CHAPTER 19

A few nights during the week Andy would wake up in cold sweat and breathless. She mostly didn't remember the nightmares she had, but the feeling was always there. Things such as a bird passing her or a slightly louder noise would make her jump and hold her breath. It was hard not letting Sam know, she wanted to share with him everything that was going on, but it was almost impossible. Andy didn't want to worry him more than he already was and even she didn't know exactly what was going on in her own head.

"Pull yourself together, Andy McNally." She said to her tired and scared reflection.

Looking outside the bathroom where she had just passed another panic attack she could see Sam sleeping peacefully. There is one thing good in all of this get away. They were better now. Together and everything seems to be finding their place again. These last couple of days they had barely gotten into fights and he really tried hard to make this whole living in the wild thing work out.

She was a lot better physically since she barely felt any pain, but her mind didn't seem to be capable of letting it go. It was something she figured would take longer to get over. They were looking into the only apartment both of them had liked and with luck they would move in with the help of their friends during the weekend.

After washing her face one last time and drinking some cold water she moved back to the bed she had left Sam. Laying down she looked at his face sleeping peacefully and smiled. They had been through so much and they still managed to get to where they were. Her hand brushed his face lightly and she gave him a quick kiss barely touching his skin as though not to disturb him.

The next morning she woke up to feel Sam's side of the bed cold and empty. The clock by the side of the bed read 10:43 so she pushed the blankets aside and went on a hunt to find her boyfriend. Her steps were slow since she was still very sleepy, but she found Sam on the table near the tv eating cereal.

"Hey, Gorgeous." Sam said smiling at Andy.

"You have some cereal on your chin." She said grabbing some cereal of her own and sitting next to him. "What are we watching?"

"I think it's one of those survival stories. They were attacked by a bear." Sam said knowing she'd get his point about the woods being a dangerous place.

"Nice try." She said laying her head on his shoulder.

After they had finished their breakfast they decided to go on a small walk outside before they headed to the city for lunch and to look at the apartment.

"Where do you want to eat?"

"Let's just get a hot dog, I'm dying over here." She said as Sam stopped his car in front of a street hot dog. Much like one they had gone to many times during their rotation together.

The apartment was everything they wanted. Not too big, but still had two extra rooms and it was well located with a price just right to fit their pockets. They weren't saving up for an apartment so they would maybe be doing some extra hours in the next couple of weeks.

Leaving the apartment Andy went to meet up with the real state agency to settle the deal while Sam went to meet up with Oliver to set their plans for the weekend.

"Brother, I tought you'd be coming by a little later. I still have two hours 'til the end of my shift, but come closer, I want to know everything about your life on the wild side." Oliver said pulling Sam under his arm.

"It's not all bad like I was expecting, but it's still not enough to change my mind. I'm not retiring and moving to the woods with you." He said pushing Oliver aside. "So, I think we may have found the one."

"What? You and McNally looking for some side action?"

Sam sent him a glare and Oliver just laughed it off.

"That's good. You'll move in during the weekend and then both of you can get your asses back in action here. Seriously, it's been dead here. I need both of you back, I can't joke around the other couples."

"What do you mean? I bet Dov and Chole are okay. Dorks, but okay. Then there is also Traci and Steve." Sam said trying to point out the obvious couples around the station.

"Dov and Chloe can't be the stations couple anymore, they are driving me insane. It's way too much romance for just one couple. Traci and Steve are nice, but I can't joke around with those two, so McSwarek needs to come back stat."

Sam slapped his friends back as they made their way to the coffee machine.

"We're working on it, okay? Oh… There was one more thing I need to ask for your help."

"Yeah, yeah, what do you need, Swarek?" Oliver said examining the machine.

"I need help finding a ring."

Oliver's head slowly lifted from the machine to look at his friend.

"No." he said like he couldn't believe it.

Sam looked at him with a nervous smile.

"No." Oliver repeated not believing it even more.

Sam kept his nervous face on and Oliver stood straight.

"No."

"Oh for Christ sake is it so unbelievable?" Sam asked trying to get more than one syllable out of his friend. "I sure hope that's not Andy's response."

Oliver in a quick motion slaps his hand over Sam's head.

"You're a fool for thinking like that. But you're in luck my friend. I know just the place." He said and they turned their backs with two cups of coffee.

"When do you think is best?"

"When? I don't think anyone cares how you do it. During dinner, in the shower, when you move in… It doesn't matter right now, all we need is to get you a ring, brother." Oliver said with a big ass smile across his face.

"Right… I think I got an idea." Sam said smiling to himself.

"Leave her at the house with Celery and come pick me up. We're going shopping." Oliver said pushing his friend out the door towards the parking lot.

Sam stopped his truck in front of a big building and saw Andy sitting in a small bench covering herself from the cold.

"Need a ride?" he asked.

Andy looked up smiling at him and nearly ran towards the car careful not to step on any ice.

"Did we get it?"

"We got it!" Andy screamed and jumped inside and Sam couldn't help himself but laugh at her.

"I'm gonna need to head out with Oliver for a while, so do you mind spending some time with Celery?"

"No, not at all." She said looking down at the papers in her hand that confirmed that they had gotten themselves a new home.

The truck stopped in front of Oliver's house where Celery was already outside waiting for Andy to come. It was strangely nice how they got along together so fast. Sam grew more nervous as he got closer to the station, but he couldn't help but laugh when he saw Oliver waiting for him outside and started barking orders on where to go the moment he stepped inside the truck.