Chapter 26

Andy pulled her coat tightly around her, blocking out the evening chill. She'd almost worn the third date dress, but changed her mind, opting instead for more practical leggings and a t-shirt buried under her warmest sweater and a windproof jacket. She didn't want to look like she was expecting anything. Even if she'd worn her nicest bra and panties underneath her casual clothes and thrown a box of condoms in her purse. It never hurt to be prepared.

It had taken her all weekend to work up the courage to come, and now that she was here the butterflies in her stomach were waging an all out war. She'd almost turned back twice, but tomorrow they were back on shift and she couldn't shake the feeling that if she didn't make her move now, they'd be back at square one. She could see light filtering from the back of Sam's place and hoped that meant he was home. Taking a deep breath she knocked.

Sam sat in the kitchen, a cup of cold coffee set untouched by his left hand, the table top was strewn with papers. The pad of paper under his hand was covered in notes, most of them ending in question marks. He'd been going through the case file sheet by sheet for the better part of two days and still all he had were more questions.

It didn't make sense.

Colin Dubray fit the profile. A loner, excited by death, obsessed with law enforcement, and a patchy employment history. He was at all the scenes. Always involved in the investigation in some peripheral manner, always with the same story. It couldn't be a coincidence. And yet, the DNA evidence said Dubray hadn't touched her. Worse than that, there was no one else to blame.

It took a moment for his brain to recognize the knock and about three minutes to gather up the case file, carefully preserving the stacks he'd created, and shove it in a seldom used kitchen drawer. There was a chance whoever was knocking was a school kid selling chocolates or a Jehovah's Witness offering to save his soul, but this time of night it wasn't likely. He wasn't taking a chance. It wasn't exactly against regulations to bring work home, but it would raise questions Sam would rather stayed buried.

There was no one on his front step when he finally opened the door. Sam stepped outside, the cement was frigid under his bare feet and he wished momentarily he'd put on socks. He looked down the street, catching sight of Andy as she walked back the way she'd come. "Andy?" he called after her, raising his voice so she'd be sure to hear.

She stopped and turned, a smile on her beautiful face. For a moment Sam forgot about dead bodies and DNA evidence. He didn't know why she was here, he was just happy she was. It had only been two days since he'd dropped her off at her apartment, but he'd missed her. He'd picked up the phone to call her more than once, each time putting it back down when he realized he had nothing to say. If he saw her, he would have to tell her, and he wanted to keep her out of it for as long as possible. Not that it would be possible for long.

They'd be back to work tomorrow and she would find out then what he'd known since Friday, but still refused to accept; that whoever killed Natalie Frances was going to get away with it. He'd been through the file three times. He's read and reread her notes, his, Callaghan's; stared at crime scene photos until his eyes burned; and racked his brain for hours. Still, he came up empty. If Dubray was in on it, his accomplice had done all the dirty work and hadn't stuck around long enough for anyone to notice.

He'd seen this before. Too many times before. Cases where no matter the skill of the officers involved, there simply wasn't enough evidence. Cases where all you could do was build an idea of who the perpetrator was, and wait for him to strike again. Cases that made Sam glad he wasn't a detective and didn't have to explain to the white shirts why the case had gone cold. So far, Andy and her fellow rookies had been lucky. They'd solved cases left and right, collaring their share of felons and usually collecting enough evidence in the process to keep the detectives and the prosecutor happy. He knew she wouldn't take this loss well.

"Hi," Andy's voice from the bottom of the steps broke into Sam's thoughts.

Sam smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I didn't think I'd see you until tomorrow."

Something like nervousness flitted across Andy's face and she paused halfway up the stairs, "I can go."

"No." Sam took an involuntary step towards her.

Her lips quirked, one corner lifting despite her attempt to hide a Cheshire cat grin as she mounted the rest of the stairs. Any doubts she'd had about Sam's feelings for her since Friday were erased in that moment. Whatever had been holding his attention on Friday, she had it now.

She paused in front of him. The porch was narrow and their bodies almost touched. She could feel his hot breath against her forehead. She closed the distance to press her lips to his. She meant it to be quick, a reminder of Thursday night, nothing more. She'd come here to talk.

His lips were soft and warm. She pulled back, head spinning, pulse pounding. Talk. We need to talk. She told herself sternly as she moved to step past him into the house.

She made it less than one step. Sam's hand on her arm stopped her, drawing her back in for another kiss, slow and filled with promise. Andy's hands slid up his chest and twined around his neck as she pressed her body against his. Talking was overrated.

His fingers slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, tracing light patterns over her skin.

It was Andy who pulled back first, drawing a lungful of cold air with a gasp. It was a moment before she found her voice to say, "Invite me in?"

"Come on in," Sam kept one hand on her back, following her through the door, letting it close behind him. Her skin was warm, despite the cold evening and he was loathe to break contact for the brief moment it took to slide the deadbolt into place.

Andy shed her coat and toed off her boots, hanging her coat on a hook by the door as if she'd done it a thousand times before.

Sam pushed her boots to the side with his bare feet and closed the distance between them. He encircled her waist with both arms, once again seeking soft, bare skin beneath the hem of her shirt as he pulled her against him. Their lips met. He slid his hands up her back, pressing her tightly against his chest.

This time it was Andy who deepened the kiss. Her fingernails scraped lightly against his scalp, sending shivers down his spine, as her lips opened his and her tongue caressed the inside of his mouth. There was nothing slow or gentle about this kiss. Andy's finger tightened against his scalp, pulling him even closer.

Sam slid his hands up her sides, pushing her shirt up. They broke apart long enough for him to push the shirt off completely and then he pulled her against him, her breasts pressing against his chest as his hands went to work on the clasp of her bra.

Andy's lips sought his. Kissing him passionately, desperately. She tugged at the bottom of his shirt impatiently, seeking his bare skin with her hands, pushing the cotton up as she went. She pinched one of his nipples eliciting a moan that seemed to reverberate through her entire body.

The clasp of her bra gave way and Sam stepped back so he could pull it off. His calloused hands cupped her breasts gently. One thumb ran over the stiff peak of her left nipple. Andy arched into his touch. He kissed her jaw and then along the line of her throat. He pinched her nipple roughly before replacing his fingers with his mouth.

The hot wet of his tongue against her sensitive flesh sent a jolt of arousal to Andy's groin. She could feel the wetness pooling between her legs. Andy tangled her fingers in his hair, keeping him close as she took two steps back so her back was against the wall.

His hands slid down her back, cupped her ass, and lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him, pressing her hot center against the hardening bulge in his jeans. He stepped back, and Andy twined both arms around his neck to steady herself. He carried her ten steps to the living room and laid her back against the couch.

He trailed kisses down her throat, and over her breasts, sucking in the sweet flesh until she groaned and squirmed beneath him. Taking his time he placed open mouthed kisses over both of her breasts and across her abdomen, flicking his tongue against her flesh. He continued down her belly, until he reached the hem of her leggings. They were quickly discarded and he slid down so he was kneeling on the carpet and pressed a kiss on her inner thigh.

He sucked the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh into his mouth and bit down just hard enough to make her cry out. The combination of lips and teeth would leave a mark. He ran both hands over her thighs, stopping just short of her visibly damp panties.

"Sam..." she gasped, arching up towards him.

He ran two fingers over her damp center. She rocked against them, head thrown back in pleasure. He hooked two fingers on each hand into her panties and pulled them down her legs. He stood for a moment, shedding his jeans and underwear before lowering himself over her.

Andy brought her knees up on either side of his hips, open and ready. His tip brushed against her lightly, and Andy used both hands against his ass to pull him against her. He slid into her entrance. Her muscles stretched to accommodate his length and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him all the way in.

Their lips met in a passionate kiss before he began to move. Each thrust seemed to hit nerve endings Andy hadn't know she had. She clung to him, moaning in wordless pleasure as he thrust into her.

She came first, he spasm of her inner walls around him brought Sam over the edge and he collapsed beside her, pulling her against him.

Andy pillowed her head against his chest. It rose and fell with each breath. She could hear the steady thump-thump of his heart, perfectly out of synch with her own. How easy it would be to stay here, to let the hypnotic thumping of their hearts lull her to sleep. Somehow Sam's home was unlike any of the other men she'd been with. She would have no trouble sleeping here. The realization that her protective guard, such a normal part of her dating MO, had been stripped away was thrilling, and terrifying. "I should go," she said abruptly. She needed space, needed to sort through the confused jumble of her thoughts. She rolled to her feet and began to collect her scattered clothing.

Sam watched with inscrutable dark eyes as she slipped on her tights and t-shirt. He wanted to pull her down beside him, tell her to stay, but the words refused to come. Instead, he sat up and reached for his jeans. "I'll drive you."

She almost refused, but he was already half dressed and she didn't really want to walk home in the frosty night. "Thanks."

Five minutes later Sam unlocked the passenger door of his truck, holding it open for her. The silence between them felt strained with all the things that weren't being said. Chief in Sam's mind loomed the case. He should tell her. "Andy.. about tomorrow-"

"I don't think we should tell anyone." Andy jumped in before he could finish.

The rest of the words died on Sam's tongue. She was right of course, telling anyone at 15 this soon was just begging for trouble. Especially while they were working with Callaghan on the Frances murder, but still the sudden shift from telling Andy their case was ruined to hiding their... whatever this was, threw him.

Andy, uncomfortable with his silence explained in a hurried tone. "It's just, with Luke... and the case. I think it's better if we keep it to ourselves. At least for now."

Sam nodded. "Yeah."

She climbed into the truck and Sam closed the door behind her. She was right, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

o o o

A/N: I've rewritten this chapter in its entirety three times and remember now why I usually prefer to end stories with the initial hook-up ;) The next couple months are going to be pretty hectic so it's unlikely you'll see another chapter from me until Christmas Break. Thank you everyone who has read and reviewed. I am so honoured that you guys stick with me despite my extremely sluggish update schedule for most of the year. Special thanks to KittyKnighton, and Rainbowwizard1 for pre-reading bits of this and generally holding my hand (all the mistakes are mine) and to icewitch73 whose reminders that people actually want to read this keep me going :)