Sam opened his eyes, and everything was black. He moved his head around, trying to focus on something, anything.
"Good. I was starting to worry.", Jamie Brennan's voice said.
Sam froze. What the hell?, he thought.
"Hold still." Jamie pulled the black pillowcase off of Sam, and he shuddered.
"Maggie never liked these much. White sheets. That's all she'd ever buy. She said it...made her life feel clean. It's amazing what you do for someone you love. Gid rid of your sheets, your car...your past. I would have done anything for her. Still would."
Sam began trying to focus on something, anything. He knew this was a dream; he distinctly remembered that last night the last thing he'd seen had been Andy. In her new house. This had already happened, yet the
scene played again. Jamie stood, and went into the other room. Sam thought he heard the water running. He took the opportunity of Jamie's absence to try and get the gag out of his mouth. Unsuccesful, he turned his
head, trying to loosen the knot. Just then, Jamie reentered, carrying an old milk jar full of water.
"These things can really dry out your mouth."He removed the gag from Sam's face.
Sam was trying to speak. He cleared his throat and tried to utter words.
"Wh...where the hell is Candice?", he asked.
"Oh, you mean Officer McNally? Well, she put up quite a fight...but I won." Jamie subtly looked down, and Sam followed his eyes, which were looking behind him. Sam could see feet of someone, and he began
struggling.
"No! No, you bastard! Dammit! Andy!", he yelled, not even caring that he'd just blown her cover.
"Ah. Andy. Such a pretty name. Too bad she doesn't have a use for it anymore. See you soon.", he said, and replaced the black pillowcase over Sam's head. Sam began struggling and screaming, and then he felt
pain...and then everything went black again. He could hear his voice being called, though, and he swore it was Andy's voice he heard.
"Sam. Sam...come on, Sam, please. Sam!"
"Sam!" Sam opened his eyes, and he could see Andy over him, staring down with concern-filled brown eyes. They looked like liquid chocolate. He shivered.
"Andy." He grabbed her and enveloped her into a hug. "Oh, god."
"It was just a dream, Sam. You're okay. I'm here.", she said into his neck.
After a few minutes, and after she made sure his breathing had slowed to a normal rate again, she raised herself up.
"You scared the hell out of me, Sam."
"Sorry.", he said. He cleared his throat and sat up.
"What time is it?", he asked.
"Time for me to go. Suspension starts now.", she said.
He drew her down again, and he gazed into her brown eyes.
"I wish you didn't have to go. I'll miss you.", he said.
"I don't know how I'll survive three weeks.", she said back. It was good enough for him. The first time he'd told her he was going to miss her, she asked how long he'd be under. Kinda threw him for a loop.
This time, at least, they knew a definite time they'd see each other again.
"Okay, come here and kiss me. Then you gotta go.", he said. He drew her in and placed a thorough kiss on her lips. She responded willingly, and traced the inside of his lips with her tongue. He pulled away,
and she raised her eyebrows.
"If you keep doing that, we're going to end up breaking the rules.", he said. She sighed, and got up.
"Sam-", she started to say.
"McNally, I know. I know what you're going to say. Don't worry. I leave on the first plane to St. Catherines at 8:30 this morning. I'll be well looked after."
"Okay."
"What about you"?, he asked.
"Well, right before you came back, I had Traci go with me to put the down payment down on that house. So, uh...she's coming to help me get settled in and everything. I also have Chris, Dov, and Oliver said
he would swing by to check up on me also."
That one, unbeknownst to her, was a favour asked by Sam. Keeping the secret, he just nodded.
"Okay. I gotta go. Bye.", she said, and she leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips. He laid down after she left the room, but was still shaken from the nightmare, so he decided to get up. He padded to
the kitchen, where he could see she'd made him coffee. The brewer was almost finished dripping when he smelled something else...food. He looked on the stove, and he could see a pan of still-steaming eggs
there, and on a plate in the microwave he found bacon and hashbrowns. God, she's amazing, he thought to himself. Then, his phone buzzed on the counter, and he rose to check it.
I'll miss you too.
Sam smiled at the text, and then groaned. It was going to be a long three weeks.
Chris Diaz was driving, like he had been doing a lot these mornings. Waking up, realizing Gail wasn't there, and then driving. No destination. Just a broken-hearted fool trying to find some relief from his pain.
His phone buzzed, but he ignored the text. Just Andy confirming their breakfast plans. He knew she'd understand if he ignored it. He wasn't sure when his feelings for Andy developed from just "Academy
friend" to "best friend", but he was glad for the comfort. He definitely felt very safe around Andy, and if he'd had any siblings, it was how he'd imagined he'd be with a sister.
Chris pulled his truck over, and sat staring out the windshield. His mind ran through the events from last night at the Penny.
"Hey, Chris! Jerry and I are just about to pack it in for the night. Dov told me to tell you him and Sue are heading out, also. Do you want a ride home?", Traci asked. Chris shook his head.
"No, I want to make sure Gail gets home safely first."
"Gail? Oh, honey." Traci 'tsked' and Chris raised an eyebrow. Traci sat at a stool facing him and grabbed his hand.
"Gail left already, Chris. With Luke. I'm sorry." Chris looked down at his half-full mug of beer, and raised it to his lips, chugging it.
"Okay, I'm ready. Let's go.", he said. He stood, and Traci marveled that he didn't even wobble as he stood.
Chris remembered the pain he'd felt at Traci's revelation, and decided right then and there to close off his heart.
Luke sat in his kitchen, staring at the marble countertop. He had had a dream, where Andy was still with him, and he decided after that he couldn't sleep anymore. This visual torture had been going on since
she'd left him, and then seeing her and Sam drive off together last night when he'd gone to meet Gail outside was the clincher. She'd moved on, to the very person he knew she'd run to. He remembered the
night he'd opened the freezer for ice to see 'Sam Swarek' written on a piece of paper and stuck in a jar of water. He should have known. All along, this had been right in front of his eyes, and he'd ignored it.
He sighed. He dialed Andy's number, and got her voicemail.
Hey, it's Andy. I'm not here, so leave me a message.
Luke sighed. Go figure, he thought. He sighed again. Moping would get him no where. He stood and decided a shower would help.
"Leo, let's go, honey! We're going to be late!" Traci yelled from the kitchen. She was packing Leo's lunch, and Jerry was very patiently reading a newspaper while waiting for him. Suddenly, Jerry sighed and
threw down the paper. Stupid reporters.
"What is it?", Traci asked, and Jerry indicated the front page.
TORONTO POLICE OFFICERS GET THREE WEEKS' SUSPENSION, DIVISION FIRES BEST DETECTIVE
Traci read the headline, and she scowled. She began scanning the story.
Division 15 lost two of its best officers to suspension last night, in what Staff Sergeant Frank Best says is "an unfortunate situation."
"It's an unfortunate situation, but you can rest assured that we're doing everything we can to assure that the rules won't be broken again.", he commented.
Divison 15 also lost its best detective on the Guns & Gangs Taskforce, Detective Donovan Boyd, who was subsequently
fired this morning. When asked to comment on the nature of the termination, Sgt. Best had no comment. We will have more on this story later.
Traci scowled. They made Frank seem like a cold, callous boss, when in fact he'd had no other options.
"Poor Frank.", Traci said. Jerry nodded and drained his coffee.
"Yep. Typical reporters.", he muttered, and he rinsed his cup in the sink.
"Mom, can I have two Fruit Roll Ups today? I want to give one to Chelsea.", Leo admitted.
"And who is Chelsea?", Traci asked. Jerry winked at her, and he knelt down to Leo's level.
"I could take some lessons from you, little man. If I had've given your mom one of my Fruit Roll Ups, maybe she would stop being so mean to me.", he said. Leo looked at his mom with an accusing glare, and
she slapped Jerry on the arm.
"Oh, get out. You only think I'm mean because I kicked you out last night.", she laughed. Jerry stood and gave his girlfriend a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she opened Leo's lunch kit and dropped
another Fruit Roll Up in there, and then closed it up and knelt to put it in his backpack.
"Okay, Leo. Two Fruit Roll-Ups. As requested.", she said. She began ushering him out the door, and they all climbed into Jerry's new vehicle, a black SUV.
Jerry drove the familiar route to Leo's school, and he couldn't help but notice what a family-friendly neighborhood this was. They couldn't have put a school in a better location. Not to mention, right beside the
elementary was the high school, so they were both in this great neighborhood.
Traci said goodbye to Leo and climbed back into the truck. She laid one arm behind her and began tracing small circles on the back of Jerry's neck. He looked over at her quickly and smiled.
They pulled up to 15 Division, and Traci mechanically began looking for Andy, before remembering Andy wouldn't be here. Jerry saw her sadness and pulled her closer.
"We'll get through it. Come on.", he said, and they walked in to work together.
Dov was sitting on the bench in the men's locker room, holding his head. Chris walked in behind him.
"Hey, man. I have some Advil. You want some?"
"Oh, HELL YES!', Dov said, and held out his hand for the painkillers. He tossed them down with a bottle of water.
"So, how's Andy?", he asked his friend.
"She's...she's alright. Misses work. Told me to tell you that you better not be late for dinner tonight."
"Oh, I don't plan to be. She's making lasagna...from scratch. I'll be the first one there!", Dov bragged. His friend was an amazing cook. She didn't cook very often though, settling more for a salad in a bag.
"Who's making lasagna from scratch?, Oliver asked, walking in just then.
"Andy. She invited us all over for dinner.", Dov admitted.
"Oh, really. Well...Zoe and I got an invite too...so I guess we'll see who gets there first, Epstein."
"McNally's making lasagna? Geez, I tried to get Trace to spill the beans, but she said Andy told her it's a surprise."
"Yeah. She only told me because she forgot the spinach, and I'm going to swing by and drop it off at lunch."
"Well, we won't tell her you ruined the surprise, then." Oliver admitted, and he winked and slapped Dov on the shoulder. The men all filed out of the room to parade. Jerry met up with Traci in the hall, and she
looked like someone who'd lost a puppy.
"Hey, Traci.", Chris said. She immediately began grilling him on how Andy was. He assured her Andy was fine and that she had warned that they better all be on time tonight.
They all sat in the Parade Room and focussed on Frank, who looked concerned. He had a copy of this morning's paper in front of him.
"Coppers, can I have all your undivided attention?", he asked.
"Now, I'm sure all or most of you have seen this morning's paper. Rest assured, I have already notified the media that my officers have nothing to say, so don't be afraid that they'll start nosing around,
asking questions. That being said...we lost a detective last night. I'm sure most of you read about it, but for those who didn't, Detective Donovan Boyd has been terminated. We're also shorthanded today as
we've lost McNally and Swarek as well, so I need you all to work together all the more today. It's Friday, so we can expect absolute mayhem. All I can say is, thank God we have the day shift today.
Uh...Officer Williams is on her last two weeks of street patrol for a while, so there's also that. So, uh...assignments today are: Nash and Williams, Epstein and Shaw, Diaz on the desk."
"What about Peck?", asked Gail.
"Your mother's taking you today. She's working on a case, and since you were one of the officers on scene, she's going to take you today.", Frank said. Gail nodded, but she should have known that was
coming. Traci looked at her, and she mouthed "tell you later." Traci nodded.
"Alright. Everyone, get out there. Serve, protect...and please don't break any rules! We already have enough officers off."