Thanks to everyone who's following my story and taking the time to review, it really is motivating! :) Thanks again to dcj, who is fabulous at letting me bounce my ideas off her.

Here's the next installment, I hope you enjoy it. Just think some of you will get to enjoy the new season tomorrow, not that I'm jealous at all! :)

Have a fab day,

Sairs

To protect innocence

Chapter 10 – The right decision?

Andy continued to watch the building, people came and people went, but there wasn't any other interesting visitors; she glanced at her watch, half past five, "I guess Doctor Jankovic will be shutting up shop for the day soon," she told Sam.

"Guess so, unless he's going to carry out a little late night work that he doesn't want anyone to see," Sam replied. His cell phone ringing interrupted their conversation, he pulled it from his pocket, checked the screen and answered it, "Swarek," he stated coolly.

Andy watched him from the corner of her eye, he was nodding and muttering the occasional yes, she couldn't read his expression, and on some level that worried her. After a couple of minutes he finished his call, "Everything okay?" she asked him, glancing quickly at him, before returning her gaze to the building.

"Yeah, that was George, he and Tom couldn't trace the plate, surprisingly it was stolen," he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, "Guess we made the wrong choice," he added quietly.

"We didn't know," Andy replied as her stomach churned, "We followed orders, Jo made the decision, we followed it, no one should feel guilty. We don't know that that girl is in danger," she reached over and placed her hand gently on his arm. "What we do know now is that we are on the right path, Doctor Jankovic is certainly mixing in questionable circles. We just need to find out how involved he is."

"That's what Jo wants us to find out, she's called us back to the Division, she wants to hold a taskforce meeting, bring everyone up to date with what we've found out and to plan our next steps," Sam explained.

Andy nodded, "Okay, let's get back to the Division, then."

Andy sat on her chair and looked towards Jo who was standing in front of a whiteboard, Jo held a whiteboard marker in her hand, "Okay," she began, "Let's collate our facts."

Half an hour later the whiteboard was filled with information George, Tom, Andy and Sam had collected in one way or another. The more information they collated the clearer it seemed that Jankovic was at the centre of the illegal baby selling ring. He wasn't behind it, but at the moment he was the only connection between the van that Mrs. Danziger had seen and the provision of medical treatment for the mothers.

George and Tom had found out that Jankovic had emigrated to Canada fifteen years earlier, passing a medical equivalency and opening his practice eight years earlier. He had specialised in obstetrics for those whose medical insurance might have not been good enough to have the best doctor's advice.

He had opened his practice to those who were new to the country and had been investigated by immigration a few times, but nothing had been concrete enough to file charges. He had also been investigated by the Medical Board, but again, nothing had ever been proven. His bank balance, however, seemed to be flourishing, he had had a series of large deposits over the past year, around the same time the first body was discovered.

"So what do we do now?" Tom asked from his desk.

"We need to get more concrete information about how Jankovic works," Jo stated, "We need to get someone on the inside."

"How are we going to do that?" George asked, glancing around the team, "It's not as if we can get someone in as a patient, not unless you or McNally have something you want to share," he stated snidely.

Jo looked at him with an icy glare, "I was thinking more of an employee, George and I think you've just demonstrated that you're not suitable for such a role. We want a role where someone can inconspicuously access data and information without drawing too much attention to themselves. Perhaps an admin assistant or receptionist?" she pondered aloud.

"McNally's pretty good at paperwork," Sam suggested and he grinned at Andy as she looked at him, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

Jo looked at her, silently assessing her, "Well, Andy, you're still quite fresh, so you haven't got the tainted look that most officers have when they've been on the force for a while," She levelled her stare at George, who continued to squirm. "Do you think you could perhaps pull off an admin assistant?"

Andy shrugged her shoulders, "I could, I guess. But how do we know Doctor Jankovic needs an admin assistant?"

Jo grinned, "Well, we just have to persuade his current admin assistant that she's a little under the weather and needs to go sick for a while. We then have to insert you as a temporary admin assistant working for an agency. Do we know which agency Jankovic uses?"

Tom rustled through some papers on his desk, "From his bank records he does appear to pay a regular amount to P.G. Healthcare," he paused for a second entering the information into his computer, "It appears they do provide a range of staff from nurses to administration assistants."

Jo thought for a moment, "Okay then, tomorrow we set the wheels in motion to get Andy into Jankovic's office. You'd better practise your typing skills tonight, Andy. We'll work on your cover story tomorrow, hopefully by the end of the week you'll be ready to start."

Andy smiled nervously; suddenly her role in the taskforce was taking a whole new turn, one that she hadn't expected. Was she ready for this, she asked herself quietly, George obviously didn't think so, but then Sam and Jo seemed to have confidence in her abilities. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Jo finish the end of the meeting; it was the sound of Sam's voice that pierced through the ideas swimming in her brain, "Sorry?" she asked, looking at him.

"I said," he grinned, walking around to her desk and leaning casually against it, "Stop over thinking, you'll be fine."

She met his eyes, "Are you sure… that's going to be so much responsibility, if I blow it, it could be disastrous for the girls and their babies."

"Andy, you know you can do this. We're going to prepare you; you've just got to believe in yourself."

"That's easier said than done," Andy replied quietly.

Sam shook his head, "Come on, McNally, let's go get a drink and we'll talk it through, unless you've got plans with Luke?" he cocked one eyebrow as he asked about Luke.

She glanced over her shoulder to check to see if George was within listening range, noticing that he was on his way out, she turned back towards Sam, "No plans with Luke and he won't particularly be worried where I am tonight, or who I'm with." Sam's gaze intensified as she spoke and she almost squirmed under it, she managed to control that urge, but couldn't control the warm feeling that slowly crept up her neck and into cheeks.

"Now that's a story, I'm really interested in, McNally," Sam stated as he stood up, "Where would you like to go?"

She thought for a moment, "I don't want to go to the Penny, we won't be able to talk because the others will be too curious to find out what's going on," she glanced again over her shoulder, "And I don't want to be anywhere near George when I talk about Luke," she almost whispered his name.

Sam smiled, "Well how about we go to Grazie's?" it was a small Italian café where they stopped for food on patrol, it was one of Andy's favourites and it would be quiet enough for them to talk.

She nodded, "We haven't been there for a while and it will be a good place to talk."

"Okay then, McNally, let's go," he walked over to his desk and grabbed his jacket, he waited for her to grab her things and they walked out of the Division to his truck.

Fifteen minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of Grazie's. As they walked through the lot towards the restaurant, he placed his hand gently against the small of her back, guiding her towards the entrance. She smiled, she couldn't help it; it was small gestures like that showed Sam cared, Luke never would have treated her the same way when they were dating, let alone when they were nothing more than friends. But as she walked she thought; Sam's touch always calmed her, except when it made her heart pound. Why was their relationship so contradictory, she wondered?

"Earth to, McNally," Sam said as he waited for her to enter the restaurant, noticing that she'd drifted off into her thoughts.

She jumped slightly, "Sorry," she replied sheepishly before walking into the restaurant. They headed over to a table in the corner, where they would be able to talk.

The waitress soon came over and took their orders, "So, McNally, why isn't Luke going to be interested where you are tonight?" he couldn't wait for her to broach the subject, she'd already been lost in her thoughts too many times tonight.

She studied the table cloth before she began, "We talked last night…"

"Talking is always good and for someone who's usually so adept at talking you've been really quiet today," he pointed out.

She nodded, "A lot on my mind."

"I've noticed; your brain's certainly been in overdrive."

She blushed, "Over thinking everything, it's my curse!"

Sam shook his head, "No, not a curse, it just sometimes stops you getting to the point."

She chuckled, "And I'm very good at talking about nothing sometimes."

"If there was an award for being able to talk about completely random things, then I'm sure you'd be on the short list. But seriously what's got you so bothered today?"

She began to fiddle with the cutlery, "Luke and I came to a decision about our relationship."

Sam's heart sank, had Luke proposed? "You did," he replied quietly.

"Yes, I told him that it wasn't working out."

Sam's head snapped up from looking at the table to look at Andy, had heard right? "You told him it wasn't working out?" he paraphrased.

She nodded, "We talked, well rather heatedly discussed my selection for the taskforce; he didn't think I was up to it, especially as I've not been out of probation very long. He also wasn't particularly happy that you'd been selected either."

Sam couldn't help but smile, "I guess that didn't go down too well with him, missing out on the opportunity to work on a taskforce."

She returned his smile, "I thought that would make you happy. But it just wasn't that, it probably was the last nail in the coffin of what was left of our relationship. I'd been thinking about how things weren't what I'd hoped for. It started a little while after I moved in and the 'honeymoon' period wore off. It didn't feel like home, it was Luke's house and I was like a guest. After a while I didn't feel like I belonged, I was an ornament in a house that really didn't have any, Luke's taste is sparse and my belongings didn't fit in with his décor."

Sam shook his head as he listened.

"He basically said that I was an item in his list of things to achieve, house, good job, girlfriend. I'm sure he'd probably got wife on that list too as a future goal for us to achieve."

Sam almost choked on his drink at the mention of Luke's intention to propose.

"What?" She asked Sam as she noticed he was trying to regain some control.

Sam looked at her, not sure if he should say anything.

"You're my friend," She started looking at him intently, playing the friend card, "Tell me what almost caused you to choke."

Sam swallowed, "I don't think the wife thing was a reach." Sam noticed her intense look changed to more of a glare that made him want to squirm.

"Swarek, I think you need to do some explaining yourself," she stated.

He noticed her use of his surname, "I happened to see Luke showing the contents of a small velvet box to Jerry the other day."

"When?"

"The day we found the woman," he replied.

She thought for a moment, "The day you were furious with me and I hadn't got a clue why?"

He nodded sheepishly, "I wasn't really mad at you, I was furious about a few things, but you were sort of in the line of fire."

"Why were you mad?" she asked quietly.

It was Sam's turn to study the table, avoiding Andy's eyes, "I was mad at myself," he admitted.

"Why?" her voice was quieter.

He wasn't sure it was the time to reveal how he felt, but Andy was being honest with him so he needed to return the favour, "I was mad because of the way I felt when I saw Luke show Jerry the ring."

She nodded, knowing that he was probably finding being that honest with her difficult, it wasn't as if Sam easily revealed everything he thought or felt. He was a lot like her; he kept the really important part of himself away from public view, only letting those who were really close to him seeing past the rough, gruff exterior he portrayed.

At that moment the waitress delivered their food, it gave them both the opportunity to sit for a moment and think. After a few moments she asked the question he knew she was going to, "Why did Luke showing Jerry the ring upset you?"

He looked up from his pasta, "I care," he started quietly, "I've listened to you talk about your relationship with Luke, I've always tried to be supportive."

She nodded, "Sometimes to a fault, anyone would think you were his private cheerleader at times," she teased gently.

He grimaced, "You don't know how hard that was sometimes."

"I think I could guess," She replied, "You may be excellent at undercover work, but your face gave you away when you were trying to be supportive when I talked about Luke."

"Then I saw him with the ring and I want you to be happy, but I always wondered how happy he really made you. I saw how hurt you were when you had plans and he didn't show, or had to work late. But as your friend, I couldn't throw a spanner in the works, it wasn't my place."

She chuckled, "No I think Luke and I managed to put plenty of spanners in the works. I made a bad choice, thought I was making the right one for once. But no, good old Andy tries going with her head this time, tries to fake it 'til she makes it and manages to blow it big time. I think I'm going to give this dating thing a miss for a while."

Sam couldn't help but smile at the determined look on her face as she tried to sound confident about her decision, "Well there's going to be some disappointed men out there knowing you're pulling yourself off the market for a while. George being one of them!"

She almost choked on the piece of spaghetti she was eating and glowered at him, "If you tell George that Luke and I broke up, I'll… I'll.." she sputtered.

"What?" Sam grinned.

"I'll kidnap you're truck and get it repainted pink!" she returned his grin.

"You wouldn't?" he asked, not quite sure if she meant it.

"Try me," she dared.

Sam shook his head, "I wouldn't dream of telling George you're on the dating market, he's certainly not listed as a friend in my book."

"Good, because in no uncertain terms, I wouldn't date George if he was the last man on this planet," she shivered at the thought.

"Good, because I wouldn't want to think of you dating George if he was the last man on the planet," he replied.

"Glad we're agreed on that," she replied. "So the thought of me marrying Luke worried you?"

He nodded, "Wouldn't say worried me, but it certainly upset my balance," he paused for a moment, "If he hadn't got upset over the taskforce, would you have married him if he asked?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess it would have been the natural progression, but as I said I was already unhappy, I think I knew it wasn't going to last forever, Luke might have thought so, but I realised that it wasn't what I wanted anymore. The discussion about my taskforce selection and his evasive answers about his history with Jo just helped me make my mind up."

Sam looked at her, "Evasive?" he asked.

"He basically said that he and Jo didn't part on good terms, they both made decisions about something and it didn't work out how they'd planned. I asked him if it was nothing more than a disagreement and he just said that they handled the fall out differently."

"So he didn't mention that they had been dating or the warehouse?"

She shook her head, "No, nothing and he didn't even mention Zoe's name."

"I wonder why?" Sam mused aloud.

"That's what I thought and if he couldn't be honest with me about his past relationships, then our current relationship was not going anywhere."

He nodded, "He really didn't help himself in the end, did he?"

Andy smiled, "No, but I hope he's learned from it because even though we didn't work out, I wouldn't want him to be alone and unhappy. Somewhere out there, there is someone for him; he's just got to find her."

Sam grinned, she always thought about others and their emotional well being, he couldn't be as generous towards others, when they'd obviously made dubious choices. That was another thing that he loved about her.

"So how are you at apartment hunting?" she asked changing the topic.

Her question brought him out of his thoughts, "I haven't had to apartment hunt for a long time, but I do have a nice silver truck that can definitely help transport you from place to place," he grinned.

"Also it's got to be good at moving belongings too," she returned his smile.

"You want me to act as your removals guy too?"

She shrugged, "What are friends for? And Luke won't be too helpful."

"Are you okay at Luke's? I do have a guest room; you're more than welcome to use it."

She smiled, "Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to give Luke any more ammunition than he thinks he already has. He's been trying to ruin our friendship for a while, if he thought I'd moved out of the house into yours, I don't think it would go down too well. I'm in the guest room for now and hopefully if I can find somewhere this weekend, I'll only have to spend a couple of weeks there. And if it gets too uncomfortable, I'm sure I could stay with Traci or Dad."

Sam grinned, a thought popping into his head, "You're going undercover, and that usually comes with an address and a back story. So you've probably just got the perfect reason to move out of Luke's house, sooner rather than later. And if you want to use my garage to store stuff, the offer's there. Wouldn't want Luke to move you out whilst you were on the job."

"He wouldn't do that, but he might not be too happy if he thought I was working undercover for the taskforce that he'd been passed over for." She looked up from her pasta, "Do you think I'll be okay at this assignment?"

"Andy, you've proven that you're not necessarily a convincing hooker and really for that I am grateful. But when you went undercover as Edie, you proved yourself beyond a shadow of a doubt. You can do this and we will all have your back. I will be there every step of the way and Jo will too."

She smiled, "Thanks that means a lot."

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it, you can do this. You've just got to believe in yourself."

"I'll try."

"Now eat your pasta before it gets cold," he suggested, returning to his own dinner, feeling happier and more settled than he had in a while. Maybe there was hope in the future that he and Andy could try something more than friends, but until she was ready, he was more than happy to support her however she needed it and the most important thing at the minute was preparing her for her undercover role.

I hope you enjoyed ~ I hope to get the next part out over the weekend, but I also want to update my other story, What are Aunts for? So will try to get an update ready for that... let's just hope the muse continues to comply.

Take care ~ Sairs