This was supposed to be a quick one-shot. I had the basic idea of the first two scenes in mind but thought they would be too small to stand on their so I decided to combine them and then just create a third scene to finish it off and add some (what I thought would be) needed length. Then I got writing, and the second scene especially got away from me. So now we have a quick three-chapter story.

The first scene just popped into my head. The second scene came from a conversation I had with SMChick about a cop's support system. The third was added mainly because I didn't think it would be long enough with just the two, and then I just had fun with it.

Each scene follows the common theme of bargaining… different people working for various ends.

Also, for this scenario, Andy has an apartment. I'm assuming that she didn't want to stay on Traci's couch for an indefinite amount of time so she found a temporary rental while she searched for something to buy.

Thanks to SairsJ for giving this the once over.

As always, I own nothing Rookie Blue.

Sam woke slowly, a little disoriented, a cold sheen of sweat covering his face… but that wasn't the only thing. Where the hell was he? Why was he sitting up? This didn't feel like the loft and where was…

He couldn't see anything. There was something… a bag… a… it was covering his head. He tried to lift his arm to pull it off…what? He couldn't move his arms or legs; he was tied to a chair.

And he was gagged. He grunted as he thrashed his head from side to side trying to free his face from the cover, but it wouldn't budge.

"Good. Was startin' to worry. Hold still."

He knew that voice and it didn't bode well for him.

The cover was yanked quickly from Sam's head but he still couldn't see; the room… it was bright. He squinted as he waited for his eyes to adjust. He could vaguely make out Brennan's smiling face… again, not a good sign. He had been made.

"Maggie never liked these much. White sheets, it's all she'd ever buy. She said it made her life feel clean."

Sam watched Brennan fold up the black pillow case, his gaze darting around the room trying to figure out where he could possibly be. "It's amazing what you do for someone you love. Get rid of your sheets… your car… your past."

"I would have done anything for her." Brennan continued as he pulled up a stool, sat in front of Sam and looked him square in the eye.

"I still would." He pledged, though it sounded to Sam more like a threat.

He continued to stare Sam down before abruptly standing and leaving the room. Sam moved his head around, twisting it, turning it, dropping his chin, doing everything he could think of to try and free his mouth from the gag. It didn't work and Jamie quickly returned with a bottle of water and a chuckle at Sam's fruitless efforts. "Those things can really dry out your mouth."

He set the bottle down and moved behind Sam, untying the rag and pulling it free from his captive's mouth.

It took Sam a minute to find his voice; his mouth was bone dry. He just… "Wh…" He swallowed a couple of times, tried to wet his mouth, soothe his dry throat… "Where the hell is Candace?"

Brennan huffed out a monosyllabic laugh. "Don't worry. I made sure she wasn't going to get in the way."

Sam could see up into an adjoining room and there on the floor in crumpled heap…

Sam jolted awake and sat straight up. The blood rushed to his head; he was disoriented, a cold sheen of sweat covering his face. Where the hell was he? He opened his eyes and looked around, squinting as they adjusted to the light. This didn't feel like the loft… oh…

He allowed himself to lay back and relax into the pillow again. Without meaning to, Sam had fallen back to sleep. He hadn't gotten as much rest as planned last night, but at least he was going to have plenty of time to catch up.

Just apparently not right now. He rolled over and reached for the offending object. Who calls at… wow it's already ten… where did…

He fumbled for the answer button on his phone, still a little shaken from the nightmare. He noted that he had a couple of messages to listen to before he croaked out his greeting, forcing the sleep from his voice. "Swarek."

"Sorry, Sam; I didn't think you'd still be asleep." Frank had known Sam for a long time and he was generally a morning person even when they were up half the night playing poker.

"Yeah, well getting tortured takes a lot out of you." Sam grumbled, flipping his arm over his eyes to block out the light.

Frank flinched; he didn't want to be reminded. "Listen, I just heard from IA and your hearings are in a couple of days. You need to be at Headquarters at four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon."

"Hmm-hmm."

"Swarek, this important. Write it down; this meeting… it's not optional."

"I won't forget; I got it… Tuesday, four o'clock, HQ."

"Good. And I'm sure it goes without saying but after what happened, I want to make sure you're planning to abide by all the conditions of your suspension."

"What do you mean all?"

"I mean you and McNally, no contact. The official notification says that any and all contact is prohibited during the suspension."

Sam didn't remember getting anything in writing. "Um… uh… is there a grace period?"

"What?" Frank practically yelled into the phone.

"A Grace period? Can we have a little time before…"

"No you can't have any time! This isn't a joke Sam; you're lucky to still have your jobs."

Sam was definitely awake now. "I know, I know, but…"

"Don't worry about McNally; I'm calling her next so she'll know what's going on. It's on me to enforce it not you."

"No… it's not that... well not really… it's just…"

Frank was confused; what the hell was Sam's problem?

"I thought you were hungry." A voice echoed from the other room and Sam flinched.

"Sam?"

"Yeah, Boss?"

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Where are you?"

"I told you I just woke up."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"In bed?"

"Swarek!" Frank warned.

Last night, Sam had picked Andy up, asked her if she wanted to try being normal together. With a small smile, she had climbed into the passenger seat of his truck and they headed off together.

He had just wanted to go home and climb into bed with Andy, but he hadn't been to his house in a couple of months. They were both tired enough that they probably wouldn't have cared about the layer of dust that had to be coating everything, but there was no food in the house at all, and Sam for one needed to eat. So it was either a trip to the grocery store or head to Andy's, and neither one of them was up for shopping.

So they had quickly detoured by Sam's place; he was back in the 'real world' now and wanted his phone. He probably would have packed another change of clothes too but Andy insisted on going up for him. She knew he was in pain and she didn't want him performing any unnecessary activity.

Damn it! They should have stayed at his house; they wouldn't have had any food so she wouldn't have been cooking…maybe she would have even been running out to grab breakfast and then…

"Swarek!"

Sam gave in knowing full well that Frank had a pretty good idea where he was. "I'm at McNally's."

Shit! This was serious and Frank knew it. He still had to quell the hint of a grin that was trying to force its way onto his face though. But he couldn't let personal feelings get in the way; their jobs were on the line and this was what got them into trouble in the first place. "What the hell, Sam?"

Sam was starting to get offended. "Hey! I may not be the poster boy for good behavior but conduct unbecoming is a new one even for me. How the hell was I supposed to know we couldn't see each other?"

"I don't know; maybe because that's what got you into this position in the first place."

Sam smirked. He happened to like the position he was in… especially when Andy was in it with him. Of course, that was after he finally convinced her that the activities he was suggesting were far from unnecessary.

"Get her in there and put me on speaker phone." Frank ordered.

"Andy?"

She popped her head in. "It's gonna get cold." She announced, stopping short when he held up the phone. "What? Who?"

"McNally." She heard her name loud and clear through the receiver and she recognized the voice immediately.

Her eyebrows shot to the top of her head and she gulped audibly. "Yes sir."

"I was just explaining to Officer Swarek here that part of the conditions of your suspension is that you are prohibited from seeing each other."

"Oh… but… I… OH!" Her eyes widened comically as the realization dawned on her.

"Eloquent as ever." Sam muttered so only she could hear.

She rolled her eyes at Sam before clearing her throat. "Is… is there a grace period?"

Sam couldn't help but chuckle at her similar line of thought.

"Again, as I told Officer Swarek, there is no grace period though at the time I didn't realize that it would be an issue."

"But…"

"This is serious; now Sammy get the hell out of there before someone finds out."

Sam was definitely not ready to leave and not just because he wasn't dressed; he didn't know how long the suspensions would be and this could be the last time he would see Andy for weeks. "Come on Frank, I was beaten. I can hardly move and Andy made breakfast."

Frank huffed out a disbelieving breath. "You're trying to tell me you went to McNally's, climbed into bed and didn't move."

Sam and Andy grinned at each other. Okay there may have been a little movement, but that was no business of anyone's especially their boss.

Their silence told Frank everything he needed to know though. "What about you McNally?"

"I… uh… just took care of him sir."

Sam's jaw dropped. Did she just not realize?

No… she did, especially when she saw the look on Sam's face. She started to back track. "I mean I just did what I could so he could relax."

Sam had to hold back a laugh and the more than suggestive remark that was on the tip of his tongue.

Andy shook her head; nothing ever came out right when she was flustered. And Sam's obvious enjoyment of her discomfort wasn't helping matters at all. "I mean, I wanted him to rest because he was hurt. It wasn't easy for him to get up so I asked him to let me do things for him."

Sam could no longer hold back the laugh. He had been up alright and if truth be told, he was starting to…

Andy glared at him; she knew that look and they were already in deep enough as it was.

"McNally?"

"Yes sir?" She managed to squeak out.

"Quit while you're ahead."

"Yes sir."

"Fifteen minutes, Swarek…and then I want you out of there."

A knowing grin spread across Andy's face and her eyes now mirrored the twinkle in Sam's. They held each other's gaze, suggesting in tandem. "Maybe twenty?"