Sharon POV

I woke to the feel of Andy's lips on my bare shoulder.

Not a bad way to start the day.

And if the fervor with which his hands are roaming over me is any indicator, I have a feeling the day is going to get exponentially better in a matter of minutes.

I stretched languidly and pressed my backside against him, encouraging his exploration.

"You're awake," he rumbled. "I thought I was going to have to start without you."

"I think you did start without me," I teased.

His light, expert touch was setting off little sparks all through me, and I hummed my approval as I pushed against him again, and he murmured, "Well, it has been almost ten hours."

Ten hours since we got in bed last night.

That almost never happens, and I guess Andy is ready to put the extra sleep to good use.

Lucky me.

It's been ten days since we arrested Manuel Diaz.

"I wasn't going to hurt her," he insisted to Lieutenants Provenza and Tao as they conducted the interrogation. It was the next morning, after the incident, and I was watching from electronics, along with Andy, Buzz, and Andrea.

"Sure, that makes sense," Provenza responded. "That's why you ambushed her in her parking garage, brandishing a twenty-two revolver."

"No, you don't get it. I wanted her to shoot me," he explained. "But she wouldn't do it. And then her kid showed up, so I thought if I aimed at him…"

"What, do you have a death wish?" Provenza questioned.

Diaz shrugged, keeping his gaze focused on the table as he said, "I wanted her to go through the inquiry and humiliation of having her actions put under a microscope. I wanted her to have the incident in her jacket, where she shot a deputy."

"Former deputy," Tao pointed out. "One who was stalking her. I don't think it would take long for FID to clear her, even if she'd shot you dead."

"But the report would say why I came after her. It would say it was because she got me suspended, and ultimately fired, all because she suspected me of murder."

"A murder you were planning to commit," Provenza reminded him. "Come on, Diaz, I'm not saying anyone would blame you if you had killed the monster who raped your daughter, but you need to at least accept responsibility for your actions."

"I was trying to show her that rules get broken sometimes, and that doesn't make me a bad person. It doesn't mean I deserve what happened. But with everything, she still went by the book."

"Yeah, she likes the book," Provenza said, looking towards the camera and then rolling his eyes.

"What do you want me to do with this guy?" Andrea asked me. "We can go with attempted murder, in addition to the various lesser charges. That should put him away for a while."

"That's not my goal here," I said with a shake of my head. "A little time will be enough, if he confesses to everything he did."

"Are you sure?" Andy asked me. "After what he's put you through?"

"A couple of weeks of stress, with no long-term damage," I simplified. "He's been through enough."

So Andrea went in to talk with him, and she got it in writing, everything he did. The falsified DUI report, the phone calls, paying Hernandez to say I propositioned him…all of it. In exchange for full disclosure, she offered him five years, and he took it.

It still sounds like a lot to me, but he'll probably get parole after three, and even though the intent wasn't there, he did point a gun at Rusty.

"And you, too," Andy said when I spoke my thoughts aloud.

"He wasn't going to shoot me."

"Sure, you know that now, but…"

He trailed off and I could tell he was still a little effected by what happened, and maybe wasn't in complete agreement with my choice for leniency, but he didn't argue. I rested my hand on his forearm for a moment, aware of Buzz in the room with us, and as usual, Andy's countenance softened immediately. I love how my touch always seems to calm him.

He glanced over at Buzz, whose focus was on the monitor, and then reached for my hand with his, clasping my fingers for a few seconds, and then conceded with a smile, "You're the boss, Captain."

So with Diaz behind bars, and no new murders that demanded our attention, we actually spent the rest of that day, and the entire next day doing catch-up paperwork.

Or at least, my squad did.

I got called into Pope's office.

"I read the report on Diaz," he said once I was seated across from him. "You know we could've probably gotten twice the sentence, considering the extent of his harassment."

"I know."

He watched me for a moment, presumably waiting for me to elaborate, but when I didn't, he just nodded and looked down at the papers on his desk before saying, "Detective Hernandez received four months suspension, without pay. And he's required to write you an official letter of apology. And it was strongly suggested to him that he donate the five thousand dollars to the Police Memorial Foundation."

"That sounds fair," I agreed, although I have no interest in an apology from Hernandez. He seemed to get a lot of enjoyment talking about our supposed one-night stand, and an I'm sorry isn't going to make me forget about that. He should just hope our paths don't cross again.

"Good, so we can put that behind us," he stated, again shuffling the papers in front of him, and then he raised his eyes to mine as he leaned back in his chair with a smug expression on his face, and that was when I got concerned.

"I just have one question," he added.

"Yes?"

"This report says that Lieutenant Flynn was first on scene, in your parking garage, several minutes ahead of Detectives Sykes and Sanchez, who were tasked with watching your building."

Amy wrote that report, and I still can't believe it never occurred to her to ask me that same question.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you going to make me say it?" he asked.

"You want to know why Lieutenant Flynn was in my garage?"

"That would be nice, yes."

"He was concerned about me," I explained. "The entire division knew that Diaz was escalating. Lieutenants Provenza and Tao were still working in the office, and as you mentioned, Sykes and Sanchez were assigned to be at my residence, so Flynn decided to stop by as well. And considering he left the office before the detectives, he also arrived at the garage before them."

"Okay. That makes sense. So, it doesn't have anything to do with you dating Flynn."

"What?" I asked, completely thrown by his question. We've been so careful. I mean, yes, some of my division now knows, but they would never let it slip to Pope.

"What is not a no, Captain," the chief pointed out.

Saying no now would be a flat-out lie, and I've been trying so hard not to do that, so instead of saying anything, I just held his gaze as potential responses rolled through my head.

Why didn't I tell Taylor weeks ago? Months ago, for that matter.

But then to my surprise, Pope started laughing.

"I know, it really gets you, doesn't it? I mean, imagine that…you and Flynn!" he said, still chuckling as if it were the most ridiculous idea ever. "Your soon-to-be ex called me yesterday, claiming to be concerned about your state of mind, since you've taken to consorting with your subordinates."

"Jack called you?" I managed to say, still struggling to keep up.

"Don't worry," he said with a wave. "I just thought you could use the laugh. I've got two exes of my own, so I know how the mud-slinging goes. Kind of low of him to call me directly, but he sounded a little desperate, so…"

He trailed off and then sat up straight, finally getting his laughter under control.

"Okay, so…are we good? Major Crimes is squared away and back in line for the next big murder?"

"Yes, sir," I agreed, still slightly shell-shocked.

"Great, okay, well…don't forget about that suggestion of taking some time. The offer still stands."

I left his office in a daze. Furious with Jack, of course, but also unsure what to do about coming clean in regards to Andy. How can I tell them now?

And more importantly, what's so funny about the thought of me and Andy together?

I decided to focus on the issue I do know how to handle first, so I went straight from the chief's office, out of the building and down the street to Jack's office, and the five minute walk served to fuel my anger over his interference in my life.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked as I looked around for any sign of my ex.

"Jack Raydor," I said venomously.

"Do you have an appoint-" she began, but then broke off as I started down a hall, reading the names on the doors as I went. "Ma'am, you can't go in without an appointment!"

Before she caught up to me, I found the right office and flung open the door.

He had a young secretary in with him, a woman who was seated on his desk with a notepad and pen in her hand for effect, and he was smiling broadly at her until he saw me standing in the doorway.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Raydor," the receptionist said, appearing behind me. "She wouldn't wait."

"It's fine. Hello, Sharon," he stated, the smile still firmly in place.

"Give us a minute," I said to his assistant, without sparing her a glance, and then I stood inside the office and pointed at the door, waiting for her to use it.

"I'll buzz you when I'm ready to finish," Jack assured her, so she moved off his desk and left the office, and I slammed the door behind her.

"You've done some low things, Jack, really really low, but this tops them all. You called Chief Pope to tell him your assumption that I have something going on with Lieutenant Flynn? Why would you do that? What could you possibly have to gain?"

"Payback's a bitch, don't you think?" he replied unrepentantly. "You forget that you sent detectives over here two weeks ago to haul me off, practically in handcuffs?"

"So you lie about me to my boss?" I shouted. "Besides, have you forgotten that I only suspected you in the first place because you assaulted my lieutenant?"

"Andy Flynn is barely a lieutenant," he said dismissively. "He should've been demoted years ago, and why you let him hang around in Major Crimes is a mystery. One which I solved by associating him with you."

"No, you know what, Jack? This is harassment, something with which I'm very familiar after these past two weeks, so you really don't want to mess with me right now. The calls stop immediately. Not one more, to Rusty, to Pope, to anyone…not one more call, do you understand me?"

"Or what? You'll be mad at me?" he taunted. "Because it seems like you kinda already are."

"Being mad would require me to have any feelings left for you at all, Jack. But where you're concerned, I feel absolutely nothing."

I felt gratified when his expression changed to something resembling remorse, and I kept going, to make sure my point was received.

"One more call means I actually do have you arrested. And sure, you'll probably get the charges thrown out, but it'll be a lot of fun for me to watch you go through the hassle."

I turned to leave, but paused by the door when he called my name in a contrite voice.

"What?" I asked on a long-suffering sigh.

"I just wanted to get your attention," he admitted. "I wanted you to have to come talk to me. Sharon…I want you back. Can't we talk about this?"

"Talking is exactly what I wanted," I answered. "Twenty years ago. And fifteen…ten…even two years ago, I probably still would've tried to talk things through with you, but not now. It's too late."

He opened his mouth, and I jumped in before he could speak.

"And not because of anyone else in my life," I clarified. "But just because I don't want you in it anymore."

The last comment hurt him, I know, but it had to be said because nothing else up to that point seemed to be sinking in.

"Okay," he said at last. "Okay, I get it."

I left his office, and took my time going back to the murder room. Not for any reason other than that I needed to clear my head after everything that's happened lately, with Jack and with Diaz.

I feel like I've lived a year's worth just in the past few weeks.

And of course, in the midst of all of it, my relationship with Andy has evolved into something so much more than I ever expected. He's just this amazing person that I don't ever want to be without.

By the time I got to the office, I made up my mind about something.

Because I remember telling Rusty not so long ago something about sharing things with the people we trust in life.

"Um, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone, for your help with tracking Manuel Diaz. Even in the beginning, when we thought it was something more personal against me, you were all quick to want to help, and that means a lot to me," I began, standing up near the empty murder board as everyone in the squad turned their attention to me.

I could feel Andy's eyes on me as I took the time to make eye contact with each detective individually and then I finally looked at him, and I could tell from his expression that he knew what I was about to say. I paused, waiting for him to nod his approval, and then I pushed forward.

"There's also something else I want to share with you. Ah…mostly because I think it's only fair that you know, and hopefully everyone will be okay with it, but if you're not, I hope you'll come and talk to me about it so that our team cohesion remains intact, and um…"

"Oh for God's sake, Captain," Provenza said, standing up to turn around and look at everyone. "The captain and Flynn are dating. If I can get over it, so can everyone else."

Andy groaned and looked skyward as Provenza spun back around and looked at me with a pained expression and said, "See how easy that was?"

Left momentarily speechless, all I could do was glance around at the response of everyone else, but other than smiles, it was almost non-existent. Well, except for Amy.

"You're…you…" she began, turning to look at Andy and then back at me again. "You two…"

"Yes, dating," Provenza finished for her, then he looked at Mike and said, "Pay up, Tao!"

Mike mumbled, "Oh my God, Amy," and then pulled out his wallet and retrieved a twenty.

"You bet on us?" I asked, finally able to speak again.

"But you already knew," Andy pointed out. "You can't take his money."

"Oh, I knew, too," Mike said with a shrug. "We bet on whether or not Sykes would figure it out before you announced it. Nice detective work there, by the way, Amy."

"You all knew?" she asked in confusion, but Julio just moved over and patted her on the shoulder.

"I'll take you out for a beer tonight and we can review the tells," he told her.

I started to object, but then I decided to let it slide. It doesn't seem like anyone cares at all, and the fact that the division has continued to work well together, in spite of the knowledge, speaks volumes, and will most definitely be included in my disclosure to Taylor.

Whenever that happens.

For now, I'm just happy that everyone who matters, the people I care about, they all know the truth.

Two days after that, six days ago, Rusty graduated from high school. Andy and I took him out to dinner, a joint celebration for that great accomplishment and for the impending adoption.

"Are you really sure you still want to do this?" Rusty asked when Andy excused himself to the restroom, so that we were alone at the table. "I mean, you and Flynn…"

"My relationship with Andy doesn't change my relationship with you," I assured him. "I'm still absolutely sure, so as long as you still want this…"

"I do," he promised. "But what if you and Flynn get married? I mean, that would make him my step-dad, right? Is he okay with that?"

I nearly choked on my wine at the mention of marriage, and Rusty started laughing.

"I'm sorry I asked, I just thought I should cover all the bases."

"It's fine," I said, once I had myself under control. "I like that you're thinking things through, all the way to the end. As for us getting married, I'm not sure either of us feel the need to make it legal, but if we do, it still won't change things. I mean, we're out tonight as a family, right?"

He nodded thoughtfully, and then smiled at me and said, "Sharon, you know I can't thank you enough for…well, everything. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

"You know I've only ever asked two things of you," I reminded him.

"Rinse my dishes and keep my feet off the coffee table?" he teased, and then to my surprise, he leaned over in his chair and hugged me as he whispered, "Be kind and be safe. Words to live by."

My eyes filled with tears over how much he's grown and matured in the time I've known him, and he pulled back from the hug and stared at me for a moment, silently telling me how much I mean to him, and I couldn't be more proud of him.

The next day, Major Crimes picked up a case, and it took us three days to solve the murder. That afternoon, three days ago, I went to see Chief Pope.

"Chief Taylor is out of the office today, but I wanted to take you up on your offer of a vacation," I said to him.

"Really?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes, sir. We just wrapped up our latest investigation, and I think Lieutenant Provenza is more than qualified to handle anything else that might pop up in the near future. Besides, I'm only asking for a long weekend. I'll take off on Friday and be back Monday. Is that okay?"

"Considering you've banked more than seventy-two vacation days, I'm not sure how I can say no," he responded.

"Good. Thank you, Chief," I said, and then I turned to leave.

"Enjoy yourself, Captain. You've earned the break."

Yes, I think I have. Actually, all of my squad has, and when I get back, I'm going to see to it that everyone gets a few days, a couple of detectives at a time. But for now, I stopped by Andy's desk and dropped a form on top of it.

"What's this?" he asked, looking up at me with curiosity, and he just looks so cute, and I don't know if it's because I know we're about to spend some quality time together, or maybe because it's been two days since we made love, but I had the extremely uncharacteristic urge storm through me to just kiss him right there in the office. Or maybe throw him down on his desk.

"Sign it," I said perfunctorily, aware of the others in the room.

He held my gaze another beat, and then I noticed his eyes slide southward in a slow, deliberate manner and by the time he shifted his eyes back up to mine, I felt like I was on fire from the inside out. He smiled that cocky little half-smile of his, and then he finally looked at the paper.

Vacation request form. Already filled out, only in need of a signature.

Without question, he scrawled his name on the dotted line and handed the paper back to me.

Which is how we're here, in Santa Barbara.

We arrived last night, checked into our hotel, had a late dinner downstairs, and then spent a couple of hours on the balcony, watching the waves in the moonlight and making love. Apparently I have a thing for balconies. Or maybe it's just a thing for Andy because I'm not sure it matters where we are.

And currently, at ten-thirty on a Friday morning, we're wrapped up in each other in bed, without anywhere to be and no cell phones to interrupt us.

"What do you want to do today?" Andy asked as he pushed the covers out of the way and then began burning a path across my skin with his lips.

"You."

He chuckled, even as he continued kissing me, and then he said, "See, you do talk dirty in bed. I told Provenza…"

"Uh uh," I interrupted quickly. "Now is not the time to mention your partner."

He laughed more fully and held onto me tightly, maneuvering us so that he was on his back and I was on top of him, and then he got more serious, stroking his hands up and down my sides as he said, "I love you, Sharon. So much."

His sincerity really touched me, and I found myself unable to respond in any way other than to kiss him, which I did with passion and enthusiasm, and when I had my emotions under better control, I pulled back.

"I love you, too, Andy."

"Caught you by surprise, didn't it? Us, I mean," he said, his hands still caressing me lightly.

"In a way," I admitted. "Although I probably should've seen it coming."

He nodded and sighed, moving his hands down to my thighs as he said, "It's been a hell of a few weeks."

He's still thinking of Diaz, I know, and I love how we can have these conversations in any setting, even as we are now, naked in bed.

"It has. And it kind of ended abruptly. Almost anticlimactic, after all of the dramatics he went through."

"On the plus side, we might never have come out to everyone," he reasoned. "Or not this soon, anyway. And I don't know about you, but I'm glad we did."

"So am I," I agreed. "And you're right, we probably wouldn't have. You know, I was just trying to be professional about it. Adult."

"Sweetheart, being adult ain't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you just gotta be happy," he stated easily. "And I, for one, am happy."

"Me, too," I said with a smile. I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair, and then settled my palm against his cheek and added softly, "I'm very, very happy."

The End