I would first like to say thank you to several who have left reviews. I love them and am glad to see you like the story.

Thank you to: dcj, Joshiecat, aolande1, Mamaverd, kmart92 and rookiebluefan

Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue, its characters or plotlines. I still wish I could steal Ben Bass, but I don't think his new wife would like that too much.

Sam got to work in record time, changed into his uniform and headed in to parade. The familiar five rookies were all absent, for once all having the day off. Shaw was at the back table with Noelle. It was a rare occurrence for the three of them to be at work without a rookie tailing them. Sam swung up onto the table next to Shaw and gulped down half his bottle of water. Noelle waved hello and Shaw slapped him on the back, just as Best walked in.

"All right, quiet down, every one," Best said, striding up to the podium. He turned and looked out at the assembled coppers. "Today is a great day. Today there are no rookies on shift," he stated with a grin. There were whoops and hollers, Sam grinned and tried to keep his mind from wandering to one particular rookie and what she might be up to, alone in his house.

"So, that being said, today should go smoothly, keep your eyes open, get what collars you can," Best continued. "Serve, protect and get out of here!"

Sam leapt off the table and headed out. Today would probably be the slowest day on record for him. He was riding alone for the first time in months. He would be alone with his thoughts, no idle chatter from the passenger seat, no hyped up Dov ready to prove himself, just him. He wasn't sure he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. As he gathered his bag and dropped his truck keys off at his desk, he saw Callahan make his way to the D's office. Jerry was the only other detective in and Callahan barely nodded to him before sitting down at his desk. Sam's eyes narrowed, there was nothing more he wished to do than to take a punch at the guy, but he had promised McNally and he would keep the promise.

He was tired when he finally pulled into his driveway that night. The backyard light was on, but the rest of the house was devoid of light. Sam rubbed a hand across his eyes, grabbed his bag and jumped out of his truck. He made sure to lock it before heading towards the house. He hadn't stopped thinking about McNally all day. She was there when he stopped with Shaw for lunch at their favorite diner. She was there when he arrested a disorderly drunk walking down the middle of the street in his underwear. Everywhere he went McNally was in the back of his mind. He could hear her commentating on the action, or rolling her eyes or smiling that amazing smile of hers when something funny happened, like when the drunk had resisted arrest and fell on him. Trying to get a 250 pounds unconscious man off of him, while keeping his junk in the underwear would have been over the top for McNally. She would have been laughing hysterically.

Now all he wanted was food and TV and McNally for company. Sam strode into the house, flipping on the kitchen light.

"McNally?" He called. There was no answer. "McNally?" Sam called again, heading up the stairs. He peeked into her room and found it empty. The bed had been hastily made which made him smile. Her things were still scattered on the dresser and the bathroom yielded more feminine products than a Macy's department store.

Sam shrugged and headed back downstairs. He was about to grab a beer out of the fridge when a white sheet of paper caught his eye.

Going out to Vestibule with Traci. Dinner in the oven. Don't wait up.

Andy

Sam opened the oven and found a casserole simmering on warm. He was surprised he hadn't smelled it at first, but then his thoughts were focused on McNally. He pulled the baking dish out and prepared a plate, grabbed a beer and was about to head into the living room when something the note said came back to him.

He read through the note quickly, before groaning out loud, "Vestibule? What the hell is she thinking?" Sam muttered.

A former cop and known drug dealer currently owned Vestibule. She had worked there undercover a few months ago. There was no reason why she should have gone there. The owner knew she was a cop and wouldn't want her any where near his drug dealings. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the remainder of the evening, Sam wolfed down the food and went to change into something less casual and more club-worthy.

Andy had spent the majority of the day apartment hunting and had finally given up after leaving several messages to landlords to call her back. She had grown restless at Sam's. It wasn't her home and no matter how much she felt at home there, she still needed to get out. So she had called Tori. They had struck up a friendship while Andy worked with her at Vestibule. Even after Tori had found out she was cop; they still talked regularly on the phone. Andy wanted to get out. She wanted to hear music so loud she wouldn't be able to think any more. She wanted to get piss drunk and dance with strangers and just enjoy herself. She was feeling reckless.

She had made dinner and kept it in the oven for when Sam got home. She left him a note not to wait up. Traci had offered to go with her. Jerry was working late and Leo was with Dex for the weekend. They had the entire evening to themselves.

Tori had procured one of the VIP sections overlooking the dance floor for them. There were several couches and tables with candlelight, not that it was needed as the lights from the dance floor were pulsing red, blue and green. The music was loud and throbbing. Tori had invited several of her friends along as well and they all sat and screamed at each other trying to hear over the music. Andy couldn't help but notice Tori's friend, Hank, staring at her every now and then. He sat across from her and Val, a bright bubbly blonde with vivid blue eyes.

"Hank has been staring all night," Val said loudly into Andy's ear. "You should dance with him. He's got amazing moves on the dance floor."

"Why don't you dance with him then," Andy said back with a smile.

"I've got a man. He's not really into this kind of music," Val said with a shake of her head.

"He doesn't mind you coming without him?" Andy asked.

Val shook her head to answer causing her blonde curls to bounce. She really was stunning, just a little younger than Andy. She had said she was going to college to become a lawyer. The image of her in a power suit sitting in a courtroom didn't match up with her lithe body snuggly wrapped in a barely there mini dress. Val was fun to talk to and she helped keep Andy's mind off Luke and Sam. Andy caught Traci's eye and then raised her eyebrow when she saw her head to the dance floor with another of Tori's guy friends. Traci grinned and shrugged. Traci loved to dance.

"How are you holding up, Andy?" Tori said, sitting down beside her and Val on the couch.

"Better. The alcohol is working like magic," Andy replied with a slight giggle.

"I'm sorry to hear about your guy. You know, Hank is great. He can help you forget for a little bit," Tori said, nodding towards Hank who was working his way over to the ladies on the couch.

"Do you feel like dancing," Hank asked her with a smile. Andy smiled back considering. It was then she felt the atmosphere change. She could feel him . . . Sam. He was somewhere in the building. She knew that by leaving the note telling him where she would be might make him come get her. Andy looked up and found Sam shouldering his way past the last few partiers in the VIP section next to theirs. Her breath caught in her throat, he was so damn gorgeous. He practically exuded sex appeal. There were several women in the near vicinity checking him out. Sam wore his trademark-faded blue jeans, a white t-shirt and black button up shirt over it. His hair was styled a little more spiky than usual.

Andy grinned at him and he smiled back. She was about to stand up to greet him, when Val shot out of her seat squealing, "Sammy!" She hurled across the space and launched herself into his arms. Andy sat there shocked as Val pressed her body fully against his and kissed him for all she was worth. Seeing Sam's hands grab Val's waist was more than she could handle.

"I'm ready for that dance," Andy said and pulled Hank with her and away from Sam, who was apparently Val's man.