Chapter 2

The silence that had temporarily fallen on the group of police officers when Andy was led back to Sam's room didn't last long.

"Did you know that they got married?" Oliver asked Traci

"Does it look like I knew?" Traci asked incredulously, "I can't believe this. Last I knew he missed her call and she left him some random message about wanting the good candy, whatever that means."

Luke tuned out the conversation at that point. He could have cared less about Swarek. The only reason he was even at the hospital was to speak to a witness as soon as he woke up from surgery. He excused himself to check on the status. He had absolutely no desire to hear about how his ex-fiancé and her training officer got married.

The rookies were arguing now. "How is it possible that commitment phobe Andy, gets married to Sam Swarek?" Dov asked, "That's so rock and roll."

"She's not exactly commitment phobe, she was living with Callaghan." Chris pointed out.

Dov brushed that off easily, "We all knew that wasn't going to last." He looked around quickly to make sure Luke didn't hear that, not that he liked the guy anyway, but no need to kick him when he's down.

Oliver and Jerry were also deep in discussion with Noelle and Frank.

"Did Sammy say anything to you?" Jerry asked Noelle, knowing that she usually got more information out of him that the rest of them.

Noelle shook her head, "Not a thing. I mean, he did seem happier; I guess. Did you guys notice anything?"

"Only thing out of the ordinary was that he skipped out on poker really early because he was 'tired'. Yeah, well now we know why he was tired. All that newlywed sex. Its the best kind man." Oliver said.

Jerry just groaned at his friend's expense. But almost immediately sobered up at Traci's glare and pointed look to where Andy was walking back into the waiting room with a clipboard full of hospital forms. She didn't seem to notice them watching her as she pulled out her wallet. She started to cry and didn't seem to notice that Traci had moved to sit next to her. He didn't hear what Traci said, but Andy suddenly jumped up and handed the forms to her and ran out.

"What happened?" He asked Traci, "Did Sammy wake up?"

"She didn't say. She just asked me to start filling these out and said she needed a minute." Traci replied, "Should I go after her?"

"No, I'll go." Oliver said, it was the least he could do for Tommy McNally's little girl and his new surrogate sister in-law.

Traci opened Andy's wallet to see if she had Sam's insurance card in there and gasped.

"What?" Dov asked, leaning over to see what was in Traci's hand.

"Her id." Traci sighed, "I don't know what I was expecting really."

"Spit it out woman." Dov said anxiously.

"Andrea McNally Swarek." Traci smiled, "Guess its official, huh?"

"That's Sam's address too." Jerry said glancing at it, "Now we know where she's been living."

Oliver walked over quietly and sat down on the bench next to Andy. "Everything OK?"

Andy jumped, startled and hastily wiped her eyes, "Yep, everything's fine."

"Liar."

She laughed, "I don't know what's wrong with me. He's awake; he's going to be fine. I just can't seem to stop crying."

"Well, I'm not surprised. The first time you see your husband, thanks for cluing us in to that by the way, in two months and its in the hospital after he got shot. I probably wouldn't be able to stop crying either." Oliver bumped her shoulder with his own.

"All the way here I kept thinking that this wasn't going to be how our story ended." She took a shuddering breath.

Oliver put his arm around her shoulders, "It didn't end Andy. He came back for you."

"I know." Andy was comforted by his presence; he really had that dad thing down. "Here's the thing. I know how I feel about him. I know I love him. But we had those three weeks before he left all to ourselves. We were in our own little world. Then he left and it was just me and because no one knew I could just keep the memories close. Now, I feel like everyone is going to be judging and second-guessing me. Like I wasn't already the topic of conversation."

"I wish I could tell you that people aren't going to talk and that its not going to be hard to hear, but you the 15. Its like high school." Oliver paused and took a breath, "Look, Sammy's been in love with you for a long time and everyone knew it but you. It got hard to watch after a while. So just remember that when people are talking. Its not that they don't like you or want you and Sam to be happy, we just worry."

"Can I tell you a secret?" Andy asked

"Sure."

She sighed and leaned forward with her elbow resting on her knees, "I worry too. I worry that because it took me so long to admit my feelings for him, he'll doubt how much I really do love him. And, I worry that I'll end up like my mom and leave or worse like my dad and drink myself half to death."

"That's not going to happen. I won't let that happen to you. I promise." Oliver said, not really sure how to respond, "Look, Sammy's going to be asking for you soon so lets get you back inside."

"OK."

"Just so you know. We're going to want the whole story ASAP!" Oliver gave her a stern look, "I still can't believe, you who doesn't not know how to keep your mouth shut let alone lie, managed to keep this to yourself for two whole months."

Andy laughed at his indignant tone as they walked back inside together, "Sam gave me some tips."

The smile fell from Andy's face when they walked back to the waiting room and saw Sam's doctors standing there talking to the waiting officers. Andy ran to them, "What happened? Is Sam OK?"

"He's just fine Mrs. Swarek. He's asking for you and he just wanted us to update your friends on his condition since they aren't allowed back in ICU." The doctor explained.

"Oh, ok. Thank you." Andy said, "When will he be out of ICU?"

"Since he woke up so quickly, I don't see him any reason to keep him there to long. We'll probably move him first thing in the morning." He said.

"That's great. Thanks doc." Jerry said.

Frank and Jerry moved closer to talk to the doctor more about Sam's recovery time and Andy walked back over to sit down next to Traci, "Thanks for starting these."

"Sure thing, Andrea McNally Swarek." Traci said with a grin.

"Saw that did you?" Andy asked looking down at the forms to finish filling them out.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me." Traci said sounding hurt.

Andy sighed, "Its not that I didn't want to. But it was nice having something so special between me and Sam, and honestly I didn't want to say anything until he was back here with me."

"I'm your best friend. I wish you had trusted me and told me." Traci shook her head, "But I'm really happy for you. It's about time you guys got your act together."

"Thanks Trace." Andy signed the bottom of the last form, "Look, I'm going to go back with Sam and I'll probably stay tonight, but I'll call you tomorrow."

Andy stood up and hugged Chris and Dov quickly before turning to Oliver. "I'm going to stay tonight but I have no doubt he'll make me go home for a little bit tomorrow morning. Would you come by then so he's not alone?"

"No problem."

Andy said good night to Frank and Noelle and on her way back to Sam's room she dropped the clipboard on the nurses desk.

Walking back into Sam's room Andy tried to be as quiet as possible. Sam was asleep and she didn't want to wake him. He needed rest. Sighing, she pulled another chair over by the bed and sitting in one she put her feet in another and tried to get comfortable.

"What are you doing?"

Andy jumped and turned back to find Sam staring at her. She should have known he would wake up when she came back in the room. He had a weird sixth sense about that. "I'm getting comfortable."

"You should go home and get some rest. I'm fine." Sam told her.

She shook her head, "I'm not leaving."

Husband and wife stared at each other for a long moment. Neither willing to back down, until finally Sam shifted slightly in bed and held up the blanket, "Come here."

"I don't want to hurt you." Andy said quietly.

"I haven't been able to hold my wife in two months. The only thing that will hurt is if you don't get in this bed right now." Sam smirked, knowing the effect his dimples had on her.

Andy smiled back despite herself, took of her jacket and climbed in next to him. Carefully she laid her head down at the corner of his chest near his should, she sighed audibly when his arms came around her. "I accidentally told everyone we got married."

"How'd that happen?" He asked, not really caring that people knew.

"I got mad at the doctor. They weren't going to let anyone in to see you because its only family in the ICU. So I jammed my ring on my finger and declared myself your wife and demanded I be allowed to see you."

"Sounds entertaining."

"Then Traci was filling out some of your paperwork for me and she found my ID." Andy continued.

"Oh yeah, what did you end up doing? Hyphenate our last names?" Sam asked

"No, I dropped my middle name and just did Andrea McNally Swarek." Andy said, a little confused that he wasn't more concerned with their friends finding out they got married.

"Good. I was hoping you'd keep McNally in there somewhere. You're always going to be my McNally." He kissed her then.

"I love you."

Sam smiled, "I love you too."

"You sure you're not mad that I told everyone like that?" Andy asked quietly

"I'm actually surprised you didn't tell anyone while I was gone." Sam admitted

"Worried I was going to freak out about what we had done and tell someone to get me out of it?" Andy corrected.

Sam chuckled sheepishly, "Maybe a little. But to answer your original question. No, I'm not mad that you told everyone like that." He yawned.

"Go to sleep."

"Is this what the rest of our lives are going to be like? You nagging and ordering me around?" Sam asked

"Yeah, pretty much. You have a problem with that?" Andy grinned up at him.

"Not at all." Sam bent his head slightly to capture her lips. He pulled away after a few moment and settled back in bed with his wife curled up next to him. No, he didn't mind at all.