As always thank you all for sticking with this & all you're awesome reviews!

Thanks to kelly2727 & the regulars!

Let's see how Andy takes the news:

Chapter 20- Thank You.

Andy staggered backwards until she felt the couch against the back of her legs, and sat down.

They had moved around the lounge, so now she was standing in front of the couch rather than leaning against the back of it.

And Sam's words just stole her ability to even breath right now, not to mention the wobble her knees suddenly felt.

"Andy...".

She stared vacantly ahead of her, like Sam wasn't even there.

"I can't sleep if you're not there, I can't get you out of my head, you're always on my mind. I still smell you in the mornings when I wake up".

Andy had yet to say or do anything, she looked almost like his words had made her shut down.

It was killing Sam to know that he did that, put that look on her face. Like her heart was breaking.

"You don't even know me Sam, how can you...".

"I know enough".

"Like what?".

"You're stubborn, and strong willed, but it makes you passionate. You're so giving, and never ask for anything. You hate red, even though it looks good on you, your favorite color is blue. You love rainy days, and you like walking when it snows. You love fruit, and pasta and prefer water to soda".

Wow, he had been studying her.

"You love unconditionally".

The last part made her look up, her face still creased as she tried to keep the tears at bay.

"All I'm asking is for you too let your walls down Andy".

"Why, so we can try something based on a lie?".

"I never lied. Did you?".

Andy shook her head, everything he had seen, everything he described was the real her.

"And if it doesn't work?".

"Then we keep trying until it does".

How could he know what to say and when to say it?

"I just want a shot, a chance to let you get to know the real me".

Andy couldn't wrap her mind around everything. He had said so much that she was starting to believe him.

"I'm scared Sam..."

"Me too".

"Just one step at a time". Sam added, she was so hesitant and he couldn't blame her. He was a large part of the reason that she was scared.

"I don't think you do baby steps". She found a smile, it just seemed fitting.

"I would, for you".

"I need to think about it, get my head screwed on straight".

Sam nodded, a small wave of hope flickering, she hadn't said no.

"Get some sleep Andy". Sam leaned down and kissed the top of her head, before heading for the door.

"Sam?".

She called his name just as his hand reached for the door handle.

He turned to find her looking at him over the back of the couch.

"Thanks, you know for keeping your promise, and keeping me safe".

Sam smiled, one of those dimpled grins that he flashed way too seldom.

He left after that, feeling a little lighter than he had when he came over.

Andy found him outside her building the next morning.

She came out and saw the back of him as he walked away.

She jogged a little to catch up with him, her squealed "Stalking me?" surprising him.

He had intended on staying away, but couldn't.

So he drove to work, parked his truck and walked over to Andy's. He was planning on walking her to work, but changed his mind when he got to her doorstep.

Only to get caught before he made his escape.

"Something like that".

Andy found her blush, he made it appear naturally, and so easily.

Sam walked her to the barn, idle conversation made all the way until they arrived.

He held the door open for Andy, his hand finding the small of her back as he guided her through it.

Things felt different, like they were in another time, or existed in another universe.

But he felt like it was more normal- more them the way they should be.

Sam walked Andy through the barn all the way to the door of the women's locker room.

When they reached the boundary, Andy spun to face Sam, her teeth tucked over her bottom lip as she gnawed aimlessly on it.

"Can we um... Maybe do dinner?". Sam said leaning against the wall with his shoulder, once again suspended in her presence by the need to hover.

Andy looked up then down, then all around the hallway as Sam waited patiently for an answer.

She suddenly looked up, and shook her head a little.

"Sorry, I'm sitting for Traci, she has date night with Jerry".

Sam nodded, he really didn't expect it to be easy.

Nothing ever was.

Andy looked towards the door before moving in it's direction, "Rain check?".

That made Sam smile. Maybe it wouldn't be that hard.

But as days rolled into each other, it became increasingly difficult to get to see Andy or even schedule a date to collect on her 'Rain Check'.

His shifts were grueling and she was always out on patrol when she was on shift, or she would be sleeping when he was on shift and he was hitting the gym when she was sleeping.

Life was totally getting in the way.

Sarah had left a few days ago, returning home to her house in ST Catherines, with promises of plenty of calls.

Sam was really going to miss her, it was the first time that they had worked together; and it would be the last. He could never do that again; watch her go through the things she had too, to get the job done.

She was dedicated and passionate about the badge, but at the end of the day it just wasn't worth it.

Sam had seen Andy at the Penny twice- like tonight- since asking her out to dinner, but he never approached. She deserved time with her friends now that she was home.

"What is with that?". Traci muttered as she slid onto the empty chair next to Andy.

"With what?" Andy wasn't really paying attention to much of anything.

"That intensity". Traci said looking from Andy to Sam and back again.

"Nothing". Andy said looking down at her beer.

"Seriously? You know I'm not six right?". Traci couldn't hide the amusement in her voice. Andy was really only kidding herself.

"Funny". Was Andy's whimsical reply.

"Oh come on? What's stopping you? It is still there right?".

"Trace, it's complicated".

"How? I can't see how it's so complicated when it's so blatantly oozing out of you both"

Yup, that was Traci. The go getter.

"It'll go away, trust me. It always goes away".

"That's what's holding you back?" Traci was shaking her head.

"I don't want to base something off of a whole bunch of lies, and a whole lot of adrenaline. It's over- there is nothing there to go on".

"So that's why he's always watching you like he wants to devour you?" Traci let out a light giggle at that synopsis.

"Besides he lied".

"Andy, it was deep cover, he couldn't not lie".

"I spent weeks scared Trace, weeks wondering if I was going to come home alive or worse. All he had to do was... I dunno, give me a clue?". She was fumbling for excuses and she knew it.

"And now? You're safe and unharmed because he looked after you. He kept you safe Andy, doesn't that count for something?".

She knew Sam was watching them, she could always feel it.

She could still feel it, now that they were back to their normal lives. Some things had changed, others had stayed the same- like knowing when he walked into the room she was in or when he was watching her.

"He asked me out to dinner".

Crap, that wasn't supposed to come out.

"Andy!".

"You had date night anyway".

"I could have had date night at home".

Traci sounded like she was actually a little mad that Andy had chosen sitting Leo for her over a date with Sam.

"Okay, so I'm scared". Andy finally managed to whisper before looking up in time to see Sam look away.

"We all are, that's what makes it fun. Andy he's Jerry's best friend and I know that doesn't count for much but, Jerry's told me what he's like and some things he's done and the way he is and he is a good guy".

Traci had asked Jerry a barrage of questions about Sam when she found out that Andy was edging towards serious feelings for the guy.

Jerry had sat her down knowing that it wouldn't end until she had her answers, so he told her what she wanted to know.

The story sticking in her mind the most was the one where Sam's TO and close friend had turned out to be pheodiphile and took a little girl.

Jerry had told her how Sam had ended up putting the cop down, and that Sam chose to save a life over saving a friendship.

"Not all guys are keepers Andy, but I think Sam might be one".

Andy looked up to where Sam was sitting at the bar with Oliver Shaw, a jumble of confusion spilling over her yet again.

The thing was, now that they were home- now that they were back in real life, how could she trust that there could be anything between them that would last?

"So...?". Oliver said as soon as he sat down next to Sam.

"Yup". That wasn't really an answer, but Oliver hadn't really asked a question.

"Haven't seen you wearing that look for a while Brother". Oliver said as he lifted his beer bottle up to his lips to hide the smirk he felt begging to break free.

But Sam didn't answer, they'd been down this road before. A couple of times in fact.

Ever since Oliver had seen him back at the barn and commented on Sam holding onto 'his rookie', Oliver hadn't let it go.

It started with 'Uh-Oh' and ended with 'Trouble'.

In between had been words like 'She's a rookie' and 'off limits' as well as some 'out of your league' that Oliver had thrown in there.

Sam agreed, Andy was out of his league, but Oliver didn't know her like he did.

They had; had this conversation and Sam wasn't in the mood for it again. He had listened to his friends concerns, but lately; it was as if Oliver had changed his opinion of 'Stay away' to 'just go for it'.

Sam figured that Oliver had changed his mind because he got to know Andy better recently by patrolling with her.

Oliver had mostly been bugged by the age gap between Sam and Andy, but Sam hadn't even considered that as a factor.

He didn't think Andy did either.

"You should just go talk to her Sammy".

"Think I haven't tried that?".

"Nope, if you had tried- we wouldn't be having this conversation".

Oliver was right, he hadn't really been trying. But he hadn't given up yet either.

"She's still adjusting to being back..."

"And you don't want to scare her right?".

Sam didn't answer, he was watching Andy- again.

"She'll get there".

"You know when someone says something, and even though you don't know them, you know they're telling the truth?". Andy waited for Traci to nod before she continued.

"That happened a couple of times too, and the things that Sam said he meant".

"Like what?".

"Things like 'guys like him and girls like me don't go together' for one".

"So that's what this is really about? Andy you can't seriously think that he meant that? I know you, and... Well, you must have done or said something?"

Oh boy, Traci knew her too well.

"He said it, after I kissed him. I know stupid mistake right?"

"Oh riiiiggghhhttt! I knew you did something. But seriously, go ask him". Traci was nodding towards Sam, Andy noticing that Oliver was leaving again.

"What? No!".

"I swear if you don't, I will".

Traci was really just trying to give her a push in the right direction.

"Dare me too?".

But right now, Traci wasn't kidding.

"No. Okay, you're right. Then maybe I'll feel better or this will be over...or whatever".

As soon as Oliver was gone, Sam noticed her presence as she slid onto the now empty chair beside him.

"Hi".

"Hey" he couldn't help the dimples flaring, they just wanted to flash at her.

"Can I ask you something?". She sounded hesitant asking that, as Sam turned to face her and took the sight of her in.

She looked really tired.

Like she hadn't been sleeping well lately.

"Why did you say that guys like you and girls like me don't go together when you knew you weren't really a bad guy?".

Suddenly everything made sense, her reluctance to just go to dinner, and her inconceivable ability to avoid him.

His words had lingered in the back of her mind and kept her from giving him a chance.

How stupid was that?

Words that now came back to haunt him- his own words.

***thanks for reading, who's still with me?

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Jelly Bean Jenna©