AN: This is really strange for me to be publishing a story that isn't about Gilmore Girls. However, Rookie Blue is taking over my life and this ridiculously long break is killing me.
Andy sat across from Frank, next to Nick, listening to the same praise she'd been hearing since the take down the night before. After six months, she and Nick had finally been able to collect enough evidence to call Luke and plan the whole thing. As soon as it was all over, Traci brought them back to the station, but Frank sent them home; it had been a long six months and they deserved the night before going over it all. So, Traci brought her to her dad's while Nick got screamed at by Gail.
Now, Frank was letting them go again and they didn't have to report for duty for another week. Before she even turned to walk out of Frank's office, she could tell that the whole station was watching them through the window. As soon as she and Nick were outside of Frank's office, they smiled at each other and he hugged her.
"It's been real, Andy," he said when he pulled away. It was nice to hear her name again, in the comfort of 15th Division. She smiled and nodded before he turned and walked down the stairs, right into Gail's arms. The fighting seemed to fix whatever the six months apart had damaged.
Chris, Dov, and Traci hugged her when she met them at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm so glad you're back," Chris said, smiling from ear to ear. "We all missed you around here."
"I'm glad I'm back, too," she said. "It was a long six months."
"I bet," Dov said. "We should go change, but we'll see you at the Penny."
Andy and Traci nodded and watched them walk toward the locker room. They both stood there in silence, Andy looking around the station for the fiftieth time since she first entered it earlier. She was so happy to be back, she just wished that Frank would let her get back to work sooner.
"Want a ride to the Penny?" Traci asked, causing Andy to shake out of her dream state and look at her best friend. "Andy?"
"Could you give me a ride home?" She asked instead. "I haven't seen it in six months."
Traci laughed and nodded, putting her arm across Andy's back. "Let's go," she said and Andy nodded, letting Traci lead her out. Andy's head was down, she was taking everything in stride, but it really was so strange for her to be back and for her to be herself again.
"McNally!" She heard Oliver yell, and she smiled before she even looked up at him. "Glad you're back!"
"I'll be at the car," Traci said.
Andy finally looked up and came face to face with Oliver. She hugged him and he squeezed back. When she opened her eyes, still hugging him, she noticed Sam watching them. Her smile fell from her face. He was leaning against the wall outside of the locker rooms and she swallowed hard before breaking eye contact with him and pulling back from Oliver.
"I'm glad you're safe," he said seriously. "Sorry I didn't get to see you last night. I had my hands full."
"Don't worry about it," she told him. "I'm just glad we all got out of there alive."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Listen," he said, looking at Sam and then back to Andy. "I've got to go change before heading to the Penny, but I'll see you there, right?"
"Not tonight," she told him and his face fell. "I haven't been home yet. I spent the night at my dad's last night and came straight here."
"Fair enough," he nodded. "We'll see you tomorrow, though, for your Welcome Home Party?"
"I'll definitely be there for that," she assured him. "Wouldn't miss it."
"Fantastic," he said. They walked toward the locker room, toward Sam. She watched him push himself off the wall as he watched her. "We're all really glad you're back, McNally," Oliver said again and then turned to Sam. "Brother, I'll see you in a little while."
"Yeah," Sam nodded, looking straight at Andy. Oliver let out a single laugh before walking into the locker room. "Welcome back."
"Thanks," Andy said, looking at her feet again, clenching and unclenching her fists. This was one thing she wasn't prepared for.
Tommy had gone over a lot of what to expect when coming back from a long UC assignment, but no one could prepare her for her first face to face with Sam.
"McNally," Sam sighed and she finally looked up and right at him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said defensively and he nodded, biting his lip.
"Listen, I've been where you are," he said and she nodded, her face softening. "I know what it's like after that first time. It can be hard; it was for me."
"I'm fine, Sam," she told him again and he shrugged. She looked past him and swallowed. "I'll be fine," she said softer and he let out a short, humorless chuckle. She looked at him, surprised.
"You will be," he said and she didn't know why his voice sounded like ice. "Like I said, I've been there. So, if you need to talk about anything, let me know."
"Thanks," she said uncertainly. He nodded and turned on his heel. She watched him walk away and let out a sad sigh. She didn't know what she was expecting, but she wasn't expecting that. She almost expected him to be so mad at her for leaving without an explanation that he wouldn't speak to her at all. Or she expected him to go the complete opposite direction and welcome her back with open arms.
She wasn't sure that was what she wanted, but she did know that she thought about him every day for six months. She knew that she missed him for almost eight months. And she knew that he had meant what he said the night she left with Luke and Nick.
"Sam," she called out, surprising even herself. She watched him turn around slowly, scratching his face and waiting for what was to come next. She just stood there, eyes wide, looking at him.
"Andy?" He asked and she shook out of her trance and nodded to herself. She walked to him, keeping her head up with confidence. He was watching her with his hands down to his side and his eyes were wide now. When she reached him, she took a deep breath before putting her arms around his neck and hugging him.
She felt him tense beneath her touch, but let out a breath on her neck, causing shivers down her spine. He hugged her back, not as tight she noticed, but it was something. She pulled away from him, letting his arms fall back to his side and looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she told him and he shrugged. It was like he was shocked into silence. "I know you want to help, but, uh, I'm okay. I am."
"Uh, yeah. Okay," he stammered. "I meant what I said, McNally," he told her and she couldn't help but wonder if he was talking about what he told her six months ago, about fighting for her. "I know you're okay and you don't need my help, but call me if that changes."
"Thank you," she said again, smiling. He smiled and put his hand on the small of her back, leading her toward the parking lot. They both tensed at the intimate gesture and he put both of his hands in his pockets. They walked out to the parking lot together but in silence. Andy went back to clenching and unclenching her fists, head down. While Sam looked straight ahead, stone-faced.
"Have a good night, Detective," an officer said as he walked from his squad to the barn.
"Goodnight," Sam said, and Andy looked up at him to find him looking down at her.
"Detective?" She asked and he nodded. "Congratulations," she told him.
"Ah, thanks," he said with a nod. "Goodnight, McNally."
"Goodnight, Detective," she said and he smiled. It was one of the real Sam Swarek smiles, dimples and all, that made Andy's knees weak. They parted ways and she climbed into Traci's car, still watching Sam as he climbed into his truck. "Sam Swarek, Detective."
"Yeah," Traci nodded, watching Andy closely. "He's been with the D's for about three months. We're kind of partners, actually,"
"I didn't even know that was something he wanted to pursue," Andy said as she buckled her seatbelt. "He never, ever told me anything about himself. I don't even know him."
"Andy," Traci said as she pulled onto the road. "He's a private guy. I've been working with him for three months, closely working with him, and I don't even know what part of town he lives in."
"Was I fooling myself that whole time we were together?" Andy asked, more to herself than anything. "He was right to break it off; we don't work. We never did."
"Andy," Traci laughed. "You're crazy. You and Swarek were good together. He was better for you than Callaghan."
"Luke was never afraid to tell me how he felt," Andy said sadly. "It took two months after we broke up for Sam to say he loved me and he only did it because I was holding that stupid bomb."
"What now?" Traci said, looking from the road to Andy.
"Yeah," Andy nodded, wringing her hands in her lap. "I never got the chance to tell you because after we got back and he and I talked about it, Luke stopped me and told me I was leaving. I didn't see anyone until last night."
"Swarek said he loved you?" Traci said out loud, clearly surprised. "And then you left for six months?"
"I had to, Trace," Andy argued. "I couldn't just drop everything because Sam said he loved me. As long and exhausting as the past six months have been, they were necessary for my career. At least, I thought they were. I don't even know if I could do another UC op, Trace."
"Maybe only short term stuff from now on," Traci agreed. "Six months is a long time, Andy. And we all really missed you. But, more importantly, can we talk about you and Swarek some more?"
"Trace," Andy laughed, shaking her head. "Not tonight. I'm all Swarek-ed out for today."
"You miss him!" Traci accused and Andy laughed again, hiding her face in her hands. "Andy, you've got to tell him how you feel."
"No," Andy said, all serious now. "I can't do that right now. I need to readjust to my life not throw another wrench in it."
"Sam Swarek is no wrench," Traci said and Andy laughed again. "Just think about it, at least."
"It's all I've thought about for six months, since he told me he loved me and that he was going to show me that every day until I forgave him," Andy said. "You know, Nick told me that I talk in my sleep. And apparently, Sam is what I talk about. How pathetic is that?"
"It's love," Traci said wistfully. She pulled up outside of Andy's building and cut the engine. "Want me to come up? Hang out for awhile?"
"No," Andy shook her head. "Go to the Penny. I'll see you tomorrow night."
"I don't mind," Traci said and Andy could tell she was worried about her.
"I'll be fine, Trace," she persisted. "I'll call if I need anything."
"You better," she said, leaning over to hug Andy. "Have a good night."
"You, too," Andy said, unbuckling her seatbelt.
She got out of the car and waved to Traci once she was inside the lobby of her building. She watched as she pulled away and took a deep breath, walking toward her condo. When she finally opened the door, it was a huge relief. Nothing had changed, it was exactly how she had left it six months before. Her dad had come over monthly just to check on everything, so it was spotless, no dust in sight. Her living room was clean and sharp, just the way she liked it.
Most of all, her house was nothing like the undercover apartment she shared with Nick. It wasn't messy and filled with boy stuff. It didn't have cheap furniture and thin walls. It wasn't dark and moody. It was just the way she had imagined it for the past six months. She had actually dreamed about the comfort of her house and now she felt it. It was everything she wanted and more. It was home.
