A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! I'm glad you all like the story! I feel like 10 is random? I don't know why, it just feels somewhat jumpy, but a lot of it is necessary for the upcoming chapters. I'm working on 11 and I'm going to try and get it up soon, shouldn't been much of an issue now that their calling for 18 in. of snow here! Hope you like it!

CHAPTER 10

Emma walked towards Sam, who was waiting for her by the door. She would not stand in Andy's way if she wanted Sam that was the truth. She just has to prove that she wants him more than I do. "Rough day?" Sam asked.

"You don't even want to know."

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here," she walked out with Sam, side by side. His arm around her shoulders, hers around his waist.

Andy walked out of the locker room in just enough time to see Sam and Emma walking out together. Love is not a game, Detective Caley. Now she had to decide, was she going to tell Sam what Emma said and risk losing him all together or keep quiet, and fight?

Emma may not be much of a decision maker, but she knows what she wants and she will go to great lengths to get it. She's wasn't afraid to step on the little people, she did what she had to do to get to the top; she wasn't concerned with the feelings of others. Sam was the only exception.

Part of her knew that Sam should know the truth. He had a right to know that she didn't just leave because she wasn't ready to get married, but how do you tell the person you love the most that you love his best friend, too? Or loved? Which is it? Love or loved? Another unanswered question. She sat back in her chair and peered on as Luke walked into the station. Luke get's it, the whole doing what you gotta do to go where you wanna go thing. She stared at him until another man walked into view, Sam. What are you doing to him? He does not deserve this.

Sam and Emma had talked through everything; well everything that Sam knew needed to be talked through, last night at dinner. He was ready to pick up where they left off, to act as if nothing had happened. Emma wasn't sure she could do that, because she didn't know where they left off.

She thought about the way things went down at the Penny, the way she reacted when she left. Would I have really gotten on that plane to New York? When she left, she figured who ever tried to get her to come back was the one she was supposed to be with. Luke called, sent flowers, showed up, offered to move there to be with her, but Sam did nothing. Not only did that hurt her, it left her disappointed because part of her wanted Sam to be the one to win. It probably would have helped if he knew he was competing.

Emma walked out and ran into Noelle, who immediately noticed the frazzled look on her face, "….what's up, Em?" she asked as Emma brushed passed her.

"I'm a toxic woman, Noelle. Toxic," she said as she turned the corner. A few minutes later she flew around the corner like a bat out of hell, to find Noelle standing there, confused. "I'll tell you what, the past will always haunt you. No matter what I do, I cannot get away from the mistakes of decisions past, this is why I don't make decisions. It never fails, they always blow up in my face," she turned to walk away again and as she rounded the corner she added one more thing, "…stay single. Forever. Love will drive you insane."

Andy sat in the car with Sam; you could cut the tension with a knife. Ever since her confrontation with Emma a few weeks ago, things had been incredibly awkward. She didn't know what to do, what to say, "…so has Emma found an apartment yet?"

"Nope, I think she's moving into my place," he stayed focused on the road.

"It's too soon."

He turned to face Andy, rolled his eyes and then refocused on the road, "…McNally, it's hardly too soon."

"Yes, it is. Next thing you know you'll be married and having babies!" she could hear the anger in her voice; she could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks.

"And that would be a bad thing?" he looked to Andy.

"Yes, it would be. It's all a game to her Sam, don't you get it?" Oh, shit, Andy. You did not just do that.

"You don't know anything about her, McNally," he was stunned by her accusation; by the rage she seemed to be filled with.

"I know more than you think I do, and I know that this is the biggest mistake of your life."

Sam had pulled the car over, and turned to face Andy, "…you know what? No. You do not get to have an opinion in this, you are my partner. End of story. You made your decision and now, I'm making mine. You don't know Emma, you've never even given her a chance. And, biggest mistake of my life, what do you really know about my life, McNally?" Sam hated that he was yelling at her, he didn't even mean what he was saying. He had not made any decisions, he can't. He looked at Andy who had tears in her eyes. Did you really just make her cry? Heartless. He pinched the bridge of his nose, "…Andy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"No, Sam. It's fine. Really. You're right, I don't know much about your life, but that's not because I didn't care, or because I didn't want to know. You…" she turned and shook her head, "…you've got all these walls up. Hell, I thought I was guarded, and then I meet you and to get you to open up is like getting a Buckingham Palace guard to crack a smile. It's impossible," she wiped the tears from her face. "You knew more about me my first day on the job than I know about you now, after a year and a half of working together."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Andy took a deep breath and said, "…you know, you aren't the Sam Swarek I started working with, it's funny how a couple months can change someone. I loved that Sam Swarek, you're an ass." Emma can have him.

Sam looked at Andy. Did she really just say that? "What did you just say?"

"I called you an ass."

"No, before that."

"Funny how a couple months can change someone."

"After that."

That's what I thought. Andy didn't really want to repeat it, but she couldn't really take it back now, "…I loved that Sam Swarek."

Sam lay awake in bed that night; Emma was sound asleep next to him. "I loved that Sam Swarek." Andy's words were on replay in his head. I haven't changed that much, have I? He sat up; it was 2:00am. He pulled his shirt over his head and quietly exited the bedroom and made his way to the back porch. He opened his phone and dialed a familiar number, a number he hadn't dialed in quite some time. He hit SEND and the words '…calling Luke Callaghan' popped up, and almost instantly, he hung up.

What are you going to say to him? Really? As much as he hated the idea of talking to Luke, he felt like he needed to. He opened his phone and dialed another familiar number, this time, he knew he wouldn't hang up. "Hello?"

"Andy?"

"Sam, are you okay?" she said wearily.

"I'm fine. I just called to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry about today, about the past couple months. I haven't been myself, you're right."

"That's great, Sam, really. I'm glad you took a few steps back and took a look at yourself and all, but this couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"No, it couldn't. I needed to tell you. I have been an ass lately and I am going to change that. You really made me put things in perspective today."

"I'm glad I could help," she was smiling from ear to ear. I'm finally going to get my happy ending.

"Thank you."

"Anytime," she was ecstatic.

"One more thing, McNally."

"You name it."

"Will you please try and get along with Emma, for my sake?" he knew if things were going to run smoothly at Fifteen, Emma and Andy would have to get along.

"So…so she's staying?" she thought she felt her heart break a little.

"Yeah, I mean, I hope so."

Way to build something up, just to knock it down. "Sure, Sam. I'll do my best."

"Thanks, McNally, see you later."

The line went dead; Andy shut off her phone and curled up in her bed. For the first time in her life, she would cry herself to sleep over a man other than her father. This is why I am the way I am. This is why I run.

A/N: What'd you think? Like it? Love it? Loathe it? Keep it going? Reviews are always appreciated!