Here's the next chapter!
I have to admit I was a little lost with this story. I didn't know where I wanted to take it anymore. But now this chapter is finished I have some new ideas, so I'll probably continue for a few more chapters!

XX

Two weeks passed by. In those weeks Andy and Sam saw each other frequently at work. Outside of work they spend a lot of time together as well. Sam cooked for Andy two times and they went out one time too. Things between them had been going well, but they hadn't put a label on anything yet.

Andy was still hesitant about others finding out that she and Sam were trying again. She was afraid about what people would say or think. Deep down she knew that the only people who had a right to have an opinion were her and Sam, but somehow she couldn't shake the humiliation of Marlo's words.

''First Luke Callaghan. Then you almost get Sam killed by sleeping with him. After that you leave for three months and he still takes you back. I must say McNally, your reputation really is well known by all of TPS. And you would insult my intelligence by saying that nothing ever happened between you and Collins. So it's safe to say that you really get around.''

Of course Andy knew that Marlo was just hurt by Sam breaking up with her. Still the words were fresh in her mind. The reason Andy joined 15th was to clear the McNally name. If that was her reputation she wasn't doing a very good job.

Since she was on desk duty and it was the slowest day they had in a while, Andy had done a lot of thinking. Over thinking as Sam would say it. Andy sighed and opened a game of solitaire on the computer.

''McNally,'' Sam's voice pulled her from her thoughts. ''How are you today?''

A smile instantly formed on Andy's lips. No matter how much she was doubting every choice she made in the last year, whenever Sam was around all of that disappeared. Whenever she was around him she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

''I'm good. A little bored, but good.'' Andy looked at Sam and couldn't help but notice that he looked lighter too. Like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. ''How are you?''

''Can't complain,'' Sam answered. He quickly looked around to see if anybody was listening to them. When he saw that nobody was around he leaned a little closer. ''How about dinner?''

Andy reluctantly shook her head. ''Can't. I already made plans with Traci to catch up. She's getting a little suspicious for why I keep on saying no whenever she invites me over.''

''Why don't you just tell her?'' Sam wondered. He wasn't the insecure type, but he didn't get why Andy wanted to be so secretive about everything. As far as he was concerned it was nobody's business, but sneaking around felt unnecessary too because they weren't doing anything wrong.

''I might,'' Andy said. ''We'll see. Rain check on that dinner?''

''Of course.'' Sam looked at Andy for a while and then gave her a small nod. ''Text me when you get home, okay?''

Andy wanted to sigh after Sam said that, but she restrained herself. On the nights they spent together they talked about a lot of things and Andy got that Sam would always be protective. That was who he was and his past had made him like that. She needed to learn to respect that.

Just as he had to learn that she was independent. She could make her own decisions. She could take care of herself. She really didn't need him weighing in on everything.

''I will,'' Andy promised. ''But don't wait up. It will probably be late. Leo is on some school trip so we have the house all to ourselves.''

''Be safe,'' was the last thing Sam said before he headed back to his office.

XX

''So, what's new with you?'' Traci asked when Andy flopped down on Traci's couch. ''Where have you been for the last two weeks?''

''Worked a lot,'' Andy answered. It wasn't a lie, Andy did work a lot. ''It's been kind of crazy lately. With Chris and Marlo gone they're having a hard time getting enough uniforms on the street.''

''Dov told me that Chris might be transferring back,'' Traci admitted. ''Apparently he and Denise are fighting a lot.''

''What about Christian?'' Andy wondered. She knew that Chris was one of the good guys. He wouldn't run off and leave his kid behind.

''I think he wants all three of them to move back, but I'm not sure.'' Traci stood up and walked into the kitchen. A few minutes later she returned with popcorn and drinks.

When Andy saw the bottle she raised an eyebrow. ''We're drinking the hard stuff tonight?'' she wondered.

''My child is away for the night,'' Traci defended her choice. ''I think I deserve a night of care free drinking. Besides, how often do we do this?''

''Not as much as we used to,'' Andy agreed. She grabbed the bottle out of Traci's hands and poured the liquid in the two glasses that were on the table.

Traci sat down next to Andy again. ''So spill. What is new in the Andy/Nick/Gail love triangle?''

That question surprised Andy a little and she almost spilled her drink. ''Trace! You are up to date on that story. Nothing else happened. Nick knows there's nothing there, at least not for me.''

''And he hasn't given you any trouble about it? Hasn't insisted that he can change your mind?''

Andy shrugged. ''We haven't seen each other that much. And we've been partnered with different people.'' Andy looked at the floor and tried to shake the awful feeling she had in the pit of her stomach. She really hated herself for how she let the situation with Nick get out of hand. ''Enough about me,'' she quickly said. ''What's going on with you and why is there a certain guns and gangs detective hanging around the station way more than he needs to?''

''It's not what you think.'' Traci grabbed a handful of popcorn and absently put one in her mouth. When Andy raised an eyebrow Traci smiled a little. ''Okay, maybe it is a little like you think.''

''Oh my god,'' Andy laughed. ''You together with a Peck. Who would have thought.''

''Nothing happened,'' Traci insisted. ''He says he wants to take me out, but I don't know.''

Immediately Andy's laughter died. She realised why Traci would say no to a date. ''You deserve to be happy Trace,'' Andy said. ''If you like him give him a chance. If it doesn't work out; no harm no foul.''

''Leo is doing good now,'' Traci explained. ''I don't want him to get attached to someone. He deserves my full attention now.''

''Leo deserves a mom who is happy.'' Andy placed her hand on Traci's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. ''And I'm not saying you should let him meet Leo. Just figure out where things are going first. Take baby steps.''

Silence filled the room as Traci thought about what Andy said. ''Maybe you're right,'' she answered after a few moments. ''But I'll worry about that later. First we have a movie to watch.''

Two hours later the credits were rolling down. Andy was on her back on Traci's couch while Traci was sitting in front of the couch. ''Ryan Reynolds is hot,'' Andy said.

''Wouldn't kick him out of bed,'' Traci agreed. She stood up and the room was spinning a little. ''How much did we drink?'' she wondered.

''More than is good for us,'' Andy answered. ''Told you it was a bad idea to drink something heavier than wine. We can't take it anymore. We're old.''

''Hey,'' Traci yelled as she let herself fall down on a chair. ''Speak for yourself. I am much younger then you are.'' She tried to put down the glass that was still in her hand. She used much more force than necessary so when the glass hit the table a loud bang followed.

''Point taken,'' Andy laughed. She put her hands over her eyes and groaned a little. ''Do I have to work tomorrow?''

''Yup,'' Traci answered. ''The citizens of Toronto will count on you once again officer McNally.''

By the mention of her surname Andy immediately thought of Sam. She smiled as she remembered how sweet he had been since their talk. He really had gone out of his way to prove to her that he was serious this time.

''What are you smiling about?'' Traci wondered.

''Life,'' Andy sighed out. ''It's good, you know? Work is good. Life is good.'' She knew she wasn't making any sense. The alcohol was getting to her.

''And love?'' Traci asked with a grin on her face. ''Is love good too?''

''It's not bad,'' Andy admitted. Her cheeks reddened and she put a throw pillow over her face. ''I didn't want to admit that,'' she shrieked out.

''I guess it's a good thing I brought out the heavy stuff then, huh?'' Traci wondered. ''But now you've got to tell me about it. Who? When? How? And is it good?''

Andy threw the pillow on the ground and sat up straight. ''Okay, you've got to promise me you won't tell anyone. I really don't want everybody to know about this just yet, okay?''

''Spill,'' Traci said as she nodded.

''Okay,'' Andy agreed. She quickly downed her drink for a little more liquid courage and took a deep breath. ''Sam and I are kind of seeing if maybe we can work things out.''

''Oh my god Andy,'' Traci said as her mouth felt open. ''When did that happen?''

Andy was a little concerned for Traci's opinion on the matter. She knew that Traci wanted her to be happy, but she and Sam had a lot of history. The last time they were together didn't end that well for either of them.

''Like two weeks ago, or something?'' Andy bit her bottom lip and glanced at her friend. ''We had a long talk. I really missed him Trace. I needed to see if we could try again.''

''Why are you acting like it's a bad thing?'' Traci wondered. ''Every fool can see that the two of you have something together. I'm surprised it took you this long. I was actually beginning to give up.''

''You're rooting for us?" Andy questioned. Somehow she had expected Traci to tell her to be more responsible.

''I'm rooting for whatever makes you happy. And clearly he's doing a good job.'' Traci waggled her eyebrows and smiled wickedly. ''Still heavenly I assume?''

Andy groaned and let herself fall back again. It was her idea to take it slow and she definitely still thought that that was the way to go, but it was also a little frustrating. A part of her wanted nothing more than to take him to bed with her and show him just how much she really missed him. Something was stopping her though.

''We haven't really done anything yet,'' Andy admitted. ''We're taking things slow.''

''God Andy, this isn't still about what Marlo said right?'' Traci shook her head. ''The woman just got dumped, she was upset. Nobody thinks you're a whore. You're young and healthy, that's what you are.''

''It's not just that,'' Andy tried. ''I just want to be sure this time, you know?''

''Be sure of what?'' Traci questioned. ''You want to get married before you seal the deal? Because I need to inform you that you are a little too late for that. Swarek probably still remembers what you look like.

''Trace!'' Andy yelled. ''I just want to take things slow, okay?''

When Traci saw that Andy was serious she stopped teasing. ''Why?'' she genuinely wondered. ''It's not like it's new territory for either of you?''

''It's just..'' Andy looked at the ceiling. ''Last time we jumped into bed together right away. Look where that brought us. I don't want to turn to sex whenever things get hard. I want it to be real. I need it to be real this time.''

''You know he's crazy about you, right?'' Traci asked. ''I mean, I still think that the way he ended things with you last time was a coward thing to do, but he probably had his reasons. He's kind of hard to read sometimes, but I can see that he's still in love with you. You should have seen him when he realised you were undercover together with Nick. It was actually a little heartbreaking.''

Guilt washed over Andy. She still hadn't really forgiven herself for leaving. She knew she wouldn't take the undercover if she could go back in time. But she went and there was no changing that.

''I know,'' Andy softly said. ''I just want to wait.''

''And that's fine,'' Traci quickly added. ''Don't get me wrong. You shouldn't do anything you're not comfortable with. How does Swarek feel about all this?''

Andy shrugged. ''He said he's willing to move at whatever pace I feel comfortable with. Friday he cooked for me at his place. Afterwards we watched some TV and then I kissed him. We got a little carried away and I was just about to say: screw it. Then he stopped.''

''He's just trying to respect the rules you laid down for him,'' Traci reasoned.

''I know. It's not like I'm afraid he doesn't want me or anything. That has never been an issue between us.''

Both felt a little more sober after the honest talk they had. They talked some more and when it was time to go Andy said her goodbyes. It had felt good to talk to Traci. She had made Andy see that she was doing the right thing.

When the cold air hit Andy she grabbed her cell phone and dialled the familiar number.

''Everything okay?'' Sam's sleepy voice immediately asked.

Andy realised that it was already pretty late. ''God, so sorry,'' she said. ''Go back to sleep. I didn't realise what time it was.''

''You home?''

''No, I just left Traci's. I thought I'd call to see how your night was, but I forgot to check the time.'' Andy held her phone between her ear and her shoulder as she zipped up her coat. Summer was definitely over she thought to herself. During the day the weather could still be pleasant, but nights were getting colder by the week.

''You're walking?'' Sam asked. ''Nash couldn't take you home?''

Andy could hear that Sam was getting out of bed. ''We both drank a little too much.''

''Where are you? I'll come get you and drive you home. You shouldn't be walking around alone this late.''

''Sam, honestly. Before you're here, I'll be at home in bed already. I'm fine, okay?'' Andy knew Sam wouldn't be happy about it, but there really was no point in him driving her. ''How about this. I'll keep you on the phone until I'm home.''

''Okay,'' Sam reluctantly agreed. ''How was your night?''

''Good,'' Andy smiled. All of the sudden a feeling of happiness hit her. It felt so right to just hear Sam's voice after a night with her best friend. For so long all they exchanged were courtesy's or words about work. Now she could just call him whenever she wanted to.

''I told her about us,'' Andy informed Sam.

''I thought you didn't want that,'' Sam answered.

''Sorry,'' Andy quickly apologised. ''Like I said, we drank a little too much. She asked me why I looked so happy and I just told her.''

When Sam didn't answer right away Andy got a little nervous. ''Sorry,'' she said again.

''I don't care McNally,'' Sam simply responded. ''Like I said: We'll move at whatever pace you want. If you want people to know that's fine with me. I don't think we should have to hide from anyone. We're not doing anything wrong.'' Sam was silent for a second. ''So you were looking happy?"

Andy could practically hear the grin in his voice and couldn't help but smile too. ''Apparently I was.'' Andy turned around another corner and shivered a little. ''I am happy, you know?''

''I know,'' Sam answered. ''I'm glad you are. I am too.''

''How was your night?''

While Sam told her about his night Andy made her way home. They talked until she was tucked into bed. Sam's soft voice told her goodnight and it wasn't long before Andy's eyelids started to drop.

XX

The next day Andy was just exiting the locker room when she practically slammed into Nick. ''Hey,'' she quickly said. ''Sorry, didn't see you there.''

''It's been a while,'' Nick answered. ''But I checked the board and we're riding together again.''

Andy smiled. She really wanted Nick to be her friend. Still, the last few weeks she was relieved that they weren't partnered. She hoped that Nick realised he didn't have a chance with her now. That they could go back to where they were before. ''Good,'' she said. ''It has been a while.''

They sat next to each other during parade. After Best handed out assignments Nick handed Andy the keys and told her to drive. He got them coffee and soon they were on the road.

''How have you been?'' Nick asked.

''I've been good. Busy, picked up a few extra shifts last week.'' Andy took a sip of her coffee and focused on the road. ''You? Haven't seen you much at the station.''

''Had a few days off. I went to visit some old friends.'' Nick grabbed gum from his pocket and offered Andy one. She was still drinking her coffee so she shook her head. Soon dispatch called them to a crime scene. The rest of the day was filled with minor calls that kept them pretty busy.

When their shift ended Andy quickly parked the cruiser at the station. ''You want to grab dinner?'' Nick asked. ''We've spend the entire day together but we haven't really talked much.''

Andy had already made plans with Sam so she shook her head. ''I can't. I already have plans. Some other time maybe?''

''You going out with Traci?'' Nick wondered.

Andy swallowed and shook her head. She knew Nick would find out sooner or later. He deserved to hear the truth from her. Andy opened the door and got out of the car. When Nick followed her example she looked at him. ''I made plans with Sam,'' she said.

Nick snorted. ''Why?'' he asked.

By the look on his face Andy knew that Nick had a pretty good guess. ''We're trying,'' Andy softly said. She looked at the ground and then moved her eyes up to meet Nick's gaze. ''We're trying to make things work between us.''

Nick just kept staring at her, but didn't say anything. ''Nick?'' Andy asked. ''Say something?''

''What do you want me to say Andy?'' Nick calmly questioned. ''The guy broke your heart. I was there for you when he wasn't. When we got back you were heartbroken again because he was dating Marlo. Again, I was there for you.''

Andy winced when Nick pointed out what happened in the year before. She knew he had a point, but all of that didn't matter. She had made mistakes too and she wanted to start with a clean slate. No more keeping score.

''I was there for you through everything and yet you're not willing to let me show you how good we can be together.'' Nick pointed at the barn and raised his voice a little. ''But you are willing to give him another chance? He broke your heart Andy.''

''I broke his too,'' Andy quietly said. ''It doesn't matter. I am sorry Nick, but I can't change how I feel.''

''I'm not going to sit around and wait for you Andy. When you realise that Swarek isn't going to change, I'm not going to be here so you have a shoulder to cry on.''

''That won't happen.'' Andy was surprised by how convinced she was about that particular fact. ''I don't expect you to wait around. I want you to be happy, but that isn't going to be with me. I already told you that.''

They stood together, just staring at each other for a few moments. Then all of the sudden Nick turned his gaze away and he shook his head. ''I never stood a chance, did I?'' he wondered. ''It was always going to be him.''

Andy nodded. She felt wetness on her cheek before she realised she was crying. ''I never meant for you to get sucked into all this. I'm so sorry.''

''I know,'' Nick softly said. He swallowed and looked at the sky. ''It's going to take some time. I will ask Frank to not partner us for a while. That's probably for the best.''

''Nick,'' Andy tried. ''We can still be friends, right? We have been friends for all this time. Why does that have to change when I'm with Sam?''

''I don't just want to be your friend Andy,'' Nick argued. ''I don't understand why you're going back to him after everything he has done to you. You've been telling me you're over him.''

''I wanted to be,'' Andy reasoned. ''I thought I was. I was wrong.''

''You love him.'' All Andy could do was nod. Another tear fell when she saw the look on Nick's face. She never was out to hurt him. That was one of the last things she wanted to do. ''I hope he realises what he's got this time.'' Nick took a step forward and pressed a kiss to Andy's forehead. ''Take care of yourself Andy.''

''Nick,'' Andy begged. ''Why do I have to chose?''

''Is it really a decision?'' Nick asked. When Andy shook her head he knew enough. ''I need some time Andy. Just give me that. It's best if we just take some time apart from each other.''

Andy watched him walk away. She felt her heart breaking a little. But she also realised that it was nothing compared to the pain of watching Sam walk away. She did the right thing.

XX

Sam knew that something was up with Andy from the moment she got into his truck. He didn't want to force her into talking, but he was concerned when he realised that she looked like she had been crying. ''How was your day?'' he settled for.

''Long,'' was Andy's short answer. She leaned her head against the side of the truck and closed her eyes as Sam started the engine. She could feel Sam's eyes on her, but she couldn't make herself smile at him.

''I was thinking that little Italian place you like for dinner?'' Sam asked.

Andy shook her head. ''Can we just order in? I don't feel like going out.''

''Are you okay?''Sam finally asked the million dollar question. ''Is anything up?'' By the way she was treating him Sam had a few scenarios going through his mind. The one that he feared most was her telling him that this was all a mistake and that she couldn't be with him after all.

Andy shook her head and closed her eyes again. The rest of the ride was silent as well. Andy kept playing her conversation with Nick over and over in her head. Sam kept wondering what was wrong with Andy.

When they walked inside Andy's apartment she told Sam she was going to shower. He asked her what she wanted for dinner, but she told him it was his pick. She wasn't hungry anyway.

Half an hour later Andy came out of her bathroom. Her hair was wet and she was wearing a tanktop with sweats. ''I have to tell you something,'' Andy said.

''I already got that idea, yeah,'' Sam nervously replied. He sat down on one end of the couch as Andy sat down on the other. Andy was facing him and had her legs folded underneath her.

''You're not going to like it,'' Andy warned. ''And maybe you don't need to know. But I need you to know. Because I need to get this off my chest.''

Sam nodded at her, willing her to just tell the story she needed to tell so badly.

''I told Nick about us,'' Andy started.

Sam wondered why that would get her so upset, but he decided to not ask any questions before she was finished.

''Nick and I..'' Andy took a deep breath and continued. ''When we were undercover we got close.''

Sam didn't like where things were going, but decided to keep listening until Andy was finished.

''He was always there for me. He had my back and I had his.'' Andy sniffed and played with a string on her couch. ''When we got back I felt so disconnected to this place. I didn't know who I was anymore.''

''That's not uncommon,'' Sam tried to bring some comfort. ''You were trying to be someone else for six months. It's hard come back from that and pick up where you left off.''

''I was so tired,'' Andy continued. ''I felt drained. Physically and emotionally. And every time I needed someone Nick was there.'' Andy swallowed and got to the uncomfortable part of the story. ''Then one night everything became too much. It was the night after Marlo shot that woman.''

Sam nodded, showing her that he remembered that night too. How could he not. That part of the job was something that never got easy for him.

''I saw the two of you and I..'' Andy shrugged and looked at Sam. ''I was jealous. And I was sad because of the day we had. So I went to the Penny and I started drinking. All of the sudden Nick was there, insisting that I had enough. So he took me home.''

Sam closed his eyes. He knew he had no right to judge. He had no right to judge what she did when he was with Marlo. He couldn't get mad at her for sleeping with someone while he was doing the same thing. Still, he didn't like it. ''You two slept together,'' Sam filled in.

Andy nodded and quickly whipped away a tear. ''After that night he told me that he had feelings for me. That he started to look at me differently and he wanted a chance to make things work.''

''I saw the two of you,'' Sam said. ''You told me that nothing was going on.''

''Can I finish?'' Andy softly said. ''I'll get to that part. I just need to tell you this so you'll understand.'' When Sam nodded Andy picked up where she left the story. ''He told me he wanted to take me out. Show me that we could be good together. At first I figured: why not. We were close and I care about him.''

''But then I thought about it and it just didn't seem fair to give him a chance when my heart wasn't in it. At first he understood, told me he didn't blame me for that night. He told me that he should have stopped me because I was so drunk.''

''He took advantage of you?'' Sam asked, his voice filled with anger.

''It wasn't like that,'' Andy defended Nick. ''It really wasn't. Anyway, he told me he understood, but he did keep hinting for the two of us to get together. The night you saw us he dared me to kiss him. If I didn't feel anything he would stop.''

''And?'' Sam wondered.

''I'm here, right? I didn't feel anything. I always just wanted to be his friend. Again, he told me no hard feelings. After that we didn't talk for a while. We had different partners and he wasn't always working when I was. Today we did work together and I figured he owed to hear about us from me.''

''What did he say?" Sam asked.

Andy sniffed again and shook her head. ''He told me he needed some time apart from me. He told me that he couldn't understand why I never gave him a chance while I'm willing to give you a second chance. ''

''Andy,'' Sam softly said. He scooted closer and gathered her in his arms. Andy softly sobbed into Sam's shoulder and let the tears she had been fighting all night fall. He quickly pressed a kiss to the top of her head and stroked her back. ''He'll turn around.''

As much as Sam didn't like the thought of Nick anywhere near Andy after what happened between them, he knew he was important to her.

''He told me he would request a different partner.'' Andy pressed her face into Sam's neck and hid there. ''Why do I always screw everything up?''

''You didn't plan this Andy,'' Sam defended her. ''You weren't out to hurt him.''

''But I did.''

Sam didn't have any other words to console Andy so he just held her. ''It will be okay,'' he promised once again. After a while Andy's breath became more even. She wasn't asleep, but she was calming down. ''Are you sure this is what you want?'' Sam questioned. ''If this is hurting you so much..''

''Don't,'' Andy warned. ''Don't question this. I want this. It hurts, but not being with you hurt a lot worse.''

''Okay,'' Sam told her. He gently cupped her cheek and leaned in. He moved slowly so Andy had all the time in the world to back out, but she never did. Their lips met in a soothing kiss.

When they broke apart Andy gave Sam a sad smile. ''Will you stay the night?''

Sam shifted a little. There was nothing he wanted more, but he figured that she wasn't asking for the right reasons.

Andy noticed his hesitation. ''Just to sleep,'' she quickly added. ''I just don't want to be alone tonight. Want to sleep with you next to me.''

''Okay,'' Sam agreed. '"Whatever you need.''

XX

Long chapter, but I didn't know where to break it off.
I seem to be having that problem more often.

If you have an opinion, please review! I love them and learn a lot from them!