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Andy straightened up as she walked into the squad room the following Monday. She nodded to a few people and then settled into her usual spot beside Traci. She noticed the concerned look that Sam shot her and offered him a tight smile in response.
"McNally you are partnered with Swarek." Best shouted "Now go out and serve and watch yourselves!"
Andy grimaced slightly and headed out to the car arriving slightly ahead of Sam who followed on carrying two coffees.
"Awe, you shouldn't have Sam." Andy teased.
"Well, McNally, I figure I'm the one who has to put up with your grumpy ass all day if you don't get your caffeine intake. So really I'm just looking out for myself." Sam teased her back his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"So, how are you feeling, all healed and rested up?" Sam enquired?
"Sure, never better I think that I will have to get shot more often the amount of work that I got through at the house."
Sam screwed up his face and said "Don't even joke about this Andy."
They answered the first few calls and stopped for lunch at Andy's favourite pizza place. She couldn't help noticing that his hair looked as though it had been freshly washed and he smelled mmm….. so good.
His dimples flashed every time he made a wise quip and his eyes were full of devilment.
"I really love working with this guy and spending time with him." Andy thought.
Sam noticed Andy's preoccupation and introspection and he decided to mess with her a little.
"Andy, can you pass me the salt?" he asked. "Oh, never mind I've got it he said just as she was reaching over. His hand brushed against hers, just the briefest touch and Andy jumped as though scalded. He smirked to himself as he added the unneeded salt to his lunch.
"I have got to get a grip." Andy exclaimed to herself. "He is going to think that I am a total moron" she lamented.
They got up to leave and as usual Sam placed his hand on the small of her back to usher her out. She felt the heat searing her as she walked to the car mentally berating herself all the way.
"Yes" thought Sammy. "I just need to amp it up a little and maybe she will start to realise there is something between us."
"So, McNally, any plans for this evening?" he enquired hoping all the time that she was going to say she was popping into the Penny. His stomach lurched as she answered that she was going out for a meal with Luke to have a much needed heart to heart.
They finished the rest of the shift in a comfortable silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
That night at the restaurant, Luke was being very attentive, refilling Andy's glass whenever it looked like it was getting empty, complementing her on her hairstyle and generally being a good boyfriend. However, this was not enough for Andy she wanted them to talk and to lay their cards on the table.
She began "Luke, I know that the bullet went into my vest that day but I was still injured and still hurting and I needed you. You left me to my own devices and to this day you still haven't asked me how I got home. How do you think that makes me feel?
He cleared his throat anxiously. "Andy, I know that I haven't been there for you lately and I promise that all that is going to change. I want us to have a future together and I want you to feel that I care about you and not just about my job. I realise that I am going to have to start to put you first and to put a lot more effort into this relationship. I am willing to try if you are.
Andy smiled at him and replied "Of course I am willing to try but I can't help thinking that it shouldn't be this hard for us."
Luke reached across the table and smiled "At least we are going to try and I think that we have a real shot at this Andy; don't give up on me yet."
"What would you like to do now?" he asked "We could finish this discussion at home or we could go to the Penny and you can visit with your friends for a while."
"Yes let's do that, I feel as though I have not had a chance to catch up with Traci in a while.
Two pairs of eyes watched them as they walked into the Penny hand in hand; one brown pair holding a world of hurt in them and one blue pair silently assessing the depths of feelings that these two had for each other.
Luke bought Andy a drink and then left her to sit with her fellow rookies. He drifted off to talk to other people in the bar.
"So, spill." Traci squealed "Are you and the Lukester totally in love now?"
Andy merely shrugged and replied "We are trying to work things out."
Traci looked at her friend with concern and confirmed Andy's worst fears.
"Girl, this is the early stage of your relationship, you should be ripping the clothes off each other constantly and finding it unbearable to be away from each other."
Andy just stared morosely into her drink thinking that if it was a certain TO that she was in a relationship with then what Traci suggested would be true. But she owed it to herself and to Luke to try. It couldn't be that hard could it?
Jerry nudged Sam. "What is going on there? Those two don't exactly look like loves young dream do they? What are you doing about this? He demanded.
Sam shrugged his shoulders and replied "Nothing, that is who she wants, what can I do?"
Jerry looked at him in disgust and then gestured over to his right. "Well Sammy it looks like someone else might have a say in it as well."
Sammy looked on with interest eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him with Jo laughing and leaning in against loser Luke like he was the best thing since sliced bread. She was flicking her hair and batting her eyes as she looked up at him and he was loving every minute of it.
He couldn't take any more of this he indicated to Jerry that he was off and he swallowed the rest of his drink down even though it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He nodded in the general vicinity of the rookies table and left the bar. Andy watched him go and felt guilty for the look of sadness on his face.
Jo sidled up to Luke and said
"Wow Luke you totally look like you have the hots for Andy NOT"
He replied "We are comfortable together Jo, that burning passion is for fools, look where it got us."
"Yes but look how good it was between us, we were so hungry for each other all of the time, even when we were angry with each other we always sorted it out in the bedroom."
Luke replied "Yes, but not everything was worked out that way, otherwise we would still be together and you wouldn't be working out of a different precinct."
"Maybe we were too hasty in ending things Luke; I still have feelings for you."
"Jo, I am not getting into this with you, I have made my decision and I am sticking with Andy it is the right choice for all of us." With that he walked away leaving Jo staring after him. He strolled over to Andy smiled warmly at her and suggested that it was time for them to go home. Andy agreed and they left together, Traci shook her head sadly and wondered what on earth was going through her friends head at that point.