A/N: I'm so thrilled you all are enjoying the story! And I soooo do appreciate the reviews you all are leaving, it's nice to know people are enjoying the story! Here's the next one...let me know what you think :)
Boiling Points
Jerry was at a coffee shop located on the other side of the city to meet with Rebecca Richards. When he had called her and identified himself as a cop she hung up. But that didn't stop Jerry, he called and called and left messages promising she wasn't in trouble and needed to speak to her off the record- no one would know about it. Rebecca was half an hour late but Jerry waited patiently and when he saw a women enter with dark sunglasses (it was after nine at night) and baseball cap he knew she had arrived.
"Detective Barber?" she asked in a low raspy voice and he nodded
"Miss. Richards" he said with a smile standing up until she took her seats
"How do I know this isn't official? That you're not tricking me into giving some sort of a statement?" she questioned
"I can't force you to do anything Miss. Richards" He promised her "But Steve Jacks could be a real threat to a fellow officer and I need to know what to expect"
"A female officer?" she asked and he nodded "She's in trouble then. Any kind of attention from Steve is bad"
"That's what I've been told" Jerry noted "You can take your glasses off you know"
"I can't" she said to him fidgeting with her fingers "Listen Steve can be a real good man at times but when he's in a bad place then it gets ugly"
"How ugly?" Jerry questioned and she removed her glasses and Jerry couldn't help but let out a small gasp. Her right eye looked almost completely burned off
"He's dangerous Detective" She told him "I met him once at a bar and he was persistent but I thought it was kind of cute at the time. We dated when he was clean but then it got bad. He started betting on games had no way to pay the loan sharks then came the drugs and alcohol and he became violent"
"He did that to you" Jerry said with a subtle nod
"Yea I was cooking dinner and I mouthed off to him" she said shaking her head at the memory "So part of my face met the burner of the stove"
"Why didn't you press charges?" he questioned
"I was ashamed, I was scared and I was on my own" she admitted "I don't know where he hangs out or who he hangs out with. It took me a long time to find a place he wouldn't be able to track me down at. And this is one of the few visible scars I have a lot more"
"Why don't you let me help you" Jerry encouraged "I'll get you somewhere safer, I'll bring him in if you give statement"
"No!" she shouted "I put this all behind me and I'm not digging it back up. I came here today to try and help this cop out I don't want anyone to go through what I did. No one deserves it" she said standing up "I'd appreciate it if you didn't contact me again, the more I leave my house the more likely he has to find me"
"I understand" Jerry said with a nod then took out his card and gave it to her "If you need anything don't hesitate to call me"
"You know I thought he stopped looking for me because he gave up" she said to him placing her glasses on "I guess he stopped because he found a new victim" then left Jerry with his thoughts in the coffee shop
The next morning Sam woke up and quietly slipped out of bed not wanting to wake Andy. She finally had a night where she was able to sleep all the way through. He poured himself a cop of coffee and looked out the window and saw a patrol car sitting outside the building. Even from this distance he could tell it was Dov and Chris.
"This is crazy" Chris said out loud "Andy just got over this Boyd thing now this? It's not fair"
"What happened with Boyd isn't going to happen again" Dov reminded him "That's why we're here"
"Did you read this description of the guy?" Chris asked holding up the description and background information on Steve Jacks that Jerry handed every member of the division
"Several times" Dov replied professionally taking a sip of coffee
"He can do some serious damage" Chris noted "Andy is going-"
"Andy isn't our friend here" Dov told him "She's a victim and potential target that's how we have to look at this. I can't let it get personal"
"But it is personal, this is Andy" Chris reminded but before Dov could reply he heard a knock at his window and there was Sam with an amused look on his face. Chris reluctantly rolled down his window
"Hey guys" he said with a big sarcastic smile
"Officer Swarek" Dov replied professional "Can we help you?" and Sam laughed
"Yea you can tell me what you two are doing here"
"We came to see Andy" Chris replied nervously causing Sam to squint at him
"So you two were in your car waiting for what then?" he questioned
"We thought it was too early" Dov added starting to get nervous
"Charade is up" Sam said with a laugh "Tell me what you're doing here or I'll call the station and ask myself"
"It's nothing to concern yourself with" Dov assured Sam "Detective Barber and Callaghan just wanted us to keep an eye on the building"
"From who? Steve Jacks?" He questioned them
"Or anyone else" Chris added with a shrug
"What aren't you two telling me?" he asked them and they both looked at each other
After receiving their orders from Detective Barber, Jerry pulled Chris and Dov aside
"Do me a favor stay out of sight when you get to Officer McNally's" Jerry told them "We don't want to alarm her or Sam for that matter"
"Shouldn't they know the severity of this situation?" Chris asked confused and Jerry gave him half a smile
"Of course and they will but they've had a rough couple of days and they need some rest" Jerry said to them
"You also don't want Officer Swarek running around the streets looking for this guy" Dov added and Jerry nodded
"Exactly" He told them "And we really don't know if he's targeting Andy he hasn't made any contact we're taking the words of a criminal and a scared ex-girlfriend. So when I have more to report to them I will fill both of them in. Until then stay out of sight and please don't tip off Sam"
"It's really nothing" Dov said with a wave of his hand and Sam just nodded walking away from the window pulling out his phone
"Who is he calling?" Chris asked looking Dov
"No idea" he said trying to listen
"Yea Jerry" Sam said into the phone and Chris and Dov both sighed knowing they blew it "Why do you have twiddle-dee and twiddle dumb parked outside Andy's condo?"
"We're finished" Chris muttered to Dov who just nodded "I told you we should have parked further back"
"And how would we have seen anyone entering the building?" Dov asked him
"Jerry said you two could hit the road" Sam said to them
"Ok" Chris said with a nod "What else did- uh Detective Barber tell you?"
"That would really be none of your business Diaz now would it?" Sam questioned sarcastically
Sam walked back into the condo and found Andy standing by the window when he came in
"Was that Chris and Dov?" she asked turning to face him
"Yea" Sam said to her closing the door
"What were they doing here?" she questioned
"I have no idea but we'll find out soon" Sam told her taking his coffee "Jerry is going to fill us in"
"It's about this Steve guy isn't it?" she asked him and Sam shrugged
"Could be a number of different things" Sam told her coolly "Let's not jump the gun until we know for sure"
"I just want to get back to work" Andy admitted plopping on the couch "I'm so sick of being home"
"You've only been home for a few days" Sam pointed out to her "You can't go back until the doctor gives you the ok"
"I feel ok" She told him "No more headaches, my injuries are barely visible- I'm ready"
"Give it a few more days" He encouraged "You don't want to rush back into work and realize your not a 100 percent you could get hurt again" he said taking a seat next to her
"How are you feeling?" she asked pointing to his bandaged stomach
"I'm tough as nails McNally" he smirked "I would have been back to work yesterday"
"Oh but you feel the need to stay home and baby-sit me instead?" she asked
"No I felt the need to take the opportunity to spend some more time with you, move some of my stuff in. Get settled" He shrugged "Are you sick of me already?"
"No" she said with a giggle "Far from it actually. I'm afraid I'm going to get too spoiled spending all this time with you. I'll never want to go back to work"
"Soon enough" He smiled "But for right now enjoy the peace and quiet" that's when there was a knock at the door
"See what I mean" Sam teased standing up walking towards the door to reveal Luke Callaghan
"Hey buddy" Sam remarked overly friendly
"Sam" he nodded politely "Jerry was tied up so I'm here to fill you both in on the investigation" he already realized this was a bad idea and flashed to the conversation he had with Jerry and Oliver earlier
"Hey Oliver" Jerry said jogging towards him "I'm meeting with a CI who might information on Steve Jacks"
"That's great you need me to come with you?" Shaw questioned
"No but I do need you-" he started when his phone went off "It's Sam"
"Uh-oh" Oliver said seriously he knew it wouldn't take him long to discover the security detail
"Sammy what's up buddy?" Jerry questioned "It's just a precaution….yea a few developments…of course I was going to fill you in…give me half an hour I'll tell you both personally"
"Diaz and Epstein got busted huh?" Oliver questioned
"Yea and now Sam wants some answers" Jerry said shaking his head
"Hey you need he would figure it out eventually"
"Yea I was just hopping to have more to go on first" Jerry muttered running his hands over his face "Hey do you think you could swing by their place and fill them in?" he asked and Oliver just laughed
"Are you asking me if I want to be the one to tell Sam his girlfriend is probably being hunted by an abusive drug addict that's been following her around for months?" he asked still laughing "No" he replied loosing his smile "I also don't want to be the one that has to scare Andy"
"Sam listens to you" Jerry encouraged "If you tell him to back off-"
"-he'll ignore me and do whatever he wants" Oliver finished "Ask Nash to do it"
"I'm keeping her as far away from this as possible" Jerry admitted
"I'll do it" Luke said coming up from behind them
"Yea Sam-no offense- already doesn't like Callaghan let him be the barrier of bad news" Oliver encouraged
"It's not a problem I can handle Swarek" Luke told them
"Alright" Jerry nodded
"Come right on in then" Sam said gesturing for him to come in "Honey Luke is here" he replied in the same sarcastic tone
"Hi Luke" Andy said politely and they all took a seat
"I'm going to make this short and blunt" Luke started "Jerry spoke to Boyd before he was transferred he admitted that Steve Jacks was the one following Andy for him"
"We already knew this" Sam added earning a glare from Andy
"He also told us he felt Steve Jacks took a liking to Andy and implied he would be interested in introducing himself to her" Luke told them
"So?" Andy asked "Let him approach me, use me as bait and then we'll catch him. No harm no foul"
"It's not that simple Andy" Luke told her "We can't find him and his track record with women in particular isn't stellar"
"What do you mean by that?" She asked
"He means he's some women beating rapist" Sam said in a serious tone looking at Luke "That is what you mean, right?"
"Yea among other things" Luke told them and Sam sucked in a breath
"This is just Boyd's word" Andy reminded both of them "It means nothing. All he has done is lie"
"Jerry contacted a former girlfriend of Steve Jacks as well" he informed them "She's in hiding but spoke to Jerry could she also feels he stopped pursuing her because he has to be pursuing someone else"
"Was he violent with her?" Andy asked him
"That's what she claims yes" Luke told her "Half her face was burnt"
"Oh my god" Andy muttered
"The best thing you two could do is stay out of sight for a while" Luke told them
"He's after Andy not me" Sam told him
"You really want to run around the streets and antagonize this man?" Luke questioned "Never mind I already know the answer to that"
"The more people on this the better" Sam told him
"And while you're out running around like a loose cannon whose going to be watching Andy?" Luke questioned "You trust her life with uniforms"
"I can take care of myself" Andy told him but then turned to Sam "But if he was watching me he knows you, he might hurt you to"
"I'm not worried about myself" Sam told her
"Well the department is" Luke told them "Both of you. Best wants you both out of sight until we can look into this more"
"What if you never catch him?" Andy asked "Am I supposed to stay in hiding forever? I'm not doing that"
"You don't have a choice" Luke shot back at her "Just for once do what you're told and stay out of it"
"Calm down" Sam warned Luke in a very low tone then turned to Andy "He's right Andy give it a couple of days at least if nothing comes out of it we'll take it from there"
"This is ridiculous" She said standing up and storming into her room leaving Sam and Luke in the living room
"You feel better now?" Sam questioned "Is this what Jerry asked you to do? Scare her into thinking she can never leave this apartment again?"
"I didn't want to scare her but she's a big girl Sam, she's not made of china and more importantly she's a cop and has to know the facts" Luke argued standing up and Sam followed in suite
"Maybe if you would have taken a better approach instead of shouting out orders she would have taken the news better" Sam shot at him
"I was engaged to her I know how to talk to her" Luke said with the low blow causing Sam to smirk
"Yea and look how that worked out for you" he reminded Luke
"You saw the pictures he took of Andy" Luke told him "He's been in her bedroom he's probably taken some of her more personal things she hasn't even noticed. He's a sexual predator Sam. We need to all be on the same page here"
"What photos?" Andy questioned walking out of her bedroom
"Andy-" Luke started
"What photos Sam?" she asked turning her attention towards him
"In Boyd's car we found a file on you. In the file was your basic information and surveillance photos" He told her honestly
"What kind of photos?" She asked more directly
"Photos of you inside here cooking, cleaning-" Sam started
"Getting changed" Luke added earning a death glare from Sam "Coming out of the shower"
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" She asked both of them
"I was going to" Sam told her "But up until last night we assumed it was Boyd who took the photos"
"This is my case" Andy reminded them "You can't keep this kind of stuff from me. I don't need to be protected I need to be kept in the loop! I hate the fact that everyone is being so nice to me and walking on eggshells around me, I feel like I'm suffocating" she told them
"Andy-" Sam started
"Don't" she said pulling away from him and stormed back into her room slamming the door
"She had to-" Luke started but Sam quickly punched him square in the jaw "One hit, that's all you get" he told Sam rubbing his jaw
"You deserve a lot more" Sam said to him "What where you thinking!"
"She had to know!" Luke yelled back
"How about with a little subtlety and finesse?" Sam shot at him "I get that you two have a past and you're probably not happy that she's with me now but don't take that out on her. Not now, not with what she has going on"
"I'm treating Andy as I would any other victim" Luke informed and Sam rolled his eyes at the comment
"No you're not. I've seen you with victims" Sam reminded him "It's like you're deliberately trying to hurt and scare her and I for the life of me can't understand why. I mean you were the one that cheated on her right?"
"Is that what she told you?" Luke asked him
"She didn't have to" Sam said annoyed "Everyone with half a brain knew what was going on with you and Jo and they knew you were wrong. They just didn't have the stones to say anything to you"
"I guess you didn't either" Luke said to him
"It wasn't my place" Sam admitted "I also knew starting something with you would hurt Andy and unlike you I look out for her best interests"
"That's all I've been doing" Luke told him firmly
"Yea? That's what this was just now?" Sam asked with a laugh folding his arms
"Don't blame me because Andy called you out on keeping things from her. At least when I was with her I didn't shield her from anything, I was never afraid she wasn't strong enough to handle it" Luke told him
"It's not that I'm afraid she can't handle it or defend herself because I know she can" Sam said taking a step closer to him "I just don't want her to half to"
"And she won't" Luke told him "We'll get him before he gets to her" he said as he walked towards the door
"You better get to him before I do" Sam warned and Luke didn't even turn around he just kept walking
"Did you mean that?" Andy asked stepping out of her room
"Are the walls like paper in here or something?" he asked her as she stepped closer to him
"You really think I'm strong enough to defend myself? You're not keeping me locked up like some weak damsel in distress?" she asked sadly
"Andy I wouldn't be your partner if I didn't think you could hold your own" Sam told her honestly "I also recall the first time I met you that you were tackling me. I've believed in you since your first day on the job"
"Why can't I stay mad at you?" She asked herself annoyed and he smiled and pulled her into his arms
"Because I'm very attractive" He said seriously causing her to laugh
"Don't make me laugh" She warned holding onto him
"I love your laugh" he said to her "And I love you" he said for the first time and she pulled away far enough to look him in the eye "I do and unfortunately it's that reason I have the insane need to want to protect you. Not just physically but emotionally as well. I warned you that I was messy and I've made mistakes and I'll probably do it again. I should have told you about the photos"
"I love you" she said pulling him into a long deep kiss
"If I knew you were going to kiss me like that I would have said it a long time ago" Sam said pulling away slightly
"Say it again" Andy demanded with a laugh
"I love you" he said with a smile as Andy pulled him into another kiss and they stumbled towards the bedroom
Luke walked into the station to be greeted by Shaw
"Oh buddy" Shaw said examining his jaw "This is why I didn't want to be the one to tell him"
"Yea I'm starting to think you should have went instead" Luke him annoyed and that's when Jerry strolled in
"CI was a bust" Jerry told the duo then noticed Luke's jaw as well
"So was Jerry's jaw" Oliver chimed in earning a laugh from a Jerry and a glare from Luke. "Sorry it was too perfect"
"Sammy hit you?" Jerry questioned looking at the forming bruise
"We need to find this guy" Luke told them tying to take the attention away from his jaw "I don't know how long Sam and Andy are going to sit tight"
"We're working on it" Jerry told him
"Boyd may be our only chance at finding him" Luke said to them earning a groan from Oliver "I don't like it either but he's the only one we know for sure who has had contact with him recently"
"What about the brother?" Shaw questioned "Can't we get him on aiding and abiding a felon?"
"He's not talking" Jerry told him
"Oh and you two feel we'll have better luck getting Boyd to talk?" Shaw asked sarcastically
"We'll over him better treatment in jail" Luke told him "Private cell, protection"
"So he can sit cozy in prison after everything he has done?" Shaw asked stunned "He turned his back on his brothers"
"I know that" Luke told him "But it could be our best shot and Andy's safety is top priority"
"I bet he's had this planned all along" Jerry told Luke "He knew we'd come back asking questions"
"Give it a few days" Oliver recommended "Just a few and if nothing pans out then we reward the traitor"
"Andy might not have a few days" Luke told him
Steve Jacks was parked outside Claire McNally's house. He was watching his brother load up his car. He could see the sadness in his only brother's face. He had finally realized his brother was paying the price for his mistakes. Steve got out of the car and approached his brother
"Tony!" He shouted jogging towards him
"Are you crazy!" Tony shouted back "Claire is inside"
"I don't care" Steve said to him "I'm sorry I never wanted you to get hurt"
"It's a little to late for that brother" Tony muttered in disgust "The cops are looking all over for you"
"I know" He said to him "If you could just sit up a meet with Claire's daughter- what's her name again? Andy something-"
"You damn well know her name is Andy" Tony spat at him and Steve smiled
"You're right I do know that" he said still smiling "Tell her you want to meet her for coffee without her boyfriend and I'll go in your place" Tony laughed at the idea
"So you could what?" he questioned his younger brother
"Apologize" Steve told him seriously "I don't want her to think I knew she was going to get hurt"
"That's what you would do?" he asked with a laugh "You wouldn't slap her around like you did Reb-"
"Don't say her name" Steve warned and Tony just shook his head and got in his car "Where are you going?"
"I don't know" Tony told him "But wherever it is I know you won't find me. You've gone too far and I'm not going to let you keep destroying my life"
"Why is she blaming you for this?" Steve asked him
"Why wouldn't she?" Tony asked back then speed down the street leaving Steve looking lost. With all the shouting Claire McNally stepped out of her house
"Tony-" she started
"He's gone" Steve turned around to face her "And you did that"
"Steve I'm calling the police" She said rushing into her house but Steve ran in after her grabbing the phone from her hands and slamming the door shut
"Why did you push him away like that!" Steve shouted at her
"You did this!" Claire yelled "You hurt my daughter!"
"No I didn't" Steve said slowly "That cop did!"
"Just get out of here now" Claire demanded "Leave town before the cops get you and I know they will."
"I'm not going anywhere" Steve told her as he shoved her on the couch "I like it here in this house actually"
"You can't stay here" Claire told him
"Make me leave" Steve tempted