ROOKIE BLUE (isn't mine)

COPPER

Guys, i can't even begin to tell you how I'm touched by your overwhelming support. i promise i'll update the others stories asa i can. :)

-o-

Part 3

"Andy, you have to finish unpacking your stuff. It's been four months…" said Traci Nash.

"Five," Andy grinned.

"Look at all these frames," Traci insisted, waving at a stack of frames propped against the wall. "You know it can be really handy to have a second person's help. Look, I can hold the frame up to the wall, you can stand back and decide which height is best for your picture, what do you think?"

"I think I'm not ready yet."

"Okay. I won't argue with you. But you got the full report on my trip to Florida already, so enough with the pirates and Buzz Lightyear and your domestic chores, I want to know everything!" Traci Nash snuggled in the armchair and took a sip of her wine. She waved her hand again. "Come on, don't be shy. You know Andy, I'm so happy to be back that I can't believe I'm even happier to peeling off that uniform!"

"I know exactly what you mean. I could use some time off," Andy smiled over the rim of her glass.

"Oh, oh. Is that good or bad? Is it a case? Shaw gave you a hard time when I was away?"

Andy shook her head. "No, no, I'm fine, Trace."

"Good. Are you going to spill the beans or what? General headlines, please… Is your dashing detective still on the front page?"

Andy froze. "We had a couple of drinks…"

"And? Come on, give it to me. Jerry's a great guy, but with Leo around, our little trip wasn't really chick flick material."

"And nothing," Andy shrugged.

"You kidding right? Not even first base? When I left, you two seemed quite friendly." She stared at her friend, unable to read anything. "Don't tell me that he backed out on you? Oh, Andy, I'm sorry, I thought you had a good thing going on."

"He didn't." Andy paused. She glanced at Traci and scoffed. "But I sort of did." She grinned.

"You did? Really? But why?"

Andy got up from the couch and went to the kitchen to fetch a bowl of popcorn. "No reason, really. I didn't want to rush into anything stupid again."

"Five months? It's a darn good reason! That doesn't look like rushing into anything to me."

"I mean, it's not like that. We're cool."

"What does it even mean? You're cool and?" Traci's eyes went wide.

"And I want intense. I want the sparkle, the fireworks, I want everything! That's simply not happening with Luke."

"Oh. Okay. Exit Luke-warm then," she said, doing her best to be supportive. Why would Andy reject the guy? Perfect record, smart, gentle, easy on the eyes. "Wait… No!" she giggled. "You hooked up with someone else!"

Andy nodded frantically. "I met this guy." She made a quick curtsy and sat back.

Traci leaned towards her friend, raising her glass. "Oh, this is getting somewhere, finally! Is he a cop?"

"Yes, definitely."

"Do I know him? Is he in your chain of command? Come on, throw me a frickin' bone, here!"

"I think you never met him but he's a friend of Jerry's."

"Good. That puts him directly in the yay column."

"Right." Andy raised her glass. "Actually, he helped me with a case."

"Helped you with a case? Where was Shaw?"

"At the Penny, or home, how would I know?"

"Okay."

"I was on desk duty…"

"My favourite," Traci smirked.

"Yeah. And this woman, you remember the one we rescued with Gail, the one who was in a bad relationship?"

"I remember. Melanie what's-her-name…"

"Yes, this Melanie. It was late and my shift was almost over. Her neighbours called me..."

"Why would they call you?"

"Because I made a mistake all right," Andy snapped, "please don't interrupt me every five second or I'll never get to the Sam's part."

"Sam? That's a good name."

"Trace?"

"Sorry."

"Anyway. I had to go to Melanie's but everyone was already gone. I simply couldn't take a patrol car by myself and arrest the guy, right? Luke was not at the barn, Noelle was gone, so I went to the men's locker room…"

"The men's locker room? Andy!" Traci was laughing now.

"And here he was, just finished his assignment undercover or something…"

"He's an undercover cop. Oh Andy, it's not good."

Andy ignored the comment. "I had no idea who he was, except that I saw him with Best and Boyd earlier in the week. Anyway, um, he was there, half naked, and I didn't know what to do so I asked him for his keys."

"His keys?" Traci practically jumped from her seat.

"The keys to his car. Not his keys keys, you idiot!"

"Of course, go on."

"And that's it."

"That's it?"

"Yep, pretty much. We arrested the guy. He gave me that big lecture on policing and being a rookie and that's it."

"I… I don't understand. You never saw him again?"

"Yes I did. We worked the case through together the day after."

"And?"

"And we had a few drinks at the Penny… And he took me out for dinner to this tiny Italian restaurant."

"Yes! I knew it!"

Andy shrugged. "You don't know anything."

"Why aren't you… I don't know, like more excited? Am I wrong or what?"

"Traci, it's complicated…"

"No, it's not. Woman meets man, woman likes man, woman gets man. Simple. I'm guessing he doesn't play hard to get."

"I have no idea. He's…" she hesitated, "friendly. And kind. He's a great listener. I mean he's adorable, in a sort of bossy, rough trade kind of way. He's the strong, silent type, you know. He's got these dark smoldering eyes and dimples to die for, but Trace, I never know what's really going on."

"So you're basically telling me that nothing happened between you two?"

"Nope. He gave me a ride home yesterday."

"Not even a kiss?"

She shook her head. "We barely touched since we met. I don't know. Maybe I'm imagining things. Maybe I'm not his type?"

"Oh, shut up Andy, you'd be anybody's type!" Traci stated. "Maybe he's gay!"

"Traci, the fact is I don't want to jinx it."

"Jinx it? Oh boy, you are soo smitten… Was I away more than 5 days?"

"You know I was never lucky in the romance department. And this time, I really think I could have a shot at it. I mean, when you meet the right one, that's it, right?"

"Jeez, does he know how you feel?"

"No, of course not!" Andy yelped, hiding her embarrassment behind her glass.

Traci sighed and rolled her eyes. "Andy, you're not making any sense. I need more wine." She held out her glass for a refill. "Why wouldn't you want him to know? Are you going to turn into some kind of masochistic spinster?"

Andy giggled. "Traci!" She looked away, trying to put her thoughts together. "I'm not sure he's going to stay or if he's going back undercover. I don't want to get my hopes up and realize that he's gone."

"You sound like you really need some girlfriend advice. Listen to me. If you're into this guy, don't let him go. Is that simple enough for you?"