A/N: And so I begin another multi-chapter fic. It seems I can't help myself; these two make me feel a whole bunch of things. As with 8 Days of Boo, this one comes in at 19 chapters…(and if you are daring to read…well, consider yourself warned: some are a little long).

Each explores an 'episode' in every month, starting from October, 2013… a month or so after the Andy and Sam that currently live in my head have moved in together. (Although: Sequel-fic, or future-fic, I'm happy for you to read this whichever way you want!). January will be the exception to the rule – for some reason there's a lot going on in that particular month. Every chapter is also its own short story of sorts - so possibly they can be read in isolation, if multi-chapters are not your thing.

Special thanks to Hawley and the other Canadians over on TWC that take the time to help with all things Toronto and Canada…you guys rock! Also, continued acknowledgement to balladofbliss for introducing me to Sam's family ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue

~ Mid October ~

grat -i- tude (n): The state of being grateful; thankfulness

Andy's foot is perched up on the porch setting side table. She's painting her toenails when Sam gets home. (He has this freaky habit of catching her in the most awkward of poses. She's pretty sure he knows her warm-up-with-yoga schedule off by heart, and interrupts her deliberately - every chance he gets.) At least today, she's performing this particular task outside.

("You have to do that in here…where the stench hangs around?" He snorted at her a week ago when she was coating on her flavor of the week in the living room, and right in front of his nose. Still –

She managed to convince him to topcoat for her.

The way he blew at her toes to help the drying process along triggered some…feelings…in Andy…that had her in his lap even before the job was done.)

It's late in the afternoon and cool, the last of the sun going down. But…Andy loves the fall. She's been out here with Boo for the last couple of hours; a game in the yard and a roll in the leaves that Sam raked only yesterday. They might get in trouble - but for how much fun they had, Andy figures it was worth the risk.

Andy puts the brush in the paint when she hears the door to the porch open and then close. Sam bends down for a kiss that skims light on her lips. He gives her ponytail a tweak to keep her chin tilted up and in his general direction until after he tells her: "Honey, I'm home." The grin on him has Andy's heart tripping all about the place; cheeky and dimpled and like what he's said is a big fat secret (not to be shared with the rest of the world).

It's become a 'thing' of theirs, actually; Andy was the first to pop it out several weeks ago when she got home from a long day – one that Sam had off. They say it all the time now – well, at least when they haven't been in the presence of each other during their respective shifts.

Andy smiles big and bright back at him – she loves him, she does. "How was your day, sweetheart?" She delivers the question to him Stepford Wife style and keeps her face as mock serious as she possibly can.

He kisses her again – quick on the nose. "Um." Sam sits beside her, shooing Boo from the spot with a friendly muss of the fur that sits in blondish curls on top of the dog's head. Sam scratches at the underside of his own chin with one hand, and let's the other wrap around Andy's knee. "A little draining, actually." The hand that's on her leg rubs at it warm and familiar. "We had a missing kid." Sam's eyes are fixed on a spot in the backyard – he has a look on his face like he could be starting to drift a thousand miles away.

So, because they promised one another not to let work eat them alive at least in this place, but clearly he may want or need to talk –

"Had?" Andy probes softly, locking her fingers over the knuckles of his.

Sam clears his throat and his eyes search hers. "The little girls' body was found in another division." His tone is…weary. "52 will head the investigation, but." Sam looks away again and he chews at the inside of his cheek. "We could be in for a rough couple of weeks."

Andy nods at him and casts her eyes down. "You okay?" It's possibly selfish of her that she doesn't want to know the details of the case – yet. It's just –

Andy knows only too well her tendency to get too involved.

Sam shifts in his seat to get an arm around Andy's shoulder and pull her into his chest. "These are the tough ones, y'know." It's not a question to her, because he knows that she does know – both of them get some blood pressure issues when it comes to the death of a child.

Andy slides her palm to his chest and feels his heart pumping a touch quicker than usual. She nuzzles her face into the side of his neck where it's warm and dark. And then she kisses him there.

...

"C'mon." Andy finally scrambles to her feet and holds a hand out to Sam. "I'll crack you a beer."

...

"Mom asleep?" Sam squeezes at her wrist on the way into the kitchen.

Andy nods and gives him a tug. "Last time I checked in… 'bout an hour ago."

(The basement had been the first restoration they'd done; the mutual agreement reached shortly after the housewarming. Which -

Coincided with being not long after Andy realized she wanted to detour any guest stays in the other two bedrooms that are closer to theirs -

Anyway, anyway…the thing is: the basement studio is now clean and tidy and bright and comfortable. It has it's own cute bathroom – as well as a small living room that opens out to a patio type area that is their side yard. Aside a new mattress and a bed frame that once belonged to Traci, the rest of the furnishings are a result of Sam and Andy's exploits at op shops and garage sales one weekend not long ago. Andy was kind of surprised at how much Sam didn't grouch when she dragged him along -).

Sam's mother has been the first official guest to utilize the space. She's been visiting with them all of this past week. Sarah brought her the day after Thanksgiving (a holiday on which Andy and Sam had to share turkey sandwiches in the middle of duties at work). A mountain of meds, Henry the cat, and other familiar items so she wouldn't feel too far from home accompanied Lynn. (Sarah's detailed instructions about what and when were typed and printed on scented paper of all things. Sam sniffed it and scrunched up his nose. "Jesus, Sare. Are you tryin' to be a pain in the ass?")

Sam and Andy have been taking it in turns to stay with Lynn while the other is at work – fortunately both had some time that they'd already accrued. The past few days have been Andy's 'shift'; tomorrow is Sam's – that's the day he's due to drive her back to St Catherines.

"We had a nice day," Andy explains happy and relieved – with her face in the fridge and a hand on two beers.

Sam moves over to pull her away from reaching for the carrots and celery sticks. (That's what she was munching on in volumes after he got home yesterday; the stress of events having finally hit her in spades).

Sam takes the beers from her and sits them on the bench; he opens one and hands it to Andy before he pops the other for himself. "Obviously better'n yesterday then?" he asks sympathetically – his voice real low and quiet.

"Yep." Andy nods as she takes a swill of beer.

...

Lynn had a complete and utter meltdown in the middle of her morning shower. It was out of the blue – especially given how even her moods had been in the days since she arrived.

Andy had been folding some towels within earshot when she heard the sobs. She'd knocked on the door softly in the first place, but became concerned when there was no answer…and the crying actually stopped.

Andy's first instinct was to bust in there, and truth be known – she was really, really worried about what she might find. ("Tried to drown herself in the bathtub… when Sam was about 12" was from the voice of Sarah that sprang immediately into her mind.)

Andy debated with herself for about 5 seconds on whether to call Sam – she figured at the end of that internal conflict that it would be better her than him -

It turned out that Lynn was okay. Well, alive at least. She was still crying – but, silently. Her frail body was leaned up against the tile and the water had gone well and truly cold. Andy practically had to get herself in there to turn the taps off.

Andy did the best she could in terms of responding to the apparent crisis, but Lynn was inconsolable.

After Andy managed to wrap her in a towel, she wouldn't let her touch her or barely come within five feet. Nor could she provide answers to any gentle questions that Andy tried to ask: "Do you want me to call Sam?"; "Can I get you anything?" and a final, helpless, feeble: "Are you okay?"

They sat side by side on Lynn's bed for the next few hours – the space, despite its cheery new colors and prints, became doused with the weight of sadness and tears for the rest of the day.

To make things even more interesting, Boo had followed Andy down there – bringing he and Henry face to face in a stand-off that at one point Andy was forced to negotiate by chasing Boo into the yard.

When she finally managed to return to the basement the freaking doorbell rang…loud – and several times.

"I'll be back in 20 seconds," Andy told Sam's mother as calm as she could. She answered the door breathless and cursing – rolling her eyes when the deliverymen said: "not in our contract to leave the item on the front porch". (Okay, okay: EBay purchase of a new cross-trainer, but still - ) She signed for it quickly when they dumped it in the hallway…and then she bolted down the stairs.

Lynn was lying down and under the blankets by the time Andy got there. "Can I get you a cup of tea?" Andy asked her softly and all of a sudden - thinking she should go check that the meds were still in their place in the kitchen….not that Lynn could've made it up there and found them in such a short space of time, but –

(A failed overdose was another attempt Sam and Sarah knew of, years after the first).

Lynn couldn't manage a verbal response – she just shook her head. Her face was a wreck; red eyes, hollowed cheeks, and pale, blotchy skin …and she just looked so, so sad.

In that moment, Andy's heart broke – not just for Lynn – but, for the younger Sam and Sarah, that she realized must have seen so much of this. It's not like Andy is completely naïve or ignorant when it comes to mental health issues (familial experience in her own life, for godsake), but for as much of the recent reading she has done on depressive disorders…nothing could've prepared her for the sheer helplessness she herself felt in the moment – her head and heart debating over what responses might be wrong or right.

"I'm not leaving you alone. I'm right here for anything you need," Andy informed Lynn eventually; gentle, firm, and calm as she took a seat by the bed.

The crying came intermittently through the rest of the day. Every so often, Andy dared to reach a hand out and put it gentle on Lynn's shoulder – a reassurance that she was still there. Once in a while, Andy would speak to her softly; "If there's anything I can get you…" and "Sam will be home really soon…"

Lynn was finally asleep by the time Andy heard Sam's "honey, I'm home" call from upstairs; she was still in the chair and reading the news after finally, finally trying to stop herself from thinking about what having an illness such as Lynn's must be like.

Sam's face went pale when he saw them, just –

Like he knew.

"Everything okay, sweetheart?" his voice asked in a whisper that cracked at the edges as though something would break.

Andy quietly put the paper down, stood before him, and nodded her head. She led him back up to the kitchen to replay the events calmly, before her carrot munching efforts and the confession: "Sam, I was so scared…I don't know if what I did was the right thing."

He took Andy in his arms there on the spot – not bothering about the way her nervous celery stick was digging into his chest. "Sounds like you handled it perfectly…" he assured her gently, with a shaky kiss to her forehead. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart…I."

Andy shook her head vigorously and looked up at him with a frown. "Sam, your mom being unwell is not your fault."

"I…" He bumped his forehead to Andy's and left it there. "Sorry you were left to deal with the situation alone."

Sam proceeded to ramble on in fits and starts about how he would do the rest of their 'shifts', a point Andy stubbornly refused to concede. "No, Sam…you're always there for me and my dad…let me help you and your mom…"

That night they talked quiet in the dark about a few of the uglier childhood memories that each of them have.

And then when Sam made love to Andy (with them both gone beyond exhausted and tired), it was the most tender and gentle of moments that she's ever had or known -

...

"Today," Andy tells Sam brightly back in their kitchen that's gone a little bit dark. "Lynn and Boo cheered me on while I did some grouting….after we baked what's likely to be the world's best chocolate cake."

(The do-over that is currently underway is the main bathroom – a result of the fact that a relative of Dov is getting them tiles and bathy bits on the cheap).

Sam's eyebrows go way high, and then he gets that smirk. "You, ah…you wear that little bib and brace number again?" His eyes trail over Andy from head to toe; she knows her ponytail is messy… and she's still sweaty… and she smudged the plum colored nail polish all over her toes. But –

The way he's looking at her makes Andy feel like she's the prettiest thing that ever existed – well, at least in his world.

Andy grins back at his efforts and gives him a playful smack on the arm. She winks at him though – she really does not mind, like – at all – when Sam flirts with her this way.

"Show me your handywork, McNally." Sam practically purrs at her as he takes a couple of steps into her personal space, with another swig of his beer.

Pfft. Andy snorts at him…but then she blushes and makes a grab for his hand. "Show you handywork," she mutters under her breath not too unfriendly…and then drags him along.

...

"You are a machine," Sam compliments with a dimpled smile as he looks around at all the new bathroom tiles that have been set square in their place. "Andy, sweetheart…this looks great. You've got some serious handywoman skills hiding in there." He pokes at her ribs as he inspects the wall closest to him.

(Simple and clean is what they've gone for – whites and greys and sandy neutrals that work in with the amazing huge mahogany look vanity that Claire gifted to them when they first moved in here.)

"Learned from the best." Andy makes a face like she's proud of herself. (Although – anyone can grout she decided as soon as Sam showed her how when they did the basement shower tiles). "Less than a couple of weeks and we'll be able to get this entire room wet again…" Andy fist pumps in the air; she's been missing their shared baths is the thing. But now that the whole thing is close to complete –

Sam has had his eyes fixed on her since the mention of water – and…he's got that look on his face again. "I'm going to say hi to mom, then you and I are going to spend some time in our ensuite." His voice has gone no nonsense, like he's fully prepared to boss Andy about their mutual needs for cleanliness…and that sort of thing.

She sucks her lips together and inhales a sharp breath of air. "Shouldn't I, like. Prepare dinner or something?" Andy's done some great things with food planning this last week –

"We've all had a big few days," Sam retorts simply. "I think we can settle for home delivery tonight."

"But your mother-" Andy tries to argue weakly, worried about what Lynn might not eat.

Sam bends and kisses the rest of the sentence off her lips. "Will enjoy a break from overwhelming nutrition," he finishes as they break for some air.

...

"Heard you helped with today's renos, ma?" Sam asks Lynn cheekily with a forkful of noodles a couple of hours later.

They're all sitting across from the muted TV; the food delivered – and Sam and Andy finally…clean.

Sam's mom is chewing some tofu from the Pad Thai at the time. Her eyes flicker between Sam and Andy as the smallest of smiles grows on her face. Her voice is soft and quiet, but there's something else there that makes Andy feel a little better about how Lynn's stay has panned out: "Maybe you two can come help Rob when he does some work on my studio."

Andy and Sam share a look sideways; there are small smiles on the both of them too.

...,..

Andy groans as she sinks down onto Sam some half hour after they crashed onto their bed. "Ugh. Gonna miss you tomorrow night," she finally chokes out – her eyes closed tight until she can handle the feelings that will emerge when she looks down at his face.

(He's staying over night when he takes his mother back. It'll be the first night they've spent apart in months and months and months, and Andy knows she will miss coming home to him).

"Gonna miss you too, McNally." Sam murmurs back to her as he curls his fingers around her hips and steadies her out.

...

Sam lets Andy sleep in the next morning – as much as he can.

It's her left calf that gets the wake-up call first, his fingers gliding down it as she hears him goad her awake: "It's time, sweetheart."

Andy comes out of her sleepy stupor and rolls onto her back. She looks up at the freshly-showered Sam and mutters something a little untoward.

"Bathroom, McNally." Sam grins down at her insisting, as he holds out a hand.

Andy throws her head back over her shoulder as she does the short walk across their bedroom naked. And, yep: he continues to have no shame when it comes to checking her out. Meh, she'll grant him this perv –

It's only fair… given how frequently she ogles him too.

...

By the time Andy gets out of what was possibly the longest shower in the world -(last night was busy, okay. They went around more than twice to make up for whatever they would be missing tonight) – Sam's made her breakfast and packed her lunch.

He pours a fresh juice to go with her eggs and then searches for her travel mug so she can take some of the coffee he brewed.

Andy smiles like a lunatic as she watches him: the sheer domesticity and thoughtfulness of it all. "I love you," she declares finally – with a mouth full of toast.

Sam throws her a dimpled smile in return. "If you do, you won't let Ollie steal your lunch today."

Andy rinses her plate when she's finished and rushes for the hall, explaining to Sam: "Goin' to say goodbye to your mother, just give me 5."

...

"Lynn," Andy pants as she knocks and then stumbles through the door. "I have to go to work now, so I just came to say I'll see you again soon."

Sam's mother is sitting by the window and door that lead to outside, while Henry purrs loud on her lap. She shifts in her seat to get eye contact with Andy. "Thankyou for having me visit your lovely home."

"Any time," Andy assures her leaning down gentle but firm for a hug and a kiss. When she stands up, she keeps a hand on Lynn's shoulder. "I'm serious. I've loved having you here."

And she is serious. Despite the scariness of the other day, Andy's been treated with several tiny morsels of stories of Sam as a young child. She also knows Lynn a little better now…as a woman – not as the mental illness that she appears more often to be defined by. Sam's mother can be funny and charming and intelligent – and she clearly loves and cares about Sam a whole lot -

("I probably shouldn't have had kids," she told Andy the other day over some lunch on the porch. "But, I'm so grateful and proud that I did."

Andy smiled back at her honestly and held out a hand. It was then that it really, really hit her: despite their imperfections, without this woman and Sam's father, Sam wouldn't exist. "I'm grateful too.")

...

Sam pulls up to the station with just enough time for Andy to get changed and not be late for parade.

Their faces meet somewhere above the center console and Sam bumps his nose onto hers. "Have a safe shift," he murmurs as their mouths meet.

"Drive safe." Andy whispers as she pulls away enough to pepper his face with lighter kisses while she continues to speak. "Say hi to the more raucous members of your family for me….and message as soon as you get there…and…"

Sam gets a hand to the back of Andy's head and pulls her mouth back to his. They moan their way through a deeper kiss until they're interrupted by a sharp, single rap on Sam's window from the knuckles of Shaw –

"No stargazin' in these parts, luuuurrrvvvvers." Oliver hollers with a motion for Sam to wind his window further down. "Besides, Officer McNally…haven't you got places to be?"

Sam rolls his eyes while Shaw sticks his head all the way into the cabin. "I can wind this thing up as fast as it came down, you know?" Sam teases Oliver as he plants a hand on his buddy's face.

"Aw, somebody gonna be a little lonesome tonight?" Shaw chuckles as he retreats with both hands up in surrender.

"Haven't you got places to be?" Sam shoots back – like maybe he's agitated that Oliver is interrupting some quality time.

Ollie grins big as he keeps his eyes on Andy, who by now is feeling more than a blush. "Just doing my civic duty; making sure my colleagues aren't late for parade."

Andy leans in and kisses Sam firm and hot one last time. "See you tomorrow," she eventually mumbles with a gentle bite to his lip.

"Love you," Sam croaks back to her – just before she gets out the door.

Andy trots after Oliver with a smile on her face. She turns and waves to Sam as she hears him put the truck into gear. "Love you too!" is what she shouts back.

"Love you, babe." Shaw mimics in a high-pitched voice as he turns himself and gives Sam a final salute.

...

Andy's day turns out to be complete and utter crap.

She gets paired with Gail, who for some reason or another has her snarl cranked up to a 9. And that was even before they were assigned to do speed traps for seven hours straight. Andy isn't so paranoid to think it's some form of punishment, but everyone else seems to be called to give input into the case Sam mentioned yesterday.

"God. Gail. What the hell is wrong with you?" Andy quizzes after two hours of single word responses to any conversation she tries to strike.

Gail rolls her eyes big and obvious and fixes her mouth into a ridiculous Cheshire cat grin. "Nothing's wrong, sweet pea," she declares faux friendly. "I'm just not in the mood to hear tales from Pleasantville; not today – possibly not ever."

Andy quirks an eyebrow. At first she wants to go on the defense – but then decides it may not be worth the effort, she doesn't want Gail's frame of mind affecting her own. She'll suss out the situation with Traci or Nick later and see what all this is about.

...

The text from Sam re their safe arrival manages to brighten Andy's day sometime after lunch:

Everyone wishes you were here. Most of all me.

Ugh. She knows he's humoring her and being a little sappy, but Andy literally swoons. She goes to reply with a dozen or so x's, but in the end decides to hit speed-dial – it's a direct response to this desperate need that's been rising in her chest just to hear his voice again (since the minute he drove away).

"Wish I was too." Andy blurts out like a schoolgirl before Sam can even acknowledge the call. "Gail is a demon today."

Sam lets out a light laugh. "Peck in a bad mood? I…would not have picked that."

Andy peers through the rear-view of the cruiser to see if Gail is on her way back from writing their last ticket yet. "Seriously, Sam. She's worse than usual." Andy pouts in the hope he will hear it in her voice. "And to make matters worse: Oliver did take my lunch."

There's some silence across the line before Andy hears Sam's voice again. "You offered it to him, didn't you?" His tone is good-natured; Andy can almost hear the roll of his eyes.

"No. Yes. Well, kind of?" Andy sighs. "He got stuck in booking…and we were out and about anyway…" She spots Gail before she can finish with the excuses though. "Shit. Sam. I gotta go. Love you. Bye."

"Andy…" is the last thing she hears before she hangs up the phone.

Gail slams the passenger door a little harder than necessary as she props herself up in the seat. "No boyfriend calls while we're on duty." The chip on Gail's shoulder is evidently growing by the minute. "That wrinkly and crazy old bitch that we just nabbed for speeding could've pulled an umbrella on me."

...

Another couple of hours of Gail's 'pleasantries' and Andy's shift is finally…finally…done.

"You coming for a drink?" Traci asks cautiously, popping her head in the door of the locker room while Andy is in the process of trying to readjust her bra.

"One." Andy replies flustered with her hair all on end. "I need to get home to Boo and take him for a walk."

Traci shrugs and gives Andy a bemused sort of smile. "Suits me. I can give you a lift from The Penny… and still be home before Leo's bedtime."

...

"Soooooo…" Traci starts with a fairly sly grin. "A couple of months in the house and things are still…"

"A…mmmmaaaaazzzzzing." Andy cuts her best friend off in this truly ridiculous sing-songy voice. She takes a sip of her beer figuring she'll try and cover her swooning with something cool.

Traci doesn't do a very good job of hiding how much humor she gets out of Andy's high-pitched response. "Uh-huh." She nods and smiles cheesily (obviously at a loss for finding other words.)

"God, Trace. I don't know." Andy blushes and fiddles with the label on the bottle she's holding. "It's not like we don't fight and argue…but…" She puts her hands over her face to hide the shyness of how personal this conversation feels. Her fingers are icy, a welcome contrast to how hot the skin on her cheeks currently feels. "Ugh. I'm like. So in love with him," is the muffled confession she eventually gives her best friend. Andy laughs at herself then – at how hard she still crushes on Sam after all this time. She keeps her head in her hands as she giggles, wondering if the entire population of The Penny is making fun of her now.

Andy feels a small, warm hand rub across her shoulders in consolation. Traci leans into her and whispers just enough for Andy to hear. "I'm so, so happy for you guys – you both deserve this…."

Andy eventually peeks out from between her fingers. "Is it ridiculous that I miss him already?"

Traci's eyes widen marginally and she tries to hold back a smirk. "He is coming back…tomorrow…isn't he?"

Andy dumps her hands down on the bar ungraciously, and rolls her eyes. "Shut up," she scowls good natured – realizing what a pathetically love-sick human being she actually is. "It's our first night apart. In like, forever." Andy sighs loud and takes a long sip of beer. "I mean. Don't go lecturing me tomorrow if I come in having not had any sleep."

Traci shoulders move up and down in a chuckle as she bites her lip and shakes her head. "Well, you'll have the house to yourselves when he gets back…" she tells Andy in a suddenly serious tone.

(Sam actually told Traci about the incident with his mom when he got into work the next day; he prompted her to ring Andy thinking she might need an outsider to unload some emotions on – it turned out that was a pretty good idea.)

But, apparently Traci is also not quite done with her teasing: "Make up for the hours you're losing out on the Swarek lovin' tonight…"

Andy goes to give some sort of weak response but catches the sight of Gail and Nick having a muted debate over in a dark corner. "Speaking of a little less loving…you know anything about Gail's current foul mood?"

Traci wipes the rim of the cocktail glass that's sitting before her. It looks to Andy as though her best friend might be deliberating what is and isn't…allowed to be said. "I think she's got some stuff going on with the family at the moment," Traci finally says quietly, in a neutral sort of tone.

Andy bites her lip and keeps a watch on the corner. "Am I a bad friend?" (She's barely spent any time with Collins and/or Peck these past few months -) "I mean. I know Sam and I have been a little caught up…"

Traci interrupts before Andy can dish out punishment to herself. "Hey. It's understandable that you two are spending some time to yourselves finding your domestic footing. And you've both had a lot of your own stuff going on. Okay?"

Andy sighs. "Yeah, I know…I just wanna make sure they both know I'm still here for them-" They watch the pair walk out the door, Nick following Gail with what Andy thinks is an uncertain look on his face.

Andy swivels in her stool back in the direction of Traci and is about to probe her further about the case of Gail. She stops short when she realizes she's been so hung up on herself and and her other friends that she hasn't even actually asked Traci -

"On to equally important matters. How are things between you and Chris?" To date Traci's been fairly vague about the relationship, even though it's apparent that it has become more and more serious over these past couple of months. At the housewarming they were practically inseparable, and Andy knows for a fact that Chris is spending a number of overnights with the Nash-

Traci smiles warmly and averts her gaze until it's peering the depths of what's left of the liquid in her drink. "It's...great..." She looks back up to Andy, possibly wanting to assure her friend that she is indeed happy with how things are moving along. "It's been...kinda strange...different. Like. You know...growing closer slowly with one of your best friends...in this kind of way."

Andy nods her head; she can sort of imagine...after all, she and Sam were 'friends' for two years. (Although, yeah, no, probably nothing like it. The feelings were always somewhat different to that.)

Traci swallows the last of her drink. "He's so sweet, Andy. He's been very understanding of all my stuff about Jer...and he's wonderful with Leo." She puts her glass on the bar carefully and gives Andy a smirk. "Besides. Have you seen that body. I mean. It's not like he's bad at the sex."

Andy blushes profusely even as she laughs out loud at the way Traci delivers the line.

...

"Maybe I'll organize a girls' night," Andy tells Traci as she nods to herself. She shuts the passenger side door of the car as she hunts in her bag for the front door keys.

Traci smiles and nods in agreement. "Count me in. Just give me at least two days notice so I can rope mom or Chris into looking after Leo….Dex is away for the next few weeks."

...

"Did you coordinate with Thea to make sure Boo and I were fed for the night?" Andy grins into the phone in the darkness, as she feels the dog wag his tail and curl up by her side.

(It's not the first time their elderly neighbor has left food at the doorstep – but Andy wonders if Sam did have any hand in the delivery of casserole tonight. Apparently before they left for St Catherines he helped Thea with her plumbing; Andy has no doubt his impending absence would've been discussed.)

Andy hears the smile in Sam's voice before he even says a word. "She may have wanted to return a favor…"

Andy rolls her eyes and runs a hand over Boo. "I can look after myself, you know?" She says it with a smile though - after the day she had it was good to have a home-cooked meal that she didn't have to prepare. It's quiet and less warm in the room when Sam isn't here. And the bed is big and empty – even with the presence of Boo.

"I know you can, sweetheart," Sam assures her softly. He clears his throat to change the pitch in his voice and tease: "But. I'm not so sure whether Thea is entirely convinced…"

Andy giggles and rolls her eyes again. Sooner or later her face straightens though. She lets a silence hang between them for a moment and listens to the way their breathing synchs. "I miss you," Andy tells Sam eventually, her voice watering down to something so, so quiet.

"Obviously," Sam replies cheekily. "Boo doesn't spoon."

Andy can literally see the smirk on Sam's face. "Ha!" she laughs back sharp and bright. "Dork."

"Maybe so," he retorts confidently. "But you love me anyway."

"I do," Andy replies in a voice that comes out loud and definite and carries across the whole room.

They stay on the phone talking for a number of hours; telling one another the most minute of details about their respective days. (It's like habit anyway – it's standard practice generally in the hours either before or after they make love – at least once in a day).

"You want to invite her and Collins over to dinner?" Sam asks when Andy fills him in on her concern about Gail.

Andy smiles. She knows Sam doesn't have the same level of relationship with Gail or Nick that he does with Traci…but he genuinely cares. He and Andy both have a tendency to want to do whatever it takes to have their friends' backs.

"Maybe sometime after girls' night," Andy blurts out – remembering her conversation with Trace from earlier.

"Girls night, huh?" Sam probes. "Am I gonna have to stay up late and come get you again?" For what it's worth, he doesn't sound too put out. "Actually: on second thoughts, let me know when…. and I'll have poker night at ours, while you lot are out painting the town red."

Andy grins and bites her lip. "Ooh. Good ploy, Swarek. Divide and conquer. We can get intel from all the sources independently…and then put them in the same room." (She's actually thinking Sam probably could get Nick to give his point of view here is the thing-)

"Not why I said it McNally," Sam snorts out a laugh. He seems to reconsider without too much thought though: "But we do make a good team – you and me."

"We do," Andy gushes. And, okay. Seriously. she cannot get this idiotic grin off her face. They haven't been on a case together in a little while – not in any in-depth kind of way. Any type of working with Sam appeals to Andy a whole lot.

"We should probably both get some sleep now," Sam tells her now with a yawn.

Andy looks over at the time and sighs. It is late. She's got to be back up and on shift again in less than six hours. "I guess you're right…" she would chat to him forever, get him to talk to her until she drifts off to sleep, but –

She rolls her body and snatches the pillow of Sam's that's currently under Boo's head. She curls herself into both it and the dog and closes her eyes. "Love you," she tells Sam quietly, willing herself to relax.

"Love you too, beautiful," Sam whispers back to her hoarsely. "See you tomorrow after shift."

Next up: Just what is going on with Gail? Friendships will be tested, and The House of Boo will get another guest.