Chapter 8

Sam whistled a happy tune as he walked from his truck to the personnel door. He sauntered down the hall and into the men's locker room. There he started changing into his uniform.

"Sammy, it's too early in the morning for whistling," Shaw grumbled, giving him a glare.

"It's never too early to whistle," he disagreed, grinning at his grouchy friend.

"What's with you? For the last week you've been walking around like someone made you the king of happy land," Shaw said, leaning over to tie his boots. Suddenly, his head shot up and his hands froze in mid tie. "Wait. Has somebody made you king of happy land?" A slow smile grew on his face. "A dark haired, green eyed hottie, perhaps?"

Sam smiled at him and said, "Well, Zoe might have a particular dark haired, green eyed woman to talk to at our next dinner."

"Get out of town," Shaw said with a laugh. "Details, Swarek, details."

"Nothing much to tell, other than we've hooked up and I think we're both pretty happy about it." He clipped his radio onto his belt and his shoulder.

"See, I told you. I had a feeling about you two the second I saw her," Shaw grinned.

"So quit your job and become a match-maker," Sam teased, walking by and clapping his hand on his friend's shoulder.

Sam went straight to parade and found the corner of his favorite desk. He chatted with a few of the other officers that started filing in shortly after him. He gave Andi a small wave and a smile as she dashed in, last minute as always. She returned his wave and found a seat beside her friend Nash.

Best walked in and went to the front of the room. He began talking, giving orders for the day. Part way through, Sam noticed a general buzz in the room and people began ignoring Best and looking at him. It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what they were talking about. He looked over at Shaw and gave him a glare. Shaw simply shrugged and grinned, mouthing "Sorry, buddy."

Best rapped the desk in front of him with the book in his hand. "Is there something going on that is more important than what I am saying," he asked, glaring around the room.

Several "No sir" and "Sorry, sir" were said, and the room settled into quiet again. Sam noticed Andi looking at him with a smirk on her face. He rolled his eyes but grinned. She turned away to concentrate on Best again.

When parade ended, most of the officers came by and made a comment about the fact that he was dating the woman whom he'd rescued. He tried to deal with the general teasing and ribbing he received with some friendly jabs of his own. Epstein, though, received a not so friendly smack on the back of the head and a warning glare when he commented, "Swarek scores with the rich chick. I guess that means you'll be rich soon too."

When it was just Andi standing in front of him, she looked at him with a small smile. "Are you happy, Sam? Does she make you happy?"

"Yeah," he answered, nodding. "Yeah, she really does."

"Then I'm thrilled for you." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. After she stepped back, she turned to walk away saying cheekily over her shoulder, "But I am going to miss having you as a backup boyfriend."

"What?"

"You know," she said, turning around and walking backwards, "the guy you call on when you need a wedding date, or a ride, or something like that." She turned and continued walking away.

"Honey," he called after her, grinning. "I'm no one's backup."

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, and please review!