Chapter 1 – Angel

The bedroom was completely darkened when Sam opened his eyes several hours later. He turned his head to find Andy's sleeping form next to him – her left arm draped across his chest. Sam took Andy's left hand in his before turning his head towards the only light in the room, which was radiating from the alarm clock on the bedside table, which illuminated the framed photograph next to it. There were 4 people in the photograph; Sam, Andy, Oliver and Traci. They all had their sides turned towards the camera; Sam had his arms wrapped securely around Andy's waist from behind – both of them wearing huge grins on their faces. Oliver stood next to Sam serving as the best man, while Traci stood next to Andy serving as her maid of honor.

Sam could still remember how enthralled he'd been, as Andy had walked towards him in the church. She'd been a vision wearing a white, strapless, layered gown embroidered with small rhinestones on the top, while the gown from the waist down was layered in 3 giving it a simplistic, yet gorgeous look. Andy had chosen to wear her hair up in a classic hairdo; the veil had been attached underneath the hairdo reaching Andy's waist. It had been a perfect day. Tommy had given his daughter away to the man she loved, Oliver had as only Oliver could pretended not to have had the rings until Sam had given him the look – which had prompted Oliver to utter the words "I've always got your back brother" before handing Andy's wedding band over to the groom. Sam and Andy had decided on simple wedding bands; silver rings – the only differences between the rings were that Sam's wedding band was wider than Andy's, and true to form Andy's wedding band had 3 small diamonds matching it up with Andy's engagement ring that was a silver ring with a square cut diamond. Those very rings were now in Sam's grasp, as he ran his thumb over Andy's ring finger in a soothing motion, as the heartbreaking moments of the past week ran through his mind.

Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay

"One last thing coppers of 15!" Frank Best exclaimed before ending the parade, while looking with a smile to where Sam and Andy were sitting.

"There's money in the budget for the new equalizers?" Noelle exclaimed having grown tired of the old squad cars her and her colleagues were driving around in.

"No." Frank smiled to his wife.

"Figures…" Noelle grumbled with a sigh.

"I hear congratulations are in order for Swarek and Swarek." Frank smiled at the nickname Sam and Andy had been given despite the fact that Andy still used her maiden name to avoid any confusion.

"Pray tell…" Oliver whistled looking to his best friend, who looked to Andy knowing she wanted to be the one to break the news to their friends and colleagues.

"We're gonna have a baby…" Andy beamed, as the entire room stood up and applauded, while Sam kissed Andy on the lips before Oliver pulled him into a hug clasping him on the back, and Traci and the rest of the rookies hugged Andy. Frank cleared his throat, as everyone's eyes came to rest on their staff sergeant.

"Due to this McNally will be on desk duty for the remainder of her pregnancy. So…protect, serve and congratulations." Frank smiled before hugging Andy, and shaking Sam's hand.

There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard, at the end of the day

"You happy?" Sam asked, as he and Andy stood in the gunroom, as he was gearing up for a shift riding with Dov.

"Oh I'm ecstatic…6 months on desk duty with no company, but Collins, who's on probation – it'll be terrific!" Andy sarcastically replied with a smile.

"Hey…I'm gonna be stuck in a squad car with Epstein for the day…" Sam smiled back; as he holstered the gun he'd just cleared before placing his hands on each side of Andy's face.

"…now this is the moment where you tell me how gorgeous, generous and completely awesome I am for doing this…" Andy grinned tucking her lower lip in-between her teeth.

"…you are that…awesome…" Sam huskily replied before capturing Andy's lips with his own. Andy wrapped her arms around his neck, as the kiss intensified, and Sam's arms wrapped themselves around her waist bringing her torso towards his closing the space between them.

"…yo Swarek!" Dov Epstein exclaimed from the doorway of the gunroom forcing Sam and Andy to disentangle their lips with a heavy sigh.

"Yo?" Andy questioned Dov' sudden change in lingo.

"I'll be right there Epstein!" Sam shot back not having released his grip on Andy yet.

"All righty…" Dov sang, as he strolled out to the squad car.

"He'll be the death of me…" Sam rolled his eyes eliciting a giggle from Andy.

"…hey…be safe." Andy replied, as Sam turned for the doorway.

"You too…both of you…" Sam blinked at Andy before heading in Epstein's direction.

I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins

"I'm really happy for you guys by the way." Collins replied, as he and Andy were working together in the booking area.

"Thanks…" Andy replied surprised that Collins even cared about the news. He'd been anything but nice ever since he had been put on probation for conduct unbecoming for an officer.

"Oh great! Dumb and dumber!" Eric Wiest scoffed, as he was escorted into the barn to be booked, and found Collins and McNally behind the desk.

"Watch it!" Oliver slapped Wiest on the head.

"Name?" Collins barked at the detainee, as Nash was gathering his personal effects into an evidence bag.

"Hugh Hefner!" Wiest barked back.

"This delightful creature is one Eric Wiest, 35 years of age and is being brought in on account of multiple complaints from patrons at the local dive down at Hampton Avenue." Oliver replied.

"The Notorious' Eric Wiest?" Collins questioned having recognized the name as being associated with one of Toronto's main motorcycle gangs.

"The one and only!" Traci exclaimed handing the evidence bag over to Andy.

"Shaw! Nash! You got a minute?" Best exclaimed from the doorway.

"We've got it!" Collins jumped at the chance to prove his worth, while still on probation.

"All right." Shaw nodded his head, as Collins took over holding Wiest, while Andy walked to the monitor situated next to the cage to open up the holding cell.

"You know…you're one fine looking lady…McNally. How about you join me in there?" Wiest rudely replied eyeing Andy's nametag.

"Watch it jerk!" Collins warned pushing him towards the cell unlocking the cuffs, as they went which would prove to be the biggest mistake he'd ever make.

Let me be empty
Oh, and weightless
And maybe I'll find some peace tonight

"What the hell was that?" Oliver exclaimed, as they heard loud noises coming from the booking area and all three; Best, Nash and he ran for where they'd last left Collins, McNally and Wiest.

"Don't move a freakin' muscle!" Collins ordered Wiest, as he had one knee placed on top of Wiest's rear, while handcuffing him.

"ANDY!" Traci exclaimed running to her best friend, who was lying on her side clutching her stomach in pain.

"McNally!" Oliver exclaimed, as he joined Traci at Andy's side, while Frank assisted Collins in hauling Wiest off to the holding cells area.

"This was not my fault! You hear me copper? This was on you! You!" Wiest yelled at Collins, as he and Frank locked him into a holding cell before Frank turned angry eyes on his officer.

"What the hell happened Collins?" Frank exclaimed, as he turned his head to witness Oliver requesting 911 over his radio, and Traci trying to calm her best friend down.

"Sir…" Collins began his voice quivering.

"…don't speak! Get your ass into my office, and wait there!" Frank ordered, as he watched Collins give Andy an apologetic glance before rushing from the scene.

"Something's wrong Trace…it hurts so bad…" Andy cried, as the cramping's had worsened within the past 5 minutes.

"…I know sweetie, I know. Just try and breathe okay?" Traci rubbed Andy's back trying to give her some relief, but knew that nothing she would do could take away the pain. Not only the excruciating pain Andy was in now, but also the emotional pain that would undoubtedly come.

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

"It's through here!" Oliver exclaimed, as he brought two paramedics through the halls of the barn before they reached the spot where Andy was lying.

"What do we have?" One of the paramedics asked, as the other began to attend to Andy, while Traci moved out of the way.

"Andy Swarek, 32 years old, pregnant, took a fall when assisting a colleague." Oliver replied looking worriedly at the woman he'd come to consider family over the past couple of years.

"How far along is she?" The paramedic asked looking at Traci.

"13 weeks." Traci replied, as she like Oliver watched, as the other paramedic began examining Andy.

"Have you gotten in touch with Sam yet?" Traci asked turning to Oliver.

"Crap! What the hell do I tell him?" Oliver exclaimed, as he took out his cell.

"Is that her husband?" One of the paramedics asked after having placed Andy on the gurney, who was clutching the pillow her head was resting on in a death grip, while the other was wrapped around her stomach as if that could prevent what was happening from happening.

"Yeah…" Oliver nodded his head, as he'd hit speed dial # 2 on his cell.

"…tell him to meet us at Memorial – we need to go now!" The paramedic exclaimed, as they rolled Andy out towards the ambulance.

"I'm going with!" Traci exclaimed owning her a nod from Frank before following the paramedics and Andy out, while Oliver got Sam on his cell.

"Brother…" Oliver started, but was cut off by Sam immediately.

"…where did we dig up Epstein huh? I mean the guy is a complete…"

"…Sam!" Oliver yelled into the cell.

"What's wrong? Is it…? Where is she?" Sam instantly knew something had happened, and his gut was telling him it wasn't something good. What had he always been telling Andy?

"That feeling in your gut…you gotta learn to listen to it. It's telling you what you need to do. You gotta learn to trust it."

"En route to Memorial. Nash is with her." Oliver replied before Sam ended the call knowing that for once he'd wish he didn't have to listen to his gut because what it was telling him was tearing him apart.

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack

"Where is she?" Sam asked, as he and Dov met Traci and Oliver in the waiting room of Memorial's Obstetricsdepartment.

"The OR." Oliver replied with a troubled look in his eyes.

"The OR?" Sam repeated Oliver's previous words with disdain in his voice.

"Sam I'm so sorry." Traci's misty eyes told the truth, as she wrapped Sam in a hug wishing she could take away the pain he was feeling.

"Mr. Swarek?" Everyone turned around at the sound of a new voice in their midst.

"Yeah!" Sam turned away from Traci and locked eyes with the doctor.

"I'm Dr. Kwan, and I've been tending to your wife." The doctor explained, as Sam crossed his arms readying himself for the inevitable news.

"How is she?" Sam asked, as Oliver, Traci and Dov walked closer to where Sam and Dr. Kwan were standing.

"She's hemorrhaged badly, but she's young, she's strong, and she should stabilize." Dr. Kwan explained tip-toeing around the subject of the baby even though Sam already knew in his heart that the baby he and Andy had been so enthralled with was gone.

"And the baby?" Sam asked the dreaded question knowing that he wouldn't believe it if he didn't hear it out of the doctor's mouth.

"I'm very sorry Mr. Swarek, but your wife has suffered a miscarriage. The trauma was too massive for the baby to survive. You have my deepest condolences." Dr. Kwan answered, as Sam walked away from him running his fingers through his hair before ending up in front of a wall carrying a poster of a mother holding a newborn baby – where the text read; "it could happen to you."

"But Andy will be okay?" Traci asked, as Oliver walked in Sam's direction.

"Yes she will. She's being brought up in couple of minutes. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask the duty nurse." Dr. Kwan explained before walking away.

"Thank you doctor." Traci replied, as she could feel a hand grasping her shoulder, and turned her head to look at Dov's empathic face.

It don't make no difference
Escape one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

"Why?" Sam almost whispered, but Oliver caught it nonetheless, as they were sitting in a couple of chairs outside Andy's room an hour later.

"Brother don't go there all right? You'll make yourself crazy trying to come up with reasons as to why this happened?" Oliver replied knowing exactly where his friend was headed with that comment; Guiltville.

"I know one of them…Collins!" Sam exclaimed pushing himself out of the chair, and walking to look at Andy through the window from the hallway. She looked so pale compared to the sterile environment she had been placed in. She was hooked up to several machines monitoring her breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and oxygen level. The constant beeping from the monitors had driven Sam crazy so he'd ended up standing on the opposite side of the glass watching the woman he loved being slowly brought back to the life of the living. The only difference was that now she didn't have a tiny life inside of her; her once pregnant belly was empty, and he wondered if it'd ever be filled again with a tiny life.

"Collins should be the least of your worries right now. The only person you should concentrate on right now is the woman you love, and who'll need you more than ever in the coming months. You hear me?" Oliver replied standing next to Sam placing a hand on his shoulder making his friend look at him.

"Thanks brother!" Sam grabbed onto Oliver, as he pulled him into a tight hug clasping him on the back.

"Don't mention it." Oliver replied, as he watched Sam walk into the sterile room, grabbing a nearby chair before sitting down by Andy's bedside. Sam took a deep breath before placing his hands on top of Andy's which rested on her stomach that still bore signs that a baby had been there for some time.

"We're gonna be okay Andy, I swear to you. We'll get through this, and we'll try again. I'm not losing you now, not now." Sam promised placing Andy's right hand in the palm of his bringing it to his lips sealing his promise with a kiss before waiting for his purpose in life to wake up from her slumber.

In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here

"Hey there sleepyhead…" Sam tilted his head sideways, as Andy's eyes fluttered open a couple of hours later.

"…hey…" Andy replied groggily getting acquainted with the bright room.

"…how you feeling?" Sam asked taking a seat on the edge of the bed holding Andy's hands in his readying himself for the terrifying truth he was about to tell her. He had to be the one to tell her. She was his wife, his responsibility, his life.

"Groggy…" Andy replied releasing a heavy sigh looking around the room they were in before attempting to sit up straight, but wincing instead before laying back down again.

"…easy…" Sam placed his hands on Andy's arms not wanting her to cause herself any more pain.

"…God…" Andy squeezed her eyes tight caught off guard by the sudden pain in her abdomen.

"…I'm getting a doctor for you." Sam replied, but was held back on the bed by Andy's sudden strong hold on his wrist.

"I'm fine, please Sam, don't leave me." Andy begged sitting straight up in bed despite the pain.

"I'm not going anywhere all right? I'm right here…" Sam replied kissing her on the forehead before helping Andy to lie back down.

"…tell me…" Andy requested, as Sam tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"…what do you mean?" Sam asked confused.

"I won't believe it unless I hear it from you. Please Sam." Andy begged tears running down her cheeks.

"Andy…" Sam's voice wobbled not being able to find the words he needed to find.

"…tell me! Tell me our baby's dead! Tell me!" Andy screamed punctuating each sentence with a strong pounce into Sam's chest using both her fisted hands. Sam wrapped his arms around Andy's back, and in a swift motion brought her into his embrace cradling her head in his hands, as Andy's hands grabbed fistful's of Sam's black shirt as he uttered the most heartbreaking words ever to cross his lips

"Our baby's gone."

You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here