Thanks to mamaverd and SairsJ for lending me an eye or an ear.
And to linda p – thank you for all the wonderful reviews to the stories of mine that you have been reading. Since I can't thank you personally, I wanted you to know how much I appreciate them. Hope your reading and enjoying this one too.
Oliver had returned to his regular table next to the bar. He had texted Sam as soon as Andy walked away and now he was just going to finish his drink and head home. He didn't really feel like staying anymore.
He heard the door open and close and glanced casually at the newest occupant until it dawned on him exactly what he was seeing. "Nooo!" He moaned dropping his chin to his chest.
He couldn't let this happen.
With a determined look in his eye, he raised his head and quickly downed his drink before slamming the glass onto the bar and standing up. He watched as Sam scanned the room his eye line getting dangerously close to where McNally was sitting with Nash. Oliver hurried his approach, leaving a jumble of scattered stools in his wake.
"What are you doing here?" Oliver demanded by way of hello.
"What am I doing here?" Sam responded, furrowing his brow. "What are you doing here? You texted me to say that you had to go home and we couldn't meet here for a drink."
"That's right. I did." Oliver confirmed. "And I asked you to meet me there for a drink. But you said that we could do it another time."
Sam flipped his palms up in front of him. "You made it sound like you had to rush, like maybe something was wrong. I didn't want to bother you if Zoe needed you home."
"I wouldn't have invited you if it was going to be a problem." Oliver grumbled.
"Yeah well; I didn't think it was that big a deal. We can get a drink anytime."
"Exactly. So I thought we postponed."
"We did." Sam agreed not really understanding the point.
Oliver tilted his head and dropped his chin. How could the man not get it? "Yet you're still here."
"I still wanted a drink." Sam explained with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Don't you have something at home?"
"Maybe I didn't have what I wanted at home." Sam answered vaguely though he was pretty sure Oliver knew what he was getting at. Why else would he be so jumpy? Sam started to grin.
"You knew she was going to be here." It wasn't an accusation. It wasn't a question. It was simply a resigned statement of fact.
"What!"
Both men turned to the exclamation coming from the back of the bar and Sam's grin turned into a full-fledged Swarek smirk complete with dimples. Bingo!
Andy returned his smile and even from across the room, he couldn't miss the sparkle in her eye; she was obviously happy to see him too. Two days was already too long and as he lifted his chin in acknowledgment, he offered her a quick wink. He could almost hear the soft giggle from there.
Keeping his eye on the prize, Sam moved to take a step around Oliver but the man wasn't going to make this easy. He mirrored Sam's movements and stepped directly into his path.
"Sorry, Brother." Oliver contested shaking his head. "Noelle and Frank are going to be here any minute; you have to get out of here before they come."
Sam was reluctant to give Oliver his attention but it looked like it was going to be unavoidable; Oliver was not going to let him pass without a fight. He offered Andy a quick shrug of his shoulders and when she rolled her eyes in return, something told him she had already had this discussion.
"It's fine, Ollie. Frank and I talked at the hearing; he asked if I was going to be here."
"Yeah but I bet he didn't expect you to be here with McNally."
The light went on in Sam's head. Frank hadn't had a chance to tell anyone about the hearings before they took off for the day so Oliver had no idea that the game had changed. This could work out really nicely. A mischievous glint took over Sam's eyes. "As you can see, I'm not with McNally." Yet.
"No." Oliver conceded. "But don't think I didn't see that look. You two are just asking for trouble."
Oliver actually looked really worried and Sam felt a small pang of guilt. But it only lasted for about a second; he would tell him eventually but for now he was going to watch his friend squirm. A little payback for comments like 'when she's out might be a good time to talk to her' and 'you know TO's and Rookies can't…'. Fair's fair.
"What do I have to do?" Oliver pleaded. "Come on Sammy. Don't make me beg."
"I haven't seen her for two days." Sam complained, feigning a movement towards her. "I'll just be a minute. You keep watch."
Oliver's hand shot out to grab him and pull him back. He met Sam's eye suspiciously. "Don't you mean three days?"
"Right, three. What did I say?" Sam asked with false innocence.
Oliver furrowed his brow and looked at him warily. "I'm pretty sure you said two."
"Really?" Sam questioned. "Well then I'd really like to see her."
"No, you don't"
"I'm not leaving Ollie."
"Fine. You can see her from here then." Oliver insisted dragging Sam back to his table.
Sam caught Andy's eye. She and Traci had been watching the drama play out and were clearly amused. Sam shrugged his shoulders in resignation. Andy pressed her lips together into a tiny smile and with an exaggerated blink told him she understood.
They reached the table and Oliver forced Sam onto a stool. "Why can't I just say hi?"
"You know why." Oliver muttered. "Now what do you want to drink? It's on me…" He held up his hand to halt the smartass remark he knew was coming. "Just drink it quick." He ordered.
Oliver rarely offered to buy; he always had some excuse about college funds and multiples sets of braces so Sam was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He lifted his arm and Liam made his way over. "What can I get you Sam?"
"I'll have a Scotch."
"Oliver, another?" Liam prompted, turning away at Oliver's affirmation.
"Wait." Sam beckoned. "Do you have a list of shooters?"
Oliver looked at him like he was crazy. What the hell?
Liam nodded and reached under the bar. He tossed a booklet onto their table before making his way to the nearest mixing station.
"Thanks."
"What do you need that for? You want a shooter; I'll get you tequila or something. You're not going to order some girly…" Oliver broke off; he had a bad feeling.
Sam grinned at his perceptive friend. "I just want to send her a drink."
"No contact." Oliver argued.
"I'm not going to talk to her." Sam maintained with a smirk. "Liam is. I'm just paying for the drink."
"I don't know, Sammy."
"Fine, then you send it."
"Great! What do you want me to send her? I'm pretty sure she ordered a beer earlier."
"I don't care… send her this." Sam insisted, pointing to a name on the list.
Oliver glanced down and read the line above Sam's finger. His eyes shot up. "I'm not sending her that." He refused. And if Sam didn't know any better, he detected a little color in Oliver's cheeks.
Sam snickered. "Sorry, that's the one."
"Sammy." Oliver warned.
"I'm sending it." He stated, leaving no room for argument.
Oliver huffed out a breath of resignation and conceded with a wave of his hand.
Sam signaled for Liam to come back and he showed him what he wanted. "I want to send this to McNally."
Liam nodded and started to turn away to mix it. "Wait, I didn't tell you what to say."
"I'll tell her you bought her a drink." Liam stated as if it were obvious; it's not like it was something new. In fact, it happened quite regularly.
"No." Sam disputed. "You have to say this exactly."
Sam ignored the groan coming from beside him and told Liam what he wanted him to tell her. "You got it?"
"I got it." Liam confirmed shaking his head while he walked away.
Since they realized that Sam was stuck with Oliver, Andy and Traci had launched into conversation. Traci was getting Andy up-to-date on the happenings at Fifteen over the last few days and Andy recapped her discussion with Sam about the panel's decision. She thought about telling Traci about their unofficial grace period but decided against it. The less people who knew about that the less chance it could get out and get not only her and Sam in trouble but possibly Frank as well.
They had just moved onto the topic of Leo's latest adventure when Liam placed a shooter in front of a surprised Andy.
"What's this?" Andy asked.
Liam barely contained the eye roll before launching into his imposed speech. "It's from Swarek. He knows you want to drink the champagne now but he thought you might appreciate a little of this first."
Andy rolled her eyes but couldn't contain the grin. Traci just looked at her in confusion; the statement made no sense to her at all. Andy had told her about leaving Sam the message, but she hadn't told her exactly what she had said and why.
"You don't drink champagne." Traci reminded her.
"I know." Andy said, shooting her an 'I'll tell you in a second' look. "What is it?" She asked Liam.
"Seriously?" He confirmed shaking his head. When Sam told him what to say, Liam had questioned him wondering why he picked that specific drink if he didn't want him to tell her the name of it. But Sam knew Andy and he told Liam not to worry; she would ask.
"Yeah, what is it?" Andy posed again, picking up the drink, looking it over and sniffing it.
"Foreplay." Liam revealed.
"What?" Andy blurted, her eyes snapping up to the bartender.
"It's Foreplay." Liam repeated uncomfortably. He had worked in other bars where this type of thing was a regular occurrence, but he'd been at the Penny for a long time now and cops didn't generally go for this kind of thing.
"He wanted to start with Foreplay." Traci repeated smugly while nodding in approval. "Nice."
Andy looked at Traci and grinned before turning back to Liam. "Sorry we didn't recognize it when you brought it out." Andy teased.
"Very funny," he muttered turning away.
The girls laughed loudly with Andy thanking him between giggles.
"Can you bring me another beer?" Traci called out as he walked away. "You want…" she directed at Andy.
"No. I'm good." Andy confirmed. "But I should go thank him." She decided aloud.
"No. Look." Traci pointed across the bar to a smirking Swarek and an agitated Shaw. "Oliver's still freaking; I don't think he knows yet." Traci grinned; she liked seeing him squirm for once. And if Sam was going to string him along for awhile, she was in. Teach him to steal her gun all the time.
Andy grinned at Oliver's discomfort and then shifted her gaze over to Sam. She held his eyes as she picked up the shooter and downed it. She could see he was chuckling and enjoying his little tease.
Well two can play at that game. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and started typing out a text.
"What are you doing?" Traci wondered.
"Letting him know I liked the drink." Andy bragged.
The girls watched as Sam pulled the phone from his pocket. His grin widened when he saw it was from her and they watched as Oliver tried to grab the phone away from him and clearly let Sam know that he did not approve.
When Oliver finally gave up, they watched Sam happily open the text. She watched as the grin was replaced by a look of wide-eyed shock as he read the note.
"What did it say?" Traci asked.
Andy tilted her head to the side and looked away for a second. "Liam's Foreplay was really good." She revealed timidly as she finally brought her eyes up to meet Traci's. She couldn't hold them though as she was unsure of what her friend would think of the bold move and her gaze quickly darted from side to side. Her eyes were wide as she lifted her brows focusing on nothing in particular. She rolled her lips together and took a drink waiting for her friend's response.
"You are nasty, girl." Traci noted with a proud grin and Andy couldn't help but smile back.
Turning together, they watched as Sam shook his head, but he couldn't keep the grin at bay for long. Touché.
Traci turned back to the table and Andy was concentrating on her phone again. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for a drink to send back." She explained. "If I can't go over there, I want to have some fun too."
"Let me see." Traci demanded, sliding her chair around to the same side. She was getting into this; it was going to drive Oliver to distraction.
The girls were giggling away when Liam returned with Traci's beer. "So this is the one?" She confirmed before acknowledging Liam. At Traci's nod, she showed the phone to the bartender.
"Can you make this?"
He looked at the screen. He hadn't heard of that one, but it would probably be in one of his books. "Sure. Just let me write it down though in case I don't have it." He grabbed a pen and scribbled down the recipe scrunching up his nose at the last ingredient. "Are you sure?"
"Yep." Andy answered, popping her 'p'. "And…"
Liam rolled his eyes; he knew where this was going. "What do you want me to say?"
Traci laughed as Andy answered. "Tell him I think he's being a little presumptuous, and I'd be more comfortable starting a little slower… with this."
"Got it."
Sam watched as Liam returned from the girls. He knew they were planning something; he could see them huddled together and laughing and Liam had written something down before he went back to work behind the bar.
Sam didn't have to wonder about it for long though as Liam placed a shot in front of him. Sam looked at it skeptically.
"It's green." Oliver noted unnecessarily. His entire face scrunched up as he lifted the glass to get a better look. "And not a nice green either." He remarked placing it down.
Sam looked up at Liam for explanation; hoping for a good enough reason to taste the concoction.
"It's a Walk in the Park."
Sam huffed in disbelief. "Easy for you to say; you don't have to drink the shit."
Liam shook his head. "No. It's called a Walk in the Park. She thought you were being a little presumptuous with your drink. She said she'd be more comfortable starting a little slower."
Sam laughed. Touché again McNally.
He lifted the drink up and saluted Andy with it before downing it quickly. He had a feeling he wouldn't want to savor it and he was right; his whole face twisted up in disgust. It was aptly named as it definitely tasted something akin to trees and grass.
He could see Andy and Traci laughing across the room.
"You guys want anything else?"
"I'll have some water." Sam ordered and both men looked at him like he had grown an extra head. Since when did Sam Swarek order anything here that didn't include alcohol?
"What?" Sam replied defensively. "First of all, I need to wash the taste of that horse feed I just drank out of my mouth. And more importantly," he focused on Oliver, "if you're not going to let me go over there… Well I just don't want to be too drunk at the end of the night."
"Too drunk for what?" Oliver asked guardedly, not sure that he really wanted to know.
"Too drunk to get u… myself home to bed." Sam replied pushing the Scotch he hadn't yet touched over to Oliver. "You should probably drink this too."
Oliver hung his head and took a large gulp of Sam's drink. He was definitely going to need a refill as he watched Sam pick the booklet back up off the table; he nodded at Liam for another.
"Is there any way I can talk you into leaving now?"
Sam glanced up with an 'are you kidding me' written clearly on his face before returning to the booklet and flipping straight to the S'. He knew exactly what his counter offer would include.
Oliver leaned over to see Sam's finger hovering over a section of the page. He rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself. "This is seriously getting out of hand." He briefly wondered if he should just give up and leave them to their own devices. They were grown-ups after all and he wasn't their father. No, but he was their friend and he couldn't sit idly by and watch them throw away the career they both loved. He would have to try and be the voice of reason till they came to their senses. At least this way, when Frank and Noelle came in, it wouldn't look too bad.
"Better take McNally some water too." Oliver said resignedly.
Liam crossed the bar once again; already tired of the back and forth. It was Tuesday night and it was slow as usual which was why he didn't have a server on with him. Who would have thought he would be run off his feet because of only two people.
He set another shooter in front of Andy along with a tall glass of water.
Andy grinned up at him. She wasn't sure whose idea the water was, but it was a good one so she was extremely grateful. She would not need another drink if they kept this up. "What is it this time?" She inquired.
"A counter offer."
"That's what it's called?" She asked, furrowing her brow.
"No. It's his counter offer to your Walk in the Park."
"Which is?" Andy asked before taking a sip of her water.
"It's, uh Sex at My House."
Andy's eyes snapped up to Sam's and she choked a little on her water. He lifted his brow in challenge with a slight smirk to his lips.
"Boy he doesn't waste much time after Foreplay; does he?" Traci teased.
Andy was still looking at Sam. She declined his offer with a shake of her head and an 'I don't think so mister' glare. But when she saw his fake pout, she couldn't help but throw him a bone. She held up her hand in gesture, asking him to wait a minute. When he nodded his agreement, she turned back to Traci. "Have you ever known him to be patient about anything?"
This time, it was Traci's turn to choke on her drink and she thought it best to take it as a rhetorical question. Some things she didn't need to know.
Andy tilted back the shot and then locked her eyes on Sam as she licked the inside of the glass and then her lips slowly. If he wasn't across the room, Traci would have seen just how little patience he had… especially when it came to Andy. As it was, she could still tell it was taking all his willpower to stay where he was.
Traci laughed as she watched Oliver shaking his head as he looked towards the ceiling. "What's next?" She asked Andy and they grabbed her phone once again.
"I'll be back." Liam announced to no one in particular as the girls weren't even paying attention to him. He cleared away the shot glass and headed back to the bar.
Sam stayed at the table with Oliver, but he was getting restless; waiting was not his strong suit. He hated having nothing to do and Oliver wasn't talking not that Sam was much better. Oliver was too busy trying to figure out how to get them out of this mess and Sam was too busy trying to figure out how Andy could work him up like that and then leave him hanging… well not exactly hanging.
His eyes were glued on the girls who were hunched over a phone. Come on; how long does it take?
He pulled out his own cell phone when he couldn't wait any longer. He sent one word. 'Well?'
The girls were giggling over the site they found. "That one?" Traci pointed.
"No, but you have to remember that one next time Jerry is here." Andy demanded pointing to another on the list.
"Ni-ice." Traci agreed, willing herself to keep it in mind next time they were here.
"Oooh a Cranberry Zambo…" Andy started excitedly before she cut herself off.
"Excuse me?"
"What? Oh." Andy blushed and shook her head quickly. "Never Mind." Sam would not be happy if she brought that up in front of Oliver.
"McNally." Traci warned. "There is a story there." She insisted.
"I… uh…it's… uh…" Andy wouldn't look at her. "I can't tell you."
"I will get it out of you." Traci swore.
Andy knew her friend could be relentless when she got something in her head. It was part of what made her a good cop. "Can we just forget it? Please?" She begged.
"Next girls' night your mine."
Andy flinched. Sam was going to kill her.
"This one." Andy pointed dropping the subject and hoping she wouldn't ever have to cross that bridge.
"I like it." Traci agreed. "What do you want to Liam to say?"
Sam smiled as he saw Liam head back over to the girls; his phone vibrated at the same time. 'Patience is a virtue.'
'Doesn't mean I have to like it. What are you waiting for McNally? I thought it was a pretty good offer.'
He watched her grin as she read his message and he couldn't keep the smile off his own face. He felt like a teenager sitting phone in hand waiting in anticipation to hear from the girl he liked. Apparently he must have looked it too because he heard the grumblings coming from beside him. Something about 'if I wanted teenage drama, I'd have gone home' and 'old enough to know better.'
Sam just chuckled and placed a comforting hand on Oliver's shoulder.
But Oliver shook it off. "You want to make me feel better, let me take you home."
Sam laughed even louder. "Sorry Brother, you're not my type."
Oliver's curse was cut off by Liam placing another drink in front of Sam.
"Hey, maybe if McNally gets me drunk enough…" He taunted, before Oliver cut him off with a glare.
Sam held up his hands in defense and then looked up at Liam in question.
"She said that although your idea was tempting, she's not that kind of girl. She doesn't jump into bed with a guy she meets in a bar just because he makes the offer."
No, she likes to do that herself. He remembered, thinking back fondly to the night she came back to the Alpine Inn to proposition him.
"So what does she suggest then?"
Liam pushed the glass towards him. "A Tender Touch."
At least it wasn't green. Sam thought as he drained the shot.
He had just set the small glass back on the bar when Liam threw in the kicker. "But she did say that if that went well; she might be willing to sweeten the pot."
Sam peered around Liam, and from the grin on her face, Sam figured his odds were pretty good.
Oliver could see they were getting close to the point of no return. "Sammy." He implored.
"Just one more." He promised and he could see the hope in Oliver's eyes. He should probably let him off the hook soon.
Sam picked up the booklet supposedly for the last time. He had seen something when he had been looking over the S' before. He turned to the page and pointed it out to Oliver lifting his eyebrows and nodding in excitement before passing it over to Liam.
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Are you kidding me?" He muttered under his breath.
Liam just looked at Sam waiting.
"Self explanatory," was all Sam offered in answer to the silent question. And Liam moved away to mix and deliver the drink.
Andy and Traci were still laughing over Andy's phone when Liam returned to their table. They couldn't believe all the names people had come up with for shots. They only looked up because they heard Liam clear his throat.
Traci couldn't wait. She was curious to see what Sam would come up with next; his last proposition and it could only be called that… a proposition, was pretty bold. "Well?"
He turned to Andy and was barely able to contain the eye roll as he placed Sam's latest pitch in front of her. "A Sammy Slammer." He announced shaking his head; he still couldn't believe it, and if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes…
Both ladies burst out laughing simultaneously and their eyes met. "You have to go over there." Traci insisted as soon as she was able to speak.
Andy's grin widened and she tipped her glass to Traci in salute. That was why she was her best friend; she just got it.
Andy polished off the shot quickly and then offered the now empty glass to Liam. "Thanks Liam. Do you mind making just one more?"
"Sure why not?"
Traci got a chuckle out of Andy's final choice. "I might even let you talk to him." Traci teased referring to Andy's promise early on in the night.
Andy couldn't help but laugh back… there was no might.
"Okay you sent her the drink; now let's get out of here." Oliver insisted finally allowing himself to think that they just might make it out of there.
Sam wasn't listening though; he was too focused on the woman across the room.
"Sammy. Sammy." Oliver finally nudged his shoulder to pull Sam's attention away.
"Hmm?"
Oliver flipped his head towards the door. "Let's go."
Sam hummed and hawed for a second trying to figure out a way to stall his friend just a few more minutes. He could see that Traci and Andy were getting ready to leave and he knew she wasn't going to leave without him.
"Sammy." Oliver tried again moving to stand.
Before he could get fully off his stool though, Liam placed another drink in front of Sam. "Two Minute Warning." He announced.
Sam grinned knowing Liam meant more than just the drink. "Is that from the time she ordered or from now?"
Liam shrugged and looked back to the other end of the bar; Andy was already making her way over with Traci not far behind. "I'd say times up." He announced gesturing to the women.
"Shit." Oliver muttered under his breath. "Come on Sammy." He knew he would have to act fast so he blurted the first thing that came to his mind. "I'll make sure you don't get Epstein for the first week you're back." And when Sam didn't bite he continued. "And I'll do your paperwork for those shifts too. Come on buddy. Name it. Anything. We gotta get you out of here."
Sam looked at his friend; this was working out better than he thought it would. He was just hoping to get his drinks paid for, for the night. "Make it Epstein and Peck and the paperwork… and I'll think about it."
Oliver reached out for Sam's hand to shake on it, planning to take hold and not let go till he had his friend safely out the door. But no such luck.
"Hey guys." Traci offered to both gentlemen while Andy remained speechless, content just holding Sam's eye while a shy grin played on her lips.
"Hey guys?" Oliver snapped. "Hey guys? That's all you have to say for yourself? I did my part; I kept Sammy over here. Five more minutes…" He continued to vent, "…that's all I needed and I had him out the door. You couldn't keep her over there. You know Frank and Noelle are coming here any minute; Noelle told you before you left. What kind of friend are you?"
Sam obviously hadn't let him off the hook, but even so his attitude had Traci a little irked. She was a great friend and she didn't appreciate him thinking otherwise. "You don't think I tried?" She defended.
"Well obviously not hard enough. Look at them; they might as well just start making out because as soon as Frank gets here all he's going to see is…"
Sam grinned at Oliver's suggestion and made a move towards Andy but Shaw's arm shot out to stop him. "I was kidding." He growled and Sam stopped in his tracks.
"Did you try bribery?" Oliver proposed knowing it worked for him here (or so he thought) and at home. "You're a mother; don't tell me you haven't dangled a carrot or two in front of your kid to get him to do what you want."
"Somehow I didn't think an extra hour on the X-box was going to work with Andy." Traci retorted purposely being difficult.
"Well then use your imagination Nash. Have I taught you nothing?" Oliver's hand shot up silencing the smart remark he knew was coming the minute he asked the rhetorical question.
"Did you try offering to take Epstein off her hands for a week? Maybe a weeks' worth of paperwork?" Oliver suggested with an air of superiority.
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Traci wondered trying to hide the sarcasm. She turned to her friend. "Andy?"
Andy still hadn't said a word, still happily grinning at Sam while listening to their two friends go at it. She turned to Traci. "Throw in lunches for the first week and it's a deal." Andy agreed winking conspiratorially behind Shaw's back.
"I don't know Andy…" Traci stalled.
"Move over amateur." Oliver ordered sliding Traci aside and moving to cut off Sam's view of Andy. He ignored Sam's glare and looked him straight in the eye. "Same deal as before AND lunch is on me… all week." He offered extending his hand for acceptance.
Sam's eyes lit up as he grinned. "So let me get this straight. First week, no Epstein, no Peck, no paperwork and you're buying lunch."
"Yes." Oliver agreed.
"And all I have to do is leave."
"Yes… right now."
Sam grabbed his hand and shook quickly. "Then I'm out of here."
Oliver finally let out the breath he had been holding since the two women joined them and his whole body relaxed until Sam let go of his hand and placed his arm around Andy.
What the…
"Let's go McNally." Sam announced, turning for the door.
"Wait… What? No." Oliver stuttered.
"What's the problem?"
Oliver dropped his chin and glared. "Don't give me the innocent act Sammy. It doesn't suit you."
"Hey, you're the one that made the deal." Sam argued. "First week, no Epstein, no Peck, no paperwork and you're buying lunch if I leave right now."
"Yeah, alone." Oliver argued.
Sam grinned. "Ah but you didn't say I had to leave alone."
Oliver was just about to blast Sam for turning his words against him when the door opened. Oliver's head was the first one to shoot to the door, and the rest idly followed. He was the only one in a pure panic though and his eyes were as wide as saucers. But he exhaled in relief as soon as he realized that it was just Diaz and Epstein.
It only took a second for the guys to notice them and when they did their faces lit up in huge grins. They were so happy to see Andy back at the bar and the fact that she was with Sam just made it better; they knew how much she liked him. They took two steps forward intending to give Andy a hug when something dawned on them.
Traci tried to hold back the chuckle but it was almost like watching a cartoon play out in front of her. Their eyes practically bugged out and they kept looking back and forth between each other and Sam with his arm around Andy. The dread clearly building with the realization of what they thought was going on. When they gave each other a quick nod and raced for the door, Traci couldn't hold back and started to laugh.
Oliver shot her a glare that only intensified when they heard what sounded like Chris arguing with Frank in the small corridor between the outer entrance and the inside access.
The door was just starting to open again when they heard Frank's agitated voice insisting. "I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow, Diaz. Now let us through."
Oliver looked helplessly at everyone. Why the hell weren't Sam and Andy jumping apart? Why wasn't Nash doing anything? Did he always have to take care of everything? He slid over to Sam and Andy intent on pulling Sam out of there but it was too late. Frank had just entered the bar with a very loud. "Diaz!"
Oliver collapsed onto the nearest stool. There was nothing more he could do.
"Hi guys." Frank acknowledged directing his grin specifically at Andy who was still under Sam's arm. "I see Sammy told you."
"He did." Andy confirmed with a smile of her own.
"I figured he would." That's why he hadn't called her himself; he knew Sam wouldn't wait. "That was some pretty fast talking, McNally. And obviously I wasn't the only one that was impressed."
"I had help." Andy admitted shooting a quick smile over to her friends. "I knew what I wanted to say but it was Traci, Dov and Chris that brought me the research."
Frank was about to respond when Oliver stood back up. "What… what the hell is going on?"
Chris and Dov had moved in beside Traci and were nodding emphatically. They couldn't believe how calm everyone was... unless... it worked?
"What? They didn't they tell you?" Frank was surprised; he was certain they would have been shouting it from the rooftops… and they were… together.
"Tell us what?" Oliver wondered.
Sam gave Andy a little tug and started inching them closer to the door. The shit was about to hit the fan and he didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
"McNally here..." Frank started, seeking them out much to Sam's chagrin. "…convinced the board to revoke the no contact rule."
"Really?" Dov and Chris shouted at the same time Oliver was yelping, "What?" He immediately turned on his friend.
Sam dropped his arm from Andy's shoulder and grabbed her hand pulling her as quickly as he could towards the door. "Gotta run." He announced to no one in particular.
"You're not staying?" Noelle asked.
Sam grinned over to a fuming Shaw. "I, uh, promised Oliver I'd leave so…"
"Yeah you better run Sammy." Oliver threatened and he had already taken a couple of menacing steps in their direction. "You can bet I won't be…" His words fell on deaf ears as Sam had already led a chuckling Andy out the door. And they didn't stop till they reached his truck.
Sam wasn't quite ready to leave though as they still hadn't said a proper hello. He used the hand he was still holding to pull her in close. "Hey." He greeted with barely a whisper.
"Hey." She breathed out closing the distance between them and brushing her lips lightly against his.
"I missed you." He confessed as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and then let his hand slide to her jaw. She barely had time to repeat the sentiment before Sam pulled her back in for a kiss that showed her just how much.
They made out lazily against the passenger side of Sam's truck reacquainting themselves with each other until the door to the Penny swung open and brought them out of their stupor. "We should uh… get going." Sam suggested when he realized just how far they had gotten… or not gotten depending on how you looked at it. He popped the lock and opened Andy's door offering her a hand up. And with a quick kiss, he jogged over to the driver's side and hopped in himself.
He was just about to start the truck when he felt Andy's hand halting his. "Are you okay to drive?" She questioned.
"I'm good." He assured her. He only had the two shots; the last one was left forgotten on the table.
As she removed her hand, he allowed the engine to turn over and quickly put the truck in gear. He pulled away from the lot before turning to Andy with a quick wink. "So… your place or mine?"
As she debated the merits of each out loud, Sam smiled to himself. He was used to making decisions on his own and he always liked being able to do what he wanted when he wanted. But he had a feeling those days were coming to an end and when he thought about it, he found that it really didn't bother him. Besides he knew he could get his way if he wanted… that's what dimples were for.
Sam huffed out a single chuckle. No… that wasn't right. Giving her what she wanted, seeing her face light up when he gave it to her, now that's what dimples were for.
He pulled up to a red light and realized that she had stopped talking. When did that happen? Unfortunately he had been lost in his thoughts and had no idea what she had decided. He had his bag in the back though… just in case, and she didn't seem to have anything with her so… her place then.
He made the turn and looked over at Andy and there it was… that million dollar smile. He couldn't help but grin back… he made the right choice.
Give and take huh?
He took another peek over and her smile, it was still there.
The dimples dug in. Yeah… he could do that.
A.N. If you've had a Walk in the Park and enjoyed it, I apologize. But I'm pretty sure that if it has chartreuse in it, it's an acquired taste. Oh, and in case you're wondering about the drink Traci has to remember the next time Jerry is there. It's called a Splash of Nash.