Hey there everyone! I know it's been super extra long, but life has been hectic in the last couple of months! With school (and a looot of studying) and work (I actually have to find a new job in the next couple of weeks) and life (trying to find an apartment and crazy other stuff) I just haven't had time to write! But I found some time a couple of weeks ago and started this! I wanted to do it in two parts, but ended up just doing it in one! So it's SUPER duper long! Like 7k+... I hope you'll like it!
Thanks to the usual, Kristin, Stacy, you know I appreciate your comments and your opinion on this! And special thanks to Lissa for going over the whole thing and pointing out mistakes and French induced wording! I love you all for doing this! This fandom is awesome!
Without further word, I leave you to this chapter... ENJOY! I'll see you at the bottom!
When Sam woke up the next morning, it took him a few seconds to realize where he was. He was still sitting on the uncomfortable hospital chair, his head lying on his arms that were crossed on the bed. His neck and back were hurting like crazy and he tried to straighten up a bit, opening his eyes at the same moment. The bed was now empty and the blankets were messed up where Andy used to be. His heart was beating a little faster as he fully woke up, looking all around him to see where she had gone.
"Andy?" He asked, trying to keep his voice on a normal tone.
Not hearing any response he got up, groaning from the pain that shot through his back. He was not used to sleep in this position and he stretched his back, making his neck crack as he shook his head quickly, running a hand through his messed up hair.
The hospital room was definitely empty and he could see the door to the bathroom half opened so she wasn't there either. Walking towards the door of the room he tried telling himself that he was anxious for no reason; that she was probably fine.
Sam put his hand on the doorknob and as he was about to turn it, it turned on its own, the door nearly hitting him in the shoulder as he was suddenly faced with the young woman he was looking for. Andy was trying to carry two coffees, holding them half with her good hand and half with her injured wrist.
She was as startled as Sam to find someone on the other side of the door and she almost dropped the beverages she was carrying. The cardboard mugs were on the verge of falling when he grabbed one of them, sliding his other hand behind her to steady her shaky pace.
"Woh there, woh. What are you doing with those?" He asked as she stumbled a little forward, stopping so close to him she could see the stubble that was starting to grow on his chin.
She raised her eyes, meeting his as he stared at her with a look that clearly meant 'You should be in bed and not walking around with coffees in your hands right now'. Lost in his eyes, she opened her mouth, trying to find something to reply but the proximity of his body was making her feel all kinds of things.
"I thought you'd like some coffee." She stuttered, lowering back her eyes as she felt a blush make its way to her cheeks.
"You shouldn't be walking around like that." He told her, not moving as he kept staring at her; she could feel his eyes on her even now that she wasn't looking at him anymore.
"I'm not some kind of child. I'm fine." She told him, a little annoyed that he was treating her like some a sick old lady or something.
"I never said that." He started with a softer voice, lowering his head as he tried to catch her gaze. "I'm just saying that you were hurt, you need to take care of yourself." He added as she finally looked at him and got lost in the depth of his brown eyes.
His gaze was soft, tender, and he gave her a small smile as she stood there, looking at him, his arm still behind her. She nodded, not trusting her voice to talk right now. Seriously, this man was having such an effect on her she didn't understand it at all. She had never in her life met someone to whom she was attracted to that bad. She didn't even know him that much but she couldn't help it.
"Just give me that." He said as he took his arm from her back, grabbing the second coffee, taking her lack of talking for an agreement. "Let's get you back to bed." He continued, taking a step back as he held the door open with his back, letting her walk in front of him before he followed her.
Andy made her way to the bed and slowly sat as she tried to get up on it without putting any weight on her injured wrist. She had to confess that he was right; she didn't feel that well at the moment. Although her head had stopped pounding, her whole face was still sore and she knew that it was probably swollen and badly bruised.
"Next time you just wait for me to wake up; I'll get you coffee." He told her as he sat on the edge of the bed, handing her the warm cup.
"Oh because there will be a next time?" She asked in a playful tone, trying to change the serious air around them.
"You know what I meant." He just replied, not really answering her flirty remark but his tone was still softer than it was earlier, a small smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
"I do. I just wanted to get you coffee. I feel bad that you slept here all night. You must be exhausted." She explained, biting her lower lip mindlessly before she took a small sip of her coffee.
"It's okay; I'm not that bad actually. My back hurts but I slept alright." He told her, looking at her as he brought the cup to his mouth.
"Are you working today?" She asked him, lowering her head to stare at the drink in her hands; his stare just too intense for her to hold.
"I was supposed to work all night yesterday and take the late afternoon shift tonight but I'll have to go in early and take care of what happened last night." He explained to her, rubbing his eyes with his left hand and wrinkling his eyes as he looked back at her.
"Oh yeah, I didn't think about that. I messed everything up didn't I?" Andy said under her breath, chuckling softly as she kept staring at her hands, not wanting to look at him.
"Andy, don't say that. You need to stop blaming yourself for everything that happened." Sam tried to tell her but she just shook her head, shrugging before she finally raised back her eyes to his.
"I knew it would happen one day. I just should've left after what happened with my wrist, I was stupid enough to believe him. Again." She told him, rolling her eyes as she shook her head again, sighing.
"You wanted to believe; there's nothing wrong with that. Just do me a favor, please don't go back there." Sam asked her on a serious voice as her eyes crossed path with his again.
"I won't. Trust me, I don't wanna go back. I just need to find somewhere to go." She said with a nod, agreeing with the statement he had just made.
"Is there someone I could call?" He asked her; not really knowing if she had family or friends who could take her in while things settled down.
"There's no way I'm going to my dad's. He never believed me about Christopher anyway and I really don't want to face him right now." She answered sadly, trying not to think about it too much.
"Maybe a friend then?" He continued on a gentle tone.
"I know Traci would gladly help, but she has a kid, works impossible hours and she lives in a super small apartment. I don't want to be a burden for her; she already has enough on her mind right now." She said, concentrating on the coffee cup she was holding.
"I know a place you can go; it's a woman's shelter, a friend of mine, Gabrielle, runs it. I'll take care of that if you want." He told her before he took another sip of the warm drink he was holding in his hand.
She opened her mouth to talk but the door opened at the same moment, a nurse walking inside holding a chart. Sam quickly turned to look at her as she walked towards them smiling.
"I see you're awake." She stated while Sam got up, taking a few steps away from the bed to let her stand next to Andy. "How are you feeling?" The woman asked, lifting the top of the chart to read the notes.
"I'm fine." She said even if she wasn't that fine, but she didn't want to spend another day at the hospital, and she did feel better this morning.
"Are you telling me the truth here?" The nurse asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief as she took a look to Andy's swollen face.
"I am. My face is sore, but apart from that I'm fine." The young woman repeated, nodding and smiling to make her point.
"And how's your wrist?" She asked, going through the first couple of pages of the chart before raising back her eyes to look at Andy.
"It's good. It's not worse than it was before all of that." Andy tried to convince her, holding her arm in the air and moving it around with a small smile.
"Okay, I guess you should be able to go home today then. We'll give you something for the pain and you'll have to come back in a few days to get the stitches on your forehead removed but I don't see any reason to keep you here." She started as Andy nodded and smiled, happy with what the nurse had just said. "I'll send someone in with the paperwork to fill out, and feel free to come back if there's anything else. Do you have someone to take you home?" She continued, closing the chart and putting it under her arm.
"Yes, I'll take care of that." Sam replied from the back. "And I'll also make sure she takes it slow and comes back if she doesn't feel better." He continued, crossing his arms with a look that made her sure that he would actually do it.
"Everything is perfect then. Take care of yourself." The older woman told her before she walked out of the room, wishing them both a good day.
Waiting for the door to close behind the nurse, Sam went back to the bed, setting down his now almost empty cup of coffee on the table next on the nightstand.
"You sure you have time to take care of this?" Andy asked, wondering how he would be able to do this and still be on time for work.
"Of course, don't worry about it." He said waving this hand in front of him, brushing off what she just said like if it was a silly idea.
"Okay then, I'll get ready." She told him, turning to the side of the bed as he slid his hand under her arm to help her up.
He took a step back when she was fully standing on her feet and gave her a smile that she reciprocated, allowing herself to enjoy the security she was feeling when he was that close to her before she walked to the bathroom.
A nurse came in half an hour later with the paperwork to sign and everything was settled in a little over an hour. It was a bit past noon when they both walked out of the hospital, a cab waiting for them in the parking lot. Sam quickly made his way in front of her and opened the door, holding it so she could enter in front of him.
"Thanks." She said with a smile as she slid on the backseat, trying not to hit her casted wrist as she did.
Sam nodded in acknowledgement before he got in the car behind her, closing the door before he leaned towards the driver to give him the address of where they were going. The guy nodded before he drove out of the parking lot.
"Like I told you earlier, I've already made arrangements for you there, it's not perfect, but it's only temporary." He explained as the taxi left the hospital and got on the busy streets of Toronto.
The young woman looked out the window as he spoke. He had explained to her where they were going while they were getting ready to leave the hospital. She didn't like it when people took care of things for her, and she didn't really want to stay in a shelter, but since she didn't have much choice and so she had let him do it. She didn't want to call her dad, not after the last they had, and she didn't want to bother Traci.
"Thank you. For everything." Andy said genuinely, looking at him with a smile, hoping that he understood everything that all of this meant for her.
"It's nothing really. I wish I could do more." He told her, resting his hand on her shoulder for a second before he took it back.
"You already did enough. Trust me, it's perfect." She replied shaking her head softly, she really needed him to understand how much it meant to her.
Sam didn't reply, but he nodded and she smiled at him as the taxi continued to make its way across the city. Turning back to the window, she laid back her head against the headrest, closing her eyes for a second. She didn't have a clue as to how she would make it work, but she knew one thing: there was no way she was going back to her boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend really, she thought to herself.
"You know what you're going to do now? You will file a complaint against him right?" Sam asked her just as if he could read her mind just like an open book.
Sighing softly, the young woman hid her face in both her hands before looking back at him. "Not really. But I'll figure it out. And yes, I will file a complaint." She said with a small nod, trying to convince herself at the same time she tried to convince him.
"If you ever need anything you know where to find me. Maybe take a couple of days and come to the station." He told her as the taxi came to a stop in front of a house. They had already filled a report on what happened yesterday and pictures had been taken so the only thing left to do was to file an official domestic abuse complaint.
Sam turned to look at where they were, unclasping his seatbelt as he realized they were there. "You just wait for me I'll come back." He told the cab driver before he turned back to Andy. "I'll walk you up." He added for her, opening the door of the car.
Nodding, Andy took off her seatbelt too and followed him outside. It was pretty cold and she shivered, realizing that she didn't have a coat or anything. She was just wearing the same clothes she wore the day before.
"You're going to freeze, I didn't even think about that." Sam said as he saw her shiver when the wind hit her. "You should just take my coat." He continued as he took it off, immediately putting on her shoulder even if she was shaking her head.
"I'm going to be fine, I'm sure they'll lend me something, you'll need your coat." Andy said, trying to give it back to him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer and she stopped arguing.
The piece of clothing was warm and smelled just like him; she didn't feel like giving it back to him anyway. Deciding on doing what she wanted to do instead of what she should do, she nodded before turning to the house. "Thank you."
"Let's go, it's still cold out here and you need to rest." He told her before he started walking towards the house, quickly making his way up the few stairs and ringing the doorbell, Andy following just behind him.
She stopped just beside him as they waited for someone to come at the door and Sam couldn't help but slide his hand on her back, rubbing it in a comforting gesture, only stopping when the door in front of them opened, a middle aged woman looking at them with a smile.
"Hey Sam." She said with a smile. "And it's Andy right? I'm Gabrielle." She said, holding out her hand for Andy to shake.
"Yes, that's me." Andy replied with a smile as the woman in front of her nodded, taking a step back so they could come in and the young woman turned to Sam.
"I have to go, but you can just call me if there's anything." He told her, gently resting his hand on her shoulder as she nodded.
"Thank you again." She said, looking directly into his eyes as he smiled.
She was feeling that crazy attraction again and he was looking at her with an intense gaze that she felt through her entire body. He seemed to be struggling internally with something and she wondered what he was thinking about. She didn't have to ask him though, because he finally seemed to make a choice and he drew her close to him with the hand he had on her shoulder.
Wrapping both his arms around her in a hug, he held her for a few seconds as she put her arms around his neck, letting her head rest on his shoulder for that small moment. She knew she probably shouldn't be doing this, but it just felt right. Andy's heartbeat was a little faster than it normally was and she smiled; she felt safe. For the first time in a while, she actually felt safe, and she didn't want to let go just yet.
He was holding her like if she was some precious treasure he was scared to break but at the same time it felt like he never wanted to let her go and she sighed silently, breathing his scent as he slowly ran his hand up and down her back. He took a step back a couple of seconds later and she reluctantly let go of him, a smile still lingering on her lips.
"Take care of yourself." He said, smiling back at her before he thanked Gabrielle, turning back to the street.
"I will." She told him, keeping her eyes on him until he got in the car before she entered the house and followed the older woman.
Sam sat in the back of the taxi, keeping his eyes locked on Andy until she disappeared behind the door. Only then he gave himself the right to lean back against his seat, closing his eyes for a second. He had to go back home to take a shower and get ready for work but he still felt bad for leaving Andy alone.
The driver slowly made his way across the city as Sam stayed silent, thinking about everything that had happened. He knew he shouldn't be caring that much about that young woman, it was definitely not professional and he knew he could get in trouble if some people knew about it, but he couldn't help it. Ever since that night he first saw her, he felt a strong, deep attraction to her.
At first it was more like a need to keep her safe, to help her get away from that boyfriend of hers, but now it was more than that. He wanted to make her laugh, to see her smile; he wanted to take care of her. Strangest part was that he had never been the loving boyfriend type. Yes, of course he had been in a few relationships, but none of them lasted very long. He was always the one to put an end when it came too serious, he didn't feel like he had time for them, but there was something with Andy that made him want to do anything for her.
He never really felt the need to protect someone like he wanted to protect her. Well, there had been his sister, and he always really felt compelled to take care of her, that was even the reason why he became a cop, but apart from Sarah that was about it. Then Andy came along, and even though he didn't really know her for that long, he knew that he wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to her. It was already killing him that she ended up in the hospital.
Lost in his thoughts, Sam didn't even realize that the taxi had come to a stop in front of his apartment. Pulling out his wallet from his pocket he paid the driver and thanked him before quickly getting out of the car. He had about an hour to get ready before he went to the station. Trying to push back the thoughts about Andy, he hopped in the shower and got dressed before grabbing something to eat from his fridge.
An hour and a half later he was getting out of his truck, walking towards the building in a quick pace, trying to figure out what he would tell his boss about what happened last night.
Oliver was leaning against the door to the locker room and he turned from Noelle who he was talking to, looking at Sam as soon as he walked in.
"Hey, brother, Boyko wants to see you when you get the chance." He told him, sticking his hands in his pockets with a look that made Sam believe that Boyko wasn't the only one who wanted to hear the story of what happened yesterday.
"Yeah, I figured, I'll go and see him." Sam only said, hoping that his friend would leave it there, but he knew Oliver well enough to know that he wouldn't.
"Is everything uh…" He started, looking at the floor and then at Sam again. "Is everything good?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes, everything's fine, just had to make sure everything was okay with her." He replied, putting his hand on the door knob.
"Yeah, sure, of course you had too." Oliver told him on a sarcastic tone that Sam had heard a hundred times before and he just waved his hand in the air, getting inside the locker room to change.
He was knocking on the door of Boyko's office fifteen minutes later, dressed in his uniform and hoping that he wouldn't get in trouble for what happened.
"Come in Swarek." The superior officer told him, looking up from the stack of papers he was working on. "Oliver explained to me what happened yesterday."
"Yes, someone had to make sure she was okay. It was completely professional." Sam started to explain before his old training officer stopped him, shaking his head.
"I'm sure it was, but I don't want you to take this case too personally." He told him, knowing that his rookie seemed to have this case at heart. "I just wanted to tell you that he got released about half an hour ago. There was some more paperwork to be filled but we couldn't keep him longer."
"Sir, you can't let him go out he's jus…" Sam tried saying as Boyko raised his hand, stopping him.
"That's what I didn't want to happen. That's how it works, we don't have to like it but we can't change anything. She'll have to file a complaint against him and go through proper channels if she wants him back behind bars." The senior officer explained even if he knew Sam already knew all the procedures.
"Yes, of course." He simply said, knowing that he couldn't argue with his superior officer on this, it wouldn't change anything anyway.
"Don't let it become personal, Swarek." Boyko told him before looking back down to his paper, dismissing Sam with a sign of head. "Don't let it become personal, Swarek." Boyko told him before looking back down to his paper, dismissing Sam with a sign of head.
"I won't" The young man said before he got out of the office, walking towards the break room to get coffee.
As he walked to the front desk, he spotted Christopher standing near the door, his cellphone glued to his ear as he turned and saw Sam standing alone behind the desk. He looked at him with a cold stare before putting down his phone, walking straight to the officer.
"Where is she?" He asked on a harsh tone that really annoyed Sam but he knew he couldn't do anything unprofessional and he took a deep breath.
"I won't tell you, you can't see her." He replied on the most professional tone he could manage.
"Listen to me, you don't know anything about me, or HER for that matters. Who are you anyway to tell me what I can and cannot do?" Chris spit out on a harsh tone, taking a step closer to Sam as he looked at him.
"Look, sir, I can't tell you, that's all." He tried to tell him again, hoping that he would just take the hint and leave once and for all.
"Oh, so you're sleeping with her and you think that gives the right to do anything? I'll just find her one way or the other, you can't change that." He said with a creepy smile that made Sam shiver against his will.
"I am not sleeping with her." He started, putting emphasis on the word 'not'. "You'll just see her at the trial." Sam told him on a tone he was trying to keep calm but he was starting to get really annoyed at the guy in front of him right now.
"You really think I will get charged with domestic abuse?" He calmly said with a small sarcastic laugh, leaning in a little further towards Sam. "I will win this, again, like the last one; it's just a waste of everyone's time." He told him with a wink and Sam clenched his fists behind the desk.
"I won't let it happen." He said on a tone that was starting to sound like anything but professional.
"We'll see about that." Christopher simply said before he turned his back to Sam, walking out the door of the station.
Trying to breathe and not run after him to throw him in a wall or something, Sam sat down behind the computer, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers. He had to concentrate on work right now; he still had last night's paperwork to file and about a million other things to do. Shaking his head, he pushed Christopher out of his mind; he would take care of him later.
The afternoon actually went by pretty fast between everything that needed to be done, and before he knew it Sam was off work and changing out of his uniform. It was a little after 9 and he was dreaming of his bed and of a good night of sleep.
He was starting the engine of his truck when his cellphone vibrated in his pocket and he took it, looking at the numbers showing on his screen. It wasn't any of his contacts and he frowned, wondering who was calling him on his cellphone.
"Swarek." He answered without any further thought.
There was a delay between when he answered the phone and he wrinkled his eyebrows, waiting for someone to talk. He could hear some noise and erratic breathing on the other end. "Sam? Sam can you come and get me. I can't stay here."
"Andy? What is it?" Sam asked, trying to stay calm but she could hear the concern in his voice and almost see his face.
"He's been banging on the door for the last fifteen minutes, I don't know how he found me but I can't stay here." She told him and he could hear the panic in her voice even if she was doing her best to keep it calm.
"Okay, I'm on my way, just stay inside, don't go anywhere, I'll be there in fifteen." He said, putting his truck in drive, anxious to get there already.
"Thanks." She just said on the other end of the line, and he could hear the relief in her voice.
"See you soon." He replied before closing his phone, throwing it on the passenger seat before he drove out of the precinct's parking lot.
Going through the streets of Toronto, Sam tried to calm down. He couldn't arrive there pissed off as he was, that just wouldn't do it, but he couldn't help but want to give this guy a piece of his mind. The two previous times he had encountered Christopher he was a cop, he had to stay calm and professional, but right now? He wasn't on duty, and he knew it wouldn't be good for anyone if he lost his temper.
How did he find her anyway he asked himself, although it was probably best if he didn't know because he probably wouldn't be able keep himself from finding the person who had told him and make him regret that he did.
When Sam parked his car in front of the safe house Christopher was resting his back against the hand rail and he almost looked like he was calm; just waiting there as if he was expecting her to come out any moment. Sam got out of his car and walked there quickly, breathing deeply.
"What are you doing here?" The other man asked him, crossing his arms and straightening his back so he would seem taller.
"That is the question I'm going to ask you, and you better tell me you were just leaving." The officer told him, taking a step closer to the other man so he was only a few feet away.
"And why's that?" Chris simply answered on a provocative tone, a cheeky smile on his lips.
"Okay, you're going to listen to me very carefully, because I'm not going to say it twice." Sam started, taking a step forward, looking at him with a harsh look even if his voice was still calm. "I tried being calm, and I had to be professional, I was on duty, and honestly that's about the only thing that kept me from making you badly regret what you did." He continued, getting slightly closer again, never leaving his gaze.
"Are you threatening me?" He asked, trying to keep his defiant gaze on, but Sam could see he wasn't feeling that much in control anymore.
"No, I am not. I am just telling you the facts. I am not a cop right now; I am just someone who is really upset about the way you're treating his friend. So if I were you, I'd get out of here before I lose my temper and do something that really wouldn't be enjoyable for you." Sam told him in an impossibly calm tone but one that made Christopher shiver.
He stared at his eyes for a couple more seconds before snorting and making his way to the staircase, making sure he hit Sam's shoulder with his as he passed beside him. Sam kept his eyes on him until he was in his car and driving away from the house before he turned to face the door.
Andy was standing a couple of feet from him and she smiled apologetically, looking at her feet for a moment before looking back at him.
"You okay?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, I am, sorry for the trouble." She replied, nodding at the same time.
"It's fine; I don't know how that happened." He told her, running his hand across his face and in his hair giving her a sorry look.
"That's just how he is, he always finds a way." Andy replied, shrugging and sighing before she leaned against the doorframe.
"I don't care how he is; I won't let him this time." He said, shaking his head, looking at her with a serious face and she could see he was definitely serious about this. "If you want, we can go to the precinct, we'll go through some paperwork, get a restraining order in process. It's not perfect but it'll probably help. We'll see what we do after that." He told her, not wanting to pressure her, but knowing that it had to be done.
"I don't think I have the choice anyway right? I'll be right back." She told him with a small sad laugh, looking at him as she nodded slowly before turning away and walking back inside.
She came out a couple of minutes later wearing his jacket and he smiled. "It looks nice on you." He told her tauntingly, a small smile on his lips.
"I'll give it back to you later." She told him with a smile before making her way to his truck that parked on the other side of the road.
The truth was that she actually loved his jacket. It still smelled like him and she couldn't stop herself from melting a little more every time she caught a whiff of that smell. He quickly followed her and drove off on the street. It was already almost 10pm and he didn't want to be at the precinct all night.
A couple of hours later they walked outside of the building. The night wasn't too cold but it was definitely feeling like November and they made their way to Sam's truck. He had helped her filling out the restraining order papers earlier and she had a hearing with the judge tomorrow morning to make it official, but he was still wondering what would happen for tonight. He didn't really know where to get her so she would be safe and when they were finally both sitting in the truck he turned to look at her.
She was resting her head on the seat behind her and her eyes were closed; she looked exhausted, which was probably normal after the couple of days she had.
"Is there somewhere I can take you tonight?" He asked her in a gentle tone, not able to stop himself from reaching out to rub her shoulder softly.
"I guess I'll go to my dad's." She told him with a shrug, and he could hear in his voice that she really didn't want to go.
"Andy… You can't stay at your dad's. I know how you're feeling about it." He said, knowing how much she was reluctant to go there this morning.
"Fine, then I'll… I'll stay at Traci's." She told him, opening her eyes and turning her head to look at him.
"That's probably the best solution." He agreed before he continued. "It's late though; I can always drive you there tomorrow morning." He said, deciding not to listen to his brain and just go with what he was feeling in his gut.
"What about tonight?" She asked him, wrinkling her eyebrows as she tried to understand what he was suggesting.
"You can stay at my place tonight, I'll take the couch. It's just for one night." He said, trying to convince her that it wasn't a big deal.
"Sam, I don't know. We've only known each other for a couple of weeks, and plus you're a cop and…" She said, trying to tell him no even if she kind of liked the idea of staying with him for tonight. She would definitely feel safer knowing that he was there.
"Look, it's nothing, I just want you to be safe tonight, there's nothing more to it." He said taking back the hand that was resting on her shoulder, holding it up and offering her a sincere smile.
"I guess if it's just for one night…" She said, biting her lower lip for a second before she looked back at him, nodding.
"I'll drive you to your friend's house in the morning." Sam assured her, getting the keys in the ignition and starting the engine.
Andy simply nodded, closing back her eyes as she sighed softly; hoping the headache she had been suffering from for the last few hours would just go away. Sam silently drove to his house and Andy was glad he didn't live too far away; not even ten minutes later he was stopping in his driveway.
"Come'on, let's get some sleep, I think we both need it." He said, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the vehicle.
"Yeah, definitely." She agreed, getting out and walking behind him.
Sam didn't have a huge apartment but it was cozy and she immediately felt like she had made the right decision. Waking up Traci and Leo at nearly 1am wasn't the best thing to do anyway, and they weren't doing anything wrong by sleeping in the same house she tried telling herself.
He quickly showed her around, turning on the light of the bedroom. "The sheets are cleaned; I just changed them yesterday and I was with you last night." He told her, opening a drawer and taking out a pair of jogging pants and a police t-shirt before handing them to her. "It's not perfect but it'll be better than your jeans. Do you need anything else?"
"No, thanks, that's great." She thanked him, taking the clothes he was holding out for her.
He quickly grabbed his PJ's before turning back to face her. "I'll be in the living room if there's anything; try and get some rest." He said, shoving his free hand in his pocket awkwardly; looking at her for a couple more seconds before he got out of the room. "Goodnight." He said before he closed the door.
"Night." She replied, turning her head to the bed.
Quickly changing into the clothes he had given her, she sat back on the bed, rubbing her face with both her hands, exhaling deeply. She was feeling so tired but she hadn't stop shaking since earlier and she didn't know how she would be able to sleep like that.
Shaking her head, she turned off the light and slid under the blankets, resting her head against the pillow. Even if he had changed the sheets she could still catch a hint of his smell, the same smell that was lingering on his jacket and on her skin from wearing it and she smiled.
Closing her eyes, she tried to clear her mind, but she was still jumping at every small noise. It was always like that when she slept somewhere she wasn't used to, but tonight she felt like it was ten times worse. Even if she knew that Sam was in the other room, she couldn't quite shake the feeling that she wasn't safe.
An hour of tossing and turning in the bed later, she sat up on the bed. Sighing, she got up, trying to silently make her way to the bathroom to splash some water on her face. As she was about to turn to her left, she heard something coming from the living room and she turned to see the light of a TV flashing a few meters away.
Turning right instead, she walked down the corridor, her eyes settling on the silhouette of Sam half-sitting on the couch, the remote control in his hand.
"You can't sleep either?" She asked him, stopping at the other end of the couch.
"Yeah, that's not unusual though, with the change of shifts and everything. Why aren't you sleeping?" He asked her, pulling the blanket to his side so she could sit on the right side of the couch.
"I don't know, I can't seem to calm my nerves enough to fall asleep." She said shrugging as she sat on the couch, getting her legs up under her as she leaned against the armrest.
"Is there anything I can do?" He asked, putting back the remote on the table in front of him, pushing the blanket her way so she could cover her feet.
"No, not really." She simply said yawning as she slowly slid her feet under the soft material.
She closed her eyes for a bit and Sam couldn't help but stare at her. She was wearing his clothes and he had to say they were making her look pretty cute. Well, he was thinking she would probably look cute wearing anything, but anyway.
Reaching across the space between them, he set his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it softly before taking back his hand. "You're shaking." He noticed, not wanting her to confirm it, it was just a simple statement.
"Yeah, nerves I guess." She answered, opening her eyes to look at him.
He offered her a sad smile before turning back to the TV. It was playing an old episode of How I Met Your Mother and she tried to concentrate on the characters and on the humor instead of on everything that happened, but she couldn't help but turn her eyes to the door every few minutes.
It was completely ridiculous, she knew he couldn't find her here, but then again that's what she thought earlier that day too, and he found her.
She turned her head towards Sam; he was still staring at the TV, not even a foot away from her and she slid a few inches closer to him. His right arm was resting over the back of the couch and so just behind her; she could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Even if she knew it was probably the worse idea right now, she just wanted to rest her head on his shoulder and sleep. She needed to sleep so badly.
Trying to look back at the TV, she pretended not to see him looking at her. She didn't even really know how it happened, but his arm slowly made its way to her shoulders, his hand settled down on her upper arm, drawing random pattern on the skin left uncovered by the t-shirt.
She was slowly starting to nod off, her cheek almost hitting her right shoulder before she straightened her head, opening her eyes again. The second time it happened, she felt Sam's arm tighten around her, drawing her closer to him, her head naturally falling on his chest, just under his head.
It took her a moment to realize what was happening as sleep was slowly dragging her away from consciousness. His hand was still on her arm and she cuddled a little closer to him as he drew the blanket up over both their bodies. A few seconds later she realized she was actually lying against him and she tried to sit back up but he kept her close to his body.
"Shh… Just sleep." He whispered softly and she slightly relaxed against him.
"Sam, we shouldn't…" She started, but she didn't really want to move. Her shaking had finally stopped and she was falling asleep. Besides, she was feeling so safe at that exact moment; she felt safe and in the right place even if she didn't know him just a month ago.
"Just for tonight…" He continued on the same tender tone and his voice broke the last barrier that was standing in her mind.
She snuggled closer to him as he kept his arm around her. She could feel his breath against her hair and she smiled softly, her hand coming to rest on his chest near her cheek, a sigh of satisfaction falling from her lips as she completely drifted off to sleep.
Sam held her close as he felt himself falling asleep too. He knew it wouldn't last for long, at least not for now, and it definitely wasn't professional, but he couldn't do anything to make her move right now. He would drive her to her friend's house tomorrow anyway. It was just for tonight he told himself as he kept her close, setting a small kiss on the top of her head; finally closing his eyes too. At least right now he knew she was safe…
So what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Hate me for being so slow? I really hope you like it! Leave a review to tell me!
Hopefully I'll be able to write in the next few weeks, but with the end of the semester coming up I'm not that sure I will... BUT I'm definitely NOT forgetting about this and I'll DEFINITELY finish it!
Thanks to EVERYONE who has taken the time to review and leave me kind words! I love you all, I couldn't do it without you!