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

Chapter 22

Mike, Julio, and Buzz returned a half hour later with the gun used in the carjacking and also Skimpy. Julio placed him in an interview room and exited the room just as Sharon approached him. "We found Skimpy, also known as Matias Rodriguez, Raphel's little brother. His mom was happy to let him come with us, ma'am" he told her and she nodded. "Julio, I want you and Mike to interview Skimpy" Sharon told him and Julio nodded. "I'll go get him" he told her and then walked towards the office. Sharon then walked in front of the door. She thought about opening it and starting the interview herself but knew better so she just stood outside the room, looking into the room through the window. "Ah, Commander, I brought the gun down to ballistics, we should get a match soon" Mike informed her and she nodded her head. Julio and Mike stepped into the interview room and Sharon turned around and walked back into the office.

Provenza was sitting at his desk working on the booking paperwork of Raphel when Sharon walked back inside. "Amy and Buzz are in Electronics" he told her as she walked by his desk. "Thank you, Lieutenant" she said and then paused her movement as she glanced into her office and saw Matthew and Andy sitting at the table inside. She decided to stop inside her office before heading into Electronics. She stood at the doorway and listened to what Matthew and Andy were saying. "So, you and mom got the bad guys now, right?" he asked Andy as he continued to play with the Legos. "Yeh buddy, we got them, so you don't have to be scared anymore" he told him and Matthew nodded. Andy glanced up and saw Sharon standing in the doorway. She smiled and then pointed to Electronics and Andy smiled back at her. "Hey, so your mom and I have to go back into that room over there to listen to an interview, so you can stay here in her office" Andy started to tell him but Matthew stood up from his chair. "I want to go with you and mommy" he said and started to walk over to where Sharon was standing. Andy sighed. "Sure kiddo" he whispered to no one and stood up, now following Sharon and Matthew towards Electronics.

Provenza glanced up and watched the three of them head over to Electronics before he returned to the report he was typing. As Sharon opened the door, she heard Julio yelling over the monitor. She sighed as she quickly walked around the desk and sat down, turning her attention to watching this interview. Matthew went back to his seat and placed his headphones on. Andy glanced over at Amy who seemed disturbed by what the new interviewee was saying. "Man, I was just running with my older brother, I don't know nothing else!" Matias said to them. "Stop lying! Look we know you're in the gang with your brother! Do you want to go to jail too?" Julio stated and Mike had to interrupt him. "Julio" he spoke quietly to him and Julio backed off. "Please tell me this kid has been read his rights and he waved them?" Sharon said out loud to Amy and Buzz. "Yes ma'am, we have that all recorded" Buzz told her. Sharon nodded her head and they continued to listen to the interview.

Twenty minutes later, two patrol officers were bringing Matais down to booking as they were charging him with accessory to attempted murder, accessory to carjacking, and fleeing the scene of a crime. Provenza walked into Electronics as Sharon stood up from her chair. "Ah, Commander, here are the booking reports for both Raphel and his brother, Matais" he handed them to her as she looked them over. "Lieutenant how did you know we would be arresting both of them tonight?" Sharon asked as she read them and looked up at Provenza. "Call it a hunch" Provenza told her and then walked out of the room. Amy let out a chuckle and then composed herself as she walked around the desk and exited the room, heading back to her desk. "Buzz, I think we are finished for the night now, go home" Sharon told him and Buzz nodded his head. "Good night, Commander, Lieutenant" he said as Sharon, Andy, and Matthew also exited the room and headed back towards Sharon's office.

They were walking by Julio's desk when Sharon stopped and waited for Julio to hang up his desk phone. "Commander, that was my contact in Gang Intel" Julio stated to her as she looked at him and realized what that phone call meant. She had completely forgotten about their other gang that they ran into earlier today. "Yes, Detective" she said and Julio continued. "They arrested Luis Henriquez tonight, along with 5 other members of his gang" Julio informed her and everyone else. "Thank you, Detective, oh and I'm not sure what happened in the interview room prior to myself watching it but I will review the tapes, so please, make sure you are following the law" Sharon told him in a quieter voice so only he could hear. "Yes ma'am" Julio muttered. Sharon took a deep breath before speaking to the rest of the team. "Everyone, thank you, good work, now please go home and enjoy the weekend" she looked at each member of her squad before continuing walking into her office.

"What about our reports sir?" Julio asked Provenza as he returned to sitting at his desk. "We can finish them on Monday" Provenza said, as he cleared his throat, and he looked at Amy, Julio, and Mike before he stood up and placed his suit jacket back on. Mike stood up as well and walked out with Julio and Amy. "Night guys" Mike said as they walked out. "Do you think the commander is mad with how I acted in the interview room?" Julio asked Mike as they walked over to the elevator. "I think she has more important things to worry about right now, with Matthew, than you yelling" Mike told him as they all stepped in the elevator. Provenza walked over to Sharon's office and knocked before he entered. "Ah, I just wanted to make sure you all have a ride home" Provenza said as Matthew gathered his things and placed them in his backpack. "Yes, we are good Lieutenant" Sharon said. "Yeh, I'll drive them home in Sharon's car and then tomorrow morning, I'll pick up my new car from the motor pool" Andy said, joining him at the door. "Have a good night then" Provenza said, looked at Andy and nodded. Andy nodded back and Provenza left. Andy then focused on Sharon and Matthew. Matthew was ready to go home and Sharon was just gathering her things.

Andy was staring at her when she looked up at him. "Let's go home" she said quietly as she met Andy's eyes. Andy nodded and Sharon reached for Matthew's hand before walking out of her office, Andy closing the door behind them and then they stepped out into the hallway. Sharon let go of Matthew's hand and he ran ahead and pressed the button for the elevator. Sharon and Andy stepped up behind Matthew and waited for the elevator. The door opened and it was empty. Matthew stepped inside with his parents and pressed the button for the parking garage. Sharon wrapped her arm around Andy's left arm as the elevator brought them down. Matthew stood on Andy's right side and waited for the doors to open again. The doors opened and Sharon moved away from Andy and started walking towards her car. Andy and Matthew were right next to her. Andy unlocked her car and Matthew opened the back seat door and got inside. Andy opened Sharon's door for her and she gave him a smile as she slipped inside and he closed the door after she got settled. He then walked around to the driver's side, got in, and started the car. He drove them home with no issues. Sharon's left hand wrapped around his right hand and when he pulled her car into their driveway, she stirred and turned towards him. "Sorry, I fell asleep" she whispered to him. He looked at her as the garage door opened. Andy pulled her car inside and turned it off. Andy glanced over his shoulder at Matthew and saw he was sleeping. Sharon had texted Rusty that they were home now and saw that Emily had also texted her.

Andy stepped out and met Sharon on the passenger side. Before he opened Matthew's door, he pulled her in and kissed her. Sharon dropped her bag on the garage floor and pulled him in closer. "I love you" she whispered to him after he broke their kiss. His eyes gave off a sad look. "Please don't blame yourself, I told you Andy, you did what you had to do to keep us safe" she continued to speak softly to him. "I know" he whispered back. "I love you" he added and then he proceeded to open Matthew's car door and woke him up. "Hey buddy, we're home now" Andy said as Matthew opened his eyes. Matthew moved and took his seatbelt off and then got out of the car, grabbing his backpack. Sharon had her bag and held Matthew's hand as they walked out of the garage and towards the house. Andy was right behind them.

They made their way into the house and Andy locked up behind them. "Matthew go upstairs and get ready for bed" Sharon told him and Matthew went upstairs with Moxie following him. Andy stepped over to Sharon in the kitchen. She turned and looked at him as he was leaning up against the island. "Yes" she said in a sultry voice as she stepped closer to him. "It's been a hell of a day" Andy said in a low voice as he held out his arms and she stepped into him, wrapping her arms around him. "It has" she sighed as she leaned her head against his chest. "I can run you a bath? Grab you a glass of wine? Maybe join you in the bathtub?" he smiled as she hummed after everything that he was saying. "I'd like that" she told him as she leaned back and looked into his eyes. He leaned down and met her lips, running his hands along her back. After they broke their kiss, Sharon stepped away and ran her right hand down his right arm and intertwined her fingers with his. "Emily said she would be home by 11:30 tonight" Sharon told him. "Oh, she must be having a nice time at that party then" he added. He walked her over to the fridge and opened the bottle of wine that was in there. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard and placed it on the counter. She watched him uncork the bottle and pour her a glass. He smiled at her and winked, placing the bottle back in the fridge. She took a sip from the glass and hummed. "My favorite" she smiled. "I know" he grinned in return.

After making sure everything was locked up downstairs, they both made their way upstairs and Sharon walked into their room, while Andy stopped and checked in on Matthew. "I'll be right there" he told her and she nodded. Andy stepped inside Matthew's room and saw he was sitting on his bed with Moxie. He had changed into his pajamas. "Everything ok?" Andy asked him. "Yeh" Matthew muttered his answer and then scooted back into his bed, Andy tucking him in. "Thank you for keeping mommy and me safe today" he told Andy as he hugged his teddy bear. "Good night" Andy winked at him and then walked out, closing the door behind him but left the lamp on his nightstand on. Andy stood outside Matthew's door for a few seconds and took a deep breath. He then made his way into his and Sharon's room and saw that Sharon was already in the bathroom, wearing her robe. "Everything ok?" she asked him as she sipped her wine. "Oh yes, most definitely" Andy responded and then proceeded to draw a bath for her. He placed her favorite bubble bath in and made sure the water was the right temperature. She then untied her robe and let it fall down her arms in front of him. "You are a bit overdressed" she smiled at him as she stepped into the tub, Andy offering a hand to help. She slid down the back of the tub and began to relax. "I'll join you in a bit" he leaned down and whispered in her ear, kissing the top of her head. "Don't be too long" she told him as he walked back into their bedroom.

"Dad?" Matthew was standing in the doorway to their room and startled Andy. "What's going on?" Andy asked their youngest as he stood there, closing the bathroom door to not disturb Sharon. "Can Moxie and I sleep in here with you and mommy tonight?" Matthew asked him and Andy looked at the kid. He couldn't tell him no, so he nodded his head. "Yeh, come on in" he said as he gestured towards the rest of the room. Matthew looked around. "Where's mommy?" he asked as he placed his blanket on the floor along with his pillows from his room. "She's taking a bath; I'll be right back" Andy said and turned to go back into the bathroom. Hearing Andy step back inside the room, Sharon moved her head to look at him and noticed he was still wearing clothes. "Hey, ah, change of plans" Andy said to Sharon as he stepped over to where she was still in the bathtub and rubbed the back of his head with his hand. "What's wrong?" she asked him. "Matthew asked to sleep in our room tonight, when I stepped out a few minutes ago" he said, in an almost defeated voice. "Ok" she said and then proceeded to get out of the tub. Andy held a hand out for her to hold and then grabbed a towel for her and wrapped it around her body.

"You didn't have to get out of the tub, Sharon" he said to her in a low voice. "You're going to have to bring me my pajamas in here since I failed to do that beforehand" she assured him as she dried herself in the towel. "I can do that" he whispered to her. "Modest pajamas Andy" she told him and he smiled back at her. "Yes, dear" he said and then opened the door, closing it behind him. He went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of her pajamas, a top and pants, along with a pair of her underwear, and brought that back into the bathroom for her. "Does this meet your approval?" he asked as he handed them to her. She looked at him and then the items that he held up and nodded. "I'll be out in a minute" she told him and he stepped back into their bedroom, closing the door again behind him. He sighed as he saw Matthew curled up on their floor, blanket over him, and Moxie sleeping next to him. He then stepped over to the dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants for him. Sharon walked out a minute later, all dressed and ready for bed. She saw Matthew sleeping on the floor and her heart broke. He was sleeping at the foot of their bed so she tiptoed around, first going to their closet the place her clothes in the hamper. She then tiptoed over to their bed and pulled the covers down. "I'll be right back" Andy said as he stepped back into the bathroom. Sharon slid into the bed on her side and pulled the bed sheet up, taking her glasses off and placing them on the nightstand next to her.

"Mom?" a little voice came from the floor. "Yes, sweetie?" Sharon sat up and Matthew did the same. "Can I sleep in the bed with you and dad?" he asked her and she could not resist those eyes of his. "Sure, here come on this side" she gestured for him to come over to her side as she scooted closer to the middle of the bed. He brought his blanket up there with him and settled down. Andy stepped out of the bathroom and looked over at their bed. "Well, that didn't take very long" he grinned and then stepped over to the closet, placing his clothes in the hamper as well. "I'll leave my lamp on so that will give him some light during the night" she whispered to Andy as he turned off the overhead light. "Ok" he said and then stepped over to his side of the bed and slid underneath the sheets. He reached over to give Sharon a good night kiss. "Good night" she whispered to him and settled her head on his shoulder. "Night" he whispered back and held her. He could feel Sharon relaxing and he knew she would be sleeping soon. Emily had the key code to the door, so he didn't have to worry about opening the back door for her. He tried to relax, but he couldn't get the events that happened this afternoon out of his head.

Time moved forward and a text message came through to Andy and Sharon's phones. Andy reached over to his nightstand and grabbed his phone with his free hand. He glanced at the text message and saw it was from Emily. 'I'm just walking in to the house now, so don't be alarmed' it said. A few seconds later, Andy heard the back door open and close. He decided to get up so he slid his arm away from Sharon and slowly stood up from their bed. He took his phone with him as he quietly walked out of their room, trying to not disturb anyone, including Moxie. He closed the door behind him and heard some movement downstairs in the kitchen area. He made his way down the stairs, and the lights that Sharon had left on were still on. Andy stepped into the kitchen and saw Emily was standing by the sink drinking a glass of water. "Did you have a nice time?" he asked, trying not to startle her. "Yes, it was fun" Emily answered as she placed the glass in the sink. "Did you and mom catch the guy that shot at you today?" she asked him as she walked towards where he was standing. "Yeh, we got the guy and his accomplice, who turned out to be his little brother" he muttered. "You're a hero, Andy" she smiled and then walked towards the stairs. "Did your mother tell you that?" he asked as she was walking away. Emily stopped before going up the stairs. "No" she shook her head, gave a small smile and then proceeded to head upstairs.

Andy stood in place for a few minutes before walking to the back door to make sure it was locked. Then he made his way back upstairs and opened his and Sharon's bedroom door, stepping in and closing it behind him. This time, he saw Moxie on their bed at the foot, curled up. Matthew was sprawled out on the side and Sharon had shifted over closer to Andy's side of the bed. "Everything ok?" he heard Sharon whisper to him as he came closer to their bed. "Emily is home" he whispered as he tried to slide in next to Sharon. He laid on his left side and wrapped his right arm around her. She hummed as he pulled her in close to him. "How are you doing?" she whispered as she re-settled herself. "I'm ok" he muttered into her ear as he kissed the spot behind it. She smiled as they both fell back asleep.

TBC