Okay, I'm proud of myself. Three updates in one night. I rock.
Oh and thanks for the encouragement regarding the title. I'm actually coming around to it now so I'll probably just leave it.
To the guest who posted about my decision regarding Sarah, I think you have a really interesting point about Sam. It's not something I had ever considered before, but after thinking about it, I definitely agree with you. However, I decided to go off-canon with Sarah because I needed it to be this way in order for some of my ideas to work with this story. I don't actually have a problem with the Sarah from the show- although, I think it would have been interesting to see the dynamic between the siblings if they were close. My guess is that many people take issue with the Sarah from the show because the way that Sam talked about her in season one made it seem like they were close, so I think most people just imagined it that way and were surprised to find out that wasn't the case. I also did think it was a bit surprising that she and Sam hadn't spoken in two years. With everything that's happened to Sarah and Sam's obvious desire to protect her, I wouldn't think he'd let so much time go by without at least checking in on her. Anyway, I'm rambling now. I just wanted to tell you that I thought you had an interesting and valid point and I appreciate you bringing it up.
Happy reading!
=========Roommates===========
"Was that McNally I saw getting out of your truck this morning?" Oliver asks Sam as they are changing into their uniforms.
"Yep," Sam replies. He's really not looking forward to this conversation. And all of the teasing that is sure to come afterwards.
"Isn't Nash working today? I figured they would ride in together," Oliver continues fishing.
Sam just shrugs.
"And didn't you give her a ride home last night?" Oliver probes.
"Yep."
"That's awfully nice of you," Oliver tells him.
"Yep."
"Sammy," he says, suddenly serious.
"What?" Sam asks.
"C'mon," Oliver says with a raised eyebrow.
"She's staying with me, okay? No big deal. She needed a place to stay and I have a spare bedroom. That's it," Sam insists.
"Wow, that's um…sweet," Oliver says, a little bit stunned.
"She just needed a place to stay," he replies with a shrug. "It's really not a big deal. We're just… roommates," he tells him.
"Mhm. Maybe for now," Oliver grins.
Sam rolls his eyes. "What is that supposed to me?" Sam asks, although he already knows exactly what is friend is getting at. But he's definitely going to keep playing stupid.
"Oh come on. Everyone can see that there is obviously something between you two," Oliver informs him.
"She just broke up with Callahan," Sam reminds him.
"Yeah, but c'mon… Does she really even seem that broken up about it? Embarrassed? Yes. Pissed? Yes. Devastated? No," Oliver continues. "If that happened to me when Zoe and I were engaged, I would have been in a drunken stupor for months. Yet, she sees more or less fine," Oliver tells him. "I'm not saying you should make a move or anything right now, but… don't wait too long, okay? Girl like that won't stay on the market forever," Oliver tells him before shutting his locker.
Sam rolls his eyes and grumbles some incoherent words. Oliver laughs and they both walk to Parade together.
=========Roommates===========
"So how was the first night at Casa Swarek?" Traci grins, as they are changing into their uniforms.
"Fine," Andy shrugs.
"Fine? What'd you do?" Traci asks.
"Um. Sam made dinner and we watched a movie on the couch," Andy tells her.
"Seriously? He cooked you dinner and you snuggled up on the couch?" Traci grins.
"We did not snuggle," Andy insists.
"That sounds so… cozy," Traci teases.
"It was not cozy," Andy argues.
"Mhm."
"It wasn't," Andy insists.
"Whatever you say." Traci laughs.
=========Roommates===========
"So, I spoke with a realtor this morning," Andy mentions in between calls. It's been a rather slow morning so far, not that she minds.
"Oh yeah? When did you do that?" He asks.
"When you were in the shower," she replies.
"Oh."
"Yeah, so she's gonna show me a few options this weekend," Andy informs him. "So, hopefully I'll be out of your hair soon," she adds.
"Andy, I told you- you can stay as long as you want. I seriously don't mind," he tells her for the millionth time.
"I know, I just feel bad," she responds.
"Well don't. You're a pretty good houseguest. You made me breakfast," he reminds her.
"That's true, I did," she smiles.
"Yeah, so it's really not so bad having you around," he smirks as he glances over at her.
"Not so bad? Wow, you really know how to give a girl a compliment," she teases.
"Hey, I've given you plenty of compliments," he argues.
"Oh yeah? When?" She asks, incredulously.
"I said you were awesome once," he reminds her.
"Oh yeah. How sweet," she says with a playful roll of her eyes, causing him to laugh.
"After our undercover op, I told you that you did great," he says.
"Yeah, I literally save your life and all I get is a 'you did great in there,'" she scoffs.
"I said you had a lion's heart," he points out.
"That's true. That one was nice," she admits.
"I know, I'm a nice guy," he says with a proud smile.
She laughs.
"Are you saying I'm not a nice guy, McNally?" He asks with mock offense. "The man who literally saved you from being homeless is not a nice guy?"
"Okay, you did not save me from being homeless," she points out. "But yes, as much as you pretend not to be… you are a nice guy," she smiles.
"Thank you."
"So… since you're such a nice guy… can I borrow the truck to look at apartments this weekend?" She asks with a big, bright smile.
He lets out a laugh and shakes his head. "Why don't I just give you a ride?" He asks.
"You really don't trust me with your truck, do you?" She asks.
"Well, the last time I let you drive it, you almost brought it back covered in bullet holes, so… no," he tells her.
"Yeah, almost. Plus, that wasn't my fault. Could've happened to anyone," she insists.
"No, I think that would only happen to you," he responds.
"Fine, if you want to drive me you can, but it's gonna be long and boring and you'll absolutely hate every second," she warns him.
"You know, I could make you take a cab… or walk," he reminds her.
"Yeah, but you wouldn't do that… since you're such a nice guy and all," she smiles, causing him to roll his eyes.
"Don't push it, McNally," he grumbles, making her giggle a bit.
=========Roommates===========
"Hey, so just come find me when you want to leave," he tells her as they walk through the parking lot on their way to the Penny.
"Sam, you don't have to babysit me, you know," she replies, glancing over at him.
"What?" He asks, shooting her a confused look
"You don't have to leave or stay just because I want to. I can find my own way home… I don't want you to feel like you have to constantly be… I don't know… taking care of me," she shrugs.
"Andy, relax. If I really wanted to leave or stay and you didn't, I would, okay? But we're both exhausted and I have a feeling neither of us will last very long in there, so just… come find me when you're ready to go home, okay?" He asks, as he reaches for the doorknob.
"Okay," she nods, before walking through the door. They both wave to their friends as they make their way up to the bar to get a drink.
"Just a beer," Sam says to the bartender once he finally has his attention. Then he looks over to Andy. "You want something?" Sam asks her.
"Make it two," Andy tells the bartender with a smile. She reaches for her wallet before Sam grabs her wrist to stop her.
"I got it," he tells her.
"Sam, c'mon. I got this one. You're already letting me stay with you. I can't let you buy my drinks, too," she rationalizes.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. You do kind of owe me," he teases, causing her to playfully roll her eyes.
"Hey, I did make you breakfast this morning," she reminds him as she pulls out some bills from her wallet.
"That's true… You know if I had known that I'd get breakfast and free drinks out of this, I would've asked you to stay with me a long time ago," he jokes.
She laughs at him and is just about to say something when they are interrupted by the sound of their drinks being put down in front of them. Andy hands the cash over to the bartender, picks up both beers and hands one to Sam.
"Thanks, McNally," he says before taking a sip.
"Anytime," she smiles.
"Okay, so just let me know when you want to leave, okay?" He asks her.
"Okay," she nods.
He gives her a smile before they go their separate ways. He heads over to Jerry and Oliver while Andy heads over to the rookies.
"Hey buddy," Jerry offers as Sam sits down across from him.
"Hey."
"So… I heard McNally is staying with you," Jerry mentions with a smirk.
Sam shoots Oliver a look and Oliver raises his hands in surrender. "He already knew," he insists.
"Traci told me," Jerry explains.
"Ah."
"So…" Jerry begins.
"So?" Sam asks.
"Is it official? You and McNally?" Jerry grins.
Sam rolls his eyes. "She's just staying in my spare bedroom… Was sick of sleeping on Nash's pull out couch. It's no big deal," Sam insists.
"Mhm… Well, I guess I should thank you," Jerry replies.
"What?"
"I can finally have sex with my girlfriend again," Jerry informs him.
Sam gives him a strange look- somewhere in between disgusted and confused, which causes Jerry to let out a laugh.
"Traci didn't want to leave her alone, so she wasn't staying at my place and she didn't want me going to hers while Andy was there, so yeah… it's been rough man… All I've gotten in the past few weeks is a couple quickies in my car or the interrogation room," Jerry explains.
"Jeez, Jerry," Sam snorts, before taking a sip of his beer.
"The two seater, really?" Oliver asks, incredulously.
"I told you. Rough," Jerry nods.
=========Roommates===========
It's two in the morning when he wakes up. At first, he's not sure what's gotten him up, but then he hears it again. He doesn't know what it is but it's coming from the kitchen. He lets out a groan and flings the covers off of him before heading down the hallway.
The lights are on and he figures it must be Andy, but why the hell is she awake? They were both exhausted when they got home; he figured she'd be asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
He walks into the kitchen and squints at the bright lights. When his eyes finally adjust, he sees her kneeling on the floor with her head inside the refrigerator.
"Andy?" He says, causing her to jump. She sits back and looks up at him.
"Jesus, you scared me… What are you doing up? Shit, did I wake you? God, I'm sorry. Just go back to bed, I'll be quiet," she promises.
"What are you doing?" He asks, gesturing towards his fridge.
"Um… cleaning," she shrugs as a sheepish smile appears on her face.
"I see that. Why?"
"I couldn't sleep and this is… this is what I do when I can't sleep," she explains.
He nods and wipes his hand over his face. Then, he grabs her arm and pulls her up to a stand before closing his fridge.
"What's up?" He asks.
"Nothing, I'm fine," she insists with a shake of her head.
He shoots her a look, telling her that he's not buying it and she should just tell him.
She lets out a big sigh. "I just… I had a nightmare," she admits as she looks at the floor.
He nods, and lifts her chin with his finger so she'll look up at him. "What happened?" He asks.
She lets out another sigh. "I um… I was back in the storage locker."
He cringes at her words and for the hundredth time, he chastises himself for leaving her like he did. "That happen a lot?" He asks.
"Sometimes," she shrugs.
"You should've woken me up," he tells her.
"Sam, I'm not going to wake you up just because I had a nightmare, I'm not five," she tells him with a roll of her eyes.
"I wouldn't mind," he assures her. "I'm always here if you want to talk… or not talk… whatever you need," he tells her.
"I know," she says with a nod and a smile.
"So… do you want to talk?" He asks.
"What is there to say? I was back in that storage locker and he was putting tape over my mouth and my eyes and he was choking me and I thought I was going to die," she tells him, trying to act nonchalant, but Sam knows better.
"Andy…." He begins, but honestly, he has no idea what else he's supposed to say. All of this is his fault. If he hadn't left her, she would never have been in that situation and she wouldn't be having nightmares. So, he makes the executive decision to just pull her into a hug. Apparently, it was the right move because she immediately wraps her arms around him and rests her head on his chest. They stay like that for a while as she continues to hold onto him and he runs a soothing hand up and down her back.
"It will get better," he tells her. "They'll go away eventually. It just takes time," he assures her.
She doesn't say anything, but he feels her nod against him.
"You wanna try going back to bed?" He asks after a few more minutes.
"Not yet, but you don't have to wait up with me. I know you're tired," she says as she pulls away and takes a step back.
"Why don't we go watch TV or something?" He suggests.
"Sam, really- it's okay," she insists.
"Come on," he says, grabbing her hand and leading her to other room. He sits down on the couch and gestures for her to sit beside him. She sighs and joins him on the couch, sitting so close that their thighs are brushing against each other. Not that he minds.
He smiles and tosses her to the remote. "You pick," he tells her. She smiles at him, turns on the television and starts flipping through the channels before landing on one she likes.
"Really McNally?" He asks, when he notices what she's chosen.
"What?" She asks, turning to look at him.
"You just completed a ten hour shift and you want to watch Law & Order?" He asks, incredulously.
She smiles. "What? It's a good show," she says with a shrug.
He shakes his head and chuckles before turning his attention to the television. As they watch, Andy makes several comments about the show, but as it goes on, he can tell she's starting to get tired. And then she rests her head on his shoulder, but the way she has her neck angled doesn't look too comfortable, so he decides to lift his arm and wrap it around her, so she can rest her head more comfortably. Without thinking, she leans against him and rests her head right below his collarbone. And just as he thinks she's fallen asleep, she readjusts her position so she's turned towards him a bit more and then wraps one arm around his stomach. And seconds later, she's actually asleep.
They stay like that for at least half an hour. He just wants to make sure she is really asleep. Plus, he doesn't hate the feeling of having her in his arms like this. But then his own need for sleep becomes too much. Plus, he knows she'll wake up with a crick in her neck if he lets her stay like this all night. So, he wriggles his way out of her grasp without waking her and then picks her up bridal style and carries her to her bed. She wakes up for a second when he picks her up and mumbles some incoherent words, before she wraps her arms around his neck and rests her head back on his chest, apparently content with allowing him to carry her to bed.
He kicks the door open with his foot and then lays her down on the mattress. He pulls the covers over her, takes one last look at her and then turns to walk out the door.
"Night Sam," she whispers. He turns to look at her, but her eyes are still closed. Part of him even considers that he may have imagined her words, but he's definitely not that crazy.
"Night McNally," he replies, before making his way to his own bed.
=========Roommates===========
Okay, hope you enjoyed this!
Please review!