The depth of being truly intimate, part two of two.

His thumb was gently stroking the scar on her chest. She had been surprised before, as he had even kissed her there. Richard had always avoided it. Wouldn't touch her there, like he had been afraid to be burned. Had never talked about it either, had never been interested in what had happened. Only in what would happen next. No, that wasn't exactly true either. He had told her what would happen next. Demanded, instead of talking. That was so much like, Richard. So Andy caught her off guard with his question.

She only stared at him for a moment. He wasn't sure, what was going on inside of her mind. The enigma Sharon Raydor was. Should he back off? Tell her that it was okay, if she wouldn't want to talk about it? Would she need to be pressured a little? Or would he need to give her some space and time? After all, she wasn't as tough as she looked, maybe he should be considerate of that.

The way he looked at her, the interest he showed in her. This wasn't just a one night stand. Wasn't something only physical either. He wanted to get to know her.

Normally that would panic her. She didn't like showing anyone her vulnerable side. She had felt like she couldn't afford it to be vulnerable, not to anyone. Somehow this was different, maybe because of the way he looked at her. She had the feeling he already knew her a lot better, than she believed he did. Either way she couldn't remember a time, she had ever been this at ease with a man.

"It happened while I was undercover. My last assignment. I'd just married Richard and he didn't want me to go undercover anymore."

Richard. Must be the husband. Provenza had once described him as this pompous lawyer. He didn't care a lot about what he was like. Believed the guy was a moron though for letting her go.

"My cover blew…I stared into the barrel of that gun, pinned to the ground beneath me. My whole life flashing in front of me. Eyes locked on the bullet as it came closer. It seemed like everything around me was in slow motion. The only sound, my heartbeat drumming in my ears. I saw my future crumbling away right in front of me. I remember the impact it made as the bullet entered my body. This burning sensation, before the air was knocked out of my lungs."

"You lucked out, bad spot."

"Hm- mm…it was touch and go for a while."

"Was that the reason, you transferred to IA?"

She tilted her head to the side, thinning her lips.

"Indirect."

She knew what people had thought about her decision. Her former colleagues hadn't talked to her anymore. Treated her like the enemy, an imposter, every time she'd come to their department. No one understood. No one had taken her position as a mother into consideration. No one cared about her motives.

They had resented her, even more when she climbed ranks. She knew Andy had felt the same. On many occasions he had given her a hard time. She wasn't too sure whether he would understand the decision she made back then.

"Richard demanded I'd quit the force. We had many arguments. I was determined to return though. It took me a while to recover and then there was of course the mandatory psych evaluation. About one month after being back on the job, I discovered I was pregnant. Richard again demanded I'd quit. IA was the compromise. He had been right, that bullet had nearly ended my life. I'd be a mother, my child would need me."

He smiled loving at her, the back of his hand gently brushing her cheek. The possibility of never getting to know her had been so close. He scooped closer to her. Wrapping his arms tight around her. The need to have her near, to feel her heartbeat.

No words needed. Just his lips on her forehead as he felt the need to touch her with every inch of his body. He needed the contact, to physically feel her near him.

Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to relax into his arms. It had felt good to talk to him. He understood, respected her decision. She knew he did, he didn't have to say it, as his body language had said it all.

Richard never had. There had been no communication. He only demanded. Was used to everything going exactly his way.

So this felt right…maybe Andy Flynn was just what she needed.

The irony of it all. He had disliked her in IA. Her function. The choice for making a career in that department. Now he understood. Respected her for making that decision. The realization that she had been safe there. The scar a reminder of how dangerous this job was.

A sudden fear of losing her forever came over him. The Major Crimes division wasn't safe like IA. The stake out tomorrow on his mind, settling there just like that all-consuming fear.

Holding on tighter, he prayed he wouldn't lose what he had just found.

The end.