AN: This is a new story that came to me. Don't kill me, please? :). Review please, I like knowing what you all think and where you think the story is going. I'm not sure where in the series this is set, it all depends on what memories I want to use. For all you Jerry fans, he won't be killed out of this story. I have come up with three new characters, Price, Harken and Taylor. They won't be major, with the exception of perhaps Taylor. They call it AU for a reason. Well, enjoy!

I do not own anything.


SAM POV:

"Officer down! I repeat, officer down, medic needed immediately!" Epstein called over the radio, the sound of someone gasping in the background. I sprinted up the street to where Epstein and his partner were securing the scene. Somehow, I knew this was the end before it even started and I began to run faster, desperate to be there when it happened. I rounded the corner of the alleyway and took in the sight before me. There were two bodies on the ground, Epstein kneeling over one, the one in blue. I hauled him out of the way and knelt beside her, trying to find where the blood was coming from. God, there was so much blood, too much. I found the bullet hole and pushed my hand against her, trying to stop her scarlet essence from leaking all over a downtown Toronto alleyway.

"Sam," the woman on the pavement gasped to me, a hand grasping weakly at my chest, "I'm so sorry."

"No, this is all on me; this is all on me, McNally." I said back, running my thumb over those beautiful lips.

"I love you, Sam." She gasped, before those bambi eyes looked into my soul and fluttered for the last time.

"I love you too, Andy; more than you will ever know." I said, gently kissing those lips, a faint trace of a smile appearing as a paramedic pulled me back and began to work on her. I felt hands pulling on me, pushing me towards a squad car as the ambulance sped off to the hospital. Oliver drove me to the hospital, a string of squad cars following us. Somehow I ended up sitting in a waiting room with a coffee in my hand. I looked up and surveyed my surroundings. I saw Diaz and Epstein standing in a corner, Epstein glancing at me periodically with a scared look on his face. I saw Nash, Peck and Collins sitting together, tears rolling down both women's faces, Collins with one arm wrapped protectively around Peck and the other around Nash. I saw Jerry, Frank and Oliver standing by a doorway, grim looks on their faces.

"Family of Miss Andrea McNally?" I heard someone call, looking up in time to see Tommy McNally step forward. I silently watched the interaction and saw the man fall to his knees, his world coming apart at the seams. Tears started to roll from my eyes as I heard Tommy's sobs echo through the room, my heart and soul ripping in two, half with me and half with Andy, my Andy…

One Year Later

I jerked upright in my bed, tears flowing down my cheeks. Turning to the glowing red lights beside me, I see that it is 3:13am. Today it is a year since McNally was shot and killed on duty. Today it is six months since I took a leave of absence to screw my head back on straight. Today is my first day back on shift. So, I pull myself together, make my way through my old routine and get myself down to the barn. I'm early so I make my way to the gym to try to work off the cloud that will inevitably hang over me all day, everywhere I turn reminding me of the girl, no, woman, who I waited so long for who is now dead. So I began to beat the black bag and soon I was in a haze, my muscles complaining but the pain feeling good, making me feel alive. Through the cloud in my head, I hear the door click open and shut again, alerting me to a presence.

"Parade's in twenty, Sam. You ready to be back?" I heard Oliver ask from behind me. I stopped beating the bag and turned to face my best friend. He looked different, older perhaps, than the last time I saw him six months ago. I slipped my mask down over my features, straightened my body and replied.

"Thanks, Ollie. Yeah, I'm good to go." With that I went and showered and changed into my uniform. I was pressing my Velcro name badge onto my chest in the mirror when I noticed that the last three letters in SWAREK were red, not white. Suddenly, I remembered that this was the badge I was wearing on that day, that I had put this badge in the top of my locker, unable to wash her out of it, unable to fully let go of her. I pulled it from my chest, replacing it with a clean one and shoving it into my pocket. Checking my watch I realised I was almost late for parade, so I made my way to the parade room, slipping in the back as Frank began making the day's announcements. Scanning the room, I saw that there were a new crop of rookies, only three this time though, two guys and a woman. They sat in the front row of desks, in front of various coppers. I noticed that everybody who was close to Andy were sitting in the very back, on the opposite side of the room to myself. I was snapped out of my concentration by the sound of my name.

"Before I get onto today's assignments, I would like to welcome back one of fifteen's finest, Officer Sam Swarek. It's good to have you back." Frank said, heads turning and a murmur going through the room. I faked a smile and gave a wave before Frank continued. "Right, onto assignments. Epstein and Peck, Price with Diaz, Harken with Shaw…" I tuned out half way through, wishing shift was already over so that I could go home, drink a bottle of whiskey and forget today was happening. I wasn't aware parade was over until I heard a cough and noticed one of the rookies standing in front of me, the woman, looking nervous.

"Um, sir, Officer Swarek, hi, I'm Hannah Taylor, I mean, I'm Officer Taylor, I – " I cut her off with a wave of my hand. Pushing myself off the wall, I began to walk out to the squad car, talking on the way.

"I am presuming you have had the talk already. Here is my addendum; I did not ask for a rookie, or a partner, so my rules are the rules. I don't care how long you have been on this job, you sit, watch and listen to me. I do not want to talk about anything that isn't case related. I am not your boyfriend, I will not hold your hand." Stopping at the push doors, I turned to face her. She looked even more nervous than before. I remembered the reply I got last time I said those words, "I don't date cops anyway.", followed by a smile.

"Yes, sir." Taylor said quietly, looking down and away from me.

"Sammy! I hope you are being nice to your rookie!" Oliver called to me from across the barn, walking towards me with his rookie in tow. When he reached me, he pulled me into a hug, slapping me on the back. "It's good to have you back, Sam. Place hasn't been the same without you."

"Good to be back, Ollie. I'm just giving the rook my version of the talk, that's all old man." I replied, smiling a little and returning the hug.

"Ah, right. Taylor, be nice to Sammy boy here today. Any way, we must be off, bad guys to catch and sandwiches to eat." Oliver said, slapping me on the shoulders and nodding at Taylor. The rest of the shift proceeded with two B&E's and a domestic disturbance. It wasn't until we got a call to the very edge of 15 Division that things became interesting...