Author's Note: Hello all. Sorry for such a delay with this chapter, I'm afraid life just got in the way. I can believe we're halfway through August already, I'm pretty sure it was only February last month. This chapter is mostly a filler chapter; next chapter will be Sam and Andy working together. And I'm thinking I'll stop at chapter 10 rather than almost transitioning into a new story, but we'll see. After this my next update will be When In Vegas with a dedication to the late Jerry. I apologise for any grammar issues, I pounded this chapter out on my keyboard so I could give you guys something since I've had a few reviews asking for more. As usual a big thank you to my reviewers, favouriters, alerters and other readers. You are my motivation actually.
Freedom-In-Fantasy
Copper Chapter 7
Andy woke up even later than usual the next morning. She's spent half the night tossing and turning over whether she'd done the right thing last night. Was kissing him too much or not enough? Or had she done just enough? If they were going to go into a relationship, Andy didn't want him to think she was easy. Wait were they in a relationship, or heading that way even? God, she hoped he'd make the first move on this one. It wasn't like he hadn't had her number for months or anything. She ran through her morning routine as she contemplated this. Toilet, put coffee on, get dressed, drink coffee, eat a hearty breakfast, do hair and make up, brush teeth, then make sure her bladder was completely empty before leaving the house. Being late, today Andy minimized her breakfast, make up and ditched the second toilet stop. But she sure wasn't going without her coffee. She was just finishing her mascara when a horn sounded. Andy ignored it and gave her reflection a critical glance. Satisfied, Andy grabbed her stuff and headed out the door only to collide with Sam in the hallway.
"Sam! What are you doing here?" Andy exclaimed.
"Picking you up." Sam replied as if this were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ok. Why?" Andy asked.
"To show you just what a great guy I am." Sam said in a tone that could be interpreted as genuine or sarcastic.
Choosing genuine, Andy responded. "Well it looks like I might have to believe you."
"So will I see you when I get back from St Catherine's?" Sam asked as Andy was leaving the car.
"Only if you call me this time." She threw at him. The she gave him an over the shoulder smirk and walked away sway and all.
Sam chuckled. "I will." He silently promised.
Somehow thinking about Andy make the drive to Sarah's shorter than usual. And he had a smile on his face instead of his usual scowl when her pulled into his sister's driveway.
"Sam!" A brunette bullet jumped on Sam the moment he stepped out of the car.
"Spying out the window again?" Sam asked his sister fondly.
Sarah grinned up at her brother. "Only for a brother who never comes to visit." Her face and tone hardened at the end of her sentence.
"You know how much I love undercover." Sam said tiredly.
"I know." You like to pretend to be someone else without our family's past." Sarah sighed.
Sam nodded sadly.
"Anyway, come inside. I have a meal on the table. You know you never eat enough undercover." Sam hugged his sister and they went inside.
Andy was on patrol when the text came through.
SAM SWAREK: You never told me who your T.O. was.
ANDY MCNALLY: Oliver Shaw
Andy couldn't believe this was what Sam wanted to talk about. But still it was better than nothing. Just then another message cam through.
SAM SWAREK: Buy him a sandwich, no pickles, to get on his good side.
Andy giggled as she looked over at Oliver. Oliver looked at her enquiringly. "Lunch on me?" Andy asked almost smoothly.
ANDY MCNALLY: Thanks for the hint. I think I just went up 100% on Oliver's likability ranking. Why did you tell me?
SAM SWAREK: Just being the nice guy.
ANDY MCNALLY: Well in that case, let me return the hint. Give your sister something that can help her relax when you're undercover.
"Who you texting McNally?" Oliver asked after he saw Andy look at her phone for what seemed to be the millionth time since the start of their shift.
"A friend." Andy tried to play it casual, but Oliver saw the spark of excitement in her eyes.
SAM SWAREK: My sister will like you.
"Who were you texting?" Sarah asked her brother as he put his phone away.
"A friend." Sam said, a picture of innocence.
But Sarah wasn't fooled and she called him out on it. "A friend doesn't make you smile like that."
Sam just gave Sarah a look.
She shrugged. "I'll find out eventually."
"There's nothing to find out." Sam said quickly.
"If there isn't, there will be." She predicted.
On scene, Andy had her first encounter with Detective Luke Callaghan. She'd asked him to cleave the scene then felt really awkward when he showed her his badge. It was only then she remembered seeing his during parade.
"Detective Callaghan. But you can call me Luke, all my friends do." He introduced himself.
"Andy McNally." She replied brightly.
"Nice to meet you Officer McNally." He said, drawing out officer.
"Call me Andy." She quickly said. "All my friends do." Then she winked at his and walked away.
"We're going out for dinner this evening." Sarah announced over dinner that night."
"Don't you want to spend time with your brother?" Her husband asked surprised.
"No honey, I'm taking my brother out. You know, for some sibling bonding." Sarah responded.
Her husband shrugged. Sam groaned.
"So who is she?" Sarah demanded the moment she had Sam alone.
"Who's who?" Sam asked innocently.
"The girl you've been texting all day." Sarah snapped.
"But I haven't been texting a girl all day." Sam protested.
"Sure you haven't." Sarah said sarcastically.
Sam glared.
"I know her last name is McNally, so what's her first name?" Sarah was fishing now.
"McNally is just someone I know for work." Sam lied.
"That's why she's the only person you've mentioned." Sarah's sarcastic tone was back.
"No she isn't." Sam denied.
"You know, I could always ask Oliver." Sarah gave Sam a wicked grin.
"Don't you dare." Sam growled.
"Or you could just given the information I want." Sarah continued.
"Not happening." Sam snapped.
"Well I guess you'll be downing a lot of shots tonight." Sarah said innocently.
"Wait. What?" Sam was confused.
"Well here's how it's gonna play. Answer my questions or take a shot. Your alternative is that I ask Oliver. Your choice." Sarah shrugged.
"No much of a choice. You get the information from me drunk or sober or you humiliate me by calling my friend." Sam grumbled.
"So there is information." Sarah gleefully caught Sam out.
"I didn't say that." Sam denied.
"Then you won't object to my little game." Sarah grinned.
"Oh I object alright, but it's better than you calling Oliver." Sam grumbled.
Andy lay in bed that night when she heard her phone beep. Hoping it was Sam, she reached over to read the message.
SAM SWAREK: How was your evening?
ANDY MCNALLY: Alright. I went to the penny, and then this guy, Callaghan I think, kept trying to buy me a drink, so I left. How was yours.
SAM SWAREK: Good choice. Callaghan tries to get a new rookie each year. But what if I tried to buy you a drink? Anyway, my sister spent the evening interrogating me about who I'd been texting. And she wanted to know who the McNally was I mentioned. I don't suppose you know her?
ANDY MCNALLY: Of course I'd let you buy me a drink. You don't have that vibe Callaghan does. Besides, haven't you bought me a drink already? And I think I do know a girl named McNally. I hear she's both kind and beautiful.
SAM SWAREK: She is indeed. And so I did. Anyway, you probably have an early shift tomorrow, so I should let you get some sleep. Goodnight Andy.
ANDY MCNALLY: Goodnight Sam.