This chapter follows the end of Season 1. This is my first fanfiction. I do not own Rookie Blue or any of its characters. Hope you enjoy:) Let me know what you think.
It had been two weeks since the undercover operation and 15th's biggest drug bust, but somehow Andy's feelings of anxiety were still plaguing her. Sam's words of reassurance had given her perspective—she didn't have to fake it any more. She and her fellow rookies had survived their probation, and although they were still considered 'rookies,' their participation in the drug bust had earned them a little more respect. Andy's father had successfully completed his first few months of sobriety, and the ending of Andy's lease was around the corner, soon to be followed by her move with Luke. After a two week stretch of what seemed like endless shifts, Andy was looking forward to lunch with her dad.
"Dad, it's so good to see you like this. I know the past few months must have been tough, but I'm so proud of you," Andy smiled, holding her father's hand across the table.
"Thanks, Andy. I'm just happy that I can be there for my little girl. I wish I could have been a better father while you were growing up."
"You did the best you could. I know it wasn't easy raising a daughter on your own. And doing this job, I now understand how much you've dealt with for so many years. It's physically and emotionally draining. "
Tommy put his drink down and looked at his daughter. He could see it more clearly now that he was sober—something was troubling his daughter. "Andy, what's the matter? I've been noticing for the past couple weeks that something's been bothering you. What's going on?"
Andy looked down at her unfinished meal, frowning. "I dunno, Dad. I guess I'm just a little nervous about moving in with Luke. I mean, it's the mature thing to do, but you know me—I haven't been the best at relationships in the past. I just don't wanna screw this up."
"Andy, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Are you in love with Luke?"
Andy was shocked. Her father had never asked her directly about how she felt about any of her previous boyfriends, unless he was consoling her about a break up. "I—I guess."
"You guess? Sweetheart, I know I haven't been the best at relationships either, but I do know when I've been in love. I like Luke, I do. He seems like a good guy. A workaholic and a little into himself, but he's young and at the top of his game. But I just don't see that he makes you happy. If you were happy, nothing else would matter."
"He does, Dad. I mean, of course there are things that I wish were different."
"Like what things?"
"I dunno," Andy said, shifting in her seat, showing her frustration. "He- he doesn't always see when something's bothering me. And sometimes I wish that he understood me better. But we're still near the beginning of this relationship. I mean there are supposed to be problems."
"Honey, the beginning of the relationship is where there are supposed to be the least problems. You should be feeling that this guy gets you better than most. You should be feeling excited and passionate at this point."
Andy sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Passionate, Dad? Passion is dangerous. No one leaps into the fire without getting burned. Look at you and mom," she said quietly, hoping the reference to her mother wouldn't hurt her father.
"Andy, but if you don't leap into the fire when the time is right, you'll freeze. Your mother and I may not have worked out well, it was a disaster in fact, but I can't say I'm sorry. Look at what that passion brought me? The thing I cherish most in this world—my little girl." Tommy smiled, holding his daughter's chin up, "Look at me, Andy. I don't want you to ever be scared of love. I know I didn't set a good example for you, I didn't handle your mother leaving well. But things don't have to be the same for you. I want you to experience real love and true happiness, and to do it without fear. Sure, you'll be a little scared, but the risk is worth it."
The next week had seemed busier than most. She had ended her relationship with Luke over the weekend, much to his dismay, and she was a little nervous to see how they'd interact on the job. She had been as kind to him as she could—telling him that it wasn't fair to either of them if she continued to move forward when she knew her heart wasn't in it. Andy explained to him that in addition to the fact that his job seemed to take precedence over her as far as his priorities were concerned, she understood that there was a difference between loving someone and being in love, and their relationship resembled the former. He didn't seem to put up much of a struggle and instead stormed away, muttering something about her TO under his breath.
On the other hand, at work Andy seemed to be getting more of a handle on thing, and she felt a new surge of confidence since her undercover op as Lessing's girlfriend. She had been disappointed at being approached by David Donahue, the head of Guns& Gangs, to write a review for Sam as part of his application process. Although she knew her review would contribute to the likelihood of Sam moving to Guns& Gangs, she couldn't be responsible for interfering with Sam's career again and holding him back from what he had wanted for so long. To make things worse, Dov had relayed gossip that Sam and a certain ER doctor had been seeing each other again.
They had been riding back to the barn before Sam attempted to re-initiate conversation. "So I heard about you and Callahan. You ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It just didn't feel right. I don't wanna freeze."
"What? Are you cold," he asked, turning down the ac.
"No, it's just…nothing." Andy was not in the mood to chat today, and her silence only encouraged Sam's desire to talk.
"So Donahue said you wrote me a Tolstoy review—15 pages. You tryin' to get rid of me, McNally?" Sam joked, his eyes sneaking a glance at McNally.
"Well, that's what you said you wanted right? Just biding time until a spot in Gangs & Guns opens up? So are you taking it?" Andy inquired nervously.
"Thinking about it," Sam answered calmly, bringing the squad car into the lot. "It hasn't been officially offered yet, but Donahue's been talking like it's a done deal. Once they tell me, I have 24 hours to accept before they pass it along to the next guy."
"Well, it's been good working with you. Thanks for all your guidance over these past months. Good luck," Andy sputtered out curtly before hopping out of the car and slamming the door behind her.
"Wait, McNally! What's the matter with you?" Sam yelled, chasing after her. "That's it? What? You're mad at me?"
Andy turned on her heel and looked at him angrily, "What do you expect me to say, Sam? You say things like, 'There's no one else I'd rather be doing this with,' but at the end of the day you're still just biding time to get back to Guns& Gangs! After all we've been through," she exclaimed, fighting back tears.
"Well, after all this time, you don't exactly trust me, Andy. I had to hear about you and Callahan's break up from Jerry! Oh, I get it. Now you don't have Princess Callahan, so you need me around to stick around and cheer you up? Is that it?"
"Are you kidding me, Sam? You're the one with the savior complex. You're always trying to make the problems I had with Luke sound miniscule. If you hadn't been telling me all that crap, I might have broken up with him weeks ago!"
"Well, forgive me for trying to make your life a little easier, McNally! I thought that maybe a reassuring chat once in a while might help you focus on the important stuff, like your job. I thought we were friends."
Andy shook her head and scoffed, "You know what, Sam? I don't wanna be your friend. Friends don't abandon each other. You didn't even tell me you were seeing Monica again! " Andy finally sighed, "This is why I don't leap into fire." She stormed out of the garage into the building, leaving Sam utterly confused.
Later that night at the Penny. .
"Hey, Sammy! We ordered you a beer while we were waiting. Monica joining us tonight?" Oliver asked patting the empty chair beside him.
"Yeah, she said she'd try to stop by. She's taking care of a few last minute things at the hospital and then she's meeting me here." Sam scanned the room, looking for the rookies. "Penny seems quiet tonight. Where is everyone?"
Jerry blurted, "Supposedly, Dov and McNally are moving in together now that Peck is moving in with Diaz, and McNally didn't renew her lease. They're having a moving-in party. Tracy and Dex are helping in with the move in," he informed them with a sad sigh.
"Come on, buddy. I thought you were getting over this," Oliver said, patting his friend on the back supportively. "There are plenty of fish in the sea."
Sam frowned, lost in his thoughts. "Wait, why didn't McNally renew her license?"
"Oh ho ho, you didn't hear?" Oliver grinned, eager to relay the story he had heard from his rookie. "McNally agreed to move in the Callahan. He had bought them a house and everything. Then, the weekend before the big move, Andy breaks it off with Luke. Luckily, Dov had been eyeing a two bedroom since Peck's moving in with Diaz."
Sam's eyes widened. Andy hadn't told him about the move-in, let alone the break-up. Attempting to brush off his frustration, he shrugged, "Well, that's too bad." He looked up to see Monica heading over to them and plastered a smile on his face.
"Phew!" Dov let out a huge sigh as he plopped onto the sofa beside Andy. "Thank God Tracy brought Dex! I wasn't too sure about the guy, but it was nice of him to help with the move in."
"Yeah, I guess he has his moments," Andy agreed. "Dov, thanks for inviting me to move in with you. With everything that's going on, it's great not to have to worry about where I'm living."
"Are you kidding me? Now that Chris and Ice Queen are our loft the "Love Nest" it'll be great to have a new single roommate. Just me and my wing-woman! You are up for that aren't you?" he looked over, grinning at his friend.
"Suuure, as long as you don't insist on hooking me up with anyone in return," she smiled back.
Dov shot back, "Of course not. I know you already have someone in mind. It's only a matter of time."
"What the hell does that mean?" Andy inquired with a puzzled lou ook on her face.
"C'mon, Andy. It's not a secret that you and Swarek have some weird thing going on. I mean, those longing looks and awkward silences. You can cut the sexual tension with a knife."
"Dov, you're so mistaken. He's…he's my partner, and he was my training officer. And besides, we're friends," she said, hoping the conversation would stop there.
"Ohh, really? Then, why did you seem so upset when I told you he was seeing that hot doctor chick?"
"She, is hot isn't she?" Andy exhaled wistfully. "She looks like Charlize Theron."
""Yeah, like in Monster!" Dov chimed in, trying to stop his new roommate from pouting. Andy rolled her eyes, and two friends had a good laugh before retiring for the night.
End Chapter. To be continued.