A/N: Sorry this took a bit of time to get out to you. School = owning me. Alright, here is chapter 5. Please show me some love if you are enjoying the story!

Chapter 5

Andie awoke the following morning, opening her eyes only to groan and close them again. The bright light filtering in through the window caused her head to begin throbbing. She heard movement in the room and heard her partner's voice, pitched softly in hopes of not aggravating her headache. "Hey, partner. What did I tell you about tryin' to take on the world by yourself?"

Andie inwardly rolled her eyes, speaking very softly. "Did they catch the guy?" She remembered tackling a perp who was beating the hell out of a woman in the park but she had no idea if he had been apprehended.

Dom rolled his eyes; he shouldn't be surprised that would be the first question out of her mouth. "No. He had already split by the time the cavalry came." Dom reached out, gently squeezing his partner's hand. "How are you feelin? You need me to get a nurse?" He could see the pain etched on her features and assumed he probably already knew the answer.

Andie nodded ever so slightly. The pounding in her head was steadily increasing and she knew that she would be sick if she didn't get something for the pain soon.

"I'll go get the nurse. Be right back." Dom quickly got up, heading out of the room to the nurse's station to bring a nurse back. From his own personal experience he knew it would be faster for him to speak to someone personally rather than hitting the call button. He returned after a couple of minutes with a nurse in tow. He closed the curtains while the nurse administered the medication, sitting back down and giving Andie some quiet while they took effect. When Andie finally opened her eyes Dom asked, "Better?"

"Yeah, kinda. I don't feel so much like I have an ice pick being drilled into my skull." Andie carefully shifted and inclined the hospital bed, hoping to relieve the ache in her ribs. The guy had really done a number on her.

"You had a lot of people worried about you, Andie." The relief in Dom's voice was palpable. His fear had risen to an almost unbearable level when she had finally woke up the night before. Despite all of the doctor's assurances, his anxiety wouldn't let up until then.

"I know… I'm sorry. You know I couldn't just stand at a distance and let that guy beat her to death. It was that intense." Andie closed her eyes, recalling the scene from the night before.

Dom nodded his understanding. He would have made the same decision in Andie's place. His reply was soft, but serious. "I understand your reasons. Just, please, don't do this to me again, okay?"

Andie smiled softly at her partner's show of concern and affection, which she always knew was there but rarely surfaced. She couldn't promise him that. Not as long as she was a cop.

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After a couple of day's observation Andie was released from the hospital, with strict instructions not to go back to work for another two weeks. Andie was relieved when she crossed the threshold into her apartment. "Ah, I hear the Hallelujah Chorus ringing out around us."

Dom laughed softly at her commentary. He knew that being cooped up in the hospital was driving the woman batty. He could hardly blame her. He was able to go home after visiting but still went stir crazy if he was there for more than a couple of hours. Not to mention, he'd been in her position a couple of times himself. "Don't you think that's a little dramatic, Andie?"

Andie mock gaped at him. "Blasphemy! Out of my castle at once!"

Dom rolled his eyes, acquiescing. "Alright, fine. But before I go, here's your phone. It was retrieved from the scene and released to me."

Andie accepted her cell phone, thinking that Dom meant that he had just taken possession of the phone he placed in her hand. As he handed over the phone, he added. "You may want to call this one guy back. He was pretty concerned about you."

Andie raised an eyebrow, surprised by that announcement. "What are you talking about, Dom? You have had my phone this whole time?"

Dom nodded, looking apologetic. "I kept it because of doctor's orders."

Andie narrowed her eyes at her partner. "Lucky for you I believe that. Otherwise…" Andie made like she was going to slit his neck then smirked.

"That right there would be my cue to leave. Enjoy your time off and take it easy. Doctor's orders and all." Just as Dom was pulling the door shut he called out, "And call Shane!"

Andie's jaw dropped when Dom mentioned Shane's name. Had Shane called or had Dom called Shane? What did Shane want? Andie was certain that that window had closed. She checked the call log on her phone and she saw that Shane had called at least three times since she had been admitted to the hospital, one of those times being shortly before Andie arrived home. Before Andie could think over the situation further, there was a knock at her door. Andie jumped and nearly dropped her phone on the hard wood floor. After taking a minute to control her heart rate, Andie walked to the door to check and see who had arrived. She looked through the peep hole and her breath caught. She murmured softly to herself, "Shane…"

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Shane stood on the opposite side of the door. He knew Andie was there because he'd talked to Dom a little while ago. He knocked on the door a second time and shoved his hands into his pockets. As he waited he began to wonder if perhaps Andie was avoiding him. He wouldn't blame her if she was. Before Shane could mull it over further, the door opened a crack. Shane smiled hopefully and said, "Andie? Can I come in?"

Andie remained concealed behind the door. She had seen her reflection in the mirror and cringed at the thought of anyone seeing her face right now. "Um… I uh…"

Shane sighed softly. "Andie… please. I really, really need to talk to you. And I would rather do it in person."

After a moment's pause, Andie wordlessly closed the door long enough to unhook the chain, opening the door to let Shane in. Andie closed and locked the door behind him. "So you know about the incident I'm guessing?"

Shane nodded and replied. "Yeah, Dom told me." Before Shane could say anything else Andie had turned to face him and his thoughts were immediately forgotten. Shane's jaw dropped as he took in Andie's face; the ugly purple bruising and swelling around her left eye. She had a small line of stitches on her forehead above the area and her bottom lip was split. Shane composed himself after a moment though his concern still was evident in his gaze. He found his voice and whispered. "Are you sure you're okay? Look at your face…" He reached out slowly, letting his fingertips barely brush her cheek, tracing around the outside of the bruising.

Andie closed her eyes at his touch, biting the inside of her cheek. She did not feel okay at all. She felt very vulnerable and frankly a little scared. She had no idea where she stood with Shane. All she knew is that he had been avoiding her one minute and the next he was here and showing so much concern for her that she wanted to cry. Andie tried in vain to keep her voice from shaking when she spoke again. "I don't know. I'm… still shaken up from everything, I guess."

Shane nodded his understanding even though he wasn't sure he completely understood. He had been in fights, sure, but most of them had been choreographed for live TV. "Why don't we go sit down? I'm sure you're sore from the altercation."

Andie nodded and led Shane to her living room area. Andie sat on the couch gingerly, mindful of her achy body. She pulled a throw from the back of the couch over her lap. Shane sat down next to her, keeping a little bit of space between them while they talked. Andie looked over at Shane expectantly, albeit nervously and asked, "Why didn't you call me last week, Shane? Did I do something wrong?"

Shane shook his head no vehemently. "No, not at all. I had a wonderful time with you last week." Shane paused, sighing softly. "I found myself having a hard time moving forward, Andie. I haven't dated since I lost my wife. I have always felt like I was betraying her memory by seeing another woman. I realize that isn't true but… it's hard to get it through my thick skull." Shane rapped his knuckles on the top of his head and gave her a lopsided smile. When he was rewarded with a smile from Andie he continued. "Andie, I am so sorry that I didn't at least show you the courtesy of calling you back. I don't always handle things in the appropriate manner."

Andie felt a huge weight lifting from her shoulders at Shane's admission. She gave him an encouraging smile. "Do any of us handle things the right way all the time? I think not."

Shane chuckled and nodded. "You make a good point. Now… how are you doing? Are you in a lot of pain?"

Andie shook her head. "No, not too much. My head still aches and my ribs are sore but otherwise I'm doing better. I was happy to hear that I didn't have more injuries. I thought I would. Whoever that guy was he was in a serious rage. He would have killed the woman he was attacking."

Shane nodded. From the sight of Andie's face, he did not doubt this to be true. He bit his bottom lip as he resisted the urge to touch her face again. After a short pause, he asked. "Andie, how do you do it? How do you go out there and put your safety on the line like that? Aren't you afraid?"

Andie thought about the question for a moment. "At times, I am afraid. You have to be a little bit afraid otherwise you're a loose cannon. I've often heard a saying that simply says you don't lack fear, but you have the strength to move forward anyway. That's how you define courage."

"I would definitely call you courageous, Andie. Even after something like this, I bet you can't wait to get back out on the job." Shane thought about the fact that if he and Andie began a relationship, this is one very real concern he would have on a daily basis in regards to Andie's welfare. He would also have to consider Declan into that equation and what it would cost him if something were to happen to Andie.

Andie nodded. "Yeah, I have to admit I'm going stir crazy right now. I love my job. I have no idea what I would be doing right now if I wasn't a cop."

"Good thing you don't have to worry about that right now. All you have to worry about for the time being is getting better." Shane chuckled softly. "Speaking of which, I should let you get to resting. You don't need to be entertaining me."

"Shane, it's only five in the evening. I'm not tired and I'm certainly not exerting myself. I'm capable of watching a movie or holding a conversation."

Shane held up his hands, "Whoa there, tiger. Calm down. I wasn't implying you were incapable of anything. I was just saying you need your rest. That's all. If you want me to stay and watch a movie, I'll be more than happy to. You pick the movie."

Andie smiled because that's exactly what she wanted. "I would like it if you would stay." Her words paused for a moment before she added, "I don't want to be alone right now."

Shane glanced over at her and asked, "Do you want me to stay here tonight?" He could hear the fear in her voice but didn't want to call her on it for fear she'd decline his offer to stay.

After another long pause where Andie worried her bottom lip she nodded. "Yes, please, if it wouldn't feel too weird for you." She didn't want to make Shane uncomfortable or move too fast but she really didn't want him to walk out the door tonight.

Shane shook his head, already standing and pulling his phone out. "Not at all. Let me make a phone call and I'll be all set. Be right back."

Andie nodded and picked out a movie while Shane was out of the room. She browsed the selection on Netflix, deciding to go with one of her all-time favorites The Shawshank Redemption. She waited until Shane joined her on the couch again, smiling as he slid an arm around her casually and spoke. "All taken care of. Fire up the movie."

Andie hit play and the movie began. They spoke quietly during the movie, only to talk over plot points or what they would do in the situation at first, but Andie grew more and more quiet. Shane felt her slowly relaxing and smiled to himself when he went to speak again only to find Andie asleep with her head resting against his chest. He quietly watched the rest of the movie, then picked another, letting her rest as she was and eventually dozing off himself with The Goonies playing on the screen.