Tickled Pink

Author's Note:

This story takes place about a month after the undercover op in the season 1 finale. It follows accordingly, except you have to imagine it's still summer.

I have no rights to Rookie Blue or any of the fantastic characters the real talent created.

Chapter 1: The 5-0 Ride

Sam paced the lobby of the barn restlessly. Andy had been acting odd all day, and now she had conned him into agreeing not to leave until she called him about some big "surprise." He really wasn't in the mood for games from her right now. Lately he'd found riding the streets with her more draining than fun. He'd thought the news that she was moving in with Callaghan would tear him apart. Instead, he'd just felt…numb.

Finally, his phone rang. "Yeah!" he barked impatiently.

"Don't sound so excited. Come on out and take a look," she said as a car horn tooted twice in the background.

Sam grumbled on his way out before stopping short. Eyes wide, his jaw dropped before he broke into a wide grin at the sight greeting him. McNally tossed her hair and winked at him sitting there in a mint condition bright red 1968 Mercury Parklane Fastback convertible.

He broke into a delighted laugh before circling the car. "You bought the McGarrett car? I'm impressed. How on earth did you find this?" he asked.

Andy couldn't hold back the same schoolgirl grin that had taken over her face the first time Sam had complimented her for 'acting like a cop.' She was probably even flushed with pleasure she thought, somewhat discomfited by how great Sam's reaction made her feel. Still way too desperate for his approval, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself.

With a laugh she teased, "Only you, with your Hawaii 5-0 fetish, would call it that."

Sam did a double take, "Fetish? How did you know that was my favorite show as a kid?"

"Sam, you asked me if I was 5-0 within our first half hour working together to prod me into serving that fake warrant, remember? So call it a hunch," she said with a laugh.

"That doesn't explain why you bought it," Sam pointed out. "I know Tommy fixed one up years ago, but this one's a little different. A real beauty."

"I wondered why she was so taken by it too. I guess now I know," Luke said harshly, stepping out from the shadows near the entrance where he'd been taking in the scene. He looked none too pleased by the cozy exchange and the obvious chemistry between the two, which he knew they were careful to hide when they knew he was around.

Luke was, in fact, furious about the whole thing. He'd been adamantly against Andy buying this car, but she'd insisted. He hadn't understood why she wasn't persuaded by his arguments in favor of a new SUV with 4 wheel drive so that the two of them would be able to get in and out of the new house in bad weather. Now he understood why she was so insistent on this ridiculous classic convertible…She knew it would impress Swarek! He should have guessed. Every conflict they had seemed to be linked to the guy one way or another.

Sam saw Andy's shoulders droop, and all the life drain from her face. He gritted his teeth, but managed to limit his reaction to a mocking, "Why would you get your shorts in a twist just because McNally's excited about having scored such a great ride, Callaghan?"

"He's still mad that I didn't take his advice and buy a new SUV to make sure we can make it to the house in the winter," Andy explained dully.

Sam tensed at the mention of the 'Barbie Dreamhouse,' as he always thought of it. He usually did everything in his power to avoid remembering that she'd gone through with shacking up with Callaghan a month ago.

"Like that's a crazy idea. In Canada. You know, the Ravine isn't the same as living just anywhere in the city," Luke lectured.

Andy winced. "Yes, Luke. I'm well aware of how isolated the house is from the life of the city, as you well know," she ground out.

"Can we at least go home now, Andy? Or were you planning to take Swarek for a spin?" Luke shot back.

"Jump in. You've taken all the pleasure out of this now anyway," Andy said wearily.

Sam stared after the car for ages, trying to process what he'd just witnessed. He'd tried not to think about the whole thing, but now that he considered it, Andy hadn't exactly been glowing with happiness since making her big move. Maybe things were turning sour faster than even he'd thought they might.

He realized just what a blow it had been that McNally hadn't used the confidence she'd gained during their undercover success to realize that she didn't need be linked to Callaghan to feel respectable and worthy. He'd tried to deny it, but he was disappointed, maybe even heartbroken, to see her instead plunge into further commitment to the guy.

He shook his head and slowly walked to his truck. Damnit, he wasn't going to be able to avoid his feelings about the situation anymore. Great, that's all he needed, he thought with a frustrated groan. He wasn't happy about how many drinks he was going to need to keep himself from chasing after her to drag her away from that overbearing prick.