CHAPTER 15

Sorry it took so long for me to update. I have been a little busy and couldn't find the time to write it all down. So here it is…

As both men stepped inside the apartment they noticed something had happened. The place looked like a mess. The chairs all out of place, the center table they had was broken and the lamp from their bedroom was on the floor. Sam knew something was wrong even before he stepped inside the apartment, but now he dreaded what he was going to find.

They didn't have their guns so they were both very cautious about the amount of noise they made just in case anyone was still inside. Room by room they walked until the last one, Sam and Andy's room.

Walking inside they could hear the water from the sink running and someone breathing deeply.

"Damn it." They heard Andy's voice from inside the bathroom.

"Andy?" Sam half screamed as he rushed to the door followed by Oliver.

He could barely see with no light on the apartment, but the flashlight he had gotten from the truck gave them a little knowledge of what was going on around them. Andy had a split lip, her eye was swollen and would probably turn into a black eye soon, a large gash on her cheek. Looked like someone who took one hell of a beating.

"What happened?" Sam asked barely touching her face as she hissed and took a step back.

"I'm not entirely sure. After we finished speaking I got some information on whoever went there to pick-up the photos and headed here for the charger. The place still had power and I saw the storm coming, so I wanted to charge the phone at least a little so I could call you." Andy turned off the water and walked out of the bathroom headed to where the box laid out on the floor. "I found this lying on the bed."

She handed the box to Sam who opened it and looked at her seriously.

"These are from today."

"I know." She said tying her hair in a high pony tail and sitting by the end of the bed. "I heard someone coming little after that so I grabbed a lamp. Everything happened so fast. He came at me, we fought, the lights went off during the fight. He was taller, stronger and faster than me. There wasn't much I could do at the time. I was out of it for a while and when I woke up he was gone."

Sam sat next to her as Oliver just stood by the door looking at his friends. They were going through tough times and he couldn't figure out the best way to help them. He wanted to, but he felt powerless.

"Did you get a good look at the guy?"

Andy's eyes were tearful even though she hadn't cried yet.

"Not really. He was at least 6'5, heavy guy too. He was cautious, covered himself – gloves, mark, you name it, he had it." She said turning to get her phone. "Still not working."

Sam took her hand in his and held it tight. She was in shock so she wasn't processing everything the way she should. He couldn't even think about the possible outcome that this whole day could have had. Her being attacked put everything in a whole new perspective to him, plus, that description wasn't much for them to go on, but he knew someone who would have motive, and could fit into the pool of suspects.

It was probably time for Sam Swarek to visit his old man.

"Take me home, please. Tomorrow we'll deal with this." Andy said lying her head on Sam's shoulder."

Sam turned to her and kissed to top of her head.

"Andy, we need your statement. We need to take you to the hospital to get checked out." Oliver said from the distance.

"No! I'm fine, I just want to deal with everything tomorrow."

"Hospital first, then we can go home and tomorrow we can deal with the rest." Sam said standing up and pulling her with him. She hissed again grabbing at her side. "We'll definitely go to the hospital."

"Fine." Andy said half angry at Sam's choice of destination.

Sam parked the truck by the emergency entrance of the hospital and helped Andy get out of the vehicle. They had stopped by Oliver's house to drop him off and for Andy to change into better clothes. He hadn't seen her body since she insisted on being left alone in the bedroom while she changed.

"Hey, she needs a doctor." Sam walked in with a limping Andy by his side.

"Just a second, put her on a gurney." A nurse said passing by them.

Andy needed a little bit of help when trying to sit on the gurney. As the adrenaline left her system she felt just how bad she felt. How bad the fight she had had been. There was no denying it, all you had to do was look at her face to see she'd gotten her ass kicked.

"How are you feeling?" Sam asked holding her hands trying not to hurt her swollen and bloody knuckles.

"I'll survive. I'm like that, bombs, beatings, shooting. Nothing can take me out of the picture." She tried to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal. Because if she made it a big deal, then she probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed the next couple of days.

"Hello there, I'm Doctor Drew." But the doctor stopped talking once he saw who was sitting at the gurney. "What happened, Andy?" the young looking red headed doctor said as he stepped closer to where Andy was sitting.

"Hey Drew. Police business, you know how it is. Got into some big fight this afternoon. Think you got something to help a sister out?" she tried joking about it again. This was really setting Sam's mood out of it. He was concerned and he was frustrated, but her trying to make this okay was going to end up killing him a little inside.

"Let's first run some tests. You might have a concussion. Anywhere you feel pain except for your face?"

Before Andy could answer Sam jumped in cutting her off.

"Her side hurts, she can't move or walk right." Looking down he saw Andy biting her bottom lip.

"Andy, I'm going to take you to run some tests now. I'll probably have you stay the night for observation so you getter get real comfy. I'll get everything set up and come get you when I get all the tests ready for you." Doctor Drew said and walked away leaving the couple.

"What are you doing?" Andy asked angrily.

"Making sure you don't think this is a joke."

"I know it's not a joke, okay?" she looked down at her hanging feet. "I just don't want to keep thinking about this, because we can't focus on my injuries. Everything here will heal, but the person is still out there and I can't think about anything else other than what he might be doing now."

"I know, baby." He said holding her in a light hug. "Let's just patch you up first and then we can go back to hunting down this bastard."

"Okay." Andy said holding onto Sam.

At the end of her tests Andy and Sam were settled in a room waiting for the results to come back. They had warned Frank about the events and Oliver that they would be spending the night at the hospital.

"Andy McNally, you are one hell of a fighter. You have a concussion, so you'll surely be spending the night with us. Also there are some cracked and bruised ribs and a sprained ankle. Your cheek will heal and if you're lucky it won't leave a scar." Dr. Drew said as he stepped inside the room. "I see the nurses already bandaged you up. So if there is anything else just call me, I'll be here all night and all of next morning." He said checking her chart one more time and walking out.

Sam who was sitting next to Andy's bed looked at her and she sent the doctor a small smile as he left, but then her face fell. He knew she blamed herself, but how could she ever be responsible for something she had no control over? He wished there was a way to trade places with her and spare her the trauma.

"Go home, Sam. Frank already sent over two officers to stand by the door. I'll be fine, but you need to rest and pick me up first thing in the morning." Andy said grasping his hand between her two bandaged up hands.

"I can't just leave you here."

"You can because for now you have to. There is no way you can have a good night of sleep here."

"I won't have a good night of sleep anywhere for now."

Her eyes shone with adoration. There was no way not to love this man in front of her. He was everything she wanted and everything she ever needed.

"Go home. I'll be here in the morning waiting for you." She said kissing his hands.

Sam knew he wasn't going to win this, because if he stayed she'd stay up and she wouldn't be able to rest properly. His worry wouldn't fade, but it would lessen as she was safe with two officers. He would go home and tomorrow be here for her, like he always did.

"Be careful out there, okay?" She whispered their foreheads one against the other.

He kissed her lips barely touching them afraid to hurt her even more and after that he left her for the night.