CHAPTER TWENTY:

The next few days went as you would imagine. Andy was forced to stay in bed. She argued, pouted and tried to bribe her way out and was finally released to go home as long as someone was with her to make sure she still didn't fall.

"McNally, Just move in with me."

"Sam. I don't want a pity invite. I'm fine."

"It's not a pity invite. I love you and want to live with you."

She bites her lip and considers it.

"Are you sure?"

"I am. If this whole stabbing thing taught be anything it's that I don't want to be without you for even a night."

Andy smirked and kissed him.

"I feel the same way. But you are going to have to do all the moving…" She smirked again. "I'm injured, best I can do is supervise." She tried to contain her laugh but it slipped out.

"Yeah yeah. I'll do the heavy lifting McNally."

So she moved in. They continued to see a few different doctors for her physical and mental concerns and even Sam saw a therapist to help with his feelings about their loss.

Months went by and Andy still wasn't ready to go back to work. Sam was cleared and went back 3 weeks after the incident in the school. Finally just before Christmas, Sam had to ask why.

"Andy it's been three months since you were injured. Do you want to go back to work?"

"I dunno." She said.

"Andy… What does that mean?"

"Sam. I haven't been cleared."

He knew that. Physically she had worked hard the last 12 weeks and was in very nice shape. But mentally, she couldn't get cleared. At first it frustrated her but now it just seemed like she didn't want to work.

"Andy… I know… but why?"

"Maybe I don't wanna be a cop anymore? Is that a deal breaker for you?"

He was confused.

"No… not a deal breaker but what do you mean?"

"Nothing… I mean nothing."

"Andy McNally." He said sternly.

"Fine. It means, we lost our baby doing our job… maybe I don't want to do it anymore. Maybe every time you walk out for a shift I sit here in our bed and cry because I don't know if you'll come home to me. Maybe our job has ruined me."

Sam is speechless. Whatever he thought she might say… it was not that.

"Andy…"

"No. You asked and I answered. I haven't been cleared so I'm not going back yet."

"Okay sweetheart" He pulled her in and she let him wrap his arms around her. He knew he wasn't going to win so he dropped it and hoped he could reign in Tommy and Traci to help him encourage her that if she really was done being a cop that it was okay.

"I love you Andy."

She smiled. "I know. I love you too, Sam!"

Finally in the middle of January Andy had come to a breakthrough in her therapy sessions and realized the job is not what took her baby away. She remembered the good parts of saving people and helping people and putting criminals away. She was ready for her first shift back and was welcomed back with hoots and hollers!

Most people didn't understand why it would take so long to come back from a stabbing but Andy just told everyone a portion of the truth, she was having flashbacks and fears and doubts. They accepted it and only Sam and Jerry knew the full truth of it.

The months passed by and everything was going well.

The start of May found a happy calm over 15th division. Andy and Sam were enjoying living together and unknown to Andy, Sam had started thinking about making her a Swarek. Jerry and Traci were now engaged and living together and they and Leo could not be happier. Unknown to everyone Traci would soon have some happy news for Jerry. Chris and Gail had finally decided to give it another go and were 3 months into their rekindled relationship. Dov and one of the rookies, Chloe Price, got together and seemed to be in a happy place. Noelle and Frank had welcomed a daughter, Olivia, and were enjoying her. Noelle was on maternity leave and mostly kept to herself. Oliver, Zoe and their 3 girls were doing great too.

Finally on May 6th Andy walked in to Frank's office after shift.

"McNally, come in."

"Thank you sir. I just had a question."

"Sure! What's up?"

"I'd like to take some personal days next week. The 9th, 10th and the 11th?" She asked.

"Sure… Sammy need it off too?"

"I don't know. I didn't tell him."

"Oh?"

"No sir. I want the time for myself. May I have it?"

"Sure McNally. I have Nash out the 10th as well but I'll make it work. Uh… you okay?"

She swallows. "I'm not sure. But I will be. Thank you sir." She says as she stands up and walks out.

May 9th

"Andy… I let you sleep. Come on we are going to be late."

"SAM. I said I am not going. I AM SERIOUS. I took a personal day. Go to work. Be safe. I love you."

She said rolling over and covering her head with the pillow.

Sam was confused but did as he was told with a quiet, "I love you too."

At work the first thing that happened was Jerry pulled him into interrogation one.

"SAM! Brother I have the best news. Well I think it's great but I'm biased. I hope you think it's great. I don't want to be insensitive. I just want you to know and I'm really happy."

"Jer. spit it out already."

"Traci is pregnant!"

Sam was not expecting that. His eyebrows shoot up.

"Oh…" He shakes his head. "Congratulations Jerry!" He is happy for his friend.

"I know! Thank you! Look, Traci is dying to tell McNally but I convinced her she has to tell her mom first, which we are doing tonight. So I dunno if you wanna give her a heads up. I don't know how this will make McNally feel."

If it was anything like Sam was feeling he definitely didn't want Andy to find out from Traci. It felt like Jerry had just kicked him in the heart.

"Yeah… I'll tell her. She might not… I mean her reaction might concern Traci since she never knew."

"Sorry brother. But time is of the essence. Traci wants to do a reveal to her mom tonight and then tell the whole world tomorrow."

"What's the rush? Why tomorrow?" Sam asked.

"It's Mother's Day tomorrow. She thinks it will be perfect. Whatever brother as long as she is happy."

Sam felt like a brick just hit him. Tomorrow was Mother's day… he didn't even know that. The real kicker, Sam just realized tomorrow is May 10th. It's the day their baby was due. No wonder Andy was acting strange. Sam needed to see Frank and he needed to figure out what to say to the love of his life about the difficult but happy news their best friends had going on.

"Frank?"

"Hey Sammy. What's up? Long day?"

"Yes. I need tomorrow off. I am super sorry it's last minute. It's a serious need."

"Uhhh… seriously? I have Nash, and McNally off. This have to do with her? She okay?"

"Yes it has to do with her and honestly I don't know. I didn't know she took today off…"

"Oh… Yeah she took 3 days Sam. Look, I can give you tomorrow if you'll work a double on the 15th?"

"Done." He said and walked out.

Sam went home and found Andy curled up in bed basically the same as he left her that morning. She had been up, the single plate and knife in the sink told him she had eaten a sandwich.

"Andy?"

She slightly stirred.

"Andy?"

She rolled over. "Hey, shift over?"

"Yes. Are you okay? Sick?"

"Yes I'm okay, I think. No I'm not sick."

"Andy about tomorrow… I just wanted you to know I remembered but I didn't know if you would want to make a big deal of it."

She felt the tears in her eyes. "I'm sad but I didn't want to upset you."

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I know it is going to be a hard day. I asked frank for it off too."

"You did? Really? Did he let you?"

"Yes."

"Oh good Sam. I thought I would just sit in bed but today was hard too. I just missed you."

"I missed you too. I love you."

"I love you too"

He wanted to tell her about Traci and Jerry but now really didn't feel like a good time. Not that tomorrow would either.

Once Andy fell asleep, Sam turned her phone completely off. He did not want Traci talking to her just yet. Then he pulled Andy closer and drifted off to sleep with her cuddled close.

Reviews? I know... more sadness for McSwarek but I promise they will be happy again... at some point.