Return to Me

by Kadi

Rated T

Disclaimer: If only they were mine… Sadly, they are not. I'm only borrowing them for a time, I promise to return them!

Chapter 9 - Looking Forward

Sleeping in his own bed was something that Andy Flynn would never take for granted again. He sighed gratefully as he sank into the familiar mattress. After two weeks spent in a hospital bed, his back was more than happy to have his own bed beneath him. He was almost tempted to wiggle in contentment, except that he didn't wiggle, and he still hurt like a son of a bitch. Staples were out, but the incisions still ached. It was the deeper injuries that throbbed, however. Andy settled back on his pillows and tucked an arm behind his head. His eyes circled the room, a smile tugged at his lips. He watched Sharon, unpacking his bag and sorting everything between what went into the laundry and what got put away. "Leave it," he rumbled.

She glanced up at him, smiled when he crooked the fingers of his other hand toward her. Sharon let the bag drop into the chair near the closet and tossed the shirt in her hand toward the hamper in the corner. She walked toward the bed and crawled carefully toward him. "Yes," she said at length, brows lifting.

"Get over here." He held out his arm and when she curled against him, he closed it around her. They both sighed. A hospital bed just didn't allow one to hold his girl the way he liked. Neither did snippy nurses. He made a mental note to write a complaint. He knew what he needed to feel better. It was curling her leg around his and laying her head against his shoulder.

Sharon hummed quietly and settled against him. "Better?" She was certainly more at ease now that he was home. It had been a very long two weeks. The first half was the most difficult. Andy had taken a turn for the worst after initially waking, but they realized there was a bleeder that hadn't been caught the first time, it wasn't a mistake. His injuries were substantial. After a second surgery he improved steadily. He was released from the ICU after a week. Finally, after a second week in the hospital, he was home. She finally felt as though she could rest now.

It became necessary, after his second surgery, for the team to return to work. They couldn't linger indefinitely. They had been given as much leeway as the department could allow. Due to her OIS, Sharon had remained on mandatory leave a few more days, at least until she spoke to Behavioral Health. She did that after Andy was moved out of ICU. Only then did she feel confident enough on leaving him for prolonged periods. Between his children and Rusty she made sure that he was never alone. There was always someone at the hospital with him during the day, and she spent the evenings with him. She returned to her condo only to shower and dress for each new day.

Jack had returned, only once during Andy's hospital stay. He came to check on her. Afterward, when it was apparent that he was no longer needed… he left. He wasn't going to contest the divorce. That chapter of her life was finally over, and it was only a matter of official paperwork. She was allowing Gavin to handle all of it now. There were other more pressing matters on her mind.

"Yeah," Andy rumbled in response. "Much better." His hand moved into her hair. "Damned nurses."

Sharon chuckled quietly. "You know," she drawled. "In their defense, those beds really aren't made for two."

"What do they know?" His hand moved down to her neck. He smirked when she shivered. Yeah, he still had it. "If I want a hot broad in my bed, who are they to throw a fit about it? Jealous hussies."

"Somehow," Sharon lifted her head to look at him. Her eyes were shining with amusement and affection at his antics. "I don't think it was jealousy." Her brows lifted. "Hot broad?"

"You know what I mean." He smirked at her. "Let's not argue terms of endearment. You didn't like baby, I get hot broad."

Sharon rolled her eyes at him and lay her head back against his chest. "You're definitely feeling better," she observed.

"What can I say? I like being home." He went back to playing with the ends of her hair. "I like coming home and having you here," he said more quietly.

"Hm." Her lips curved, she lifted her head again and propped it in her hand. "Do you?"

"You know I do." He wrapped silken strands of her hair around his fingers. "It's just so convenient. My stuff is here. You're here. I like convenient," he grinned.

"Ah," her eyes sparkled. "I see. Well, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you, would we?"

"No," he drawled. "I'm an injured man you know."

"Yes, I do." Her hand lay against his chest, she stroked gently in lazy circles. "I like you being home too," she said softly. "I thought I was going to lose you."

"Nah." He pulled her back down against him, held her close. "Take a lot more than that. Like I said," he referenced the note which had accompanied the necklace she still wore. "I'm not going anywhere. Not without you, I'm in this."

She hummed quietly and turned her face into his neck. "I'm not ready yet," she whispered. "You were right about that." Her lips were soft against his skin. "But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

"I know," his eyes closed. He would take whatever she could give him. It was enough. His hand stroked down her back. "Sharon, I'll take you how I can get you."

Her head lifted and she flashed a watery smile at him. "Yes." She touched his cheek, just the faintest caress of her fingertips. "One day," she promised. "Probably sooner than we think. Until then… how about a promise of my own?"

His brows drew together. "What did you have in mind?" His heart thumped in his chest. Knowing that she was thinking about it, that she was looking that far ahead, it made his soul sing. "Sharon, I don't need—"

She placed her fingers against his lips. "I know." She leaned down, replaced her fingers with her lips. "I took for granted that loving you was enough. I never considered that there might be a day when you wouldn't be beside me, by your own choice or not. I was complacent. Maybe even a little arrogant. I've gotten very used to getting what I want. You've been patient, waiting when I expected it. You've never pushed. You were always just there." Sharon inhaled, her voice hitched. "I took you for granted," she admitted painfully.

"Sharon…" He cupped her cheek. He caught a drop of moisture as it left the corner of her eye, swept it away. "Maybe there was a little of that on both sides. I could have been a little more vocal about what I wanted from you." Andy shrugged. "It didn't matter. Not to me. It was more important to me to see if it worked, you know, being in an actual relationship with another adult."

"Yes," she smiled at that. "I know the feeling." Her head tilted and she sighed. "Still, I can recognize my faults where they lay. I don't want to be without you, but I'm not ready for a more solid commitment. Not yet." She drew a breath, let it out slowly. "But," she said quickly, before he could interrupt her again. "Maybe you wouldn't mind having me around a little more? Because that I can do."

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. He considered all that she might mean by that. They already split their time between both places. Andy swept her hair back from her face. "I think I might be able to deal with that, if you're talking about what I think you are…"

"I'm a packaged deal," she reminded him. "You get two for the price of one, and he can be a handful."

"You don't say," Andy drawled. "You know, I already had a pretty good idea that getting you meant inheriting a teenager too. Good thing I don't mind the kid, huh?" His thumb traced her bottom lip. "So, tell me something," he rumbled. "Wanna move in?"

She nodded quietly. "That I can give you," she murmured. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here."

"Always." He drew her toward him, let his lips tease hers open.

"Always," she breathed into his mouth.

She couldn't give him everything, not yet. It was still too soon. But he had come back to her, and she could promise him the chance. The future was unwritten. Together they would live in the present.

~FIN