Sam looked at his watch – midnight. He looked over at McNally, whose eyes were closed. I guess that I should get her home, he thought, not looking forward to her leaving…although I've had a couple of beers and really shouldn't be driving. Sam was fine. He was just looking for an excuse to keep her here with him. I could put her in a cab, but that would just seem like I'm trying to get rid of her.

"McNally, you awake?" No response. Sam got up from the lounger and crouched down beside Andy, his hand on her shoulder. "McNally, wake up," he repeated, giving her a gentle shake. Her eyes opened and pinned Sam with their chocolate brown stare. "Why don't you stay tonight? The spare bedroom's made up." Whatever she needs, right Sam?

"Good thing you're awake. I wasn't looking forward to carrying you up the stairs," he joked, lightening the intimacy of the situation.

"My hero," Andy teased, still not having moved from her position on the chair.

"Come on. Let's get you upstairs," Sam said, trailing his hand down her arm, linking her hand with his. Andy found his other hand with hers. He tugged gently, helping Andy to stand. They stared silently at their hands, still joined, until Sam reluctantly released one and started to lead her into the house. Andy grabbed her bag along the way.

Anyone who saw them climb the stairs, hand in hand, would think that they were two young lovers, heading off to bed. Arriving at the spare bedroom, Sam released Andy's hand. He turned on the light to the main bathroom, across the hall from Andy's room.

"There's a new toothbrush and toothpaste in the top drawer. Towels are fresh. I'm just down the hall if you need anything." Reluctant to leave, he added, "I'll get you something to sleep in."

If she was going to be sleeping down the hall from him, she wasn't going to be naked. Sam knew that sleep was going to be a challenge enough, without that.

"Night, McNally."

"Thanks for everything tonight, Sam. I feel better than I have in a while…so, thanks for that."

"Hey, partners, right? You'd do the same for me." Andy nodded, her eyes never straying from Sam's.

He was the first one to break the connection. "I'll get you that shirt," he said, backing away, and turning to grab his favourite black t-shirt from his bedroom. Handing it to her, he said, quietly, "Night, McNally," and headed back downstairs to tidy up the kitchen and lock the doors.

Andy sighed and headed into the bathroom. What did you expect? That he was going to sweep you off your feet, tell you that he can't live without you, and make sweet, passionate love to you all night? Don't be an idiot. She shook her head at her reflection in the mirror. You need to tell him about breaking up with Luke. It just gets harder and harder everyday that goes by. What are you, a coward? Are you afraid of his reaction? What's the problem?

Andy wasn't scared of Sam's reaction. She was scared of her own. Sam was everything Andy had ever wanted and everything she had ever run from in her life…and that terrified her.

Sam made his way back upstairs, noting the light under the bathroom door. Walking into his room, he turned on his bedside light and headed into the ensuite, removing his shirt and socks along the way. He looked at the man staring back at him in the mirror, brushing his teeth. You are such a lost cause, Swarek. She's right next door to you and you pat her on the head and send her off to bed. What is she, twelve? He snorted in derision at his reflection in the mirror. She's a big girl, Sam. The way she was looking at you…"Shuh-uh!" he told himself, with a mouth full of toothpaste. Spitting into the sink, Sam lifted his head and continued his quiet conversation with the man in the mirror. She's still your rookie…plus, she's still with Callaghan. Remember what you said to her about sharing? Be the bigger man, Sam. Just leave it alone.

Pep talk complete, Sam turned out the ensuite light. Dressed in only his jeans, he made to close his bedroom door – a layer of protection against the woman still in the bathroom.

Andy opened the bathroom door, dressed in Sam's t-shirt and her pair of black, lacy boy shorts. She always kept a couple of pairs, plus an extra tank top in her bag.

Sam was frozen in his tracks. She did amazing things to a simple, black t-shirt…yet, another reason for it to be his favourite.

"Got everything you need?" he asked huskily - anything to relieve the tension.

Andy started to walk towards him. "No," she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from his lean muscled chest and the patch of hair that disappeared below the waistband of his jeans. The urge to touch him was overwhelming.

She laid her hands on Sam's firm belly – gently moving her fingertips through the soft swirl of hair on his abdomen, curious as to the texture. When white flecks started to dance in front of his eyes, Sam realized that he'd stopped breathing. Reminding himself to breathe normally, he let Andy continue her gentle exploration, his hands at his sides. Whatever she needs, he reminded himself, and watched the play of emotions across her face, while he struggled with his tenuous hold on control.

Her fingertips trailed fire where they touched his skin, tracing the swirls and then moving up to explore the hard planes of his chest. They almost reverently stroked his strong, sinewy shoulders, following a path around to the back of Sam's neck, and up further still, to gently fist in his thick, dark hair.

Andy raised her eyes to Sam's and suddenly his mouth was on hers.

Desire, she could taste it on him. A scrape of teeth that made her head spin, a plunge of tongue that rocked her to her core. This wasn't a gentle exploration – it was a desperate, clawing heat, spearing upward, driving them both.

Sam was lost. His hands, no longer at his sides, found their way under the black t-shirt to cover every inch of the smooth skin of Andy's back, revelling in the silky texture under his fingertips.

Andy's breath snagged in her throat as Sam's hands changed direction to travel slowly up her sides, pausing to cup the full weight of her breasts. The hard pad of callus on his thumbs over her nipples turned Andy's knees to jelly.

Intrigued by her tremble, Sam watched Andy as his hands started their journey downward to cup her bottom, lifting her so that his hardness was pressed against her heat, the friction causing an almost unbearable pressure inside them both.

Swallowing her gasp with another earth-shattering kiss, Sam made the extreme effort to gentle the kiss, vaguely realizing the Andy's breath sounded more like a whimper.

Christ, what was he doing? Was she or was she not still in a relationship with Callaghan? Don't make her a cheater, Sam.

Staggered by what he'd done, and what he wanted to do, Sam dropped his hands and slowly stepped back. He didn't want to be the cause of anymore regret in her life, and if they did what he so desperately wanted to do, he was sure that that's what he'd be…a regret.

Not trusting himself to linger long enough for the fog to clear from McNally's eyes, lest his resolved weakened, Sam whispered, "Sleep tight, McNally," and stepped into his room, his door closing with a soft click.

Two hours later, sleep having eluded her, Andy realized why Sam stopped. He still thought that she was with Luke. It was her own fault that they weren't tangled up in the sheets of his king-sized bed right now. The jackass was trying to protect her. Mentally kicking herself, Andy strengthened her resolve and kicked the sheets aside, practically jumping out of bed and striding to the door. She wasn't going to let him push her away.

Who knew that Sam Swarek was a frickin' boy scout? Certainly not him!

The tangled sheets a testament to the last restless two hours, Sam replayed the scenario over and over in his head, each time with a different ending. Had he done the right thing or would McNally think that he didn't want her; that she wasn't worth the risk to both of their careers? She was worth any risk, and more.

Maybe he should just go over there and carry on where they'd left off…that is, if she even wanted him at this point. Chances are, she was either really hurt or really pissed, and Sam didn't blame her, even though he knew it was for her own good. They were both better off this way until their situation was a little less complicated.

A soft tapping on his door roused him from his mental tug-of-war.

"Sam…you awake?"

"Yeah."

Andy opened up Sam's door. "I can't sleep – you know...Benny…" she trailed off, thankful for the darkness that hid her lie.

"Do you think that I could…I mean, would it be all right if…" God, she hoped that her acting skills weren't as pathetic as she thought they were.

Sam sighed, lifting the covers and shifting to the other side of the bed. "Get in, McNally." Whatever hope that Sam had of sleeping tonight was lost with those words. He knew that the feel of McNally's body beside him would make sleep impossible.

As Andy crawled in beside him, she backed up against his warm, solid chest, her bottom nestled where Sam wanted her the most…and the least. Wrapping his arm around her to bring her body closer, Sam's last thought before sleep overtook him…whatever she needs.