So sorry for the delay! I had surgery and then just couldn't figure out how to end the story. The end is super cheesy and I'm not totally thrilled with it, so I might change it if I think of something better. There is a possibility of an epilogue, but we'll see! And, I promise to try and figure out what's next for our favorite couple in "You Gotta Go There To Come Back." Enjoy!
Chapter 4
Sam was able to go home the next day but had to come back every other day for physical therapy and was under strict instructions to be careful and not over exert himself at home. The doctor also gave Andy a list of home exercises she could help him with to get one his feet faster.
"Ugh." Andy threw up her arms one afternoon nearly a week later, "You are so frustrating. Stop trying to grope me and just let me help you with your exercises."
"I don't need any help." Sam got up off the bench, "At least not that kind anyway." He sent her what he hoped was an enticing smile. He reached out an arm and slid his fingers into the top of her yoga pants and pulled her close. "I just want to make love to my wife." He bent his head to start kissing her neck.
"Sam." Andy tried to sound stern, but her body betrayed her when her head tilted to the side to give him better access. His mouth was moving over her collar bone now, "The doctor said not to over exert yourself."
"OK." Sam barely took his lips off her neck while he pushed her back through their house to the bedroom, "I'll let you do all the work"
She laughed as he kicked the bedroom door shut.
Later that evening when they sat down to dinner Andy flipped open a notebook. "So, I'm thinking we'll have the party in a couple weeks. You'll have been back at work for a couple of days probably by then and we'll be more settled here. What do you think?"
"Whatever you want."
"Come on Sam."
"Seriously Andy. Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I'm happy just going to the Penny." Sam said
"I just think it would be nice to have everyone over." Andy said quietly.
Sam put down his fork and looked over at her, "This is really important to you?"
"I just want to show everyone that this is the real deal and that we're happy." Andy shrugged, "I know what everyone has been saying. They think we're completely crazy."
Sam shrugged, "Well, it was kind of a crazy thing to do."
Andy looked sadly at her plate and pushed the food around with her fork. "I guess so."
"Love makes people do crazy things. And, I don't for one second regret what we did." Sam continued reaching across the table to take her hand.
She smiled softly at him, "Me either."
Sam gently yanked her out of her seat and on to his lap. She wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned into him. He ran his hand up and down her back gently trying to sooth her. He let out a sigh, "So, about this party. If you're sure that this is what you want, I think we should just do a simple barbeque. The weather should be pretty nice and we can sit out on the deck."
"That's a good idea." Andy said, "Thank you."
"Sure." Sam kissed her quickly, "Now, who all is on the guest list?"
"Lets just leave it at close friends. I don't want this whole thing to turn in to a circus. Besides, you know Dov won't be able to keep his mouth shut and Jerry and Oliver have been know to blab a bit too so I'm sure the whole division will know all the details soon enough."
The next couple weeks passed quickly for Sam and Andy. They spent a lot of time adjusting to their new life together, not having really had the opportunity to do that before. Andy went back to work before Sam, but she was hesitant to leave him alone. He was healing just fine, the doctors had even cleared him for desk duty but she still worried. He practically had to shove her out of the truck when he dropped her off that first morning. To be honest, he needed a couple of days with her away at work to get a few things done. He would need a little help if he was going to pull off his plan, but he was confident it would work.
"So the barbeque is tomorrow?" Traci asked at work the following Saturday.
Andy nodded, "Yeah, I think everyone is coming over around 3. Sam checked the weather, it should be a nice day."
"Thank god the day is finally here." Traci exclaimed, "I can't take not knowing much longer."
Andy shook her head, "I know it was a shock to everyone that we got married but is it really that much of a surprise that we're together?"
"Uh, yeah!" Traci exclaimed, "I mean seriously. Last I knew you left him that crazy message, but you never elaborated and I just assumed that nothing came from it and that's why you've been so mopey since Sam went undercover."
"Well, Sam and I will answer everyone's questions tomorrow." Andy said, "And, I wasn't mopey."
"Yeah you were." Traci laughed.
Andy was up early the next day cleaning and making sure they had everything ready. She didn't know why she was so nervous. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt Sam's arms come around her while she was in the kitchen making coffee. "What are you doing out of bed so early?" He asked, placing a kiss to her lips when she turned around.
"Couldn't sleep. I want to make sure everything is perfect for when everyone arrives." Andy leaned into him, loving the feel of being in his arms.
"McNally. You've got to relax, it's going to be fine." Sam squeezed her tightly
The coffee maker let out a beep behind her. She sighed and reluctantly pulled herself from Sam's arms to pour them each a cup. Since Andy had already scrubbed the house clean and prepped the food that Sam had bought the day before, the couple tried to relax for the rest of the morning.
Sam was the first one to get ready that afternoon, Andy had fallen asleep on the couch and he knew that she hadn't been sleeping well so he let her sleep for a while. "Sweetheart." He shook her gently and knelt down next to the couch, "Andy, its time to get up." He laughed when she left out a groan and wrapped herself around him. "Come on, hop in the shower while I finish out here."
Andy walked sleepily into their bathroom and did as she was told. She stepped out of the shower feeling much better. She put on her favorite jeans and a cute top and began to blow dry and fix her hair. She finished with a light layer of make up.
Sam had turned the stereo on in the house and adjusted it so it came through the outdoor speakers as well. She was surprised to hear multiple voices when she walked through the house towards the backyard. Glancing at the clock over the stove she saw that it was only 2:45pm. She slipped on her shoes and continued to the patio. She smiled at Oliver and Zoe who were sitting at the table with Sam.
"Well there's the little missus." Oliver smirked when his wife smacked him.
"Be nice Ollie." She smiled at Andy, "Sorry we're early, this one's been acting like it was Christmas morning. It took all my power not to have him show up first thing this morning."
"No problem. We promise this will all be over soon and he'll stop nagging you." The women shared a laugh.
Sam fired up the grill soon after the rest of their friends arrived. Once everyone had their plates full and were seated around the table Dov finally burst. "I can't take it anymore. We've got food, we've got drinks and everyone is here, please just tell me!"
Everyone laughed but fell silent quickly and stared expectantly at Sam and Andy. Sam gestured for Andy to begin, she coughed. "Well, I guess it all started the day of the abduction from the play place. Sam had just told me he was going undercover in three weeks and I had decided on some 5 year plan. We came across that accident with the girl trapped in the car. I stayed with her and the guys went to search the woods after the gun shots. Her name was Leslie and she had been saying that she was going to make it as a singer, as soon as she finished her demo. She even had a bottle of champagne for the occasion. Turned out, she had been 'finishing her demo' for years. She was afraid. When I found out she died, I went to her house with the key she gave me to feed her cat and all I could think about was Sam and the time that I wasted being scared. I called and left him this crazy voicemail and parked myself outside his house waiting for him to come home."
"That's when you called me?" Traci asked
"Yep."
Traci looked at Sam, "Where were you?"
"I was with Boyd. He called and wanted to talk right away, no interruptions so I left my phone in my truck. I thought he was going to send me under right then and there. But thankfully, he just wanted to go over some logistics and introduce me to my main contact on the street. I didn't even notice that I had a voicemail until I parked my truck in the driveway. Just as I finished listening to it, I saw Andy on the porch." Sam smiled at her.
"We both had the next couple days off and spent them together." Andy said threading their fingers together.
"I can't believe I didn't notice." Oliver said, "You had to have been acting at least a little happier at work."
Sam smirked at his friend, "I do go UC from time to time Ollie, and I am capable of pretending to be sulky."
"Fine, maybe you could but this one," He jerked a finger at Andy, "Is a terrible liar."
"We had two days alone and then we were back at work." Andy explained, "I had a lot to process."
"She got over her silence pretty quick though." Sam laughed, "It was just a few days later and we were on the overnight, driving around and monitoring the warehouse district when she decided to finally talk about it."
"Do you think everyone is going to freak out when we tell them about us?" Andy asked suddenly. The past few days had been amazing. They were together all the time, barely managing to let go of each other for very long. But she wondered what it all meant. He was leaving soon.
Sam shot her a look, "Have we defined 'us' yet?"
Andy shrugged and looked down at her hands, "Not exactly, but I'd say we are definitely some sort of us."
"Well in that case, no I don't think they'll freak out." Sam laughed.
"Really?"
Sam shrugged, "I think you're rookie posse might, but Ollie and Noelle have been on my case to talk to you for a while."
"Oh."
"Hey, don't get all sad Andy." Sam reached across the squad car to take her hand. "I'll admit the timing isn't great, with me leaving in a couple weeks; but I'll be back before you know it and we'll figure out our lives together."
Andy stilled at his choice of words, but instead of fear spreading through her she felt something else entirely. "Our lives together."
Sam didn't turn to look at her, but he was already kicking himself for that last statement. It was to soon. He was going to scare her off before they even got a chance. "Relax McNally, it's just an expression. I didn't propose, don't go all weird on me."
"Why not?"
Sam was confused, "Why don't you need to go all weird on me?"
Andy shook her head, "Pull over Sam."
He let out a sigh, but did as he was told. He put the cruiser in park and turned to face her and was surprised to find her eyes shining with tears and a smile on her face.
"I don't mean, why shouldn't I go all weird on you. I meant why didn't you propose?" Andy smiled
Sam pinched the bridge of his nose; damn this woman confused the hell out of him sometimes. "What are you talking about McNally?"
"I love you Sam. And, I wasted two years fighting it and I'm done. I know my timing is terrible and it's a little strange. But, if you were to propose I would say yes." Andy brushed the tear that fell away and stared at Sam waiting to see what his reaction would be.
"Wow." Dov said
"I believe you all owe me some money." Oliver said cheerfully, "I told you it was McNally's idea!"
"You bet on this?" Andy exclaimed not really knowing why she was surprised.
"No offense girl, but it seemed like easy money. None of us thought it would have been your idea. Jerry had all sorts of ideas about how Sam tricked you into it." Traci smiled apologetically.
"Tricked her into it?" Sam turned to Jerry, "What the hell man?"
"Sorry brother, it's those damn dimples of yours. Get people to do some crazy stuff." Jerry, on the other hand was completely unapologetic in his explanation.
"To be fair, I just said I would say yes when he did it." Andy put it, "He didn't propose right away. We both decided that since we had so little time to be together before he went undercover we would take a week off. We went out to St. Catherine's to see Sarah and then Sam took me to this great little bed and breakfast he found."
On the second night of their stay Sam and Andy were taking a walk around the lake near the inn. It was a beautiful night; the stars were shining brightly. The couple strolled back to the inn and sat on a bench near the gazebo. Sam pulled her close to him and her head rested against his shoulder. Andy sighed contentedly, "Who knew that city boy Sam Swarek could find such an amazing and beautiful place out in the country."
"Yeah, I'm just full of surprises." He laughed, "Plus, I may have asked Sarah for some advice."
"Ah, I should have known." Andy smiled and tilted her head up and used her other hand to pull him down for a kiss.
They were quiet for a little while, both just enjoying the feeling of being together. Sam was the first to break the silence, "So, you, uh, remember that think you said the other day?"
"About what?" Andy asked sitting up straight and looking over at him. The look in his eyes told her exactly what he was referring to, "You proposing? Yes, I do." She finished on a whisper as if almost afraid of what she might say next.
"Funny you should say it like that." He said referring to her 'I do' and glanced back at the man who was just walking out.
"Ready?" The man asked.
"Almost." Sam turned back to Andy and stood up from the bench before kneeling down in front of her. "Andy McNally. From the moment you burned me I knew there was something special about you even if I didn't want to admit it. But despite everything I could feel myself falling for you more and more each day. I told you that I'm there when it matters and now I want to be there for you; with you through everything for the rest of our lives. I love you Andy and it would be my honor to marry you tonight, if you'll have me."
"Yes." She breathed, kissing him softly.
"The owner of the B&B married us that night under the stars." Andy smiled at Sam and leaned in to kiss him.
"That is so beautiful." Zoe said.
"Who knew Sammy had it in him." Frank said, "I always thought the sentimental girly gestures were more Jerry's thing."
They all got a chuckle out of that. "But seriously." Noelle said, "We're really happy for you guys. It has definitely been a long time coming. I'm only sorry we didn't get to see it."
Andy nodded her head in agreement and looked up at Sam curiously when he stood up and walked over to Oliver who turned and pulled something out of his jacket pocket and gave it to Sam.
"That's a good point Noelle." Sam walked back over to where Andy was sitting and stunned everyone by getting down on one knee and opening his hand to reveal a stunning platinum diamond ring nestled in a little black box. "Andrea McNally Swarek, will you please do me the honor of re-marrying you on our anniversary in front of all our friends and family."
Andy had her hands clapped over her mouth staring down at the large diamond, "Of course." She finally said smiling widely as he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her.
"Leave it to you two to do it all backwards." Oliver said to Sam while the rest of their friends chatted excitedly about the upcoming wedding, "Married first, engaged second. Complete madness."
Sam looked over at Andy who was talking animatedly to Traci and the others. He caught her eye and she grinned back at him. He shrugged, "You call it madness, I call it love."