ROOKIE BLUE (isn't mine)

ALONE

I know, it's been a long time and I'm finally getting to tie the loose ends of this story. Please bear with me!

-o-

To her surprise, Andy had no problem getting the truck started. Despite the snow, the cold and the icy wind, she turned the key and the engine roared. She was extra careful on her way to the precinct. Sam wouldn't like to have his precious truck wrecked when he had actually trusted her with it. And she couldn't afford to get the repairs done anyway, should anything ever happen. She chuckled to herself, and her hand fumbled with the radio, scanning for some music. She finally gave up and pressed the cd control. The name of the band flashed in shiny blue letters on the front panel. Rush. Cool, she thought, her mind reeling back to her ride with Sam Swarek to Sudbury. Too bad they were so awkward to each other at the time. She would act so differently now that she knew that she had fallen for him. Had she?

She frowned, her attention going back to the road. Was it love really or simply wishful thinking because she felt so alone? Was she imagining she loved him because he was out of reach, and no immediate threat? She drove for the last five minutes struggling against a violent surge of adrenaline. What if he never made it back? She pushed away that thought and concentrated on driving. It was a possibility that she couldn't dismiss though. Everybody knew the risks. They were unlikely, but yet, they were very real. Going undercover was dangerous and worse. She clenched the wheel and fought back her tears. Better go back to the current situation, she pondered, something futile, such as a plausible explanation for her driving Sam's car. And what about the truth for once?

Andy parked Sam's truck on the parking lot of the 15 Division like in a trance. It was too late to reflect on her decision to accept his offer. She would dismiss the immediate attention his truck will draw to her, that was the easy part. The hard part would be to take the truck back to his place tonight after a twelve hour shift knowing he won't be there to greet her and hold her. God, she missed him so much. Why had she been so blind and stubborn? He never made a secret of his attraction to her. But he wanted her to be happy, and happy meant being with Luke at the time. She could rehash the story as many times as she wanted, it wouldn't change a thing. She had made an honest mistake and she was paying for the consequences.

She shrugged. What the hell. She was not a rookie any more. Sam wasn't even around. Luke was just a friend, and surprisingly enough a good friend, and she was a full fledge cop. That meant that she didn't have to answer to anyone but herself, -and Best. Tears started rolling down her cheeks, and she smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks. Who was she kidding, seriously? She had been a mess since Sam left. No need to beat around the bush, everyone at the 15 could see it. Grabbing her bag, she slammed the door and walked to the entrance with a spring in her step. Today was day 1 of her living at his place and it felt good. She'd have to make the best of it. And despite the cold and her initial freaking out, she felt relaxed. She felt relaxed because for the first time in months, she had slept like a baby. Of course, she was not anywhere near to admitting it was because his bed had actually been slept in before.

She was about to pass the sliding door when a voice stopped her in her tracks. "Andy, wait," Dov made a sprint to the door and grabbed her arm. "I tried to call you like a hundred times but you never picked up!" Andy winced and retrieved her cell from her back pocket. She checked the screen. 34 missed calls, 13 text messages. Okay, that was bad. "And today you show up in Swarek's truck?" he grinned. "Sweet, McNally!"

She flipped through the names. Traci, Dov, Chris, Oliver Shaw? Noelle! "Dov, what have you done?" She jabbed him in the arm.

"Nothing! I mean… Andy, I don't know, I… I kind of panicked. Everyone can see that you've been really depressed lately and…"

"You thought that I would take my own life?" Her eyes went wide. "Oh Dov, I'm so sorry. I muted my cell last night. I'm sorry I got you worried."

He nodded. He squinted and smiled.

"See, I'm fine," she insisted, walking inside. She sighed and turned around to face him. "If you must know, I was at Sam's."

"At Sam's like in Swarek's? I kinda figured that part," he winked. "But... ?"

"Well, he…" she checked the bullpen but nobody was around. She lowered her voice. "Promise me you won't tell anyone, okay? He gave me the keys to his house," she volunteered, striding to the locker room.

"Hence the truck."

"Yeah, the truck too. I figured I could as well use it," she shrugged, entering the room with Dov in her tow.

"I can see that. Everyone can see that for that matter," he chuckled. "Word was already on the street that you broke off with Callaghan because of Swarek, people are gonna talk, like seriously talk, if you know what I mean."

"So what?" She tossed her bag on the bench and took off her coat.

"So nothing," he shrugged, his eyebrows rocketing to the root of his hair. "But Andy, I'm your roommate, I'm your friend, right? Tell me… Why the big secret? It's not like I'm gonna say anything. You know me."

She chuckled. "I kind of know you, Dov. That's why I told Traci," she smiled. "I mean, I probably should have told you, I apolog…"

"Yep, you're sorry, I get it. And yet, I'm not hearing any funky details, McNally." He wiggled his eyes brows suggestively. "The truck is already a blatant admission but now that you confirm willingly that you were at Swarek's," he stated matter-of-factly, "you can as well admit to the rest."

She rolled her eyes and opened her locker.

"What's going on?" He lowered his voice and glanced around. "Is he back? Are you two… like, you know, seeing each other?"

"Who do you think you are, my father? You know what? It's the women's locker room anyway. So if you don't mind... Hey, move along Dov, I don't want to be late for parade. Not today."

"Yeah, right, probably not. But don't think for an instant that I won't get to the bottom of it!"

"That's the problem Dov, there's no bottom. Sam lets me use his house and his truck. He's still undercover."

"You mean you had the keys since he left?"

She shook her head. "I got the keys from Noelle. That's kind of a non-story."

"Why wouldn't she tell me when I called her, then?"

"Maybe she was being discreet. You do know that word, right? Oh wait, maybe you don't, because you're a blurter!"

"A blurter?"

"Yes you are, you blurt and then it's too late."

"No, I'm not," he protested. "When it's in the vault, it's in the vault." She chuckled. "We're not done McNally," he added, waggling his finger at her, "take my word for it!" he added with a grin, heading the men's locker room.