Monday morning dawned overcast and dreary; June gloom hugged L.A. like a damp woolen blanket. Andy despised the days they couldn't ride to work together and today was one of those days. He was due in court at nine, and Sharon had errands to run before arriving at the office. As they rode the elevator down to the parking garage, Andy held his hand firmly at the small of her back. "You know, you could drop me off; that way, we could still ride together," he suggested, even though he already knew her answer.

Stepping from the elevator, she turned to look at him, her hand easily migrating to the pink and mint green striped tie against his chest. "Andy, we had this discussion last night and again this morning. I have some things I need to do before work."

"I know, but..." Andy started.

"Sweetheart," Sharon interrupted, the soft movement of her hand against his chest also pausing.

"Okay," he relented. "You will text me when you get to work?"

"Isn't that what you have Provenza for?" the mischief in her jade eyes shining brightly at his smirk. "Yes, I promise. I will text you the moment I arrive."

"Haha!" Andy deadpanned. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?"

The movement of her hand on his tie resumed, "Maybe just a little, but I know it's because you love me." She leaned in, gently meeting his lips in the softest of kisses. "I love you too, you know."

"I know," his dark eyes softened as he met her lighter ones. "I always know."

Across town, in a sprawling estate in Brentwood, Stefanie Westerbrook read the notification on her iPhone 12 twice before rolling her eyes on the third review.

"Are you still upset with me, babe?"

How did she ever let herself get involved with him or them as she now suspects? She placed her phone face down on her desk, unable to contemplate what to do at this very moment. Standing, she pulled her robe tighter before making her way through the master bedroom and into the spacious walk-in closet. Try as she might, Stefanie lost focus on the task at hand as her eyes wandered over to handsome suits and colorful neckties. The blue and gold silk on the second shelf beckoned to her. She wrapped it around her wrist before bringing it up to her nose, begging for his scent to calm her. Yet, there was no hint of him, not that she expected there to be if she was honest with herself. She sank to the floor, pulling a stack of his sweaters with her. One by one, she pulled them to her tear-stained face, knowing all the while that time was her enemy. It had been nineteen months, 24 days, and 3 hours give or take a few minutes, since he left her. Although Grant did not remember who she was in the final months, he still flirted shamelessly and smiled when she entered his room. She couldn't bear to get rid of his things, just not yet, she told herself over and over.

For the first six months, she lived like a hermit, seeing no one, thankful that just about anything could be ordered online and delivered. She ignored her closest friends until one day; they simply left her alone. It wasn't until that fateful night, she slipped on wet stone surrounding the pool and realized just how alone she was.

Looking down at the very evident scar on her right knee, she wished she could go back in time and pull herself up out of the bed of loneliness that led her to make the biggest mistake of her life. At times she wished she had died with him, but he would never have wanted that. She felt ashamed and angry that she could be so stupid. Stupid and trusting! She acted one hundred percent out of character; she went against everything she had ever learned or held dear to her heart. The tears threatened again, hugging his light grey cashmere vest to her chest, she knew she needed help. She had to stop this from ever happening again to another poor lost soul like her. She could think of only one person she trusted enough to help her, even though they had not spoken in several years.

Getting to her feet, Stefanie carefully stacked his sweaters back on the shelf before her. Did she dare show up out of the blue and ask for help? Deep down, Stefanie knew that was her only resort because if she put much thought into what she was about to do, she may not go through with it.

Sharon hurried along the vast stone walkway outside the Police Administration Building, glancing at her watch every few seconds as if some significant change would occur. She despised being late or, more so, feeling like she was late. Choosing not to tell Andy about her meeting with Gretchen this morning seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Now, she wished more than anything that he had been with her. Taking a deep breath, she slowed her stride, venturing over to one of the massive marble benches surrounded by rose bushes. Glancing at her watch, one last time, she sat down as if she had all the time in the world. She needed something to get her mind off of all the unanswered questions in her head. Slipping her glasses from her face, Sharon closed her eyes. Breathe in, breathe out. She practiced over and over in her mind, the breaths coming easier each time.

"Sharon?" The familiar voice caught her off guard.

Opening her eyes, Sharon could not believe the sight before her. "Stefanie? What..." The older woman pulled her into a firm embrace, effectively cutting off her words. They held each other for a few moments before Sharon pulled away to meet her eyes. "What are you doing here? Is everything alright?"

"You look like I should be asking you that."

"What? No, I'm fine. I just needed a minute to myself. Come, sit," Sharon took her by the hand. "I was so sorry to hear about Grant."

Stefanie sadly shook her head. "I know, I received your card. I thought about reaching out but, I lost my way for a bit, and I've made some massive mistakes."

Concern mirrored in Sharon's eyes. "Stefanie, that doesn't sound like you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Believe it or not, that's why I'm here," the tears burned in her hazel eyes. "I've made such a mess of everything. And, I've been so stupid!" the anger burned through her words.

"Shh," Sharon pulled her into a tight embrace. "I know you, and it can't be that bad. Come, let's go up to my office where we will have some privacy and get to the bottom of this."

Visitors badge in place, Stefanie followed Sharon into the crowded elevator. "Commander," a uniformed officer nodded as he and a group of cadets stepped off on the fourth floor, leaving the two women alone in the elevator.

"Commander!" Stefanie all but shouted as she turned to her friend. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Smiling softly, Sharon held her left hand out, "Because you have had a lot going on, and I have more important things to tell you."

Stefanie grabbed the younger woman's hand just as the elevator opened on the ninth floor. "You're engaged!"

Sharon giggled softly, "Yes, and I will tell you all about him once we are in my office. When was the last time you were here? I can't remember."

"If memory serves, it was just before you took over Major Crimes. I was working on that article for the Times." Stefanie followed closely behind Sharon as they moved through the almost empty murder room.

Provenza looked up from his crossword at the sound of the two women talking. Try as he might, he could not place where he knew the strawberry blonde from.

"Lieutenant?" Sharon spoke from the doorway of her office. "I will be tied up for the next few hours. Do you mind letting Andy know I'm here?" It was all Provenza could do to keep from rolling his eyes.

"Idiots," he mumbled to himself as the Commander's door softly closed.

"Was that Grant Westerbrook's widow?" Mike Tao's voice whispered from across the room.

"Well, I'll be damned, Tao. You are exactly right," Provenza smiled.

"I didn't realize she and the Commander were friends."

"It shouldn't come as that big of a surprise. We've always known the Commander has a lot more class than the rest of us," Julio spoke as he rounded the corner from the restroom.

"Don't let Flynn hear you say that," Provenza warned. "Speaking of Flynn, let me text him before I forget." Pulling out his phone, Louie pecked the letters one by one, "She's here."

"Who's where?" the text replied before Provenze could place his phone on his desk.

After another minute or two of pecking, "Who do you think, IDIOT!"

Provenza's desk phone rang almost instantly; recognizing the number, he grumbled, "I thought you were in court."

"What the hell did you mean by that text?"

"For the love of god, Flynn," Provenza all but shouted. "I'm trying to tell you the Commander has arrived! She is in her office as we speak."

"Why didn't she text me?" Concern seeped into Andy's voice.

"Do I sound like I know!" irritation evident in his voice. "Look, all I know is the Commander asked me to text you because she is busy at the moment."

"Busy with what? Do we have a case? Hold on." Provenza could hear talking in the background. "Damn, the Judge is calling us back in. I gotta go, but you are sure she's okay?"

"She's fine. Now go, focus on your job for once, please," Provenza slammed the phone down. "The things I go through for those two!" he mumbled under his breath with a sly smile.