Months later…
Today was the day.
Andy was going to wake up.
She had been steeling herself for this moment, trying to build up her strength. It had been a while; exactly how long she wasn't sure. She didn't care. She needed out of this bed. She needed to be able to open her eyes and walk around, be back with Sam and back on the police force.
She couldn't lie in this bed any longer while the person who was trying to kill her was still out in the world.
So far, there hadn't been another encounter. But she wasn't taking any chances.
Focusing on the edges of the blanket of darkness that was covering her, Andy began to envision it slowly moving back, leaving her free. She pushed and struggled, mentally, trying to rid herself of this dark. She needed the light.
She heard the ever-present cacophony of the hospital and she concentrated on it. It helped and finally she was able to feel the darkness slipping away. Inch by glorious inch.
With a final push, she started with a gasp. She could still hear the sounds of the hospital and for a second, she thought nothing had changed. Frustrated, she almost burst into tears.
Then…her eyes fluttered and steadily opened.
With still no sign of improvement from Andy, Sam turned to burying himself in his work. But, even with all the time that had passed, he never gave up on Andy. He still held out hope that one day she would return to him. Sam visited her every day after his shift.
Unfortunately, he ended up giving up his detective position; he couldn't be around as much death as the job required and now all of his extra time was spent at the hospital or managing the bills that seemed to be multiplying. Luke Callaghan had come back to fill his spot, but under the current circumstances, Sam could care less. He was too busy fielding questions from his colleagues about how Andy was doing as well as devoting the rest of his time trying to find out everything he could about the explosion.
Sam knew there was much more to it than met the eye. The investigation had been put on the back burner due to insufficient leads, but since it was clear the explosion wasn't an accident, they had to keep looking. But Andy wasn't the only person who had gotten injured in the inferno; some people had even died. Sam owed it not only to Andy, but also the families of the deceased to figure out who did this. Once Sam found something, things would change and he would urge whoever was in charge to re-open the case and make an arrest.
Sam had been looking through the files, using all the resources he had at the precinct to keep doing. He had been repeating the process for months now. He had looked at the initial reports that explained it had to be intentional because of the remains of explosive devices found in the building. It was some serious firepower that had been strewn throughout the building, but more concentrated on the room and floor where he and Andy had been saying. Sam's gut was telling him that this was someone targeting them; someone they had dealt with before.
At first, Sam had gone through a list of all the people who were at or visiting the notes that day. No one seemed suspicious. Sam had taken the time to look and see if anyone was in the system, but they were, for the most part, clean; the worst being a speeding ticket or two. Though he hadn't yet found a lead, he wasn't giving up yet. He wouldn't let the bastard who did this get away with it.
Today, Sam was sitting at the desk in Booking. It was a slow day and he wanted more time to think. Best had allowed him to take the shift for the day. It wasn't a problem because no one wanted booking duty ever. It was usually doled out to the unlucky soul who showed up to Parade late when Best was having a rough day; presumably with the new baby at home.
Sam sat down, fidgeting for a moment before settling on the rough upholstery. He picked up a pen to continue the list of suspects he had started. The idea had just come to him last night, when, yet again, he couldn't sleep. Restless, he began to think of anyone who he and Andy had crossed in their line of work. The list, so far, was pretty scarce. He figured that more people would be targeting himself rather than Andy. He had pissed off many people back in the day, from druggies he had arrested, to Boyd, whom both Sam and Andy had ticked off for botching some UC operations. It was all a huge leap to murder though and he was getting nowhere.
Besides, Frank had asked him politely but sternly to back off. Best knew that Sam had been poking around the files, and though he understood Sam's intentions, he felt that Sam was a liability. Still, it didn't deter Sam. He kept digging, just more quietly.
The number one suspect on his list right now was none other than Jaime Brennan. To this day, Sam sometimes woke up in a cold sweat, thinking he was back, tied to the chair with no way out. As far as Sam knew, Jaime was still in prison, but that didn't mean he didn't have connections on the outside. Sam made a mental note to visit him in the future. Though it would kill him, he needed to find out if this was the break he was looking for.
Sam tapped the pen against his temple thoughtfully. What about the people Andy had been running from when he called her back when she was UC with Nick? Who was the guy they had first arrested…? Simon Dent. He certainly had connections.
Just then, Gail and Dov burst through the door, a struggling perp in between them. It was a female and she was either high or drunk, with half of her face bruised and bleeding. "Get offa me!" she hollered.
"A little help here?" Gail snapped, eyes flashing at Sam. Typical Gail attitude. In a way, Sam appreciated how Gail was treating him normally; most people tried to tiptoe around him, trying not to upset him.
Quickly, Sam scribbled down the two names that had popped into his head and went to go assist Gail and Dov with the screeching woman. They handcuffed her to one of the poles on the wall and Sam began the difficult and lengthy process of booking her. All the while, she was being uncooperative.
As Sam banged away at the keyboard, Dov filled him in on what had happened, while Gail looked at the woman with disgust.
"Meth," Dov said. "Her whole house was a meth lab. She had two kids there too. Social services took them in." Dov shook his head sadly. "She's obviously on the stuff right now. She tripped and whacked her head on the corner of a table when she tried to get away."
"It was supposed to be a simple disturbance call," Gail said, shaking her head. "Those poor kids…"
"Wow, Peck. I never pegged you as the 'sentimental' type," Dov joked, feeling empathy for the children himself. Another pair of kids lost in the system. People like this woman shouldn't have children; they couldn't take care of themselves let alone two innocent lives.
"Actually, Epstein, it's called having a heart," she barked, not one to show sentiment usually. Her bright red lips pressed firmly into a thin line.
Sam smiled, listening to their easy banter. At first, the rookies had annoyed him to no end, but they had grown on him. "Alright, she's all set. Put her in a cell," Sam said, gesturing to one of their many holding cells, all of which were surprisingly empty that day.
Gail and Dov's constant bickering was interrupted by the shrill ringing of the telephone, the tone letting them all know that someone within the precinct was trying to get a hold of them.
"Officer Swarek," Sam said, gruffly.
"Sam, it's Frank. The hospital just called. Andy…she's awake."
Sam took a squad car and made it to the hospital in record time, not bothering to change out of his uniform. Best had understood and immediately gave Sam the rest of the day off, but said nothing when he took a squad car.
Sam had simply told Gail and Dov the news before rushing out the door. By now, it was probably all over the station.
Andy was all that filled his mind. He still couldn't believe the news. She was awake. Finally. But he wouldn't be satisfied until he saw her with his own eyes.
He burst through the hospital doors in a flurry of movement. The many times he had been there allowed him to get to the room by heart; he could probably make it blindfolded. Which was a good thing, because with the onslaught of emotions he was feeling right now, he couldn't focus on anything. His legs barely held him up.
Finally, he made it to Andy's floor and the nurses who were working gave him reassuring smiles; they all knew his story and must have heard the good news. Their faces passed in a blur.
In a flash, he was outside of Andy's room. The door was open and Sam could see a doctor inside. Spotting Sam, the doctor went to approach him, but Sam easily dodged him so that he could see Andy. Immediately he was by her bed side where she was sitting up.
"Andy!" he gasped, not caring when tears streamed down his face. He almost fell to his knees when he saw her, sitting up, blinking at him in surprise and almost cringing against the bright lights in the hospital. Her mouth was a small 'o' of surprise, half of the hair on her head was shorter than the rest and she looked paler than normal.
She was beautiful and alive and awake. Andy was back.
Before he could stop himself, he gathered her in his arms, placing a hand on the back of her head, aware of the bandages. "Oh, Andy," he sighed, breathing her in. His tears mingled with her hair.
"Sam…Sam…Officer Swarek?"
Sam slowly became aware of his surroundings. The doctor he had avoided was still in the room. Seeing the look on his face, Sam stepped back, releasing Andy although it was the last thing he wanted to do. But he knew he had to find out what the doctor had to say.
Sam shot a curious look at Andy, wondering why she had yet to say anything and why she hadn't returned his embrace. Hopefully, he would get answers from the doctor. Nothing could dampen his spirits; his wife had returned, against all odds.
The doctor, knowing that Sam wouldn't leave the room now that Andy was awake, drew him aside. "Ms. McNally has just woken up, against what all medical tests seemed to have suggested. It is nothing short of a miracle. But…the extent of the damages is not yet known. We ask that you be patient as we examine her and try to determine what exactly is occurring."
Sam's eyebrows furrowed. But eventually, he gave a curt nod. He had waited this long for Andy to come back, he could wait a little longer while they made sure she was okay.
The doctor gave him a wary look. "It is entirely possible that she might not remember you." He hated to see the light go out of Sam's eyes when he said it, but it was necessary to give him all the information so he wouldn't explode later.
Still, Sam refused to leave his wife's side. He cursed himself that he wasn't there when she woke up.
The lights. They were so bright. They hurt her head, extremely so. She blinked furiously, trying to adjust. It had been so dark.
Everything was sore, come to mention it. Especially when she took a deep breath.
The room was suddenly a flurry of movement and there was a bunch of people, nurses and doctors she had never seen before, filing in and out. Their mouths were moving, but it was too much to take in and she couldn't decipher any one sound. Her heartbeat quickened and her eyes grew tired as she tried to follow them all around.
The next thing she knew, a man in a police officer uniform was in the room, coming towards her.
Everything was so disorienting.
Before she knew it, the man was crushing her to his chest. It was a feeling that she quite liked, though she wasn't sure why. Minus the pain. There was so much pain.
She saw the doctor gesture for the man to go to him so they could talk and Andy tried to focus. In order to do so, she closed her eyes, needing the darkness for a moment longer.
Yes. That was better. Okay.
She was Andrea McNally. Officer McNally of 15th division. Her best friend was Traci Nash, a detective. Her father was Tommy McNally, her mother Claire. And this man, the man in the room. She knew this man.
This time, her eyes came open of her own accord and her mouth cracked into a smile; it took some effort because the muscles hadn't been used for quite some time.
That man was Officer Swarek. Her husband.
Andy tried to go say something, but her mouth wouldn't work. It took a great deal of concentration before she managed, "Sam!" Her voice sounded not like her own. It was weak, thin, and raspy from not being used, but she was proud of herself for forming the word.
"Sam!"
Both Sam and the doctor whipped around at the unfamiliar sound. Sam hardly recognized her voice, but when he saw her, holding her arms out to him, he went into them, holding her again.
What the doctor had said certainly scared him, but deep down, he knew that Andy would never forget him. Still in his head he said, Thank God.
He pressed his lips to her cheek and whispered, "I love you."
It felt so good to hear her say it in return.
Sorry it took so long to update. I'm not sure if I like the final outcome of this chapter but…Andy is awake! Figured I wouldn't keep you guys waiting any longer. Now on the road to recovery and get to the bottom of who tried to kill Andy not once, but twice.
Please, let me know what you think!