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Chapter 20- Twenty-Five to Life
It had been two weeks since Traci came to visit and Sam went to see Tommy. Life was stable, and good.
They had come a long way over the last few weeks.
Sam had the same shift as Andy today, so they arrived at work together before Sam whispered in her ear that he had left a surprise in her locker for her as they parted ways in the hallway outside the woman's locker room.
When Andy stopped in front of her locker, she couldn't get the door open fast enough in search of whatever Sam had left for her.
She hated surprises, but if it was something Sam left her, well then she couldn't wait to see what he had in store for her, and she barely managed to contain herself as she fumbled with the task of opening the door.
The sight that met her eyes was breathtaking, and made her feel like there was a whole world of new trouble on the way.
Two days later Andy made her way into parade just in time to see Noelle take to the podium and start with "Best is late, so I'm starting" as she called order to the room.
While Noelle was briefing on assignments for the day, Frank walked in, closed the door, and walked up to her before whispering in her ear as she bent down to listen before she snatched a piece of paper from his hand as she lifted it up and let her eyes scan it.
Best stepped around her before clearing his throat and staring at Sam.
"Yesterday Officer Williams bought a small discrepancy to my attention, that seems to be no discrepancy at all. Mcnally, mind joining me up here?". Frank said arching an eyebrow before focusing his gaze on her.
Andy stood up and turned to face Sam for a split second before seeing him nod, as she turned and made her way to stand in the front of the room, all eyes focused solely now on her.
"Can anyone tell me what's wrong with Mcnally's uniform?". Frank said waiving a hand towards Andy who found her boots super interesting.
Everyone in the room shook their head, as a soft chatter filled the room.
"No-one? Well let me give you all a hint then- Mcnally!". Frank all but yelled out.
"Oh my god, she's wearing Swarek's name badge". Gail suddenly yelled above the din of voices, her voice missing sarcasm but wrapped in humor.
"Close enough Peck, but it seems that Mcnally is, according to the magistrates office, now wearing her own name tag, can anyone give me a reason why that is?".
A collection of answers rang out as the voices raised in the room.
Frank raised a hand to draw silence to the room before he spoke again.
"It appears that Mcnally has been wearing the new name tag for a while now, and it escapes me how none of you seem to know this, isn't that right Officer Shaw?".
Oliver held out his hands in surrender, it wasn't his news to share or his story to tell, so he never let it pass his lips.
"It seems that in a room full of cops, only three of them knew about this and one noticed it in passing, so if you're still not with me I'll spell it out for you, it seems that Officer Mcnally is now Officer Swarek because she married Detective Swarek two weeks ago, with Officer Shaw, Sarah Swarek, Tommy Mcnally and Detective Nash in attendance according to the witness signatures, and felt that it was not important enough to share with the rest of the division".
Frank had a smile on his face as he waived the paper around, breaking the news to their colleagues and friends amidst a few loud cheers and a range of clapping and whistles.
"So for that, today's pairing are Mcnally and Shaw front desk indefinitely". He just couldn't resist the urge to let them know he was not happy about finding this out from a name tag.
"Oh and one more thing, congratulations, we have a small wedding gift for you Mcn...Swarek, Collins get the door".
Nick stood up off the edge of the desk he perched on in the back of the room, and opened the door to a sight that made his day.
"Traci?". Andy suddenly whispered as she saw Traci standing in the doorway, Leo in front of her as she had her hands resting on his shoulders.
Traci lifted a hand and managed a small wave as she stepped into the room, Leo running straight into Andy open arms as she bent down to envelope him in a hug.
"Guess what Aunty Andy?". Leo blurted as he knocked a bent down Andy over onto her backside as he tackled her full force.
"What buddy?". Andy asked between giggles.
"Mom's boss said she's gotta move back, so we're home coz I missed you like a million crazies". Leo giggled as Andy tickled him.
Looking up Andy saw Traci walk over to stop in front of her as she was warmly welcomed back by everyone else.
"You're back?". Andy whispered in disbelief as she managed to stand up off the floor as Traci nodded.
"Yeah, major punishment for keeping a secret, got transferred back by request, so I'm going to be around a while". She said as Andy lunged forward and enveloped her in a tight hug.
"But Trace, I thought it was better, what you wanted?". Andy whispered into Traci's ear.
"So did I, but seems like Sam saw right through my smoke and mirrors". She whispered back.
"Sam?".
Traci nodded into Andy's shoulder.
"He requested my transfer back with the Commissioner and Superintendent Peck, and had a little help from Frank, so I get to keep all my benefits and be stationed here, but still working with Guns and Gangs".
The news seemed to flow through Andy as she realized this was one of the reasons she loved Sam a little more everyday, he was just so selfless and giving.
"But you want to be here right?". It suddenly occurred to Andy that Traci was here because they expected it from her, and not because she wants to be here.
"Andy, I don't ever want to be anywhere else ever again".
Frank clearing his throat behind them, broke up their brief reunion, as they parted ways and Andy walked towards her new favorite place in the station- front desk.
Noelle stopped next to Frank with an evil look on her face as she whispered, "Watch this" to him before turning back down the hallway and yelling out "Hey Swarek" to see both Sam and Andy spin around and answer her from the different directions they were headed in.
"Carry on". She added smiling as she swayed gently left to right like a naughty child.
"You do know how wrong that was right?". Frank said trying to keep his tone strong.
Noelle nodded and added a quirky, "Yeah but it was fun" before walking away.
She had been dying to do that since she noticed Mcnally's name tag read Swarek, but had to first make sure it wasn't just a mix up.
Sam watched as Andy's face lit up at seeing Traci and Leo.
When Traci left two weeks ago, it was like watching Andy go through the same heartbreak she had at the airport the first time.
And without having to think about it Sam knew it would be like this every single time Traci came to visit and left again.
Deciding then and there as he watched Andy blindly swipe away at her tears, he would try to get Traci transferred back.
He spoke to Frank on Monday morning, ignoring the questions of "Why are you fighting so hard for this", and suppressing the answer of 'because I want to get Nash back as a wedding present for Andy, because we got married on Saturday' instead he merely mumbled a "She doesn't have her head in the game Frank, this is why, and it needs to be fixed!" so Frank obliged and sent through the application.
When it was approved Sam asked Andy what she planned on doing with her condo now that she moved in with him, because he didn't want her to give it up, it was hers, a sign of her independence and freedom, hanging invisibly on the set of keys.
Andy's reply had been to sell it, which Sam refused to hear of, so he instead suggested she hang on to it for a month before deciding, and that she maybe consider renting it out, knowing that it would be the perfect solution for when Nash came back. She would after all need a place to stay.
It was the perfect!
As the day dragged by, Andy found herself repeatedly lost up in thoughts of Sam applying to have Traci transferred back, an action so obviously meant for her, to shower her with love and to bring back the only really missing piece of happiness in her life.
A blissful smile enveloped her lips as she zoned out while Oliver sat and watched her lose herself in contentment.
The last year had been tough on everyone at fifteen, but especially on Traci, Sam and Andy.
Each having their own grief to deal with, with the loss of Jerry, then the break-up between Sam and Andy that just got really ugly really quickly, before she decided to take a giant leap and move on.
Oliver's thoughts reflected over the day she returned and watching her appear as such a damaged, broken soul.
The look on Sam's face that day as he was restricted access to her, before he became too scared to approach her, and rather distanced himself was one that would forever linger in Oliver's memories as he watched Sam's face show all the regret and heartbreak he had been through.
Mcnally had the same look on her face that day, only hers did not improve as the days passed as Sam's had, instead it only got worse until the day she told Sam about shooting his dad.
Oliver was so proud of her when Sam told him the entire story, after he had tried to convince him to keep her at an arm's length, to save her the heartbreak of him leaving.
Never before had he really found the respect he had for her in another rookie, never before had he seen the determination twinkle in a rookies eye as he did with her.
Granted she had nearly given him a few heart attacks, but her courageous streak made her hasty actions forgivable.
When she had gone to Frank and told him the truth about her and Sam while he was UC working Brennan, Oliver was mad at how the events turned out, but he was more afraid for his friend than anything else, although he came across to her as disappointed, or pissed with her, but he wasn't.
He was envious in a way that she found it so easy to be such a good, humble soul when he remembered almost shooting the crazy druggie that smacked his daughter around, just because he was a cop who had a gun, and the piece of garbage deserved a bullet to the brain.
Watching Mcnally lost in thought as she stared off into space with a huge smile on her face, he was proud of her for fighting for Sam.
He had watched as she blossomed as a cop, while he watched Sam fall hopelessly in love with such an innocent soul, and couldn't have been happier for them both, especially after Sam had probably saved his marriage when Zoe had filed for a divorce.
If it weren't for friends like these, his belief in humanity still being human would have faded a long time ago.
Drinks at the Penny that night were flowing freely, glasses reappearing automatically before their drinks were even half empty.
Rounds of congratulations passed from everyone to Sam and Andy, with no sign of any un-forgiven unhappiness at the fact that virtually no one was invited.
Noelle had eventually stepped up and asked to be told the details on how Andy managed to eventually get Sam to the alter in secret, much to Sam's amusement.
Andy let the red sweep over her face as Sam retold the story of how she had not really agreed when he literally ran out the door to seek a blessing from Tommy to return home and get Andy to agree to tie the knot, with her thinking that he was joking when he had said 'tomorrow' to be woken up at the crack of dawn to get hold of Tommy and Traci to meet them at the courthouse when Sarah arrived at eight am after Sam got up to phone her in the middle of the night when Andy had finally surrendered to sleep.
Noelle being the adventurous type, disappeared before coming back with the biggest glass Andy had ever seen, filled to the brim with a blue liquid and some ice, with a few cherry's floating around in it.
"I propose a toast to Andy Mcnally Swarek, the doe-eyed rookie that has not only proven her worth as a dedicated cop, faithful friend and got-your-back kinda partner, but also for being awesome enough to sweep Swarek off his feet and make him drag her to the alter without her putting up a fuss! Now Officer Swarek, you have made your bed, and have to lie in it, and make us lots of little Mini-Me-Mcnally- Swarek-Baby-Cops. So here's to your Twenty-Five to life sentence, may you be blissfully incarcerate in love, and handcuffed to eachother as long as you both shall live".
Noelle put the glass down in front of Andy, just as Sam had a smirk wrap over his lips.
"Not so fast Brother". Oliver said putting the same glass of contents down in front of him and whipping out two ridiculously long straws.
"See this is the part where you have to prove to us that you wear the pants in this marriage, so you're going to down that through the straw and finish before Mcnally aren't you?". Sam didn't miss the wink he threw in Andy's direction as his words grew cold.
"The rule is, first one finished...". Oliver said with more amusement.
Sam arched an eyebrow at the request.
They sure didn't play around when it came to a little revenge for not having a wedding like normal people.
Noelle began to count down as Sam and Andy both lined their drinks up, straws in mouth as Noelle hit one, Sam began emptying his glass, as Andy sat back and passed hers over to Oliver.
"I'm done". She added as a range of laughs filled their tables.
"That's cheating". Sam said impressed with her way of getting out of getting fully loaded on one glass of alcohol.
"Rules Brother, said first one finished, not first one to drink their glass dry, thanks mcnally". Oliver said passing the glass to Dov who would undoubtedly enjoy every last sip.
"She really is your match Brother, even at drinks". Oliver said patting Sam on the back.
She really was.
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