Thanks for the amazing reviews! :) I really didn't think anyone would dig it, hahah. well, here's the next chapter!
(still don't own RB.)
Andy stretched out her knees and yawned, careful not to disturb Sam. The early morning sun tossed its rays through the two small windows on either side of the front door, illuminating the red tones in her hair. She looked at the sleeping man next to her, his arms still tucked around her, his head leaning against the wall. There was no way that they could give official statements today. She extracted herself from his grip with ease, a skill grown from countless walks of shame, and stood over him. When he failed to stir and his breathing remained even, she turned to walk into the kitchen and make a few calls. As she turned away, she heard him speak.
"When we were little, she used to force me to have tea parties with her." He looked at his still bent knees, his voice monotonous. Andy stopped and leaned against the doorframe, laughing at herself for thinking he'd still be asleep. "I don't remember it, mind you. But I've seen pictures, lots of pictures." He looked up at her. "And in every one of those pictures, I had these fairy wings on. She told me that I was her fairy prince, and I needed to dress accordingly." They exchanged brief glances before laughter erupted. Andy returned to her spot on the floor.
"Well, to be honest, I'm sure you made a terrific fairy prince." She giggled, her voice soothing his wounds.
"What time is it? We've got to go in today and give statements." Sam said, trying to pull his mind away from tender memories.
"Look, if you don't mind I think I'm gonna call Frank and see if we can't come in tomorrow. If it were anything else, you know, we'd have to be in there… But this definitely isn't anything else." Andy's voice trailed off. He nodded, furrowing his brows. What else was there to do? There was one thing he was certain of, he simply couldn't think about it. Not today, maybe not tomorrow. Not ever, is the desirable choice of course, but the crackle of the electricity in the room reminded him that with Andy McNally sitting next to him. And that meant, he was going to have to think about it.
Sam was slightly puzzled as to what happened last night. He knew she would come over, knew she'd want to 'talk', he'd just expected that he'd willingly follow her into his bedroom, they'd drown their sorrows in each other and she'd be gone; no matter how much he begged her to stay. What he hadn't expected, was all the crying and soul baring. All of his plans were blown to hell when she was around. And now look at him.
"What are we even supposed to tell him? I can barely remember everything, it happened… so fast." Andy began, unconsciously weaving her fingers together. He could tell she was conflicted. Whenever she had a dilemma to face, she'd fidget like she was now. "I mean, they hit you and I went to find her, then she was in that room and there was the gun, and –" Sam cut her off.
"I really don't wanna talk about this, Andy. Please." He was humiliated after losing himself in front of her last night, he wasn't to keen on doing it again. But if he had to relive Sarah's last minutes on earth, he knew it was inevitable.
"Sam…" She whispered, knowing it would take only one word to get her point across.
"I know. Can we get something to eat first, or no, I've got an amazing single malt I was saving in the living room." He started to get up before Andy pulled him back down.
"I don't think we should drink." She stated, seemingly as surprised at her own words as Sam was. He looked at her with confusion splayed across his face.
"If we start, I don't think we're going to stop. At least, I know I won't." She said quietly. He wasn't used to braving the devastation that was going to be thrown at him as soon as he fell asleep.
"Andy, I really just need one. Or three, or six shots; whatever. All I know is that this is about to get really bad. The first night, you're still in shock. The second night, however, is when the nightmares decide to make an appearance. If you think you can handle them, McNally, then by all means don't touch my Scotch. I, on the other hand, am not going to face them alone." Sam warned.
"Sam, please." She whispered with a slight tinge of desperation in her words. "My Dad… this is how he started. One night cause he needed it. Then another night cause he still couldn't deal. Then he just couldn't stop." Her eyes silently begged. "We can't slip into this habit." Sam sighed.
"Fine, Andy. I'll tell you right now, it's gonna be a rough night." He stopped, realizing that maybe she didn't plan on staying another night. He turned to ask her, but she beat him to it.
"I was kind of assuming, but I guess I should ask you if I'm allowed to stay here tonight." She mumbled. He laughed and grabbed her hand.
"I was hoping you would." His smile faded as another scenario flooded his mind. "Andy, I'm only gonna say this once okay? I know you stayed here last night, but if I wake up tomorrow and you've disappeared off into the night, I will never forgive you." He hated being having to say it, but he knew the damage would be ten times worse if she abandoned him.
"Sam, leaving hadn't even crossed my mind." She smiled at him, and walked to the sliding door in the living room to close the curtains before doing the same to the windows. Then reality really set in. She was in his house, no doubt spending the weekend there, and she felt at home. She'd never felt at home, not even in her own house. But here she was, dreading the inevitable moment when she had to leave. When she turned around, he was there.
"Andy, I need you to do something for me." He wouldn't look her in the eyes.
"Sure Sam, anything." She answered, confused.
"You won't let me drink myself into a coma, you're not gonna try to distract me and keep my mind off of what happened." He looked at her. "For as long as you can, just keep me awake." She reached up and touched his cheek, her voice barely audible.
"You can't run from this." He leaned in to her, their noses touching.
"But I can't face it either." He shuddered.
"It's only 10 AM, Sam, we've got lots time to be awake. As for tonight, I'll be here when you wake up." Her long eyelashes grazed his cheek and sent shivers down his spine. He furrowed his eyebrows and placed his hands on the small of her back.
"How are you doing?" He asked her, momentarily casting aside his self pity.
"Better, now that I'm here." She breathed. "I just don't like seeing you hurt like this. When you're feeling better, then I'll deal with myself." She stated matter-of-factly. Sam laughed at her.
"You're ridiculous Andy." Her eyes widened and she smiled as she playfully punched his arm.
"I just wanted to take care of you first." She giggled and he pulled her into him and held her close for a few seconds, never wanting to let go.
"We should watch some movies." Andy mused. Sam let out another laugh before kissing her head and releasing her.
"I'll set up the sofa bed, and you pick something. How does that sound?" He smiled earnestly for the first time in days.
"Sounds perfect." She smiled.
Andy sat on the newly folded down sofa bed and scrolled through the movies on VOD while Sam made popcorn. After about ten minutes of not being able to pick one they both liked, they settled on a film called The Ghost Writer. Neither really intended to watch the movie, and that was just the way it played out when Andy crawled into Sam's arm and promptly fell asleep about twenty minutes in. Sam never really wanted to see it, so when Andy drifted off, he turned off the TV and waited for her to start thrashing in her sleep.
He lay there with Andy asleep on his chest, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours. He did everything in his power to keep his mind away from his sister. When Andy began whimpering in her sleep, he didn't have a problem shifting his focus. Sam got up and grabbed a glass of water, which he knew she would need. He'd had too much experience with these nightmares, and he knew that they could seem very, very real.
When he got back to the living room and crawled into bed with her again, she'd calmed down. Maybe they don't scare her as much as me. Sam had become lost in his thoughts when Andy screamed and shocked herself awake. She was sweating bullets and completely out of breath. She rolled over onto her back and instinctively, Sam took her in his arms. She was choking on her own breath trying to breathe, speak and cry at the same time. He pulled her into his lap held her, trying to calm her as best he could. With one hand on her back and the other caressing her hair, he never wanted her to leave. When her tremors eventually ceased, she looked at him with more terror in her eyes than he'd ever seen, and the crying started all over again.
"I killed her, I killed her" Andy cried, "I'm so sorry Sam, I'm so sorry."
As much as Sam wanted to tell her she was wrong, he knew that nothing he could every say would fix how she was feeling.
For now, they just had to brave the storm.