Well, it's been a while but here I am...back in the mix.

As always I thank everyone who still reads these and takes the time to review or send PM's to prod me into writing more.

This latest one shot comes to you from the Season 7 episode 'Last Rites'...I hope you enjoy. Please leave me some thoughts if you have a moment.

Season 7 Episode 19 - Last Rites.

The hour was late when he heard the sound of a car pull on to the driveway, darkness had descended on Los Angeles though he knew not when. After the team had wrapped their case he'd headed home, dropped straight into his recliner and most likely dozed off. He remembered turning on the sports highlights and then now suddenly it was late and he could just make out the street outside through the still open drapes.

Andy sighed when he recognised the familiar car and pulled himself up from his seat. He was a little surprised that she'd stop by tonight, knowing she was exhausted from the past few days work. If truth be told he felt a little guilty, Sharon was spending so much time and energy working on this damn Turrell Baylor suit, whilst running her own division and yet once again Major Crimes causes her yet more trouble.

Or rather their Chief had. Brenda's handling of this case or more precisely the catholic church had far reaching repercussions, not least Chief Pope's bruised ego. All she had to do was play nice, and by the rules, but no, always had to do things 'her' way. It wasn't as if Andy didn't have the utmost respect for his boss, he did, and he liked Brenda, they worked well together as a team. Maybe it was his relationship with Sharon that had opened his eyes a little, he saw things now from her point of view and it troubled him, in the past he never cared for the rules but now he was beginning to see that some of them, some of them were there for a good reason.

Damn that Raydor. Coming into his life all sexy with her rulebook.

It was that last thought that had him smiling somewhat as he opened the front door, just as she was climbing onto the porch. She looked tired, her hair was pulled back from her face and much of the days make up was gone. She still looked beautiful, though she'd never believe him if he said it out loud.

"Hey."

Sharon looked up at the sound of his voice, she offered him a half smile as she came to a stop in front of him. "You don't mind me coming by tonight?"

Andy's smile grew as he moved one hand to the back of her neck and tugged her closer, placing a brief kiss to her lips. "Told you, come by anytime you like."

Sharon's smile became more geniune as she found herself steered inside, her bag was slipped from her shoulder and her jacket followed, both being placed in their usual spots. Her eyes tracked his movements and not for the first time it struck her just how comfortable this all was. Predictable. Her shoes would follow, she knew, despite her best efforts to stop herself she'd kick them off as soon as she rounded the couch. It was inevitable, she knew just as much.

"If you'd drop the whole casual thing and just admit that we're in an actual relationship, you could stop by everyday and not have to question it once." Andy's amused voice brought her from her thoughts and she rolled her eyes.

"Andy you know fine well why I won't admit it."

"I know. Reasons." Andy smiled, kissing her nose as he rounded her and moved to the kitchen, the sound of the kettle switching on followed his departure.

Sharon knew she wasn't expected to continue this particular line of conversation, it was one they'd had too many times already and neither wanted to continue going around in circles. They knew that they meant more to each other than a fling, but just how much remained unsaid, it wasn't needed right now, it just simply was.

"Did you just leave the office? It's pretty late." Andy asked as he heard her softly enter the kitchen, her shoes discarded as he knew they would be by now.

"No I swung by St. Mary's. All this talk of the church in the last few days made me realise its been too long since I actually went. I think Father David almost forgot who I was."

"With those legs? Impossible."

"He's a priest."

"He still got eyes right!"

"Might be scratching them out thinking of what I told him in confession." Sharon's smile twisted a little as she leant against the counter beside him, her arms folded across her chest.

"Oh really? You been telling all your dirty little secrets Captain?" Andy smirked back at her as he moved closer, one hand landed on the counter behind her and the other moved to her hip.

"Maybe. Well I only have one anyway. You. Like it or not Flynn I'm a married woman and that makes you, a sin."

"You can't stop living your life Sharon you're not a robot."

"Oh I know, I made my peace with that particular sin some years ago. Still it needs confessing from time to time."

Andy laughed softly, leaning forward to place a lingering kiss on her lips, she responded eagerly and leant into him as his grip tightened around her waist. This is why she came here tonight, just to be with someone who could make her laugh and smile and just be, without thinking or judging or wanting to know every single part of your day.

"You hungry? There's pasta." Andy looked at her with a quirked eyebrow knowing she probably hadn't eaten since lunch and was prone to simply skipping dinner altogether.

"Vegetable?"

"With the tomato sauce."

Sharon couldn't contain the groan that escaped as she thought of the food he was offering, he'd made that very dish for her countless times and still it remained a favourite. At her reaction Andy simply laughed quietly and set about making her a plate.

In truth when she drove over here all she expected was to fall asleep in his arms, it still caught her off guard sometimes that he could be so thoughtful. This thing they had was casual, no expectations and no pressure, just lately though she'd come to think of it as so much more. In the beginning it was all about sex and the basic release of tension that they both craved. Sharon was fine with that and she knew Andy had been too. It had been what she needed, at the time.

Now though, now things were starting to change. It was the intimacy that she'd missed since her husband left, not that he'd been particularly adept at being what she needed in any way, shape or form. It was things like this, making food at stupid o'clock at night just because she'd had a long day. It was falling asleep in each others arms, too tired for anything more and not expecting anything more than comfort.

She didn't want to need him, she wasn't even sure that 'need' had anything to do with it. She wanted to be here, something in her had brought her here, when she'd gotten in her car her first thought had been home but minutes later she found herself in his neighbourhood.

Thinking about it too much only served to make her head hurt, so she didn't. Thinking was over rated, where Andy Flynn was concerned Sharon simply had to just go with it. Right now she'd simply eat her food, drink the cup of tea he'd prepared simultaneously and then maybe she'd slip in alongside him in his recliner and allow the day, the week, to melt away. It would be easy, to forget the world and its problems curled into his side, his fingers tangled in her hair as he massaged her scalp. Her deep breaths capturing his scent as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, the occoasional kiss that he'd drop to her forehead before they both drifted off to sleep right there in the chair.

At some point through the night he'd wake up, he always woke first. It surprised him in the beginning, the notion that the no nonsense Captain Raydor just loved her sleep, no wonder she was so cranky at crime scenes when she was called out in the middle of the night. The LAPD wouldn't be so scared of her if they could see her now, half asleep and being gently manouvered from the warm recliner and guided into bed. Her eyes barely open as she simply trusted Andy to lead her to his room, gently undress her and tuck her in. In the few moments as he used the bathroom Sharon managed to slip into his t-shirt, a common practice on the nights they spent together, Andy didn't mind, he knew his shirts looked better on her anyway. Then, after checking his cell was still charging on the nightstand he'd shut off the light and fold her into his embrace once again, her gentle hum of approval reverberated through him as sleep claimed them both again.

It felt as though no time had passed at all when an incessant ringing noise woke them both. For what seemed like forever they lingered in that strange limbo between sleep and awake as they processed their surroundings. The room was no longer dark, the soft light of the morning sun had broken the gap in the drapes and illuminated the room. It was harsh and it hurt, despite his grogginess Andy chuckled as he felt Sharon shift beside him, groan and reach for his pillow, covering her face with it as she rolled away from the light.

It was then that it registered that the ringing was his cell phone. Sitting up he rubbed his face and squinted at the screen. Provenza. Great. Probably meant another case.

"We just finished the last one Louie! Tell me we don't have another murder!"

Sharon groaned once more, the sound muffled by the pillow as a thousand thoughts ran through her head. Would she be forced to follow them around like a hall monitor yet again? More paperwork and audits and questions and rules.

As she thought about it she noticed that he'd gone quiet and she turned to look at him, he was staring, his eyes not focused as he spoke quietly to his partner on the phone.

"Yeah, thanks for calling Louie, does the team know yet? All of them? You've tried calling the Captain already?" At that last part he looked at her and she frowned, realising her cell was still in her purse out in the hall. "She probably had a late night, I know we've all had a rough week, I'll try calling her she'll answer, probably think I'm in trouble again. Thanks again Provenza."

Sharon watched as Andy ended the call, his gaze fixed on his cell for a long moment. Something did not feel right.

"What is it?" She asked quietly as she sat up, wrapping both hands around his upper arm she gently tugged him to look at her, though she was not at all prepared for his reply.

"Chief's Mom died."

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