Hey guys! First off, thank for all your amazing feedback on the last chapter! What an incredibly lucky writer I am to have such amazing readers. =)

This chapter isn't very action-packed at all...I wouldn't call it a filler, per say, but rather a very big step in the McSwarek relationship. Hopefully that's all right.

Anyways, as always, please review, they make me so wonderfully happy! Hope you all enjoy! xx


All coherent thoughts flew from Sam's mind as Andy's soft lips met his. He stood completely still, half in awe of the beautiful creature in his arms and half stunned by what she had just done.

Then slowly, he kissed her back, gently at first, then more urgently as she pressed herself against him. She wove her fingers through his black hair, sighing into his mouth as he ran a hand down the back of her dress, pressing it against the bare skin that the dress's cutout gave him access to. She parted her lips to give him complete access to her mouth, the swirling of their tongues together making him moan with desire. He ran his other hand under the slit, digging his fingers into the soft, supple flesh of her thigh. He tilted her head back more, their eyelashes fluttering against each other.

And that was when Sam noticed she was still crying.

Shocked, he pulled back, looking into her eyes, seeing a mixture of lust, desire...and pain. Memories of the blackout came rushing back, where he had seen that exact combination of emotions running wild across her face. He wouldn't take advantage of her, not when she was in this state of mind. He gently pushed her away when she leaned in for another kiss.

"Andy, I'm not doing this again," he said wearily. He should have known that this was exactly what she would do, but how did he respond? He let her use him, willingly...because he loved her.

"Do what?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly as she struggled to gain control of the tears. The lack of contact was disorientating, the sudden loss of Sam's heady scent making her head spin.

"Letting you use this - " he motioned in the space between the two of them, "to run away from your pain. It's not fair to you, or to me."

A small sob escaped from her lips, and she brought a hand to cover her mouth. Did he just turn her down? Was she not desirable to him? Was she just disillusioning herself to the fact that just because she loved him meant that he loved her?

The anguished sound just about broke Sam's heart in half, and against his willpower to keep a distance between them, he pulled her once again into his arms, trying to comfort her with silent promises that his mouth wouldn't let him say.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, uncertain if the apology was meant for Sam or for herself, for letting him get close again. Last time, it was she that had run away - maybe Sam was just getting even.

"Stupid," she breathed, the word meant for her ears only, but he caught it also, the two syllables shattering his already broken heart. She was crying harder now, and he was having a hard time discerning whether it was because of Elizabeth's death or what he had just done, pushing her away.

A small voice in the back of his head chastised him for having no self control when it came to this woman, but he slowly drew her back away from his chest and tilted her chin so that her eyes met his.

"Andy," he breathed, reclaiming her lips.

It wasn't a passion-fueled, reckless kiss that fueled their lust; rather, it signified his attraction to her, telling her that she was desired by him for more than just a night of wanton sex. It was a kiss that comforted, that let her know he would be there for her throughout any and all things, that just because he wasn't making love to her tonight didn't mean he didn't want to another time.

Andy had never been kissed like that before, and she relished in the change of feelings it brought.

She was the one who broke contact first, the need for oxygen too great to be ignored. Sam was pleased to see a sense of calm added to the mixture of feelings that were all too clearly reflected in her eyes, the pain slightly diminished, her doe eyes shining with both unwept tears and a sort of happiness that hadn't previously been there.

"What are we going to do?" she asked quietly, leaning her forehead against his. He stroked her hair gently, closing his eyes as she reestablished contact.

"We're going to alert Headquarters about Elizabeth, let them sort out how to deal with the RCMP and possible repercussions. We're going to make sure there are no holes in our cover stories that could lead to the same sort of thing happening to us. And we're going to go through with the deal." His voice was calming, authoritative...the Sam she had always known.

"Good. I want to see that bastard go down," she replied with a ferocious edge.

Sam chuckled at her sudden change in demeanor. "That's my girl."

They stayed like that, arms wrapped around each other, foreheads touching, for an indistinguishable amount of time, until the rush of adrenaline from both the shooting and whatever had just happened between her and Sam started to wear off.

"I'm tired," she said softly, weariness evident in her voice.

"No shit, McNally. You've had a hell of a day."

"So have you. How are you not tired?"

"I am. I just hide it better than you," he said with a grin, steadying her as she stumbled slightly. "Let's get you to bed."

"Hmm, you wish Sam," she said with a sleepy smile, making her way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Sam shook his head in both awe and confusion of what had just happened, but the tiredness that suddenly enveloped him made it impossible to think clearly. He stripped down, flinging his tuxedo haphazardly in a corner before slipping into a pair of boxers and an old gray shirt.

"You decent, Sam?" Andy called softly from the bathroom, not wanting to catch him off guard lest she truly jump his bones this time.

"Yeah, McNally," he answered, and she walked out, taking his breath away. Teeny tiny shorts and a tight top that made it quite clear she wasn't wearing a bra had Sam practically begging to throw her on the bed and ravage her completely.

"Um, Sam?" she asked quietly, snapping him out of his impossibly indecent fantasies. There was a small look of indecisiveness on her face that somehow made her even more sexually inviting.

"What?" he answered, his voice thick, his mind almost regretting the choice to not sleep with her.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" she asked, biting her lip. "I don't really want to be alone, even if we do have adjoining rooms, and..." she trailed off as he flashed her those dimples she loved.

"I figured so McNally. Come on, hop in," he said, rolling into the bed and holding up the covers as an invitation. She slipped in without a word, snuggling up to Sam, her bare legs entangling with his. He hoped to God that she couldn't tell what she was doing to him, with her back against his chest as she wiggled against him to get comfortable. He knew he should break off contact with her, but she was just too irresistible. He put an arm around her and pulled her closer, allowing himself the pleasure of resting his head in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent.

"No funny business," she said with a small laugh. He smiled against her skin.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Goodnight Sam."

"Goodnight Andy."