Sam recovered just in time to watch her walk away. As the door closed, Jerry immediately sat down with a frown. Before he could even utter a word, Sam stopped him; he knew that face. "Save it! You have no idea what you're talking about."

Both men stared at their drinks cursing each other under their breath.

On the other side of the bar, the rookies had just watched the exchange between Sam and Andy as well.

Gail let out a huff of breath and mumbled to herself. "I hope she left the leash."

Traci flipped her head towards Gail, hoping she didn't hear her right. "What was that?"

"I'm pretty sure you heard me." Gail said flippantly.

"Listen, Frosty…" was all Traci was able to get out.

"Oh, please. She's just trying to play the sympathy card. Callahan drops her and the first thing she does is run to Swarek. Man I hope he doesn't fall for that."

Traci was about to give Gail a piece of her mind, but Chris spoke first.

"Gail!" He was not happy with her right now. "You have no idea what's going on."

"I don't need to know." Gail stressed. "Every time something goes wrong she runs to Swarek. Even when she had a boyfriend, she still had Swarek at her beck and call. If he doesn't see through this little charade...oh, whatever…it'll serve him right."

"I'm going to the bathroom." She announced, standing up.

The other 3 rookies sat there open mouthed as they watched Gail walk away. Traci turned to Chris. "I know she's your girlfriend and all, but man she can be cold."

Dov had been sitting quietly throughout the entire conversation. It was not at all like him, but he was still trying to get a read on the whole situation. He didn't want to believe Gail, but no one knew what, if anything was going on with Andy. "Is everything OK with Andy?" He asked Traci. "I mean is something else going on?"

"Not you too." Traci groaned. "I know something is bugging her; I just haven't found out yet. This isn't an act; I guarantee it. She wouldn't do that to Sam." Traci knew that for a fact.

"Well, I know I've never seen her like this." Dov admitted. "Will you let us know if you find out anything?"

Although Dov seemed sincere in his request, Traci knew she couldn't give him a definite yes. "I can't break Andy's confidence, but I will let you know if she's OK. But please trust me; she doesn't try to lead him on. She wouldn't do anything to hurt Sam."

"I know she wouldn't." Chris said without a doubt in his mind. He could see how much his friend cared for Sam whether she was aware of it or not. He was confident that Andy would not use Sam like that. Now he just had to convince Gail of that, but she seemed pretty adamant and almost a little too interested.

When Gail got back, Chris was still upset at where his thoughts had led him.

As she was about to sit down, she said, "I didn't see the leash, but I'm pretty sure I…"

"Wow, Gail." Chris muttered as he pushed his chair out and frowned. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous."

She was a little too concerned for his liking. "Are you ready to go?"

She looked a little sheepish and just nodded as she stood up to join him.

"Anyone else need a ride?"

"No, we're good." Traci and Dov answered together.

Chris and Gail walked out just as the silence was broken at the bar. Sam had heard Jerry take a deep breath, ready to start again. "I don't want to hear it."

"Too damn bad because I'm going to keep on saying it until I get through to you."

"Don't push me Jerry."

"Sam."

Sam hated that tone, and he always knew what was coming next.

"Sam. She has been using you since day one. Even when she was with Callahan, she had you wrapped around her finger. She knows what buttons to push. I know her type."

"You don't know anything about her." Sam ground out through his teeth.

"I know what a mess she's made of you. You pined away for her the whole time she was with Callahan; and now when he finally got wise and dumped her ass, she's expecting you to pick up the pieces. Don't make the same mistake as he did. Stop it before it even starts or she's going to break your heart." Jerry vowed.

"I know she's had a crappy life, but you don't need her kind of problems. Her mom may have left her, but that was a long time ago. And her dad…well I don't like to talk bad about a brother but from what I've heard..."

Sam's eyes shot up to Jerry and he looked him straight in the eye. "Then don't…because right now her dad…" Sam's eyes grew wide as he stopped mid sentence; he needed to settle down before he said something that couldn't be taken back.

"…Just shut the hell up, Jerry." Sam concluded.

"No…she will never commit…not to you, not to anyone. She doesn't know how, and I think you both know it. One of you needs to stop this, and I don't care which one."

Sam thought back to his conversation with Andy. "Have you talked to Andy about this too?"

Jerry at least had the decency to look a little guilty. "Someone had to; she treats you like shit. I just told her that she needed to leave you alone. She knows she's not what you need; I told her you deserved better."

"You have no idea what I need or want." Sam was trying not to lose his temper, but it was getting harder and harder to keep it in check. He didn't dare let go of his drink for fear of what his hands might do if they were free.

"I have no idea? How many times have I dragged your drunken ass home after she left here with Callahan? You were a disaster while she was sleeping with him, and there is no way in hell she is coming after you now. Callahan breaks up with her and she's got you tied up in even more knots than before – it's only going to get worse."

"You don't know what you're talking about – and you don't get to decide how I feel and what I do." Sam was starting to reach his breaking point.

"Sammy…"

"No, Jerry. I know what I'm doing. You don't have to worry about me; I can take care of myself. I appreciate that you're trying to be my friend; I do. But Andy is my friend too."

Jerry rolled his eyes. "You can't be friends with that woman and we both know it."

Sam just slapped his money down on the bar and left without another word.

Yes, I can. Sam thought. …at least for now.

Andy had headed straight for the hospital when she left the Penny. She had just spent the last couple hours with her father. She had apologized for being late explaining that she went to the bar with her friends, but Tommy assured her that it was fine. He was actually feeling a little guilty that he had been taking up all of her time anyway. He was happy that she made some time for herself.

She was glad to hear that, and didn't feel as bad when she told him that she would only be stopping by quickly tomorrow night since she would be spending the evening with Traci. Her dad assured her that he would be just fine on his own for one night.

With visiting hours over, Andy hugged her father and left to catch the bus to his apartment. As soon as she closed the door, she was startled by something in the hallway immediately to her left. Her surprise was replaced quickly by recognition when she realized that Sam was asleep on a chair just outside the room.

"Sam." She said quietly.

"Mmmm…Andy." He murmured, still asleep but with a gentle smile slowly taking over his face.

Andy couldn't help but smile back as she tried again. "Sam." She repeated as she placed her hand tenderly against his cheek.

He woke with her touch.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, pretty sure she knew the answer.

"I'm here to give you a ride home." He answered.

She tilted her head to the side and spoke in a mildly accusing tone. "Sam."

"McNally...Andy…please…let me do what I can." He wasn't sure if he was above begging or not, but he didn't have to worry about it getting that far.

"OK." She relented, and he stood to join her.

As they walked towards toward the exit, Sam wondered aloud. "Have you eaten anything tonight?"

Andy didn't want to say and that was answer enough for him. He immediately insisted on taking her out somewhere to eat.

They stopped by her dad's quickly so she could check on things and take in the mail. When she turned to tell Sam she'd be right back, he was already waiting for her on the sidewalk. She just smiled to herself at his thoughtfulness and let him tag along as she did what she needed to do. Within 10 minutes they were back in the truck and on their way.

Sam took Andy to one of their favorite lunch time diners, and after they had ordered, an uncomfortable silence had taken over the table. Andy wasn't sure if Sam was expecting her to talk about her father or not. She thought she might want to but she was still worried about whether or not it was too much of a burden. And Sam could tell she was unsure.

So he took it upon himself to get the conversation started and hopefully help her to loosen up. If all she did was relax a little, that was fine with him. If she decided she needed to talk more that was ok too. He would leave it up to her to decide, but he was going to do his best to make her feel comfortable either way.

Sam started telling her stories about his rookie year. She had heard some of them before, but it didn't matter; she just liked listening to him talk. Liked that she didn't have to say anything if she didn't want to.

Their food came and Sam continued to talk between bites, succeeding in keeping her mind occupied. After one particularly funny story, Andy found herself laughing, which thrilled Sam. Mission accomplished he thought as he looked down to take another bite. He was starting to see the old Andy coming out and he wanted that more than anything.

But his joy was short lived as her laughter stopped too soon after it started. Sam looked up to see her eyes clouding over with guilt. He knew exactly how she felt…knew that she was feeling bad for enjoying herself while her father was in the hospital. But there was something else too; like she was struggling with a choice.

"Andy…" Sam started, wanting to assure her that it was ok to be happy sometimes too.

"You know…he wasn't always a bad father." She said quietly, her decision made.

Sam sat back, knowing it was her turn. He wanted to be there for whatever she needed, and now it seemed like she needed to talk.

"No?"

"No. When I was younger…before my mother left…he spent all his free time teaching me about being a cop. I could pick a lock before I even got out of elementary school, and I knew at least three ways to take down someone twice my size."

Sam smiled at that. Andy had told him that she rebelled by making out with the wrong guys, but he could also see her putting a guy in his place if she needed to too.

"But it all changed as soon as she left. Suddenly, he just didn't seem to have any time for me anymore. He only had time for one thing. He tried to hide it from me, but I always knew."

"Sam?"

"Hmmm?"

"He gave up after she left. He didn't just stop taking care of me; he stopped taking care of himself too. I've tried my best, but I just couldn't be there all the time." She looked down and stared at her hands. "I didn't want to be there anymore; I couldn't stand to watch him throw his life away. And now there's no going back…"

She let out a sigh. "There's a chance he could need a new liver."

Sam's eyes widened, but it didn't truly surprise him. Andy hadn't told him much before tonight, but he knew; Tommy had been in rough shape for a long, long time. Sure he had been going to meetings and started cleaning himself up lately, but after years of abuse, his body was finally fighting back.

"I'm probably the best match you know…being his daughter and all, but…" She looked up at him then, meeting his gaze. "…is it bad that I'm not sure?"

"Andy, your life hasn't been easy and that's partially his fault."

He stopped her halfhearted protest before it even started. "No…don't get mad at me; you know it's the truth. I'm not trying to be mean; you just need to realize that he's hurt you and those feelings don't just go away because he's sick. You've already sacrificed a lot for him, and the majority of that time you didn't have a choice. So no…it's not bad for you to have reservations…it's natural." He assured her.

"When will you know for sure?"

"In the next few days…once all the tests are back."

"Well, then let's worry about that if and when it happens." He said as he put his hand on hers. "Either way, you don't have to go through it alone."

Andy gave him a small smile, and was thankful that she had decided to talk to him. She knew she could trust him; she did. She just finally let herself, and she was glad that she had. She usually kept everything bottled up until she burst; it was a relief not to let it get that far. Because she knew from past experience, nothing good ever came from that.

They finished their meal and Sam insisted on paying for Andy's supper. When he dropped her off at her apartment, Andy again leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For supper…for just being you." She said. "Has anyone ever told you what a great guy you are?"

"Of course." He teased. "…but it's always nice to hear." Especially from her.

She smiled. "Thank you."

"Any time, McNally. And I mean that."

"I know you do, and that's part of what makes you so great."

Sam grinned, knowing he probably shouldn't be flirting at a time like this, but he wasn't one to pass up on a great opportunity. "Only part? Then what's the other part?"

Andy just shook her head. "That's a conversation for another time."

"Night Sam."

"Night McNally."

For the first time in a week, Andy felt like she had really and truly slept. She woke up completely refreshed and after getting ready, she headed out the door to walk to work. Just as she got to the bottom of the stairs, she looked up to see Sam resting against his truck with one coffee in each hand.

She smiled. "We have to stop meeting like this."

He grinned. "No we don't."