Thank you for all of the amazing reviews from the last chapter, I was really nervous because of how dark I made it. You have no idea the happiness I feel when I see another review in my in box. I'm so done with JT, he is going down.
The sun was starting to settle on the city of Toronto when Sam walked out of 15 Division with the mission of flying back to Vancouver and bringing Andy home. Vancouver PD was working on their search warrant and it's likely they would be raiding the house before Sam's plane touched down. The guilt of not being there when Andy was rescued was overshadowed by the realization she would be free and he couldn't be more thankful.
Just as Sam opened his truck door he heard shouts behind him and he looked back to see Jerry, Oliver and Frank running after him. Thinking they were going to try and stop him, he was prepared to battle. "Don't try to stop me," Sam warned. "I'm going."
"Wouldn't think of it brother," Oliver assured. "We're coming with you though."
Sam felt a lump form in his throat at the realization that his friends…his brothers…really do have his back no matter what. "I..uh…," Sam dropped his head and cleared his throat. Regaining composure he looked up again and continued. "I can pay you all back over time for the cost of the plane tickets."
"Not necessary, Sammy," Jerry answered. "Andy's family and we all want her back."
Sam let a small grin form, the first in what seemed like forever. "Let's go," he responded feeling a small relief that he would have back up he could trust if he came across JT.
Sam drove everyone to the airport where they purchased their plane tickets. Luckily the last flight of the day, a red eye, to Vancouver was leaving in two hours. While waiting to board, everyone was making small talk except for Sam who rested his head on the back of his chair and closed his eyes. He continued to keep his breathing even, because every time he thought about holding Andy again his heart quickened.
"You okay?" Frank asked.
Lifting his head, he turned to look at his friend. "Yes, just wondering how JT drove Andy two thousand miles without anyone noticing them. Their pictures were plastered all over every news channel?"
"I guess we'll have our answer soon," Frank responded while patting his friend on the shoulder. "She's coming home.
"I know," Sam answered taking a deep breath. "I just don't know if she will still want me."
Frank looked at his long time friend, and not for the first time, wondered what was going on in his head. "What do you mean?"
"It's my job to protect her and keep her safe," Sam reasoned. "I failed…miserably."
"This is not your fault and I have no doubt she feels the same way."
"Frank, I can only imagine the vile things my brother has done to her. My. Own. Brother. I wouldn't blame her if she couldn't get past this…I'm not sure I can," Sam admitted, looking down, not being able to make eye contact any longer.
"Let's not even think about this now. We just need to focus."
"Oh, I'm focused," Sam reassured, still concentrating on the floor.
Someone came over the intercom announcing their non-stop flight was now boarding and Sam became full of nervous energy. After finding his seat on the plane he looked out the window at the skyline lit up from the glare of the city lights a few miles away. I'm coming, Andy. Just hold on, he thought.
"So are you ready for this?" Andy asked her friend and co-worker, Macy, as they walked up the stair well to the fifth floor in a rundown apartment building.
Almost out of breath, Macy responded. "I wish these slumlords would pay to fix the elevators when they go out."
"Well, at least you won't have to spend so long at the gym today, right?" Andy joked.
"I like going to the gym, especially when Officer Diaz is there."
"You like Chris?" Andy inquired, amazed at her friend's admission, grabbing her arm and stopping them both. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"
Macy turned to Andy, fighting hard the blush creeping up in her face. "He's cute and so adorable."
Andy snorted while trying to hold in her laughter. "I don't know how he would feel about adorable, but he would love to know you think he's cute."
"I just broke up with Mike; I'm really not ready to go out with anyone else right now."
Andy felt bad for her friend, but glad she dumped the cheater. "You did the right thing."
Nodding her head, Macy agreed. "Watching you and Swarek these past seven months have shown me how a woman really should be treated by her guy."
At the mention of Sam, Andy's heart skipped a beat and she smiled before the weight of his absence was felt for the millionth time since he went undercover two weeks ago. "Come on," Andy nudged her friend as they came out of the stair well. "505 should just be a few doors down."
"You ready?" Macy asked.
"Yep, hopefully we found our guy," Andy responded before knocking on the door.
After a few seconds they heard movement inside and the door swung open. A man in his mid 30s with a shaved head and numerous tattoos displayed on his arms appeared before them. "Can I help you," the shady looking man asked in a not so friendly voice.
Working up that courage she always seems to find when needed, Andy responded. "Buck Halloway?"
"Who's asking?" His tone became even more stern.
"For confidentiality reasons, I can't say unless I know I'm talking to him." She told him, hoping this would be enough.
Eyeing the two girls for a few seconds before responding he finally answered. "I'm him, now tell me who are you?"
"I'm Andy McNally with Child Welfare," she responded by handing him her business card. "This is my co-worker, Macy," she said pointing at her friend. "I need to talk to you about your son, can we please come in so your neighbors don't hear your business." It was common that whenever it was known Child Welfare workers were in the area, neighbors would become local spectators. Andy always joked about wanting to hand out popcorn while everyone hung around for the show.
Buck didn't respond but motioned for them to come inside. When they entered the apartment, the sour smell overwhelmed them, and Andy fought back the nausea. For more than the first time since she started her career, she felt sorry for people who didn't see a problem living in such a mess.
"Is Ethan okay?" Buck inquired after shutting the door.
"He's fine, but I need to tell you that I had to place him into foster care last week."
"What?" Buck all but shouted.
"I removed him from his mom after finding her strung out and Ethan crawling around several hypodermic needles that tested positive for heroin."
"Damn," Buck responded, rubbing a hand across his face.
Before Andy could respond, a door to one of the back bedrooms opened up and she could hear someone coming down the hall.
"Who else is here?" Andy silently cursed herself for not asking sooner. That was one of the first questions she always asked when entering a residence.
"Just my buddy James," Buck informed as James came into view.
But it wasn't James after all, it was Sam. He and Andy locked eyes immediately and Macy started coughing, clearly startled as well.
"Who are they?" Sam asked, immediately recovered from the shock of seeing Andy and her co-worker.
"Child Welfare. They have my son in custody."
Sam hoped Buck wouldn't give Andy a hard time and cause Sam to blow his cover and also hoping if Buck does give her a hard time that she will have sense enough to leave before the situation got out of hand. "Bummer, I've dealt with them before with my old lady. They aren't so bad," Sam offered, trying to deflect from the stigma that Andy has to face every time she knocks on someone's door.
Realizing what Sam was intentionally trying to do, she fought back an overwhelming smile. Instead she tried to play it cool and not feed too much into what he said. "Thanks," was all she offered causing Sam to nod in response.
"So why am I just now hearing about this?" Buck challenged.
"Ethan's mom was not willing to provide me any contact information. We had to go through alternate channels and you actually aren't that easy to find," Andy explained, trying to maintain her confidence. Having Sam there wasn't helping because she feared making a mistake that would compromise his cover.
"She's been keeping him from me, I had no idea he'd been put in foster care," Buck almost sounded defeated. "I'm really not in any place to take care of him right now."
"How about we start with visits?" Andy offered. "I can set them up at my office. They will be supervised."
Looking a little hesitant, Buck paused before answering. "Me and government offices don't really mix, you know?"
"This is for your son," Andy reasoned. "Why don't you start by coming down tomorrow and talking with me? I need to try and gather as much information as possible."
"Just me and you? No police?"
At the mention of these questions, Andy could see Sam stiffen. Pretending she didn't notice, Andy offered Buck a warm smile in return. "Of course, there isn't any need for law enforcement…is there?"
"Nope."
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at ten? Address is on the card."
"Tomorrow at ten it is."
Doing her best to ignore Sam, she motioned for Macy to move towards the door. After shutting the door behind them, they made their way downstairs without saying a word. Partly from being in shock and partly for fear there were eyes and ears everywhere. Just as they made it down to their car that was parked around the block, they heard Sam calling after them.
Andy turned around and saw him briskly walking towards them. "What are you doing, James?" Andy asked in disbelief and worry as he approached them.
"You don't have to call me James right now, no one can hear us; just keep your voice down. I lied and said I needed some advice on a family matter," Sam explained before turning to Andy's partner. "Hi Macy, can you give me and McNally a few minutes?"
"Sure thing," she answered with a smirk before climbing into the car.
Turning to Andy he clenched his fists, trying so hard not to touch her. "God, I miss you."
"Sam, what are you doing?" she all but whispered.
"I had to talk to you. I couldn't just let you walk away without telling you how much I've been missing you."
Feeling her heart soar she tried to contain a big grin threatening to break out, not wanting to compromise Sam in case someone was watching him. "I've missed you too, you have no idea."
"Oh, I do," he challenged with a smirk.
"I had no clue you were going to be here," Andy promised. "I can't believe I didn't blow it in there for you."
"You did great. I'm sure he doesn't suspect a thing," he reassured.
"I hope so, because if something happened to you Sam Swarek…" she let her words hang in the wind, not being able to finish.
"I know what you mean, so please be careful with this guy. He's got a bad side you don't want to be on."
"I'll do my best, but I've got to do my job."
"Andy," Sam warned.
"I get it, Sam. I do, but you need to follow your own advice. Be safe and hurry home. My bed is getting cold," Andy teased, getting pleasure out of the heated look Sam threw her way.
"It better not be getting warmed by anyone but me," Sam teased back but growing more serious at the thought that maybe Andy doesn't want to wait for him.
"Sam, what is it?" she asked concerned.
"This is my first time undercover since we started dating. I've thought more than once that maybe you wouldn't be waiting for me when I return. That being the girlfriend of an undercover cop is just too much." He looked down at his feet, kicking at an imaginary rock while mentally kicking himself for being so vulnerable. "I wouldn't blame you."
"If I didn't fear we were being watched, I would ask you to take me in your arms right now and never let go."
"And I would do it, before you had a chance to change your mind."
"My mind is made up. I'm yours now and I will be yours when you return, no matter how long you're gone."
Grinning like a fool, he resisted the urge to crush his lips to hers. "I'm going to go now before I blow this whole damn operation. Can't say I would be all that sad about it."
"Get out of here and be safe," Andy urged. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too, McNally," he whispered back reaching out to give her hand a quick squeeze as he turned around and started jogging back down the street to where his undercover job awaited him.
Seeing him was good for Andy, truth be told she was a little unsure of how he was feeling. This was their first time separated but she has no doubt now they will come out of this stronger than ever.
Six hours later, their plane touched down just a little after five in the morning. The men stood up and silently exited when it was their turn. Sam immediately turned on his phone as he was walking up the ramp, hoping for some news from the Vancouver police. His heart skipped a beat when he had two messages. One message from Staff Sergeant Neill Winters and another from his brother.
"JT left me a message with a new number for him," Sam turned to everyone. "Can one of you call back Winters while I call JT?" Sam asked but not wasting time for an answer before he quickly dialed the number JT left him. Worried his brother wouldn't pick up; his fear was soon put to rest.
"Took you long enough, Sammy," JT taunted as he answered.
"Is Andy okay?" Sam immediately questioned, holding his breath waiting for an answer.
"She's with me. Of course she's okay," Andy's captor answered almost sounding offended.
"Where are you?" Sam asked coldly, not wasting any time getting to the point.
"Did you like the pictures I sent?" JT laughed. "The ceremony was really one of a kind."
Bile rose up in Sam's throat at the mention of those pictures. "Andy would never have married you on her own free will. You're marriage will be null and void as soon as I'm done with you."
"Well, that's why I'm calling. I know about the little police raid at my dad's farmhouse," JT spat out. "Did you all really think I would be stupid enough to stay there after I killed him?"
Sam took a step back from the shock of JT's admission. "You…uh, you killed your father?"
"I came to him with Andy and he wouldn't help me. He urged me to turn myself in. I had no choice."
So one of them has a conscious, Sam thought. "What now?"
"It's time we ended this."
Sam's voice became eerily cold. "I agree. I'm here in Vancouver now."
A taunting laughter escaped from JT. "Of course you are. Well, I want you to meet me. You can see Andy one last time before I get rid of you once and for all."
Sam struggled to maintain his breathing as it fought to rapidly speed up. She would be in his arms soon. He just needed to be patient a little while longer. "Give me the address. I'll be on my way."
As JT was providing Sam with their location, Frank was ending his call with the Staff Sergeant.
When Sam hung up he communicated his conversation to everyone. "JT wants me to meet him. He gave me the address," he explained with his chest heaving at the adrenaline coursing through him right now.
"Winters said they raided the house and no one was there," Frank provided them with this information. "They don't have any further leads.
"I don't want them called," Sam said. "JT will see them a mile away and they won't let me anywhere near Andy until she's safe."
"He's going to see us too," Jerry reasoned.
"Let's rent two cars. I'll go in first and you follow ten minutes later," Sam suggested. He knew the look on his face was one of desperation, but he was so close.
Knowing they were running out of options they all agreed and went to rent the cars. Sam followed the GPS all the way to where JT was keeping Andy. The sun was staring to rise and it casted a fresh, new glow on the scenery around him. When he arrived, he noticed a simple two story house at the end of a cul-de-sac in what appeared to be a normal middle class neighborhood.
He exited his car and walked up the pathway to the front of the house where he didn't bother knocking before cautiously opening the door. He didn't make it far before he heard JT call out to him.
"Down stairs little brother," JT yelled.
Looking around and wondering why he didn't see anyone else, Sam walked towards his brother's voice until he found the stairs JT was talking about. He took one at a time, taking in his surroundings; feeling like this is too easy. When he reached the bottom step he saw JT standing next to the same cage that Andy was tied too in the pictures. The cage was turned sideways so Sam was unable to see inside.
"Welcome, Sammy." JT smirked.
"She in there?" Sam motioned to the large pet crate.
"Why don't you see for yourself," he challenged.
Sam didn't hesitate and hurried to his destination. JT backed away as Sam knelt down to look inside the dark cave like structure.
Seeing her face come into view, he sucked in a large intake of air when he noticed the swollen lip, black eyes and bruises covering her face and arms. He can only imagine the rest of her body looked the same.
"Sam?" Andy meekly squeaked out. "Is it really you this time and not a dream?"
Sam's heart broke into a million pieces. What hell she must have gone through these last two weeks. "You're going to be okay, Andy," he promised. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"I'm so cold." Sam noticed her whole body was shaking and he could hear her teeth clattering. The fire burning inside him continued to grow until he couldn't control his anger any longer. "I love you," he whispered to Andy before standing up and facing JT.
"We end this now," Sam said as he took out his gun that was stuck in the waist of his pants. Thankful he didn't forget to pick it up from the baggage claim in his haste to get to Andy.
"NO…I want a piece of you…man to man," JT demanded. "We do this the old fashion way, so when I win; Andy knows she is with a champion."
"You are so delusional but you want a fair fight?" Sam challenged back. "You got it." He put his gun away and charged after JT just as his brother charged back.
Sam landed a blow to JT's stomach followed by an elbow to his face, knocking him on the ground. "Get up," Sam demanded.
JT stood up but stumbled back before catching himself. He wiped at the blood pouring from his nose.
"You like that?" Sam taunted. "How does that feel you sick bastard."
"You got lucky, it won't happen again." JT responded before lunging at Sam.
Sam moved out of the way and tripped him before slamming his arms down on JT's back bringing him to his knees. Sam didn't stop there, he repeatedly kicked JT in his side, getting pleasure out of every grunt and cry of pain he released with each blow Sam gave him. "You sick mother fucker," Sam yelled as he continued to kick at him.
Gaining some strength, JT managed to grab a hold of Sam's foot and twist at it causing Sam to hit the ground. JT stood up and started returning the favor. With each kick, Sam could feel his resolve starting to falter. He looked in the direction of Andy and saw her bruised and battered face staring at him with eyes wide with horror. This gave Sam all the strength he needed. Rolling over several times before he got his bearings, he was able to stand up and face his brother again but not without holding onto his side.
"Where the hell are all your people?" Sam inquired, breathing heavily. Realizing it's strange that JT would be all alone.
"I sent them away. I want the satisfaction of knowing I took your life without any help."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Sam answered sarcastically before lunging at JT again. He grabbed him by the waist and pushed him into the brick wall knocking over boxes in the process.
With one final move, Sam took JT's head and slammed it into the wall knocking him out. He kicked him one last time making sure he wasn't awake before turning to Andy and picking up his strides until he reached the cage and fell to his knees.
"It's okay," Sam tried to reassure while looking around for something to cut the lock with. "I'm going to get you out."
"I don't know if I can move," Andy responded. "I hurt…so bad," she fought back a new wave of tears.
Turning to JT, Sam thought about these long two weeks he kept them separated, the hell both he and Andy had endured. His thoughts went further back to the months JT has emotionally tortured Andy long before he took it to a physical level. Hearing the soft cries of her now, Sam reached for his gun and contemplated using it on the bastard that has hurt and tortured her. Knowing ending JT's life right now would result in a lifetime prison sentence since he is no longer a threat, Sam ignored the monster and holstered the weapon once again in the waist of his jeans and continued looking for something to help him with the lock. Just as he was about to use his bare hands out of shear frustration of not being able to find any type of tool that could help, he saw some cutters on top of a work bench and started for them when he heard Andy scream his name.
Grabbing his gun he turned around in just enough time to see JT lunge at him with a crow bar. Without thinking he raised his gun and fired directly between JT's eyes. The single gunshot echoed in the basement, vibrating everything around him.
There was a brief look of realization that JT lost his fight before all the light left his eyes and he slumped to the floor. Realizing he just took his brother's life, Sam tried to feel something other than relief. There was no remorse or guilt, only numbness.
"SAM," Andy started screaming in complete panic, not being able to see what happened. "Oh God no," she was crying out.
Sam ran to her and knelt down, assuring her he was fine, JT was gone and this nightmare was over. "I'm okay; JT will never bother us again."
She wanted to reach through the bars and touch him but her hands were bound above her. "Thank God, get me out of here, please."
He grabbed the cutters and worked at the lock until it broke. Opening the door he then cut the ropes that were keeping her hands tied to the top of the carrier. He hesitated only for a second before helping her out, not wanting to cause her more pain.
Andy attempted to crawl out but cried with each movement causing Sam to gently slide her out. When she finally was free of her prison, Sam swooped her up in his arms and held her. Their tears of relief were mingling with each other as Sam's lips found hers. Very gently he kissed her, then moved his lips to the rest of her bruised face taking extra caution not to cause her anymore pain.
Kneeling together on the basement floor entangled in each other's embrace was how Frank, Jerry and Oliver found them two minutes later. Did all of that really happen so fast? Sam contemplated before being lost again in the sensation of holding Andy.
"Sam," Oliver called out to him.
Sam looked up and saw them at the base of the stairs. With Andy clinging on to him, he looked up at everyone. "It's over, it's finally over."
Okay, I'll be honest; the whole JT story arc was not what I had originally developed; however my writing took on a mind of its own. I can end this in a couple more chapters and send them into the sunset or I can keep the story going and put Sam and Andy through a few more obstacles before they live happily ever after. What do you all prefer? Thank you so much for all of your amazing reviews and taking the time to read this story. You have no idea how much it means to me.