I own no interest in Rookie Blue

Couchjumper requested I write a "Locks & Bikinis" type story for the Christmas holidays. What follows is my effort. Dov and the one sided phone conversation begin the story. The events surrounding the phone call made up the rest. This should be at least a two chapter tale.

The Christmas Tree Dress
Chapter One

Dov was in the dog house already, not only did he have to work with Swarek today, but Sam was ready to go and Dov wasn't. As he hurried toward the senior officer, the sound of said officer's cell phone alerted him to approach quietly. He didn't need to get him anymore agitated than he was. McNally was his partner and he was always in a foul mood when she had the day off and he was assigned to someone else. Since Sam's back was turned to him, Dov heard the whole conversation, at least the half of it he could near.

"Sweetheart, I thought I had the day off."

"I certainly am."

"That's not the getting off I was talking about."

"How much am I supposed to bare?"

"I am not… doing that."

"You want me to do that in the woods, I suppose."

"Oh? I'm listening. Your ideas are always so novel."

"Just boots, that's not very much."

"Cream, Andy, lots of cream."

"Is there any other kind?"

"Right on top where I can slurp it off."

"If course, I'll come."

"You know I like it hot and you being ready is always a bonus."

He looked up as he flipped the phone shut; a wide eyed Epstein was standing and waiting. "Finally ready, Epstein? We have a job to do and hanging around the station is not part of it today." After sharing his displeasure with the rook, he turned on his heel and headed for the parking lot. Now he could devote his thoughts to spending some off-duty time with Andy. If he had been worried about being bothered by Dov, he would have been worried in vain. Epstein had heard enough to keep his imagination going the better part of the shift. When he finally tired of running what he heard through his head, he could concentrate on who and how he was going to share this juicy bit of gossip.

Christmas was coming and Andy was ready for it to begin. The boxes of ornaments and lights where down from the shelves in her closet. The tree stand was in the living room and the red flannel sheet she used for a tree skirt was draped across the sofa back, drying from its thorough spraying with fabric freshener. Talking Sam into taking her to get her tree was the next step in her plan. Careful questioning this week had revealed he was going to Ollie's for football watching on Sunday but he didn't seem to have any plans for Saturday. If she was sly enough she would keep him busy all day Saturday, and who knows what might develop. She settled on to the sofa and hit her Sam Speed Dial button.

"Sweetheart, I thought I had the day off." He sounded glad to hear from her even if his words didn't say so.

"Aren't you working today?"

"I certainly am."

"Then you aren't getting the day off."

"That's not the getting off I was talking about."

"Just because my arm's in a sling, I'm still a good partner. You just have to do the paperwork for a while." He wasn't going to let her live down the fact that she had been injured when a perp had slammed her into a door before she finally subdued him.

"How much am I supposed to bear?"

"You are such a baby, stop whining. "

"I am not… doing that."

"Yes, you are, but that's not why I called. I need you to take me to cut a Christmas tree." The pause before he spoke kept her in suspense.

"You want me to do that in the woods, I suppose."

"That's were trees grow, Sam. Besides you owe me." He just couldn't say no.

"Owe? I'm listening. Your ideas are always so novel,"

"I helped you pick out the boots for your sister's family." She could think up a few more things if she had to.

"Just boots, that's not very much."

"At least I helped. Now I need your help. Please, Sam, I'll bring hot chocolate." Bribing him never worked with criminals but Andy had found it quite effective in the past.

"Cream, Andy, lots of cream."

"Do you mean Bailey's Irish Cream?" He was way too inhibited when he was sober.

"Is there any other kind?"

"What about whipped cream?"

"Right on top where I can slurp it off."

"So you'll come pick me up tomorrow morning?"

"If course, I'll come." Hurrah!

"If you would call and give me at least thirty minutes notice before you come over I'll be ready and make sure the chocolate is really hot before I put it in the Thermos."

"You know I like it hot and you being ready is always a bonus."

"Thanks, Sam." He had no idea how ready she would be. Only time would tell if he could resist her Santa's Little Helper outfit.

When shift was finally over Sam enjoyed a luxurious hot shower in the men's locker room. This had been a long week, and having to spend the last day of it without his partner and with Epstein had just added insult to injury. It seemed Epstein had been rather smug today but for the most part he had been heavenly quiet. Dov was enthusiastic about being a cop, always trying to please, and the best part, willing to do the paper work, but he wasn't Andy.

Sam dressed in his Friday Night, Going to the Penny, clothes. He held the door for Traci, as they were both leaving the station at the same time. "You headed to the Penny, Sam?"

"As soon as I get some decent food in me, you bringing Andy with you tonight?" He couldn't help himself. He should never ask about her, she was either going to be there or not be there, asking wouldn't make it happen. He couldn't make it happen unless he asked her to go with him, but he just couldn't bring himself to risk the possible rejection. He was going to be with her tomorrow. That was for sure. It should be enough.

"Are you kidding? Having a day off is fine, but she's been at home alone all day. I don't think I could talk her out of getting out for a least a little while tonight. We'll see you later." Traci headed toward her car at a brisk pace. Lost in thought, Sam walked across the parking lot, slow enough an observer might have thought his big smile was a heavy load to carry.

Andy's plans were just about complete by the time Traci arrived at her door. The roast with carrots, celery, onions and everything else the recipe called for was in the crock, in the refrigerator, waiting for the morning. The Thermos was clean on the counter along with a new bottle of Bailey's and a new bottle of Sam's favorite scotch. The hot chocolate mix was in the cabinet. A new can of whipped cream was in the fridge, along with beer, in case Sam wasn't in a scotch mood.

When Andy answered the doorbell she had tomorrows outfit on its hanger in her hand. "Hi, Traci, come on in, I'm just about ready."

"What's with the outfit, Andy? You got a part time job with Santa down at the mall?" The bright red velvet thing had a very short skirt, long narrow sleeves and a revealing neckline. White fur covered the hem, the cuffs and the neck line. The loop on bright green tights was slipped over the neck of the hanger and hung down the back of the short dress. A fur trimmed hat hung from the hanger as well.

"This is my Christmas tree outfit." Traci noticed her friend had delivered the line with a perfectly straight face but she was sure this had to be a joke.

"You're not going to be… the Christmas tree in that outfit. I can see how some guy might mistake you for his Christmas present, under a tree, dressed in that outfit, so what you mean by Christmas tree outfit alludes me. Explain yourself."

"This outfit gets me in the Christmas spirit. I wear it to pick out my tree and to decorate it."

"You wear that to the store to buy your tree?"

"Oh, no, I get my tree from a tree farm, kind of out in the woods. That's really fun."

"What does your dad think about the outfit when he takes you to get the tree?"

"Dad's not taking me. Sam and I are going in the morning."

"You never cut that poor bastard a break, do you, Andy?" Traci stood and just shook her head. Apparently her friend had no clue how much effect everything she did had on Sam. Traci would love to be a fly on the wall to see the expression on his face when Andy and her Christmas tree outfit answered the door in the morning.

By the time the girls got to the Penny, the place was humming. She spotted him immediately and headed straight for him. Since she hadn't seen him all day, she didn't think it was too forward to stop by and say hi. Ollie nodded to her as she approached but Sam didn't turn. She put her hand on his shoulder and let it casually drape across his back as she leaned over his other shoulder. "Hey, Partner, did you miss me today?" He smelled of soap and scotch and man. She felt his hand cover the hand she had on his shoulder as he took his other arm off the bar, dropped it down by his side and then back up to circle her waist. When he turned his head to answer her he was inches away from her face and had a good enough hold on her she couldn't back up. His eyebrows were raised giving him a big eyed look as he searched her face, questioning her and daring her and taking her breath away.

"What do you think?" She was so close to him, the words spoken at barely above a whisper were heard clearly and their implications registered. She knew the Penny was neither the time nor the place but she wanted to make sure he was fully aware of her interest too.

She narrowed her eyes, put her free hand on his thigh, and answered. "When you find a more private place," she smiled, "I'm looking forward to showing you what I think." And then she blew him a kiss but she was so close he could feel her breath on his lips and smell her toothpaste and he nearly had a panic attack. He turned away, took his hands off her and motioned to the bartender.

"Bring me a couple scotches. You are ready for a drink, aren't you, McNally?"

"It's Friday night, I'm in a bar, I think I just made a pass at my partner, yes, I'm definitely ready for a drink." Sam did not move; he knew he'd started the pass making and really thought it would be prudent to let his heart stop racing and let his head clear before he pulled a cave man and embarrassed them both. When the drinks arrived, Sam lifted one of the glasses toward Andy. He finally turned around to face her but he backed away as he did so there was some distance between them.

She took the glass, graced him with a sheepish smile and said, "Thank you. I'm going to go find Traci. See you in the morning."

"I'll call first. See ya." He turned back to the bar as Dov was emerging from the bathroom hall. Dov saw Andy walk away from the bar with a drink in her hand and Sam beginning to talk to Oliver. I wonder if Shaw knows just how kinky the sex games are that McNally and Swarek play. Epstein sat at a table and watched Ollie, waiting until he headed for the bathroom.

The conversation at the bar covered the spectrum of men's topics, but it eventually got around to Andy. "Well, Sammy, I see she still has what it takes to wrap you around her finger."

"That obvious, is it, Ollie?"

"I don't mean to be too nosey, but are you, uuh…, hooking up with her…..ever?"

"No."

"But, you want to?"

"You think…?"

"Hang in there. You never know. Meanwhile, I need a bathroom stop before I head home, so at least one of us has a bed partner." Ollie emptied his glass and headed toward the bathroom. He didn't notice Dov following him. Sam ordered another drink; he had no one to be sober for or anyone waiting for him to hurry home to.

When Ollie returned to his seat, Sam gave him a quizzical look. "I thought you were going home?"

"I was but, we need to talk."

"So talk." The sedative effects of alcohol were working their magic on Sam but it would not be enough to keep him calm after his talk with Ollie.

"I've never known you to lie to me, Sammy; you're not her training officer anymore so she isn't off limits."

"Let me get this clear, I'm lying to you about Andy?"

"Maybe not technically, but phone sex isn't exactly not hooking up at all."

"Phone sex!" Drunks have a tendency to be loud, Sam was no exception. Andy's head snapped around when she heard his shout. She knew what she thought she heard couldn't be right. Why she got out of her chair and headed toward the bar, she couldn't have said, but her partner was distressed, he might need her. It was instinct.

"Sammy, not so loud." Oliver spoke softly, trying to quiet his friend.

"Phone sex would be a step up from the sex I am not having with my partner. Where did you get this idea? Is it written on the wall in the bathroom?" He was quieter but none the less disturbed. Andy heard his last remark clearly and saw the apologetic look on his face when he realized she was standing right next to him.

"A certain rookie approached me while I was in the bathroom. Said he had overheard you two on the phone just this morning."

"Epstein!" Sam was in full bellow mode again but a megaphone would not have produced the culprit. When Dov heard Sam shout the first time he made the wise decision and called it a night. He had almost run from the Penny a full minute before.

-0-

The next chapter should be up in a day or two. We have to be that fly on the wall Saturday morning. Hope you were amused.

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