Andy and Traci were still crawling through the vents, every turn they took seem to lead to more vents. "Damn it, there has to be a way out" Andy cried. They looked below them and were horrified at the sight, the room was now a blaze. Andy crawled back and yelped, the vent was heating up. "Traci! move fast! the vent is getting hot!, we'll fry!" she yelled pushing Traci to move faster.
"Oh god Andy! I can't die!" Traci sobbed.
"We're not gonna die, I promise, I'll get us out of here, just keep moving."
Traci froze as she looked forward "Andy? what is that?" She asked moving so Andy could see around her.
"Oh no" she gasped "Traci get as low to the floor as you can, it's smoke, they must of lit more than one room. We need to find a way out now." Andy frantically looked around, she spotted a small vent on the opposite wall, she moved Traci forward so she could look out. She was looking at a ten feet jump onto some pallets, "Traci we can get out here but we need to jump down, it's wood and grass so it shouldn't hurt too much."
"We have no choice, do you think it'll come off?" Traci asked turning around to face Andy.
"I hope so" she replied.
Sam, Jerry and Gary raced through the city, they were almost there when Sam slammed on the breaks. "please tell me that is not the place they're in" he said frantically.
Gary looked at his map. "I'm afraid so , step on it" he said to Sam.
Sam took off in a screech. "they'll be fine, they'll be fine" he said out loud.
"Please, please, please, please." Jerry kept repeating from the back.
They pulled into the warehouse and gasped, the whole thing was ablaze. "Jerry call the fire department!" Sam yelled jumping out.
Gary jumped out and ran after him, "Sam! you cannot go in there!" he grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Let go!, I am not leaving them in there! we have to try!" he cried.
"Sam, calm down, you know this is not helping. If Frank sees you like this you'll be sent away, and what will Andy say if you're not here when she gets out? i'm sorry buut you have to be a cop right now.
Sam sighed, he knew Gary was right. "come on Andy, please be okay" he said to himself as he watched more flames take over the building.
Up in the vents the girls were having a problem with the shaft, it wouldn't budge. They were both over whelmed with smoke, they could feel it inside them making them cough and heave. They were getting weak.
"We…can't…give…up…Trac" Andy panted as she banged the shaft again.
"I.. can't…take…any…anymore… Andy.. I.. need.. To.. Sleep" Traci panted out.
Andy got a surge of energy. "no, no Traci look at me" she pulled her face. "look at me" Traci's eyes rolled but she looked at her. "hey come on, Leo needs you, I need you" Andy began to cry. "I love you and I need you, Jerry needs you. What would your mom say if you gave up? She'd say this is not my daughter Traci Nash because I didn't-"
"Raise.. No.. quitter" Traci finished. "I love you too" she coughed and pulled herself up as Andy kicked with both feet, Traci joined in and the vent flew away to the ground with a bang.
All three heads snapped up. "did you hear that?" Jerry said. They looked at one another and took off in a sprint, rounding the side of the warehouse, they saw a small vent cover lying in the ground. Looking up they weren't sure from all the smoke, but they were almost certain they could see feet sticking out. "Look, is that a person?" Jerry shouted.
"Yes, yes it is" Gary said excitedly.
"It's Traci" Sam yelled. "Traci, Traci" he called up.
Andy froze. "is that Sam?"
Traci looked down. "yes" she screamed excitedly. "Jerry and Gary too. hey guys up here" she waved down at them. "We're getting out of here Andy" she squealed. She pulled back and grabbed Andy when the vent began to shake, "what the hell was that?" they were startled by a loud bang and thick smoke fly at them.
"The vents are collapsing!, Traci! Jump!" Andy screamed as they shook again and came away from the wall.
"Not without you!" she screamed back, pulling Andy.
"Traci go, I am right behind you, I promise." The vent came away from the wall again, Andy pushed Traci out and tried to grab the wall herself.
Traci was now dangling on the outside. "Andy!" she screamed "Andy! no, no, no!," she screamed in hysterics "Andy! please answer me!" she sobbed. She tried to scramble back up but she couldn't hold on. "Andy!" she sobbed.
Down below Sam stood gripping Jerry as Gary tore pass with his car. His blood ran cold as he heard a bang and something fall, All of a sudden Traci flew out like she was shoved out. Gary positioned his car under the vent and climbed out. "Get her down!" Sam yelled running forward, grabbing some of the pallets to make a ladder to reach her. Jerry helped and soon enough they had Traci down, she was crying uncontrollably now.
Andy tried again to jump but fell back as the vent moved further away. She began to cry, thinking she was about to die. She made herself look below, all she could see was a sea of red and black. She brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on it, her eyes closed tight "one more try" she said to her self, taking a deep breath.
Traci was pushing everyone away from her, "don't come near me!, go save Andy!, go help her! Jerry please!, you need to help her!" she screamed.
Sam froze, he assumed she was okay up where they pulled Traci from. He grabbed her,She was hysterical. "Traci, hey, hey, calm down. What happened? why can't Andy get out the same way you did?"
"The vent came away from the wall, she pushed me out, I didn't want to leave her." Traci grabbed Sam "you need to go get her Sam please."
Sam was gone before she finished her sentence, he wrestled with Gary for a minute before climbing up the pallets and pulling himself up on the ledge.
"Swarek! get your ass down!" Frank yelled, they had all just pulled up.
"Andy's still trapped" Gary said coming to stand beside him.
"EVERYONE MOVE ANDY'S TRAPPED" he yelled and hurried off. "Diaz you help Gary there. Peck, Epstein go see to Nash. Shaw Williams with me."
Andy had just psyched herself up to jump again, she got on her knees and dived forward. She screamed as she missed the ledge and fell, she closed her eyes but was startled when she stopped mid air. Feeling someone grip her she opened her eyes "Sam!" She cried.
Sam was dangling upside down holding both her wrists, his legs were being held by Chris and Gary Outside. "I gottcha baby I gottcha, I'm going to swing you out okay?"
She nodded with panic in her eyes "please don't let me go" she yelled.
"Never, never, I'll never let you go, you gotta trust me."
"I do, I do" she yelled.
"Okay on three" he said. "One, two, three," he swung her back and forward a few times until he was able to move his grip to her upper arms. With another big heave she pulled herself up to him, she gripped his shirt and clung to him as Gary and Chris pulled him back out.
Cheer and claps went around as they seen Sam carry her down and place her on the hood of the car. Gary slapped him on the back and pulled Chris away to give him a moment. Andy was coughing hard still clinging to him. "It's okay baby, you're safe now. God I though I'd never see you again." Sam pulled her into him and held her tight.
Andy looked up when she felt something wet on her head, he was crying. She moved her shaking hands and wiped his eyes with her thumbs. "I love you soo much" she sobbed and threw herself at him.
"I love you too, I am never letting you out of my sight again." He said pulling her closer.
Traci pulled him off her and lunged at her, hugging her tight. "Don't you ever do that to me again Andy" she cried. "I though you were dead and it would have been all my fault."
"Hey Traci stop, calm down. Why do you think it was your fault?"
"You sent me first because of Leo."
"Of course I did Trac, he needs his mommy."
Traci was pulled away and Jerry lunged at her "thank you for keeping her safe" he mumbled into her hair "and I am so glad you are okay."
Andy hugged him back, "thank you for keeping Sam under control." She giggled.
Jerry stepped back and chuckled "wasn't and easy Job."
Andy stood up and was attacked by Chris "Jesus Andy, I have never been more terrified in my life, are you okay.?"
"I'm fine Chris" she hugged him back and closed her eyes. Chris was like her big brother. She opened her eyes to see Gary standing on his own watching from over at the cruisers. She let go of Chris and walked towards him only to be side tracked by Sam who had gotten a paramedic to look at her, happy she was okay and got her head wound checked he let her go to Gary. "hey" she said as she got closer to him.
"Hey, how are you doing? He asked full of concern.
"I'm good, I was trained well" she smiled and pulled him into a hug "thanks Gary" she sighed.
He pulled her closer "I'm so glad we got to you guys in time."
"Well we're out now safe and sound, thanks to your training." Andy turned at someone clearing their throat behind her.
"When you done there, can I have my girlfriend back?" Sam asked with a wide grin.
Gary pulled her closer to him, "I think I'll hang onto her if you don't mind" he chuckled.
"Oooooh two men, who do I choose?" Andy laughed.
"Go have fun Andy" Gary released her as Sam walked over to him.
Sam held out his hand "nice working with you Gary, thanks for all your help."
"No problem man, call anytime you need a favour"
"Wait" Andy startled them "what time is ?"
"Seven" Gary replied.
"Deals at eight, lets move."
"Hang on, I know you don't think you're going" Sam said, Andy was about to yell "without these" Sam held out her badge and gun "Officer McNally" he smirked.
"Sam" she breathed "where did you get this?"
"Off me" they turned to see Frank approach them. "Now quit slacking you lot, you are back under my payroll, lets move out. You too Gary, you know we could use a guy like you around fifteen, keeps these two in check", he nodded to Sam and Andy. "But we'll talk about that later" Gary smiled and followed them to his car.
Back at the station Sam was true to his word, he hadn't let her out of his sight since he got her out of the warehouse. She was in the shower with Traci, she was just back from going to see Leo and her mom. Both men sat outside waiting. "So how you doing now Sam?" Jerry asked.
"I'm getting there, I could have lost her today Jer. Life's too short, when this bust is over I'm gonna ask her to marry me." He replied.
"Wow Sammy settling down, you got a ring yet buddy?"
Sam pulled out a small box and flicked it open. "got it before we went under, I was just waiting for the best time."
"Wow it's beautiful Sam, she'll love it." Jerry said as he admired the sparkling diamond looking back at him.
"Two years, it doesn't feel that long. It feels like only last week I took her on our first date." He smiled as he remembered how she had a smile on her face all night.
"Yeah, time flies when you're having fun, I've been with Traci fore nearly three years, well four if you count the year she was with me, then Dex, then back with me. Well let me be the first to congratulate you, you deserve her Sam. I've never seen either of you look so happy." Jerry slapped him on the back.
"Yeah," Sam smiled again. "I'm lucky to have her." He shoved the ring back in his pants pocket just as the door opened and both girls came out.
"They're ready for us in the task room" Sam said as they both stood up.
"Lets go get this son of a bitch then." Andy wrapped her arm around Sam's waist and walked towards the room.
Down in the warehouse Marky and Jimmy sat waiting for the deal to take place. Marky was humming to himself. "Why so happy boss?" Jimmy asked.
"Well Jimmy, them two bitches won't be bothering us this time, or ever again."
"Oh really" Jimmy asked amused.
"Yeah, I took care of that" he grinned at Jimmy
"So they're off the grid then? they won't be found?"
"Well if them two boneheads did what I asked them to, they'll be lucky to be identified by dental records."
Jimmy chuckled "good I hated that Kellie one, thinking she knew everything."
"Ah yes, well she's not so clever anymore is she?" Marky chuckled. They stood when the heard a tap on the shutters. "Ah Tony, welcome" Marky held out his hand as the older man climbed out of the truck.
They were going ahead swapping cash and guns for drugs and better guns when Tony spoke "so I hear you have a girl in on your deals now Marky, McIntyre's daughter, word on the street is she's very good."
"She is" he agreed "but unfortunately, Ms McIntyre is off the grid, went away for awhile."
"Shame, I was really looking forward to meeting her and setting up another bigger deal. You heard Roscoe was taken out?" Marky nodded. "And half his crew got taken in and the other half fled?" He nodded again "well guess who found his supply, and took over his patches."
"That is a big step. Roscoe was a tough guy, the people around him bowed down to him."
"Well I would like to bring you and your guys in on it, but I would like to meet this, Kellie Is it? First." Tony said.
"We would be very interested indeed, I'll see if I can get in touch with her."
"I'll give you two days before I look for my next candidate. He nodded "I'll be in touch" he said as his guys finished loading up his van. "Nice doing business. And find this girl fast, I'd hate for you to lose out."
Tony was about to climb into his van when the shutters flew up and people barged in. "POLICE DON'T MOVE!" Frank Best headed the group with his gun drawn. "Peck, Epstein. get the other guys, we have people for these two." He said nodding towards Marky and Jimmy. Both nodded and ran off to cuff Tony and his guys. Frank walked to Marky. "both of you turn around."
Andy and Traci made their entrance wearing matching grins, Sam and Jerry behind them. Andy took so much pleasure and satisfaction in hearing the click of the cuffs on his wrists. She waited for Traci to cuff Jimmy before speaking, she looked to Traci and grinned. "Marky Valence ,Jimmy Porter, you are under arrest for the kidnap and attempted murder of two police officers. Also drug smuggling, selling, murder, and so on. Basically you're never gonna see the light of day again" she leaned in and whispered in his ear "told you I'd take you down you son of a bitch."
Marky recognised the voice straight away "No, no, no this is not happening, you're dead. I watched the fire start, this is not happening."
"I told you not to mess with me" she turned him around to face her, he looked her up and down as he took in her uniform blues "you're a cop?" He yelled in shock, he thought she just came with the police.
"Officer McNally" she smiled. "Officer Nash" she pointed to Traci and "Officer Swarek, Detective Barber and Detective Jackson." she pointed to Gary who had just appeared beside them.
"You're all cops?" he yelled again.
"Oh yes buddy" Sam stepped forward "and I have so much to say to you, after you kidnapped my girl and tried to kill her." he spat.
"She's not really your girlfriend, it was all an act. You just want me to talk, intimidate me."
"I can intimidate you now if you like, still doesn't change the fact that you kidnapped my girlfriend and her friend, who happens to be my best friends girlfriend. Lets just say, the next forty-eight hours are not gonna be fun" Sam smirked "for you."
"Okay guys lets round them up, just got off the Phone with Shaw, they've picked up that Ray guy, And Williams has picked up the guys at the club. You guys can call it a night, he can wait until the morning." Frank looked at Andy and Traci "we are going to celebrate having two of our finest back. No offence Sammy, Jerry." they all chuckled as Jerry pouted.
Down at the Penny they were all around a couple of tables pushed together, Frank stood "well guys" he held up his glass "To McNally and Nash who came back to us safe." everyone cheered and clinked glasses. "And I would like to say great job to everyone else, we took down one of the biggest rising gangster in town. A guy guns and gangs have been watching for over two years now, and the finest team at fifteen division took them all down in one night ,so congrats guys. Oh and I would like to welcome Gary to out team, McNally, he'll be your new partner, so go easy on him." Frank smirked as Andy shot her head to Sam.
Sam smirked back and looked at Jerry, he nodded back at him, Sam stood up. "I'd like to say something too, first of all I'd like to thank you all for helping me and Jer get our girls back safe. Secondly" he turned to Andy. "I love you so much."
Andy raised an eyebrow as Traci and Chris moved away from either side of her and pulled the stools away "oh my god!" She cried and flung her hand over her mouth as Sam got down on one knee.
"I realised today I could have lost you, life is too short to hold back. If you'll have me, I'd like you to spend the rest of your life with me" he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the box, he opened it and looked back up at her. "So babe, what I am trying to say is, Andy McNally will you marry me?"
Andy stared at him with tears running down her face "yes!" She finally squealed and dived off the stool into his arms.
Sam got to his feet and slipped the ring on her finger, he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do this." he mumbled as he wiped her tears. They were distracted as the tables around them broke out into cheers and whistles.
Andy looked around at her friends. Traci was crying with happiness, Gail was wiping her eyes with her head down. Noelle was clapping furiously and cheering, Oliver was smiling widely. Chris looked like he was about to cry, his eyes were all watery as he looked on beaming. Dov was bouncing up and down excitedly on his stool. Jerry just sat with a smirk that turned into a full blown smile.
Frank stood at the top of the table proudly as if it was his own Child that just got engaged. He banged a glass to get everyone's attention. He raised his glass again and everyone followed his lead "To Sammy and Andy" he yelled.
Everyone repeated what he said and downed their drinks, each congratulating the happy couple. They celebrated well into the night moving the after paerty back to Sam and Andy's house.
Okay guys, this is the end of the story but, I would like your opinion. I might add another chapter. maybe the hen's/ bachelor and a wedding, what do you guys think? I might throw in a baby too. Or should I leave at this.