AN: thanks for all the reviews; I really do appreciate what everyone has to say. I can't wait for tonight episode!
Chapter 4: Recovering, healing and Sam's surprise to Andy
After he was discharged from the hospital the doctor told him he couldn't go back to work for another 6 weeks just to be safe. He didn't like it but he would go with it and he knew that Andy would make him so he just went with the flow. When they got to the apartment she got out and went over to the passenger side and put his arm around her and helped him out. "Babe you don't have to do this, I am perfectly capable of walking on my own."
"Samuel Swarek, I will help you out, I came so close to loosing you so just let me help you. You're still a little weak and the doctor said it was going to be a couple of weeks before you're back to your old self again so stop being so stubborn."
"Ok, I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry."
"Come on lets get you inside and settled."
Best said that she could have a couple of weeks off to take care of him and she took it. She wanted to be close to him as possible.
For the next couple weeks they watch TV, sleep and mostly just be in each other arm's because after what happened for some reason Andy feels vulnerable and Sam can sense that so he just holds her whenever he can.
One night Sam is woken up by a crying sound and can feel that part of his chest is wet from tears; he looks down at her and realizes that she having a nightmare so he gently wakes her up and she looks up at him. "What happened honey; tell me?"
"You were laying on the ground and the paramedics didn't get there in time and you died in my arms and I just cried against you wishing for you to come back to life and I'm telling you that I love you hoping that you'd come back like in some of those fairytales I've seen."
"Andrea look at me, I am right here alive and breathing and I am not going anywhere."
He takes her hand and puts it over his heart, "See its beating."
She can feel his strong steady heartbeat and it comforts her but that dream was so real and vivid; she looks down at his long scare on his chest and traces her finger over it like she's taking a mental outline of it and soon she yawns, "I love you Sam." "I love you Andy."
He kisses the top of her head and soon they were both asleep again. The next morning Andy wakes to the smell of coffee and pancakes, a small smile appears on her face; she gets up goes to the bathroom and then goes to the kitchen, "Hey baby, how are you doing?"
He turns and gives her a grin, "I'm actually feeling like my old self today but I'm worried about you; any more nightmares?"
"No not after we talked and I felt your heartbeat but damn that nightmare was so vivid. I could feel the blood underneath my hands, your heart stopping and you going limp in my arms. I…I just don't know what I'd do if it was real and with a baby on the way…" her voice trailed off as she sat down on the couch and she put her hands around her stomach as tears rolled down her checks. He took the stuff off the stove and turned it off and went over beside her and enveloped her in a hug and that's when a waterfall of tears came rushing out. She couldn't stop even though she wanted to but she just couldn't. He just held her tightly not letting go and just letting her cry because he knew that this whole situation was traumatizing for her and he wished he could take it all away. She pulls back, "I'm sorry I'm such a crying mess."
"Don't be sorry if that's what you need to help you feel better then me and my shoulders are right here for you."
"Awe that's so sweet; thank you; I think these hormones are making it worse also. I'm just hoping it won't drive you crazy too much."
They both laugh and eat their breakfast even though by now it was cold but they were hungry especially Andy.
A few weeks later Sam gets released by the doctor saying that he's well enough to go back to work and that's when Andy gets scared. The next morning comes and they get dressed and he can see that she's very tense so he goes over to her, "What's wrong Andy?"
"Nothing I'm fine."
He just looked at her, "Andy you're not fine, don't shut me out now…please" he said that last word almost as a whisper.
She looked over at him and he was looking down at the floor and immediately she felt guilty for saying that, "Sam I'm just worried about you going back to work. They still haven't caught the guy yet but what if he comes after you again and this is successful? I…I don't think I could handle loosing you twice." She simply stated as tears started forming in her eyes again; she wiped them away, "Damn hormones, this is going to get old pretty fast."
He gently put both hands of the sides of her face and she looked up at him, "Don't worry about the 'what ifs' babe. Okay so he might come after me but we'll be prepared and take him down. Please don't stress, remember it's not good for the baby." He kisses her forehead and she nods then puts her arms around him and leans her head against his heart to listen to it. she never tires of hearing in some strange way it makes her feel comforted to know that he's alive and breathing. He then pulled back, "We gotta finish getting dressed so we won't be late."
"Okay"
They arrived 10 minutes early and when they went with his arm around her waist and her arm around his; everyone broke out into cheers and clapped because everyone else could see that they belong together expect for those two because they were too stubborn and afraid to admit it. Andy just blushed then before she knew what was happening Sam pulled her to him and gave her the most passionate kiss. When they broke apart she was blushing major and he just had a big dimpled grin on his face as they made their way down to the locker rooms to get changed.
Andy opened her locker and her eyes went wide in surprise when she saw what was sitting there. "Sam!..." she yelled out but he was standing in the doorway in his uniform just smiling.
She looked over at him, "Sam…I…we…" she couldn't form the right sentence because she was completely at a loss for words.
He came over there and bent down on one knee grabbing the ring out of the box and took her hand into his, "Andy the first time we met I knew that something was different about you but it was a good different then as I got to know you I began to realize just how unique and very special you are. I began to feel things that I have never felt about any other person and yes it did scare me at first but then I realized I couldn't live without you. Yes at first I did push you towards Callaghan but that was only because I was afraid of getting hurt because I fell so very hard in love with you and I told you that I'll always be here for you and I was. I was there for you when you shot your first perp, when you got shot, when you got engaged even though it nearly killed me, when he cheated on you even though I wanted to throttle him into space so I will always be here no matter what. And you were there for me when I got shot and then you told me that you were pregnant and that's when everything was put into perspective for me and I knew that you are the one for me. I want us to be friends, partners, lovers and everything else that we can be but there's just one catch; you have to be my wife. Marry me Andrea McNally, say yes and I'll do everything in my power to protect, love, fight and die for you."
She was speechless, she didn't really know what to say expect for, "Yes Sam I will marry you."
Everyone clapped and cheered as he put the ring on her finger and pulled himself up and dipped her and kissed her slowly and passionately. When they broke apart they both had tears in their eyes and everyone came up and congratulated them. Traci came up and gave her a big hug and she hugged Sam and he said, "Thanks." Andy looked at them and Traci just laughed, "Why did tell her thanks Sam?"
"Oh just because."
"Yeah right, come on I want to know please."
"Oh alright fine, I asked her if you like surprises and she said yes you do. That's all we talked about seriously no else knew what I had planned."
"Okay"
After that everyone went on with their day from desk duty to being out patrolling then Jerry came running out of his office because he had gotten some information the shooter from the bullet and went into Best's office; that's when everything changed.
AN: I hope everyone likes Sam's proposal, I imagine that he would do that if they ever took it that far on the show.
