Sam and Oliver stood in the hall outside the locker room joking around before shift.
"You brother, are an ass." Oliver stated shaking his head back and forth.
"I'm just saying," Sam shrugged. "Embrace the back hair."
"Ass." Oliver mock punched Sam in the shoulder as he walked passed, heading towards parade.
Sam turned to follow him, laughing at his friend. Not paying much attention as to where he was walking Sam almost ran into a small, bambi eyed woman.
"A-Andy?" He stuttered, hardly believing his eyes.
"Hey Sam." Andy blushed and looked to the ground.
"When did you get back?" Sam asked, wanting to take a step closer to her but not wanting to scare Andy off.
"Oh, uh just now actually. I'm coming in to debrief." Andy nodded her head nervously, her eyes darting to and from Sam's.
"Ah..well glad to have you back." Sam forced a smile. "Andy I think we sh-"
"You planning on coming to parade brother?" Oliver called, sticking his head out of the room. Oliver gave Andy a smile and a quick nod before darting back into parade, closing the door behind him.
"Sam.." Andy started.
"Andy.." Sam breathed at the same time, causing the both to laugh nervously. "I have to go to work but…we should talk…later." Sam practically stuttered out.
"Yeah, we should." Andy blushed again. "You could stop over after shift…if you want to."
"Sounds good." Sam agreed. "See you later McNally."
"Later Sam." Andy swallowed hard as she watched him walk away.
Sam sat in his truck for a good ten minutes before he gathered the nerves to go knock on her door. She answered it with a nervous smile, stepping aside to let him in. As Sam walked into her apartment he noted the clean, fresh scent of her shampoo clinging to her slightly damp hair.
"Want a beer?" Andy hedged, trying to break the ice.
"Please." Sam agreed following her into the kitchen.
After they settled onto the couch Sam couldn't help but stare at Andy, her beauty never failed to astound him.
"So..how did you like going undercover?" He started the conversation.
"Good. It was good. Interesting. Hard being away from everyone…" Andy trailed off with a glance at Sam.
"You get used to it."
"Sam…I'm sorry." Andy nervously picked at the sticker on her beer bottle.
"You have nothing to be-"
"Yes, I do. I shouldn't have left like that. I didn't have a choice though. I was coming to meet you when I got the call. I never meant to-"
"Andy," Sam cut her off by raising his hand. "I understand. I've been undercover millions of times. Sometimes you just have to go."
Andy gave him a sad smile. "I was coming to meet you."
"What's done is done. You're home now. Everything is back to normal."
"Is it?" Andy whispered.
"Andy…what I said..I meant it. I love you. I know my timing was a little off..okay, way off. It's just..when I saw you with the bomb, I realized I couldn't stand not having you in my life. These past six months have proved that even more. I know I've made mistakes, hell we both have. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry too. For everything…Jerry…I'm sorry."
"Sam…" Andy blinked away the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"I don't want to lose you. And I never meant to hurt you. I want..I want to keep trying."
"I want that too."
"Slowly." Sam stated.
"Slowly." Andy agreed.
Sam took a long swig of his beer and gave Andy a good long look. His heart stuttered when she gave him a tearful smile. Clearing his throat he set his beer on the table, reached over and took Andy's from her hand, placing it beside his. He gently laid his arm along the back of the couch and Andy took the hint, moving to lay against him.
"I missed you." She whispered against his shoulder.
"I missed you too." Sam gave her shoulders a squeeze.
They fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their own train of thought. Soon Andy's breathing slowed and Sam looked down to find her asleep. A smile spread across his face as he watched her. So peaceful. Sam moved her gently, trying not to wake her, and placed her in his arms. Slowly he stood and carried her into her bedroom where he laid Andy onto the bed. As Same removed his arms Andy stirred awake and looked up at him.
"Stay." She whispered, her eyelids fluttering closed again and a small smile dancing across her face.
"Andy…"
"Please?" She asked, turning onto her side.
Sam hesitated for a moment before kicking his shoes off and laying down beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and she snuggled in. Within moments Andy had fallen back asleep. Sam watched her, lost in thought, before he finally gave in and nodded off….