This is my second attempt at a fan fic. It is more difficult than I thought :-) I have been a fan of this site for a while. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my first story!

Disclaimer - I don't own Rookie Blue

Andy McNally smiled as she shut the door of Sam's truck. She was standing in front of her new address on a quiet side street in Toronto. She could feel the crisp fall air against her face. Her arms held the last box from Traci's garage, and despite how tired she was, she was excited to start unpacking and making this apartment her own.

Her new place was a pretty good size, a one-bedroom unit in a renovated factory. She had loved it from the moment she saw it. It was open concept with high ceilings, exposed beams and large windows. Although it had an industrial feel she already had plans to make it cozier. She couldn't believe she had negotiated the rent into her realm of affordability.

Today was a good day. It should have been a great day, but at the back of her mind there was a nagging worry that would not go away. She checked her cell phone again. Nothing. Two messages had been left for her father but he had yet to return her calls. She racked her brain trying to remember their more recent conversations. Did he tell her he was going away? Did he seem off, like he was having trouble coping? She was unfortunately used to this worry. It had followed her like a dark cloud for her entire existence.

She pushed the negative thoughts to the back of her mind and entered her apartment. Today was her day and she was going to be happy. She could hear Dov, Chris and Sam complaining as they stood in the kitchen drinking a well-deserved beer. Chris and Dov had helped Andy all day, making several trips in Chris' car lugging her things from Traci's garage. They were the lucky (or unlucky) friends to have today off and Andy didn't hesitate to ask them to help her. She would do the same for them. Andy rode shotgun with Sam as they also packed and unpacked his truck multiple times.

She smirked when she thought back to when Sam had offered her his truck.

"And will you be in that truck to help with the boxes?" Andy had asked in her best voice, eyebrows raised. She already knew their shifts were identical for the week and that he was off the weekend she was moving.

Sam cocked his head to one side as he looked at her. "That depends," he answered in his usual Sam way. "How much stuff do you have?" his voice got lower and he brought out his dimpled smile.

"Oh, just some boxes I have stored at Traci's. I bought a new couch and bed but the store is going to deliver them on the day I move in." She downplayed the work involved but she really wanted him to be there. He would be a huge help, and after the purchases she made she really couldn't afford movers.

"Umm-hmm", he gave her a half-smile but he knew he wouldn't turn her down.

Sam and Andy had grown to be good friends. At work he was still Sam Swarek. He kept it very professional, although Andy could swear he seemed physically closer at times. He seemed to touch her more, whether it be her arm or the small of her back, but she couldn't be sure. And after some nights at the Penny she thought he talked to her just a little closer than usual. Andy had decided she definitely was not making the first move. The last time she did that she ran away and she wanted him to see her in a different way.

"Jesus, McNally," Sam swore as he lifted a box down from the kitchen counter. "Did you pour cement in these boxes?" Andy could feel herself starting to laugh. "You do realize you're supposed to spread the weight around and not pack every book you own into one large box, right?" He smiled at her when she made eye contact with him.

"Listen, I didn't have time to organize, alright? I got out of Luke's as fast as possible. Traci and I threw everything in these boxes and then I hired someone to pick them up." She knew he would give her a hard time about the boxes. They were also not labelled and not at all organized inside, but she wasn't going to point that out.

After they finished their beer, Chris and Dov announced they were leaving. "No, wait, I'm going to order food – I have to feed you guys!" Andy quickly pulled out her phone.

"Andy, we expect a full on housewarming once you are settled with food and drinks on you," Dov said. "Right now we have to go to the doctor to get some painkillers to deal with the muscle spasms."

"Haha, very funny. Are you sure you're not just running out of here to get to the Penny?"

"Well, maybe that too..." Dov grinned, heading for the door.

"No seriously, thank you both so much for today. I really do appreciate it."

"No problem, Andy," Chris said. He just never seemed annoyed with anything. "Good luck with all this... stuff," he motioned to the stacks of boxes everywhere as he smiled and closed the door behind him.

Andy turned around. Sam was leaning against the kitchen counter with a fresh beer in his hand, looking directly at her with a grin.

"Ok, I'm ordering. How about pizza?" she asked Sam and then hesitated. "Unless you have plans too? I shouldn't assume you can stay. I mean, it is the weekend and you probably have something else going on..." she trailed off. It sounded awkward and Andy busied herself by looking at her phone. Sam noticed she had looked at that phone way too often today. It had crossed his mind that she may have met someone new.

"It's ok McNally, I don't have plans," he smiled. "Besides, I kind of figured you'd have more things to move than you let on," he raised one hand and looked around at the disaster that was before them.

They looked at each other and laughed, a real laugh shared by friends. Sam just shook his head. "I'm sorry," Andy apologized, still smiling at him. She had totally underestimated the task. "I don't know where to start."

"Well, start with the pizza," Sam said. "Then you need to get the essentials done. Take it from someone who's moved a lot...you need to get your bed set up, find the coffee maker for the morning, and something to cover these windows. In another hour when it gets dark the whole neighbourhood will be able to see you."

She laughed at him. "I take it you've moved around a lot?"

"More than I care to admit," he replied.

They got to work in separate rooms. Sam parked himself in the bedroom setting up her new bed. He had brought a toolbox. Good thing, he thought, making quick work of the frame and headboard. Sam actually liked putting things together. He tried not to focus on the fact that this was Andy's bed and that he would rather be in it than fixing it. He had seen a real difference in her lately and he was almost convinced she was over Luke and ready for another relationship. It wasn't like Sam to be this cautious, but she wasn't just anyone.

He was finishing the bed when the pizza arrived and Andy came to get him. "Wow, this looks amazing!" He could tell her excitement was genuine and he truly loved seeing her happy. "Thank you so much!" She gave him a hug without really thinking. It caught Sam off guard but he regained his footing and hugged her back. Their arms stayed around each other a little longer than necessary.

"Come on," Andy broke the silence. "Let's eat."

They sat on her new couch and had pizza, talking comfortably at either ends of the sofa. Andy had stretched her legs out between them, her feet grazing Sam's leg. At times Sam's arm rested on her ankles and the last time he didn't make an effort to move. They sat together exhausted. Andy once again looked to see if she had missed a call from her father. "What's with the phone?" Sam tried to sound casual although he was both concerned and curious. "You've been checking it all day."

"Oh," she looked at Sam and knew she could tell him. "I've left messages with my Dad but he hasn't called back yet. I guess I'm just concerned...force of habit," she smiled at him but he could see that she was truly worried. Tommy McNally had been sober for 7 months, but they both knew it could end abruptly.

Sam cleared his throat. "Do you want to go over and see if he's there?" Although Sam was relieved it wasn't another guy, he was saddened that Andy had to deal with this responsibility on a day that should be completely hers.

"No, I'll give him another day. He might be visiting a friend," she replied, trying to give her father the benefit of the doubt. "If I don't hear from him by tomorrow afternoon I will go searching."

Sam didn't push it. Andy had years of experience dealing with her father. They sat in comfortable silence a while longer. "Ok, I should get going," Sam said. He noticed that somehow his arm had travelled further than her ankles and his hand had somehow made its way to the back of her knee. He couldn't trust himself for much longer.

"Your bed is done, the bedroom window is covered...the only thing I don't see is the coffee maker but I'll leave that up to you," Sam rose to his feet.

"Sam, I can't thank you enough," Andy said standing with him. "Really."

"Anytime, Andy," she believed he meant it. "Have a good night's sleep in your new pad. It's a really nice apartment. And lock the door behind me," he couldn't help saying that.

Sam was closing the door behind him when he heard Andy's cell phone ring. He didn't want to eavesdrop but he did want to make sure it was Tommy finally calling her back.

"Hello?" he heard her say. "Yes, this is Andy McNally." There was a pause while she listened.

"Yes, he's my father," he could barely hear her voice, it was low and full of fear and he heard her sit down on the couch.

Sam opened the door and walked back inside.