Rookie Blue

Chapter 1

The buzzing of Andy's alarm clock snatched her awake from her dreams. In other words, her dream about Sam. Andy was still confused as she thumped to her kitchen, at why she had that weird dream about him. He was her T.O. Not her boyfriend. Or her crush for that matter. All he was to her was another officer just trying to do the same thing: Serve and protect.

She wolfed down some eggs that burned in her throat and she soothed it with a cup of orange juice. She headed to the shower and dressed in a light blue long sleeve that was well fitted, and a pair of dark jeans. Fall was making it's move and the days got shorter and the weather got colder.

She walked out her front door and shivered. Her wet hair seemed like curtains of ice against the frigid air. She could see her breath float out in wispy clouds in front of her. She bit down on her lip and walked briskly to her car.

She was about to get in when she heard a honk. She spun on her heel and saw Sam sitting in his car, his usual expression on his face. "Wanna ride McNally?" He asked as he rolled down his window, and she hesitated. Her car's heater was broken. And his probably worked.

She always forgot about how close he lived to her. Finally, she nodded and walked to the passenger's side door and swung it open. It was warm inside and she shook at the warmth. "Cold huh?" He asked and she nodded. "Yeah, no kidding. And my car's heater is all screwed up so it's always freezing." She said to him and he nodded. "How'd it break?" He asked and she shrugged and laughed at her lack of knowledge.

"No clue. I'm not a car person." He turned and looked at her for a moment. "Then what kind of person are you?" He asked and she was taken aback. "Well, like, what are my hobbies?" He shrugged. "Sure McNally." She sighed. "Well, I like to cook and when i was little I'd collect snow globes-" Sam snickered. "Snow globes?" He asked still laughing. "You know what? I loved them. And i still do. They're cool. Don't ask me why, but, i moved a lot. And I'd get a snow globe for each town we moved to." He nodded. "Alright, fair enough. Go on." She rolled her eyes. "I love Christmas. And Christmas lights. All lights really." She said laughing. "and i have a small collection of perfumes form when i was in high school. Which is actually something to be ashamed of. And kids. I did a lot of baby sitting when i was a teenager. I didn't have any siblings, so i was like a sister to the kid i was looking after." She explained. And then it hit her that in this short time she'd already told Sam a lot about herself. "What about you? What are you're hobbies?" She asked flipping the subject." He gave her a disapproving look. "McNally," he began but she cut him short. "No! You do not get allowed to flake on me! I went, now it's your turn." She said triumphantly. He turned sharply and stopped. "Look at that. We're here. Looks like that's gonna have to wait." Andy shook her head and gaped in disbelief. "What? That's not-you're so unfair!" She said getting out. Sam smirked at her from across the car. "Life's not fair McNally." She shook her head again as she walked into the Barn. She saw Traci and Gail talking with folders in their hands, she spotted Dov at the coffee machine and Chris was clicking frantically at his computer. She walked to the locker room to change into her uniform. She liked her uniform. It made her feel safe and proud. Just as equal as everyone else in this building. Serve and protect. Those were the words that were going to get her through the day. She walked out and her name was called almost immediately. "McNally! Get over here!" Sam was with Frank who was holding a folder. "What is it sir?" She asked as she halted in front of them. Frank flipped the folder over. There was a picture of a man and a woman, and two kids. "This is the Carter family. Now the husband, Rick, is believed to be dealing drugs and to be abusing his wife and kids. The wife is Lisa and the two kids, are Suzy and Aaron." A stab of pain hit Andy's heart as she saw the two kids, who were spitting images of their mom. They had the same eyes and hair, the same skin tone. And Suzy could've been a younger image of Lisa. Andy managed a nod. "We want you and Swarek to scope them out. Try and catch the dad in the act. Whether it's the abuse or the dealing." She nodded. "Alright." Frank sighed and cast a glance at Sam. "And one more thing." Andy waited confused. "You'll be going undercover. We'll have you connected, don't worry. We'll be able to hear everything you can hear. And backup will be waiting a few blocks down. Also, you'll have each other." Andy continued nodding, not saying a word as she locked eyes with Sam. She knew he'd have her back, and she'd have his.

"But McNally, there are a few crucial rules. One, don't reveal who you are. To anyone. Two, don't get involved personally with the victims. And three. Always have your partner's back." Frank said, and his eyes flickered back and forth between them. Andy nodded and was handed a folder, and so was Sam. "Your names are Bridget Walker and Conner Smith. You're a couple that's moved into a house just down the street from them. That's where you'll be watching them. Andy, you work part time at a coffee shop and Sam you're a mechanic." They both nodded solemnly. "Nash, Williams, Epstein and Shaw will be your backup if needed." Frank continued. "Now we've gotten word that Rick deals from inside his home. So if you see anyone you don't recognize or are suspicious of them, alert your backup. Rick comes home drunk some days, and that's when he takes it out on Lisa and the kids. So if you see him stumbling drunk to the house, assume there's gonna be abuse going on. Any questions?" He asked and they said nothing. "Good. Now lets get you into character."

They both changed into casual clothes that had microphones hooked up to them. They took Sam's car to the small street and parked outside your "new house" and sat. "Is this all you do on a stake out?" Andy asked and Sam flashed a smile. "Pretty much. But if things pick up it will get better. Believe me McNally." She sighed. "When was your first stake out?" She asked and he sat back. "I was a rookie and we were watching for people picking up prostitutes." Andy imagined what it'd be like if they were scouting prostitutes instead of this drug selling family. "Did it go well?" She asked. He shook his head. "Nope. My partner got shot and i went home with a few stitches." Andy's eyes widened. "Really?" She asked. "No McNally, I'm lying to you." He face got red with embarrassment. "That's reassuring." She muttered with sarcasm.

A voice played in their ears. "Guys, focus!" They snapped their attention back to the street. Things were quiet until they turned on the radio. They took shifts in watching and bickered occasionally. Sam had reclined his seat back and was napping when Andy saw Rick and Lisa come storming out of the house yelling at one another. "Quick! Sam wake up!" She said and grabbed the lever and pushed it so he came bolting upright. "What the! McNally! What are you-" Sam said groggy and glaring at her not knowing why she'd do that. "Shut up and look!" She said turning his face in the direction of Rick and Lisa. Sam grabbed a pair of binoculars to see closer. "They're upset about something. Really upset. The girl looks like she's about to cry, Rick looks like he's gonna chop someone's head off." Sam said as he continued to look through the binoculars. "Now would be a good time to walk past them, try and hear what they're arguing about." Frank's voice rang through. They both nodded and got out and stepped onto the sidewalk. "So if we're a couple then..." Andy trailed awkwardly. "We should probably hold hands McNally. Come on." Sam said and snatched her hand and lead her down the path at a steady pace. "We should talk about something so it looks more casual." Andy said trying to keep her tone even. Sam's hand was warm, and was huge compared to hers. "Aren't we already talking?" Sam asked and Andy managed a laugh. "Yeah i guess." Sam's eyes looked to the arguing couple. "Sh. Listen."

"I don't get why you can't just stop!"

"Look! The only reason we have a house is because of what i do."

"And it's also the reason we have cops on our doorstep and you coming home drunk almost every night!"

"You should be thankful!"

"For WHAT? Hurting your family? Putting our lives in jeopardy? Making our own children have to live around it? Yeah, I'm so thankful! You have no idea!"

"I'm gonna come back later. If you're not here, or the kids aren't here, you know what's gonna happen."

Andy squeezed Sam's hand in fright, and he gave her a reassuring look. Rick walked away briskly, not bothering to look back at Lisa. Lisa walked back to the front steps and collapsed on the stairs and cried. They heard the front door open, where Suzy and Aaron stood, confused looks on their small features. "Mommy? What's wrong? Where'd daddy go?" Asked Aaron. Lisa sniffled and wiped away her tears and smiled. "Mommy's fine. Daddy just went out for a little while. He'll be back soon. Lets go have some lunch." Lisa said getting up and carrying herself through the front door.

"Good job guys. We got all of that. We told Williams and Nash that Rick's coming their way. They'll keep on eye on him. But you should probably keep on the mom for now. Watch if Rick comes back. We're gonna tap out for a while, but if you need us, just press the red button on your mic."

Frank said in their ears. "Okay." They both said and the line fell silent.

"You okay McNally?" Sam asked and Andy nodded. "Yeah, fine. Just, the kids and Lisa...Who could do that to someone? Let alone your own family?" She asked baffled. It made no sense. To continue doing something that only made your life worse? It was common sense to stop it. "I know. Some people are just really messed up." She sighed. "No kidding." They both fell silent and finally Andy's eyes fell on their hands. "Should we..?" Sam shook his head. "Nah. Don't wanna blow our cover if the girl comes out again." Andy nodded. "Well, what should we do?" She asked. He shrugged and looked around the corner. "Well, since Williams and Nash are on Rick, i think we'd have enough time to go to this great ice cream shop." Andy was taken aback. Why was he- "After all, we need to look like couple right?" Oh. Thought Andy, she nodded and they started down the sidewalk, hand in hand.

"Wait, how do you know there's a good ice cream shop?" Andy asked and Sam laughed. "I do have a social life, as hard as it is to believe McNally." Andy blushed again as they past a collection of small shops. Finally, they came to the smallest shop, which was fitted into the corner of the building all the businesses shared. Andy looked up and it was called three scoops ice cream shop. The shop was surprisingly busy despite it being fall. They had two people scooping and Andy could see more people in the back. Sam held the door open for her and she walked in curious. The shop was cold and it made Andy shiver delicately. They waited in line and Andy was deliberating on what to get. She ordered a chocolate chip mint with strawberries. She got out her wallet to pay when she saw Sam already swiping his card. "What? S-Conner. I can pay." She said remembering they were undercover. "It's fine." He said putting his card back in the pocket of his jeans. He handed her her ice cream cone. "Fine." She said and walked out annoyed. She waited for Sam and they walked together to a park and sat on a bench and ate their ice cream. Sam had his arm slung around Andy's shoulders. Andy took a lick and swallowed. "This really is good." Sam nodded. "See? Told you." She laughed. "Yes you did." Sam looked at her for a minute and laughed. "What?" She asked and he laughed again. "You've got a little-" He began gesturing to the side of her mouth. "Oh." Andy said flushed and she went to wipe it away. "No, McNally it's right-" Sam wiped it away with his thumb. "there." he finished. "Thanks." She muttered embarrassed. They finished they're ice cream in silence when Frank's voice came through. "Okay guys, break's over. Get back on that family." They nodded and stood. And without thinking, Andy took Sam's hand and they walked together down back to the small street. Sam didn't seem to care, they kept walking until they saw the kids playing out on the sidewalk, drawing with chalk. Lisa was hanging laundry on the line, for fall, it had gotten quite warm out. They walked right on past the kids and Lisa until they heard a shriek. "Oh no!" Lisa exclaimed as a shirt came off the line, and blew right into the arms of Sam, who had turned around. They both had. "Thank you." Lisa said catching up to them. Sam handed it back to her. "Don't mention it." Lisa stood for a moment thoughtful. "I haven't seen you two around here before." Andy forced a laugh. "Yeah, we are pretty new. We've just moved into a house up the block." Lisa nodded to herself with a smile. "Well, that's great. How do you like it?" She asked and they were both stunned at how relaxed she was after just having a fight with Rick.

She recovers quickly. Thought Andy.

Sam nodded and looked to Andy. "It's good. We're just taking a look around." Andy nodded in agreement and Lisa glanced back to her kids. "Well, my name is Lisa Carter. Those are my kids Suzy and Aaron and my husband Rick isn't around right now but, welcome to the neighbourhood." She said with a kind smile, Sam shook her hand. "I'm Conner Smith." Andy shook her hand next. "Bridget Walker." Lisa smiled once more. "Well, I gotta get back to watching the kids. But see you around." She said and turned her back, as did Sam and Andy