A/N: Ok, so I'm thinking about three or so more chapters! I have a few things I want to accomplish before I end this. I'm sure this won't line up with what actually happens, but I'm trying to make sense of all the pieces of previews I've seen. Some parts of the previews will be left out, but I've tried to use as many as possible. I wrote this before I saw tonight's episode, so it won't play out in the same way as it actually did.
Kissing Nick is a very weird experience. She knows it's necessary for their cover, but it still doesn't make it any less strange to feel his lips on hers. It's not right.
Even though it needs to be done, kissing Andy doesn't feel right. It's a strange sensation, trying to push their friendship over the line for the job.
"Be careful," she says, looking up at him from through her eyelashes. This is it. This is what they've been waiting for. He's going to pick up the drugs while she stays at the warehouse to finalize the preparations for distribution.
"Always."
He presses his lips to hers for the prying eyes around them, prompting wolf whistles and hoots. She ducks her head, embarrassed, which isn't too far off from a real reaction.
As he walks away, she's worried she won't see him again, even though she tries to feel confident. He's feeling the same, though he clamps down on the feeling. Both know something is going south tonight, but neither wants to acknowledge it.
She's too nervous, she knows. She is supposed to be calm, cool, and collected, but her hands are shaking. She tries to steady them but it doesn't go unnoticed. After what feels like forever, they get word that there was interference at the deal.
"Matt? Matt!" She yells as she tears through the warehouse. Her gut was right. Something went wrong. She prays as she runs. He has to be ok.
She determines he's at the boss's ocean-front house through the word amongst the guys returning and her breath catches in her throat. Was he made? It's a bad idea to go up there, but she does it anyways.
He stands by the couch, trying to remain stoic, but the whole situation is making him uneasy. Their handler is posing as a potential buyer, but the meeting isn't going well.
"I heard there were… complications getting the product?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about."
It's true. When he opened the back of the truck he was startled by a kick to the face, courtesy of the competition. Too bad the competition wasn't quite as organized as they were. He's going to have a nasty bruise tomorrow, though.
"Matt!" Andy's bursting through the door, and relief fills him at the sight of her. He's always worried when he doesn't have eyes on her. How can he have her back if he can't see it?
"Nicole," he grins, wrapping her in a hug. He sees the look the handler shoots them, cutting it short.
"Everything went alright then?" She asks, raking her eyes over his face, noticing the slight swelling over his left eye.
"Depends who you ask, apparently," their handler pipes up from his seat by the kitchenette.
Some words are exchanged, and suddenly there's a gun pointed straight at their handler. Andy's instinct is to step up and diffuse the tension, but Nicole's is to shrink back as Matt steps forward. It is also to rush to Matt's side as the gun comes back and whacks him in the face, right over the already forming bruise.
"Oh my God! Are you ok?"
"I've been better."
After their handler departs, an ice pack is thrust into his hand and he presses it to his face as he wraps an arm around Andy's waist. The physical contact is more natural than the kissing.
"You know, we never did figure out how they knew we were picking up the shipment today. Any ideas?" The boss asks, turning to the two of them.
Nick shakes his head, as does Andy.
"You know, Rand said you were mighty nervous today, Nicole. Hands shakin' an' everythin'."
Her stomach drops. "What are you saying?"
"I'm sayin' it's kinda suspicious that the day you're nervous, half our shipment gets pilfered."
Her eyes widen, "They took half of it?"
"They tried for the full thing but half is still a lot. You can see how I'd be eager to find out how they got word of our plan."
"Of course."
"You don't happen to know anythin' helpful I suppose?"
Andy takes a steadying breath. It's ok. She can do this. "You're kidding, right?"
"Come on, Boss. You don't really think Nicole had anything to do with this, do you?" Nick asks, frowning. She can feel the tension in his body despite his relaxed tone.
"I'll think whatever the evidence leads me to believe."
"And what exactly is this evidence?" She asks defiantly, "Me being nervous? My boyfriend was endangering his life to get your drugs. I think I earned the right to be nervous."
"Or maybe you were nervous because you gave them the tip. You knew it was goin' sideways and you didn't want your sweetie caught in the crossfire."
She crosses her arms. "You really think I'd put him in danger like that? I want this payday as much as the rest of you. Once we get it Matt's taking me away. Why would I stall that?"
"For a bigger payday."
She scoffs, hiding her panic. Why is the boss so adamant?
"Nicki wouldn't do that," Nick snaps.
"If she would she sure wouldn't tell you."
"I don't have to listen to this. I'll be at the motel, Matt," she says, feeling it's probably best to just put some distance between herself and the situation. Maybe the boss can figure out who actually leaked it, and she has a call to make anyways.
"I don't think you should be going anywhere, sweetheart," the boss says.
She doesn't have time to comprehend what that means before she feels a whack on the back of her head and sees stars. She registers the ground rising slowly up to meet her and Nick's shouts as though he's miles away as the world fades into blackness.
Kissing Sam is so much more natural. She feels the spark in her veins and the increased beating of her heart as his lips meet hers in the parking lot of the Black Penny. He's all in.
Kissing Gail comes much easier. He grins against her lips and feels her do the same. She loves him.
"Whoa, what's happening over there?" She asks as he pulls her out into the parking lot, fully intent on taking her home.
He follows her line of sight to see Swarek and Andy locked tightly together. His lips lift in a half-smile at the sight. "Something that's supposed to."
"You think it'll work out this time?" She asks.
He slides his arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer. "If it doesn't, you and I are going to have a lot harder time doing what I have planned tonight in the future."
She pulls back first, trying not to smile.
"So… Did you want to…?" She trails off, looking up at him.
He picks up on her meaning right away, grinning. "I'm surprised you even have to ask."
Her heart drops when she wakes up alone. He left. After everything he said, he left.
She tries to quash her disappointment as she slowly gets out of bed and heads to the kitchen. It doesn't necessarily mean-
"You're awake!"
She jumps about a foot in the air at the sight of him in front of her stove. "Sam? I thought you left. What are you doing?"
"Making you breakfast," he answers, grinning momentarily before frowning, "You really thought I took off?"
She shrugs sheepishly, looking everywhere but at him.
"Hey," he says softly, coming to stand in front of her. He takes her face in his hands and forces her to look up at him. "You said you weren't going anywhere. Neither am I."
She nods slightly as he presses his lips to her forehead gently before returning to the stove.
"I took out the garbage, too," he says without turning around.
She smiles as she slides onto a stool. He's doing just what he said he would.
"So how are things with you and Swarek?" He asks from his place beside her on their usual staircase.
She can't help grinning like an idiot. "Really good. We've gotten a lot better at the whole communication thing."
He laughs. "You? Swarek? Good at communication? Thanks, buddy, I needed the laugh."
She hits him playfully before registering his words. "Wait, why would you need a laugh? Is everything…?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. I've just been thinking… What do you think Gail would say if I asked her to move in with me?"
She grins again, but is interrupted by another voice, "She'd say it's about damn time, Collins."
She watches in amusement as he shoots to his feet to see Gail standing behind her. At least now he doesn't have to work up the courage to ask her.
A/N: Side note, so glad the show is back for the summer! I can't wait to see how everything plays out on the actual show! Reviews are love!
