Andy drove them home. Sam sat quietly in the passenger seat for a couple of moments, grappling with what to say, it seemed.

"So my Dad has cancer." the word 'dad' sounded odd coming from Sam.

She wondered how it felt to say it. Probably just as odd as when she said the word 'Mom'. That must be the reason why he rarely used it.

"I figured that's what he was telling you last night." He added gruffly before clearing his throat.

Andy glanced sidelong at him, saw the tendons in his neck standing out, his jaw clenched with suppressed anger.

She tried to picture Sarah. Having never met Sam's estranged sister, she could only imagine what she looked like, her personality. The only real but if information she knew about her was that she was attacked when she was thirteen years old. A sexual assault. Her little brother spent years trying to make her smile again with a book full of jokes.

Perhaps she was similar to Sam in that they were both scarred, both cynical and rightly so. Perhaps she was very similar to her brother. But she could only imagine at this point.

"So, what does this mean?" She asked carefully, not wanting to push him too far.

Sam shrugged.

"Nothing," he was shaking his head. "I..." He laughed humourlessly.

"I don't know..." He answered finally. "Probably nothing." He shrugged again.

Andy slowed down for a corner.

"So," she decided to change the subject to give him some breathing space. "We found Martin. Turns out he was a partner in Danny's business, as recently as a couple of months ago. And get this, Martin was higher up in the hierarchy, had connections to The Morte and still does."

"Bray told you all of this? What made his mouth so loose?" Sam questioned, surprised.

She was glad he no longer had the link in his voice. He was focused on something else besides his father and for the moment she was glad. As much as she wanted Sam to confront those issues with his Dad, she also felt physically ill to hear as much pain as she just heard in Sam's words.

It was Andy's turn to shrug. "They were close, closer than brothers, he'd said." She cocked her head to the side. "And it could also be the fact that he's never getting out of jail, now he's got nothing to lose, why not stir some trouble?"

Sam nodded, scratching the bandage on his hand. She was sure he had almost forgotten about the gash on his hand during all this business with his dad.

"Fair enough, what else?"

Andy pulled up to the curb, shifting into Park. She watched him tug at the bandage, before finally unwrapping it.

"Martin told us Danny's crew operated out of Midtown. We're gonna set up surveillance tomorrow and see who we can grab. Maybe we'll get lucky and find some employees of The Morte, find out for sure if they killed him for ripping them off."

Sam nodded again, more silent than usual. There was normal silence and then there was this. Normal silence with Sam didn't actually consist of silence, it was talking without words; talking about meaningless crap beside the actually point. This silence was empty. It tasted of sadness. Andy unbuckled her belt, the action apparently snapping Sam from his reverie. They both got out of his truck.

She wished they could have a normal night together. Thoughts of pizza and movie nights assaulted her; visions of children with Sam's eyes caught her off guard. She stopped at the door step as Sam went inside. She'd never thought of kids before, if she was being honest, not specifically with Sam. The sudden burst of wanting that life almost knocked her off her feet. She supposed she could still have that life, although she had no idea if was the same life Sam wanted.

After everything that had been happening with his father, she wouldn't hold it against him if the thought of children terrified him. She wondered what life he wanted for them, and if she was a permanent part of it. She wondered if he thought about the future much at all.

Sam appeared back at the door, looking puzzled.

"You've practically been living here for a few months now, McNally, you don't have to be invited in."

Andy, breaking from her daze, focused on his face.

She saw his eyes, the love that was there. She didn't know if this was a symptom of over tiredness, or just one of those rare moments of clarity. Andy wanted a future with Sam. She wanted to love him her whole life.

Sam frowned, stepping toward her.

"What's wrong with you?" He put his hand on her arm and pulled her inside, pushing the door closed over her shoulder.

"Nothing," she finally answered. "I love you, you know."

Sam's frown softened and he smirked at her.

"Do you, now?" He quirked an eyebrow. "That's unfortunate for you. Us Swareks aren't the type you want to fall for."

Her heart hurt at the sadness in his words.

She reached up and touched his face, like he had done with her earlier at the station. It was tender, a reassurance, a way of her to let him know he was important.

She watched his smirk fall away, the self deprecating mask lifted. He watched her then, face showing no signs of a facade. He was open and bare.

Andy ran her thumb across his cheek, then moved her hand to the back of his neck, playing with his hair.

She felt the slight shudder run through him at her touch. God, how long had it been since they'd touched like this?

He came closer, then, their bodies aligned. He tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned in to kiss her. Their lips parted, meeting. It was slow, measured, and warm. Lips moving together, she felt Sam's hands touch her, flat on her waist first, his grip tightening with each second. She sighed against his mouth. They both drew in a breath as Sam's hands moved down to her hips, cupping her ass, pulling their hips closer together. She could feel him, hard against her. He squeezed his hands and she squirmed against him. That pushed him to break away from her lips, dropping down far enough to lift her up so she could wrap her legs around his hips.

Their breathing was laboured, their skin hot with each touch the other gave. He turned around and pressed her up against the wall, freeing one of his hands to run over her body. She arched against his touch. His hand cupped her breast. He held her firmly against him then, pulling away from the wall to lower her back to the floor only to pull at the button on her jeans, pulling them down her legs.

He was down on his knees before her, his hands running down her thighs. She pulled her own shirt off, unhooking and discarding her bra as he looked up at her, eyes hooded. The sudden lack of his heat against her and the lack of clothes raised goosebumps on her skin. His breath, hot against her lower belly made her shudder, her body aching with the anticipation. He became gentler then, teasing, using just his fingers to pull her underwear down. His fingertips brushing her skin so lightly.

Sam grazed his lips against her bare hip, moving upwards, over her stomach and between her breasts. Slowly, until he was standing again before her.

She reached for his shirt, pulling it over his head. They kissed again, the urgency becoming more and more pronounced. Blindly, she fumbled with his belt, the button, the zipper pushing his jeans down together with his boxers. Their movements more frantic then, he grasped her hips again, her legs wrapped around his hips once more. The quick movements made her gasp. Sam paused for a moment, her back against the wall. He pushed her hair back from her face, a softness in his eyes only reserved for her. She kissed him again.

"Yes," she answered his question. "Yes."

He let out a short quick breath as they came together. Andy curled her hand around the back of his head, his hair soft between her fingers.

He moved in her, and she closed her eyes unable to keep herself from falling into this oblivion.

"Andy." His voice, strained, made her peel open her eyes again. "Look at me."

She did. The bottomless eyes, unfathomable, unreadable; they suddenly became so clear. Their foreheads touched. She felt his shoulders tensed with energy as his body moved against hers rhythmically. His head fell to her shoulder with a groan. Her own orgasm not far away, she could barely keep herself from making any noises. He kissed her neck, one hand holding her bottom, the other squeezing her breast, thumb grazing her nipple. The wall behind her was not at all comfortable, but that sensation quickly fell to the wayside as she felt herself begin to fall apart. She dug her fingers into his back and he pumped harder.

He put his arms around her waist then, carrying her to the sofa. She faltered at the loss of momentum until he sat down with her in his lap. She then began to move in earnest, his head falling back against the cushions, gritting his teeth before he lifted his eyes agains to stare up at her, all over her.

His hands were on her hips, moving with her each time she rocked against him. Andy sucked in a breath, her whole body tensing as she came. Sam grabbed her, his hands on her back, hips bucking feebly as he followed her.

He groaned into her chest and she held him there, still shaking from her high.

"I almost didn't make it." He whispered hoarsely.

Andy laughed. She felt Sam's shoulders shake with his own mirth. She opened her eyes then. He pulled his head back to stare up at her.

"I love you, McNally." His eyes bright with the heat of their activities, pierced her own.

She smiled, leaning forward to kiss him.

"I know." She smiled against his lips.

~0~

Andy ran into Traci in the parking lot. Starting work in the morning meant she actually had a chance of running into her best friend. She knew they'd had too long between seeing each other outside of work. It was getting difficult now that they were in relationships, Traci being pregnant, and the case Andy was working.

"We're actually running a surveillance team today, see what we can get."

"Awesome. I hope you get somewhere with it. These past few cases have really been dragging you down." Traci said, rubbing her burgeoning belly.

Andy was startled with this opinion. She would sometimes forget there were people who cared about her, people who could tell she was under strain.

"How are you feeling, anyway? I know you probably hear it a lot." Andy added sheepishly.

"Hey, at least you ask." Traci waved her hand dismissively. "I forgot what it was like. I actually had lunch with Noelle the other day. We talked, we bonded."

Andy bit her lip, wishing she could help her friend, but knowing there was no way she could entirely identify with her situation unless she was in the same situation.

She pulled the door open for her friend, the sun shining on her hair, casting it in a golden glow. She literally was a glowing pregnant woman. They strode, side by side down the corridor running adjacent to the detective's office. Jerry appeared outside the parade room, a lazy smile on his face as he caught sight of Traci.

Andy couldn't help but feel envious. She watched as Traci quickened her pace a little to grasp his out stretched hand. He must have been working last night, their interaction was cheerful, longing, like they hadn't just woken up together a few hours earlier. Perhaps he wasn't working nights, and that was just their energy permanently. The thought made Andy smile wistfully, not out of envy this time, just an intense feeling of satisfaction on behalf of her friend. It was about time the whole Dex thing was behind her. It was about time she was happy.

Andy glanced to her right, down the hall past Jerry and Traci, an impulse suddenly gripping her.

"Morning." Sam stopped by her side.

She looked up at him, unable to keep from smiling.

"Morning." She replied.

He didn't kiss her, didn't even move. They just shared something between them, contact unnecessary. Finally, she breathed out and they both seemed to break from their reverie. Andy made her way to the locker room as Sam practically bounced up the steps to the D's office.

~0~

Suited up, Andy met Nick in the parade room. A friendly nudge to the shoulder, she sat down next to him. Frank had just begun explaining today's schedule of duties.

"McNally, Collins and uh...Diaz." He picked Chris as an afterthought, probably realising again that Gail wasn't back at work yet and therefore unavailable for the operation.

Gail was usually one of his first choices. If she were being honest, Andy would pick Gail to be in her team first, too.

"You'll be working surveillance in Midtown today. Swarek will give you the run down. Everybody else, your assignments are on the board." He wrapped his knuckles against the podium, effectively ending his address.

Nick and Andy stood up, falling into step with Chris outside the doorway. Sam whistled for their attention from the D's office. He inclined with his head to follow him. Using Callaghan's desk, Sam laid out a printed map Midtown.

He pointed down with his forefinger at Clarence Road.

"McNally, Collins; I want you to circle along Clarence, Mason, and Petrie. It shouldn't take too long for you to witness a deal. Grab 'em, see if you can shake anything loose."

Sam looked up at them then, eyes intent.

"The Morte is disorganised and wreckless, surprisingly, sometimes to their advantage. But to their disadvantage, being unpredictable and inconsistent doesn't make for very loyal employees. Maybe we'll get someone to talk to us."

His eyes shifted to Andy then as he addressed the room.

"That being said. The Morte is disorganised and wreckless." He repeated, then glanced at each of them before landing back on Andy. "They're ruthless in a way that The Rouge Brothers never were. Watch yourselves."

A ripple of unease spread through her body like ice. It hadn't been long since The Rouge Brothers empire collapsed with their murders, but at the same time, it felt like a lifetime ago. Andy couldn't help the stir of memory that flooded her mind when she thought of them. Phillip Couperet had been somewhat of a friend. That is, as much of a friend you could be with a drug lord. Despite his evils, she saw a raw humanness in him. His pain made her see him more favourably than she should have. Not that they were the ones to be afraid of.

Andy understood Sam's wariness. The Rouge Brothers may have been ruthless but it wasn't them that murdered those kids. It was seemingly normal young man, with no direct ties to any gang, who had tried to take her life.

There was a darkness inside Carl DeLuca. It was what made him kill. She'd seen it in the way he smiled, the glaze in his eyes, the way he'd watched her hungrily during their interrogation after Sam got shot.

She would never forget that the darkness could be found inside the least likely person. The thought made her mind turn back to Marcus; his body forgotten in a cold dark alleyway. Pastor McLeish could be an unlikely person, maybe that's why Andy could never trust him.

They were going in plain clothes to be as inconspicuous as possible. Andy dressed in the clothes she came to work in: jeans, long sleeve shirt and a jacket.

Andy followed Nick out to their undercover squad, letting him drive. She was too distracted as she stewed over Marcus, and the fact that she had to give up the case. Still distracted, she only realised when Nick pulled over to the curb that they were just around the corner from the church and the alley Marcus was found in.

She mentioned this to Nick and he grimaced.

"It sucks we can't help anymore, but that's the bureaucracy of police work."

Andy sunk lower in her seat, grateful for the tinted windows for their added discretion.

"That's the only thing I don't like about this job, you know?" Andy said, scanning the street.

"The only thing?" Nick replied doubtfully.

She glanced at him and rolled her eyes.

"Well maybe getting puked on when you're trying to throw someone in the drunk tank isn't one of the best parts..." She digressed.

They fell into companionable silence, keeping watch for anything suspicious.

Andy watched a young woman stalk slowly down the sidewalk, head down and shoulders hunched. Her hoodie was up, but the weather today was nothing short of brisk. She carried on down the street, a young boy around fifteen passed her. He was preoccupied with his phone, accidentally knocking shoulders with her. Neither seemed phased by it, the young woman continuing on briskly down the street and out of sight. Andy considered following but quickly let it go. They had to see a deal happen. If they went running after somebody they could blow their cover and burn the whole street, which wouldn't leave all the dealers in Midtown to scatter, their whole operation would be over.

The teenage boy stopped outside of a house, still staring down at his phone.

"What do you think?" Andy asked.

Nick was watching him already. He nodded slowly then shrugged.

"Give it a minute."

The boy, clad in jeans and an oversized hoodie, looked up and down the street, putting his phone in his back pocket. The wind picked up outside and he pulled his zipper further up his neck, glancing around him once more to make sure nobody was watching. Apparently he hadn't caught sight of them then. He just seemed to a wait for a few moments. Andy was growing wrestles when they caught sight of a man coming from the opposite direction. Leather jacket and dark jeans, he looked rather tidy and out of place in midtown.

"Heads up." Andy nodded toward leather jacket.

The two met, it only lasted a few seconds; they shook hands, leather jackets fingers curling around something.

"Let's move." She announced, shoving her door open.

Leather jacket, noticing their approach, ran back the way he came, Nick following.

"Police! Don't move!" She shouted.

The young boy tried running in the opposite direction. Andy ran after him, reaching to grab his hoodie. First attempt left her pitching forward, almost loosing her footing. He just rounded the corner when she reached out again, this time gaining purchase, her fingers hooking on the fabric. She seized a handful of the fabric, wrenching him toward her. He staggered, twisting his ankle.

The boy tripped and fell, twisting so his shoulder took the brunt of his fall. Andy had to slow down quickly, almost standing on him.

She pushed him on to his stomach, pulling his arms behind him. With one hand holding his wrists, she pulled her handcuffs from her jacket pocket. She had both knees resting firmly on his back as she tightened the cuffs on his wrists, the metal teeth clicking into place.

Once restrained she leaned back, getting a grasp on his arm, just above the elbow, and helping him up. It was then that Andy got a closer look at his face, something about it seemed familiar.

Nick appeared then, out of breath and without his caller.

"Son of a bitch must run track," he said breathlessly, hands on his hips.

"So do you." Andy replied accusingly, then trained her attention back on her perp.

"Hey," Nick's voice went higher in recognition. "Aren't you living in that halfway house? The one down on Carlisle Road?"

Andy looked back at him accusingly. She thought he seemed familiar. She'd seen him sitting on the sofa inside the dark tiny living room of the halfway house. Nick must have seen him through the door way when he was questioning that girl.

"Come on, let's get him back to the station." She grasped his elbow with one hand, leading him back to the squad car.

She searched him before depositing him inside.

"You drive, I'll call Sam."

~o~

The boy remained silent for the whole ride back to the barn. It wasn't until they had him sitting alone in an interrogation room that he seemed to want to open his mouth.

"Can I please call someone?!" He yelled out.

"Kid's got manners." Sam commented from behind the glass.

Andy squinted at him. He was in the same kind of clothes he was wearing at the halfway house, or at least what she remembered. Old, moth eaten, worn out; but clean.

He put his head in his hands, his legs bouncing up and down under the table. He was anxious.

"Let's go see what he knows."

Sam opened the door for Andy and followed her into the next room.

The boy's head popped up at their entrance, eyes wide.

"You wanna start with your name?" Sam began, taking a seat opposite the boy.

"Ben." He provided, eyes skating between the two of them like they were predators about to pounce.

Andy watched as he tried to reign in his panic, but his legs kept bouncing, betraying his attempted cool facade. He had fluff- barely even a beard-traveling from his side burns to the middle of his jaw bone on either side of his face. He was young.

"Are you still living on Carlisle at the halfway house, Ben?"

Ben twitched but stayed silent, glancing at Andy then. Perhaps he remembered her? She didn't think she'd been to conspicuous peeking through the cardboard covered windows that day.

"Listen, we can see that you're scared-"

"I'm not scared." He snapped, but Sam continued as if he hadn't heard him.

"-but we're gonna need to know who you're working for. We're gonna need to know what your full name is, how you came to work for The Morte-" Andy saw him blanch at the mention of the gang. "-and who else is involved."

Sam's wasn't messing around. He got straight to the point this time, no splitting hairs. He must be confident, or resigned to the fact that this kid wasn't going to talk.

Ben's hair was long enough to reach his eyes. He let it fall over them now, a residual habit probably leftover from some kind of childhood shyness. The act itself was very childlike and she was reminded again of how young Ben must be.

Despite the fact that he broke the law, there had to be someone else to blame for him doing this work. Whether or not it was the Morte that was behind this, Ben was not the real criminal here.

Traci popped her head in, then. Andy and Sam both turned their heads to her in puzzlement.

"Can I talk to you guys for a second?" She let the door fall closed behind her.

Sam and Andy shared a glance.

"We'll be right back." Sam told Ben.

He followed Andy out into the hall, Traci waiting on the other side, an evidence bag clutched in her hands.

She handed it to Sam with a grimace.

"Today is not your day, my friend." She looked at both of them apologetically. "The drugs you pulled off that kid aren't drugs."

"What is it, then?" Andy squinted at the bag.

"Baking soda. And there's something else."

Andy watched Sam, his frown deepening.

"Kid's lawyer just showed up. He's out in reception."

Andy looked past Traci, picking out the lawyer almost immediately from their position. Tall, grey suit, blue tie, unremarkable features; they both sighed in unison.

They waited inside the interrogation room, Sam trying to glean more information from Ben before his lawyer strode in. It was no use, though. Ben had shut down. It wasn't long before he appeared, spouting a diatribe about the police force, and wasting tax payers dollars.

"This just proves how inept this division is." He had his fists on the table, leaning ominously forward. "If you've got nothing to charge my client with, we'll be on our way."

"Do you wanna tell us why the baggie you had on you was full of baking soda and not coke." Sam spoke directly to Ben, ignoring the tall man in the expensive suit.

Strangely, Ben looked more anxious than before, his fingers drumming the table before him.

"Thanks for your time, officers." The lawyer said sarcastically, all smooth voice and coiffed hair.

He grasped Ben in the shoulder, to which the kid jumped, startled. He seemed to realise there was nothing keeping him there, so he stood up to follow his lawyer.

Andy opened the door for them, eyeing Ben speculatively.

What was he playing at? Did he keep a bag of baking soda on him in case he ever got picked up by the cops? Or did he think he was selling genuine stuff?

He brushed past her, shoulders hunched forward. They followed them out into reception, watched him leave.

"Hold on," Andy touched Sam's hand. "I wanna give him my card." She made to follow Ben outside onto the street.

"Why?" Sam asked curiously, walking with her.

"Ben!" She called out to him, shading her eyes with her hands against the glare outside. "Wait!"

Ben turned his head at the sound of his name. Andy waved her hand, striding toward him. She heard a vague whistling sound. It was just a split second. She saw red. Something hot and wet splattered against her face. Her mouth opened in shock, she could taste blood. She didn't want to believe what she'd just seen. In another split second she was being pushed to the ground. Her palms scraped against the pavement to break her fall. She thought for a second she'd been shot; she felt like she couldn't get up. She heard screaming.

Then the weight that had been on top of her was gone. Something hoisted her up from the back of her vest, shouting urgently to find cover. She was suddenly on her feet and running back towards the station.

Andy turned her head back; she had to look. People were running, shrieking in fear and confusion. And she saw him. Ben, the young boy, the kid; he was on the ground, bloody and unrecognisable. She heard Sam's voice in her ear, shouting. His hands were urging her forward. They were inside the station again. Her breath came in gasps. She tried to ignore the metallic taste on her tongue, the warm slickness covering her face and neck.

Once more she looked back at the scene outside. Sam stepped into her line of vision, blocking her view. He grabbed her shoulders.

"Andy, are you okay?"

She looked at him. Of course she wasn't okay. Nothing was okay.