Hello everyone!

This is a story about Shandy outings and non dates which eventually will become dates. It consists of connected one shots.

The first chapter is set post 1x10, after Rusty's biological father signs away his parental rights.

Thank you very much to NarcissaNerea for beta reading! All sentences in italic were written by her.

It was Provenza who had suggested they go and get burgers for dinner. Sharon thought it was a lovely gesture and something that Rusty very much needed. He needed to be around people he trusted and having one of his beloved greasy burgers would only help.

Provenza had only intended for him and Rusty to go, but Andy ended up not only inviting himself, but, the entire squad as well. "We should celebrate," he said.

To everyone's surprise, and to Provenza's displeasure, Rusty actually seemed to like the idea, and so did the team. They had worked almost non-stop this past month. The moment they had solved a case, they had immediately gotten a new one. They really could use a break, a night out, without any murders to think about. So they all ended up going.

Sharon initially had not wanted to tag along. She knew Provenza was thankful for every second he was not forced to spend within a one-mile radius of her. The others all had come to accept and respect her but she imagined that it would be rather uncomfortable and restraining for them to have their boss join them.

Nevertheless, Rusty insisted that she come along and there was no way she would deny him that wish especially not today. So she grabbed her purse from her office and accompanied them.

It ended up being a lot more fun than she had expected. There was a lot of laughing and Sharon was genuinely surprised by the acceptance she encountered. Their team had a rough start, but now it felt like they had admitted her to their group, it felt like she finally and truly was one of them. She realized she must have done something right and she was proud of that. Even Provenza didn't seem to mind her all that much anymore. He did his best to hide it of course; however, she didn't care. She knew he finally came to accept her and that was good enough for her.

She was eating a Cesar salad, sitting opposite Rusty and next to Lieutenant Flynn. He had been the first to give her a chance when she had taken over Major Crimes, the first to reach out his hand towards her and she will always appreciate that. Especially since it had been completely unexpected. Back when she was in IA, she and Flynn had argued more often than not. She had sent him to sensitivity training or to anger management class every other month, while he had called her a witch and said that she, and the bureaucracy she represented, was everything that was wrong with the LAPD.

She hadn't expected him to be the first to welcome her in their team and she certainly hadn't thought that he'd become so loyal towards her. She had come to trust him, more than she trusted the others. He had her back. She had no clue when and how this had began and neither did she know why. It just was and she liked it.

"Another Diet Coke?" Flynn asked as he got up to get himself a refill of his cranberry soda. There was a soft smile on his lips, something she saw him do more and more often lately.

She shook her head no. "Thanks, some more water would be nice though."

He brought back a pitcher of water and poured some into her glass before dropping down next to her again.

"He'll be fine," he said as he noticed her watching Rusty with a rather worried expression on her face. He knew that look all too well. How many times had he looked like that at his kids? Eyes full of concern, the heart aching for them.

Sharon knew Rusty was glad to finally be rid of his "sperm donor" (as he had liked to call him) but, she was sure at the same time he was hurt too. He was disappointed once again. He was rejected for who he was and for what he used to do. It would nag him, she was sure of that. But Andy was right, Rusty would be fine. He had gotten through worse and still here he was.

"Yeah," she averted her eyes from the boy and let them settle on the lieutenant next to her. "He's learned to be strong."

"Yes, and because he has you," he said, smiling his soft smile once more.

She smiled back, blinking with both of her eyes. It was as a silent appreciation, a thank you.

He blinked back, telling her she was welcome.

So this was the very first time Sharon and Andy went out for dinner... well... kinda xD

Let me know if you are interested in this story. The chapters will eventually get longer.

Thanks for reading! :D