Sorry this took awhile too. Hope it lives up to expectations. It kind of got away from me so there will be at least one more chapter, maybe two. Thanks for reading, reviewing, and waiting patiently. And of course I don't own any of the characters.

Andy's idea of how to deal with the situation at work was to ignore the incident and keep up a professional appearance for the meantime. She wasn't one for talking and wasn't about to willing allow the whole division into her personal life. Plus she didn't want to be forced into publicly confirming what Luke suspected.

Sam (and the rest of the TOs for that matter) disagreed. From experience they knew that ignoring something like this wouldn't make the problem go away but instead silently confirm what everyone was already thinking. Sam didn't want to make any big public announcements that would embarrass Andy though.

So they came up with a compromise. Sam and Andy would go into work early and inform Sgt. Best that they were dating. They would mention that Luke was hurt and upset and had had a very public outburst. They would say that they were handling the situation. Because Frank knew Sam so well he would understand to leave the situation alone and not react to anything he heard about the bar incident. The official story everyone would be sticking to was that Andy had broken up with Luke because things just weren't working out. Luke had been jealous of her close friendship with Sam, and after the incident at The Black Penny, Sam had gone to comfort Andy. This had led to them realizing the feelings they had for each other and starting to date. The hopes were that all the friends spewing the story and Sam's declaration that he would answer everyone's questions would keep most people away from Andy.

Sam had dropped Andy off at her apartment after the BBQ and made plans to pick her up in the morning and drive her into work. She had gotten her duty bag packed before she went to bed so that she would be ready when Sam showed up early for him (which was super early for her). She wanted to be sure not to forget anything. She was nervous about what the day would bring. It took forever for her to fall asleep and she must not have slept well, because when the piercing shrill of her alarm sounded she felt exhausted and instinctively hit snooze. Thirty minutes later she was rushing to get ready in time, but her mind was on other things (namely the stressful day ahead) so she wasn't going nearly fast enough. That's when she heard a knock on her door. Damn it, she thought.

She ran down the hall barefoot buttoning her shirt and checking the zipper on her jeans. Her hair was still wet from the shower and clinging to everything it touched. She wore no makeup and was slightly embarrassed about the sight Sam was about to see. When she breathlessly opened the door, he stood there smiling holding coffee and doughnuts from her favorite shop. "See I told the lady at Mike's she didn't take nearly long enough," he joked with a smirk.

She smacked his shoulder and told him to make himself comfortable while she finished up. She promised not to take too long.

Sam wasn't worried though. He had shown up extra early on purpose. He knew she would need the extra push out the door, especially today, and with him here she would actually get ready quickly.

Fifteen minutes later she came downstairs with minimal makeup and shoes on and her hair done up. He smiled, kissed her good morning and handed her her breakfast. As they walked out the front door, he slung her duty bag over his shoulder. She couldn't help but think that this was a perfect routine. Her mind leapt ahead to him waking her up in their bed with breakfast to make sure they were on time to work and maybe even having the kids ready for school. But almost as soon as the truck started to move those thoughts were banished from her mind by an overwhelming sense of dread.

"Sam," Andy asked her voice full of nerves, "what if this doesn't work?"

"It's going to work, sweetheart," he said confidently as he took her hand. "But if it doesn't then we'll just need to give it sometime and then everyone will understand." He locked eyes with her briefly, but it was enough to calm her stomach so she could eat the breakfast. They pulled into the station parking lot a full hour early. Dawn hadn't even broken yet. Andy couldn't remember ever being here this early.

"Are you sure Sgt. Best is going to be here this early?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I texted Frank last night," Sam responded.

Somehow that response didn't make her feel more relaxed. It just served to up her anxiety level a little. Frank knows what is coming. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. It was like any competitive advantage she thought they might have was out of the question.

Sam came around the truck and opened her door. He took her hand and pulled her out of the truck and into his chest. "Sweetheart, I know you're worried, but you trust me right? Because once upon a time you would walk unafraid into dangerous situations just because I was there." She laughed remembering how naïve she felt telling him that that night. He smiled at the memory. "Yeah, I trust you, Sam." "Good because I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. And I won't let anything happen to you. I've got your back, McNally. We're still partners you know." He smirked. She grinned. They grabbed their bags slung them over opposite shoulders and walked hand in hand into the station.

Andy was shocked by the emptiness of the place. It didn't feel right, but she hadn't ever been inside the station at this time. Just as Sam had promised the lights were on in Sgt. Best's office and he was clearly visible sitting at the desk pouring over paperwork with a cup of coffee. Sam led her up the stairs running his thumb softly up and down the hand he held to keep her calm. It was a gesture she appreciated but no longer needed. After all he is here, she thought to herself.

Sam knocked on the door and Frank called for them to come in. Both Andy and Sam dropped their duty bags at the door before proceeding to sit in front of Frank's desk. Sam continued to hold Andy's hand, which made her blush. "Frank, the situation between McNally and I has evolved. We wanted you to know, so you could make the necessary arrangements."

He nodded. "You won't be able to ride with one another anymore, but I will try and keep you both on the same shift and at 15th Division. However, at the first sign of any problems that this causes one of you will be moving. Understood?" They both nodded and just like that it was done.

"Let's go get changed and then we'll get some more coffee. Sound good?" Sam asked. She nodded. Right now anything Sam said sounded good. He was trying to keep her out of the women's locker room with everyone where he wouldn't be able to protect her from questions. Before they stepped into their respective locker rooms she pulled Sam into her for a kiss. He smiled back at her as he slipped into the men's locker room.

Twenty minutes later they were sitting on a desk by the coffee pot all grins and twinkling eyes lost in their own conversation as everyone else started to arrive. Soon they were surrounded by a group of protective friends. So no one attempted to ask Sam about the events of two nights past.

As they walked into the conference room for parade Andy thought Sam would break away in favor of his usual spot in the back with his friends. However, he happily followed her to the front row of the room where they sat with her friends. Even more unexpected was the shift of all the other former TOs to the second row.

As Sgt. Best started parade, Andy McNally felt all the eyes in the room drilling into her back, especially the calculated stare of one blonde detective. But she banished any doubts and worries she might have had about the day ahead, because sitting next to her was her partner and he always had her back.