"Iiiiik!" Andy squirmed under the water when it suddenly turned ice-cold, she hated the shower in her dad's house, the whole apartment really, except from one thing, she loved him in it, them together in it. Her mind wandered to Sam`s shower and bath tub, she quickly shook her head, like she was trying to shake the memories out of it.
"Andy, breakfast!" Her dad's voice came calling through, she hurried finishing up and went to give her dad a quick peck on the cheek.
"Listen honey, we need to talk about something…" Her father's words made her feel like a teenager getting the talk, but the truth was she never did get the talk from him. She looked at her father, he looked serious and nervous, something she rarely had seen through her years since her mother left.
"I`ve been sober for the past 4 months, mostly thanks to you, but I still have a long way to go." She was proud of him, it had been tuff, but they did it together. She took care of him and made sure he stayed sober and he took care of her, she never admitted to her heartbreak but her father somehow figured. She motioned him to continue with a nod and a smile.
"Uhm, I`m thinking about going away."
"What? Where? Why?" Her voice was panicking a little, she tried to calm herself down by fidgeting with her hands on the table.
"There`s this cruise, a sobriety cruise with others like me and sponsors. I think it will help me on the way of recovery." She was proud he was admitting his problems and actually taking help from others, but the selfish side of her didn't want him to go anywhere, not now, they were in such a good spot right now.
"I want to do this for me." He placed his hand over hers and ducked his head to look in her eyes. "And for you."
Sam was early at work that day, back in uniform and headed to Best`s office.
"Frank. I need a favor." Frank looked up from a file he was reading, he looked Sam up and down and grinned.
"Sammy, if I must say so myself, you really know how to work that uniform." Sam grinned and showed of his famous dimples and gave himself a quick look over.
"What can I do for you?" He asked between chuckles.
"I need you to pair me with McNally today." Sam still hadn't gotten the chance to talk to her and she was still avoiding him so he was going to make her talk, whether she liked it or not.
"If I am to do that, you have to promise me that both of your heads will be on the job." Sam nodded his answer and turned to leave the room when Frank called after him.
"It`s good to have you back." He gave him another grin and left to talk to Oliver.
Andy walked into the station with plenty of time to spare, when she walked through the pen in full uniform she could see Sam sitting on Oliver's desk looking at her and then at his watch. She wanted to stick her tongue out to him, but decided for the better. She saw Traci in the D`s office with Jerry and walked in to talk to her.
"Hey."
"Hey!" She raised her eyebrows and looked down at her wrist to check her watch. "You`re early." Andy rolled her eyes shrugged her shoulders.
"My dad gave me a ride." Traci immediately noticed the sadness in her friends eyes and walked over and touched her arm gently.
"Something wrong?" She let out a heavy breath, it came out with a sarcastic laugh too, and she wondered if everyone was able to read her like a damn open book.
"No, not really, it`s just that my dad is going away on this sobriety cruise, and it`s a good thing I know, but I`m just a little sad over him leaving me." She felt stupid about it, selfish too, but all in all she knew it was probably for the best.
"It is a good thing, and you`re allowed to be a little sad about it, but you know what?"
Traci`s lips curled up to a grin and she started to hop on her toes, Andy pulled away to take a good look and raised her eyebrows, motioning her to continue.
"I have the perfect thing to cheer you up! Instead of we all going to the penny tomorrow we are going home to us for a little party!" A small smile stole her lips and she started to jump along with Traci.
"Sam`s coming too." Andy stopped jumping and crossed her arms and glared at her.
"Since when do you call him Sam?" She put enough pressure on his name so Traci would get the picture.
"Since he started hanging out in my home and eating my food." She chuckled at Andy and tugged her arm with her out the door to get to parade.
Sam saw the two girls coming out arm in arm, Traci with a ridiculous grin and Andy with a wrinkled nose before she burst out laughing. He remembered the last time he saw her come out of the D`s office, the last time he saw her before he went under.
Sam came down the stairs from Best`s office, the ink of his signature on the paper forms for his UC gig still dry. She came walking out of the D`s office with a smile on her face, Sam figured Luke caused that, and was headed towards him.
"Sam, can we talk?" He saw the hope in her eyes, but choose to ignore it.
"Too late, McNally." And he brushed pass her, not even looking back.
The guilt flushed over him again, he hated himself for being so damn stupid and turning her down in a tone he knew was cold. He pushed himself of the desk and walked with Oliver into Parade, and took his seat, boring holes in the back of her. He looked up for a second and caught Parker`s eyes too were on her. He pinched the bridge of his nose and snorted.
"McNally you are with Swarek today, like good old days! Serve, protect and stay safe." She turned her head to look at Sam and rolled her eyes at his stupidly charming grin. It reminded her too much of their first day together on the job.
She stood by the coffee stand pouring her coffee and wondered if she was going to make him one too, she bit down her bottom lip.
"Today, McNally." Sam`s voice reached her ears, luckily her back was facing him so he couldn't see the little smile she had on her face, she took another cup and made his coffee too.
She came out and found him leaning on the cruiser, like he used too, she stopped in her tracks for a moment and took in the sight in front of her. She had forgotten how good he looked in that uniform, she felt the butterflies in her stomach, and stomped with her foot a little because he was still able to do that to her. But deep down, she loved that ability of him. Parker came behind her and tapped her shoulder.
"Have a good day, I`ll miss you!" She made a mental note to lash out on Traci, and got started to walk towards Sam again, she reached him the coffee and walked around the car, not saying a word.
After a few blocks Sam couldn't handle the silence no more, he even rolled his eyes at himself, he too was a little allergic to silence at this point.
"Soooo, things are good?" He stole a quick glance at her profile before he focused on the road again.
"Things are good." She kept it short, and a total lie, she felt his eyes on her and cursed at the butterflies in her stomach.
"Hitting the sack with Parker, huh?" Sam knew it was stupid, childish and really jealous like and he regretted saying it the second he saw the look on her face.
"Does your ass get jealous of the shot that comes out of your mouth?" That Sam didn't expect and choked on his own breath and looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.
"Yeah, that`s what I thought." She snapped again and shifted in her seat so she was facing away from him. He knew he had pissed her off, but she was at least talking to him now, even if she didn't answer his question.
She thought back to yesterday when Parker gave her a ride to Traci`s, she wrinkled her nose by thinking of their conversation.
"So I was thinking of making my transfer permanent."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I like working with you so I figured I put it in for permanent."
"But Sam`s back now, he`s my partner."
"I know, but you have a say in that you know."
"Dispatch 1504 – possible assault at High Park." Andy flinched by the sound and grabbed the radio.
"1504 we are on our way." She looked over at Sam, who was gripping the steering wheel and squinting his eyes as he speeded to the park, she knew he hated those calls.
To both of theirs relief it turned out it was only two drunks going at each other and they were able to control them right away. She bit down her bottom lip when she watched Sam cuff one guy and haul him into the back of the cruiser, she loved watching him do his job, it suited him well, and he did not look bad doing it either, not at all.
They rode in silence back to the barn and headed out to the streets again. When shift ended he parked the car and turned to face her.
"It was good working with you again." She didn't turn to face him, just kept staring trough the windshield. She nodded and opened her door, leaving the car and headed for the locker rooms, and looking forward to her drink at the Penny. Sam sighed and watched her braid sway as she walked away.
"McNally, a word before you go." Best shouted form his office door, she looked around the bull pen wondering what she had done wrong and walked up the stairs and in to his office.
He motioned her to sit down, so she did and started to fidget with her hands.
"Parker has put in a request for a permanent transfer and you for a permanent partner." She nodded, and took a deep breath. From the corner of her eye she saw Parker by the coffee stand watching them and Sam from the D`s office with Jerry.
"It`s your choice, McNally." He said it like it was an easy pick, like she was picking between which ice cream she wanted.
"McNally, who do you want as your partner?"
Of course she wasnt living with Parker :) But I`m glad I was able to fool you guys ;)
Really appreaciate all the reviews, story and author alerts :)
So, what`s your thoughts on this one?
