I can't believe my story has broken the 100 mark for reviews! A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review, it really has motivated me and it helps keep my muse flowing! Also thank you to those who have added me to author and story alerts! A shout out to dcj as always who kindly lets me bounce my ideas off her.

I hope you have a great day wherever you are,

Sairs

To protect innocence

Chapter 13 ~ Alone together

Sam woke up and stretched, he glanced at his watch, six o'clock; he smiled as he remembered where he was. He had been given the opportunity to get to know Andy better than he thought he would. This week had certainly been a roller coaster ride, at the beginning of the week he'd thought he was going to have to walk away from the possibility of ever having a chance with Andy. But as the week unfolded, she'd broken up with Luke and they'd embarked on an undercover operation. Well Andy was the one who was truly going undercover and he wasn't going to deny that made him feel a little uneasy, but it wasn't that he thought she couldn't handle it; it was more that he was worried that something would happen to her.

Ever since the moment she'd barrelled into his life, literally, he wanted to protect her, keep her safe, it was a feeling that had evolved and changed into something so powerful he couldn't imagine his life without her in it. He hoped that spending time alone with her, away from the barn, might just give him the opportunity to show her that he could be the right choice for her. As he laid there an idea came into his head, he grinned, pulled back the covers and headed for the bathroom. He knew Andy wouldn't be up early; she wasn't an early morning person, he'd been on the other end of many mornings when she'd only just made it to parade and grumped in the cruiser, until her morning coffee had kicked in. So that gave him plenty of time to put his plan into operation.

Andy stretched and slowly opened her eyes, for a moment she felt disoriented, where was she? She looked around the room and then remembered; she was in Andy Smith's apartment, she smiled, that meant Sam was next door. She couldn't help but wonder if he had slept well. She glanced at the clock, if it had been a work day she would have been late. She must have been really tired because it was the first time she'd slept through the night in a while. Deciding that she couldn't spend the day in bed, especially when she could be called in to begin her undercover work at Jankovich's; she stretched again before throwing back the covers and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She stood up and walked over to the closet, opened it and picked up a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and laid them out on the bed.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror; she was wearing a pair of pyjama bottoms and a vest top; she thought she could risk walking through to the kitchen to grab a drink of water before seeing if the bathroom was free for a shower. She walked over to the door, opened it and walked into the corridor, as she passed Sam's bedroom his door was open, she peered into it, his bed was neatly made and the room empty. As she got closer to the kitchen, she could smell something delicious and as soon as her nose registered the smell, her stomach growled. When she got to the kitchen, she stopped, and smiled, instead of walking into the kitchen she stopped and leaned against the doorframe, watching Sam as he moved around the kitchen in his trademark jeans and tee shirt.

"Like what you see?" Sam asked without turning around.

She involuntarily jumped at his voice, feeling the heat of her blush run up her neck and into her cheeks, how did he know that she was watching him? She asked herself.

Sam chuckled, knowing that she was lost for words, "Cat got your tongue now?"

Her mind was still grappling for words, she was completely flustered, he always had a way of catching her off guard, "Nope," she finally stated.

He glanced over his shoulder and then turned to look at her, "One word answers. Are you sure you're okay?" He was only going to glance at her, but when he saw her standing in the doorway, her face flushed, her hair hanging loosely around her shoulders and wearing what she was wearing, he couldn't help but turn fully to study her. She was beautiful and he had a hard time concentrating on anything but her.

She couldn't help but blush further at the sudden intensity of his stare, she noticed his eyes had quickly moved from her face down her body and then back up to her face, she smiled, "I guess it's my turn to ask if you like what you see?" The way he was looking at her, made her wonder if there was a slim chance that he could possibly feel something more than friendship.

He grinned, "What would you say if I did?" he teased, watching her carefully.

She opened her mouth, willing for an answer to come out, but all she could manage was opening and closing her mouth a few times any sound refusing to leave her throat.

It wasn't quite the reaction he was hoping for, but he certainly had made her think, "Are you hungry?" he asked changing the topic.

She nodded, her voice still refusing to cooperate with her.

"Good, have a seat and I'll bring it over," he nodded towards the table.

She followed his gaze and noticed that he'd set the table, she nodded again and walked over to the table and sat down. A few moments later Sam placed a plate of scrambled eggs on toast in front of her, "Thank you," she managed to utter, her voice finally returning.

"You're welcome, now eat up," he ordered as he sat down with his own plate of eggs.

"That was delicious, Sam, thank you," she said as she placed her fork on her now empty plate. During their breakfast she had managed to find her voice again and she felt a little more relaxed than she had half an hour earlier.

He smiled at the compliment, "It was just scrambled eggs."

"Well they're certainly better than the scrambled eggs I've tried to make in the past," She stood, picked up her plate and reached over for Sam's, "You cooked, it's only fair that I wash up," she explained.

He couldn't help but watch as she sauntered over to the sink with their plates, he sighed; it was going to be a very long assignment, especially now that he knew exactly what she wore to bed. He was amazed he'd managed to finish cooking their breakfast after he'd turned around and saw her, but he was pleased that she had appeared flustered by his comments, maybe this assignment would give him time to persuade her that maybe he was the right choice.

"Earth to Swarek," Andy called from the counter, she'd finished washing the dishes and had spoken to him, but he hadn't answered. So she had turned around and found him looking at her, but lost in thought. She chuckled as he snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her, a small sheepish grin on his face. "Dare I ask what has you so wrapped up in your thoughts?"

"Just thinking that I could get used to this," he smiled.

Andy blushed again, "I could get used to having my breakfast made for me every day."

Sam grinned, "Maybe if you play your cards right it might happen."

"I might just hold you to it," she winked, "But now I'm going to grab a shower," she turned and headed out of the kitchen.

Sam watched her leave and groaned as he couldn't help his mind wander to the thought of Andy taking a shower.

"Okay, what do we do now?" Andy asked as she paced around the living room.

Sam rolled his eyes; she'd been pacing for the last few minutes, before that she'd fidgeted on the sofa, flicking haplessly from channel to channel on the television. "You were the child that couldn't sit still in class, weren't you?"

She stopped in her tracks and glared at him, "I'm just not very good at waiting."

He grinned, "I noticed that. If you keep pacing like that you're going to wear a hole in the carpet."

She poked her tongue out.

He chuckled, "Now that's not nice, Andy."

She smiled, "No it's not, but you're accusing me of being like a child, so I thought I would act like one."

He shook his head, "Well as the adult in this situation," he used his best stern voice, "I suggest you relax before you burn out before you've even begun. Now sit down."

She pouted and sat next to him on the sofa, accidentally brushing against him as she made herself comfortable. She almost leapt at the tingling sensation that coursed through her body as she touched him. Being close to Luke had never caused her body to react in that way, it had always been nice; comfortable even, but whenever she touched Sam, she felt alive and that feeling scared her almost as much as it excited her.

He nudged her gently in her side with his elbow, "What's going on in that head of yours?"

She sighed, "A lot."

"I gathered that, I could almost hear the cogs turning," he teased gently.

She shifted slightly on the sofa so that she could look at him, "It's just the waiting…"

"They'll call; then you won't have time to think, you'll just have to immerse yourself into the role of Andy Smith," his grin widened, "Then just think you'll have to come home to your incredibly handsome boyfriend."

"And who's that then? Have I met him yet?" she teased back, enjoying the scowl that briefly crossed Sam's face.

He laughed, "Glad to see you've still got a sense of humour in there," he pointed to her head, before letting his fingers brush a strand of hair from her forehead.

The shrill ring of the telephone interrupted their conversation; Andy jumped up from the sofa and almost ran to pluck the receiver from its cradle, "Hello?" she asked after a few seconds.

Sam watched her as she talked on the phone, she nodded as she listened attentively and she fidgeted on the balls of her feet nervously.

"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow morning at nine," Andy said before finishing the call.

"I take it that was P.G. Healthcare, are you set?" he asked as she turned to look at him.

She nodded, "Andy Smith starts in Doctor Jankovich's practice tomorrow morning at nine."

"Does that mean we've got the rest of the day free?"

She nodded, "Don't we have to prepare?"

Sam stood and walked over to her, "You don't need to prepare, you have Andy Smith's history down pat and you are confident enough to carry it off. You can do this." He gently rested his hands on her shoulders, "Now we have the rest of the day, why don't we start with exploring our surroundings. Maybe lunch somewhere?"

"But aren't we supposed to keep a low profile?" she asked nervously, spending the rest of the day alone with Sam was exciting but also terrifying, what if she made a mistake and ruined what they'd worked so hard to build between them?

Sam shook his head, "We've just moved into the area, we're going to stand out if we don't go and explore. Anyway, if we don't visit a grocery store whilst we're undercover, at some point we're going to starve. Now go and get ready for an adventure, Andy."

She looked at him and nodded, before turning around and heading to her bedroom to change her top.

"Right then, Andy, let's explore," Sam said as he opened the front door of their apartment. He closed and locked the door behind them, taking her hand in his; he led them out onto the street. The street was quiet and they walked in companionable silence.

After a few minutes they came to a row of stores, they paused to look in the first window. The first one was an antique store and it had a cacophony of objects displayed from picture frames to vases. Andy smiled at an old teddy bear that sat in a child sized chair, its fur was patchy and its big brown eyes looked sorrowfully at her. It had obviously been loved by many children and now it was all alone sitting by itself in a window surrounded by other old and now unloved objects.

Sam had noticed her eyes lingering on the bear, "Penny for them?" he asked, gently squeezing her hand.

"He looks so alone in that big window, he was loved once and now he's been thrown on the scrap heap, hoping that someone else will come along and love him again," she glanced at him a small sad smile on her lips.

Sam smiled, "Well one day some child is probably going to come along and beg to give him a home."

"Probably," she smiled, "Everyone's got to have hope."

He nodded, "Come on, we're supposed to be having fun," he tugged her hand and pulled her away from the window and the bear.

They sat in a small café, two blocks from their apartment, Andy smiled, she liked thinking of the apartment as theirs, even without any of their personal belongings; she had felt more at home than she ever had when she'd lived with Luke. That realisation hit her hard, she suddenly realised that home was not a physical location; it could be anywhere as long as the person you were sharing that place with made you feel at ease. She looked at Sam, suddenly understanding, she could be anywhere in the world with Sam and yet she would always feel safe, secure and at home. Sam was home for her, her stomach churned with the realisation, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, it was as if a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

The waitress bringing their lunch interrupted her thoughts, "Thank you," she said as the waitress placed her sandwich in front of her.

After their lunch was finished they headed to the Grocery store; as they walked Andy reached out and took Sam's hand, it was the first time she'd initiated contact and Sam couldn't help but smile as he looked over at her and she glanced at him nervously a small smile on her lips.

He reluctantly released her hand as they entered the Grocery store, she picked up a basket and began to walk down the first aisle, when she paused at the vegetable display he stood beside her before speaking, "If you're okay for a little while, there's something I need to do."

She turned to look at him, "You're leaving me to get the groceries?"

"You know what you like to eat, don't you?" he teased.

She nodded.

"And you're pretty sure what I like to eat."

She nodded again.

"Try not to put too many pre-packaged foods in either," he grinned as she pouted. "We're going to improve your cooking skills."

"There's nothing wrong with my cooking skills," she replied tersely.

"I didn't say there was, but you're the one who's forever playing down your culinary skills. Not that I've ever had the pleasure of tasting anything you've cooked, so I could hardly judge."

"Is that a challenge, Sam?" she asked, her back straightening slightly.

He grinned, "Would you rise to it, if it was?"

"I'm cooking dinner," she stated resolutely, "If you're brave enough."

"Oh, I'm brave enough," he replied, his grin widening to expose his dimples.

"Good. You go and run your errand and I'll find the ingredients that I need to cook the best dinner you've ever tasted," she replied, waving one hand as a signal for him to go away and leave her to her shopping.

Sam left the store a large paper bag in his hand; he hoped Andy would like it.

He met her outside the Grocery store, instantly taking one of the bags from her and balancing it in his arm. He noticed her look down at the bag that he held in his other hand.

"What did you get?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"None of your business, Smithy," he winked as he used her new nickname.

She couldn't help but smile as he used that name, he had picked it just for her and that made her happy. He had taken something impersonal as their undercover names and turned it into something special by choosing a nickname for her, something that they just shared. "Guess I'll just have to be patient then."

"What makes you think you're ever going to find out what's in the bag?"

"Well we do share an apartment and there aren't many hiding places in there, not for something that needs such a big bag," she smiled sweetly.

"I bet you're great fun at Christmas, did you ever get a surprise present?"

She shook her head, "I was very good at finding my parents' hiding places. I don't like surprises," she stated seriously.

"Not even good surprises?"

"I've not ever had many of those, most of the surprises in my life have been less than happy," she thought of the night when she realised that her mother wasn't coming back. Her mind wandered to the first time she'd found her Dad unconscious on the sofa, a self induced state caused by drinking half a bottle of Scotch.

Sam noticed the pain on her face, "I'm sorry."

She glanced at him a small smile playing on her lips, "You don't have anything to apologise for; you weren't responsible for anything that happened in my past. And that's what it is now, my past, there's nothing I can change about what happened, but I can make sure that my future's better."

He smiled, "That's my girl, I'm sure your future's going to be fantastic and probably chaotic and possibly a little traumatic, but if your life was simple you'd be bored."

She laughed, "And if my life wasn't so interesting, especially at work, you'd be bored. Just think of how many adventures we've had."

Sam rolled his eyes, "There are some of them I try to forget, but most of the adventures we've had have been pretty interesting. You certainly turned my life upside down."

She grinned, "From what I hear you needed something to shake your life up a bit."

"Well you certainly did that," he nudged her shoulder with his, "Now what masterpiece do you have planned for tonight's dinner?"

"That would be telling and would spoil the surprise."

"Guess we've both got surprises up our sleeves," he replied.

"Guess we have."

Sam returned from his bedroom to find Andy working in the kitchen, he sat down on the sofa and turned on the television. Occasionally he glanced into the kitchen and couldn't help but smile at the look of concentration that crossed Andy's face as she cooked. "How's it going?"

She glanced over her shoulder from the stove and smiled, "Fine, it won't be long. Could you set the table?"

He nodded, "Sure."

He sat at the table and waited patiently, the smell from Andy's hard work caused his stomach to grumble with anticipation. He grinned as she brought a steaming bowl and placed it in the centre of the table, it was filled with a pasta dish that smelt and looked delicious.

She smiled, "My special pasta," she stated proudly.

He took a spoon and scooped some of the pasta out onto his plate and then waited for her to do the same before tasting it. He smiled, "Are you sure that you think you can't cook?" he asked seriously.

"Well…" she replied.

"Because this is pretty good, Andy," he replied seriously.

"Thanks," she replied, relieved that he was actually eating her food with enthusiasm. She hadn't realised how much his opinion counted until she'd placed the bowl of pasta in front of him.

It was Sam's turn to do the dishes and as he washed she leaned against the counter and watched him work, "Are you okay about tomorrow?" he asked.

She nodded as she spoke, "I think I'll feel better when I'm in there and getting on with it. It's the anticipation that's making me nervous. It's like that first day of school feeling after the long summer vacation, dreading the moment coming, but as soon as you walk through the door it's as if you have never been away from it. Ask me tomorrow evening and I'm sure I'll tell you everything went fine."

He smiled, "I like the analogy."

"Now what are we going to do this evening to pass our time?"

Sam wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, "I could think of a thing or two!" he teased.

She rolled her eyes, "I was thinking perhaps a movie, or maybe you could teach me how to play poker?"

Sam's eyebrows rose, "You want to learn how to play poker?"

"Well I want to be prepared if ever I should be invited to play at poker night."

Sam grinned, "What makes you think that you would get an invite?"

"Well I've heard so much about the infamous poker nights from one of its players," she glanced at him, "I thought that one day I might get an invite, perhaps to make up numbers. Who's taking your place whilst we're working?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sure Jerry and Oliver have found an appropriate replacement."

"Well if you're going to miss out on playing your regular game, you might as well teach me to play."

Sam shook his head, "But, Andy I don't think you've got the face for it. You can't even lie without everyone knowing, how do you think you're going to lie when playing poker?"

"Because I'm going to be taught by an expert," she smiled her best smile, hoping that it might sway him.

He shook his head, "I didn't bring any cards."

"That's okay; I found some in the Grocery Store. I also bought some matchsticks, because there's no way I'm playing for real money."

"Money's not the only thing we could play for," Sam replied, "But if we were to choose that option, you'd need to be wearing your entire wardrobe, if you didn't want to reveal too much."

Andy laughed and shook her head, "We're definitely not using clothes for bets, not until I have really mastered the game and have beaten you several times."

Sam grinned, "Does that mean that sometime in our future we could possibly play a game of poker with clothes as bets?"

Andy rolled her eyes, "Maybe when we're in our eighties," she threw back his reference from the night before.

He chuckled, "That I'd like to see."

"Shall I get the cards?"

He nodded, "Why not, you might surprise me."

"Don't I always?"

"In more ways than one, Andy."

Hopefully another installment will be ready soon ~ have a fab weekend.

Sairs