A/N: I want to thank you all so much for your feedback. It means a lot and makes writing so much more fun!

I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter to this story.

XX

Three months later things between Sam and Andy were going good. They had build a good routine where they would spend about four nights a week together, but also had moments for themselves. Andy spend most nights she didn't spend with Sam with her friends. Sam usually used those nights for poker night, drinks at the Penny or to visit Sarah.

Sarah had been discharged and was back at her house. Sam was convinced that she would never truly be stable, but for now she was doing good. He worried about her, but knew that she had to do it on her own. He couldn't monitor her 24 hours a day. Not even if he wanted too.

Fall was slowly turning into winter and the weather showed it. Days were getting colder and nights were definitely cold now too. Andy actually liked that because it gave her a nice excuse to cuddle close to Sam at night.

Sam always pretended to hate it, but secretly he liked having her close. Waking up with her next to him was definitely the best part of his day.

''We're not really getting anywhere with this,'' Traci complained as she handed Sam another file. ''There's hardly any new evidence.''

It was a slow day in the D's office, so they decided to look into some cold cases. They weren't really making any headway though. Every case seemed more impossible than the one before.

''Let's take a quick break,'' Sam suggested. ''I'll put these files back if you go get us some coffee.''

Traci stood up with a sigh. She really liked her job, but on days like these she preferred working the streets. She had been stuck in her office for too long. ''Sure,'' she agreed.

Sam slowly started to pack a few boxes. Putting evidence back where it belonged. He hated not being able to solve cases, because it meant that the offenders walked free. And if there was one thing that Sam hated more than anything it was just that.

Just two minutes later Traci came rushing back into the office. ''I have to go,'' she said as she grabbed her jacket. ''Best told me that you have to stay put.''

Sam stood up and looked confused. Most calls they would head out together. Especially if they had nothing better to do. ''Why?'' he wondered. ''What is it?''

Traci sighed and looked at him. ''Andy shot someone. SIU is requesting a detective from 15th to run over a few things.''

Sam didn't think twice, but just grabbed his car keys. ''I'm coming,'' he said.

''No, you're not,'' Traci argued. ''Best told me to keep you away from this. It doesn't look good if her boyfriend is the detective Sam. That could raise some eyebrows and she doesn't need that.''

Sam had to take a deep breath. It went against his nature to sit back when he knew that Andy probably needed him around. Traci was right though. It wouldn't look good if he was the first one on the scene. ''Go,'' he quickly said. ''Tell her I'll be here.''

Traci nodded and rushed off. Sam left the office too in search for Frank. When he spotted him he yelled out his name. ''What happened?'' he asked when he was next to his friend.

Frank stopped walking for a moment and looked at Sam. ''They were on a call. Domestic violence, one of the neighbors called it in. The guy lost it and pulled his gun. Shot Epstein twice in the vest.''

''So she had to do it,'' Sam reasoned. ''She'll be cleared in no time.''

''She'll be cleared,'' Frank confirmed. ''But you know how it works. SIU always keeps digging until they know everything they need to know. Which is why you need to keep your distance from this. If they want to they'll use it against her if you get involved.''

''I know,'' Sam reluctantly agreed. He knew that they didn't have the best record. Conduct unbecoming was still stamped on both their records and even though most people had forgotten all about it, SIU really did dig until they knew all there was to know.

Half an hour later Sam saw Epstein walking through the barn. Collins was right behind him. Sam knew that Andy wasn't far behind. After a shooting the officers responding were always separated. Sam felt slightly better knowing that Oliver was probably the one that was giving Andy a ride to the station. He knew that Andy was safe when she was with Oliver.

As soon as he spotted her through his window he stood up. By the time that he made it to her she was being led into an interrogation room.

''Sam, you know what Frank said,'' Oliver said as soon as he saw Sam coming towards him. ''You can take her home after she gives her statement.''

''I'm just going to go in for a second,'' Sam argued. ''To see if she's okay.''

''She just killed someone,'' Oliver reasoned. ''She's not okay. You know her. She needs to do this though and she needs to do it alone. Having you there will only complicate things for her later on.''

Sam knew that going in wouldn't be the smartest thing he could do. He needed to see her though. ''SIU isn't even here yet,'' Sam said. With that he stepped past Oliver and into the interrogation room.

Andy was sitting on one of the crappy plastic chairs. She was fidgeting with her hands and was staring into space. Slowly Sam walked towards her. When he placed a hand on her shoulder he actually felt her tense for a moment. He knew it wasn't personal, she was just too zoned out to register him walking in.

''You're okay,'' Sam promised. ''You did what you had to do.''

''He has kids,'' Andy immediately said. ''Had kids,'' she corrected herself. ''I killed a father.''

Sam sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. He grabbed the other chair and turned Andy a little so he was sitting right in front of her, their knees bumping together. ''Listen to me,'' he said as he grabbed her chin to make sure she was looking at him. ''He shot Epstein twice. If you wouldn't have grabbed your gun he could've shot a third time. He could've shot you.''

''What if I..'' Andy started.

''No doubts,'' Sam instructed. ''You did what you had to do. You did the right thing. You did the only thing you could do.''

For a small moment he saw Andy's bottom lip tremble. He could see her holding back a sob as she swallowed. ''I did,'' she agreed. ''I did what I had to do.''

A small knock on the door told Sam that he had to leave. ''I'm going to take you home when you're done, okay?''

''You don't have to,'' Andy simply said. ''I know they probably need a lot of detectives to work this case.''

''It's SIU's case now,'' Sam explained. ''Besides, you need me.''

''I'm fine.''

Sam didn't argue with that. They both knew better. She wasn't fine and she wasn't going to be fine anytime soon either. He simply stood up and gave her a quick peck on the lips. ''I'll be waiting for you.''

XX

Andy gave her statement and was told that she was on paid leave until she was officially cleared. Thankfully her statement matched Dov's completely, so it would probably be a week before she was cleared to go back to work. Of course she also had to visit the departments therapist.

That night the drive back to Sam's place was filled with silence. Sam knew that Andy was going over every little detail in her head. He wanted to make things better, but he didn't know how to do that. He didn't have any answers for her and he hated it.

When he parked the truck in front of the house he faced Andy. She was so out of it that she didn't even notice that they had reached their destination. Sam gently put his hand on her knee and gave it a small squeeze. ''Let's go inside.''

Andy slowly looked back at him and nodded just once.

As soon as he let them both in she walked towards the living room and sat down on the couch. Sam poured her a drink and put it in front of her. ''Here, it will help you warm up.''

''I'm not cold,'' Andy lied.

''You're shivering. Already turned the heating on too.''

They both fell silent again. Sam sat down next to her and slowly rubbed his hand up and down her back. ''It's okay,'' he said. ''You had no choice.''

''There's always a choice,'' Andy argued. ''Pull the trigger or don't pull the trigger.''

''Okay,'' Sam said, sensing that she needed to get this out of her system. ''And what would've happened if you wouldn't have pulled the trigger?''

Andy shrugged and looked at the floor. ''I don't know.'' When Sam didn't respond she looked at him. ''He would've fired again.'' She sniffed and quickly whipped a tear away. ''And maybe that time he wouldn't hit Dov in the vest.''

''So?'' Sam asked, needing her to say the words herself.

''I had no choice,'' Andy filled in. ''I did as I was trained to do. I did what I had to do.''

''You did.'' Sam wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. He gently kissed the top of her head and let her hide her face in his neck. ''That's what you said during your statement, right?'' he asked. He knew she was smart enough to know that she couldn't doubt herself during giving her statement.

''I did.'' Andy shifted a little so that her head was leaning against Sam's chest. ''How many times have you shot someone?'' she asked. She had wondered it before, but until now she never dared to ask that question. It wasn't something people liked to talk about and she completely got that.

''Four times,'' Sam answered. ''It's one of the hardest parts of the job, but sometimes it's the only right thing you can do. Self defence or to defend someone who's innocent.''

''Does it get easier?'' Andy questioned. She knew how messed up she was the first time she shot someone. She had been a complete wreck.

''Not for me.'' Sam leaned back a little so he could get more comfortable. He took Andy with him until they were sprawled out on the couch together. ''Taking someone's life is never suppose to be easy. It's not something that we should take lightly, but sometimes we have no other option. It's always supposed to be the last option though.''

Both were silent again. After a while Sam felt that his shirt was getting wet. That was the only sign of Andy's crying. She tried to hold it all in, but she was falling apart. Sam tightened his grip on her. ''Let it out,'' he said. ''It's okay.''

''It's not,'' Andy said, her voice now breaking. ''It's not okay.''

Sam didn't have any answers for her. Not that day. He knew that things would be different in the morning. Things were always different in the morning. For that moment he just let her cry while he held her close.

An hour later her breathing had evened out. She was asleep and while they hadn't even eaten yet, Sam decided to keep things that way. They could eat later or the next morning. All the sleep she would be able to get was getting a warm welcome from him.

Carefully he shifted and lifted her into his arms. He carried her towards the bedroom and gently lowered her to the bed when he reached it. He used his hand to brush the hair that had fallen in front of her face.

It was ridiculously early to go to bed, but he knew she would need him when she woke up. He knew that she didn't deal with things very well. Especially not on her own.

So he kicked off his boots, threw his clothes in the corner of the room and crawled into bed with her.

For about an hour he just watched her sleep. He knew the day exhausted her. Soon sleep overtook him too, but even unconscious his grip on her never got lighter. Every time she woke up in cold sweat he was there with his hands on her.

Every time she let out a sob he told her that he was there with her. He wasn't letting go, not ever.

XX

The next morning Andy woke before Sam. She felt bad knowing that she kept him up all night. She had woken up numerous of times. He was there for her every time and even though the circumstances were really sad, that brought a small smile to her face.

She had never experienced a love like Sam's. He didn't say the words very often, but she felt it every day. He showed it to her every day.

Somewhere during the night she had gotten out of her clothes. The clothes had an oppressive affect on her. But once again Sam had been there. He had put an arm on her back and when she told him that she wanted to feel something else than sadness he had obeyed her silent request.

He hadn't left an inch of her skin untouched. For just a while he had cleared her brain from the images that were burned into her head.

While Sam was still snoring lightly Andy observed him. She ran her fingers through his chest hair and softly kissed his cheek. When she felt his eyes flutter open she kissed his lips. ''Good morning,'' she whispered.

Sam hummed something in response and kissed her back. ''How are you feeling?'' he asked.

''I'm fine,'' Andy promised. When Sam raised an unimpressed eyebrow she smiled sadly. ''I'm really fine,'' she repeated. ''It sucks, but it happened and you were right. It was the only thing I could've done. If I wouldn't have done it than it would've been me or Dov.''

That image cost Sam to close his eyes. Just the thought of losing her made him lose his mind. He knew that her job was risky, he had done it for over a decade.

''What do you want to do today?'' he asked, shaking the awful thought away. ''I have a few days off too.''

Andy shrugged and sat up. The covers fell down and she shivered when her skin made contact with the cold air. ''I don't know.'' She reached over Sam to grab a sweatshirt that was on the table next to him. She quickly pulled it on and laid back down. ''Just wait until I get a phone call I guess.''

''That won't be today,'' Sam informed her.

''I know. A girl can hope, right?'' Andy sighed and looked at Sam. ''Did you have plans?'' She was supposed to be at work so she knew that Sam probably had other plans with his day. He wasn't one to just sit around and do nothing all day long.

''I was going to see Sarah,'' he said.

Andy nodded and threw the covers off herself. ''I'll just grab a shower, okay?''

''Hey,'' Sam stopped her. He grabbed her wrist lightly to pull her back into bed with him. ''You don't have to go.''

''You have plans,'' Andy answered. ''And that's fine, really. I'll call Traci and see if she wants to have lunch or something. It's been a while since we talked.''

''What did we say about running?'' Sam asked with a little more force. He knew they were both still working on things, but he wasn't going to let her run when things between them had been going so great.

''I'm not running,'' Andy protested. When he raised an eyebrow at her she squinted her eyes together. ''I'm not. You weren't counting on me and made plans. I'm a grown up, I don't need a babysitter.''

''I know you don't need a babysitter,'' Sam said with a sigh. ''I just want to be here for you.''

''And you have been.'' Andy looked at him sincerely and she smiled. ''And I love you for it, but I am honestly fine. Things will be fine.''

''I can go to Sarah another time.''

''No, you'll go today. She's counting on you.'' Andy quickly kissed Sam's cheek and jumped out of bed again. ''It's okay, I promise.''

While Andy was showering Sam was making breakfast. Since they hadn't eaten the night before he figured they could use a good breakfast. Twenty minutes later Andy walked in freshly showered. She still looked tired, but she didn't look so broken anymore.

When they were silently eating their breakfast Sam was looking at Andy. She felt his eyes on her and she looked at her shirt. ''Is there something on me?'' she wondered. ''What are you looking at?''

''Come with me,'' Sam said.

''What?'' Andy laughed.

''To Sarah, come with me?''

Andy looked shocked for a second and then quickly shook her head. ''I am fine Sam. You don't need to ask me along with you just so you can keep an eye on me.''

''It's not that,'' he tried. ''She told me that she wants to meet you. I want you two to meet. She's really doing a lot better now and I think she'll like meeting you.''

''Sounds like a pity invitation to me,'' Andy said as she chewed on her eggs. ''You've never talked about me coming along before and now all of the sudden it has to happen today?''

''Fine, if you don't want to, but I want you to.''

''Why?'' Andy wondered. '"Why now?''

''Because I want the two most important women in my life to meet. Sarah is always accusing me of being ashamed of her. I think she would be hurt if you didn't come along.''

''Why didn't you want to bring me last week?'' Andy challenged him. ''Why does it have to be today of all days?''

Sam sighed and stepped closer to her. ''I usually go whenever you're working. Please just come?''

''What does she know about me?'' Andy questioned. ''You told her about me?''

''She told me that I'm smiling more and that I look healthier. She drew the conclusion that I'm seeing someone. Then she told me that she would like to meet you one day if I'd feel comfortable with that.''

Andy smiled and grabbed Sam by the hem of his shirt. She pulled him towards her and quickly kissed him. It was supposed to be a quick kiss, but when Sam put his hand on the counter behind her she deepened the kiss.

After a minute they broke apart. He lovingly nudged her nose with his and gave her another chased kiss. ''You smile more, huh?''

''Apparently,'' Sam said. ''Just come with me. I promise you that it's not a pity invitation and it's not so I can keep an eye on you. I just really want you two to meet.''

''I'm nervous,'' Andy admitted.

''She'll love you,'' Sam promised. ''She doesn't have a lot of people, but I know she'll warm up to you soon enough.''

''Are you sure she'll be comfortable with me around?'' Andy questioned. ''She has been home for just a few weeks, maybe she needs a little more time?''

''She won't. She'll be happy to meet you.''

As much as Andy was happy that Sam was opening up and sharing his life with her, she really didn't know what to think of this. It felt like a pity invitation, but if he promised that it wasn't then she had to believe him. ''Okay,'' she reluctantly said. ''If that's what you want.''

''It is,'' Sam smiled. ''I want you to meet her.''

''Well, then I guess I'm meeting her.''

XX

When they reached Sarah's house Andy looked at Sam. ''Why couldn't you just call her and tell her I'm coming along. I feel like an intruder.''

Sam laughed and looked at her. ''It's going to be fine. She's going to love you.'' He got out of the truck and waited until Andy joined him. He grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together. ''Just see.''

Andy took a deep breath and followed Sam's lead. When he ran his finger over her knuckles she knew it was his way of reassuring her. When they reached the front step Sam gave a quick knock on the door.

''You don't have a key?'' Andy wondered. With the way Sam described their relationship she definitely expected him to just walk in.

''Only for emergencies,'' Sam explained. ''She wants to have some privacy and she has a right to it.''

''Of course,'' Andy agreed.

A minute later the door opened and Andy was met with someone who looked a lot different than what she was expecting. Because of everything she knew about Sarah she was expecting a fragile and small woman. Sarah looked healthy and strong though.

''Sam,'' Sarah said. Sam let go of Andy's hand and took a step forward to hug his sister. He kissed her cheek and stepped back again. ''You look good sis,'' he said. Then he turned around and held out his hand to Andy again.

Andy shyly grabbed his hand and smiled at Sarah.

''I brought someone I want you to meet,'' he warmly said. ''This is Andy.''

Andy let go of Sam and held out her hand. ''Hi, it's nice to meet you,'' she said. Sarah took her hand and gave her a small handshake. ''Andy McNally,'' Andy introduced herself.

''I'm Sarah Swarek,'' Sarah said. ''Sam's sister.'' She dropped her hand back to her side and turned to Sam. ''You didn't tell me you were bringing her.''

''It was kind of last minute,'' Sam explained. ''But I really wanted you two to meet each other.''

''Hope I'm not intruding?'' Andy asked. They were still out on the porch and she was feeling a little uncomfortable.

Sarah quickly shook her head and stepped back. ''No, of course not. You're welcome. Please come in.''

Andy followed Sam inside. When he took her coat he gave her a reassuring smile. After they hung up their coats they joined Sarah in the living room. ''This is nice,'' Andy said. The room was decorated warmly and unique.

''Thank you,'' Sarah simply said. ''I like decorating.''

''You took these pictures yourself?'' Andy asked. ''They are gorgeous.'' On the wall were a lot of pictures made in nature. They all had a special touch about them.

''Yeah, another hobby,'' Sarah answered. She stood next to Andy and looked at the wall. ''This one I made last week. There's a park close by and the sun was shining through the leafs. Really pretty sight.''

''It really is a great picture,'' Andy complimented. ''I like this one too.''

''I took that one a few years back,'' Sarah said. She ran her finger across the picture and smiled. ''It's one of my best so far. I really want to go to Europe sometime. I would love to go to Rome and Paris to do some photographing.''

''Well, you never know, right?'' Andy asked. ''It can always happen.''

''We'll see,'' Sarah softly said. ''Sam told me you work with him?''

''Yeah, he was my training officer actually. We don't really work together that much since he made detective, but it's nice to work in the same place.'' Andy looked at Sam. He looked happy.

''He told me he wasn't such a fan of you at first,'' Sarah said with a small laugh behind her voice.

''Not really, no.'' Andy shook her head and laughed along. ''I think he was just about ready to bite my head off that first day.''

''Eight months McNally,'' Sam weighed in. ''Eight months of my life and all for nothing. It takes a few hours to get over that.''

XX

The rest of the day they spend together talking and getting to know each other. Sarah asked Sam to take a look at her sink. When he went to work she suggested that she and Andy could go to the park because Andy was genuinely interested in her photography.

They stayed away for about an hour and a half. Sam was about to get worried when he saw them walking towards the house, laughing. It had been a very long time since Sam had seen Sarah laugh like that.

After that they had a quick dinner, and then it was time to go back to Toronto.

''It was really nice to meet you Andy,'' Sarah said when they said their goodbyes. ''Be sure to come over more often. My door is always open.''

''I'll be sure to do that,'' Andy promised. ''And you can always come to Toronto too.''

Sarah quickly turned her gaze to the floor and Sam used that moment to step in. ''See you later sis,'' he softly said. ''We'll come back soon.''

''Take care of her Sam,'' Sarah warned him. ''She's a keeper.''

As soon as they were on the road back to Toronto Sam looked at Andy. ''She really liked you,'' he told her. ''It has been a long time since I've seen her open up to someone that quickly.''

''I liked her too,'' Andy said. ''Was it stupid to say she could come to Toronto? Her mood kind of changed.''

''She doesn't like the city,'' Sam explained. ''But it's okay.''

''She's not what I expected.''

''What did you expect?'' Sam wondered.

''I don't know,'' Andy truthfully said. ''After everything you told me, I think that I pictured her a little bit more..''

''Unstable?''

''Something like that, but not in a wrong way.'' Andy took a deep breath and shrugged. ''Don't take it the wrong way.''

''I won't, I get it.''

''Thanks for bringing me along,'' Andy told him after a while. ''I needed this. Really took my mind off everything that happened yesterday.''

''Good,'' Sam said. He grabbed her hand and pressed his lips against her hand. ''That's really good.''

XX

A/N: I think there are about 1 or 2 more chapters to this story. I think I've tortured both of them enough...

Let me know what you think!