Tommy leaves the apartment reaching for his cell phone thinking to himself about Andy; he's never seen her so upset and...just plain sad. Not even when she broke up with Luke did she appear so sad, angry yes, but this was different. He dailed the number from memory thinking Andy looked like her best friend has died. As the phone on ther other end began to ring Tommy thought Luke's a good detective and all, but Tommy has always had an affinity to the young officer Swarek.
"Yes?" Sam answers his phone, interrupting Tommy's thoughts.
"Hey, Sammy!" Tommy says.
"Yeah…...Tommy?" Sam answered surprised to hear Andy's father's voice on the other end of the phone line.
"Sammy, I need to talk to you now, meet me at the Penny." Tommy said not waiting for an answer before he hung up.
Before he could say okay Sam heard the dial tone in his ear. He sighed as he hung up, He knew this day would come that he'd be getting a call from Tommy about Andy. Sam left his house anticipating being raked over the coals about the mess he'd made of Andy's life.
A very concerned Sam enters the Penny and catches a glimpse of Tommy seated at the bar with a glass full of some clear liquid. From what he could see the place had a few patrons eating lunch and some doing a little bit of both, eating and drinking. Loud music was blaring from the jukebox in the corner. Sam began to worry that Tommy may be drinking again.
"Tommy!" Sam yells over the music as he approaches. "What are you doing in a bar in the middle of the afternoon, have you started drinking again, does Andy know you're here?"
"Hey, hold on there Swarek!" Tommy sputtered. "No, I haven't started drinking again!" Tommy said agitatedly.
Sam let out a relieved breath he was aware he was holding and sat down next to Tommy. After a long silence with both men sizing each other's demeanor up, Sam clears his throat and innocently asks. "So Tommy….., what's up?"
Not one to mince words, Tommy bluntly replies, "I want to know what's going on between you and my little girl….."What could you possibly have been thinking to put my daughter's life in danger while you were are undercover?" "How did this mess happen?" Sam unable to interrupt Tommy's questions sat silently each one like a dart to his heart.
Knowing that this was coming didn't prepare Sam for Tommy's anger so all he could do was to be honest when Tommy finally finished ripping him a new one and sat piercing into him with cold eyes. "Tommy...…." Sam started. "It's my fault, I'm sorry." "I accept full responsibility for everything that's happened, I should have known better, I'm the senior officer and I never should have put Andy in the position I did." Sam answers his voice deep with regret. "I want you to know that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt Andy."
Tommy nods his head relieved that Sam is the man he thought he was. Andy had done the same thing a few hours earlier, taking all the blame in order to protect Sam. "Well, ok then, let's get some lunch" Tommy replies calling the waitress over. During lunch Sam and Tommy talk about the job, Sam's undercover assignment, Brennan and most especially about Andy. Sam, not one to talk about his personal life was hesitant to open up about his feelings for Andy.
"Do you love her?" Tommy asks once they had finished eating.
Sam looks at Tommy visibly shocked and a little scared. He'd never really thought about his feelings in that way. But with Tommy's question, Sam realizes that he does love Andy. Before he could answer Tommy notices a slightly greenish tint to Sam's face and interrupts him chuckling, "You don't have to answer that, I can see by your face that you've just realize something important."
Sam, still unable, or unwilling to speak continues to stare at Tommy helplessly.
As they were leaving, Tommy thought about how much he could tell during lunch that Sam was missing Andy so he decided to take matters into his own hands. "Sam buddy, I need some help with a problem at the apartment can you drop by for a few minutes to give me a hand?" Tommy asked slyly.
"Sure no problem" replies Sam not noticing the look in Tommy's eyes. They headed to Sam's truck.
Tommy and Sam arrived at the apartment and were about to enter when Tommy suddenly stops at the open apartment door, "Hey buddy, I forgot to get the mail...let me run back down stairs and check the box. You go on in….I'll back in a minute."