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Chapter 10- Missing The Obvious.
Over the next few days Sam saw to it that Andy got a brand new ID as well as a few other things like copies of her fathers death certificate and her birth certificate. He had managed to get her to stay even though he was completely out of ideas to prolong her departure. His excuse had been that he was going on to night shift, and with the baby Zoe was in need of plenty of rest.
When it came to getting her ID; at every turn she would put up a fight and challenge him until he finally just went ahead and did it anyway.
Her cough had subsided and her cheeks lost their rosy tint but somehow she managed to glow. She was getting better so that was all that really mattered.
Bailey had become like an extruded limb, wherever Andy was, Bailey wasn't far behind or far away.
Sam would come home after fetching Bailey from after care and he would find his house all neat and tidy. Dinner was always ready and waiting after shift too. Andy made it her daily mission to do something and it seemed like straightening up the house was what she had to give back.
But in the back of his mind Sam knew that it was nearing an end, he wasn't destined for this kind of homey life. Or family life because that was what it was starting to feel like.
Friday night came and Andy had just finished washing the dishes when she sought Sam out just after he put Bailey to bed. He was done with the night shift rotation and had an off weekend before he would be back on days the following week.
Her face spoke volumes about the conversation they were about to have.
"I need to leave". She said it so quietly that Sam wasn't even really sure that she had even uttered a syllable.
He didn't have an answer to that statement, so he just didn't say anything.
"It's Friday, can you wait until she goes to school on Monday?" He knew that Bailey would be heart broken if she woke up tomorrow morning and Andy was gone. This was postponing the inevitable, but it was buying some time.
Besides, it was nice having someone to come home to.
"I can't...".
"Can't or won't?" Sam asked before walking away and heading upstairs.
It was her decision to leave, he couldn't keep her here.
Only the morning would tell if she was going to be here or not, so heading for bed Sam didn't hold his breath.
...
"Uncle Ssssaaaammmm" Bailey giggled into his ear.
Sam bolted upright and stared at her before swinging his eyes to the number nine that lit up his bedside alarm clock.
How did he even manage to sleep that late?
Sam growled at Bailey before scooping her up and engulfed her in a giant hug.
Tickling her until she was out of breath Sam let out a long laugh at her expression. She had the 'do that anymore and I will pee in my pants' look on her face.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Sam asked as he let Bailey regain her breath.
"Andy said we should make you take us Christmas tree shopping" Bailey said wearing a huge grin as she straightened her clothes and Sam took her appearance in. "Before all the good ones are gone".
She was fully dressed and looked ready to do just that.
"Did she?".
"Yup" Bailey skipped out of the room and Sam found a new sense of purpose when it came to actually getting out of bed.
He had a shower and got dressed before heading downstairs to find Bailey and Andy munching away on pancakes.
Seriously? She could make pancakes? This woman was full of surprises.
Sam sat down and caught Andy's eye, giving her a hardened stare.
A Christmas tree was the worst part about Christmas decorations.
It stank, and it messed.
Unless it was plastic...
Andy looked at him and scowled, it was as if she was reading his mind.
"Really? Christmas tree shopping?" Sam said under his breath when Bailey declared that she was going to brush her teeth and then she would be ready to leave.
Andy didn't say anything in return, she didn't even hold his gaze.
"It's bribery" Sam added trying to lighten the mood.
"I get it okay. You don't like Christmas, but she still believes. She deserves this one to be better than the ones before, so let her have it"
Andy's words came out fierce. Sam knew that she was right, Bailey deserved an extra special Christmas because this would be the first one without Sarah. But, he didn't know how to do this, how to do Christmas.
In the past, he'd always worked so that cops with families could have the time off. Once he even spent Christmas in a dive bar undercover, and even that hadn't been anywhere near what he knew Christmas should be like.
Ten minutes later they were all ready to leave, Sam locking up the house while Bailey led the way to the truck.
It was ridiculously early to be Christmas tree shopping, but Sam assumed that Bailey and Andy feared that all the good ones would be gone closer to Christmas. Besides the weather was better today but who knew how long that would last.
Sam drove through town to the tree farm on the outskirts of the city limits.
When he pulled up and stopped Andy and Bailey were both out of the truck before he could blink. Bailey was beyond excited and Andy looked like she was enjoying every single second of it.
How was it even possible to get so worked up about some tress that would be thrown away in January?
Shaking his head Sam climbed out and followed the two sets of feet that would no doubt drag him through rows and rows of trees looking for the perfect one.
And, they did just that.
Andy allowed Bailey to lead the way through the rows of neatly lined trees, Sam following behind them as he watched Bailey clutch Andy's hand since they got out of the truck.
Jingle bells sounded out throughout the place, but it soon morphed into Boney M and was then followed by Justin Bieber screeching out a once soothing Christmas carol.
That kid... "... Don't you think?". Andy's voice sounded in his ear and when Sam turned she was standing right there all flushed and happy.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Sam asked after clearing his throat.
"I said I think she found her tree" Andy looked towards Bailey and Sam followed.
Bailey was mesmerized by a tree in front of her. It was just a little taller than she was, but it had captivated her attention completely. A least she hadn't gone for the biggest one in the lot.
Sam watched Bailey as she summed the tree up until he felt Andy's eyes on him and turned to find her watching him.
It was still unnerving how she did that. He should be used to it by now.
"Uncle Sammy, this is it" Bailey did a run over to Sam and jabbed her finger into his leg before pointing the same finger at the tree. "Please?".
"Okay. You sure about this one? We can't come back and exchange it later". Sam said smiling down at her broadly. Her mother had done a brilliant job installing values into her, she went with what made her happy. She wasn't a child that had been spoiled or had money thrown at her to keep her happy.
"What? The small ones need homes too" Bailey said. That statement made Sam turn around and walk away under pretense of going to pay for the tree.
The small ones need homes too.
That stung. And it hit a nerve.
Without even realizing what she said, Bailey had made an uncanny comment that related to her too, and not just some stupid Christmas tree in some stupid lot on the outskirts of town.
Sam took a breath and calmed himself down.
There was absolutely no need to get all worked up because an innocent statement hit too close to home.
"You okay?" Andy asked and Sam took another calming breath before turning around to face her.
"Yup. Just great".
Her huff told him that she believed his answer as much as she still believed in Santa.
Looking away Sam sought Bailey out and found her standing at the reindeer pen watching Santa's Reindeer chomping away on whatever it was that they ate.
"You are so full of crap" Andy said and walked away leaving a seriously stunned Sam behind.
"Wait up" Sam called and she stopped after having taken a few steps back towards Bailey.
"What?" Sam's face probably showed his confusion at her comment because Andy held up her hand and silenced him.
"I'm sorry, that was overstepping my boundaries" Andy stammered out and moved to take a step away, but for some reason she needed to take a look at him before following through.
Watching the back of her walk away Sam shook his head. Was that really what she thought about him?
Sam joined them and watched Bailey and Andy giggle away at the Reindeer. Bailey was asking a million questions, some covering topics like 'why are Santa's Reindeer here?' But Andy was able to answer each one of them with ease.
Sam bent down and whispered in Bailey's ear while holding out some money. He told her to go buy some apples to feed the reindeer after reading the sign that hung over the side of their pen.
Her face lit up and she bolted for the reception area.
Andy avoided looking at him. She knew exactly why he sent Bailey away.
"Full of crap huh?" Sam moved to stand next to her, his eyes to cast out over the tree lot.
"I didn't mean that" Andy shrugged, but he could tell that she was covering her slip of the tongue up.
"You wouldn't have said it if you didn't". Sam was siding with her on this, because she called him out by his true colors.
"It's just really hard" Sam added a second later.
"I know. But Sam, she's trying so hard to get your attention" Andy mumbled and looked down at the ground.
Sam didn't really have an answer for that...
"She drew on the wall with her crayons. I cleaned it so she wouldn't get into trouble"
Ouch. He didn't know that.
"The fight at school...".
How was he missing all this? He wasn't one that was oblivious to things happening around him.
"I shouldn't have said that I'm sorry. You're a good guy" Andy actually looked at him when she spoke this time, a full-blooded blush creeping up over her cheeks. It was cold, and she was already flushed, but it just deepened.
Andy walked away to meet Bailey half way when she came back with a bag full of sliced apples.
Sam watched them closely for a while, his mind turning rigid with the knowledge that Bailey was acting out and he was missing it completely.
He was pretty swamped at work and had Callaghan riding his back about an upcoming UC that he wanted Sam to take. But he wasn't buying into it, and had turned it down more than once.
"Bailey?"
Her attention snapped up to Sam but her smile wavered like his tone may be an indication that she was about to get into trouble.
"Can we hang some of your awesome decorations up on our tree?".
That made her face tug up into a really huge smile.
"Really?".
Sam nodded and looked Andy's way before mouthing 'thank-you' when Bailey looked up at her and chattered away with excitement.
And he meant the thanks more than she'd ever really understand.
Sam paid for the tree and loaded it into the bed of his truck.
Arriving home, Andy helped Sam carry the tree in while Bailey watched them with great interest.
Andy headed for the kitchen after shedding her coat, hat and gloves while Bailey stood searching for the right decorations to take down and re-hang up on their tree.
After helping Bailey do just that, Sam smelled lunch brewing away and couldn't help but wonder if this was what domestic life was really like.
"Hungry?" Andy popped her head around the corner and asked only to be yelled at by Bailey. "Oh, yes please Andy".
After lunch Sam insisted on doing the minimal dishes that were still left behind while Bailey dragged Andy to the tree to see their artwork.
"How about we hit the mall and get some real decorations?" Sam asked coming up behind them.
"Really?" Bailey clapped her hands together and literally jumped up and down at the prospect.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Sam edged them on and soon they were out the door heading to the mall to create Christmas in his house for one very special eight year old.
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Jelly Bean Jenna©