Authors Notes: Hey everyone! This is my first Rookie Blue fanfiction. I just started watching the show a few weeks ago and have watched every episode at least once (and some of them twice). I fell in love with the Andy/Sam connection very quickly. So I decided to pick up my proverbial pen (aka fingers positioned on the keyboard) and try my hand at writing a fanfic for this show. I've already done the outline for my first 10 chapters so I hope to be able to continue updating regularly. I hope you all enjoy! Oh, and remember...SERVE, PROTECT AND DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!

Set after episode 11 - To Protect or Serve

Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue though I do believe it's a fabulous show!

Andy hummed to herself as she entered the 15th precinct at the end her shift on an uneventful Thursday afternoon. For the first time in a long time, things started seeming normal in her life. Things were great with Luke. He had completely forgiven her for her slip up with Sam and seemed to start trusting her again. Her dad was going to AA meetings regularly and her friendship with Sam was no longer awkward or forced. They made great partners and always had each others back.

So she hummed to herself as she walked into the prescient passing by the front desk. She was so lost in her own world she hadn't even noticed Traci standing there.

"Andy…hold up." Traci said trying to catch Andy before she walked past the front desk.

"Oh hey, Traci!" Andy smiled.

"What's gotten into you? You're beaming!" Traci noticed. It wasn't that Andy was normally unhappy but after everything she had been through the past month with Luke, her dad, her first kill and even with Sam it was rare to see a real smile on her face.

"I had a great day. It's sunny outside and I'm off work on time. I'm headed to dinner tonight with Luke and my dad. I'm happy with my life right now." Andy exclaimed.

"I'm happy for you. Go, get out of here. We're still on for the camping trip this weekend with Leo? It's all he's been talking about the past couple of days." Traci said.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll meet you at the Penny tomorrow night and we can leave first thing Saturday."

The girls nodded goodbye and Andy headed to the locker room to change. She was not one to usually dress up but this was a special occasion. It would be the first official dinner with her boyfriend and her dad. She felt so grown up. She changed into a black shirt and a nice blouse. She even went all out and put on her mothers pearls and earrings. She looked at herself one last time in the mirror and after she was pleased with the reflection that she saw she headed out of the locker room and to Luke's office.

She knocked on the door and let herself in. He was sitting at his desk surrounded by a pile of papers. Luke turned around upon hearing her enter. "Hey Andy. Wow….you look great!" he said eyeing his girlfriend. He had never seen her dress up before and he had to admit she was stunning.

"Thanks Luke. Are you ready?" she asked as she looked at her watch. They had 30 minutes until it was time for their reservations at the restaurant.

"Ready for what?" Luke asked feeling like he may have forgotten something he had previously planned with Andy.

"Dinner with my dad. We made plans for this last week." Andy said. Her perma-smile turned to a frown as she realized that Luke had forgotten about this important date.

Luke sighed. He had forgotten. The days had just slipped by him this week and he didn't realize that it was Thursday already. "I'm sorry Andy. I forgot."

"Well it's okay. You look fine….you don't need to change." she said noticing that he was wearing his usual detective uniform which consisted of an expensive suit and tie with really nice black shoes. "We still have 30 minutes to meet my dad."

"Look Andy….I'm sorry….but I just can't." Luke explained as he pointed to the pile of work on his desk. "We're really busy right now. I'm behind on a ton of paper work and we've got a couple of open cases that are starting to go cold. I need to really dig right now and try to find something to keep these investigations open."

Andy frowned again but tried to convince him one more time. "But can't you just take a supper break for a few hours and then come back to it?" She asked trying to feel hopeful but she already knew she would probably be let down.

"I already ordered some take out. I'm going to be up all night as it is and I have to testify tomorrow in court. I'm sorry Andy but I just can't go out tonight."

Luke saw the disappointment in her eyes as she acknowledged what he said. He wanted to go to dinner with her and get to know her father better but he just didn't have the time. He thought that if anyone would understand, she should. After all she was the daughter of a ex-homicide detective. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Andy tried to hide the disappointment and anger that flushed over her face but as everyone at the prescient knew she wasn't known for hiding her emotions. She nodded and turned around leaving his office without saying goodbye. She walked briskly back to the locker room.

The locker room appeared to be empty which was perfect. She was not in the mood to talk to anyone right now. It wasn't the first time Luke had let her down. He always seemed to be working on some big case. She had thought that they were finally making progress….that he understood how important this dinner was to her. But when it came down to it work seemed to come first and her second. She was used to coming second with her dad when he was still in the police force. She did not want to come second to her boyfriend.

She walked over to her locker and fumbled with the lock but it just wouldn't seem to open. Frustrated she punched the locker.

She swore out loud as the pain flowed up her hand. She shook it trying to shake away the pain. "The combination locks usually open better when your at the right locker." Sam Swarek said with a hint of sarcasm as he stepped out from around the corner. Andy looked up and sure enough she was standing in front of Dov's locker. She shot Sam the look that she was not in the mood for his jokes today.

Sam noticed that Andy was dressed up. Most of the women he saw on a daily basis were in the standard police uniform. He had thought she wore the uniform nicely but in this outfit he could see her beauty in its entirety.

"Big date tonight?" Sam finally spoke breaking the silence.

"Supposed to be." Andy admitted. She sighed. "Luke and I were supposed to have dinner with my dad tonight. It's the first time I've had dinner with my dad since he started AA and it was really important to me. Luke bailed at the last minute because he's behind on his paperwork or something."

"Why don't you go alone?" Sam asked. He understood why she was mad but just because Luke bailed didn't mean she had to cancel the evening with Tommy.

"Because the first time in a long time I was going to get to be out in public with my dad without having to worry about what the alcohol might make him do or say. I was looking forward to a normal dinner with my dad and my boyfriend. I could go alone but it just wouldn't be the same." Andy said.

Their eyes met and Sam could see how hard Tommy's drinking had been on her. Andy had to raise herself from a young age. He didn't want to see her hurt.

As Andy looked at Sam a new thought popped into her head. She began to smile. She looked at him slyly. "What do you have planned tonight Officer Swarek?" Andy asked changing her tone completely.

Sam smiled back. "You know….the busy life of the bachelor….a TV Dinner, a beer and a game of hockey on TV."

Andy schemed. "How about if I presented you with an offer you couldn't refuse?" She stepped a few feet closer to him dividing their distance in half.

Sam leaned against the locker casually already knowing what she was going to ask. But he was going to make her work for it. "I'd say it would have to be something pretty good if your so sure I wouldn't refuse it." he replied.

"Dinner tonight with me and my dad. My dad's paying so it wouldn't cost you a penny." Andy suggested. She looked at him leaning on the locker in his jeans and t-shirt. He really did know how to make jeans look sexy.

"Free food, huh?" he pondered acting like he was actually thinking about whether or not he wanted to spend the evening with her. Of course he wanted to. "You know what they say…..the quickest way to any mans heart is food. I guess I'm in."

Andy closed the distance between them and threw her arms around Sam. "Thanks Sam! I definitely owe you one!" she said smiling into his shoulder. He held her tight for a couple of extra seconds before letting her go. She finally pulled away and he gave her his signature smile.

"I just have to grab a couple of things and I'll meet you out by my truck in five." he said as he headed back towards his locker on the other side of the room. Andy started to walk out the door but stopped when she heard his voice again. "Oh and McNally?"

"Yes, Sam?"

"You look really beautiful tonight."

Andy turned and walked towards the door feeling those all to familiar butterflies float around her stomach which seemed to happen a lot lately.