Thank you to everyone who has supported this story! This is, sadly, the last chapter. I have enjoyed going along on this little journey with all of you! As always, I welcome your feedback (positive, constructive, or somewhere in between).

Of course, I do not own Major Crimes or any of the characters. That honor belongs to James Duff and co. I just enjoy writing about them.

Chapter Three

The Previous Night...

Andy had arrived at the meeting that night with a heavy heart. Solving crimes was always taxing, but cases that involved children were the worst. He couldn't help but think about his own kids, and now, he thought about Sharon's kids as well. Loving people made you much more aware of the pain involved in losing them. It was a pain he never wanted to feel for himself, but he found himself carrying around the pain of those he encountered in his job. This particular pain was heavy, and it felt like he might collapse under the weight. As much as he wanted to see Sharon and enjoy a nice night out with her, he knew he was terrible company without attending a meeting first.

So, he found himself in the last row of the makeshift folding-chair audience. He didn't feel like talking tonight, so he hoped that listening to other people's pain would help erase some of his. As he listened to the young man up at the front tell his tragic tale of losing his younger sister in a car accident that he caused drinking and driving, he took solace in the fact that he, very fortunately, had not taken a life back in his drinking days. Made some bad judgements? Sure, but luckily, hadn't been where this kid was now.

Another speaker took to the podium, and Andy found himself captivated by his story. It wasn't anything unusual, but maybe that's why it caught his attention. Not everyone has a spectacular rock bottom. Sometimes, you wake up, realize your life's a mess, and finally make a change. When the guy was done, the group leader stood up and asked if anyone had anything they wanted help working through. What the hell, Andy thought. He stood up and relayed the general details of his case and why it was taking its toll. There were some former cops in the group. Andy recognized them and saw them nodding along to his story. When he was done, he did feel a little better.

After the speeches were finished, the group shuffled to the back of the room for some light refreshments and camaraderie. Andy mingled and talked with various members he knew, and he could feel the weight lifting little by little. He was feeling much better when he started saying his goodbyes. Just as he was about to walk out, he saw the angry form of Jackson Raydor storming in. Andy wasn't surprised to see Jack at a meeting. He'd seen him at them from time to time, but not since he and Sharon started dating.

"ANDY FLYNN!" Jack yelled across the room. The crowd got quiet as the very agitated and obviously drunk man charged toward Andy. He walked right up to him and punched him in the face before anyone could even react.

"That's for sleeping with my wife," he bit out angrily. Andy was a bit stunned, but he was able to recuperate in time to dodge the next punch aimed at his eye.

"Ex-wife, Jack. She divorced you more than a year ago," he answered annoyed.

"You know what your problem is," Jack slurred. "You're no better than me. You just think you are!" With that, Jack threw another punch and it landed right in Andy's rib cage. Andy doubled over from the pain, and Jack recoiled from the sting of his knuckles once again connecting with the other man. Some of the members quickly stepped in and moved Jack away from him. They were able to calm him down while Reilly and a couple of others came to Andy's aid. As Reilly put him in his car, Andy saw Jack storming off stumbling down the street. For some reason that he couldn't place at the moment, he actually felt sorry for the guy.

Present...

By the time the team started making their way back into the murder room, Sharon had had some time to process and compartmentalize her interaction with Jack. She stepped out of her office to find out where they were with the case when Andy finally returned with lunch. Provenza let her know that their potential suspect's lawyer had arrived, and she was off and running. She managed to squeeze in bites of her lunch in between working the case. And even though the revelation about Jack gnawed at her, she was sure to show no trace of the toll their encounter took on the outside.

By the end of a very long day, Sharon was ready to fall into her bed. She grabbed her things and stopped by Andy's desk to let him know she was ready to leave. He packed up and they walked silently towards the elevator. Once inside, he glanced over at her and noticed something seemed to be weighing on her.

"You okay, Sharon?" He asked gently. She turned to face him and gave him a small smile that did nothing to ease his mind.

"Yeah, it's just been a long day," she said rather unconvincingly. Andy knew there was more to it, but he decided not to press the issue right now. "Today ended up being longer than either of us expected. You hanging in there?" She asked kindly, rubbing her hand along his arm.

"Yeah, I'm good," he answered, but she gave him a doubtful look. "I'm sore, Sharon, but I'm gonna be sore. I'll live," he concluded. She still didn't look convinced, but the elevator doors opened and they both got out. They walked close together towards her car and smiled at each other when they had to part to go to their respective sides. Once inside, she drove them to Andy's house in relative silence. Andy kept stealing glances to see if he could get a read on her, but she simply looked preoccupied.

When they arrived at Andy's, both of them sat in the car for a moment not saying anything. Andy decided to break the silence.

"You know, that shower last night really helped with the pain in my ribs," he said with a mischievous glimmer. She smiled without looking at him.

"Hmmmm... Good thing you have a working shower then," she played along.

"Yeah, but I was thinking that I might need some help. You know, seeing how I'm injured and all," he said with a smile and turned his body towards her. She laughed.

"You didn't seem to need any help when you insisted upon going to get lunch by yourself," she teased.

"True, but I would really like your company," he said genuinely.

"Is this because my company requires me to be naked?" She asked flirtatiously.

"Absolutely," he answered confidently. "Well, and I do really enjoy your company. Naked or otherwise," he added while leaning in and capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. Sharon hadn't planned on spending the night with Andy. In fact, she planned on going home and processing her ex-husband's confession. But it was late and she would feel better if she kept an eye on Andy, so she decided to stay. It would make her morning more complicated, but truth be told, she really enjoyed the way they had opened up to each other last night. It was worth a little complication she decided.

"Ok. Just let me text Rusty so he doesn't worry," she said reaching for her phone. Andy answered with a satisfied smile. She sent the text and they exited her car and walked up to his front door. Sharon needed to address the Jack situation, but she wasn't sure how she wanted to go about it. Once they were inside, his lips were on hers and they moved towards his bedroom and any thoughts about Jack were banished immediately. She helped him undress and allowed him to undress her as best he could. Once she was free of her clothing, Andy took a minute to just stare at her.

"I missed this," he whispered. She smiled shyly.

"You just saw this, this morning," she teased motioning toward her body. He laughed.

"Feels like forever," he answered before capturing her lips once again.

They somehow managed to make it to the shower. Andy adjusted the temperature while Sharon put her hair up. When the water was just right, he moved away from the spray and allowed her to step under it. She did so, careful not to wet her hair. He watched her mesmerized by the sight in front of him. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the beauty that was Sharon Raydor. He watched as water droplets traced a path down her neck and over the tantalizing slope of her breasts. He watched her closed eyes and the pleasure that the warm water brought dance across her face. He stared at the steam that surrounded her and wet the ends of her gorgeous hair. She was breathtaking.

Sharon moved away from the spray and allowed Andy to take a turn. While he allowed the soothing water to wash over his upper body, she wrapped her arms around him from behind and gently massaged his wounded torso. The combination of her ministrations and the heat almost lulled him to sleep. Suddenly, she stilled her motion but kept her arms wrapped around him.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" She asked.

"God, no. It feels amazing," he said turning in her arms so he was facing her. He leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. As it continued, his tongue begged for entrance and she eagerly granted it. They allowed their hands to slowly and gently roam over previously untouched flesh. Andy tentatively palmed her breasts and when she didn't object, he kneaded them more forcefully. She arched into his touch, and he moaned at the feeling of her soft mounds filling his hands. She ran her hands up his chest and down his back as the warm spray of the shower beat down on them.

After their lips and tongues became tired, they pulled away and turned off the shower. Once they had dried each other off, they decided that it would be best if they put some clothes on to sleep tonight since things had taken a decidedly heated turn in the shower.

As they lay snuggled together in bed with Sharon draped gently across his chest, Andy lightly caressed her back. She tangled her legs with his and enjoyed being surrounded by his arms and warmth. She relished his scent while nuzzling her face in his neck, and enjoyed the feel of his soft t-shirt covering her body. As they lay there in the silence, memories about what happened earlier in the day started to fill her thoughts once again. She had managed to temporarily forget them while she was enjoying those intimate moments with Andy and had hoped to put off the discussion until tomorrow. She saw no need in ruining a perfectly good evening especially when she was finally feeling relaxed. But her mind seemed to have other plans.

"Why didn't you tell me it was Jack?" She asked into the silence of the room. Andy sighed when he heard her question.

"Because... He's caused enough pain in your life over the years. I didn't want to cause you any more," he answered quietly. She remained silent and Andy started to get a little worried. "I'm sorry, Sharon. I didn't mean to keep something from you. I just didn't think it was fair to put this on you," he said apologetically. She used her arm to prop herself up so she could see his face. She could see the honesty written on it. She nodded.

"I appreciate that, Andy, I do. But I learned a long time ago that there is no protecting myself from the disaster that is Jackson Raydor. And just when I think he can't do anything more ridiculous, he does. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of it," she said softly rubbing his chest.

"Hey," he said placing his hand over hers and stilling her motion. "I'd gladly take those punches again for you," he said sincerely. She wasn't one for heroic gestures, but she did appreciate the sweetness of Andy's statement. She leaned in and kissed him softly.

"Still," she stated after pulling away slightly, and he kissed her again distracting her from finishing her statement.

"How did you find out?" He whispered between kisses. She pulled back so she was resting her chin on his chest.

"He came by the office today looking for you. He thought I knew," she explained simply. He nodded in realization. "When he wouldn't leave, I threatened to press charges," she said with a mischievous smile.

"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?" He asked sweetly. She smiled and then turned more serious.

"Why aren't you pressing charges, Andy?" She asked seriously.

Andy let out a nervous breath. "Your kids, Sharon. I didn't want to do that to them. Jack's disappointed them enough. I figured if I could spare them this..." He explained letting the thought drop. Sharon wasn't sure what to say to that. She was beyond touched. Her eyes welled with tears and she felt the lump forming in her throat. Andy did this for her kids. He put them and her before himself. Her heart felt so full she thought for sure it would burst.

"Andy," she said, voice laced with emotion. "I love you". It was all she could muster in that moment, and she hoped the words and her emotion carried the rest of her feelings. He looped his arms under hers and pulled her up so that their faces were even. He kissed her gently. "Thank you," she added with a shaky breath.

"For what?" He asked.

"For... Being you," she added as the first few tears escaped and ran down her cheeks. Andy used his thumbs to gently wipe them away. He was shocked to hear her words. He had spent so many years of his life disappointing the people he loved the most that hearing something as simple as Sharon's words flooded him with emotion. He carefully rolled them over so that he was hovering over her and searched her face. He softly moved a stray piece of hair away from her cheek.

"I love you, Sharon," he said, voice full of emotion. And he kissed her until they were both too tired to continue or to even think about Jackson Raydor. Andy's wounds would soon heal and Jack would continue to be Jack, but Sharon didn't mind so much anymore. She had someone who made her happy and provided refuge from the disaster of her ever-present past. If nothing else, Jack's callous behavior had proven that to her. That night when they'd finally slipped into a blissful slumber, Sharon slept comfortably with the knowledge that Jack was her past and Andy her future. And the future was looking bright.

The End