A/N: OMG! Y'all blow me away! The response to the note on Ch. 6 was ... WOW! Your support ... there are no words!

To those asking me to keep writing: It'd probably be easier not to breathe, than to stop writing, so the guest from hell ISN'T gonna stop me ... as long as the voices use my brain as their personal playground & the other ½ of my brain says it's good enough, you'll see it ... oh, & thank you! :-)

Thanks for comin' along for the ride ... hope it's still 1 you're glad you came on, I know I'm glad you're here!


"Y'know I never did ask Charlie if you were the perfect rookie," Andy said as they crawled in bed.

"For that you have my undying love," Sam said with a chuckle as he wrapped his arms around her.

Andy leaned back to look at him. "You mean I didn't before?"

Sam laughed as he leaned to kiss her. "You know you did."

Andy raised her eyebrows. "Did?"

Sam pulled her back into his arms. "Always have, always will," he whispered against her lips. "I always loved his stories," he said as he cradled her against him. "But the ones he'd tell you, would be my most embarrassing moments."

"Those are the ones I wanna hear," she said with a laugh.

Sam rolled his eyes.

"Hey! You've been there for my most embarrassing moments, it's only fair ... unless you're keeping them as teaching moments for when our kids take after you ..."

Sam laughed and said, "It's a good thing you're cute," before he kissed her.

"You've said that before," she mumbled against his lips.

They settled into bed, her head on his chest, his arms around her.

He thought she'd fallen asleep when he heard her soft, "Would you really have walked away, knowing Charlie ..."

"We'll never know will we? What was that at the Barn?"

When Andy didn't say anything, Sam looked down at her and asked, "Babe, what did you do?"

Andy gave a hurt look."Who says I did anything?"

"You disappeared."

Andy knew she couldn't deny it. "There was somethin' I had t'do."

"And that somethin' was? Come on, Babe, talk to me ... where'd you go? What'd you do?"

Andy wasn't going to lie about it. "I paid Charlie a visit."

Sam was shocked.

"And I reminded him who you were ..."

"And there it is, that lion's heart of yours. I don't know what you said, I don't care what you said, the man that walked into that station tonight, that is the man ..."

Andy leaned up and kissed him. "I know. And that's why I did it ... What's gonna happen?"

"I dunno. What I do know is that I'll be there for him the way he was there for me ..."

Andy smiled. "I know. You told me a long time ago, you're there when it matters, and right now, it matters to Charlie ... and it matters to you."

"Yeah, it does," he said softly.

They were sitting at the island in Sam's kitchen the next morning having coffee when Andy said, "Do me a favor?"

"Anything, you know that."

"Promise me you won't teach our kids how to fence stolen car parts."

Sam almost choked on his coffee. "Son of a ..."

Andy laughed softly.

"Charlie and his damn stories! I knew I shouldn't've left you alone with him."

Andy slid off the stool and stood next to him wrapping her arms around him. Sam wrapped his around her waist.

"Technically I wasn't alone, Traci was there ..."

Sam groaned and pinched his eyes closed.

Andy laughed softly.

They finished their coffees and headed for the Barn.

End of shift everybody tried to get Andy to agree to drinks at the Penny but she begged off. It even took a lot of coaxing for Sam to get her to agree to go.

Traci had just got done telling everybody about the McSwarek PDA at the Barn when Sam and Andy walked in.

"Swarek doesn't do PDAs, Traci," Dov commented.

"Maybe not with you, manboy, but he definitely does with her," Gail said pointing to Sam and Andy.

Sam's hand was on the small of Andy's back as they walked through the Penny's door. Leaning close to her ear so she could hear, he said, "Go join the rookies." Andy looked up at him. "I'll be there after I set up our tab."

Andy couldn't help the smile which made Sam smile, full dimples.

Andy saw Oliver sitting at the bar. "Bring Oliver with ya when you find your way to the table."

"Cute brunette, shouldn't take me long."

"If that was true it wouldn't've taken you 4 years ..." Andy grumbled.

Sam wrapped both arms around her.

"You sure you wanna do that?" she teased wrapping her arms around his waist. "I mean this isn't your house, my apartment - not that we spend much time there anyway - or the Barn when nobody's payin' attention ..."

Sam laughed and showed her just how sure he was by kissing her.

Andy was smiling as she walked to the table.

At the bar, Sam wrapped an arm around Oliver's shoulders. "Hey brother."

"Hey Sammy," Oliver smiled. "How's our girl?"

"Ask her yourself when you join us."

"Us?"

Sam just smiled, he was still smiling when Liam came over.

"Sammy, I'm gonna take a guess and say Andy's on your tab tonight?" Liam asked with a smile.

"Tonight and every night, man," Sam said with a smile as Liam set their drinks on the bar.

"Thanks man," he told Liam as he grabbed the drinks and kicked Oliver's stool. When Oliver looked at him all Sam said was, "Let's go."

Andy was almost afraid to go over without Sam after what just happened. She sat on the empty stool and waited for the interrogation to begin.

Everybody stared when Sam walked up behind her and set Andy's beer in front of her. She leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her.

Oliver smacked Sam in the shoulder, he dropped his arm and Oliver smiled as he kissed her temple.

Andy laughed. "Hi Oliver."

"Hi McNally."

"What is it with guys kissin' you lately, McNally?" Sam teased as his arm found its way back around her. "First Charlie, now Shaw?"

"Better question, Swarek, is, is she kissin' them back?" Gail asked with a smirk.

"Well, we know she kisses Swarek back," Dov said in a loud whisper and got a smack in the head for it.

"Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head. "Oh come on! We all saw it."

"Epstein, there's a reason you're single," Nick laughed.

"What's your excuse?" Gail asked looking at Nick.

"Be nice, little sister," Steve said walking up to the table.

Gail rolled her eyes but made room for him.

"I've spent 2 days in the morgue, I don't have to be nice."

"We wouldn't know her if she was," Traci laughed.

"Bitch," Gail said with a laugh.

"Are you guys always like this?" Chloe asked.

Dov looked around and nodded. "Pretty much."

"The only thing missin' is Chris," Andy offered.

"Somebody mention me," Chris said walking up.

All the rookies jumped up and ran to Chris.

"What are you doin' here? Timmins not exciting enough for you?" Dov teased.

"Chris? What's wrong?" Gail knew the second she saw him something was off.

Chris ignored Gail's question as he hugged and shook hands with everybody.

"Where's Denise? Christian?"

Chris didn't answer as another spot was made at the table for him and a glass appeared in front of him.

"Chris!" Chris looked at Gail. 'Where's Denise?"

"Timmins."

"What happened?"

When Chris didn't answer Dov, Gail repeated the question.

"Not tonight, Gail."

Traci looked at Chris and said, "Spill it choirboy ... now!"

Chris stared at his glass as he said, "She lied."

Everybody was confused. "About?"

"Christian."

Chris' voice was barely audible with the noise but it was heard, his words shocking everyone.

"I knew it!" Dov said softly and got another smack in the head. "Hey!" he said rubbing his head.

"Epstein, now is not the time," Oliver said.

"Diaz! Back to visit so soon?"

Chris took a deep breath. "No, Sir."

Frank looked at his former rookie. "You alright, Diaz?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Pull up a seat, brother," Sam said. Frank and Noelle pulled up two more stools. "We're all here, Diaz, might as well fill everybody in at once. Get it over with."

"Christian got hurt at daycare. When I got to the hospital Denise was arguing with some guy. I got there in time to hear him call Christian his son and for Denise to tell him to keep his voice down. When I confronted her about it, she admitted he isn't mine so I packed my bags and left."

Nobody knew what to say. His friends were stunned.

"And you just ended up in a Toronto bar?" Chloe asked making everyone laugh.

"It's called coming home," Gail said linking her arm through Chris'.

"Speaking of home, where are you gonna stay?" Noelle couldn't help but ask.

Chris shrugged. "At a hotel for the night. I'll look for a place tomorrow."

Sam whispered something in Andy's ear. She turned to look at him. He smiled at her unspoken question. She smiled and turned back around.

"I got a better idea. We have a better idea ... why don't you stay at my place?"

"Andy, no, I ..."

"She'll be at Swarek's, Chris," Gail said to make it easier for Chris to say yes.

Chris looked at Gail then at Sam and Andy. "Andy, are you sure? I don't wanna chase you outta your own home."

Sam smiled as he answered. "You're not."

Chris looked at Andy for confirmation. She nodded.

"Ok. That would be awesome, thank you."

Sam fished her keys out. Andy handed them to Chris.

Without knowing Oliver's situation Chloe said, "Who says you can't go home?"

Everybody looked at Oliver as he got to his feet. He clapped Sam on the back and kissed the top of Andy's head as he said, "See you guys tomorrow."

Noelle looked at Frank. "We should probably go too before the babysitter ..."

Frank was already on his feet. "Diaz, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, Sir."

Sam thought Andy would want to stay and visit with Chris, she surprised him when she leaned back and asked if he was ready to go.

"We can stay if you wanna catch up with Diaz," he whispered.

"No. We'll catch up later."

Sam kissed her cheek. "Then let's go home."

Andy slid off her stool and went to hug Chris before saying goodnight while Sam went to pay their tab.

Sam knew something was bothering her but waited until they were in the truck on the way home to ask.

"I'm fine."

Sam looked over at her as he reached across the console for her hand. "Yeah, ok, now tell me what's goin' on."

Andy couldn't help the smile. "Just a long day ... then Chris ... yeah, I feel bad for Chris, but ..."

"But you're thinkin' about Christian." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yeah. I don't know if she's lied to him all his life telling him Chris was his Daddy but she's lied to both of them for almost a year. He's just a little boy, he may not remember once he's older but right now, he just knows his Daddy left him ..."

"Makes you wonder how long she thought she'd get away with it."

"That's a scary thought."

Chloe looked around at the now half empty table and asked no one in particular, "Was it something I said?"

"You can't really be that clueless?" Gail commented.

"Excuse me?"

"Be nice," Steve whispered.

Gail looked at her brother. "Seriously? Oliver was still wearing his ring when Little Miss Weirdo showed up. He quits wearing it and she doesn't even bother to notice?!"

"It's none of my ..." Chloe defended weakly.

"Yeah, like my relationship with Nick was none of your business?"

"Ok, wait, what?" Chris looked between Gail and Nick who shook his head. "I'm gone for a couple of months ..."

"Lemme bring you up to speed, my brother," Dov said putting an arm around Chris' neck. "Swarek and Andy are back together ... it was just a matter of time. Gail and Nick aren't ... don't ask me why, I don't understand it either. Oliver going back to Zoe lasted like a nanosecond before he moved out and she moved the boyfriend in, now they're gettin' a divorce."

"Oliver?"

"I know right?"

Chris looked at Gail then at Nick. "What happened?"

"Not important," was Gail's answer while Nick gave him the same answer he'd given Andy when she asked, "Don't wanna talk about it."

Chris looked at Dov.

"Sorry, don't know the details."

Chris looked at Steve. "Since when d'you hang out at the Penny?"

"Since he's tryin' to get Traci to go out with him," Gail said with a smirk when Traci looked at her.

"Gail, you and I are gonna talk ..." Traci said half under her breath.

"About what you should wear on your date?" Gail teased.

"Please tell me you don't take wardrobe advice from my sister?" Steve said looking at Gail.

Gail laughed softly and bumping Steve's shoulder softly said, "Remind me why I love you?"

Steve just hugged her and laughed.

Chris got up. "Listen guys, I been on the road for over eight hours, I'm outta here ... I'll see ya tomorrow."

His friends bid him goodnight and he left.

"I told him to get a test! Denise just showin' up like that? Didn't feel right."

"Dov, it's Chris ..." Gail stated, rolling her eyes.

"Exactly."

"So what? He gets the test and becomes a cynic like Gail?" Traci asked before looking at Gail as she smiled gently and softly said, "Sorry."

Gail just smiled back.

"You realize you're stuck with me?" Andy asked as they walked into the kitchen

"Been stuck with you for the better part of 4 years, McNally, nothin' new about that."

Andy rolled her eyes. "You coulda got rid of me if you wanted to," she laughed.

"Why? We make a good team, you and me."

Andy smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, thinking back to the first time he said that to her. She was undercover as a waitress, working a drug bust, Sam being Sam, he wasn't very far away. She managed to sneak out with the manager's phone that had a picture of her boyfriend on it. Sam took a picture of it and before she went back inside he smiled and said they made a good team. He was in the truck listening in on her wire. She started out talking about her relationship with Luke but ended up talking about her and Sam.

"Yeah, we did ... then you went and changed partners."

"Can't hold your hand all the time, McNally," he teased. "But I better not hear you're holdin' hands with any of your other partners ..."

"Kiss off," she laughed pushing away from him.

Sam grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'd rather kiss you!" he said before he kissed her.