They were on their way out of the precinct when Andy finally grew uncomfortable with their unresolved kiss.
"I know that this should be the last thing on my mind right now, but what was that?" She asks, turning to look at him only after she's finished speaking. "Is that... do you think it was, like, a mistake?"
Andy's well aware that he's going to deflect, but wants to get a feel for what's going through his head. Running out the door after his ex could mean a lot of things, but Andy's not too confident that any of them are good things.
"And I swear to God if you say it was what it was, I'll kill you." She tries to laugh to ease the weight of her question, but it may have come out like that of a psychopath.
Sam fills his lungs, and takes a minute to think about how he wants to play this. He's tired of all the tip toeing that's been going on, but definitely doesn't need this distraction right now.
"It... wasn't a mistake." Is all he can come up with in the end. It's not exactly what Andy was expecting, but it was more than enough for now. For now at least she knew that they were on the same page, and that transfer should be requested sooner rather than later.
Her eyes are burning a hole in his peripheral vision, and he shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot. McNally is nothing if not perseverant. And though she's not pushing right now, it's only a matter of time before he needs to say something of real consequence.
When he's got his hand on the trucks handle, he thinks he's in the clear. McNally had visited the station that morning and then caught a ride to campus with Luke, so from here on out they were riding separately. But apparently now was the time she chose to seek out reassurance.
"Look, this case is going to be over soon, and I have to go back to Montreal, and... I don't know that I want to anymore," She offers, letting him know that she's considering coming home. "I'll have to request transfer from there, give my two weeks and all, but, I that's what I want. I want to come back."
She's seeking some kind of clue as to if he would be comfortable with that.
"So I need to know, that it wasn't a mistake, and there are no regrets." Andy knows she's essentially begging him to tell her how he feels. That if she chose to come back, would he be willing to give them another go.
Sam lets his hand fall away from the door. She's standing at its bumper, almost as if to block him if he chose to ignore her and keep going about his night. He takes four steps over to where she is, and reaches out to hold her face in his hands. The minute there's contact, she leans her cheek to him, and he lets his thumb skim her bottom lip that she had worried a moment ago.
"I could never regret you."
He dips his head to meet her head that is trapped in his hands. He doesn't press his lips to her awaiting mouth just yet though, its torturously slow, and she can't move to get his.
"I love you."
He doesn't give her moment to say anything else, or take away from his confession. As her mouth opens, whether in shock, or seeking a response, he presses his mouth to hers, and it's like opening floodgates. Everything that was cautious about the last kiss they shared, was poured into this one. The hunger, the longing, the missed opportunities.
His hands move from her face to her waist, one at a time, as if he can't hold her close enough. And her response is encouraging him. But even still, he's terrified that if he finally lets go, she might disappear.
Eventually, he pulls away, because he can't help but wonder what it was she wanted to say, and when he does, she takes a big breath, smile plastered across her face.
"Me too."
She grabs at his waist again, and pulls him back to where he was, where he belongs.
"So, we're gonna do this? You and me, making it work." She says more than asks. He smiles down at her, and nods slowly, watching her smile reach her ears.
He's about to kiss her again, when she pulls her head back without stepping out his embrace and dropping her head on his shoulder.
"I gotta go. My dad's had Taser all day, and he needs to be walked..." She whines, not wanting to leave Sam just yet. When he pulls her up to look at her at an arms' length, she's pouting like a child.
"It's fine. I'll see you tomorrow. We can grab a drink to celebrate arresting Hill." Sam's cocky swagger is back, and she rolls her eyes at him, before pulling on his collar for one last kiss.
"See you tomorrow." She whispers, before stealing a chaste kiss.
The next morning she woke up smiling. She showered smiling. She made her coffee smiling. And when it came time to go for a run with Taser in tow, she was smiling the entire 5 km. That was until she walked into her office, bagel and briefcase in hand, and remembered today was her last day that 15th had her on loan. Today she had to find Emily, because if not, they were screwed.
She set her things down on her desk, and shook off her coat before approaching the D's office, where she and Sam agreed to meet before going out on their man hunt. They'd narrowed down possible holding locations, and were prepared for it to be the restaurant. None of his other businesses would have a nice sound proof freezer to hold someone hostage. By their calculations, it was the only place no one would be able to hear her.
She stepped into the office, and noticed that Sam hadn't been there yet, so she sat down in his seat, and made a dent in her breakfast. When she heard footsteps approaching, she spun the chair with a big smile, which quickly fell when she saw Marlo standing in the door frame.
Marlo's face was equally unimpressed, and she was about to turn away when Andy was inspired to try and smooth things over.
"Wait. Cruz..." Andy called, waiting for her to turn and face her. "I'm really sorry. I never planned on-"
"I know McNally. I get it. You two just always come back to each other, I get it." Marlo looks truly defeated to Andy, like she'd been struggling to stay angry, and decided it was simply not worth it. "I knew that he'd never be what I needed."
Andy offered a sad smile, understanding relationships like that better than anyone. Luke had been that, Tony was definitely that.
"Yeah, I'm still sorry. I just wanted you to know, being with him was far from one of my goals when I got here."
"I know. Thanks McNally." She said stiffly. "I was just looking for Detective Rodriguez, I have some info for him. You seen him?"
Andy shook her head no, and watched Marlo go back to the bullpen.
"Hey, Andy, Leo wants you to come over to dinner tonight." Traci said, resuming Marlo's former spot in the doorway. "What's up, where's Sam?" She asked after noticing the look on Andy's face.
Andy shrugged her shoulders, and looked back up to Traci.
"We were supposed to meet here twenty minutes ago, and I was late. I should call him, find out where he is." She said, raising her hips from the chair to reach into her pocket and retrieve her cell phone. Traci didn't move from her spot, and for some reason it made Andy blush. Maybe it was the fact that she'd yet to tell her best friend about the final decision on her move, and the recent spark in her love life, but either way, she knew that the minute Sam picked up, Traci would be able to see it all over her face.
It was the fourth ring that changed her day, that wiped the smile off her face. It was the foreign voice on the other end of the line, that destroyed the happiness she'd found in the last twelve hours.
"Andy McNally. Just who I was looking for." the voice said, sending a chill down her spine. Traci was by her side in a split second when she saw Andy's face. The whole world slowed down around her for a second. Andy moved the phone so that it was a little more open on her shoulder, and Traci leaned in, to share in the conversation.
"Mr. Hill." Andy said curtly, trying to hide the fear.
There was a low chuckle on the other end of the line, that made Andy's blood boil. She already knew he had Sam. He had Sam and he had Emily, and she was now his. He was going to ask her to make a trade. But she had to hear his rules. This was now his game.
"You're a smart woman Ms. McNally. I think you know that I've got your friend here. And his little Emily. And I think you also know that its time you came and found me."
Andy is fighting her urge to yell at him, and signal all alarms, get every squad out there looking. But that's not how Hill operates. That would get them nowhere. She covered the mouth piece, and turned to Traci.
"Get Luke." She whispered, before putting the phone back to her ear.
"You remember the last time. This time I encourage you to use the front door. I trust you understand that you're to keep this to yourself. No one's going to jail today, and two bodies are walking out of this restaurant alive. I'll see you soon, the sooner the better for your friends." The line went dead, just as Traci was running with Luke through the pen, and made it to the door as she dropped her phone.
A/N: I'm so sorry. I know I've always been better at updating more frequently, and also giving you more per chapter, but hopefully this chapter has pushed me enough to get the last couple of chapters out. Please review! It is greatly appreciated, I love feedback.