CHAPTER 13

Sam couldn't take seeing Andy so shut to the outside world. It was like she had built a wall around herself, shutting out everyone and anything that could harm her. She startled at almost anything, her appetite had left her so Sam was always making sure she ate something and she got lost in her thoughts most of the time. He feared those thoughts. He was the only one that could get to her, the only one she'd listen to.

"Where are you going?" She asked as Sam opened the door.

"I was hoping I wouldn't wake you." He said hoping to dodge her question.

"I was already up. Where are you going?"

With a heavy sigh he looked towards her and the vision actually scared him. She was pale and her eyes didn't have that sparkle. That vision made his anger even bigger. He wouldn't accept someone doing this to them, to her.

"I'm headed to the station." And that statement had indeed gotten her to jump out of bed and run to the bathroom.

"I'm going with you. Give me ten minutes." She screamed.

Sam had a small smile when he heard her. He knew she'd want to be part of the investigation. It was only natural to want to be distracted by something to get your mind out of what's bothering you. Even if it was an investigation on what was the real issue.

"Almost ready." She said with her toothbrush still inside her mouth.

Sam went downstairs to prepare their breakfast before they headed out. Eggs and toast was the best he could do in this house and for his joy there was the beloved orange juice for Andy. Just as he sat the table Andy walked into the kitchen.

"The smell is amazing." She said sitting down on the counter.

"I'm amazing." He said not even looking at Andy.

"You are." She agreed massaging his – already big - ego.

Their breakfast was silent just as their car ride over to the station. They went in and headed their separate ways on the locker rooms. Traci didn't notice Andy walking in as she was with her back turned to Andy.

"What are you doing here?" Traci asked when she finally noticed Andy when she was putting her shoes on.

"Um… Needed to be here. I'm helping Sam with something."

"He's here too? Wasn't today your day off? What's going on?" she asked looking straight into Andy's eyes.

"Can we talk about this another time?" Andy asked looking towards the ground.

Traci noticed her friends mood and she knew when not to push Andy for details when she wasn't ready to share. When the time came Andy would open up and then Traci could do her best in helping her friend.

"Okay. You can call me whenever you need me." Traci said putting her hand on Andy's shoulder and walking out.

Andy and Sam didn't go to parade since they were there on their time off and for different reasons. So they were now left alone in the D's office seeing as Traci gathered her things and said she'd look into some case files on some other room. That was her awkward way of letting them have privacy.

"So how do we start?" Andy asked sitting in a chair on the opposite side of Sam.

"I'll look into the numbers behind these photos and see if it leads me somewhere. You can see if there is anything on the box. Look for a logo or a name."

Andy gathered the box in her hands. It looked so small and harmless, but inside this small box was kept photos of them that could do a lot of damage. Tearing the thin stripped paper that covered a small wooden box was revealed.

"Who would go through the trouble of getting a wooden box for something like this?" Andy asked out loud not actually waiting for an answer from Sam.

"In our job we see that people do strange things all the time." Sam answered her still focused on his computer and the photos.

"I guess so." Andy commented.

Turning the box upside down she found a Rouge Woodshop logo imprinted. It was so neatly done and the initials S.S. on the bottom.

"I think I found something." Andy said pulling Sam's attention to her. "I'm pretty sure the box came from this place and there are these two letters. Maybe it's from the person that made the box." Hope filled her voice as she saw that this was the start to finding whoever did this.

"I'll go. I want you to stay here and look into these photos, the numbers on the back might lead us somewhere."

As much as Andy wanted to go and look for whoever did this, he was right. One had to stay behind to look into the other parts and the one actually going had to be a detective. He was trained to see things she wasn't. So she pushed her desire to be on the streets aside and let him leave without a fight.

For some reason it was really hard to look at those photos. It felt as though the people represented there weren't them, but some other couple. She tried to believe it was someone else and that she was investigating something else. She whispered to herself every now and then 'it's not me and Sam' maybe that would make it easier.

"You okay?" Nick walked in and Andy turned the pictures pushing them under a file.

"Yeah. Just realy tired." She said turning her chair to the door where he stood.

Their relationship had gotten better over the months. They were able to be around each other without feeling awkward all the time. Of course there were moments where awkward didn't even begin to explain, but it was something that was getting easier with time. He seemed better, seeing someone new that no one even knew who she was, but Andy just hoped he was doing what was right for him. He deserved to be happy.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Dov had to comeback for something, so I'm just waiting on him." Nick answered giving her his best smile. He used to do that so often.

In the far background Dov called out for Collins and he looked back.

"I think I'm gonna go. If you need anything, you can call me. I'm still your friend." Nick said turning to leave.

He had left without giving Andy the chance to say anything, but then she didn't even know what to say. "Thank you" or "I'm glad" just didn't feel like enough. Their friendship came really fast and strong, specially since they spent six months together and then it had faded really fast too.

Turning the chair around she focused on the numbers and places that were specialized in photos all around Toronto. To her surprise she figured out the places where they labeled the photos and there weren't many. Seven were spread all around the city, but one was close to the station and another to their apartment.

Biting her lip she didn't really know if she could leave the station to investigate this, but giving it a better thought she wasn't on shift. She was on her day off and there was nothing holding her back, all she wanted was to go around and ask a few questions and maybe flash her badge once in a while. There had to be perks to this job.

"I am not breaking any rules. Technically not, anyway." She said to herself and headed to the printer to gather the addresses to the places she was about to go.

Since Sam took the truck she was on foot and that meant bus and subway all over town on the freezing cold. This has got to lead her somewhere.

Her phone vibrated on her pocket and she saw Sam's name on screen. She couldn't answer him now, so she just had to return the call later.

She walked into the store and picking out the only two photos that didn't seem compromising. Their faces were covered and so were their body parts. Only sheets and Andy's back on both. With a heavy sigh she walked to the counter.

"Hi, I'm wondering if you guys label the photos on the back with a sequence of numbers?" Andy asked the guy on the other side.

"No, we only put the name, but Bomb Photos do that with most of their material I think." He answered Andy.

She knew where that was. There were two in the city so after a long walk and two busses she was on the other side of town looking inside the small place.

"Excuse me. I was wondering if you could help me with something. I have a few photos that were sent to me, but I'm not sure by whom and I wanted to know if there is any way I can find that out." Andy asked the nice old lady by the cash register.

"Oh, I think we still have the records here. Sometimes my boy takes them home so they won't be just lying around here. You know how it is." She said gathering three large books. "What's the numbers on the photos?"

Andy looked down and said "357-443-289-110-226"

The old lady looked confused for a second and looked up at Andy and asked for the number again.

"I'm sorry, dear. Something must have gone wrong here. This is my son's writing, but he never put out the name of the person who came to collect the photos. I'll look into the system if you have some time."

Andy knew this wouldn't be that easy so she took a seat and waited for the woman to come back with any news.

Twenty minutes had passed and Andy was still sitting down alone in the main room. Her phone had gone off once more and now a third time. She knew there was no way to avoid him forever so she answered his call.

"Hi." She said simply.

"Hi. Where are you? I came back to the station, but they said you left a dew hours ago."

"Yeah. I… um… I came to the photo place where I believe the photos came from. They don't have a name for the person that came to pick them up, but I'm still here waiting."

"I'm going over there. Where is it?"

Even if it was a sweet gesture Andy knew they covered more ground apart.

"No. I've got it here, there is no need for you to come here too. What did you find at the woodshop?"

For a few seconds the line went silent and she looked at her phone to see the battery was almost dead.

"The person made the S.S. in my name. Sam Swarek was the registered name for the box. I got their surveillance footage so I'm going to go through that."

"Okay. Do that and tell me if anything comes up. My battery is dying, I think I left my charger at the apartment. I'll go by the apartment later to get it, so if you can't talk to me don't freak out."

"Okay. I'll see you at Oliver's later."

"See you."

They ended the call at the same time and she stood looking around the place. All the photos looked so well worked. She wondered who had worked on those pictures, cause they sure saw her face and all the other pictures. Embarrassment was written all over Andy's face.

"Dear, I got the name. It was a Jack something I think. My son doesn't remember very well, but the man refused to sign the photos. I hope that helps." She said sweetly.

"Actually that does help. Thank you." She said and walked out of the store into the snow covered Toronto streets.

Walking to the subway she rushed to get in. She still had to stop by the apartment to get her changer and just then she'd be able to head over to Oliver's and rest.