Nothing to do at work, so here I am writing. Enjoy :)
p.s: This chapter is a little longer than i intended. I just didn't know where to stop.
Andy giggled as she refilled Traci's and her own wine glass.
After she had given her statement to Luke, Andy had run into Traci again. They had decided that since Traci had the night off and Leo was at his Dad's, they would just drink those bottles of wine tonight.
On her way over, Andy had picked up pizza's and another bottle of wine.
They were all ready two bottles down and just started the third one. Andy had endured Traci's relentless questions about her and Nick, as well as Sam.
"Enough about my problems Trace...What's up with you and Peck?" Andy couldn't help the giggle that came out, she was way more drunk than she had realized.
Her best friend laughed and lowered her head. "Oh Andy...No...NO...we are not talking about that!" Traci protested.
"Not talking about what?About the fact that you have a thing for a Peck or the fact that people have started to call you Stash?" Andy tried to keep a straight face but couldn't. Peckstein & McSwarek were just a couple of lovely names their fellow Officers came up with.
"Oh my gosh...they do not call us that!"Traci just shook her head, but couldn't stop grinning. "All right...yeah I heard that too. And yes I may have a thing for Steve" She winked at Andy and blushed.
"As long as you are happy Traci, it doesn't matter who the guy is" Andy smiled at her friend. "It is good to see you this happy"
"And I am...happy I mean" Traci took another sip of wine. Andy just nodded and did the same. She envied her Friend. After the disaster that is Dex, she was able to have a real shot at happiness with Jerry and now with Steve. Andy wanted to have a normal relationship, but somehow she always ended up ruining her relationship by running as soon as it got serious or the guy that had been sweet before, turned out to be a jerk.
"I am sorry I haven't been the best friend to you" Andy thought that this moment was perfect to apologize to her best friend. Traci shook her head and set down her wine glass. "Andy...listen.." but Andy held up a hand that made Traci stop talking.
"Trace...just let me say this ok?" She looked at the other woman, who once again nodded. "I was too busy with my own little drama and then I left for undercover...I shouldn't have just thought about me. You weren't in a good place after Jerry died and Leo wasn't coping either, I should have made sure you were okay before I left. I am really sorry Traci"
"Andy, there is nothing to apologize for. You did what you thought was the right thing to do. Don't put this all on yourself. Sam had broken up with you, Jerry had died, I understand that you wanted to run away. I would have too, if I didn't have Leo to think off. So don't blame yourself. Just don't do it again, without letting me know!" Traci didn't need to voice what exactly she would do if Andy pulled a stunt like that again.
Andy placed her wine glass on the table and moved over and gave Traci a hug. She had missed her best friend when she went undercover. Nick had been a good friend but from time to time she had wished Traci had been there for some girl talk.
"You think Gail will ever forgive me?" Andy asked Traci as she pulled away.
"Don't worry about the Ice Queen. She isn't an angel either." Traci gave her an encouraging smile.
"I broke the Girl code...I should have never moved on to Nick, but it had been such a convenience. I don't regret it per se, because the sex was good, but everything else that came with it I regret. I thought we were on the same page, I didn't realize that he had bigger feelings for me. Now I ruined both friendships with Gail and Nick." And that was the truth. She had needed the sex, the closeness, but ruining friendships wasn't worth the best sex in the world.
Traci gave Andy another hug. "On the bright side, it made Swarek see that he still cares about you." Squeezing her best friend even tighter, her tears started to drop.
She sniffled and then laughed a little. "Damn, since Sam got shot I cannot stop crying"
"I think it's more that you have held all of this in for too long. We have to get together a lot more. Why don't you come over on Sunday morning and you can watch Leo while I am at work. I know my little guy misses his Aunty. You would make his day." Traci said and drank the last of her glass of wine.
Time to go, Andy thought and finished her glass as well. "Yeah that would be great. After all my blueberry pancakes are better than yours."
The other woman laughed out loud. "Yeah because you cheat. You use the pre-mixed pancake batter and just add blueberries to it. I make them from scratch"
"Awww...Leo told you didn't he? I tried to bribe him into silence with an extra batch of pancakes." Andy laughed and got up to put on her jacket.
"You know I am a detective right?...I know when my little man tries to hide something from me, plus I know that you can't cook to save your life!" Traci took their glasses and put them into the kitchen.
"Hey...I have you know that I make a mean Bolognese sauce." Andy picked up her bag and moved to open the door.
"Message me when you are home okay?" Her best friend reminded her with her Mom-voice.
Andy nodded and gave Traci one last hug before closing the door behind her. Winter was coming, the temperature had dropped down to a most of 5 degrees. Snuggling further into her jacket, Andy started into the direction of her apartment.
It was just 9 pm, but the alcohol was making her sleepy. She was sure that by the time she arrived home she was wide awake and sober again.
Andy's phone rung and it took her a few seconds before she was able to fish it out of her bag. Without looking at the caller ID she answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, How are you?" Sam's voice came through the line and made her smile. Andy hadn't forgotten that he had said he wanted to call, but she had forced herself not to expect it. She didn't want to be disappointed if he didn't call. "I am good, and you?"
"McNally are you drunk?" Damn, she thought and started giggling, I start to sound like a school girl, damn that wine. "Wow can we add psychic now to your impressive resume, detective?"
Sam's deep laugh rumbled through the line and cause her heart to skip a beat. "Nah McNally, but your slurry speech gave it away."
"Yeah well two and a half bottles of red wine between me and Traci will do that" She couldn't help but laugh too. After her laughter had died down she recognized how dark it was in the street. A person with a dog walked past her and wished her a good evening.
"McNally where are you?" worry was clear in Sam's voice. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. He was always worried about her. Andy thought it is cute but sometimes a little over the top. "I am walking home from Traci's" She replied.
"Andy...arggg. Why aren't you in a taxi?" Sam paused for a second "It's dark outside. You should know better"
"It's fine Sam...I am fine. Plus I am talking to you aren't I? If something happens you can just call the cops for me okay?" She knew he was just being nice, but she could take of her own. Plus she didn't want to tell Sam that she was afraid to take a taxi by herself at this time of the night.
Sam snorted. "Now tell me the real reason you are walking through the dark street by yourself, in the cold nevertheless, instead of taking a taxi, which could have you home within a few minutes?" Yes, he was definitely becoming a psychic, Andy mused.
"No, I just know you well" Sam said and chuckled. "You said that out loud, McNally!"
"Stupid wine...makes my lips very loose." Andy laughed. She had always liked to talk to Sam over the phone. He seemed more at ease and easier to talk to, than when they were talking face to face. "Okay fine" She huffed. "Ever since Gail got kidnapped, I don't like taking taxi's when it's dark. I always try to get a female driver, but today is Friday and we both know that it will be hard to get one at this our, especially in this cold weather."
She got no reply to that from Sam. If it wasn't for Sam's breathing she would have thought they had lost the connection. "Say something" Andy said quietly.
"Come by tomorrow and pick up the keys for my truck. You cannot walk every where." There was a certain hardness to his tone, that didn't leave any room for an argument. But she tried nevertheless.
"No Sam...No. I cannot ask that of you. I will get Traci to give me a lift, or ask my Dad to borrow his car..." Andy tried to protest but Sam cut her off.
"Andy, You are not asking, I am offering. I feel better if you would just drive the truck. We both know Nash will need her car, and so does you dad. So please don't argue with me, just come and get the keys?" He had to use 'please' didnt he? She lost the inner war with herself. She couldn't resist him when he used that word, since he rarely used it. And Sam knew that. So she caved in "Fine, I will get the keys of you tomorrow morning"
"Good. So tell me was Luke mad? I am just glad that Traci came to take my statement!" She could her the smile in his voice. Andy doubted that the rivalry between the two detectives would ever find an end. And by covering for Marlo, Sam had hit the top spot on Luke's shit list.
"Oh...He wasn't too bad..." They continued talking until she was safely tugged into bed. They had talked about everything and nothing. Sam had entertained her with a few stories of Oliver, Jerry and his first few years in the academy. And here she thought she had gotten into a lot of trouble as a rookie, but those three had been worse.
"I am going to let you go to sleep McNally" Sam said whilst yawning. "Just remember to get the keys tomorrow, and maybe bring me a cup of good coffee. You know as payment for using my truck"
"SAM...you offered as I remember correctly." She laughed out.
"Okay..Okay...not as payment then...more out of the goodness of your heart, because the coffee here sucks!" The amusement clear in his voice.
"I will think about it" Andy smiled. She loves teasing him. "Good night Swarek"
She got a "Good Night Andy" in return before hanging up. Andy quickly texted Traci, that she was safe at home. Shortly after she fell asleep with a smile on her face and excitement over seeing Sam tomorrow.