Many thanks to those who have been positively supporting this story from the start. :) It is appreciated. I rewrote this ending several times and I know not everyone is going to be happy with it. But remember this was a McCollins story from the start.

Title: Jinx
author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Nick/Andy, Dov/Chloe,Traci/Steve
notes and summary: See part one

Sam had spent a sleepless night. He wasn't used to spending too many nights alone. He'd hung onto his place even though he'd spent most nights at Andy's. Sam knew Andy wasn't home either. She'd texted saying she was having a girl's night with Traci. That was Andy's way of saying she needed space. That was okay it gave Sam that same time to finalize his plan.

The last few hours Sam had come to some hard realizations. He and Andy had both made mistakes over the last few years. Sam had thought the past had made them stronger but now he wasn't so sure. Maybe the years together was a curse instead of a blessing. Shaking his head Sam shoved that thought away. Couldn't be true. Yeah the bad things; sure. There were more than a few good ones that made up for the bad. Sam just had to show Andy that. With new resolve Sam sent Andy a text asking to meet later that morning. A few minutes later Sam received a reply and they agreed to meet at her place and a time was set. Sam set his alarm to try to get a few hours of sleep. He'd need the rest for whatever was to come.

"Thank you."Andy stated as she and Traci sat on the sofa in Traci's living room.

"For what?"Traci asked as she switched out one dvd to put in the next movie.

"Putting up with my drama."Andy replied with a weak laugh. "And still be my friend."

"I've had more than my share too."Traci responded with a hint of sadness. "Whatever you decide you have to remember, as cliché as it sounds, that you have to live with it. No going back."

"I know."Andy responded with a sigh. "That's the frightening thing. I've made so many mistakes, Trace, I don't want to add this to the list."

"You won't."Traci replied as she sat down on the sofa. "One thing I learned from losing Jerry is you have to trust your heart. I made the right call with him and I don't regret any of it no matter how short of time it was."

Andy nodded and hugged her friend briefly before they settled back to watch the next movie. She had a feeling she wasn't going to get a lot of sleep that night.

Andy had thought about going out and getting coffee and pastry but then decided against it. Now she stood in her kitchen a half hour before Sam was due to arrive waiting for the coffee machine to finish. She silently willed the device to hurry up. Andy desperately needed the caffeine. As many nights as she'd spent on Traci's couch in the past this had been the worst of them all. It wasn't the sofa's fault it was Andy's brain. Too much thinking. She'd laid awake for hours staring at the ceiling trying to follow Traci's advice. Andy was no closer to a decision now then she'd been yesterday. As much as she was dreading this meeting with Sam hopefully it would make things clear.

The coffee finally finished and Andy poured a mug full before moving to sit down on her living room sofa. It was quiet most of her neighbors were gone to work. She'd purposefully left the radio and tv off relishing the solitude. Andy curled up in the corner of the sofa pulling her feet up under her. She took a long sip of coffee and stared around the room. So many memories with Sam here. Andy felt a pang of guilt. Sam had been nothing but good to her the last few weeks. Which was why Andy felt the need to make this decision sooner than later. To some it would Andy was sure it would look like she rushed it but with everything that had happened she knew it wasn't fair to anyone to drag it out. Sam deserved happiness even if it wasn't with her. The doorbell rang and Andy got up setting her coffee down on the coffee table. She crossed to the door and opened it.

"Hi,"Andy greeted with a smile. "You could've used your key."

"Didn't want to push things."Sam replied quietly.

"You want some coffee?"Andy offered as she stepped back.

"Love some. Didn't sleep much."Sam commented as he kicked the door closed behind him and followed Andy to the kitchen.

"Me neither."Andy acknowledged wearily.

"You have a fun night at Traci's?"Sam asked as he leaned against the breakfast bar.

Andy poured coffee into a mug and placed it in front of Sam.

"It was good I wouldn't say it was fun but what I needed."Andy replied as she skirted around Sam and went to the living room to pick up her own mug of coffee and took a sip.

"Good."Sam said as he turned to face her pushing away from the breakfast bar. "I was going to bring flowers or candy something to show I'm not ready to give up. Nothing seemed right."

Andy blinked away tears as she sat in her previous spot on the sofa. Sam sat down next to her setting the untouched coffee aside and onto the table.

"I think we have too much between us, Sam."Andy began as she met Sam's gaze. "I'm not sure we can get past everything that's happened."

"I thought we had."Sam stated as he took the coffee mug from Andy and placed it on the table before taking her hands in his. "I know it took me getting shot to realize what we had. To really appreciate it; to know we can build on it and have that happily ever after."

Andy looked down at their entwined hands. Words were failing her. There was so much she needed and wanted to say. Glancing back up at her partner, friend, lover Andy squeezed his hands before gently pulling away. As corny as it sounded suddenly Andy knew which way she should choose. Which way her heart was telling her; past or future. Now the hard part was voicing that decision.

"I love you, Sam. I always will."Andy stated tearfully wincing as pain flickered across Sam's face as he realized her decision.

"That's it...just like that? You're not even going to give me a chance?"Sam whispered.

Andy scooted forward catching Sam's face in her hands.

"None of this was easy for me, Sam."Andy continued. "You will always be important to me. You deserve to be happy...I want that for you...don't give up on happily ever after just because ours didn't work out."

For a long time Sam was silent and Andy dropped her hands away from his face. She folded them in her lap wondering if he would say anything more or just leave. Finally Sam cleared his throat as he stood. He turned to meet Andy's tearful gaze.

"It kills me to let you go. Everything in me says to fight for us that we still have a chance."Sam stated his voice breaking just slightly. "I will respect your decision even though I hate everything about this."

"Sam..."Andy began but before she could say anything Sam turned and walked to the front door.

Sam opened the door and with one last look back at Andy left light snow trickling in his wake as the door shut with a thud. Andy curled back against the sofa's right corner and allowed herself to cry freely. Sam had been such a big part of her life for so long. She needed time to deal with ending that chapter of her life.