Happy New Year! I actually got two different prompts for this same idea, but found it a bit difficult since we haven't seen a lot of the Andy/Tommy relationship. But I still tried to stay in character for both of them. :) Don't forget leave me one of those wonderful little reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rookie Blue.

Always Daddy's Little Girl

Prompt: Andy telling her dad about her relationship with Sam

Featuring: Andy and Tommy

Two days after Andy returned from her suspension, Sam dropped her off at her father's apartment after shift. He waited until Tommy answered the door before driving away and the senior McNally didn't miss seeing the truck pull away from the curb. "Hi honey," he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"Dad...it's so good to see you," she replied, hugging him tightly. She'd talked to him while she was in Temagami, but she missed seeing him so much.

"Who was that?" he asked, eyes glancing toward the street as he closed the door.

"Sam...uh, Swarek. Sam Swarek. He gave me a ride so I didn't have to walk from the station," she explained awkwardly.

"Nice guy. Come on, dinner's almost ready," he said, walking toward the kitchen.

Andy pressed her lips together tightly to prevent herself from grinning at her dad's 'nice guy' comment as she followed him down the hall. "Mmm, smells great, dad."

"Made my favorite casserole you love so much," he said, opening the oven to check on it.

Andy began setting the table as her dad put the final touches on dinner. "I brought some stuff back from Temagami for you, but it's still all packed in my suitcase. I promise to bring it over soon," she said. She was embarrassed to say that she hadn't even opened her suitcase since being back. But between being back at work and spending all her free time with Sam - making up for lost time - she hadn't given much thought to unpacking.

"I don't need anything but you sweetie," Tommy said, leaning over to her and placing a kiss on her temple. "How was it? Have fun?"

"It was nice. But I missed you and my friends," she said. As they sat down to start eating, Andy began telling her father about everything she did in Temagami, which included many of the same things they'd done together when she was a child and they visited the camp grounds.

"Sounds like you kept yourself busy. Kept you from getting bored sitting around your condo," he said, smiling. He knew what it was like to be suspended, having crossed the line once himself, which forced him off the job for a month. You just didn't know what to do with yourself or how to spend the days when nearly everyone you knew was busy at work.

When she'd finished telling stories about Temagami, Andy realized the conversation was a good segue into telling her dad about Sam. She knew he'd hear about their relationship eventually through his cop friends, but she wanted him to hear it from her especially since it was what caused her suspension. "Hey, dad, I never told you one of the main reasons I had to get out of Toronto. It wasn't just to keep from going stir crazy during my suspension," she said, pushing food around her plate nervously.

Tommy watched his daughter's nervous ticks and was intrigued about what she was about to tell him. He had some suspicions, based on why she'd been suspended - or at least based on how she told him she'd seen Sam twice during his undercover operation. He remained quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"I had to distance myself from Sam...because...it was more than just friends catching up when I ran into him undercover, and..." God, she was horrible at this. She was rambling on, coming close to the line of oversharing with her dad, when all she wanted to do was point out that her and Sam were together. "What I'm trying to say is that...uh, Sam and I are dating, and uh, it started when he was undercover, and that's why we were suspended." She stuck a forkful of food in her mouth to prevent herself from further embarrassment.

Tommy chuckled. "I was pretty sure two great cops wouldn't have risked their careers simply for friendship."

"You knew?"

"I had a suspicion. Sam's a good guy." Tommy continued eating and Andy stared at him dumbfounded. She was sure he'd come up with some reason she shouldn't date Sam. Not that she wanted him to think it was a bad idea, but this was her father. He protected his little girl her entire life, arguing that nearly every boyfriend she had wasn't worthy of her.

"He okay with you leaving town for three months?" His question pulled Andy back from her thoughts.

She scrunched up her nose, knowing he was far from pleased with it. "Let's just say, he wasn't real happy, but he still picked me up at the airport."

Tommy liked Sam and he couldn't fault any guy who protected his daughter nearly as much as he did. He'd heard the stories over the last couple of years from Andy about all the times Sam was there for her. And he'd never be able to show his appreciation for what Sam did when it looked he killed that criminal Kaliciak. Not for what Sam did for him, but how he fought to find the real killer to protect Andy and her career. "We should go out to dinner sometime, the three of us," Tommy suggested.

"Um, yeah, sure, okay." Andy still wasn't over her shock at how nonchalantly her dad was taking the news. Even when she'd told him about dating Luke, he'd questioned if the detective was good enough for her.

"You seem surprised," Tommy said, looking across the table at his daughter.

"Um, well, kind of. I mean, no twenty questions? No 'you're too good for him.' What have you done with my dad?" she asked, laughing.

"Swarek's a good guy. Didn't work with him too much when he joined the force, but he always had a good reputation. And I can see he cares for you," Tommy explained.

"He does," she agreed, smiling. "He really does."

"And are you happy?"

She nodded. "Very."

"Then that's all that matters."

The phone rang and Tommy got up to answer it, so Andy took the opportunity to text Sam, who knew she was going to tell her dad about them. Dad approves :)

It only took a moment for his response. Don't need to worry about being shot at when I pick you up then? ;)

It's safe. :) And he wants to take us to dinner sometime.

Tommy watched as his daughter's face lit up as she laughed, obviously getting a message from Sam, and a grin took over his face. If Sam made his little girl happy, then Tommy was happy.