Please don't shoot me. That's all I'm going to say. There is a plan, and please, please know that I'm firmly in the McSwarek camp. It's no fun if I can't add a bit of drama between our favorite duo, and we're going to get a glimsp at a side of Andy that we don't usually get to see.

I hope you enjoy. Your reviews are greatly appreciated!

Nikka

The end of the shift had finally come and Sam Swarek could not have been more relieved. The last week had been absolutely unbearable. It wasn't because he'd gotten stuck with Epstein again or even Diaz who had a serious hero worship complex. No it was because he'd been paired with McNally. Every shift but yesterday's when she'd been paired with Ollie.

Normally, Sam would have been relieved to have been paired with her but ever since last Wednesday he couldn't stand it. She'd been happier. Almost her normal self. Sam was actually relieved to see some of the light come back into her eyes and it was almost like nothing had ever happened. It was really started to get to him.

Not once since that night at the Penny had she told him who she'd gone to meet. She hadn't even brought it up. Sam also had to grudgingly admit that the was jealous as hell especially being that whoever had called her had clearly kept her away from going out with her friends all week. He'd tried to ask the other rookies where she was only to come up empty.

Thinking back to their shift earlier today only irritated him all that much more. Andy had been radiating excitement and could barely sit still. Instead of putting him at ease, her cheery mood had just pissed him off. Every time she checked her watched today made him want to rip out his hair. What the hell is she looking forward to tonight?

Sam slammed his locker shut only to have the mangled door bounce back a bit. He slammed it again, and it popped back open again. No he was beyond pissed and started kicking it repeatedly. Other officers instinctively knew to stay away from him when he was had his mind set to beat his locker into submission. Oliver Shaw was a whole different story.

"Hey Brother," he quipped trying to get Sam to laugh. "I think you've shown that locker who's boss now."

Sam wanted to laugh at his ridiculousness. He really did. At the same time, he was too wound up. He watched Shaw's hands shoot up in a manner of dismissing himself as he looked over Sam's shoulder. Oliver Shaw couldn't make himself high tail it away from the situation any faster if he tried.

Sam spun around to see Andy staring at him with her head quirked to the side and the hint of her smile on her face. "You know, someone once told me that doing all that to your locker was damaging city property."

Sam just stared at her. "So report me."

And there was the smile. "Now what fun would that be Swarek?"

He turned away from her quickly getting his stuff ready for a shower. "You coming to the Penny tonight? I'll be ready in like ten."

"Nah," her voice softened a bit. "I gotta be somewhere tonight." She saw Sam's shoulders tense up again as he turned towards her. "Time and space Sam remember?"

He narrowed his eyes at her and nodded. "Using my words against me?"

She reached out and put a hand on his chest to stop him was pushing past her to the showers. "Please, Sam. Trust me."

Looking in to her eyes he could see that she was almost begging him. He brought his free hand to her cheek and let it rest there. "I always do McNally."

"Thank you," she nearly whispered.

"Let me know if you need a ride." He asked her but saw that she was getting a little defensive so he settled. "At least let me know that you get home safely. And know that you can call me no matter what. Please?"

She nodded at him and turned to go. "Sam."

"Yea, McNally?"

"Go easy on Traci please. I asked her not to tell anyone about me and Luke. It's not her fault I didn't tell you."

He merely nodded at her and watched her go. Sam Swarek had every intention of getting a bit drunk tonight. He definitely had some celebrating to do. His partner had finally ended it with her fiancé. She seemed to be coping fairly well, but she had ended it and that's all Sam could have hoped for.

Time and space, he told himself.

O o O o

Sam had had a hangover that rivaled those of some of the best poker nights. He started off the morning with Andy and she'd been amused but mercifully quiet. He was happy to let her drive him around and tease him today. All seemed right with the world.

Sam was slightly bothered by her good mood, most because he knew that he hadn't caused it. He caught her checking her phone quite a few times today when she thought that he wasn't looking or was sleeping off his hangover. If he was being honest with himself, it bugged the hell out of him. She never kept secrets from him, but apparently this last month or so had some how enabled her to do just that. He wasn't going to let it spoil his mood.

Andy even picked his favorite diner for lunch, having already pulled in before she turned to him and woke him up. After they had placed their orders, Sam began to observe her again.

She was nearly giddy with excitement as she looked around at the people in the diner. He loved watching her when she people watched. There was an expression of warmth and innocence in her eyes that he envied. It gave him hope that what he did everyday wasn't so hopeless after all. They ate their lunch in a relative comfort until she asked him about later.

"Going to the Penny tonight," she asked him so casually that Sam nearly forgot that she'd been MIA for nearly three weeks except the night he made her go out.

"Don't I usually go to the Penny after I get stuck riding with you all day?"

Her response was sticking her tongue out at him and then bursting into a fit of giggles. Sam would have had to been a rock not to smile at her laughter. It was absolutely infectious. He cringed a bit noting to himself that she was beyond gorgeous when she laughed.

"So you're going I take it" he asked nonchalantly trying not convey any of the hope that was beginning to surge in his chest.

"Yea," she smiled. "I think it's time I drink Dov under the table. He's getting a little cocky. Besides, you owe me being such as awesome partner today."

Her grin was going to drive him to distraction. "Well, since I'm so awesome, I figured you owed me a day of awesomeness." He smirked at her and added, "Besides, if you puke in my car tomorrow, you're dead to me."

He couldn't help but laugh at her as she burst out laughing at him. Sam knew that she knew what he said was total bull shit. She could never be dead to him. She could piss him off and drive him insane, but never be dead to him. If anything, she made him feel more alive than anything in his life.

O o O o

On Thursday nights, the Penny was always crowded. Pre-weekend celebrations were in full swings. Tomorrow the coppers of 15 would be a little more grumpy than sluggish, but they'd be able to blame it on a hellish week at work dealing with the idiots of society.

Sam had been in an unusually cheerful mood and it hadn't gone unnoticed by anyone. While the rookies were too terrified of him to utter a single comment, Sam's friends weren't. As soon as he joined them at their table the fun really began.

"Good day with your rookie Sammy?" Oliver asked with a knowing grin. He smirked at Sam's glare followed quickly by a shrug.

"She's not my rookie any more. She's just my partner Ollie."

"Ah, c'mon Sammy, she'll always be your rookie," Oliver stated in a lovey voice.

"Shut up Shaw," Sam commanded taking a sip of his beer. He already knew that he was in for one hell of a long night. His three idiot friends wouldn't let his good mood drop. Apparently, he'd been a lot more out of sorts lately then he'd realized. Okay, honestly than he'd allow himself to realize. It'd been the being worried about McNally show for a little over three weeks now.

When the door opened Sam felt a buzzing feeling take hold on his body just as he saw the jaws of his friends hit the floor. Turning to look over his shoulder at the door, Sam nearly spit out the beer he'd been drinking.

Andy McNally had entered the bar in a blaze of glory. She looked amazing in a black halter top that dropped into a v-neck. Sam allowed his eyes to drop to the floor momentarily embarrassed for looking at her so hungrily. Big mistake. His eyes had to travel up the length of her.

They drank in her heel clad feet and long toned legs that were bare. As his eyes followed the lines her legs that disappeared into a short jean mini-skirt he felt a twinge of desire. She's definitely trying to kill me. Her hair had been freed of its tight bun from shift and flowed down past her shoulders. She even had put make up on. A little bit more than a night at the Penny would require, but she was simply stunning.

Sam couldn't peel her eyes off of her as she ordered to pitchers of beer at the bar and took them to the rookie table. The smiles on her friends' faces were telling. They'd miss her. Her presence completed the group. Right now, Sam would bet any money that Dov was commenting on her super sexy appearance, Chris was trying to get him to calm down while telling Andy that she looked beautiful, Gail was up to no good trying to drag something out of her, and Traci had to be simply relieved.

He tried to pay attention to his friend's and their conversation, he really did. But how could he when Andy McNally was dressed like that and laughing with her friends just a few feet from him? He took a ragged breath as he saw her look over her shoulder at him and thought that she must literally be trying to drive him insane.

He jumped when someone set a beer in front of him. He had turned to see Andy smiling a mischievious smile at him. She was close to him, leaning on his arm, her own arm still laid on his from when she had reached across him.

He looked at the beer and then back at her with a question in her eyes. "It's my turn to buy remember?"

He grunted and nodded as she pulled away from him. He turned on his chair suddenly, not wanting her to leave him just yet. "Just going to the bathroom," she reassured.

He watched her go before turning back to the amused looks of his friends. Sam sent each of them a glare that told them to back off a bit. He turned towards Andy when he heard her phone ring. She answered just before she disappeared into the bathroom. She had a smile on her face.

Sam was trying to keep his mind off of who would be calling her and who had again made her smile. The familiar feeling of jealousy was starting to surface again. And then he heard the bathroom door slam shut followed by a squeal.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Andy take off like a bat out of hell. He actually had trouble following her she moved so quickly. Then came the doozy, he wanted to hit something as hard as he could.

Sam and everyone else for that matter watched Andy storm through the bar and jump onto a man in army fatigues.

He had a smile on his face and his arms outstretched to catch her as she barreled towards him. She hit him with a force and jumped up to wrap her legs around his waste and arms locked around his neck. When Andy finally realized her death grip on him, she slid down his body, a blush clearly evident on her face at her overly affectionate display.

The man who she had just practically assaulted had the biggest smile on his face. He was clean cut with black hair and his blue eyes shone with appreciation. Sam's anger begin to increase as he watched the man grab Andy's hand and twirl her around. He was assessing her and let out a loud whistle of appreciation. Instead of pissing her off, or embarrassing her, Andy laughed and hugged him going up on tip toe to get closer to him.

He pulled back from her and tucked her heard behind her ear before wrapping his arm around her and heading out the door. From his vantage point, Sam could see that Andy was chattering away and the smile had never once slipped from her face, nor had her eyes left the mystery man's.

Sam turned to towards his friend and reached greedily for the shot that Jerry held out to him with shock on his face. As he down it and reached for another shot, he missed the look that was passing between his friends. His day had just totally gone to shit.

I promise, I'm only partially evil!