcuffs. They started walking him back to the front of the house. "Provenza! Look who we caught trying to sneak out of the window here" Andy called out as they made their way to the patrol car that just pulled up. "Oh, Mister Rodriguez, Mike" Provenza said and then gestured to Mike to close it up as Amy joined Julio and Andy. "Where are you taking him?" his mother called out as Mike tried to calm her down. "Ma'am, he's wanted for questioning in a shooting that occurred earlier this afternoon, we are taking him down to our office, downtown" Mike informed her and then walked down the steps to join the rest of the team.

"Julio, take him to our office and hold him in one of the interview rooms, Amy you drive" Provenza pointed to her as he walked to meet them at their cars. Julio was reading the suspect his rights as he placed him in the backseat of his car. He then tossed the keys to Amy and he got in the backseat to join their suspect. Amy walked around to the front and got into the driver's side. She started the car and then drove away towards the office. Mike got in his car with Buzz and followed them. Provenza looked at Andy as he was standing by Provenza's car. "I'll call her and let her know" Andy said to him as they both got inside the car and Provenza drove away.

The movie was 40 minutes in and Buzz Lightyear was trying to save Woody when Sharon's phone rang. She glanced down at it and saw it was Andy calling her. "Hello" she answered it as she shifted on the couch as Matthew was laying down with a pillow on her left leg. "Hi, how are things there?" Andy asked her. "Ok, he wanted to watch a movie" Sharon told him. "We arrested the punk and are now heading to the office" he said and Sharon let go of a long breath. "Good, um, I will meet you and the team there" she said as she looked over at Rusty. "Is Matthew going to come with you or" Andy started to ask and then listened to Sharon's answer. "I'm hoping he can stay here with Rusty" she simply said. "Was everyone safe?" she asked. "Yes, the little punk tried to climb out the window but Julio and I stopped him" he told her as Provenza kept driving, giving his glances here and there to him. Sharon sighed over the phone. "Ok, I'll be leaving soon" she said. "Drive safely" Andy said and then they both hung up their phones.

Rusty shifted in the oversized chair. "Did you guys catch the guy who shot at you?" he asked his mom. "Yes, and now I have to go back into the office" Sharon told him as she tried to get Matthew to move a little. "Matthew, sweetie, I have to go into work and meet dad there" she said softly to him. "I want to go with you" he said in a sleepy voice as he moved. Sharon hummed as she helped him move. "Oh, sweetie, you don't want to stay here with Rusty and watch the rest of the movie?" she asked him. Matthew shook his head and stood up from the couch. Sharon took a deep breath and sighed. She glanced over at Rusty and he just shrugged his shoulders. Her and Andy would need to nip this soon, she thought to herself as she stood up from the couch. "Sweetie, why do you want to come with me?" she asked as she brushed his hair with her fingers. "Because I'm scared" Matthew answered her, quietly. Sharon pulled him in for a hug. "Ok, why don't you go pack your backpack with some books or coloring books, something to entertain yourself while mommy and daddy take care of things" she told him and then he ran up the stairs with Moxie following him.

"You know Mom, it wasn't too long ago when you wouldn't let me out of your sight, or the team's sight" Rusty reminded her as she made her way towards the kitchen. "Yes Rusty, but you had a serial killer after you at that time" she reminded him as she placed her purse on the kitchen island. Matthew came running into the kitchen with his backpack, and Moxie followed him. "Ready" he said as he looked at them. "Ok, Rusty, Moxie should be fine the rest of the night" Sharon told Rusty as they all headed out the back door, with Sharon locking up. "Good luck" Rusty told her as he went up the stairs to his apartment. Sharon nodded and Matthew stepped into the garage and opened the back door of Sharon's car, getting inside and closing the door. Sharon walked around to the driver's side and got in. She situated herself and started the car. She then drove them to meet the team at the office.

Meanwhile, back at the PAB, Julio and Amy had brought Raphel into Interview Room 1 and had him take a seat while they watched him. "I want a lawyer!" he said to them. "Do you have one or do you need us to get you one?" Julio asked. "Uh, I don't have one" Raphel replied. Amy nodded and stuck her head out the door. Provenza and Andy were standing by the desks. "Lieutenants, he's asking for a lawyer" Amy called out to them both. "Ye gods! Of course, he wants a lawyer" Provenza mumbled as Andy stood there with his arms folded across his chest. "This dirtbag fires shots at us, and then tries escaping out a window, and he wants a lawyer?" Andy shook his head and turned to sit down at his desk. He picked up his desk phone and called the Court Appointed Defendants number. Mike and Buzz walked back in to the office. "Buzz, they are in Interview Room 1, get that all set up" Provenza said and Buzz nodded his head. "Yes, Lieutenant" Buzz muttered as he made his way towards Electronics.

Andy hung up his desk phone and looked over at Provenza. "They're going to send a court appointed defender over in about 20 minutes or so" he told him. "Did they tell you who they were sending over?" Provenza asked as he was sitting at his desk now. "No, they didn't" Andy leaned back in his chair and then glanced over at the clock that was on the wall. A few minutes later, Sharon and Matthew walked into the office. Andy sat up and stood up from his chair. "Commander" Provenza cleared his throat as he looked up and watched her walk in towards her office. Matthew walked ahead of her towards Andy. "Dad" Matthew said as he hugged him. Andy looked at Sharon before he looked at his son. "Hey, you came with mom" he whispered to Matthew. Sharon stopped to get briefed by Provenza.

"Our window climber slash shooter is in Interview Room 1 now, he asked for a lawyer so Flynn called the court appointed defenders and they are sending someone over soon, in about 15 minutes or so" Provenza informed her. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Has he said anything to anyone yet?" Sharon asked. "No, except for asking for a lawyer, he's invoked his right to remaining silent" Provenza said and Sharon nodded, then made her way towards Andy and Matthew. "Matthew why don't you go into my office and set up your things there" she told him, and watched him bring his backpack into her office. Sharon sighed as she returned her gaze to look at Andy. "He didn't want to stay home?" he asked her. Sharon shook her head slightly. "He said he was still scared, so" Sharon looked at Andy as he placed his right hand on her left arm. "I think we forget he's still a little kid" he muttered to her and then leaned forward and kissed her forehead before they had to get back into work mode.

Sharon stepped into her office and saw Matthew was at her desk playing with the Legos that he had brought with him. "Do you need your desk?" he asked her as he looked up to meet her. "No sweetie, you're fine there" Sharon smiled as she placed her bag on one of the chairs across from him. She then turned to walk back towards the door closest to Andy when the court appointed defense attorney walked into the office. Jennings adjusted his suit jacket as he entered. "Ah, Mister Jennings, how nice to see you this evening, and I do not mean that" Provenza said out loud to him. "And it's nice to see you too Lieutenant" Jennings quipped back as he walked towards Sharon and Andy. "Commander, I'd like to see my client" he said to her. "Of course, he's in Interview Room 1" she said and pointed in the direction. Jennings walked towards the room and a few seconds later, both Julio and Amy stepped out of the room. "Ok, Amy you and I will have a little chat with Kill Dog, and try to see if this was related to our case or not" Provenza started walking towards Amy and she nodded.

"Wait a minute, Lieutenant" Sharon started to protest as she walked to catch up to him. Provenza stopped and turned to her. "Now Commander, before you start to tell me that you want to interview our subject, need I remind you that both you and Flynn are the victims here, not to mention Matthew in your office" Provenza looked at her with concern on his face. Sharon knew he was right, that neither she nor Andy could be in the interview room. She stared at him and pursed her lips before answering him. "Fine" she said and then turned to Andy. He didn't like standing on the sidelines any more than she did. "I'll get Matthew and meet you in Electronics" he told her as Provenza walked away from them. "Ok" she whispered to him and watched him walk away from her and towards her office. She took a deep breath before turning around and then she opened the door to Electronics.

Andy stepped into Sharon's office and Matthew was building one of his Lego sets. Matthew looked up at his dad when he entered the room. "Hey, your mom and I have to go into a room to watch something, did you want to come with us or stay here?" Andy stood next to the desk. "I want to go with you" Matthew muttered as he stood up from Sharon's chair. "Did you bring a book or something?" he asked before they walked out the door. Matthew stopped and turned around to grab the book from his backpack. Andy walked over to Sharon's desk and opened her bottom drawer, pulling out the headphones for Matthew to wear. "Alright, let's go meet up with your mom" Andy said as Matthew grabbed his hand and they stepped outside her office and walked over to Electronics.

Sharon was inside sitting next to Buzz. Mike was on the other side of Buzz while Julio was leaning up against the file cabinet in the back of the room. When Andy and Matthew stepped inside, Matthew walked over to the chair behind Sharon and sat down with his book. Andy handed him the headphones and he placed them over his ears. Sharon gave a small smile, turning in her chair, to Matthew, and then turning back to watch the interview taking place. Andy stood behind Sharon, sort of blocking Matthew's view of the monitor, just in case. "Mister Jennings, please tell your client that it is in his best interest to cooperate here" Provenza stated as he and Amy were having enough of the silent treatment from Raphel as he just sat there, staring back at them. Jennings leaned over to Raphel and informed him that he probably needed to cooperate. Raphel then sat up and started talking. "Look man, I didn't know I was carjacking a cop's car!" he exclaimed. "So, you're admitting to attempting to car jack a car then?" Provenza asked him and Raphel just looked at him and then shook his head. "Man, this is all wrong" he added. Provenza glanced over at Amy. "What's all wrong?" she asked him. "I saw a car that was on our list and so I followed it and pulled up behind when it stopped at the light" Raphel spoke but was interrupted by Provenza. "Wait a minute, what list are you talking about?" he asked him. Raphel took a deep breath, looked over at Jennings and he nodded. "Every gang has a list of cars that are hot" he spoke again.

Sharon looked at the monitor and shifted in her chair. "So, Raphel deals in stolen vehicles?" she asked out loud. "And a Ford Explorer is hot right now?" Andy stated in disbelief. "Actually, they are sir. The cartels want them to bring narcotics over the border" Julio answered him. "All the different compartments and voids inside the vehicle make it perfect for hiding things" Mike chimed in. They all focused back on listening to the interview. "So, I stepped out of my vehicle and start walking up, but the dude gets spooked or something and starts to drive off, when he flipped the sirens on and lights, I panicked and fired my gun" Raphel finished. Andy stood there and listened to what Raphel just said. "Where is your gun now?" Amy asked him. Raphel shook his head and looked down at the table. "At my mom's house" he muttered. "Mike, get a search warrant for that gun" Sharon looked over to him and Mike stood up from his chair and walked around to the door, exiting the room to call for a search warrant. "What were you going to do with your car you were in?" Amy asked him another question. "What?" Raphel asked back. "Your car, what were you going to do with it if you were successful in committing your crime?" Provenza asked him again. "Skimpy was going to drive it" Raphel stated without realizing he named someone else. "You weren't alone?" Provenza followed. Raphel hung his head again. "No" he answered, looking at the table.

"Who else was in that car, Buzz?" Sharon turned to him and Buzz was looking up the video footage that he had downloaded from the traffic cameras. "I'll look Commander" he said as he was typing on his laptop. A few seconds later, Buzz pulled up a fuzzy picture of someone else in the passenger seat of Raphel's car. "Can you make the photo clearer Buzz?" Julio asked as he looked over Buzz's shoulder. "Give me a minute" Buzz responded. Sharon glanced up at Andy and reached out her hand to grab his left hand, giving it a little squeeze for reassurance. She knew what he was thinking that if he hadn't turn on the lights and sirens, Raphel wouldn't have shot up their car, and Matthew wouldn't be scared. Turning back to the monitor, Sharon listened as the questioning continued.

"Who is Skimpy?" Amy asked again. Raphel sat there and shifted in his chair. Provenza had enough. "Jennings, if your client doesn't answer all of our questions, I will arrest him now for attempted murder of two police officers and a child!" Provenza barked out. "Attempted murder!" Raphel exclaimed. "Yeh, that's right, now tell us who Skimpy is" Amy asked again. "He's my kid brother" he muttered. Sharon looked over at Julio and he nodded. "Go with Mike and get some patrol officers to join you" she told him as he was leaving the room. "Buzz, I want you to join them and document the search for this gun with your camera" she told him and he nodded. "Yes Commander" Buzz stood up and grabbed his portable video camera and also followed Julio out of the room. She then turned to her two main concerns in the room, Andy and Matthew. Matthew was reading his book so she focused on Andy. "Andy none of this is your fault" she told him but he just shook his head slightly, his arms now folded in front of him. "If I hadn't turn on the lights and sirens" he started to say but Sharon stopped him. "Who knows what would have happened, Andy, you did what you had to do, instinct took over, and you saved us from being carjacked, or worse" Sharon said as she met his eyes, and her hand reached out to touch his face. He looked at her and knew she was right. Now was not the time to be playing what ifs in his head.

TBC