A/N: Apologies again for the few days delay in posting this one. The postings for this story will probably happen later, rather than earlier in the week for the final five chapters too, but I'll see how I go.

I do hope this chapter is not tooooo helter-skelter. I really wanted to experiment with the use of several flashbacks to add to the mood. They are a little back and forth so I hope it doesn't confuse you too much! Thanks again for continuing to read and review!

~ Early May 2014 ~

tenacity (n). The state or quality of being tenacious. (Synonyms: courage, determination, doggedness, persistence, heart).

Andy's riding with Gail the day they hear the call for assistance come over the radio.

She doesn't really hear anything of what the operator says, other than the initial details of "Officer down" and the location.

Her mind races for a minute or two. After that, everything goes fuzzy –

It's just as well Gail is driving, because Andy can do not much except hold on to the door as they speed through the streets.

"Andy…it might not be Sam." Gail's voice is calm, authoritative, reasoning. But even it has an edge that makes Andy even more nervous than she already is.

Andy doesn't know why she knows it is Sam. For all she knows, it could be Traci. It could also be a uniform that they called for an hour earlier, things at the 'gentleman's establishment' going down a little differently to how the detectives might've expected when they first planned their visit.

Andy tries desperately to remember if she saw Sam put on his vest before Gail called her to the cruiser. It's not something the detectives would normally do if they're just going to make some loose enquiries –especially about white-collar crimes.

"An hour max, Sam. All we're gonna need. This guy's not gonna give us much without a warrant." Traci jabbed a stirrer into Sam's arm. "We just need him to say something that will trip him up, help us get that warrant."

Sam nodded at Traci. "Got it, boss." He passed the first coffee he'd stirred over to Andy and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't let Peck fill your head with any ridiculous ideas for bachelorette parties today."

Andy grinned, sipped at her coffee and gave him a moan. She reached over and tapped at his chest, cautious about how loose they were starting to get with the 'no fraternizing at work' rules. "You guys wanna meet us for lunch?"

Sam reached into his pocket for the car keys. "Sounds good." He looked up in the direction of his office. "Have we got everything, Nash?"

Traci screwed up her face. "I suppose so. Can't imagine anything else that we'd need."

"And…and if it is Sam….well. He'll be okay, Andy. Sam will be okay." Andy looks over at her blonde colleague, who is controlling the vehicle like it's one of her limbs. Still. Andy wonders whether Gail might be trying to convince herself more than anything.

A whir of images flash in front of Andy as she watches her friends' face; the way Gail felt comfortable talking to Sam last night at The Penny about her recent decision to finally, finally give her relationship with Nick another…and more serious…attempt. The way she seems to respect Sam, really relate to him – kind of like the kinship that Andy has with Nick.

Andy and Nick stood at the bar waiting for the next round of drinks to be served. Both watched on as Sam nodded at Gail over at their table - the pair deep in a discussion that didn't contain a whole lot of words.

"Sooo." Andy bumped at Nick's shoulder. "Back on for real and certain and serious, huh?"

Nick smiled, the most confident one she'd seen out of him for months and months. "We're finally on the same page. There's still work to be done, but we're actually enjoying it most of the time."

Andy nodded, grinned in return. "Just keep her talking…but give her time and space when she needs it. Apparently I'm getting better and better at which of those should happen, and when."

Nick bumped her shoulder in return. "Remind me to thank Sam later for the time he spouted a whole bunch of sub-text at Gail, urging her to give me a proper shot at this thing."

Andy smirked, happy that Sam had helped play a very cool cupid in the whole Collins/Peck thing.

A block out from the scene, Andy and Gail find themselves right behind the cruiser that Ollie and Noelle are in. Andy thinks she sees both sets of eyes in the front car peering into the rearview mirror and straight at her.

Andy's stomach churns relentlessly.

She sees Jerry's face very clearly, hears Sam's voice replaying the stories he's told her of his near misses on the job over the years.

She thinks back to Ollie's birthday barbeque a week ago. How Sam's friends joked about his 9 lives, and how his successful escapes from dangerous situations must've rubbed off on Andy.

Oliver had just finished joking, one hand still held up with each digit in the air. "You're gonna break Sammy's record for near misses, McNally."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "We probably shouldn't be jokin' about this sort of crap," she muttered. Her eyes fixed on Frank who was holding Olivia at the time. "All of us have done well to keep bein' here."

Frank smiled small at his wife, looked around at everyone else. "I'll toast to that."

Sam raised his glass quietly, dug the other hand into the back pocket of Andy's jeans. "And a toast to Jerry, for making the ultimate sacrifice. Takin' one for the team."

Andy's heart had skipped a beat as soon as he said it, she still felt at least some level of guilt for how Jerry died. For as much as Sam tried to convince her it wasn't her fault, Andy had no doubt both her and Sam would place some blame on themselves for the rest of their lives.

As they pull up curbside to the building, Andy is out of the cruiser without thinking. She rushes to where she can see police tape, ambulances, familiar faces…and unfamiliar ones.

Tears burn her eyes as she starts to crumble with the realization that this perfectly imperfect life she is building with Sam could be over, in this moment. Her cop senses are obliterated; there is nothing rational about how she is going to respond anymore.

Andy could care less though. For all it matters, they can suspend her for not following protocol here. In fact, they can take her badge forever. She just wants her Sam alive, in her arms, quiet words, those warm eyes and dimples aimed her way.

"Oh yeah?" Sam kissed at Andy's nose late last night after The Penny, slid his hand around her waist and tugged her all the way in to his chest.

Andy smiled up at him, a little tipsy from one beer too many. "Yeah. Everyone knows that you are." She put her hands on his smiling face, stroked her thumbs across his dimples and went weak at the knees.

("A softy at heart," is how Andy had just described him, thinking of her earlier conversation with Nick about Gail at the bar.)

"You been talkin' outta school again, McNally?" He rubbed his hands up and down her back, looked down at her with impossibly warm and dark eyes.

She pushed to her toes and nipped at his jaw, a goner anytime he looks at her that way. Andy whispered into his ear. "Don't need to." Kissed at the spot. "It's in your actions, the way you are with the people...especially the ones we care about. You're a dead giveaway."

He lifted her off the floor in a bear hug. Looked her straight in the eye. "What can I say, McNally?" He muttered back at her, bumped his nose into hers. "You make me wanna be a better person…no…strike that. You make me wanna be who I really am."

The kiss that ensued went on for a long time. It wasn't the usual lust-filled thing they normally work up. Nor was it the friendly, affectionate tease with a promise that they do other times. The kiss was pure love. Mutual admiration and adoration. It was soft and careful and beautiful, and it squeezed Andy's heart.

Andy knows now that she can live with not being a cop.

She cannot live without Sam.

And so she runs in the direction she think Sam will be.

It's Chris that catches her. That imposing, tall, muscular form of his coming from somewhere she didn't see. He practically plucks her from the ground, holding her tight in his arms.

"Not that way, Andy," he tells her, hard breaths like he's just been running too. He rotates her in a semi-circle. "C'mon, c'mon." He grabs her arms, gets them moving at a walk with some pace. "They're still securing the scene."

"WHERE IS HE?" Andy's scream is furious with the world. If Sam has been taken away from her again…if he is gone, she will never forgive the universe. Never. Sam belongs with her and she belongs with him, and now that they know how perfect they are together, she doesn't think she can breathe if he's –

"You ever think about life without me?" She asked him not long after he proposed. Some night when they were wrung dry with emotions from rehashing Sam's grief over losing Jerry in the most traumatic of ways.

Sam tucked her under his arm, the two of them sprawled out on the couch and Boo watching on near the fire. "I…I can't." He turned his face to look at her eventually. Shook his head slowly, his eyes blinking at her. "Andy, sweetheart. I really can't think about that happening again."

Something in his voice and eyes broke her, splintered something inside. She climbed into his lap, cautious. Got his face between her hands. "Sam. I promise. I'm never leaving you. Never again."

"WHERE…?" The tears are freefalling from Andy when she sees Traci near the back of an ambulance, arms crossed and talking to a paramedic.

Oliver has joined Chris, both men holding Andy up now and trying to placate her with a lot of "be okays."

"McNally, come on. You need to breathe. Sammy needs you in tact. He needs you okay." Oliver is trying so hard to be calm and gentle, but the reality is that it sounds like he's in shock himself. Perhaps he's just more experienced in reacting and responding his way through it.

"No strippers," Andy scowled at Oliver when she overheard he and Frank making plans right over the top of the kitchen bench in her house…in her and Sam's house a few nights ago.

Sam had his head in the fridge, looking for the beer that had run dry almost an hour ago.

Oliver gnawed on a pretzel. "You think I'd send my best buddy in the world into the doghouse before he'd even got the damn ring on your finger, McNally?" Oliver shook his head fiercely. "'Sides. I think I could fill the room with 100 of the hottest and most naked women in Toronto and Sammy wouldn't still be too busy drooling over photos of you on his phone."

Andy smirked, tried to hide a blush unsuccessfully.

Sam came up behind her, wrapped a friendly arm around her chest and kissed the shell of her ear. "Ollie's right. Not gonna drool over anyone but you, sweetheart." He pulled back and smacked at her ass. "Specially not with your Dad in the room," gave her a teasing wink.

She gave him a glare in return. "Noelle won't stand for it either, you know."

It's Traci that's in her face next, shock and tears in her eyes. She pulls herself together some composure as soon as she sees Andy though.

"He's okay, Andy. He's gonna be okay."

She looks at the stress on Traci's face; a far cry from the tears of laughter Sam had her friend in at the coffee station at work just hours ago.

Andy heard Traci's cackle as soon as she left parade. Made her way over to them to see what the fuss was about – and pick up the coffee she knew Sam was preparing for her.

"You're fiancé does a crazy-good impression of Epstein, you know that?" Traci's smile was a face splitter, tears in her eyes and the works.

Andy grinned. She'd been privy to Sam's impressions of Dov before. He never did it to be mean, it was more payback for Dov's man-crush on him. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, that sort of thing...

Sam sucked at his tongue after sipping the hot coffee. He kept his voice low and informed Andy; "Just caught him and his rookie in the men's locker room. Thank god she was fully dressed. Struck out with Epstein though. Was blinded by the damn glare off his chest." Sam pulled out his best Dov voice and facial expression to give her the running commentary; "Sam...uh, Sir. um, Sir. Sam. uh, um. Chloe…uh um. Price and I were just discussing today's speed traps and routes."

Andy snorted trying to hold in the laugh, screwed up her nose. "God. Sam. Hot liquid on hand."

Andy is certain the blood has drained out of her face. Her brain too. She's on a one-track mission, and not even her best friend will get in her way.

"I know he'll be okay," Andy snaps.

She doesn't mean for it to be an attack on Traci, but she's gone from shock to grief to anger to desperation in under half an hour, and the emotional rollercoaster is taking its toll. She shakes her head, puts a trembling hand on her friend. "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Trace, please-" her voice weakens again; "Tell me where Sam is. I need to just - just. I need to see him right now. I need to be with him..."

Traci puts her arm through Andy's, tugs her closer to the back of the ambulance she was at not long before. "We weren't in vests…it wasn't meant to…it was a simple interview on site…the place got raided by some assholes from a gang that didn't know we were there."

Andy doesn't want those kind of details right now; she can barely make sense of the words. She just needs Sam warm and under her hands. "Where was he hit?"

"Lower left side. Somewhere just above his waist. There's an exit wound. He lost some blood pretty quickly…but they're saying he's gonna be okay."

Andy nods, focuses on her breathing. A quiet starts to fill her senses. This one sounds like it might be in a similar place to where he's been shot before. Opposite side though.

"And this one?" Andy poked at the scar above his left hip gently, nudging herself closer to where he was hard.

It was a night back in the early days. Well. Early days of their second go 'round. He wanted the ins and outs of what she went through on Dakota, she demanded in return that he give her an itinerary of every damn scar she'd inspected on him before.

Four bullet wounds, two burn marks and one stab scar later Sam still insisted he'd "got off lightly after all these years. Figure my chances are even better now I'm makin' myself wear a suit."

The final bullet wound she'd pointed to was from years and years ago, his second job UC. "Some punk did a bad job of shooting me. Thought I was a cop…'til the boss set him straight". He winked up at Andy, gave her a smirk. "Now. You promised you were gonna make 'em all better-"

He tugged at her arm until she fell on his chest and kissed him, made love to him for the fourth time in less than 24 hours.

A paramedic jumps out of the back to greet them. He looks familiar, but Andy's pretty sure he's still new on the job.

He smiles at her, reassuring. "Andy?"

Andy nods, peering over his shoulder to barely make out the laid down form of Sam.

"He's stabilized, so we're heading him to the hospital now." He motions to Traci. "His partner here did a great job of keeping him safe for us."

Andy bites her lip, nervous and anxious still but increasingly relieved with each moment passing. She nods again.

"Jump in the back, ride with him. Should warn you though…you won't be seeing him awake until after they do what they need at the hospital. He was unconscious, but when he came to, he was in a lot of pain. We gave in to his demands to dope him right up."

Andy smirks despite herself; thinking of Sam barking orders even while he was on death's door. He was probably sarcastic about it too. Still – he must've been in a lot of pain, the guy is the toughest person she knows. The only thing that ever makes him whiny is when he gets man-flu. Even then, it's only to run Andy around.

"Sweetheart, c'mon…" he whined at her a couple of weeks ago, struck down for three days that felt like three weeks to Andy with some fluey thing that had gone around 15. "Fresh grapefruit juice is the ONLY thing that'll work."

Andy rolled her eyes and covered him with a blanket, Boo nestled alongside of him up on the couch too. She kissed both of them soft on the top of the head. "This stuff I got from the deli is good as." She pointed to the banquet of her love and care through sickness and health that was sitting on the coffee table; three kinds of home-made soup in thermos', some dumplings and noodles from their favorite take-away, home-made lemonade and bread she got Noelle to make him, as well as the pulpy juice recommended at the deli, some peppermint tea bags, two boxes of tissues, and an array of pills that Andy was sure could cure anything.

"I'll swing by and check on you again in a couple of hours, okay?" Andy draped a cool washer over his warm forehead. "Call me if you need anything else…but I am not pickin' fruit," she called over her shoulder, relieved to be hopping into the relative quietness of the cruiser and the company of Dov.

"He didn't make you go squeeze some grapefruits did he?" Andy feels something loosen in her chest as the smile on the paramedic grows bigger.

Traci catches Andy by the arm as she starts to walk off. "Want me to come with you?"

Andy turns and hugs her tightly. "We'll be okay. I'll call or message you with running updates." As she takes the final steps to the ambulance, Andy turns and calls back to her friend. "Thanks for being there for us Trace."

She can't quite bring herself to look at his face until she's seated and stable, strapped all the way in.

The paramedic, Dave, sits beside her as a precaution to monitor Sam as they move.

Andy closes her eyes for a few seconds as she hears the sirens start up, the van on its way. He's alive He's alive He's alive. Sam. Sam. Sam. She breathes his name in and out another few times.

When she opens them again, the tears have returned. In a couple of months they will be married. Flowers and dresses and fancy stuff she could care less about, she just wants to be his wife. She's seriously considering getting married in the back of this ambulance if he wakes up.

She leans forward, as far as she can.

It's enough to have a full view of his beautiful face, enough to hold tight to his hand.

She runs her thumb over his knuckles. "Sam. Honey. I'm home." Despite her best efforts for it not to, Andy's voice cracks.

She clears her throat to try again. She needs and wants to pull herself together, to stay strong for Sam. Be thinking clearly for when he wakes up.

"You're on your way to hospital, honey. You're in really good hands. And, I...I'm gonna be with you all the way...'cept when they kick me out of the room. But even then, I'm gonna make their lives hell. Be pacin' the floor waiting. Get ready to pounce on you...gently...when you wake up..but only 'cause I love you, okay? And I'm gonna spend the rest of our lives making sure you know that. That's right. Yup. 143 years of me chewin' your ear off about how you make me laugh and cry and want and try and push and yell. You're gonna know in intimate detail why I love every single inch of you...including how sexy hot I think all of it is..."

She stops rambling for a moment, her throat gone bone dry. She reaches up and touches his face, runs her fingers through his hair. Obsesses momentarily about the fact that she wants their kids to have his eyelashes, his dimples, his eyes, and his mouth. Hell. Andy wants their kids to have his everything….

There's a distinct possibility that Andy still thinks she may be a horrible mom. But Sam. He will be an awesome dad. She wants a truckload of his kids. She wants to try to be a great mom. The best wife she can. She wants to watch Sam with a bunch of little Sam's playing with Boo.

Andy shakes her head, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

Despite the fact that Sam's body has suffered a horrible trauma, he looks as good as he always does. They've covered him in a way that she can't see where he was shot. It's probably a good thing. Probably for the best. She desperately wants to see it, but she's worried that she might fall apart if she does -

"We're here." Andy hears a male voice from somewhere beside her.

She forgot Dave was there too.

Andy does do everything she told Sam she would:

Runs alongside the trolley as they get him down through emergency; clutches his hand as a lightning fast prep is done for surgery; and then paces the hall waiting for news.

Tommy appears with Oliver less than 15 minutes into the wait, both men pale and visibly shaken.

"Dad!"

Andy practically jumps into the arms of her father, similar to times she remembers from so long ago. "He's gonna be okay, dad." She believes her own words, despite the fact they're shaking.

She feels a long breath release from the chest of her father. Tommy pulls back and looks into her eyes, some color going back into his cheeks. "Figures." Tommy winks at her. "I'm convinced nothin'll ever bring Sam Swarek down."

"You ever hurt my little girl again, I will kill you. You do know that, don't you, Swarek?" Tommy laid down one simple rule when Sam and Andy confirmed they were back together again.

"I...not gonna happen, Sir. Besides the fact I love her too much, hurting Andy in any way, ever again would kill me. You wouldn't have to do the job. I'd already be dead."

It was the first and only time Andy could remember Sam calling Tommy, 'sir'. But she knew the men had a mutual and fond respect for one another - despite and because of the fact they were both flawed and damaged in different ways, probably.

"Okay then." Tommy nodded, indicated at one of the bottles of juice on the breakfast table he had set for his daughter and her on-again boyfriend. "Pass me the cranberry, would you Sammy?"

Ollie lets out a nervous chuckle. "The man is made of iron, I tell ya. Iron. Or somethin' like that."

Andy feels a grin form on her mouth. "Yeah. Somethin' like that."

Her eyes widen as she considers an important duty for Sam that she's yet to fulfill. "Will you guys stay with me while I call Sam's family?"

There's a steady stream of visitors in and out over the next few hours. Every officer from 15 drops by at various points. They bring Andy their best wishes, food, coffee, offers to help in any way they can. They also bring very tight hugs.

Gail doesn't let go of her. Considering she's not normally the touchy-feely type, this gives Andy some level of concern. She rubs at her blonde friends back. "He's gonna be okay," she tells Gail soothingly – convincing herself still.

Gail takes a step back, wiping her hands down the sides of her uniform pants. "I know that," she declares sternly. She looks around to make sure Oliver or anyone else is not within earshot. "I'll move back in if you need. I'll make Nick move in too. We'll take it in turns to help out -however you guys need. While you're not there, we will make Swarek heal faster than was thought human possibly."

Andy chokes out a laugh; surprised at the lengths Gail is prepared to go. She decides to play along, enjoying the lightest moment of the afternoon. She puts on her best serious voice. "Sam'd love that, he really, really would." Andy peers over Gail's shoulder, then steps in close to whisper. "The whole of 15 can move back in. My dad, Sam's family. Everyone. We'll decorate the house for his homecoming, and make him batches of soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We'll set up a rehabilitation regime, have him working around the clock 24/7 – "

"OUCH!" Andy rubs at the spot on her arm that Gail just punched.

"I'm just saying, Andy. Just. Whatever you need."

Andy smiles, more seriously. "I know Gail. Really. Thankyou so much."

Sarah arrives shortly after Andy has heard Sam's all-clear from the surgeon.

Andy is actually in the bathroom throwing up when Sam's sister arrives, the doctors words about "lucky on a whole lot of counts" bouncing around in her head. "There's really no best place to get shot, but if there was…this might be it."

Yeah, right. 'Lucky' for Sam the bullet hit him somewhere below his ribs and above his pelvis, no bone mass was hit. 'Lucky' for Sam there was an exit wound. 'Lucky' for Sam, Traci and another bystander managed to stem the blood loss as quick as they could.

Oh yeah. Well, 'lucky' for Andy there was a whole inch that saved Sam from a completely different kind of fate that wasn't so 'lucky' at all.

Sarah hugs her tightly. On first appearances Sam's sister is calm, but without a doubt there is a tremor in her voice. "When the heck is he ever going to stop scaring the shit out of me?"

Andy blinks and bites her lip. It's one thing to know, really know what it means to have a loved one face danger on the job every day...because you experience it too. But the reality that hits home for families that are given bad news must be –

Truly mind and heart bending.

The two women link arms and wait to be let in Sam's room. "The rest of the troop will come as soon as they can…the kids were at school…I just...I jumped in the car straight away. I had to be here now...in case..."

Andy nods, holds Sarah tighter as they walk through the door.

They walk toward Sam's sleeping form together, supporting one another physically as they hover close to the bed; inspecting the machines and what not that he's hooked up to.

Andy fixes her eyes on the monitor that gauges the rate of his heart. She looks to Sarah, notices she has her eyes fixed on it too.

Andy thinks they might all be breathing in unison now.

Sarah nudges Andy into the seat near the bed. "You sit, I've been sitting for hours."

Andy settles herself in, reaching both hands toward Sam. She places the back of her fingers of one on his cheek, the other skims down to get a hold of his hand.

Sarah moves around the other side. "Hey, Sammy. You gave me a scare."

Andy watches on as Sam's sister bends over, places a delicate kiss on his forehead. "Wake up for us soon, okay? Just got to check that you're still the same." Sarah's voice is wavering. "I, um. Just have to use the bathroom. But I'll be right back. Waiting for you."

Andy uses the minute or two that Sarah's out of the room to tell Sam what the doctor said about his injury.

"You're probably gonna be off work for more than a month, but you'll make a full recovery. And on the bright side -because I know you'll want stuff to do-I have a whole list of bits and pieces to check off for the wedding -and you can even make lists for what we need to pack for the honeymoon. I don't even care if you tell me I'm wearing a different bikini every day...or nothing at all. -And Boo will be so happy you're home with him days -but don't let him wear you out - not allowed to play too much ball with him while you're trying to recover, okay?... And -and -we'll play poker and watch porn when you get super bored..."

It's unfortunate that Sarah chooses that particular moment to walk back in...with a nurse by her side.

Andy blushes furiously, keeps her eyes on Sam and tightens the grip on his hand. "I, um-"

The two women behind her laugh freely. "Hey. Whatever it takes to get him back in full form." Sarah pats a hand on her shoulder. "But take it a little easy on him, yeah?"

It takes another few hours and a steady stream of more visitors for Sam to open his eyes, slowly.

Andy's mouth drops open as she watches on when he does.

She looks across at Sarah, who is sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed, her head lolling about and fast asleep for the past half an hour. Andy herself had been half asleep, has been fighting exhaustion for a while now. Refused to give in to it until she saw Sam wake up.

Her fingers clutch into his. "Sam…? Sweetheart." Her voice is completely wrecked, the day and its emotional rollercoaster finally taking its toll.

He blinks his eyes a few times, obviously adjusting to the weird hospital lights.

"S'okay, Sam. You're in the hospital. You had surgery for a bullet you took. You're gonna be okay." She speaks to him soft and quiet, as calm as she can. She knows how hazy things can be after trauma and shock. Knows how groggy things are after operating theatres and scalpels and that sort of thing.

Andy watches Sam swallow a few times.

His voice is dry, raspy, and raw as he speaks. "I dreamt you wanted to play poker and watch porn."

Andy catches her laugh in her throat. But, she can't help the giant smile that takes over her face.

The pair of them burst into short fits of quiet laughter, Sam squinting through some obvious pain as his own laugh bubbles out.

"C'mere." He tugs her hand until she takes the hint and climbs up into the narrow space on the bed and beside him. He turns his neck slowly, sees the other presence in the room, the one that is still fast asleep. "She okay?"

Andy walks a couple of fingers over Sam's chest and shoulder, rests her hand up near his neck. "You scared us," she whispers onto his cheek.

"I'm sorry." Sam kisses at the top of her head.

Andy bites her lip, tears springing into her eyes as she shakes her head. "You were doin' your job, Sam. You were being a good cop. I just…I just thought I was going to lose you. I couldn't handle it, Sam –I love you, okay. I just…I want you with me for the rest of my life…"

Sam kisses her again, this time even softer and lets it linger in her hair. "Love you too, sweetheart. And there was no way I was gonna leave. Not without a fight."

They spend the next little while talking about the incident, and what it will mean for them for the next month or two. Sam apologizes in advance for how grumpy and frustrated he might get at times.

"S'long as we're not grumpy and frustrated at the same time." Andy winks up at him, gives him another smile just because she can, and because Sam is alright. "We can work this through Sam. Time, space, help, porn…whatever you want."

"You still rattling on about porn, Andy?" Sarah laughs, finally awake. She reaches over to her brother, holds tight to his hand. "Glad you're still with us, Sammy." Her voice cracks a little. She clears her throat and goes deadly serious, a similar tone to something Andy's heard out of Sam before. "Now. Don't ever do that to us again."

Next up: Back to our usual programming with some lighter fanfare. Sam's healing is well underway as bachelor and bachelorette parties, and last minute wedding to do's go full steam ahead (kinda…well, as best as they can ;) Oh, and there's a birthday thrown in there too!