A.N. Sorry this took so long to get out. It's been mayhem in my household. We've been moving and painting and school and now getting the kids ready to leave for the summer. And I've been working on Goodbye, Apathy.

I do want to thank everyone who nominated this story for the Rookie Blue Choice Awards. I am honored! I even went so far to tell my hubby and I have made it a point to actively not talk about my fanfic obsession with him.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

ENJOY!

CHAPTER 21 - Back in the Saddle

So, recovering from a splenectomy - not so easy a feat, Andy learned. A week of bed rest, which was tolerable except navigating the awkward bathroom breaks with her father. Quitting alcohol cold turkey, not so tolerable. Not that the painkillers weren't able to give her a buzz, but she missed going to the Penny and the taste of beer after a long day at work. Hell, she missed work.

She had made it through Charlie's funeral on painkillers and gritted teeth. Afterwards . . . a complete and total blur. She thinks Quinn brought her home and put her to bed, fully clothed thankfully, and she vaguely remembered her dad puttering around the house, but beyond that . . . nothing.

Andy stayed lucid enough to take her pills and choke down soup, but for the most part slept for two days straight after the funeral.

Sunlight streamed through a gap between the curtains and fell across the bed. Andy blinked slowly and squinted as a sharp pain arced through her skull. She groaned while attempting to roll over, but the pain in her head collided with the pain in her middle, causing her whole body to seize up.

Breathing slow and shallow, the pain dissipated from sharp pricks to a dull throb, Andy glanced at the clock on her bedside table to see it was eight in the morning, but that she had also lost several days.

It took longer than she expected, but Andy managed to get out of bed, slip on a pair of house shoes and her robe. Her mouth was dry and all she wanted was a tall glass of ice water. She trailed a hand along the wall as she made her way down the short hallway to the stairs leading down. It wasn't until she made it to the landing that she heard the TV, anticipating her dad sprawled out on the couch; she was surprised to see Quinn instead.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded hoarsely and immediately began coughing, which caused the dull throb to roar back as sharp pain straight through her middle. "Shit," she gasped, wrapping an arm around her stomach.

Quinn was up and off the couch in a heartbeat, crossed the room in two long strides and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He guided her to the couch and helped her sink into the cushions.

"Your dad went to the Metro to pick up some food," he replied, running a hand down her back.

Andy just looked at him. His brow was furrowed with worry and the skin under his eyes was purple as though he hadn't gotten a lot of sleep. He smelled like soap and coffee and Andy couldn't help but melt a bit into his embrace. Just walking down the stairs had been tiring and she could already feel her eyes strain to stay open.

"You shouldn't be out of bed," Quinn stated. "Let's get you back up there," he said, standing up.

Andy clung to his hand and shook her head.

"It's too stifling up there," she said. "I want to stay down here."

Quinn studied her for a moment, saw the stubborn set of her jaw and heaved a sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, squeezed her fingers and said, "fine, but you're staying on the couch."

Andy nodded and let go of his hand. Within moments, Quinn had found a fresh pillow and blanket. He helped ease Andy to lie across the couch and tucked the blanket around her. At her direction, he lit a fire in the fireplace and then went to get a glass of water. She had just started to doze off when he returned.

"I don't want to take any more pain medication," Andy refused the bottle of pills he held out to her.

"You have to take them, stay ahead of the pain," he cajoled her.

"No," Andy replied and tossed the bottle onto the floor. "I've been sleeping for days. I can't recover if I spend the next week or two in a drug induced sleep."

Quinn stood in front of her with his arms crossed. Andy raised an eyebrow at him challenging him to force her. Again, he sighed heavily.

"You're making this more difficult than it has to be, Andy," he finally said, dropping down to sit on the coffee table in front of her.

"I won't take them," she reiterated. "I'll take Tylenol or Advil or something not so strong. I would rather feel the pain and know I'm alive than sleep and feel hung over every time it wears off."

"Ok," Quinn acquiesced.

Andy smiled quick and bright before pulling the blanket up under her chin. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of the sun on her face. The front window of her townhouse allowed maximum exposure to sunlight and someone had opened the curtains. She could hear Quinn breathing quietly next to her and wondered why he was here, in her house and acting as nursemaid.

"Shouldn't you be at work?" She asked suddenly, her eyes opening and landing on him. He had braced his forearms on his thighs, clasping his hands between his knees and stared at her with blue eyes bright with emotion she wasn't ready or willing to handle.

He grinned once, a flash of white teeth, before answering, "Took a few personal days to help out Tommy."

"My dad? Or me?" Andy asked quietly, her fingers playing with the hem of her sleep shirt.

"Mickey," Quinn began with a sigh.

Andy tensed shifting her eyes away from his. She had never encouraged his affections, but she had felt them grow over the course of her stint at the House. She didn't want to imagine what her being hurt had done to him. It was too similar to the times she got into trouble and had to have Sam bail her out. Only difference being she had fallen for Sam and couldn't say the same about Quinn.

"I just wanted to make sure you would be taken care of," Quinn began slowly. "Amy is holed up with her boyfriend, Traci has to work and your dad has his meetings to go to," he explained.

"I don't need to be taken care of."

"Yeah, honey, you do. You shouldn't have been at the funeral. Your doctors had wanted you to stay a few more days. The only reason you've been sleeping so much is because your body has gone through a lot of stress and needs time to recover," he explained, his hand resting lightly on her thigh just above her knee.

"I don't like it."

"Deal with it. I'm here to help because Tommy asked me to be here," he snapped back.

Andy glared at him wishing she could throw him out.

"Do you think you can manage some food?" He asked standing up and heading towards the hallway. "I could make you a sandwich or something."

Andy blinked back tears at an unbidden memory. She took a deep breath, winced at the pain and blew it back out.

"Or something," she replied. "And some Tylenol."

ooo

"You ready for this?"

Andy glanced to her left and found Quinn staring at her. They were parked outside the front of 15 Division. It had been nearly four weeks since the accident. Recovery was slow and painful, but her physical therapist had given her permission to return to light duty – which meant nothing more stressful than manning the front desk, but at least it meant being back at work.

Quinn had picked her up early so she would be on time for her first day back. Best had wanted to speak with her before Parade. Quinn had been an integral part of her recovery. He had been there pushing her through the pain, offering words of encouragement and dried her tears when it became too much. Tommy had moved back to his apartment once Andy had shown she could get up in the morning, shower and feed herself without falling down.

She had fallen into a pattern with Quinn. He would take her to and from her physical therapy appointments. She would spend some time at the House with him and the rest of guys she had become friends with. They commiserated over losing Charlie. They were her brothers. Their wives and girlfriends her sisters. Quinn would take her home and sometimes ate dinner with her. She didn't know how he managed to be there for her and still get to work on time. She never asked. She was afraid to bring the subject up because that meant confronting his feelings for her.

It had been three months since Christmas and finding Sam's present on her doorstep and five months since he had gone under. Life was moving on without him and Andy didn't know how to stop it or if she even should. She missed him more than she ever could have imagined, but her memories of him were fading. It began to feel like one week had not been enough time.

"Yes, I'm ready," she finally replied.

Andy adjusted her sunglasses, facing forward and watched as first Dov and then Chris wandered into the building.

Quinn shifted in his seat, turning to look at her, his right arm draped across the back of her seat. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze until she finally looked back at him.

"You don't have to go back today. Take another week to get used to the idea of work again," he said softly. "No one is going to be upset if you changed your mind."

Andy shook her head resolutely.

"I'm tired of my house. I need to get back to work. Back to normal," she answered with a grin. "Besides, this way you don't have to worry about me. I'll be in a building surrounded by cops."

Quinn grinned and shook his head. "I'm going to worry no matter what." He sighed and looked back out the windshield. His hand had crept from her shoulder to rest against the nape of neck, his fingers working the muscle and slipping into her soft hair. "Just promise you will be careful. No stepping in to booking for a chat with a friend, no heavy lifting, and no arm wrestling . . . " he trailed off with a lopsided grin in her direction.

"I only did that once! You can't hold that against me forever!" She exclaimed, laughing, lightly punching him on the thigh.

He grabbed her hand with his left, his thumb rubbing her knuckles.

"Just be careful, okay?" He asked.

Andy nodded, swallowing at the look in his eyes. "I gotta go," she whispered, pulling out of his grasp and opened the door.

"Call or text if you need a ride tonight," he called after her. Andy nodded and waved at him over her shoulder.

For this first day back at work she had left her workbag at home. She wouldn't need the extra gear. Traci had dry cleaned her uniforms for her and was going to bring them in so she wouldn't have to worry about it. She took a deep breath, reveling in feeling no pain at the action, and pulled the door to 15 Division open. A quick glance over her shoulder showed Quinn pulling out of the parking lot with a casual wave out the window.

"You looked pretty cozy back there," a voice teased.

"Trace!" Andy gushed and threw her arms around her friend.

"Hey! Careful, I don't want you popping a stitch or something," Traci replied, hugging Andy lightly. "I'm just glad to see you."

"So, what have I missed? I haven't seen anyone for weeks!" Andy said with a pout.

"It's not like we didn't try," Traci said with a grin. "Your boyfriend kept most of us away."

Andy stopped abruptly in the hallway. "My what?" She hissed.

Traci turned around, nodded to a few officers as they filed past them towards the locker rooms; she cocked her head to one side and regarded the look on Andy's face.

"Your boyfriend? The uber cute guy who just dropped you off? Dov and Chris tried stopping by the first week you were home and he turned them away, told them to give you another week. I stopped by and was told the same thing, only by your dad. But he was there," Traci explained slowly.

"Quinn is not my boyfriend," Andy said vehemently with a shake of her head. "He's just a really good friend. He's one of the firefighters I worked with at 51," she explained further.

Traci just shook her head and sighed. Andy's naiveté never ceased to amaze her at times.

"I suggest you tell him that then," she finally stated. "Coz it looks like he thinks he is."

"Well, he isn't," Andy stated again, this time with her arms crossed, refusing to look Traci in the eye. "I need to get ready, Best wants to talk to me before Parade."

Andy brushed past Traci keeping her eyes averted. Her heart pounded and a cold sweat had broken out between her shoulders.

"For what it's worth," Traci called out. "It wouldn't be a bad thing if he was."

Andy whirled around, gasping slightly at the prick of pain emanating from where she still sported internal stitches. "Quinn is not my boyfriend! And it wouldn't be a bad thing if he was, it would be a terrible thing! We are friends. Nothing more!" She said harshly before turning back around and stomping to the locker room.

ooo

"It's good to have you back, McNally," Best said with a wide gleaming white smile. He shook her hand vigorously and motioned for her to take a seat.

Andy sat down gingerly. She faced Best and waited for her sentence of mandatory desk duty to be handed down.

"I've talked with your doctor and he said you are physically able to handle light duties," Best verified with a raised eyebrow.

Andy nodded her hands clasped in her lap. She knew what was coming, knew she was far from physically able to patrol the streets, but it still bothered her she couldn't do her job the same way she had before the accident.

"I'm going to put you on desk duty with the D's," he announced.

"Sir?"

"Detective Callahan says you've got a good head for research and they could use the help," Best replied. "Is he wrong?"

"No!" Andy blurted out. "I mean I used to help him when we . . . you know," she trailed off awkwardly looking at her hands instead of at him.

"Good! You'll report to Jerry, but I expect you to help Callahan as well, if he needs it," Best said. "I'm only scheduling you for half days," he added.

"But . ."

"Just until you get used to working again, McNally, I can't have you relapsing and set back your recovery time. I need you full time as soon as possible," he explained.

"Thank you, Sir," she said and grinned at him, relieved to be allowed to work again and excited at the new opportunity to work with the D's, even if it meant being in the same space as Luke.

"Now get out of here, I have to prep for parade."

Andy slowly stood up and made her way to the door. She paused, chewing her bottom lip, debating with herself on whether or not to bring it up.

"McNally?"

She took a deep breath and turned around. "I know you don't need to tell me, but, sir, I'd really like to know how Sam is? If you've heard anything?"

Best regarded her silently. She started to squirm under his gaze. She nodded slightly and turned back to let herself out of his office.

"Last I heard he's doing fine. Boyd hopes to have him home in another month or so," he answered quietly.

Andy drew in a deep breath, blinked back tears and let her self out. It was more information than she had heard since he had left.

"You're with us now, McNally," Jerry said after cornering her outside of Best's office.

Andy nodded with a smile and followed him. She took the stairs slowly to avoid falling flat on her face. Jerry led her in to the D's office, past Luke's desk and to his. A chair had been placed on one side and he gestured for her to take a seat. She could feel Luke's eyes on her, but refused to turn around.

"Here's the deal," Jerry began, picking up a box and dropping it loudly onto the desk in front of her. "Big drug bust from three years ago, dealer went to prison and now he's up for parole."

"Okay," Andy said, reaching towards the box.

"Problem is, the boat seized in the raid is missing," he continued, sitting down in his chair.

"Missing? Like . . . " Andy began.

"Gone, disappeared, off the grid," Jerry supplied with a grimace. He was getting annoyed with losing evidence, suspects, witnesses, it was starting to wig him out and make his professional life difficult.

"How can a boat disappear?" Andy asked. She yanked the cover off the box and peered inside. It looked like every other evidence box she had looked through downstairs. There were folders of notes, evidence bags filled and notated, and miscellaneous stuff rolling around the bottom.

"That's what I'd like for you to find out," he replied, nudging the box closer to her. "Dig through there, see if you can find something we've missed, names of witnesses, addresses, anything that might point to who took the boat and where they might have brought it."

Andy looked from the box to Jerry and back again not quite believing what she was hearing.

"Wouldn't it be easier to check the marina?" She inquired.

"Look, I was told you were good at research," Jerry snapped at her. "Prove it."

Jerry heaved himself out of the chair with a sigh and headed towards the Parade room where Andy could see most of the day shift congregating. She really didn't want to go, but knew Best would probably want to welcome her back and would get upset if she didn't show. She placed both hands on the armrests of the chair, eased her body forward and pushed up to stand. She took a shallow breath and let go, turning she found Luke at his desk with his eyebrows raised and his hand in the air twirling a pen.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

"Yep, great!" Andy answered brightly with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Good."

"Research?" She quizzed him, folding her arms across her chest.

Luke shrugged non-committedly. "You've spent enough time in the evidence room to know what to look for. I think one boat shouldn't be too hard to find."

"You had me reassigned?"

"Did you really want to work the front desk?" He asked in that way she hated, like he knew what her exact thoughts were.

Andy sighed and walked passed him. "Thanks."

ooo

At noon, Andy slumped against the side of the building, raised her face to the sun and breathed as deep as she could. Four hours of work and she felt like she had spent four hours of a ten hour shift chasing a perp through the streets and over rooftops. At eight, when Best first told her half-days she had wanted to scoff and laugh at him, but now, all she wanted was a sandwich and her bed.

When she felt she could breathe and walk at the same time she made her way to the bus stop at the corner. She went over her day while she waited, intent on reliving the day to keep her awake until the bus came.

Best had welcomed her back, her friends had cheered and given hugs, her reassignment to the D's went virtually unnoticed and she passed the majority of her day in a conference room when the silence in the D's office and Luke's unrelenting stares got to be too much.

The case of the missing boat was actually from Gungs and Gangs, a UC op from three years ago to get a major dope dealer off the streets. Andy half-expected Sam's name to appear, but the UC was Doug Ritter out of 27 Division. He had been under for over a year, getting close to the dealer, Ray Ramirez. He dealt small quantities in the rough neighborhoods of 15 Division, most likely the reason why Sam hadn't been chosen, too easily recognized.

When the raid went down, Ray, ten of his dealers and Doug were arrested and all of Ray's worldly possessions were confiscated, including his beautiful boat housed at one of the more affluent marinas on Lake Ontario. The boat was brought the police impound lot, inventoried and left for nearly three years, when it went missing sometime between August 2011 and March 2012. With the parole hearing for Ray coming up in a week, all remaining goods still in the possession of the police had to be inventoried again. The boat was discovered missing and since it was in 15 Division's territory it fell to Jerry and Luke to discover where it went.

Luke had mentioned to Jerry about the times he had found Andy down in the evidence rooms and figured since she was going to be stuck at a desk anyway during her recovery period, she could be used to help them find it.

By the time she had left at noon, at Best's reminder to take it easy, Andy had a list of Ray's closest contacts: an ex-wife and ex-girlfriend, both who had visited him in prison and a couple of dealers who hadn't gotten arrested during the raid. The women had visited more often in the past several months than they had over the last three years. Andy wondered if they had been plotting the retrieval and hiding of the boat during their visits.

The bus ride had been quiet and bumpy so by the time Andy made it through her front door, she stumbled to her kitchen and the line of medicine bottles lining the counter, dry swallowing two Tylenol 3 pills, she found a note stuck to her fridge door.

"Lunch is in here" was written in Quinn's chicken scratch.

A sandwich wrapped in plastic was propped against a bottle of pink lemonade. She grabbed both and limped to the living room where she promptly sank onto the couch, slipped the throw blanket across her legs and propped the sandwich on the armrest. She had just flipped on the TV when her phone chirped at her.

"Hello?"

"Hey beautiful! How was your first day back?" Quinn's cheerful voice said.

"Good. I got reassigned to the D's, research," she replied and took a huge bit of the sandwich, chicken salad with an obscene amount of mayo.

"Did you find the sandwich?"

She hummed in reply, chewing furiously.

"It's delicious," she finally said.

Quinn chuckled. "I know what my girl likes."

Andy choked on her next bite.

"Careful, take smaller bites," he warned, laughing openly at her. "Hey, I got a call from Linda, she wants to take everyone out for a night, like to say goodbye to Charlie without all the pomp of the official funeral."

"The funeral was a month ago, why now?" Andy asked, her eyes still watering from her near choking and subsequent rapid intake of lemonade to clear her throat.

"She wanted to wait until you were able to participate," Quinn replied. "She was thinking this Friday. There's a bar in Mississauga where she and Charlie met. It's a bit of a drive, so we'll do a caravan. You in?"

Andy wanted to go. She missed Linda and wanted to get together with the rest of the guys from 51 without being at the fire station, but in order to do that she'd have to get a ride with Quinn. She knew she had gotten too comfortable around him during her recovery. A part of her had convinced herself Quinn was stepping in for Sam, if he couldn't be there for her then at least Quinn was. What she hadn't anticipated happening was for Quinn to develop feelings for her.

If she was honest with herself, she had noticed it before the accident and had done absolutely nothing to stop it. She missed being looked at like she was pretty. She missed the flirting and easy banter.

She really did need to do something about it. Set him straight or her. Something.

"Yeah, count me in," Andy finally replied.