2 months after the shooting Andy had only been out for the Valentine's Day party at the Penny and was beginning to get cabin fever.

"Sam, when do I get to go back to work?"

"Even if you were cleared to return you'd only be cleared to ride the desk."

Andy scowled. "Just because I can't is no reason you should be stuck here at home."

"Baby, I'm with you, I'm not 'stuck' anywhere."

Andy didn't think it was fair. Yeah, ok, she was still taking the pain killers but Sam wasn't carrying her everywhere anymore.

"Y'know I could sit in your office as easily as I can sit here on the couch."

"Gettin' sick of me, McNally?"

"Of you? Never. Of lookin' at the same 4 walls, all day every day? Yes!"

"I'll talk to Frank on 1 condition …"

"Anything."

"You're not ready to return, not even to the desk, I hear you ask Frank and I'm back on leave …"

"You wouldn't …"

"Do you really wanna find out?"

"Fine."

"Listen baby, you can probably get cleared for the desk while still on the meds, but you don't even think about full duty until you're off the pain killers, you're coming into the station to sit in my office. You don't even get me a coffee."

She was more than willing to agree … until he mentioned the coffee.

"Really, babe? I think I can get us coffee …"

"Nope. You stay in my office or we stay home."

"Fine."

"There's something I wanna talk to you about …"

The change in Sam's tone made Andy nervous. "Sam? What's wrong?"

"Nothin's wrong baby, I just wanna talk about when you get the ok to go back to full duty and return to the streets."

"What about it?"

"How would you feel if Nick wasn't the 1 you rode with?"

"Who would I ride with?"

"Me. I'm gonna clear it with Frank to go back to the streets for your first few weeks back."

"As much as I would love to hear Frank say I'm being partnered with you again, I hope it's not because you don't trust Nick, babe."

"Baby, it's not about trusting Nick, you could've been riding with Shaw and I'd still put myself back in uniform once you're cleared for full duty."

"So it's me you don't trust …"

"Andy, it has nothing to do with trust. You're a great cop, what happened could have happened to anyone, but it happened to you, and after spending every second of your recovery time together, I need to be the one that goes on patrol with you … I told you once, I didn't want anything to happen to you …"

Andy smiled. "I remember."

"I didn't want anything to happen to you then and I was "just" your T.O., now …"

"Sam …"

"Andy, I can't take your bracelet and say goodbye like nothin' happened, because it did. It may seem crazy, but baby, I need to be the one out there with you, at least when you first come back …"

Andy took Sam's hand and placed it over her heart. "I'm still here. I'm always going to be here. You're not gonna get rid of me that easily, babe …"

Sam smiled as he gently pulled her into his arms. "I love you."

"I love you."

Sam reached for the phone and called Frank.

"Frank, I know she hasn't been cleared, and don't ask why but she's talked me into goin' back."

"Can she stay alone?"

"No, she's gonna come in with me and keep me company."

"Ok. When do you wanna start?"

"Monday?"

"Good enough. See ya then, Sam," and they hung up.

"Happy?"

"Very!"

Sam laughed.

"How would you like to meet everybody at the Penny after shift?"

"Really?"

"Really. We'll get somethin' to eat and have a visit with everybody."

They surprised everybody when they walked in. Andy went to the table, Sam went to the bar, set up their tab and ordered a ginger ale for Andy and a beer for himself. He also ordered their meals.

He walked up to the table just as everyone finished giving her a hug. He took his jacket off before helping her out of hers. Andy put her hands on his shoulders and he knew she couldn't sit down without help. Sam put his hands around her waist and easily lifted her up. She grimaced a little.

"Ok?"

"Yeah, just a twinge."

"I brought them, just in case …"

"So far, so good …"

Sam sat to Andy's left. They were holding hands as soon as he sat down. They were a little confused by the stares, it wasn't like nobody had ever seen them hold hands before.

At first Sam thought it was the bracelet, but everyone knew she had it, then he realized they could see her hand, which meant the ring and they hadn't seen anybody since …

Traci was the one to ask, "Uh, is that what I think it is?"

"A ring? Yes, Det. Nash, it is."

"Funny, Swarek. You know what I meant."

"No, it's not that ring."

"When did you give her a ring, Sam?"

Andy smiled and said, "Valentine's Day," as Sam kissed her hand.

"Seriously? When? I didn't see it when I helped you get ready."

"That's because she wasn't wearing it til we left here that night."

"You gave it to her here?! And none of us noticed?! Yeah, great bunch of cops we are!"

Sam and Andy both laughed.

Liam brought their food and another round. They laughed and visited, it felt like a typical night … until Sam pulled out Andy's pain killers reminding their friends that it wasn't a typical night because Andy wasn't on the job.

Monday morning Sam pulled into the lot of the station. At the door, Sam stopped and looked at Andy. "You sure about this?"

"Babe, stop worryin'."

Sam wrapped his arms around her. "How many time I gotta tell ya, woman, ain't gonna happen!"

Andy laughed gently. "Come on, Swarek, you gotta get to Parade."

Sam held the door for her. "Don't you mean we?"

"Sam you know I can't sit in on Parade …"

Frank heard Andy's comment and shouted, "McNally! Joining us for Parade?"

"Frank? Didn't think I could sit in on Parade …"

"We can make an exception … Besides, we need Sam in Parade."

Sam laughed. "Thanks Boss."

Sam put Andy in his usual spot then went to stand behind her, she leaned back against him and he put his arms around her.

Frank came in and the first thing he said was, "We welcome back 1 of our own this morning. Sam, it's good to have you back. I know I speak for everybody when I say McNally, we look forward to the day we get to welcome you back as well …"

Frank went on with assignments and dismissed everybody with "Serve and Protect … especially your partner."

Everyone filed out making a point to welcome Sam back and say 'hi' to Andy. They were engulfed by their friends.

"Hey brother, didn't know you were back," Oliver said.

"Blame her," Sam said smiling at Andy.

"Drinks after shift?"

"Drinks are on us," Nick said motioning to their friends.

"Sam laughed. "We'll be there."

Their friends headed out. Sam was surprised when Frank brought some files in and dropped them on the desk beside Andy.

"Boss?"

"Figured you might appreciate no stairs."

His and her voices blended as they both said, "Thanks Frank."

"Just trying to make things as easy as I can. Andy, if you need anything, you let me know, got it?"

Andy smiled. "I'll be fine."

Sam worked out of the Parade Room until Andy was cleared for desk duty. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen anybody so excited to ride the desk as Andy was her first day back.

Frank walked into Parade that morning a happy man. His Division was whole once more. Andy was at the back with Sam. For the first time since Sam came back to work, he was sitting on the desk and Andy was standing between his legs with his arms around her waist again. Frank looked at Andy as he began Parade.

"Good morning Coppers of 15. It's a day we've all been waiting for, but none of us as impatiently as Officer McNally. After weeks of being in Parade as a bystander, she's finally back in uniform. That's right, I'm happy to finally welcome back our wounded officer. I know your fellow uniforms are happy to have you back and they'll be even happier when they hear, per doctor's orders, you're riding a desk for the foreseeable future …"

A cheer erupted and Andy laughed before saying, "Thanks, I missed you too."

Frank handed out assignments and dismissed everyone with, "Serve. Protect. Be Careful."

Just as they did when Sam returned, everyone made a point of stopping to welcome Andy back to duty.

They had agreed when she was cleared for desk duty that Sam would stay in the Ds rotation until she was cleared for the streets.

Their friends engulfed them as they did when Sam returned.

"It's good to have you back in uniform, Andy, even if it is just to ride the desk. Although knowing Sammy, he's happy he gets to keep an eye on you."

Sam and Andy shared a smile.

"Lettin' us buy you drinks after shift?" Nick asked.

"If she's up to it."

Once the room cleared Sam turned Andy around to face him and rolled up her sleeve. Even if she was just riding the desk, she was still in uniform, which meant Sam took her bracelet. They left Parade together, heading for their favorite spot … coffee.

They each made a cup, fixed it the way the other liked and handed it off just like always, before Sam walked her to the desk.

"I'll see ya in a little bit. You know where I am if you need me."

"How many times I gotta tell ya Swarek, I'll always need you."

Sam laughed as he kissed her cheek and headed for his office.

Oliver surprised them both by swinging by the barn with lunch for them. Sam led Andy into the Parade Room. Sam still wasn't willing to let Andy take the stairs in fear of aggravating her ribs.

It was hard for Andy to find riding the desk boring when Sam was checking on her non-stop. She couldn't help but laugh when he set another cup of coffee down.

"How are you gettin' any work done when you've spent most of your day checkin' up on me?"

Sam didn't respond, just kissed her cheek and walked away.

Frank made sure she got up and moved around, not wanting her to stiffen up.

The end of shift Sam took one look at her and knew Andy was exhausted and in pain. He offered his hand and she allowed him to help her up. With Sam's arm around her waist for support, Andy made her way back to the locker room. At the door, Sam turned her to face him.

"Drinks are your call, but baby, you look like you need your meds and the couch more than you need a ginger ale from the Penny."

Her head against his chest was all the confirmation Sam needed. He heard Traci's voice and called her.

"Hey Sam, what's up?"

She looked at Andy and knew. "I'll help."

"Thanks."

"Shower?"

"No, we'll shower when we get home. Just get her changed."

"You got it. Don't worry about drinks, I'll let them know you're not comin'."

"Appreciate that, saves me calling Shaw."

Traci helped Andy inside. Sitting her down Traci undressed her and helped her into her jeans and one of Sam's T-shirts. When they stepped out of the locker room, Traci was carrying Andy's bag.

"Want me to carry this out? Since you're probably gonna carry her out …"

When Sam would've agreed, Andy piped up, "Not until we get to the door …"

"Dammit woman …"

"Babe, please?"

"You're walkin' as far as the door, McNally, I'm carryin' you to the truck, no arguments."

That she didn't argue was proof how exhausted she was.

She was asleep before they left the lot.

At home, he stopped long enough to shed their jackets and shoes before carrying her upstairs.

"Do you want pills or shower first?"

"Shower. Pills. Bed."

Sam laughed. "Shower. Pills. Food then bed, baby. You gotta eat."

"Then order a pizza so it's here when we get out."

Sam laughed again. "Baby, it takes more than 20 minutes to get you showered."

"So tell them we don't need it for 45 …"

Sam could hear the pain creeping into her voice and pulled out his phone and ordered the pizza … with the instructions to have it delivered when Andy asked. Hanging up, Sam stripped down and went to the bathroom and turned the water on before going to undress Andy. Taking his T-shirt off her he was grateful Traci had removed her bra.

"Ok baby, let's get you showered," and he carried her into the bathroom. He set an alarm so they wouldn't miss the delivery.

Half hour later he turned the water off and after wrapping a towel around himself lifted Andy out and carried her back into the bedroom. He quickly dried himself off and threw on a pair of loungers and a T-shirt before drying Andy and dressing her the same.

He was just carrying her downstairs when the doorbell rang. He put her on the couch and went to grab his wallet.

Sam carried the pizza into the living room and set it on the coffee table before going to get plates and napkins/paper towels from the kitchen. He set them beside the pizza box.

Grabbing the brush she'd brought with them, he said, "Pizza can wait, this needs done first," and he began to brush out her hair before it dried.

After her first day Sam had her pills with him so she could take them if necessary. It turned out, she needed them by mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Sam thought it was just a 'welcome back' thing but then their lunch was delivered by one of their friends every day of Andy's first week back and it turned into routine for their lunch to be delivered while she was on the desk.

Because they hadn't taken their friends up on the drinks after her first shift back, it was agreed that Sam and Andy's next night at the Penny was on their friends. Sam took her straight home every night that first week … every night but Friday. When Friday rolled around Andy practically begged Sam to go to the Penny after shift.

Taking her jacket off, Sam asked, "Why are we here?"

"Because you've worried about me all week and need to relax," she answered with a kiss.

"I always worry about you, woman."

Andy smiled as Liam set down two plates.

"What's this?"

"Your usual."

"We can see that, man, but we didn't order anything," Sam responded.

"Taken care of."

Just then the door opened and their friends came in and they knew Liam was putting their friends on the hook for feeding them as well.