A/N: Heya guys! Thanks so much for the last bunch of reviews I had. I had so many great comments on the last chapter and it was truly appreciated…well here's chapter 8. Probably not what you expected and a little bit short, but it was needed.

Let me know what you think :)

Chapter 8 - Promise.

The kiss continued to take over, neither still in control. She had never lost herself so much before. There was always something constraining her. Something that never allowed her to let go. Then it hit her. She quickly moved her hands to his chest as she unwillingly removed her lips from his. He looked up at her, confusion etched upon his face.

"You… You should be on ice" she stuttered, trying her best to avoid his gaze. She rose from his lap and began pacing back and forth in front of him.

He stood from his current frozen state, he placed himself to stand in behind her just as she turned back to pace the other. She quickly collided with his chest, and reluctantly lifted her head to peer at him. "Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on?" He asked, hurt and confusion flickering in his eyes.

"This…it…us…we shouldn't do this" she stuttered, feeling a knot tying itself in her throat.

"Yeah I know why would two people who clearly want to be together actually be together?" he asked, sarcasm and frustration heavily evident in his tone.

"You want to be together?"

"No McNally, I make out with every rookie." He fired back.

She began pacing back forth again, until he took another step forward – stilling her movements. "Andy?" he sighed.

"There's rules against this, Sam."

"Really McNally? That's what bothering you? A bunch of rules that no one believes in?"

"I believe in them" she whispered.

"Really? Yeah I mean you totally shared your belief in those rules when you turned up on my doorstep in the blackout. They sure meant something to you then, huh?" he yelled.

"Sam that's not fair."

"Not fair?" he spoke rather quietly, "Not fair?" he repeated, stepping away from her. "You know what? You sit here, you can think about what really isn't fair. Meanwhile I'll be in my room, I wouldn't want to break any of your rules Officer McNally" he stated before swinging the door open and slipping out of the room, leaving Andy to stare at the slowly closing door as she called out his name quietly.

10 minutes later, she found herself stood at the window her eyes following the simplistic patterns of the rain drops. She lifted her fingers out to trace them against the cold glass as her mind began to wander. Growing up she had always found rules comforting, offering stability in a young world where she had none. At home there were no rules, no mom or dad there to enforce them. She'd grown to relish the structure her time in school had offered. It's not to say she didn't break rules, or that she doesn't still break them. She knows that some rules are there to be altered, bent or broken. That sometimes breaking rules is for the greater good. That breaking rules can sometimes be justified. But can this be justified?

This could just be lust and then it would all be for nothing. But she knows that isn't true. Lust doesn't make you act like this. Lust doesn't make you think this much. Lust is spur of the moment, a phase. But this isn't just a phase; this isn't something they can shrug off as a spur of the moment activity. It's more. Not love, she justifies, but more. She doesn't just want to rip his clothes off and get her share of enjoyment; she wants to be with him. To learn what he loves, what he hates, why he is who he is.

But the rules, she reminds herself. She can break rules, she knows it, but breaking this rule, there's consequences. Suspension for one thing, she pointed out to herself. After everything her dad had done, after everything she had done to prove that she was different to him, to prove she belonged here. To prove that her focus was completely on her job, serve and protect. Did she really need to put this on her record? Face the reality that maybe she could become as distracted as her dad. Even if she survived the suspension, there'd be the rumours. Turning up to face her co-workers, her friends. And Sam, she thought. She wouldn't be partnered with him, wouldn't be able to learn from him, to know he's got her back. Could she really come to work every day knowing that she would feel scared out in the field, knowing that the one person she wants backing her up can't be there. She hadn't lied to him earlier, he was her favourite TO. Putting all feelings aside, she learnt the most with him. With Sa she never felt like a true rookie, she felt like a copper.

She stepped back from the window and looked around the empty room, making her way over to the bed. She threw herself on top of the bed, hiding her face in the pillow and kicking her feet against the worn mattress. Her mind slipped back into her whirlwind of thoughts. Some freakin' holidate this is. She told Traci she would try and be friends with Sam. "pfft" she let out aloud. Friends. I can't be friends with Sam Swarek when he flashes those lousy dimples, or starts using that stupid sexy voice, or when I look into those annoying big, deep brow-. He shook her head quickly; imagining how he looked right now was not helping.

Rules. Against the rules. We can't break these rules, she told herself. Her mind carefully treaded through the whirlwind of thoughts, mindful of anything to do with Sam. When suddenly one thought blew to the forefront. One promise.

- - Flashback - -

"Promise me that you'll make sure you're happy, even if it means breaking the rules to be with the one that's perfect for you?"

"I… I…" Andy stuttered, can I really agree to that? She thought.

"You said you'd promise" Traci reminded.

Andy let out a little sigh, "I promise Trace."

- - End Flashback - -