(Hides behind pieces of furniture) Don't hate me! This chapter is quite long, but we finally find out what Andy's tattoo is and what it means. And we finally have a name for hunky soldier boy! I promise that there is a plot here, and that you will like it in the end, but you might want to kill me for how I drive the bus to get there!

Reviews are greatly appreciated and I do enjoy your feedback, even the bad stuff!

Enjoy!

Nikka

O o O o O o O

A day on desk duty was never one that any officer looked forward to unless they were trying to avoid field work due to some kind of ailment or reason that would put themselves or their partner in danger. Being hungover, Andy was actually grateful to have been assigned desk today, it would be steady and predictable, and she wouldn't have to do too much strenuous activity that would send her recovering body into a full on revolt. She also could be grateful for being stationary. Sam always seemed to enjoy the mornings where she'd gone a little too far the night before and seemed to everything in his power to torture her by making her nausea increase tenfold. He apparently loved to watch her turn green and then threaten her about puking in his car. Andy was almost sad that she wouldn't get to hear his treacherous laugh as he tormented her. Almost.

Sam moved his chair next to her with his foot and leaned over to place a coffee in front of her. Andy smiled up at him and mumbled a thanks. She knew that the coffee would be made just how she liked it. Sam never seemed to forget. She almost laughed at his surprise to see the coffee she had already made for him sitting in front of his desk chair. He looked at her and in a catty voice asked her, "Do I look that bad this morning McNally?"

"Do I," her retort was short. His bad mood was apparent and Andy wondered if she was going to have to deal with a moody Swarek all day. A moody Swarek meant that the would be tip toeing around him all day and she already knew he'd be in a bad mood over her leaving the Penny last night without introducing him to Jake.

In fact, she hadn't completely been ignorant of his mood or what he thought of her leaving with some guy he'd never met last night. Traci and Chris had sent her texts that she hadn't responded to warning her about Swarek's very dark mood after she left. She also hadn't missed their veiled threats about the fact that she was clearly keeping a secret from them and that she had a lot of explaining to do.

O o O o O o O

Sam had been doing his best to ignore Andy most of the morning. It hadn't turned out to be too difficult, she had seemed to avoid him like the plague today. Normally he would have found her noticing his mood and trying to remain silent and unobtrusive would have amused, but today it simply irritated him. Instead of her acting slightly embarrassed or ashamed of her actions last night when she practically jumped some guy in front of him, she just seemed to give him a wide berth. The fact that she only seemed to talk to him when absolutely necessary and only about work seemed to infuriate him all that much more. Sam just wasn't sure how to deal with these emotions today, but he did know that lashing out at her always seemed to knock them back about five steps. He was not willing to go that route especially after her breakup with Callaghan.

Speaking of Callaghan, he'd been storming around the barn all morning shooting daggers at his partner. Sam had caught his eye a few times and sent him a look daring him to try and come near Andy. For her part, Sam's partner seemed completely oblivious to the looks that her former fiancée was sending her way and he was grateful. While on the surface, Andy seemed to be dealing with the situation well, she had slipped up a few times, but it only ever seemed to be to him. When she'd seen his look of concern for her and his questions written on his face, she had shut herself down asking him for time and space.

That was the kicker in the entire situation was she hadn't really told Sam or apparently anyone beyond Traci what happened. He was trying to respect her wishes, trying to give her what she was asking of him, even if it was the exact opposite of what his gut was telling him. He had been pushing her to trust her own gut, to trust herself, so how could he not trust her?

When the flowers showed up, Sam thought he might just gag. Callaghan had been trying to get her attentions with little gifts here and there, but apparently he hadn't learned his lesson yet. Throwing flashy presents at an angry Andy McNally, might just get someone hurt.

Sam watched her as she looked up to the delivery man who looked a little bit nervous clearly having remembered his last encounter with her when she'd asked him to kindly not return again with anymore deliveries from that sender. Sam had been amused by her antics, but she was bear to deal with the rest of that day. He leaned back in his chair and failed to keep the slight smirk from his face as he laced his hands together and place them behind his head to watch the show.

The bouquet seemed to be a bit different from the elegant flowers she had gotten before. It looked like a simple rugged offering of wildflowers. It wasn't elegant roses or lilies that Callaghan had sent her over the previous few weeks, but that didn't mean it was beautiful. Out of the corner of his eye, Sam saw Callaghan come to stand in the door. It looked like Callaghan had come to watch his handy work. Sam shot him a cocky grin that earned him a glare.

He heard Andy threatening the delivery man again reminding him that she had a gun and would shoot him if he brought her anything from a Luke Callaghan ever again. Sam's eyes were ripped from Callaghan's sour face when the man quickly exclaimed that these weren't from that man and he was just the messenger and not to shoot him. He then handed her a travel mug.

Andy looked at him clearly confused and he muttered something about it being tea with lemon and honey in it and that it was part of the delivery. He watched her look down at the cup with a leery expression and then open it and smelled it. She shrugged and set the cup down reaching for the card in the flowers. Sam's eyes darted from the very angry Detective Callaghan to Andy's flushed face that possessed a slight smile. A colored flyer fell our of the card and she opened it and her smile got a little bit better. Callaghan definitely didn't send these flowers.

Sam could feel his mood darkening and he was almost surprised at the venom that laced his voice. "Since when do you drink tea McNally?

She looked at him somewhat startled and leaned in to smell her flowers. She actually shrugged at him and picked up the flowers and turning to head to the locker room. "Who said I only liked coffee Swarek?"

That was it he thought at he watched her walk away looking smug. He was definitely going to kill the mystery man. His only thought was how he'd drag it out so it was slow and painful, and whether or not he could talk Ollie and Jerry into helping him cover his tracks and come up with an air tight alibi.

O o O o O o O

By the time the end of the shift had come around, the rookies excluding McNally had nearly tortured each other with texts flying back and forth between them about her mystery man, he disappearing acts of the last few weeks, her lack of answers, even the tattoo on her hip that she wouldn't show any of them. And by the time they got back to the barn, they knew about the mystery flowers, the tea, and Swarek's increasingly bad mood.

It had been universally acknowledged that they would all try to ambush her again tonight after Traci forced her to go the Penny. Traci saw Andy already half dressed in the locker room and was somewhat surprised. She usually didn't seem in too much of a hurry to leave. The bandage on her hip has a glaring mark against her tanned skin. Without thinking, Traci really couldn't help herself, she reached out and got her fingers on the corner of Andy's bandage that had started peeling away from her skin and ripped.

Andy's yelp of pain brought the other three rookies who'd been standing outside of the locker room door running in. They saw Traci holding Andy's bandage in her hand and Andy jumping up and down in her bra and unfastened dark jeans waving air onto her hip.

"Damn it Traci," she howled. "What'd you do that for?"

Traci was mildly shocked at her own actions but narrowed her eyes at Andy all the same. "Because you're acting like an idiot lately."

While the two best friends were trying to stare the other down, Chris moved forward to push between them and gently ran his fingers over Andy's hip. He was looking at her tattoo and then up at her with a question in his eyes.

On Andy's hip was a simple, yet beautiful tattoo that seemed to be an eye made up of only lines. The black ink stood out against the inflamed skin around it. "Why do have an eye on your hip?"

Andy let out a breath and turned her hip letting Dov and Gail get a proper look at it too. "Its the evil eye," she stated before reaching for her simple white vneck shirt and slipping it on over head head. Seeing her friends confused looks she reached down to tie her sneakers.

"It's a symbol of luck. If one wears the evil eye it's supposed to keep bad things away and protect the wearer from mishaps and danger." When she finished with explanation she looked up at her friends and shrugged. "It seemed appropriate for me at least Jake thought so, especially after hearing about all the crap I'd been through this year. He said Sam would appreciate this tattoo since it might help him if I had a good luck ward."

"So you you avoid us for weeks, dodge our questions about your welfare, then practically announce to everyone at the Penny last night that you're sleeping with some guy we've never met after you literally jump him in front of all of us and then get a tattoo because he thinks it'd be a good idea!"

The other four rookies were momentarily shocked at Chris' outburst, but clearly they were all thinking it. When Chris started to pace, he hands waved around as well. He turned to look at her with an angry expression. "And who is this guy to think that Sam Swarek of all people would appreciate any thing she put on her body because some guy told her to do it?"

Andy had the good sense to look down at the floor and then surprised them all when she slammed her locker door shut. "You know what," her tone was quiet but angry. "I need some time and space from everything. I love you guys and Jake gives me that. He doesn't work here, he didn't' see me and Luke together, I don't have to face him every day. He lets me fall apart without feeling like I failed him. I love you guys, I do. But this relationship isn't something you'll understand, but he's only home for a short amount of time and I'm going to spend as much time with him as I can!"

When Andy finished her speech she turned to leave in a hurry throwing over her shoulder that she'd see them tomorrow and that she and Jake would explain. But that it had to wait.

Traci huffed and looked at her friends. "She's an idiot if she thinks I'm gonna let this go."

With that Traci turned to Andy's locker and begin spinning the lock entering a combination she knew almost as well as her own. When the door popped open, Traci saw the flowers and then the card that had come with them. She reached in took the card reading it and ignoring Dov's protests about Andy getting mad about them all snooping.

"I think we know where she's going tonight," Traci said smartly as she went to leave the locker room.

"Where are you going?" Chris asked her as they collectively begin to follow her.

"To show Swarek this card," she waved it over her head not turning back. "Something tells me he's gonna want to see it."

Gail, Chris and Dov looked between themselves with a bit of worry, but hurried after Traci nearly tripping over themselves. There was no way they were going to miss Swarek's reaction, even if it was something that might strike terror into their hearts.

O o O o O o O

Oliver couldn't help but notice and consequently make fun of Sam's bad mood. The whole station knew about Andy receiving flowers and cup of tea earlier and that she seemed pleased with it. He had from Diaz who'd received a call from Traci, who'd heard from Barber, who'd witnessed first hand Callaghan freaking out over McNally happily receiving flowers from someone else when she'd adamantly refused gifts from him.

If looks could kill, Oliver would be dead at least ten times over. That only made him and Jerry grin more as they continued to rile Sam up. Their friend had been uncharacteristically quiet as they relayed how they found out about the flowers. He was refusing to give them any kind of reaction when they all saw the other rookies gathering outside of th women's locker room.

They were playing rock, paper, scissors, and clearly Traci Nash had lost. She scowled at her friends and spun on her heel and stalked determinedly into the locker room. Shaw couldn't resist, "Looks they rooks are ganging up on your girl again Sammy."

"She's not my girl," Sam nearly growled. He hadn't taken his eyes off of the rookies though. Sam knew that he had narrowed his eyes at them. Even if he was mad at her right now, he didn't like that they were and that there answer was to ambush her. Then again, if the isolated and pissed her off enough, it might drive her to him so that they could finally talk this thing out.

Sam and his friends jumped when they heard a painful yelp come from the locker room and the other three rookies hurried into the room. Sam toko a step forward only to feel Jerry's hand fall on his chest. "Let them sort it out Sammy. Traci has been all fired up since she say that bandage this morning."

Sam nodded and waited impatiently for something else to happen. The door to the women's locker room seemed to be taunting him as it stayed steadfastly shut. Suddenly, it flung open and a very flustered McNally stormed out. Sam's eyes followed her high tailing it out of the barn via the side door. She was certainly pissed off.

He was debating whether or not to follow her when Nash appeared in front of him with her hand outstretched. She held the card that had come with the flowers out to him. "Here you might want to read this. By the way, the guy's name is Jake, and he got Andy to get a tattoo of an evil eye to protect her from bad things because he told her that you would appreciate it."

Sam felt his anger flare that Andy would allow herself to be guided to believing how he would feel about something by some other guy he'd never even said hello to. He reached out to get the card from Nash's outstretched hand opened it.

Andy,

Wildflowers always remind me of you and make me smile. So, smile. You deserve it more than anyone else I know. Drink the tea, lemon and honey are good for soothing sore throats.

Can't wait to see you tonight, your voice always take my breath away. Try to be on time for once!

XOXO

Jake

Inside the card was a fluorescent flyer. He unfolded it and saw that it was advertising a band at a new bar down town. The show was starting in a little over an hour. Sam made up his mind right then and there that he was crashing this little date. He looked up to see that Traci felt the same way and both of his friends nodded as they looked at the flyer.

Andy was going to be pissed and maybe if he got lucky, he'd get to punch this Jake guy and get some answers from her, even it was going to hurt.

O o O o O o O

Am I totally evil?