This one is quite depressing. Andy's feeling alone and lost, and with good cause, seeing everything that's happened.

Before I go, though, I have to clear up a few things. I know the Luke attack was kind of unprovoked, but let's assume they broke up before Sarah's suicide, which took place three fics and a month ago. Poor Luke, it's so eaasy to make him the bad guy.

Second, Gail is pregnant. How far along is kinda sketchy. All we know is that the baby has begun to kick, and shit's getting real! :D

Thank you to everyone for your fantastic reviews, and a special thank you to FireEthereal for pointing out the flaws in my timeline. It is appreciated, really! I'm always looking to improve!


The Hardest Part

Dov tugged at his shirt as he leaned against the dresser opposite Sam.

"What's up?" Dov asked, doing his best to keep his mood in good spirits. Sam looked at the door. Down stairs, they could hear Andy walking around, her cast thumping on the hardwood. Sam closed the door before continuing.

"This is a huge bust." He dropped himself onto the bed and rubbed his eyes. "Like really, really huge Dov." His voice was strained.

"Isn't that good? You wanted to shut the ring down, isn't that what you're doing?" Dov tried to understand.

"What's the first thing they taught you about undercover in the Academy, Dov?" Sam asked. Dov just cocked his head in return and narrowed his eyes. "When the stakes get higher, everything becomes more dangerous. The stakes, Dov, are the height of freakin' Mount Everest right now. I'm being told that there will be snipers at the deal, and I'm not allowed to wear a vest." Dov could see anger boiling over in Sam's eyes.

"And they're still sending you in? They can't do that!" He was shocked.

"They say they've got me covered. And either way, I can't walk away from this, not now." His voice lowered.

"But what about Andy?" Dov walked towards the raven haired man. "Have you told her about this?"

"I can't." Sam shook his head. "She'd lose her mind."

"How can I help?" Dov took a seat next to Sam. "There has to be some way that I can help you." Sam visibly swallowed his fear and turned to face the young, eager rookie.

"I don't know if I'm coming home from this one. It very well could be a suicide mission. I'm scared as hell, but Dov, these women and girls, they're being sold. I can't walk away from it." Sam rubbed his hands together. "After this one, I'm finished. I'm telling Best that the only way I'll ever do UC work again is if she's right beside me the whole time."

He took a deep breath and did his best to continue. "Look at me, Dov." Sam's eyes pierced through his. "I just asked that woman to marry me. Without her, I am nothing. While I'm gone, I need you to take care of her." His voice began to shake. "She's gonna be scared, really, really scared. You either have to stay here, or keep her at your place. Just don't leave her alone, ever. If she wants to start planning the wedding, whatever she wants, she gets." He handed him his debit card, Dov responded with wide eyes. "I don't care what it is, or what it costs, just keep my baby happy and safe."

"Of course. Of course." Dove promised.

"If she's not ready to go back to work when her leg is healed, Best already said she could take a few of my sick and vacation days. And, so can you. Never leave her side, got it?"

"Everything will be fine, Sam." Dov said honestly. "I'm gonna tell you what I tell her. Just think about how much you have to look forward to; the wedding, starting a family. It'll all be worth it, every single second." Sam stood up and Dov followed suit. Dov held out his hand for Sam to shake, but was surprised when Sam just pulled him into a brief man hug.

"Thank you, Dov. Really." He meant what he said. "I know I'm asking a lot from you. But just, do this for her."

"Are you kidding? I was going to camp out on the front steps if she didn't let me in." Dov laughed nervously again. Sam turned and began to leave, but stopped after about two steps.

"I really don't want to do this." He whispered.

"Greater good, man. Think about the millions of babies you can have when you get back." Dov clapped a hand on his shoulder. "She's in good hands." Sam nodded and led the way down the stairs.

"Anything happens to me, please. Take care of her." He whispered as they rounded the corner.

As Andy sat on the couch, her leg up on the coffee table and watched the two most important people in her life walk down the stairs in front of her, her heart began to sink. She knew she'd have to say goodbye, she just wasn't able to prepare herself for it. Sam hadn't even reached the bottom step and she'd already started to cry. He walked over to her and she shook her head, not being able to articulate what she was feeling.

Sam felt so guilty for leaving her, but he knew he had to. He enveloped her in a warm, strong hug and kissed her neck.

"I know." He whispered as he touched his nose to hers, looking deep into her eyes. "It'll be over soon, I promise."

"Can you come back next week again?" Andy's voice was high pitched and breathless.

"Yeah. I'll work something out. Same time?" He smiled at her, and his dimples broke her heart again. She nodded, tears leaving tracks down her cheeks. He kissed her forehead, and then her lips. "I promise. Until then, honey, Dov's got you." He tried to get through to her, but more crying ensued.

"I don't want you to go." She sobbed like a little girl that lost her puppy.

"I love you, Andy. I love you more than anything. Never forget that. I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you." He whispered, breathing in the scent of her skin one last time.

"You are nothing short of my everything." His body shook as he began to move away from her after one more kiss. He wiped his eyes and reached for the door knob.

"No, no, no, no." Andy cried as Dov sat down next to her and folded his arms around her.

The image of Sam standing in front of the door, tears in his eyes, knowing full well that he may never see the love of his life, would forever stay with Dov. He knew this as the dark haired man finally blew a kiss to his fiancé and left.

Dov brought one hand up to Andy's head and leaned back so she was lying on top of him. In that moment, he felt so small. He knew nothing he could every say, or do, would ever mend her heart. He looked down at his hands as they stroked Andy's back and hair, slowly soothing the sobs that racked the woman's body.

"Its okay, Andy. It's alright." He kissed the top of her head and brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

"Dov, what if something happens to him?" She cried.

"Nothing will happen, nothing. I promise you." He whispered back, not trusting his voice.

"Listen to me." She raised her head and looked at him. "If something happens to him, I don't know if I'll be able to keep going." Her voice barely audible. "Never forget how much I love you okay?" She didn't have to say it, but Dov knew what she meant.

"Andrea! Stop it. Stop it, now." He ordered her. "You are a McNally, remember? Whatever happened to not being like your dad? To not giving in? What would Sam do if he heard you say that?" He used a stern voice. "Don't even do that. If anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself. Or in this case, you. Don't do that."

"I'm so tired, Dov." Her voice was faint.

"Then you sleep, not jump off a bridge." He responded.

"First Sarah, then Sam has to leave, then this," she pointed to her cast, "and now he's gone again. It's one thing after another, I feel like I'm being punished for something."

"It's always darkest before the dawn. It'll get better." His voice softened.

"I'm so sorry." She sobbed into his chest.

"Hey, hey. Why are you sorry?" He furrowed his brow.

"I've been such a nuisance to everyone. I just want to stop bothering everyone." She cried.

"You need to relax, and get some sleep. You're fine. Everything is okay, you know it is." He whispered to her as her breathing began to even out.

This time, it was Dov who didn't sleep. They remained on the couch for four hours, Andy on top of him with her head nestled in the crook of his neck. He stared blankly at the ceiling, mulling over the past few days. He had to take Andy in to give her statement later in the afternoon, and he decided that this would be when he'd make a change.

"Andy, time to get up." He sung to her softly. He checked his watch and prayed they wouldn't be late for her meeting with Jerry. "Andy, come on wake up." He slowly sat both of them upright.

"I'm sleeping." She mumbled.

"You can sleep in the car." Dov laughed. He knew that begging wouldn't get him anywhere, so he picked her up and carried her to the car before returning to the house and locking up.

She did sleep all the way to the station. He helped her onto her crutches and into the building, not leaving her side until Traci was firmly situated on her other side at the interview table. As soon as he was outside, he walked straight into Best's office.

"Officer Epstein, what can I do for you?" Frank leaned back in his chair.

"How long is Sam going to be out?" He cut right to the chase.

"I can't divulge that information, Epstein, sorry." He waved his hand.

"Just tell me. His fiancé hasn't slept in weeks, she can't make it up stairs alone and she wouldn't eat if I didn't feed her. I need to know how much time I need to take off for her." Dov was trying to hide his growing frustration.

"Dov this isn't up to you, to take care of her." Frank furrowed his brow.

"Yes, it is! I promised Sam that I would take care of her. When is he getting back?" His tone grew fiercer.

Frank sighed. "There may be a deal we can get in on in three weeks. If we miss it, it'll be months before he's home."

"Damnit. Well, I'll go break the news to Andy and then hold her back when she tries to kill somebody. I can do desk duty when she gets a bit better. Thanks bud." He stormed out.

He walked into the observation room to see Andy sobbing again, her head hidden in her arms on the table.

"Alright, that's all we need." Jerry got up and kissed Andy on the head. "You're gonna be fine, rook." He whispered to her, rubbing her arms. Dov passed him in the doorway.

"Come on, let's get you home." He didn't need to ask this time. "Can you grab her crutches?" He asked Traci before picking Andy up and carrying her out to the car.

He helped her in and closed the door, before turning his back and leaning back against the car, rubbing his eyes. Traci stood before him, one hand on her hip.

"What's going on with you, Dov? With both of you?" She asked him softly. Dov turned and motioned to Andy that he'd be right back and then led Traci around the corner.

"I don't know what to do, Traci." Dov was exhausted. "It's one thing after another, it just won't let up. She's terrified, of men in general now, thanks to Luke. She wouldn't let me take her out to breakfast today. She's scared that Sam is gonna die, and the fact is, he might." He pursed his lips and shifted from one foot to the other. "She hasn't stopped crying in four days, hasn't slept in just as long, and I can't fix it. She feels totally alone." His voice grew thin.

"You're doing a great job, Dov. You're keeping her alive." Traci laid a hand on his forearm.

"She told me she may or may not kill herself if Sam doesn't get through this. He asked her to marry him today, and if anything it just terrified her more. She's scared she's going to lose everything that she's had to work so hard to keep safe." He sighed.

"She said that? You saw him? They're getting married? What?" Traci tried to wrap her mind around the situation.

"He came to the hospital and set up a meeting while Andy was in surgery. We met him at their place at nine, they spent an hour together and then he was gone again." Traci sighed and shook her head. "I don't know what else I can do. I'm trying so hard, and she is too, but it's like we're stuck."

"Oh, Dov." Traci stepped forward and hugged him. They'd never really been touchy with each other, but it seemed appropriate in the moment. "It'll be okay." She whispered delicately.

"You sound like me." Dov laughed.

"You two need a vacation." Traci patted his hand.

"Well, the doctor's replacing Andy's cast with a splint at the end of the week; maybe I'll whisk her away somewhere." He smiled.

"Yeah, with what money?" Traci laughed. Dov pulled out Sam's card.

"What baby wants, baby gets." He said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh he does love her!" Traci said with wide eyes. They walked back to the car to find Andy again, sleeping in the car. Traci leaned in to look at her hand.

"Oh my god!" She nearly shrieked. "Dov, that ring is huge. Holy crap." Traci raved.

"Yep, yep. We'll see you later, Trace." He waved as he got into the car and pulled away.

"I feel so vulnerable. I'm not a vulnerable person." Andy said, half sleeping.

"You are vulnerable. You can barely walk. That's why I'm here." Dov smiled at her.

"Thanks brother. Don't know what I'd do without you." She sat up in her seat.

"If you could do anything in the world, right this very second, what would it be?" Dov asked.

"Make cookies and then eat them in a tent built over my bed, like I did when I was a kid." Andy smiled.

"Then cookies it is." He took the next left and turned towards the grocery store. It was a small gesture, but he just needed an afternoon of happiness, like it used to be.

It was a small victory for Dov, seeing the real Andy show through, free of burden and heartache; even if the sight was fleeting. He smiled at the woman in the seat next to him and set his mind on the next challenge he would have to face.

How the hell do you build a tent on top of a bed, big enough for two adults?