A/N: I realised as I was nearly finished this chapter that Andy was a little more injured thanI may have remembered previously... oops! hopefully this still reads ok! Thats the problem with leaving hiatus on your stories. My fault. Let me know if I need to drastically change something!

BEFORE

By the time Sam got his feet moving he was racing out to the garage where Oliver was jumping into a car with Fiona climbing into the back seat. The garage was a flurry of activity of officers running to cars as they slipped on vests and sense checked all their items.

They arrived on scene and immediately went to Dovs Car that was parked in shelter away from the scene.

"Epstien, report!" Oliver called out. Both he and Sam had their guns unholstered as they approached Dov who was standing at the front of his car talking to someone on the radio.

"Sir, Officer Nash was injured in the crash that upturned her vehicle, Officer Peck is MIS as are the kids she was transporting. I can't get hold of Sal or Black on the radio and I have no visual of the other car."

"Shots fired?" Sam asked as he stood by the side of the car and looked in to see Andy calming down the frantic children. They had taken the youngest group, all of them aged between 7 and 10. They locked eyes but there was no time for words or comfort. He was pretty sure she would be mad at him to trying anyway.

"No sir."

"Have you approached the hospital?"

"No sir, I've been awaiting orders sir. I didn't think I should leave officer McNally alone with all these kids and an injured police officer."

"Okay, okay," Oliver patted him on the shoulder and walked towards the upturned van in a crouched position with Sam directly behind him. Fiona has stepped in to help out Andy.

"See anything?" Sam asked him.

"Nothing… street seems eerily still."

"Ok, I'm going for that dumpster, ready to cover me?"

"Yeah, go in 3…2..1…GO!" Sam raced out from the cover of the van and sprinted across the street to the dumpster.

Nothing happened.

Oliver caught his eye and shrugged. Sam motioned with his hands that he was going to run again and Oliver prepared to cover him. He made it to the entrance to the hospital where he was greeted with a crouched security guard.

"Hey, you ok?" Sam asked as he ducked behind a pillar.

"Yeah man, I'm good, nothing happening here, we locked down when we got the call from the police. No one in or out."

"Okay… have you seen anything?"

"Yeah, yeah, a paddy wagon pulled up and a police officer started to let kids out from the rear when a dark blue van came tearing into the grounds." The security guard pointed at the slip entrance for ambulances. "They pulled up alongside it and someone climbed into the front. The other guy came round to the rear and held a gun on the cop, they forced all the kids back into the van and drove off."

"With the police officers?"

"Yeah."

"And the other police van, the one that crashed, did you see that?"

"No, but I heard it. Just after the one from here drove off there was a huge bang, glass smashing, screaming…we were on lock down so we haven't been over yet…are there injuries?"

"Yeah we have an officer down, can we get some help!"

Sam holstered his weapon and surveyed the area. He checked the building for CTV camera an the neighbouring business. He called Oliver on the radio and signalled for him to bring the car up to the entrance with all the kids.

Moments later the entrance was full of crying kids being brought into the hospital led by Fiona and a few bewildered looking nurses, Traci was transferred to a gurney and rushed into the emergency with Dov by her side. Oliver was on the radio signalling a BOLO for the van they saw attack Sal and Black while Sam questioned the security officer for more information. He asked for access to the CCTV footage and any other details he might recall.

Andy came up to Oliver, her eyes were wide but determined. "Hey, sir…where do you need me?"

"Any word from Gail?"

"No sir, maybe she took shelter with the kids?"

"Has Traci said anything?" he asked as they were approached by Sam.

"No sir, she was barely conscious."

"Sam, anything else from the security guard?"

"He gave me the plate number for the van, and has gone now to check the CCTV footage. I added the plate number to the BOLO."

"Okay good, I'm going in to check on Nash, can you two start canvassing the neighbourhood and see if there is anything."

Sam nodded and eyes up Andy who was refusing to meet his eyes. Oliver left and they both started to walk off hospital grounds towards the scene where the van was upturned. He wanted to point out again how tired she looked but he knew better. He checked his watch. They were nearing the 24 hour mark of when she had first signed on to duty.

"The rear door hasn't been broken, it was unlocked." She was crouched by the back of the van as he peered inside to see if they could find any clues as to what had happened.

"Drivers side was hit with force, all the windows probably smashed on impact."

"Sam, the keys are gone…" She had climbed into the van and inched her way up to the front where she lay on her back and examined everything closer.

"Are you sure?"

"Well I don't see them anywhere. Traci was in the passenger seat so Nash was driving."

"So she took the keys…"

"To open the back door…"

"To let the kids out." He turned his back to the van and surveyed the street. Trying to make out where they might have gone. They were surrounded by office blocks. Every business near by was closed. There was no park entrance or door way large enough to huddle with 12 kids. Then he spied the subway station. "St Patricks Station."

"Its closed Sam… its been closed for hours."

"Where else could they be?"

Sam raced across the street to the entrance and saw that the lock has been broken off. He pulled it aside and yanked open the gates then hurried down the dark stairwell, his gun in his hand and his torch lighting the way.

"This is the police… come out with your hands in the air." He called out into the darkness.

Andy followed behind him, balancing on her toes to make as little noise as possible she covered his back and listened for a response.

"Swarek? Don't shoot!" Gail stepped out of the shadows, she had her own gun in her hands but holstered it when she spotted Andy and Sam approaching. "Over here, we're over here."

Sam put away his gun and raced over to the huddle of children. They were all young teens and younger than 10. Some of them were crying, others had cold expressionless faces as if this was an everyday occurance.

"Anyone injured?" Andy asked as she counted the heads and sighed with relief that everyone from he van was accounted for.

"One little guy, hurt his leg…I think it might be broken, everyone else just had cuts and bruises."

"Hey buddy, how are you doing?" Sam crouched low beside the injured child and examined his leg. It was at an awkward angle but there was no bone protruding the skin. He grabbed his shoulder radio and called for assistance.

"Why didn't you call?" Sam asked Gail.

"My radio was broken in the crash."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"We were turning onto University ave from Dundas. A dark blue van was coming towards it, they broke the lights then they seemed to turn for us. They hit us on the driver's side and we flipped. Everyone was screaming, Traci banged her head off the wheel…I was stunned by the airbag…when I came to there was a man standing next to the van, he had a gun and he was walking towards the back of the van…I blared my horn, the sirens were broken I was just trying to get people attention… there was little or no traffic…"

"Okay, its okay Gail, you did the right thing."

"He ran off and the van left…I managed to get out and I took the kids here. My radio was smashed, but I couldn't leave them here…"

"Its okay…" Andy put her hand on her friends shoulder to offer her some comfort.

"Traci! Oh my god Traci! Is she ok?"

"She's fine, we got her out of the van, she is in the hospital now and they are looking after her."

Just then an ambulance crew arrived with a gurney and transferred the injured kid onto the bed before lifting him out of the station.

"Okay everyone with me!" Sam called out as he led the kids out of the station and up to the street which was now streaming with cops and cars.

The children were ushered to the hospital through a line of police men. Gail followed in the ambulance with the injured boy leaving Sam and Andy standing at the entrance to the subway station.

"How are you holding up?" he asked her as they started to walk back towards the hospital through the cordoned off police area.

"I can't believe Gail managed to get all those kids into the subway station."

"Yeah…she did great. But how are you?"

"I'm fine Sam. Are you ever going to stop asking me that?"

"No." He spoke flatly and turned to face her, holding her elbow to stop her from walking on. "No, I'm not."

"I'm fine!"

"You don't look it. You are nearing 23 hours of work now. You need to leave."

"That's not up to you."

"Andy-"

"I can't leave now. Not in the middle of all this."

"So, what then Andy? What if Shaw asked you to review CCTV tapes and you miss something because you are half asleep. What if he puts you on guard duty in the hospital and someone comes for those kids but you are too tired to fight. What if he puts you on patrol but you fall asleep at the wheel and crash! What then?!" his voice got increasingly louder and his grip tightened on her elbow.

"I'm not the only one here who has been working for this long. I'm not the first, and I won't be the last!" She shook his hand off her elbow and rushed to the hospital.

Sam watched her leave and shook his head. Her stubbornness was part of her attraction and it equally drove him mad. When he walked into the lobby he saw her talking with Fiona, reading through some notes and adding info on to her report.

"Hey brother," Oliver called him over. "Great work finding those kids."

"Don't thank me, it was Office Peck who kept them safe."

"I have a BOLO out for Sal and Black, and the van. I need someone to coordinate with all points. The roadblocks are in place on Gardiner, and Don Valley, Black creek drive and Allen rd. Can you run them from the division?"

"Sure thing."

Andy watched as Sam and Oliver talked in the corner. Oliver gestured around the room and pointed to something on his clipboard then when Sam nodded and looked up she looked away. Oliver clapped his hand on the clipboard to get the attention of everyone in the room then when a hushed silence fell over the room he started to call out instructions.

"Officers Reilly, Diaz and Epstien I need you to stay here and coordinate with social services. Hartly, Williams, Collins, working with me and Detectives Gleeson and Skye at division, Collins, secure the CCTV footage back at the division. McNally, Rush, Smith and Dawson, you are relieved! Go home, rest up. Swarek will be coordinating the roadblocks, every report goes through him! Go, go now people."

The lobby launched into a burst of activity as everyone worked on what they were supposed to be doing. McNally hurried over to Shaw where he was still talking with Sam.

"Sir…I'm fine, I'm not tired, and I can stay!"

Oliver turned to look at her. He saw the heavy circles in her red rimmed and bloodshot eyes. He glanced at Sam who was looking intensely at the report in his hand.

"Go home McNally."

"Sir…"

"Go home. You're no good to me here. You've been on duty for nearly 23 hours. Go. Go now."

Oliver's voice was stern and she knew there would be no talking to him. She glanced at Sam again but he didn't look up so she walked away. Outside the entrance to the hospital she realised she didn't have a lift. Her stuff was back at the division so she jumped into a squad car with the others who had been relieved of duty.

The bullpen was as much a hive of activity as the hospital had been. When two officers go missing it was always all hands on deck.

"Unless you look tired I guess…" she muttered as she pushed the heavy door into the locker room open. She stripped and decided to shower hoping it would help her wake up a bit and she might be able to convince Oliver to let her stay but the warm water had the opposite effect. It lulled her senses into a cosy wave of exhaustion. She stepped out from under the spray and wrapped a large towel around her body before trudging back to her locker. She sat on the bench, and rubbed her hair with a towel when she heard the door pushed open behind her.

"Hey…" Sam said as he approached her slowly.

"What? Did you come in to make sure I was leaving?"

"Andy, don't be like that!"

"Did you tell Oliver to send me home?!" she stood up to face him fully, glad there was a bench between them.

"What? No! That's not my call."

"You're damn right that's not your call."

"Andy c'mon…its 4.30am… you've been on duty since 6am!"

"Two officers are missing Sam! Two from this division. A little girl is missing and now a bus load of children… and you want me to just go home and get some sleep?!"

"I want you to-"

"I knew it was going to be like this. I knew it, as soon as it started I knew it was a mistake."

"What?" Sam took a step closer. "As soon as what started?"

She rummaged in her bag for a pair of jeans and pulled them on under her towel, then fished out a tee and slipped it on over. Sam couldn't help but notice the lack of underwear she opted to wear as she pulled the towel away and brushed her hair back with her fingers.

"This…us…" she gestured between them without looking up to him. "Now that you've fucked me you think you can dictate to me, where I should go, what I should do, how and when!"

"Jesus Andy, it's not like that." He took a step closer again but his shins were now pressing on the bench and he knew better than to cross it and trap her against the locker.

"Forget it Sam, clearly I'm tired and I don't know what I'm doing."

She shoved her towel and bag back into her locker and stormed off leaving Sam behind in a wave of anger.

AFTER

They ate in companionable silence. Sam had flicked on the radio but turned the volume way down so it was barely audible. When they finished he cleared everything up and she watched. She couldn't help but think of the feel of his skin under her fingers. It was familiar, she decided. It was the only sense of familiarity she had experienced since leaving the hospital.

"How are you feeling?" he asked but she knew he could see her expression, read her expression, probably better than she could herself.

She didn't have an answer. She shrugged and offered him a wan smile. He came around to sit on one of the high stools with her.

"Anything I can get for you or do for you?" She looked up at him and smiled again and immediately he knew what she was thinking. He managed not to blush but returned her smile. "Do you want me to bring you home?"

"Home? God no!" She stood up, restless now. She shook her hands by her sides as if it would help her rid herself of the sensation of his skin on her fingertips. "I want… I want to know… everything."

"Everything?"

"Will you answer some questions for me?"

"Em, well the doc said it was best if I didn't, if I left you discover these things on your own."

"Yeah well we tried that and it didn't work out too well."

Sam looked down at the beer in his hand for a moment.

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"I'm a cop right? Am I a good one?"

"Yes."

"How long have I been on the force?"

"Nearly 4 years."

"And how long have I known you?"

"Same." Sam's senses were tingling. He knew a trap when he was walking into one. All those years of working undercover weren't for nothing.

"And we're…partners?"

"Yeah I guess you could say that."

"You guess?"

"I was your TO…Training Officer," he added at her look of confusion. "Then when you graduated you didn't need me anymore."

"So we became partners?"

"Eh…it's not really like that. We ride together, most days." She quirked her eyebrows at his words but he ignored her. "Sometimes we are scheduled with other officers though." She fell silent as she paced the small area by the bay window in his kitchen. "Does any of this ring any bells?"

"No." her voice was flat, tinged only with a hint of anger and frustration. "The way I see it, I have to start again. What if my memory doesn't come back?"

"It will Andy, it will."

"And if it doesn't?" she turned to face him and he saw her face contorted with a mixture of anger and fear. "Well if it doesn't, I'm not going to sit around crying and freaking out. I need to take control." The fear subsided from her face and now she looked determined. "I have a choice to make…should I lean towards what's familiar," she glanced up at him. "Or do I go a new route, a fresh start and try something new. Well…" she laughed. "Everything is new I suppose."

"Its too soon to be making big decisions like this. You only got out of the hospital today. The doc said to give it at least a week."

"A week Sam! A week is 5 days longer than I remember in the history of my entire life!"

"For now, it will come back to you Andy, it will."

"Well I'm not waiting around to wait for this miracle. I need to do something."

"What! What can you do?"

"I tried running… that didn't really work." She laughed again at her own demise. "I tried fucking, that was equally successful."

"I know what you need…you need to hit something."

"What?"

"C'mon…" he gestured for her to follow him. He didn't trust himself to take her hand so he walked backwards to make sure she came with him and led her into a room behind his kitchen. It was most likely a bedroom at one stage but now in the room was lined with thick gym mats. There were weights in one corner, a punch bag in another corner and a small shelf holding various training tools. He kicked off his shoes and walked over to the shelf then urged her to follow. She leant against the wall next to the shelf and he passed a pair of sparring gloves over to her. He laced up his own then ambled back to the centre of the room.

"I don't know how to fight…"

"You do. Instinctually you do."

"But…what if I hurt you?"

Sam snorted. He lifted his gloved hands up to his face and shadow punched towards her. "You won't."

Andy pulled the gloves on and tightened the straps as best she could with her teeth. She approached him with her hands by her sides. He held his fists up and motioned for her to do the same. When she did he hit her gloved hands softly.

"Ready?"

Before she could speak he hit her good shoulder.

"Wait… wait…"

He hit her again, this time on the side of the head.

"Sam… wait…"

"For what?" This time his punch connected with her torso. All his hits were very light, barely enough for her to register as if he was training with a child. Her shoulder was still sore so she kept one arm across her torso while the other swung towards him. He ducked away easily which made her mad. He let down his guard, leaving his face and torso unprotected. This made her even madder.

"Stand still…" she urged as she continually missed him with every punch she threw his way.

"Why? So you can hit me?" he was laughing now, teasing her.

"I thought you said I needed to hit something."

"Yeah but you have to fight for it first."

Andy let both her arms fall to her side and her chin rested on her chest. Then Sam stopped moving and took a step closer to her.

"Andy…I'm sorry… this was a bad idea." He spoke softly and reached out to her but before he could touch her she swung her arm up and connected a punch with the underside of his chin. Sam stumbled back and fell to the ground. His eyes blurred up and the wind was knocked out of him with the shock of her punch.

"Jesus!" she hurried over to him and knelt by his side. "Are you ok?"

"That was one hell of a punch McNally!"

"Oh god, I'm sorry!"

"No, no!" he sat up and rubbed his chin with his hand. "Its fine, I'm fine." He looked up to her to see her barely suppressed laugh. "Feeling better?"

"Actually, yes."

It was then Sam noticed the bandage on her temple was seeping with blood.

"Shit Andy, your head, c'mere," he stood up and shook off his gloves. He took hers off and tossed them to the floor then took her hand and led her into the bathroom that was through his bedroom. He sat her onto the edge of the bath and rummaged through the medicine cabinet for what he was looking for. When he found it he knelt in front of her and she naturally opened her legs so he could be closer. He moved her head to the side and brushed back her hair. He gently peeled off the bandage and she winced in pain. "Sorry…sorry… this will be cold."

He dabbed some ointment on his fingers then gently pressed it onto the wound on her head. Her hand came up to grasp his wrist but she didn't bat him away.

"Hang on, nearly done…" He covered the wound with the antiseptic ointment then gently applied a clean bandage over it. "Maybe I should take you to the hospital."

"No!" she urged. "No not back there. I'm fine. I'm a little tied though."

"C'mon." Sam stood up and reached down for her hand. He led her into the bedroom and pulled back the covers on his bed. Gently he pushed her back into the mattress and tucked her in. "Let me get you a glass of water."

"Sam…?" she called out to him, her tiredness already taking over. "Stay with me…"

He looked over his shoulder at his position by the door and nodded. "One sec…"

In the kitchen he rummaged through her prescription drugs and grabbed the painkillers along with a glass of water. He returned to the bedroom to see her asleep. Gently he put the water and drugs by the bedside and slowly backed away but before he could leave the room her soft whisper called out to him.

"Stay."

He turned to see her still seemingly asleep. He wasn't sure if he heard it or imagined it, or wish he heard it. He looked at her face as her eyes fluttered open long enough for him to realise she needed him. Without hesitation Sam crawled over the bed, stayed above the duvet and lay next to her. She turned towards him and he slipped his arm under her so her head could rest on his shoulder. Within moments her breathing had slowed to a regular pace an her body slackened against him.