Sam watched as Tommy headed back downstairs and when he could no longer see him, leans back heavily against the wall relieved that Tommy had understood about all that had happened. Taking a deep breath Sam enters the apartment to wait for Tommy.

Andy had just woken up from her nap and was making some tea wondering where Tommy was for so long when she heard the front door open and close. "Hey dad where do you keep the sugar, I can't find it anywhere?" "Where have you been anyway?" Andy yelled with her head buried in the cabinet still searching for the sugar. But when she didn't hear an answer from Tommy, she shook her head in frustration and headed out of the kitchen into the living room saying "Dad, didn't you hear me? Where do you keep the sugahhhhh...? Andy stopped short stunned when she entered the living room coming face to face with Sam Swarek standing in her father's living room.

"S-Sam?" Andy exclaimed nervously staring at the man who two weeks ago was almost killed at the hands of Jamie Brennan. The same man who has always been there for her, making her smile when she was down, protecting her from harm and just listening when she needed an ear. Andy felt like she had just been kicked in the gut and physically could not stop herself from drinking in the sight of Sam standing in front of her looking slightly battered but beautiful to her eyes. After a very long pause Andy shakes her head as if to clear her mind and asks hesitantly "What, what are you doing here?"

Sam who was just about to sit down and wait for Tommy knew instantly who it was rummaging around in the kitchen before she yelled out to who she thought was Tommy, asking for sugar. She sounded exasperated and impatient and the sound of her voice was like a knife piercing his heart. He had missed her and her inability to to be silent for long periods of time. Hearing her heading for the room, Sam tried to brace himself for the sight of Andy McNally for the first time in a week since the night he had asked her if she wanted to try to be normal together and his disappointment when she said she needed time. She was "gun-shy" and Sam understood that, the first time she throws away her "plan"...it doesn't go so well for both of them.

So when she entered the room and stopped suddenly, Sam eyes instantly devoured every inch of her ending with their eyes locked in a heated battle of want and need. The sound of her voice asking what he was doing here finally penetrates the fog, bringing him back to the present. Sam clears his throat nervously and practically whispers, "Hey…..Andy.…uhmm, your dad, he called a little earlier, said he wanted me to meet him at the Penny." Sam trails off wondering what she's thinking and if she's upset to see him here, he did say he would give her time, but only two weeks. He hopes she didn't think he was trying to pressure her especially since they were ordered to have not contact during their suspension.

"Oh", Andy whispers as well, "Uh, and where is my dad now?" she asks suspicously. Sam answers with slight smile in his voice, "Well, once we were done he asked me to come back here with him..., said there was something he my needed help with…." He trailed off again gazing intently into her beautiful brown eyes. "Andy I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here…Tommy was trying to, I guess..., I'll, I'll just head on out." Sam said as he started to turn to leave.

Andy, realizing that she was about to blow this opportunity that Tommy had orchestrated, whispered "Sam, please...wait." Sam feeling all of his strength to leave stops and leans his forhead against the door. Turning around to face her again, Andy asks "How, how are you...your hand?" Andy's eyes longingly peruses Sam's whole body taking note of each bruise and making a mental note of the beginning of their healing. So intent was she on making sure he was okay, Andy did not hear Sam's response to her question.

"McNally…" Sam sighed knowing what she was doing, reliving eveything that happened two weeks ago and he could see the tears beginng to form in her eyes.

Though they have not had a chance to talk about what happened with Brennan, Sam could tell that she was coming up with her own scenarios, and not wanting to upset her, he encouragingly said, "Good, good….hand's healing so I should be good to go by next week." "You?" Sam asks knowing he should leave, but unable to give up this time together. He wondered how long Tommy planned to stay away.

Andy, knowing exactly what she wanted began walking towards Sam saying "Good, I'm good...lonely without you." she finishes as she stops right in front of Sam who was leaning against the wall beside the door. She was so close, she could see the moment his eyes registered her words. "Sam Swarek" Andy whispered taking a deep breath and releasing it into a sigh.

"Andy McNally", Sam echoed almost breathlessly, unable to control himself any longer he pulled her gently into his arms and slowly stroked his lips across hers ever so slightly wanting to savor every moment of this stolen time, but all too quickly he felt her lips soften against his and their kiss turned into a long passionate exchange of desire held too long in check for what seemed like ages. Hands gently caressing, bodies held tightly against another and lips that refused to let the other go... it must have been an eternity before the two unwillingly separated to take a breath but still held tightly together by arms that seem to be connected. Gazing deeply into each other's eyes Sam knew that she no longer wanted time, the answer to the question he'd asked her a week ago was clear.

Thanks everyone for your reviews, I really appreciate all that you've said.