I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters.
Set after the Proposal. AU after series 4 - Andy stayed with Nick instead of getting back together with Sam and now they are married. Established Andy/Nick.
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Chapter 19: Troubled.
July arrived, marking 7 months since Andy and Nick had been married and they had now been trying to conceive a baby for 4 months, since March, and, even though they were in summer and there were many reasons to be hopeful, Andy was starting to lose hope. She was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with her or her husband. How had this been so easy for Tracey or Marlo? As always, Nick told her not to worry and that stress did not help the process, as did her mother, but she was still worried about it.
The good news was that, about a month ago, Tommy had woken up, with Andy by his side and, whilst he had been in a comma, he had heard every single word his beloved daughter had spoken, and he had immediately told her how much he loved her and Andy had thrown herself into her dad's arms, so glad that she could hold him close to her, again and her dad was so grateful that he was able to hold his baby girl again. The Drs warned Tommy that another heart attack was always possible, so he went for weekly check-ups. After being released from the hospital, because his girlfriend was away with one of her children, Tommy had stayed with Andy and Nick for a couple of days. Nick had been so happy to see Andy so happy again. He and Tommy liked each other; he knew that his father-in-law respected him and knew how much he loved his daughter.
Both Andy and Nick had day-shifts, so they woke up at 5, had showers and made their way to the station, where they kissed, said they loved each other and promised to see each other later before they went their separate ways to change into their uniforms. Almost as soon as Andy had taken off her engagement ring, Sam walked into the changing rooms. "McNally, I've spoken to Frank. I need your help for the day."
Andy resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she and Nick had been married for 7 months and still Sam called her by her former surname. She just nodded and tied up her hair. "Sure, Sam, what's the case?"
As they walked to the Detectives' office, Sam briefed Andy on the case. There was a group of teenagers who were living in a house, illegally, who were also dealing high-end drugs and Sam and Tracey wanted these kids, so that they could tell them from where they received the drugs. Andy looked at all of the kids' files. All of them had been in foster care. Sam had a belief that all kids who went into foster homes, always came out of the situation worse, but Andy knew that this was not always the case, so she asked Sam if it would be alright to include Nick and Chloe in the case. When Sam looked at her as if she were crazy, she explained, "It's just these kids are damaged. They've been abandoned by their parents and by social services and they need someone who understands that. Who understands how they're feeling."
Sam was still looking at her as if she were crazy. "How would Collins and Price help?"
"Because Nick was in foster care after his parents died." Andy looked at Sam, then was silent, then inquired, "Sam, why are you always so against kids who go into care? As if it makes their situation in life worse."
Running his hands through his hair, the older man sighed and stated, in a very frustrated-sounding voice, "McNally, a lot of these kids are screwed up by their parents, but putting them in foster homes often makes them worse." Sam paused, then looked at Andy and admitted, "I know how damaging parents can be, McNally. You do, too. But in a different way. My old man was a right evil guy and, if I'd been put into foster care at 16, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been on this side of the police station." With that, he stood up and walked away. Andy was left in silence; Sam had never been that open before, but maybe having Mya, becoming a father, had changed him?
Nick and Chloe were driving through the city and, as usual, Chloe was talking. A lot. "Right- you know how you and Dove are kind of friends? You see, he's really keen on getting married, but I've already been married and when we married, it became so messed up and Dove and I are happy right now and I don't want that to change. So, I was wondering if you could talk to him? You know, try to make him understand?"
Keeping his eyes on the road, Nick replied, "I think you need to talk to Diaz. He and Dove are best friends."
"Yeah, you're right." Chloe paused, then beamed and asked, "So, Nick, how are things with you and Andy? You've been married for- what, 7 months now?"
Nick smiled at the very mention of his wife and he nodded, still keeping his eyes on the road. "Yeah, 7 months and we're very happy. Andy had a hard time with her dad, but she's a bit better now."
Leaning her back into the seat, Chloe inquired, "And are you guys thinking about having kids soon? I mean, to be honest, we all thought kids would come along quite quickly with you two, because you're so in love. I don't want kids. Dove does, but it also worries him because of his brother. Do you think you and Andy will start trying soon?"
Before Nick had a chance to reply, dispatch called him and Chloe, telling them to arrest 3 teenagers who were living in a place, illegally, as well as selling drugs and there was also a request from Swarek to let him know when were at the station. These teenagers were connected to one of his open-cases. Even without speaking to the teenagers, Nick could tell that they had been in foster care and that they were very troubled teenagers and his heart went out to them; they were so angry with the world and, as soon as he and Chloe had arrested them, they kept talking, angrily and Chloe talked back to them, but Nick stayed quiet, watching them.
At the station, Nick left Chloe to book the teenagers whilst he made his way to the Detectives' office, where Andy and Swarek were working. "Swarek, the teenagers are in booking now." He threw Andy a small smile, which she returned, smiling back at him.
Sam looked up from his file and replied, "Collins, that's great. Do you think you can help me with the interrogation?" When Nick looked at him, confused, the older man explained, "These kids are in foster care and McNally mentioned you were in the same place as them, so maybe you can get through to them? I'll go tell Price where I want them."
As soon as Sam was out of the room, Andy walked over to her husband and held his hand and joked, "I don't think Sam'll ever call me Collins."
Nick laughed and replied, "I think you're right." He paused, then asked, "Swarek has a thing about foster care, doesn't he?"
Andy nodded, then sighed, "Yeah. He does. He thinks it takes kids even more messed up, sometimes more than they were before."
"It depends on the foster placement." Nick sighed and he was silent for a couple of seconds and his eyes un-focused and Andy knew that he was thinking about his own time in foster care. He re-focused his eyes on Andy and said, "I'll see you later. We're having a late breakfast, right?"
Laughing and nodding, Andy replied, "I hope we are. It was the plan!" There was no-one else in the room, so they shared a sweet kiss, then smiled at each other, before Nick left the office.
When it concerned rebelling teenagers, especially teenagers who were selling drugs, Sam's interrogation technique was not a very soft one. He seemed to be just as angry as the teenagers and Nick watched closely.
It finally worked when one of teenagers confessed to it all, as well as from where he received the drugs in the first place and Nick made very careful notes. He was surprised when Sam turned very serious again and told the teenagers, "You know, just because you've had a hard start in life- that's not an excuse to keep having a bad life. You can make something of yourself."
One of the teenagers started to laugh and remarked, "How would you know? Do you know what it's like to be in foster care? To be moved around every month as if no-one wants you? To feel as if you don't belong anywhere!"
Nick glanced at Sam, before he replied, "Detective Swarek might not to know what that's like, but I do. I was in foster care. Some homes were good, some not so good, but the last one I was in was a very good one."
That caught the teenagers off-guard and one of them asked, "Why were you in foster care? What did your parents do?"
Sam's eyes were boring into Nick; he had always wanted to know more about the younger man Andy had fallen in love with, had decided to be with rather than him, so he listened. Nick swallowed a lump in his throat; it had been years ago, but the pain would never go away. "They died in a car accident when I was 12 and I went through a very dark time." He fixed his eyes on the younger people and said, "You say you have no-where to belong. I didn't either, until I joined the Army. You're going to be charged now, but, when that's over, do your best to build your own life. You can't let the people who've damaged you win."
Later, in the locker room, as Nick was changing, he was surprised to see Swarek there. It was no secret that the older man did not like him. "Collins, I wanted to say I was impressed with you today. You did a good job."
Looking at the older man, Nick just nodded. "Thanks, Swarek."
Sam rubbed his hand against his chin, before he finally said, "Y'know,, I wouldn't have known you had a hard time growing up." He paused, then added, looking uncomfortable, but also sincere, "Also, for whatever it's worth, you're open about it. In a way I never could be." Both of the men knew what he meant, but there was no need for him to say anything more.
As soon as both Andy and Nick were changed out of their uniforms, they went home, to get Jem, and went for some breakfast, and, afterwards, went home for some quality time together, as well as trying to conceive a baby. One of the fundamentals of their marriage was that they were always honest and, unlike Andy's relationship with Sam, that openness had allowed their love to grow into their marriage they now had. Their friendship, their love, their constant support for each other and their easy ability to make the other laugh and their happiness together, was one full of love and, with the trying times that were ahead, that was going to be more important than ever before. Together, they could deal with anything.