A/N: Hey everyone… Firstly, sorry so much for not updating any sooner than this. I've been so ill recently and swapped with work ,the only opportunities I did have to write I lost all inspiration for this story. Anyways this chapter picks up on episode 12, but the rookies were not cut loose at the end of the day haha…It's kinda short, but just leaning us in to the last two chapters coming.

Let me know what you think :)

Chapter 11 – Thanks.

She laced her fingers through his and he gave her a reassuring squeeze as he led her up into his house. She hadn't been here since the night of the blackout; in the three months since their unofficial 'holidate' they would often spend the night together it at her apartment, mainly to coerce him into fixing the broken elements of her home. It had become habit, a familiar and comfortable routine. Same as it had become in work, professionalism throughout their shifts with the exception of Sam's longing looks, lingering touches and stolen kisses around the station.

She had sought comfort the last time she had been here; her first shooting and she had wanted, or rather needed him. Not Luke, not Traci, not her dad, but him. And here she was all over again, seeking comfort in his arms. It had been a long shift, overwhelming and exhausting not just physically. Seeing a mother with her gun to her head had paralyzed Andy, fear gluing her to the spot, and now she couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Noelle hadn't arrived. It was that thought that had almost forced her into giving up the badge tonight. But she knew she couldn't give up, she had worked hard to be where she stood today. To be seen as a copper, to protect and serve. She had accepted a new badge hesitantly at first, but she knew it was only right. It was time for her to make the uniform, not just wear it. It was time to make a name for herself, time to rid herself of the common branding of 'Tommy McNally's daughter' and to brand herself Andy McNally the copper.

She had stridden out of Best's office to find Sam waiting for her. She was quickly reminded of the night of the blackout in that single moment, Sam waiting for her just as Luke had. But Sam had surprised her; he hadn't even contemplated the idea of working overtime with the others. He stood prepared with both their bags and his keys. She had argued at first, insisting that she was fine and that it would be suspicious if she were to leave with him. But he had continued to drag her to his car, ignoring every effort of hers, fully aware of how her thoughts on tonight's events would continue to torment her throughout the night. They had ridden together in silence, merely relishing the time together after such a strenuous shift.

She allowed herself to relax slightly as Sam guided her through his passage way, his hand still firmly gripping hers. Dropping their bags in the stairway he gently pulled her into the kitchen, sitting her on one of the bar stool that stood next to the worktop conscious of Andy's exaggerated sigh and roll of her eyes at, what she deemed, his unnecessary care. He placed himself between her knees, taking the time to fall into her deep brown eyes, his calloused hands trailing faint patterns on the smooth skin of her jaw.

He leant in to place his warm lips to her cool forehead; she smiled slightly at the small contact before leaning forward to place her head in the crook of his neck. Pulling her closer, he placed his head atop of hers, kissing her hair as his hand ran reassuring up and down her spine, "Hey" he spoke softly.

She felt the small goose bumps begin to rise at his touch, and she gently began to nibble and kiss at his neck. The fear and anxiety temporarily substituted for want and need, the aching in her chest briefly muted by the burning of lust. Trailing her lips up his neck she continued along her path of want, momentarily stopping to whisper into his ear "Hey."

A soft groan escaped the confinement of his muted lips, as hers left their soft wet imprint on his ear. She pulled back gently, only to crash her lips to his. Their lips moved strategically, before hesitantly opening fully thus allowing themselves to lose themselves in one another. As their tongues continued to dance with one another's, her hand slowly crept under his t-shirt. Her nails scraping gently across the strained muscles of his chest, she felt herself release a small sigh of contentment, relishing in the heat that met her fingertips. The cool trail along his chest began to fall down across his hard stomach, before resting at the hemline of his t-shirt, her thumbs brushing through the barely visible hair.

She continued to push herself into the kiss before he reluctantly broke away.

Bolts of rejection flashed through her eyes as she spoke timidly "Is there… did I do something wrong?" she asked, bewilderment and hurt lacing her words.

He shook his head quickly as his calloused hands returned to her face, forcing her to meet his gaze, "I want this, really. But I know this isn't how you want it…and as much as I hate your freaking rules I know that you love them" he smiled softly.

She leaned in to brush her lips tenderly across his, before pulling back to nod slightly. He smiled once again before making his way over to the fridge-freezer. Pulling a beer from the fridge for himself he then leant into pull a tub of ice cream from the freezer. Grabbing a spoon on his way back her, he ushered her into the living room.

Placing the beer on the coffee table he allowed himself to fall back into the comfort of the couch, pulling Andy down with him. Lacing his arm around her shoulders he handed her the ice cream tub over, alongside the spoon, "Let me point out..." he began as he handed over the remote "that this is both the first and last time you will hold this remote" he spoke with a smirk, his hand still holding onto it.

She smiled before yanking the control from his grasp, quickly turning the TV over to 'How to lose a guy in ten days', something she had already planned to watch earlier in the day. Tossing the remote to the coffee table she rested back in to his chest, peeling the lid away from the ice cream tub to reveal her favourite flavour.

She peered up at him, "Chocolate chip?" she asked with a soft smile.

He shrugged nonchalantly before reaching for his beer and taking a swig. She watched him with a smile, as he turned to face her with a raised eyebrow "What?"

She shook her head, "Nothing" she smiled, before leaning in to brush her soft lips against the roughness of his cheek, "Thanks" she whispered.

Settling back into his chest, she rested her head on his shoulder as he once again placed a kiss into her hair. "So…" he began, raising his feet to rest on the table in front of them before indicating with his beer bottle to the TV, "What's this rubbish?"