Chapter 9
With Andy safely back in her car with Sam, the members of the 15th all slowly exited the club. Everyone was silent on the way back to the precinct; there was no need to talk. Andy and Sam had forgotten to take off their microphones; it was like a soap opera in their ears.
Andy was on a roll, "I mean, what didn't you understand about stay in the damn van. You could have been killed. Why did you have to involve yourself, I had it under control."
Sam laughed harshly, "Oh yeah, being strangled against a brick way really sounds like you had it all under control."
"I knew what was going to happen, Sam." Andy said softly, "It wasn't exactly a surprise. I just didn't want to tell you guys because I knew you never would have let me go through with it."
"You could have been killed." Sam argued, "What if he hadn't listened to the fact you had made the deal with Landry and Bergen. What would you have done?"
"I would have figured it out." Andy said, "I've been surviving alone for over a year now. Do you think this is the first time I've been strangled? Or that last week was the first time I've been shot? Why do you think I carry so many weapons on me? After being knifed a few times you learn real quick."
The expression on Sam's face was murderous and Andy wished she had kept her mouth shut. "I'm sorry I said that. It really wasn't that bad."
"Just shut up Andy." Sam snarled. He violently steered the car into the parking lot a few buildings away from the police department and threw the car into park.
Andy looked at him then, his knuckles were white from clutching the steering wheel. She touched a hand to his forearm, "Sam." She whispered
He looked at her then and she saw the pain in his eyes. "Just shut up." He said and pulled her to him in a fierce kiss. He pushed her away almost just as suddenly, "You could have died tonight."
"I know." She said softly pressing a hand to her lips.
"I can't lose you again." He said
"I'm right here." Andy said, "It's almost over. I'll meet with Damien tomorrow and everything will be finished Monday night."
"You can't seriously be thinking of meeting him still. He nearly killed you tonight; he's probably just waiting until tomorrow to finish the job." Sam looked at her dumbfounded.
"Sam, this is my job. This is literally what I've been working on for an entire year." Andy said, "If I hadn't have gotten shot last week I would have finished this all by myself and then I would have come back."
"That's just stupid, this whole year has been stupid. You could have told me what you were doing. I could have helped." Sam said angrily.
"I'm not going to apologize for doing what I thought was right," Andy said, "You don't have to like it or agree with it, but if we are ever going to be able to make us work again then you are going to have to accept it."
A cough sounded in both of their earpieces, "Uh guys?" Shaw said, "You're both still on comm. And Best needs everyone back for debrief."
Andy and Sam both yanked out their earpieces and Andy pulled off the camera. "We're not finished talking about this." Sam said as he drove them over to the precinct.
Gail leapt up as Andy and Sam walked into the room, "You scared me to death. Just look at you." She pulled Andy over to where she and Traci had already placed the first aid kit. In the darkness of the night, Sam hadn't seen the various cuts on Andy's face and hands from when Damien had hit and pushed her.
"Gail, I'm fine. This isn't the worst that's happened." Andy said
"I'm aware." Gail said sarcastically, "Are you forgetting who found you that time?"
Andy's eyes darted around the room nervously. "Not here." She said quietly
"Then stop being so stupid and putting yourself in danger. You should have gone out the back way like we talked about and then called Damien to tell him you finished the deal, which was the plan." Gail shot Andy a look that made her duck her head
"It's done, and I'm ok." Andy said quietly and winced as Gail swabbed the cuts on her hands with alcohol.
The debrief went quickly, there really wasn't much to talk about. Despite the fact that Andy had not let them all know the exact nature of the evening; they couldn't argue that the night was still a success.
"For tomorrow, let's a surveillance van set up. I can probably get away with the camera and earpiece again, but the meeting is in the warehouse so I don't think we'll be able to actually have any back-up around the buildings." Andy said, "The meeting is at 4:00pm, but I'd rather not risk coming back here during the day so send someone to my old apartment around 3:00pm. We can get everything set up there and then I can go without any suspicion."
She tossed and turned restlessly that night. The events of the day, or really the events of the year were catching up to her. It was all she could do to not just curl up into a ball and cry the tears that had been threatening to fall since being in the car with Sam. Sam. She wished that he could be here with her right now. Just to hold her and chase away the demons. He wouldn't come to her though. She knew that. His pride would keep him away from her tonight and no amount of willing would make him appear tonight. And, her own pride would keep her from going to him, no matter how much she wanted to.
The next day dragged by slowly for Andy. She could have sworn time totally stopped at one point. Finally, there was a knock on the door. She answered quickly revealing Gail and Bernie.
"You ready?" Gail asked
"Of course, this is the easy part." Andy shrugged, trying not to show how nervous she was.
Bernie finished checking the equipment, making sure all the sound and video came through correctly. "OK Andy, you're all set. Be careful." He eyed the turtleneck shirt she was wearing and knew she was hiding the bruises. "I'll wait in the car." He said to Gail
"Thanks Bernie." The girls said together.
"You look like hell." Gail said the moment Bernie closed the door.
Andy laughed, "Thanks, that's so sweet of you." She said sarcastically, "I haven't been sleeping well for a while." She said honestly.
"Its almost over." Gail smiled
"I know."
Gail stared at her then, "You won't be able to run anymore."
Andy's eyes trailed over to the laundry basket where Sam's sweatshirt was sitting on top, "I know."
Gail laid a hand on Andy's shoulder, "Two days."
Andy gave her a small smile, "Two days." She nodded
Andy drove by the plain unmarked surveillance van a few blocks from the warehouse, where the meeting with Damien would take place. She felt more than knew that Sam was in the van. She hoped that Oliver would actually be able to keep him in the van this time. "Testing. Can you hear me Bernie?" Andy asked
"Loud and clear." Bernie said, "Just make sure you keep your hair over your ear and your jacket open."
"Got it."
Andy parked behind the warehouse along with several other cars, "Looks like the whole crew is here." She said to Johnny who had pulled up at the same time.
"He just wants to make sure there are no screw ups tomorrow." Johnny said. He had a soft spot for Annie, she reminded him of Sarah. And, god did he love Sarah; it devastated him when he found out that Damien was the one who had actually killed her. One day he would get his revenge. In the mean time if he could keep Annie safe, then that would be the least he could do for Sarah.
They walked in together and moved to stand over by Marky. "Where's your boy toy?" He asked snidely
Andy scoffed, "I left him at the hotel." She rolled her eyes at the kissy faces Marky was making, "Can we get started please?" She asked as Damien walked in to the front of the half circle they had formed.
"Anxious to get back to your lover, Annie?" Damien sneered, "The one who put his nose in where it didn't belong."
Andy tried not to let her anxiety show, "He was drunk, he didn't know what the hell was going on."
"Well I'd prefer you bring him with you tomorrow so I can make sure for myself he will keep the information to himself." Damien said and Andy could tell from his tone that it was not a question, but a demand. But she had to try anyway.
"I don't really think that's necessary. He'll be going back home tomorrow anyway." Andy argued
"Tell him, his plans have changed." He glared at Andy. She nodded finally. "Now, on to more important things." Damien said and spent the next hour detailing the plan for tomorrow. He laid out where everyone was supposed to be and the exact specifications of the weapons they were supposed to carry with them.
As soon as she was out of sight of the warehouse Andy swore loudly. "Sam Swarek, I hope you are listening right now. I am going to kill you for dragging yourself into this. Do you have any god damn idea what you have done?"
She heard a chuckle in her earpiece, "Yeah, he's here, just not on comm. But you should know he's smirking right now." Oliver said, "Ow! What! You are!" Andy assumed that Sam had just hit him.
Andy groaned inwardly and she made her way back to her apartment. This was such a mess right now. What was she going to do? Damien was so unstable right now. He could just snap at any time. She would be spending the night at the police station tonight so there was no chance that anyone would spot her before the bust tomorrow. She packed a bag of everything she needed and waited for Gail to pick her up.
Andy was just finishing packing when she heard the knock at the door. She yanked the door open with a smile, "It's about time you-." She broke off when she saw who was standing on the other side. "Sam?"