Chapter 28

By four, hours of slamming her head against the impenetrable wall of evidence and getting nowhere combined with the tension that radiated from her body every time Luke entered the room had morphed Andy's mild headache into a nausea inducing, pain med defying migraine. She rubbed uselessly at her temples as she scanned the transcript of Luke's first interview with Dubray for the tenth time that day.

"You okay?" Luke's voice from the doorway brought her head up.

Too quickly. Andy couldn't hold back the wince. "Fine," she lied.

His blue eyes scanned her appraisingly. "Did you take anything for the headache?"

"Took a couple Tylenol an hour ago," Andy admitted.

Luke nodded, crossing the room so he was standing at her left shoulder. "You should go home, I don't think we're going to find anything today."

"I'm fine." Andy returned to her reading. The words swam before her tired eyes.

"You're stubborn," Luke said, his voice warm. "Come on, let me drive you home."

"No," Andy shook her head, wincing as another dart of pain shot through her occipital lobe, "I'll be fine. I'm off shift in a couple hours and then I promise I'll go straight home to bed."

"You're no use to me when you can't even focus on the page, Andy." Luke placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "You need to take some Advil and sleep it off," he reached down and plucked the file from the desk, closing it, "and you're in no condition to walk."

Andy would have loved to argue with him, but the pain threatening to splatter her brains all over the office walls if she didn't relieve the pressure wasn't going to ease up anytime soon. "okay," she agreed after a moment of inner struggle. She knew Sam was still on shift for another two hours and she really didn't think she would last that long. "Thanks."

Luke smiled, "do you need anything from your locker?"

"No," Andy said. She had her keys on her and everything else would wait until tomorrow.

"Good. Let's go." He reached for her arm, but stopped just short of touching her.

Andy stood slowly. The room swam for a moment before she was able to walk. She followed Luke mutely through the bull pen and out to the parking lot, taking very little notice of her surroundings. Luke was right, she needed a pair of Advil and a nap, and to never, never spend an entire day alone with her ex again. It had been one thing when she, Sam and Luke had all been working the case, but when Frank pulled Sam and left her alone with Luke it suddenly felt like the old days, when she and Luke were and item and he'd 'borrowed' her from Swarek for an assignment more to have her around than because she's deserved it. The warm tone, piercing glances and even the care he was taking of her now were something she knew only from the Luke she'd dated, never from a detective to an officer.

A cruiser pulled into the lot just as she was sliding into the passenger seat of Luke's car. Andy caught Sam's dark eyes watching her from the driver's seat of the cruiser. She felt awkward for a moment, like a kid caught with one hand in the cookie jar. It's not what it looks like she wanted to say, but then the cruiser pulled into its space and Luke started the engine and they were off. She closed her eyes against the moving scenery and told the nagging voice in her head that didn't want to shut up that she would tell Sam tomorrow.

Luke was mercifully silent for the entire drive. It wasn't until he pulled up in front of her place that he spoke. "Can I walk you up?" He was looking at her again with that soft, warm look he'd had that morning when he'd asked what about what I want? and sent her fleeing in the opposite direction.

Andy dropped her eyes, she didn't want to see the warmth in his gaze. It was harder to deny it when it was right in front of her. "I'm just going to go to sleep." She said, deflecting his offer. "Thanks for the ride."

Before she could escape the car, Luke covered one of her hands with his. "Can we talk? I know today isn't a good day. But maybe tomorrow after shift?"

Silence hung awkwardly in the car for several seconds before Andy found her voice. "I don't think that's a good idea." She opened the door before Luke had a chance to speak. "Thanks again," she shut the door and turned away. moving as quickly as her throbbing temples would allow.

Three Advil and a two hours later, Andy woke with a wrenching feeling of guilt, but blessedly headache free. Her sleep had been plagued by eyes, Luke's blue and warm with unspoken feelings she'd thought were long buried, and Sam's dark, questioning, hurt staring at her through the windshield of a police cruiser, asking her why she was taking rides from her ex, why she didn't want to tell anyone about them, why she was stringing him along. Questions Andy wasn't sure she could answer. Somehow in twenty four hours she'd managed to turn a beautiful night into a horribly confused mess.

Groaning, Andy rolled slowly out of bed. She stood slowly, testing out the movement to make sure it wouldn't set her head to aching again. When standing worked, she stripped out of her uniform and pulled on something more comfortable. One thing she was certain of, she needed to speak to Sam.

She knew she hadn't done anything wrong today. Accepting a ride from an ex boyfriend wasn't cheating. But she couldn't shake the puzzled glance Sam had shot her in the parking lot from her brain or the promise she'd made to herself that she would explain later. Checking the clock to make sure it wasn't too late, she grabbed keys and a jacket and headed out into the October night.

Sam's place wasn't far from her own. In less than half an hour she was standing across the street. His truck was parked out front, and she stood for a moment, staring at it, in hopeless indecision. She should have called, but calling now seemed ridiculous. Taking a deep breath for courage, she crossed the street, mounted his front steps, and knocked.

o o o

For the third time since he'd learned Dubray's DNA didn't match that found at the France murder scene, Sam spent the evening sipping coffee and pouring over the case file. In a way, puzzling over the case was a nice break after a day half spent obsessing over why Luke Callaghan had requested Andy remain on his service. Sam didn't like to think of himself as jealous, but he knew his mind hadn't been on the job all day, and that this was mostly due to the many scenarios running through his head all day as to what Luke was trying to win Andy back, there was little doubt in Sam's mind that winning Andy back was Callaghan's end goal, he just had no idea how the detective would go about it, or if he would be successful. Sam would have to be an idiot not to realize that the timing of his and Andy's hook up placed their relationship soundly in rebound territory, but he'd hoped she wanted more than just a distraction.

Annoyed with his brain's inability to focus on the case, Sam put the case file back into a drawer in his kitchen and carried his coffee into the living area. He was still convinced Dubray had a partner, but had yet been able to find any sort of proof in the evidence. He switched on the TV, hoping that would distract his mind.

Andy's knock came at the beginning of an ad break, Sam stood and walked to the door, glancing out the window to see who it was. When he saw Andy's familiar form on his porch he smiled. Two nights in a row, this was definitely a good sign.

He opened the door.

"Hi," Andy said before he could say a word. "I'm sorry, I should have called."

Sam smiled and held out one hand, indicating she should enter. "Don't worry about it, you didn't interrupt anything." He held his hand out to take her jacket. "Coffee? Beer?"

"Coffee," She rubbed her hands together. "It's freezing out there."

In the kitchen Sam dumped out his half empty cup of coffee and rinsed out his coffee pot. His hands moved through the motions of starting a new pot brewing with little conscious thought, allowing his mind to focus on Andy. She'd only been in his kitchen once before. Months ago, when they'd sat in the near dark drinking warm beer and she'd cried over the first man she'd killed. He could hardly believe the difference just a few months had made. Last time she'd arrive unannounced at his door they'd barely made it past the entry way.

The coffee maker had spit out three quarters of a pot of coffee. Sam busied himself pouring two mugs, adding milk to hers, sugar to his before setting them on the table. He took the chair across from her, cradling his mug between both hands.

Andy gave him a appraising look, "I had lunch with my dad, on the weekend, he said to tell you his car is running perfectly by the way."

"His fuel filter was clogged, I replaced it." He explained, as if it were no big deal.

She flushed, looking flustered as she always did when the subject of Tommy came up. "He shouldn't have-"

"I offered." Sam interrupted, placing a hand over hers on the table. "Don't worry about it."

Andy's eyes were warm on his face, "Thank you." She turned over the hand he held and traced absent minded patterns against his palm.

"Anytime." He took a gulp of hot coffee, finishing off the mug full in record time.

Andy seemed to have the same idea. She stood, empty mug in hand, "Dishwasher?"

He shook his head, "just put it in the sink. I'll deal with it later."

She circled the table and reached for his mug as well, but Sam intercepted, pulling her into his lap. She let out a little shriek but didn't fight him. Instead she placed her mug on the table and leaned into his embrace.

Andy placed one hand on Sam's cheek, caressing the slight stubble there with the pad of her thumb and leaned forward. The first kiss was light, soft and quick, testing the waters. Andy let her eyes flutter closed as she kissed him again, this time his lips returned the pressure and he brought one hand up to cup the back of her head.

She pulled back, slightly dazed and short on breath, and stood. This time there was no hesitancy as she pushed Sam's chair so that he was facing her head on and placed both hands on his shoulders.

Sam used both hands on her hips to guide her onto his lap. She straddled his body and slid one hand into his hair. It was silky soft to the touch as she ran her fingers up over his scalp, relishing the soft groan that escaped his lips. She lowered her head and placed an open mouthed kiss on his neck.

His head fell backwards, giving her full access to the tender flesh of his throat. He gasped as she added teeth to the mix. His hands tightened on her hips, pulling her closer.

She worked her way slowly up from his collarbone, trailing kisses and light nips along his warm skin until she reached his mouth. She sucked his lower lip into her mouth, it tasted like coffee. He opened his mouth to her and she deepened the kiss.

Sam let her control the pace, matching her intensity without pushing for more. When she finally broke away, panting, it was his turn. Keeping her anchored against him with one hand, he brought the other around between them. He traced small circles over her stomach, gradually moving upwards until his fingers grazed the underside of her lace bra. Here he hesitated. This was Andy, his partner, the woman he'd been more or less in love with for almost two years. As much as he tried to tell himself they'd done this before, his heart thudded nervously against his ribs.

Sensing his hesitation, Andy pulled back so she could look him in the eye, "Sam?"

He let the hand resting against her bare skin drop until it rested on her jean clad thigh. "If we do this.. it'll change things."

Andy nodded, "I know. " She pressed her lips against the sensitive skin of his jaw, right below his ear. "I want things to change."

"Luke...?" Sam couldn't find the words to form the question, but he had to know.

"I don't want Luke," Andy said against his skin, "I want you."

For a moment it seemed like the world stopped around Sam. And then he was kissing her. There was nothing slow or gentle about this kiss. Andy locked both hands in his hair, fingernails digging into his scalp. He brought one hand up to knead her breast, pinching the taught nipple between his fingers until she squirmed and whimpered into his mouth.

They broke apart only long enough for Sam to push Andy's T-shirt over her head and then his lips were back on hers. Andy slid her hands beneath his shirt, exploring the planes of his chest with her palms pausing only to tweak his nipple. When her hands moved to push his shirt off he broke their kiss and lowered his mouth to her breasts.

Andy arched against him, grinding her pelvis against his and locking her hands into his hair again, pulling him closer. The lace of her bra was rough against his tongue as it darted out to wet the supple skin of her breast. She groaned in protest when he removed his mouth to move to the other breast. He ran his tongue just above the line of her bra and she ground against him again in wanton pleasure. With one hand he released the clasp of her bra. Smiling against her skin he used his nose to nudge the strap off her shoulder. She leaned back just enough to slide the bra fully off and add it to the pile of clothes beside the chair.

Sam sucked her nipple into his mouth, grazing it slightly with his teeth before soothing it with his tongue. His hands slid down from her waist to cup her ass, readjusting the angle of her pelvis so she could feel his erection.

Andy rocked against him, losing herself in the wonderful feeling of his hot mouth on her breast, his strong hands on her ass and the pressure of his straining penis against her, hot even through the fabric that still separated them.

With one hand he freed her fly and in a single motion slipped his thumb between them, finding her clit and circling it with steadily increasing pressure until she thought she might die if he stopped. Her hips thrust erratically into him as the waves of her first orgasm stole all semblance of control. "Sam!" she cried to the ceiling, letting her head fall back in complete abandon.

When she could once again control her movements, Andy busied herself with Sam's fly, not an easy task with his lips on her throat, his hands running over the bare skin of her back, but at last she was able to free the stubborn n buttons. Before she could run her fingers over his silken length, Sam stood, supporting her weight with one hand on her ass and one on her back. Holding her against him he carried her into his bedroom, finally setting her down next to the bed.

They both kicked free of their jeans and underwear before falling back against the soft cotton comforter. Andy reached down between them and wrapped her hand around Sam's cock. It was rock hard but the skin was softer than silk. She caressed it with her fingers, varying the pressure, learning by his groans what he liked. When he gasped her name in a throaty voice she needed to hear every day for the rest of her life, She guided him to her wet, ready entrance.

His first thrusts were slow and long. Torturous and incredible. He filled her completely and she could feel another orgasm building even before he quickened his pace. Andy locked her legs around him and pulled him into a searing kiss as he thrust into her, each stroke faster and deeper until they were both slick with sweat and crying out in pleasure.


A/N: Hope this one was long enough :) Thanks for reading. Please review!

Huge thank you to Whiz and Kitty for giving this a quick edit. Any remaining mistakes are all mine.