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A Sam/Andy fic.

Chapter Two.

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Disclaimer: See Ch. 1.

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A/N: Wow, I'm glad you guys have liked this story. Totally fluked it off with that dream.

I'm gonna miss this week's episode of Rookie Blue, my cousin's funeral is on Thursday, and we're staying the night up in Edmonton. I'll be able to watch it online the day after, though.

Well, let's get on with the story, shall we?

I hope you guys like this, I know I'll love writing it.

As always, please read and review, I live for feedback!

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~ "McNally, we can do this in makeup," Sam told her, standing beside her while she prepared herself.

Andy shook her head. "No, it's gotta be real. And there's no guarantee I'll be able to sneak away to apply makeup to it every now and then. Not to mention, it will probably rub off when I'm sleeping. No, it's gotta be real."

Sam clenched his jaw. "Well, I'm not gonna be the one to do it."

Andy looked over at him, nodding after a pause. "That's fine." Really, she didn't want him to be the one to do it, either. It was gonna hurt - like hell - and she didn't want to associate that hurt with him. Not when she would be putting her life in his hands in such a short time. She thought about asking one of her friends, but she knew they would take it too easy on her. It had to look real.

Finally, she spotted a mean-looking cop coming in off foot-patrol. She jogged over to him. "Excuse me?"

He looked around, spotting her. He was about a foot-and-a-half taller than her, and had to drop his neck down to meet her eyes. "Yeah?"

"Could you do me a favor?" she asked, getting right down to the point.

He shrugged. "Maybe. Depends on what it is."

Andy pursed her lips. "I kind of ... need you to hit me. Right here," she added, pointing to her cheek.

"What?"

Sam caught up to her. "Hey, Stevens. She's, uh ... doing an undercover bit, needs a bruise on her cheek."

He nodded in understand. "Oh, I see ..." He paused, and then dropped his bag off of his shoulder. "You sure?"

Andy nodded her head.

"'Cause, you know, they do some pretty convincing makeup ones-"

"I know," Andy interrupted him. "It won't work."

Stevens sighed, and then took a small step back. "Right cheek?"

Andy nodded. "Hard."

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I'm serious ... it's gotta look real. So, go as hard as you can."

Sam winced, taking a step back from them. He really didn't want to watch this, but he also didn't want to make his rookie do it alone.

Stevens closed his eyes for a moment, and then faster than Andy could register, the back of his hand cracked against her face.

"Ah!" she cried out, unable to control the sound.

"Sorry, I'm sorry!" Stevens rushed out, stepping back.

The loud, cracking sound, along with Andy's shout, had drawn the attention of others in the hallway, as well as the training gym they'd just left. Many looked at Stevens in shock and surprise.

Andy shook her head, dropping her hands down onto her knees as she bent over. "It's fine," she replied in a high-pitched voice.

"Jeeze, are you alright?" Sam asked, placing a hand on her back.

"Mmhmm," Andy insisted through closed lips.

"I'm sorry," Stevens said again.

Andy shook her head back and forth rapidly, feeling the hot, stinging pain in her cheek. "Really, it's ok. I asked you to do it."

Sam glanced at Stevens, leaving his hand on Andy's back. "It's okay, I've got it from here," he told him.

Stevens nodded, backing away from them and making his way down the hall to the locker room.

Sam pulled her back into the training room, waiting for her to stand upright.

"Ah ... well, that was a brilliant idea," she commented, bringing her hand up to feel the swelling cheek. She groaned in protest at how tender it was.

"Let me see," Sam spoke softly, pulling her hand away and tilting her chin slightly to the side. He winced again at the ugly bruise that was already forming quickly.

"How's it look?" Andy asked him.

He clenched his jaw, nodding after a moment. "Definitely real." ~

Andy brought a hand up to her cheek once more, thinking about her undercover assignment. The bruise had been the first of many sacrifices that she'd had to make. She couldn't make contact with any of her family or friends while she was undercover. She'd had to put things on hold with Luke, because she couldn't be seen around town with a police detective. Even her meetings with Sam had to be low-key, because there was still a chance that he would be recognized, even though they were working with a completely different crowd than his drug-bust cover.

"That's quite the shiner," Stef commented, referring to the large bruise on Andy's cheek.

Andy remember the role she was supposed to be playing, and nodded, fiddling with the material of her shirt. "Yeah ... I uh, he doesn't like it when I talk back."

Stef clenched her jaw, moving her gaze between Andy and the road in front of her while she drove. "He's a jerk."

Andy nodded her head slowly, chewing on her lip. "I guess. Look, thanks for this. I'm sorry that I snowballed all of this on you."

Stef shrugged her shoulders. "Don't mention it. Us girls gotta stick together, right?"

Andy allowed a small smile onto her face. She knew that Stef was her way into the gang, and she couldn't let herself get attached to her ... but so far she liked her. She was nice, and decent.

The drive continued, Andy knowing that Sam was behind them somewhere, keeping a safe distance. She didn't know where they would end up, all she knew was that she was in, and she had to play her part perfectly. One single mistake, one tiny slip-up could cost her more than just the case. The Red Snakes were one of the most dangerous gangs in Toronto. There wasn't a crime invented that they hadn't dipped their hand into, and weren't afraid of killing people who got in there way.

The pressure was on, Andy just hoped that she was up to the challenge.

...

"Where are we?" Andy asked as they made their way up a flight of stairs in an old-looking building.

"This is my place," Stef answered. "You can stay with me for a bit. At least, until you get back on your feet."

Andy's eyebrows raised in response. "Wow ... thank you."

Stef shrugged. "It's no biggie."

Andy shook her head. "No, really, you've been so wonderful to me, and you just met me."

They came to a door at the end of the 3rd floor hallway, and Stef fished her keys out of her pocket. "Well, let's just say you remind me of someone I used to know."

Andy thought she might be talking about herself, but didn't ask.

Stef got the door opened, and the two of them made their way into the apartment. It was small, but was filled with expensive decor and a fair amount of material objects. Andy had no doubts that they were either stolen, or paid for with 'blood-money'.

"This is a great place," Andy commented.

"Thanks," Stef replied, tossing her keys onto the counter. "Look, I gotta head back to the arena, I was there with some people before."

Andy knew exactly who she had been there with, but pretended to be in the dark. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pull you away from your plans."

Stef shook her head. "Really, it's ok. Stop apologizing. I'll have my neighbor down the hall - Ms. Kintzy - sit with you while I'm gone, and when I get back, we'll get started on things. Okay?"

Andy nodded her head. "Okay. Thank you, again."

Stef walked her through the apartment, showing her where everything was that she might need. "Bathroom, fridge, phone ... but I would strong suggest that you don't try to call him," Stef told her.

Andy made a show of being uneasy, but nodded her head. "Don't worry ... I won't be calling him any time soon."

Stef nodded. "Good. Alright, I'm gonna run down the hall and get Ms Kintzy. If you need anything, she can help you. Just sit tight, okay? We'll talk when I get back."

Andy told her that she would, and then watched her walk out of the apartment and down the hall. She wouldn't have time to get in contact with Sam while Stef was getting her neighbor, so she waited.

~ Alright, here's the cell phone," Sam said, handing her the device. "Use it only when you need to, and erase all calls and text messages as soon as you get or receive them. If they take a look at your phone, they'll be able to see who you've been talking to. We're hooked in to this number, so we'll get a copy of everything you send and receive. If they call you in this number, we'll be able to hear it. Since we can't wire you, this is our way in." He stared pointedly at the phone now in her hand. "McNally ... don't break it."

Andy scoffed. "I'm not going to break it, sir."

Sam eyed her for a moment, and then pulled something out of his pocket. "I need you to wear this."

Andy took the box in her hand, opening the lid. There was a necklace inside, with a long, silver chain, and a small, oval pendant in the middle. Andy blinked, taking it out of the box. "It's ..." she wanted to say 'beautiful', but she wasn't sure what the necklace was for, or why he had given it to her.

"There a built-in panic button," Sam told her. "Just press the middle, and it will change colors from green, to red. Then I'll - we'll know that you're in trouble, and we can come in to extract you. If at any time you think that cover has been blown, just press the pendant. If you press it by accident, press it again to make it go to green. If you don't contact me within a half-hour to let me know everything's fine, then we'll come in to extract you. Any questions?"

Andy shook her head. "No, it's all pretty clear."

"Good." Sam took the necklace from the box, motioning for her to turn around.

Andy blinked, turning so that her back was facing him. She lifted her hair out of the way, feeling her breath catch as Sam's hands came around her. His hands were so close to her neck as they came in front of her. One hand held the necklace and once it was in front of her, he brought the other hand over to take the ends of the necklace in his fingers. Andy worked to steady her breathing, feeling a flush travel up her skin. She sorely hoped that she wasn't blushing.

His fingers worked the clasp on the necklace, until finally it was latched together. It was almost three seconds before he stepped away, but he finally did, letting her know he was done.

Andy slowly lowered her hair down, looking down at the pendant. Out of curiosity - and an excuse to calm herself down before he saw her blush - she pressed the middle of the pendant. A second later, the color began to change.

A buzzing sound came from behind her, and Sam fidgeted, pulling the receiving device off of his hip. "Yes, it works," he commented, turning it off.

Andy pushed the button again, and the liquid within swirled back to green. "Cool," she commented. ~

She fingered the necklace beneath her shirt gently, careful not to press the button. Andy heard Stef making her way back - presumably with the neighbor - and steeled herself to continue her act.

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End of chapter two.

Well, what did you guys think? Like it, hate it?

I hope the flashbacks won't be too confusing, the ones in the next chapter will be going back further, to when Andy was first approached about the undercover assignment.

Reviews are appreciated, flame if you must, but constructive criticism is much more useful.

Until next time ...!