"You won't get rid of me without a fight." Sam Swarek 3.05

Strike Three. Chapter 1.

I don't own Rookie Blue.


All Andy needs is for Sam saying I love you to actually mean something.

The night she walked into the break room in the division for the first time in six months, she literally saw that it didn't.


Andy is warmly walking towards the break room, where Traci told her Sam might be. She stupidly smiles to herself. She peeks in and sees Sam talking to another officer. She smiles more at seeing her Sam, that training officer Sam. She finds herself leaning against the door frame, watching him. She remembers when Sam gave her crap about working that coffee machine. Andy even feels bad for this officer because he never shuts his TO status off And she probably wants to walk away and finish her paperwork. She's about to cut in, save the girl from enduring another condescending note from Sam but she catches herself right in time.


It's the morning of Andy's first shift back and all she is doing is staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Clutching her bedding, thinking about how hard things have gotten and how she's going to fight through it. Because she is going to fight, she's Andy McNally, she's a fighter. She fought through a whole week of going over the last six months. The last six months she spent thinking he loves her. Only to have to relive every detail with the news that, well Sam has moved on, Sam doesn't love her.

Andy isn't one to complain really. She's coursing through her past drama in her mind and the one thing that is sticking out to her, is how over he is for fighting for her.

She is happy to be able to get back to her family at the division, but ever since she's been back, she's been wanting to go back to her little apartment. If she never came back, she wouldn't have seen him kissing another girl.

Another officer. Andy thinks.


Sam grabs the officer by her waist. Andy thinks how Sam never did that to train her in any way. Not on duty anyways.

Sam kisses the officer.

Andy's mouth drops open.

Andy remains entirely motionless. She never has been more taken off guard in her life. Training to be a cop is training to always be prepared. But seeing the guy she is about to say I still love you too, kissing another woman... that's something she is not prepared for.

He crushes her heart and he isn't even looking at her yet. Andy sees the woman smile and say goodnight to Sam. And she immediately regrets her stupid smile before, this woman's smile is beautiful.

He crushes her heart even more the second his eyes lock with hers.

He said he couldn't do his job and be with her. It hurts her to realize it's just her he couldn't be with.


Andy sits up and puts her legs over the side of the bed. The ground is cold, but her tears keep her warm. She knows she is strong enough to deal with this.

She covers her face with her hands for a moment. She tries to hide from all the things she can't deal with. One thing actually.

I'm still in love with Sam Swarek. Andy thinks.

She gets up and quickly changes into her running clothes. She starts to walk out of her room but jogs back to get a pillow. She enters her living room to see a very familiar scene.

"Get up." Andy throws the pillow at him.

Nick is so shocked he falls off the couch with a thump.

Andy and Nick are still taking turns with who sleeps on the couch, just like they were when they were living together. They didn't really have a conversation where they said they wanted to keep it up, it just sort of happened. They were still in the groove of sleeping with the other person in the room next to them. They got so comfortable with it, that stopping their 'rotation' would be uncomfortable. They needed comfort more now than ever, since coming back to see their relationships they left behind left them behind. It's an easy form of trust for them, they're happy they have someone to trust. And keeping up their rotation brings is their easiest way to stay comfortable.

"Thanks for that." He laughs. "Wow. Why didn't we bring this with us on the task force?" He asks referring to her comfortable couch.

Andy steps into the kitchen debating whether or not to make coffee. "Well we didn't have much time to pack."

"Making coffee?" Nick stretches his arms out.

"I don't think I am." She walks away from the coffee machine and over to her freezer. She sees something she doesn't expect to see. She grabs an ice pack, slams the freezer door shut. "Here."

"Thanks."

Andy starts to pour a glass of orange juice. "That shiner's a good reminder to you."

"Why's that?"

"That if there's a strike three with Gail." She sips her juice. "You're out."

"Actually that one's healed." Nick grabs the carton. "This one is from someone's boot." He takes a long sip of the juice.

Andy makes a funny face. "Really?"

Nick shakes his head and goes back to the couch to put on his tennis shoes. "We going for a run before shift?"

Andy walks into the room with her shoes in her hands. "Planning on it."

Nick checks his clock. "Hm."

Andy sits on the coffee table across from him to slip on her shoes."What?"

"Wanna be late on our first shift back?" Nick asks

Andy shrugs. "Why not."

"Wow." Nick scratches his head. "That's two."

They make there way outside then Andy playfully hits his shoulder.

"Two what?" Andy asks.

"I don't know? Two changes." Nick starts to jog first.

Andy catches up next to him.

Nick continues. "No coffee first thing in the morning. And pushing your time to get to parade."

Andy shrugs again. "I figured they would be easy on us for our first shift back, right?"

Nick looks over at her. "Andy…"

"What?" She asks.

"Two strikes so far." Nick picks up speed.

Andy meet up with him. "Who said change is bad?"

"It's not. It's just-"

"At least I'm not changing anything major-."

"Andy."

"-That would be bad."

"Andy." Nick says again.

"What?"

Nick just smiles.

Andy smiles too. "Good to know that this hasn't changed."

Nick reassures her with another smile.

"Hey Frank and Noelle's engagement thing is tonight, right?" Andy asks.

"Yeah, don't worry I'll be your date." Nick tells her

"Who's to say I'm not yours?" Andy puts her hands up in defense.

"Right..." Nick bumps her side. "Hey race you to the fountain in the middle of the park?"

Andy starts running now. "See you there... date."

After Andy turns a few corners and is ahead of Nick by a few blocks she stops right in her tracks, huffing out long breathes but really breathing hard to keep herself from screaming. She sees that girl climbing into Sam's truck.

Nick rounds the corner right as the truck takes off. He blows right passed her before he notices she stopped.

"What's wrong?" He's breathing hard, harder then she is.

Andy wipes her forehead with her hand. "Yeah, we should get back so we can get to shift on time."

"Andy?"

"Yeah, no, I'm good. Fine. Let's just get this day over with." Andy states.

Andy always runs 5K. Nick thinks, shaking his head. Three strikes you're out.


Nick parks his truck in the parking lot with time to spare before parade. He starts to get out but he notices Andy hasn't moved the whole car ride, and still isn't. "Andy?"

She doesn't flinch. She's looking at her hands, holding everything in. Sitting there gluing every thought she has inside herself to hold it in for the day, in order to get through it.

Nick knows it has something to do with Sam. He gets a weird feeling inside trying to process how Andy probably thinks the reason he didn't wait for her is because she isn't good enough and he didn't love her like he said he did. That she thinks everything they had was a joke to him. Nick doesn't believe in any of that, he knows Andy is good enough for any guy. It's the guy who wouldn't be good enough for her. And, in Nick's mind, in this case. Swarek isn't good enough for Andy.

Nick grabs his bag, gets out, shuts his door and walks over to Andy's side and opens her door. She still hasn't moved. Nick looks around. The parking lot is empty.

Good, thinks Nick, nobody would be there to start something about them with how comfortable they are together.

"Andy. Nick drops his bag on the cement and grabs her legs to move them off the edge to face his own. He gently place his hands on her cheeks, wiping away small tears with his thumbs. "You can do this. Focus. Yes, he's in there. Yes, she is too. But don't see that as making you weak. See it as making you stronger. You're strong Andy. Show him this hasn't affected you, show him you're strong about it, and I swear seeing him watch you being strong will make you strong."

Andy nods. She needs to stay strong to get through the day.

"If I can work with Gail, who will never let me forget I left her, you can work with him, just keep it work related, nothing has to be personal." Nick adds and pauses a second because she looks up and he sees the strength grow in her eyes.

She jumps out of the truck.

"Just like that." He leans in and kisses her forehead. "That's my girl."

Nick protectively throws his arm over her shoulder as they walk through the parking and into the division.

"Thank you, Nick." Andy leans into his side.

Andy and Nick grew on each other over time. They learned to care for each other as officers while being under cover, which allowed them to grow closer as friends. They were happy they had each other back then. And nothing's stopping them from having each other now.

They enter fifteen to see everyone walking into parade early, so they are left in the empty hall. Andy takes a moment to hug Nick. Her eyes don't catch the person watching her.

"See you in there." They say at the same.

They smile to themselves as they walk in different directions to their locker rooms.

She's one of the last people getting ready. She's finishes up buttoning her shirt as she walks out into the hall.

She looks up to see Sam's girlfriend walking out of the room across the hall.

She notices Andy.

Crap. Andy thinks.

"McNally, right?" The woman asks

Andy's forced to stop and to turn to her.

"Yeah." Andy says. But you probably already know my name and everything about me.

The woman steps forward, extending her hand. "Marlo Cruz. Pleasure to meet you."

"Yeah, real pleasure." Andy shakes her hand with a smile.

"I've heard a lot about you." Marlo chimes in slyly.

"Oh." Andy remarks.

"Hey gotta get in there. Good luck on your first shift back." Marlo says as she scurries off into parade.

Well I've met the girlfriend. Andy thinks. This is about as worse as it could get. Marlo is even nice to me.

Andy is alone in the empty hallway starring into the parade room down the hall through the open doorway. She twiddles her thumbs a little bit in front of her. She looks for Frank but doesn't see him yet. She puts her hands up to her forehead and rubs it, closing her eyes for a moment.

"McNally?" A voice says from down the hall.

Sam is about to walk into the parade room, but he sees her first.

Andy almost hears concern in his voice. Almost. She thinks. This is the first time he spoken to me since I tragically discovered his new girlfriend. Andy looks up at him. There he is.

The first time in six months they can actually have a real conversation with each other. This could be it. This should be it. They have a million things to say to each other, but neither of them know how to say it to the other. Let alone think they have something to say.

Sam can tell she is having some trouble with something, but as always, he plays it cool. "Joining us for parade?" He asks pointing towards the room full of people waiting for his briefing.

Andy can't find words.

Sam did notice Marlo walking away from a conversation with her as he walked up, so he has an idea what's going through her head. Scratch that this is Swarek, he has no idea what's going through her head.

He sees something in her face that makes him forget about the group of people, drop everything that's happened and walk towards her. He unthinkingly moves towards her.

She crosses her arms.

Sam gets closer before she brushes right passed him, without a word.

Frankly she doesn't care right now for talking to him, she stood there watching him battle with himself for less than two minutes to say something, anything, to her, she's given him enough time to come up with it by leaving for six months. And just as usual he didn't say anything. And in that moment, just like other moments she's had with him in the past, Andy realized she doesn't want to deal with a guy who can't say more than three words to her about his feelings.

Nick puts his hand on her back as she sits down next to him, with the indication of asking her if she is still alright.

"I'm okay," Andy whispers with a smile.

Nick sees Sam walk in from the back and pulls his hand away.

Frank walked in and started without Sam. "Last night we got a call, around midnight, from a Mrs. Hessler informing us a man smashed his way into her sixteen year old daughter's room and kidnapped her with a duct tapped the girls mouth and was carrying her out right as she came in." Frank took a beat to allow everyone to sink this in. "I want everyone on the lookout for this man, the description is on the sheets in front of you." He motions towards Sam. "Swarek, thanks for joining us. He has information on the girl."

Andy only pays attention to what she's being told about the case.

"Her name is Cara Hessler." Sam says as he starts to speak right from his notebook, "I got a chance to speak with the mother last night after we got the call of the break in. All she could really tell us is Cara went to bed last night wearing pink pajama pants and a black shirt. She went out with a group of her friends earlier in the day. We alerted them they're safe. Right now we're showing the mother possible kidnappers to see if we can't get a description on the man, but this seems pretty similar to the Brinks case we had a month ago."

"McNally. Collins." Frank chimes. He looks at them, sitting next to each other in the front row. "You two were not here when we had a spree of similar incidents. Two months ago a man with the name of Bo Brinks kidnapped a sixteen year old girl, Amber Essherman by smashing into her bedroom window in the middle of the night. Last month, it was Erica Peltor. We had no witnesses but were lucky enough to find the two girls in the abandoned bank vault downtown… but Brinks got away. This time we have the mother as a witness so we are counting on that. We all were hoping he wouldn't kidnap again… but he has and this time," he speaks louder, to the whole group, "we will find him."

Sam has more to say. He looks up and finds Andy's eyes, "This guy is dangerous. When we interviewed both girls, they said Brinks threatened to put explosives in their parent's cars if they tried to run way... Pretty crazy thing to say, but well we never had any evidence that he actually had explosives, so please remain aware of that factor. We've had two chances to get this guy and he's slipped through our fingers both times. And well, this time, three strikes he's out. We're going to get him."

"You have a list of the most recent tips in front of you so get out there. Serve, Protect, and find this girl… and capture Brinks." Frank adds before he dismisses parade.

Andy stands up to see Oliver in front of her. "How are ya McNally? Ready for your first shift back?" He puts a hand on her shoulder.

"I think I am." Andy responds with a small smile.

She catches Sam eye her from the front of the room.

"Good. Good." Oliver catches on with Sam and Andy's exchange. "Keep your head on straight out there." Oliver pats Nick's shoulder as he walks out. "You too, Collins!"

Andy and Nick walk over to check their assignments last in line, last in the room too, after Oliver and Sam left.

Nick reads the board. "Phew, guess today's going to be another one of those days."

"What kind of day are you referring too?"Andy asks sarcastically.

"The kind were I have a good partner?"

"Oh if thats what 'one of those days' means then I haven't had one of those in-"

"-Really?" Nick cuts in.

Andy ignore him. "Six months? Is it? Yeah six months."

"Whoa really?" Nick laughs.

Andy bumps his side.

"No…" Andy says sarcastically.

They both burst into laughter going to different exits of the room.

"If that's what you think, you can sleep alone tonight." Nick says from across the room.

Andy made an 'oh my gosh' face and gasps. "If that's what you think, then you can sleep alone tonight."

They laugh again.

Nick steps out into the hall and bumps into Sam who is walking back into the room with some case file in his hand.

"Sorry, Swarek." Nick tells him.

"All good, Collins." Sam says with a pat on Nick's back.

Nick continues on his way down the hall.

Sam heard enough of their conversation to get a preview of how good friends they are. Sam goes over to sit on the front table to look at the pictures on the board for the case trying to gain his focus, but his girlfriend walks in.

"Hey Sam." Marlo hands him a coffee and sits next to him.

"Hey, thanks." He takes the coffee and gives her a smile.

"This case is a hefty one, isn't it?" Marlo refers to the board.

"It is." Sam stares at the pictures.

Marlo crosses her arms. She stands up in order to face Sam.

"Is your head clear for this case?" Marlo asks.

Sam stands up in front of her. "Why wouldn't it be clear?"

Marlo smiles at him. "This is the third time you've had to deal with this guy, and you must be thinking a lot of things through. Just know that I am here for you this time." She puts her hand on his arm.

Andy walks looking like she is on a mission. She doesn't see them until they see her.

"Uh my-" Andy points towards the table she was sitting at and walks to it. "notebook. Forgot it."

"See you around McNally," Marlo says leaving Sam and Andy alone.

Andy remains still for a moment after Marlo left. She taps her notebook.

Unbelievable. she thinks. She turns to walk back out.

"McNally." Sam tries to start but she just keeps walking. He is not letting her do this a second time. He walks to the doorway of the parade room where he catches her walking towards the door to the garages. "McNally!" He calls louder.

Andy shoves open the door and leaves him. Guess walking out is something she does now. He thinks. Just another thing I'm going to have to deal with.

It's just a matter of time, really. Who's going to get fed up with pretending they can work together without letting the other know what they think or feel about the situation. And right now Andy doesn't have to work with him, not until she finds Cara Hessler. And she will because she is determined to show Sam she can do things without having to work with him.

They don't know how to approach the situation. They don't even realize they are being stubborn about it because they don't realize there is a situation. Their issue with each other is thinking they don't need to talk to each other. Andy's just hurt because Sam isn't fighting for her like he said he would, and he chose another girl over her. And Sam's hurt because Andy can't talk to him and see's that she struggling, and being the TO he is, wants, needs, to held out his partner.

The hallway is empty except for Oliver who walks up next to Sam from the other end of the hall.

"Heads not clear?" Oliver passes his best friend.

Sam crosses his arms. "What do you mean?"

"Well do you really need me to spell this out for you?" Oliver steps in front of Sam and puts his hand on Sam's shoulder.

"Uh, yeah." Sam tells him.

"Okay. Well… get this, when McNally was your…" Oliver stops there for a second at Sam's glare but finishes with a grip, "girlfriend. Right. She was your girlfriend. And you two talked about things." Oliver puts his hand that isn't on Sam's shoulder out and moves it as he talks. "Your head was clear. Right. And well now, the fact that she isn't your girlfriend... isn't the issue here, it's the fact she won't talk to you. I'm just putting it out there that you two probably talked best when you were together?" Oliver stops waving his arms to check Sam's glare. "Right. You two used to talk, both your heads were clear. But now you two aren't talking about things, so your head isn't clear; therefore her head is not clear and we both know a rookie out on the street with an unclear head isn't good. That's why I am asking you, because I'm worried; for you two to have unclear heads on this job, this case. You two need someone to talk things out over your…" Oliver checks the glare, it's softened up. "And, I'm your best friend, I know about things between you and your girlfriend, I get that you guys talk. But I know as a fact you haven't truly told her about McNally. I get it; it's not something you know how to talk about. And I get it, you're Sam Swarek, you can walk on water, you can handle not talking about things. But… McNally, I know her too, she can walk on water once her heads clear, meaning once she's talked things out with someone. Because my man…" Oliver puts both hands on Sam's shoulders, "I just saw McNally avoid and walk away from you for the second time today buddy."

Sam realizes he's the only on who's seen the signs that Andy and Nick are either starting or are in something together. And because he's the only one, Oliver doesn't realize that her head is probably clear, because she doesn't need someone to talk too. Therefore, Sam doesn't need her either.

"Oh, her heads clear." Sam says hurt. "She's definitely walking on water."


You finished the first chapter! Congrats! I'm really happy with this, so please send out positive reviews!

I promise you there will be more Sam and Andy in the next chapters to come.

Oliver's the best AS ALWAYS! I promise more Peck action next chapter. And what has happened to Cara Hessler? Is it Brinks who took her? Why would her? IF he did, he's gotten two strikes before with those other girls, Cara's his third. Going along with my chessey title, three strikes you're out.