Welcome Home Mrs. Radley
Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue.
A/N 1: Spoilers for Season 3 (Whole season) then FAR STRETCH on how things are like when Andy is back from the Task Force.
Thanks to natalienicole1981 for reviewing and helping out with some edits!
Andy POV:
6 months, 6 long months of being a completely new person, new name, new apartment, new city, and new partner. I knew what I was getting into. It was my decision and I have no regrets. Last thing I remember is holding that grenade and having Sam Swarek finally telling me that he loves me, great timing Sam. Perfect.
He told me to give him another chance, that he would make it up to me for that worse month and a half of my life. Telling me that he was scared and knew that it was the wrong decision, well if it was wrong why couldn't he pick up the damn phone? That man will be the death of me. I know that he'd be waiting at the bar for me, cause that's who is he. He chose now not to walk away, once again, great timing Sam.
Once I saw Luke, I knew what he was going to say. I wondered if he had heard my conversation with Sam, and maybe that's the only reason why he let me on the task force, I never asked. I knew I had to take this chance. I didn't want to be "that girl", but this was Sam Swarek, I'd be anything for him, hell I've been pining over him for almost two months. Driving away from 15, I knew I'd be driving away from Sam. No calls, no emails, no nothing. He's done it before, why can't I?
In the back of my mind, I hope that he's still the Sam Swarek I love when I get back. And my heart sinks.
6 months later
"How's it feel break up buddy?" Nick asks as they pull into the lot of 15.
After 6 months of being undercover, the duo is finally back. Mission completed, back to their blues.
"It feels good, really good. I'm glad we got that opportunity." Andy smiled.
"Do you think we dug our graves deep enough?" He asks looking up at the 15 sign.
Andy laughs, "I'm not sure, we won't know until we get in there. I mean how bad could it be? We were gone for six months, they can't be that mad."
Nick looks at her.
"Right. Okay well we better hurry and get in front of the firing squad and get it over with." She said stepping out of the car and taking a deep breath.
As they stepped inside the division not much had changed. Everyone was busy, shifts were changing seeing as they came in late in the afternoon.
"McNally, Collins, my office." Best yelled causing a few heads to turn and a couple feet running towards them.
"You're back!" Traci smiled as she hugged her best friend.
"Hey Trac, I've missed you!" she said hugging back.
"Good to see you guys in one piece." Traci smiled as she hugged Nick as well.
"Thanks." Nick smiled.
Soon hugs were followed in by Dov, Noelle, and Oliver.
"Where's Gail and Chris?" Andy asked.
"They're in booking." Oliver answered.
"Where's S…" she asked but was interrupted by Luke.
"You two, let's go, statements then we can get out of here." He said heading to Best's office.
"Oliver, will you be around later?" Andy asked before turning to Best's office.
"Yeah yeah, come find me."
"Okay, thanks. See you guys in a bit." And the two were off.
"So they're back." Dov says sitting down.
"Yes they are." Oliver says watching them sit down in Frank's office.
"How do you think it'll end?"
"Hopefully without any bloodshed. Let's go, I'm hungry."
After three hours they were done. Now they just wanted a drink.
"See you at the Penny? I'm going to go find Gail."
"If I'm not too exhausted, I just want to go home and have a hot shower."
"Alright, if I don't see you tonight, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sounds good, good luck." She smiles.
"Thanks, you too." Nick said squeezing her arm for support.
Andy then went off to look for Oliver.
"Hey Oliver."
"Hey, all done?"
"Yeah." She looks at him. "Is Sam here?"
"He actually left a few hours ago."
"Oh. Is he going to the Penny?"
"I'm not sure, maybe not. He said he had to do a couple things."
"Does he uh, have a date or something?" she asks, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"Date? No, no date."
Andy felt a sign of relief. "How mad is he?"
"He was pretty mad when you didn't show up, then when you didn't show up days after he put two and two together. He's not that mad anymore though. I think you'll be okay."
"Is he seeing anyone?"
"No, he's been a hermit since you left. He told me what he said to you that night, how he was going to make it up to you."
Andy smiled.
"So, not all is lost." Oliver said grinning.
"Thanks Ollie." She said hugging him.
"Drinks at the Penny?"
"Maybe, I just want to go home right now."
"Alright, let me know, we have 6 months of drinking to catch up on."
"Will do." She laughs before heading home.
As much as Andy wanted to go by Sam's place and see if he was home, she really wanted a hot shower first, deciding that she'd call him afterwards and maybe see him at the Penny with everyone else.
Stepping out of the elevator, her nose was met with an amazing aroma. "Someone's having a good night tonight." She said to herself stepping to her door.
Sliding her key in and unlocking it, she opened the door to find her apartment flooded in a sea of roses, in every color. The aroma had been coming from her apartment and light music was playing in the background. She couldn't believe her eyes. Feeling a little nervous, she reached back into her bag and gripped her mace. Shutting the door as quietly as she could, she was then met by a barking dog running up to her, practically jumping on her. The dog looked excited to see her even though she had never met this dog.
The chocolate brown, wavy haired dog, couldn't have been more excited to see her. Petting the dog, trying to calm him down, she noticed they type of breed he was. "Labradoodle?" she grinned to herself.
"Radley who are you barking at?" a voice said coming from the kitchen.
And that's when she finally met the eyes of Sam Swarek.
"Andy." He smiled.
Andy looked at the man she missed for 6 months, gelled hair, her favorite red shirt, jeans, and barefoot. Barefoot? Who is this man and what has he done with Sam?
"Sam." She breathed, not noticing the dog was still barking.
"Radley, down." He said sternly and the dog stopped, but continued to lick Andy's hand.
"What uh, what are you doing here?" she said not moving a muscle.
"I heard you were coming back today. Wanted to welcome you home." He smiled as he walked closer.
"Is this your dog?"
"No, this is our dog. Radley missed his mommy, didn't you boy." He said kneeling down petting him.
"Radley?"
"Boo Radley remember?"
Andy laughed. "Oh yeah."
Sam stood back up and took a good look at her. Stepping closer he pulled her in for a hug, which she greatly accepted. They hugged for what felt like an eternity. Sam looked over her arms before cupping her face between her hands, his thumb going over the scar that was now above her left eye brow.
"Don't worry, that's the only thing I brought back from the task force."
"How'd you get it?
"Minor confrontation."
"You okay?"
"Yeah I'm good." She smiled. Not wanting to break this moment, she had to ask again. "Sam what are you doing here, and with a dog?"
"I told you, I'm going to make it up to you, dog was the first thing."
"Did you rob a florist?"
"I might as well have." He laughs. "Listen, I know that we have to talk about everything, and we're going to, but I know you must be starving and dying for a shower."
"Very true."
"Go shower, dinner should be done by the time you're out, come on Radley mommy will play with you later."
"How does he know me already?" she asked taking a sip of wine. After dinner they had just at the kitchen island talking.
"After you left I got him, showed him your picture so he'd know who you were when you came back."
"How'd you know I'd come back?"
"Gut feeling."
"Sam I know we have a lot of talking to do and plenty of explanations…"
"I know Andy, we really do. But let's take it one day at a time. I'm sure we won't be able to get through everything in one night. We haven't been together for a while and I still need to prove to you that I meant what I said."
"I believe you."
"So why did you leave?"
"Why did you? You left me in the rain." She said sternly.
"I know I'm sorry. I deserved that. But I don't want to fight with you tonight Andy, it's your first night back."
"But you know this conversation is long overdue."
"Yeah I know, I've been thinking about it since you left."
"Have you been doing a lot of that?"
"Yes, lots of thinking about you."
By then they had moved to the couch and were sitting next to each other, like they had earlier in the year, but instead of that oar next to them, it was Radley, with his head in Andy's lap.
"Nothing better than another fresh start huh." Sam said breaking the silence.
"Apparently that's what we do, must be our thing."
"It's not going to happen again Andy."
"You don't know that."
"I do, because I'm not letting it happen again. I was stupid to let you go in the first place. It's been drilled into my head."
"So what are we going to do about Radley here." She said changing the subject.
"If you want I can take him home with me tonight if you want to be alone. I trained him while you were gone. He knows to let you know when he needs to go outside and all of that. But if you don't want him I can keep him or find him another home."
Andy nodded. "No, that won't be necessary. He looks pretty comfy where he is now, and the flowers? They started growing in my room." She laughed.
"Each one is for a day that you were gone." He whispered.
"Sam…" she started as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I really missed you Andy."
"I missed you too." They said to each other as their fingers found each other and clasped together.
"Fresh start…again?" she asked smiling looking down as Sam rolled his thumb over the top of her hand, and Radley asleep in her lap.
"Fresh start, no breaks, and with only one ending in mind." He replied leaning over kissing her head, seeing their future only going one way but up.
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