Andy and Sam had found a way to deal with the fallout after their little game in the locker room…they just didn't talk about it.
That wasn't entirely true. They had come to an understanding of sorts…Sam agreed not to badger Andy about Callaghan and she promised not to take any major piece of clothing off in front of Sam again. Agreed. Coexisting peacefully as partners after that seemed relatively easy.
Neither one acknowledged how drastically those few minutes had affected them. Denial as a form of self-preservation worked for them both.
Sam still hadn't clued into the fact that Andy had broken things off with Luke – quite odd considering he prided himself on his investigative skills. Maybe it was the fact that Luke still pulled Andy aside behind the closed door of his office, that Sam's suspicions weren't raised. He didn't know that Luke took those opportunities to try and change Andy's mind about ending their relationship. To Sam, those moments looked like a 'lover's tiff,' and that was enough to give him some satisfaction. He knew Luke's days with Andy were numbered, he just didn't know when.
In the days that followed, their TO-Rookie partnership solidified. Andy was better able to read Sam and his rather unorthodox methods of policing – hell, she even initiated some of them. Sam couldn't believe the change in her over such a short period of time – efficient and skilled, and on the rare occasion when Sam allowed her to take the lead, self-confident. She was finally starting to go with her gut – trust her instincts. These traits, by their very nature, were what made Sam a good cop and he was proud that she respected him enough to embrace his methods. Sure, she still made mistakes - some HUGE rookie mistakes, but she was learning, and that was enough to impress Sam.
They had found their rhythm – a balance, perhaps caused by the effect each had on the other. Unfulfilled sexual desire was a powerful motivator.
Their shift had been relatively quiet – B & E, domestic, dog barking complaint. Definitely too quiet for Sam's liking. It gave him too much quiet time with McNally beside him – too much time for thinking. Now that they were heading back to the station to file their paperwork, he lost the battle and blurted out the one question that was on his mind all day.
"Didn't see you at the Penny last night, McNally. What were you up to?" Well, you almost lasted your whole shift without asking, you pathetic bastard, Sam berated himself. He'd seen Callaghan sitting alone at the bar, but before he could ask the guy where McNally was, Callaghan was heading out the door.
"I was over at Marie's. She called me and was feeling a little down, so I went over there for a while. She's at such a loss these days, Sam, since Benny died."
Sam turned to look at McNally whose eyes held such compassion for a woman who was, until a few days ago, a stranger. But I guess that's how everyone starts out – as strangers, until some twist of fate brings you together.
"By the way, what are you doing tonight?" Andy looked at Sam and quickly added, "…uh, I mean, Marie is having some more issues with plumbing – this time, it's the bathroom. Her toilet's leaking at the base, so I'm thinking it's probably the wax seal. I picked up a new one and have my tools all ready to go, but I'm thinking that it might be better if you take a look. Maybe I've missed something."
"Well then, I guess you and I have another hot date, McNally. Marie's going to have a brand new house by the time you're through."
"Thanks, Sam. You know that Marie really appreciates everything you do for her - I know that you've gone over there a couple of times on your own. She's also mentioned that she thinks you're 'quite a catch' and if she were 20 years younger, she'd be giving you a run for your money." Andy teased, watching the colour rise in Sam's cheeks.
Andy knew that Sam had come to care for Marie, just like she had. What wasn't to care about? Marie was tough – she'd had to be, but for those she loved, she'd move heaven and earth. She saw the good in people, and that's why she took a chance on Benny, although Marie didn't see it as taking a chance - he deserved a break. He wasn't a bad kid. He'd just made some bad choices, and with Marie in his corner, she wasn't about to let him sell himself short and screw up his future.
That was until he died. Andy was still feeling the weight of Benny's death, and her part in it. After all, he'd had the surgery to remove the bullet from his head for her – because he felt he owed her for saving his life during the drive-by. Luke needed that bullet for a conviction, and he got it – just at the expense of a good kid, Andy thought bitterly.
At a stop light, Sam watched the play of emotions across McNally's face. He knew that she's was thinking about Benny's death and how she felt she was to blame. He wished that he could take some of that weight onto his own shoulders – anything to give her a break from her demons, but he knew that she needed to deal in her own way. She had to go through it all, from start to finish, in order for her to come out on the other side.
She seemed surprised when they pulled into the parking lot at the station – not able to remember the last few minutes of the drive. Since it was such a quiet day, Sam knew that filing his paperwork wouldn't take too long. "So, meet back here in 45 minutes?"
Andy nodded, still preoccupied. At that moment, Sam decided that it was going to be his mission tonight to take care of his rookie – at least try to lighten things up so the haunted look left her eyes, even if it was just for a while.