Chapter 1

It was just after 10:30 pm on Saturday night when the Major Crimes team closed their current case. This case left the entire team exhausted. They had been working for the last 32 hours straight trying to solve their case.

When Sharon got home, she immediately went to check on Rusty. She felt horrible leaving him home alone for so long. The two of them had been getting along so well. She enjoyed having him there and she was starting to feel like he was actually happy being there with her. She might not be his mother, but she loved him just as she did her own children.

Sharon was so exhausted; she did not even need a glass of wine. She changed her clothes and fell straight into bed. She had only been a sleep a few hours when she heard her iPhone ringing. She had not fully opened her eyes to read the screen on her iPhone when she answered, "Captain Raydor".

When Sharon heard her father's voice on the other end of the line, her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach. "Dad what's wrong, is Mom ok?" she managed in almost a whisper.

"She's fine honey, it's it's your sister. There has been an accident, we need you to come home right away," Bob Thomas says. Sharon could hardly breath, she knew what those words meant. She had used them numerous times during notifications. Bob Thomas knew that his daughters mind was racing a mile a minute and he didn't know what to say to her. He was barely able to keep it together himself. All he could say to Sharon was, "She's gone honey, please come home."

Scrolling through her phone, she called the first person she could think of, Lt. Andy Flynn.

Andy answered is phone with a very sleepy "Flynn…" When he heard her voice, he sat up quickly knowing immediately that something was wrong.

"Andy, its Sharon. I am sorry to bother you, but I did not know who else to call. I have a family emergency and I have to leave town right away. I know this is a lot to ask, but would you mind watching after Rusty while I'm gone?" Andy did not ask any questions, he knew it must be serious for her to call him. All he could say was, "I will be right over" and he hung up the phone.

Sharon sat in her bed for a moment pulling herself in to Raydor mode. She got right out of bed and started packing her bags. As she finished zipping her bag, she heard a knock at her door.

She opened the door to find Andy holding two cups of coffee. "I thought you might need this", Andy said as he walked in her condo.

In a shaky voice Sharon said, "Andy that's so thoughtful of you. I am so sorry to have called you tonight. I know you haven't had much sleep."

Andy could see her body shaking as she tried to keep her emotions in check. The only other time he had seen her this way was the night that Rusty ran off. It killed him to see her like this. She would not allow him to comfort her before, but this time he did not hesitate to wrap his arms around her. At first her body was stiff and just as he was about to pull away he felt her wrap her arms around him. He pulled her tighter against his chest as he heard her start to cry. He kissed the top of her head knowing that there wasn't a damn thing he could do to take away her pain.

They stood there like that for what seemed like forever before she started to pull herself together. Sharon did not want to let him see her like this, but when she felt his warm arms around her, she could not take the pain any longer.

All she could manage to say to Andy was "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to", but he did not even let her finish "Sharon you don't have to apologize for anything."

That was all it took before she went right back into Raydor mode. "Andy I don't know all of the details, but my sister was killed tonight in an accident. I do not know how many days I will be gone. There is money on the counter for Rusty's lunch and anything else he might need. You can stay here with him or take him back to your place after he wakes up tomorrow. I think I should wake him and tell him tell him goodbye."

She went into Rusty's room and in her soft motherly voice, she gave him a little shake and said, "Rusty I need you to please wake up, I need to talk to you."

It took Rusty a second to realize he was not dreaming when he said "Sharon I don't have school today."

"I know Rusty. Please wake up, it's important" and with that Rusty sat up in his bed. He could tell by looking at her that she had been crying. "Sharon what's wrong, are you ok?"

Sharon was sitting on the edge of his bed when she finally said "Rusty I need to go away for a few days. It is my family…. My sister, she was in an accident. Lieutenant Flynn is here and he is going to look after you until I get back. Rusty please be on your best behavior for him."

"Why can't I go with you?" Rusty said.

Sharon forced herself to stay focused and said "Rusty I can't argue about this right now. Please stay with Lieutenant Flynn."

Rusty finally answered her, "Okay, I will" and then he hugged her.

She hugged him back and with tears starting to slip out and kissing his cheek she said, "I have to go now" and she pulled away trying to keep him from seeing her cry.

Rusty knew that the best thing he could do for her right now was to let her go and after she left he would find out from Lieutenant Flynn what was going on.

Andy got up from her couch when he saw her coming down the hall. "Text me when you get there, okay" is all he said before kissing her forehead.

Sharon nodded her head silently agreeing. She picked up her things and walked out the door.