As he spoke, Sam had taken her hands in his and placed them on his arms as he wrapped them around her and pulling her against him. He whispered, "Whatever you want," against her lips before gently kissing her.

Andy just stood there for a few minutes enjoying the feeling of being the 1 place she feared she'd never be again. Yeah, he'd held her since it happened, but not like this. It was almost as if Sam needed permission to feel the things he felt and now that it was ok for him to feel those other things he could allow himself to feel what he wanted to.

Andy surprised him when she ended the kiss, well, put it on pause as she whispered, "I need you to touch me ..."

He couldn't help the smile when he heard her say, "Don't. Don't over think it, Sam. It's just me ..."
Sam laughed as he kissed her. Just her. That was like saying Kilimanjaro was just a hill.

Brushing his nose against hers he whispered, "I love you."

If he asked her, she couldn't've told him why, but hearing Sam say 'I love you' brought tears to her eyes. It was as if she was hearing it for the first time ... minus the need for someone from the bomb squad.

Sam saw the tears and remembered how Sarah had cried every time he said he loved her after her attack. He feathered kisses over her face as he whispered, "I love you," again.

Her voice was filled with tears as she whispered, "I love you."

She was wearing one of her sleeveless tank tops. Sam put his hands on her shoulders and ran them down her bare arms, reaching around behind his back.

Since turnabout was fair play, when his hands reached hers, Andy linked her fingers through his and brought his arms so they were around her waist as she ran her hands up his arms making Sam laugh.

Andy kissed him softly as she whispered, "You gave yourself permission to feel the emotions but you don't need permission to touch me, at least not from me ..."

He'd told Boyd before the Mermaid op that 6 months together they knew each other add another 3 plus years, Sam doubted anyone knew each other like they did and that included decade long partners so he wasn't surprised she knew what he needed to hear.

He let her guide his hands to the buttons on her top. He never took his eyes off her face as he undid one then two ... until there was only the bottom button left.

Andy smiled as he finished undoing her top and slid it off her shoulders. When it cleared them he took her hands in his and allowed her to strip him of his T-shirt. Next came their jeans ... piece by piece, first Andy's then Sam's until there was nothing left.

As the last of their clothing was discarded Andy understood why Sam was afraid of it being too much, too soon because he hadn't simply undressed her. With every piece of clothing was a touch, they started out hesitant with the buttons on her shirt but by the last it was the soft caress she was used to, maybe even softer.

By the time all their clothes had been discarded, laying in piles on the floor he had touched every inch of Andy's body. And with every touch he spoke, making sure it was his voice she heard, she felt ... and he made sure she felt it as he whispered against her temple, her neck ...

As they got in bed it wasn't about sex, more like an affirmation ... of love, of trust.

As she laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her the last thing Andy remembered hearing wasn't his promise of the last few days that his were the only hands to touch her, although his hands weren't the only thing that had touched her as he made love to her, it was the 'I love you' he whispered into hair.

Andy woke the next morning to Sam wrapped around her. He had kept a careful distance since her nightmare, afraid he could trigger another one. That he was wrapped around her brought back memories of the night before.

Sam woke up to a smiling brunette in his arms.

"What're you smilin' about already?" he asked as he kissed her.

"It wasn't a dream."

"What, baby?"

"Last night."

Sam laughed as he kissed her temple. "No, baby, it wasn't a dream ... although you are every dream I ever had, come true ..."

He wasn't surprised by the tears, he just held her tighter.

When the tears finally stopped falling Sam brushed them away and smiled as he asked, "Just to be sure, would that have got the same reaction if I'd said it last week?"

As he'd hoped, she laughed before grinning at him and admitting, "Probably."

Sam laughed at her admission.

Andy started tracing patterns on the arms that held her.

Kissing the top of her head Sam asked, "What're you thinkin' about?"

Her answer surprised him. "You."

"Me? What about me?"

Andy smiled as she turned in his arms so she was facing him.

"I wish I could say you were every dream I had come true but you're not ..." she trailed off to collect her thoughts. "Because not even in my dreams, did I think I would be lucky enough to be loved by someone like you ..."

Sam kissed her.

"In case you're wondering, I knew that before this happened. Now ... lucky's an understatement."

Andy laughed softly. "You think Sarah knew?"

Sam looked at her, not understanding.

At his quizzical look, Andy kissed him and said, "The night of the grenade, y'know when she chewed my ass out for not falling into your arms after ... you think she knew?"

Sam thought back over the conversations he'd had with his sister about a certain brown haired beauty. "Knowing Sarah, she wouldn't have fought that hard if she didn't. She may not've known how you felt, but I probably gave her a pretty good idea how I felt ..."

Andy couldn't resist teasing him. "What d'you mean felt, Swarek?"

Sam flipped them over so she was on her back.

Andy giggled in surprise.

She kissed him and whispered, "You felt amazing last night ..."

Sam brushed her hair away from her face as he whispered, "What about today?"

Her eyes danced as she said, "I don't think I can answer that ..."

Sam laughed as he kissed her. "No?"

"Nope. Sorry."

Sam laughed at her apology. She didn't sound sorry. "Why's that?" He asked with a devilish grin.

She matched his grin with one of her own as she whispered against his lips, "Because you haven't touched me yet ..."

Sam brushed his nose across hers before he leaned up and feathered kisses over her face.
"You won't be able to say that for long ..."

Andy had no idea what to expect after the way he'd made love to her the night before. She thought when she teased him about touching her that Sam's touch would be playful in return ... except he didn't touch her with his hands.

He feathered kisses over her face, down her throat, across her collarbone ... Sam feathered kisses over Andy's entire body. As he kissed his way back up after kissing his way down, Andy wrapped her legs around him, Sam chuckled at her unspoken request. He gave her what they both wanted as he joined their bodies.

Sam kissed the back of her neck as he pulled Andy back against him. He laughed as she let out a contented sigh and pulled his arms tighter. "What's goin' on, beautiful?"

Andy twined their fingers together. "I can't like the feel of your arms around me?" she teased.

Sam flexed his arms so his hold tightened making her giggle in surprise. "You won't hear me complain."

Andy giggled as she whispered, "After that, me either," making Sam laugh.

They laid in bed just holding each other a little while longer before Sam rolled away from her and got out of bed. Andy extended her hand allowing him to pull her out of bed towards the bathroom and the shower.

They were sitting on the couch after finally getting out of the shower. Sam had just finished brushing her hair and she was sitting with her back against his chest when his phone rang. Grumbling at the interruption Sam reached for it. Checking the Caller I.D. he laughed and handed the phone to Andy. "I have serious doubts she's callin' to talk to me so you might as well answer it and I'll go make coffee."
He got up and dropped a kiss on her lips before heading to the kitchen.

"Hi Sarah."

"Andy! I was expecting Sammy to answer."

Andy laughed. "He said if you weren't callin' to talk to him he didn't need to answer the phone."

"Give him a message for me, tell him I love him too," she laughed.

Andy laughed.

"Seriously, he was right. I called to see how you're doin' ... both of you."

Andy smiled. "We're good."

"Does that mean?"

Sam had come back to sit behind Andy and heard Sarah's question.

He made sure his sister could hear when he said, "McNally, do not answer that!"

He could hear Sarah laugh as Andy handed him the phone as she nodded back to the kitchen. "Sis."

"Hey Sammy. Just wanted to check in."

"Expected to hear from you sometime today," he replied with a smile as he sat on an island stool.

"Honestly, Sammy, how did it go after you got home and it was just the two of you?"

Sam chuckled. "Sorry Sis, but you're not gettin' a detailed account of our sex life."

"Little brother, I didn't ask if you made love to her, but that tells me you did."

Sam laughed. "Damn, Sis."

"You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important ... for both of you. As for details little brother, that would definitely go under TMI ..."

Sam laughed again."I know the feeling. But if it makes you feel better, yes, I made love to her."

Sam was surprised by his sister's soft spoken apology. "For what?"

"If you thought I pushed the physical ..."

Sam laughed softly. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't. Seriously, it gave both of us the chance to lay our fears on the table. As much as I wish it hadn't happened to her..."

"You're stronger because it did."

Sam smiled. "Yeah."

"In case you didn't know it little brother, you were pretty damn strong before."

Sam felt Andy's arms around his waist as he laughed at his sister. "Thanks. Listen Sis, unless you wanna talk to her ..."

"No, I just called to check in. You know where I am ..."

"I know. Thanks." Sam hung up and turned to wrap his arms around Andy.

"Any ideas what you wanna do today?"

"As long as I'm with you ..."

Sam kissed her. "What d'you want, McNally? We'll do whatever you want."

"Really? Anything?"

The look on her beautiful face Sam wasn't sure he should say yes but what was he supposed to say when he'd give her the world if she asked for it.

"You want it, baby, it's yours, but you gotta tell me."

Andy blushed as she whispered in his ear.

Sam didn't say anything, he simply picked her up and carried her back to the couch where Andy turned off both their cells.

Her request - that they shut out the rest of the world and spend the rest of their time off wrapped up in each other.

Sam laughed when the doorbell rang and Andy begged him not to answer it. His assurance that it was likely the cleaners with her uniform was the only reason she agreed to answering the door, though she was pouting as he got up. Sam laughed as he kissed and whispered, "Carefully McNally, lookin' that adorable could get you in trouble ..."

Andy kissed him back and whispered, "Promises, promises."

While Sam was at the door something occurred to Andy and she went into the kitchen to check the calendar (she refused to turn on a phone to check).

Sam came up behind her. "I was pretty sure I left you on the couch ..."

Sam looked at the date and swore under his breath. With everything that had happened, the date was completely lost on them both, but the calendar remembered - Jerry. It was the anniversary of his death.

Sam never said a word, just took her hand and headed for the stairs.