Wow, that last chapter got a lot of attention. Thank you so much for taking the time to review! I am very glad you all enjoyed it.

That was definitely a tough chapter to follow, and I worked really hard in trying to keep it fun and sassy. So I pray you enjoy this little teaser of what's to come. (Cliffhanger alert!)

Please do review. I love getting (and pay lots of attention to) your feedback. Also, what's your opinion on the arrangement of this chapter? Like/hate it?

Just run me over now, please...

(Prologue)

Sam Swarek sauntered into the station bright and early Monday morning, coffee in hand. Over the weekend, he had repaired the leaky faucet in the guest bathroom, paid his bills, worked on the remodeling he had started in the kitchen, and even found time to stock up on his beer and order the new speakers he'd been eyeing for a while now. His chores complete, this was a man looking forward to getting back on the job. As he walked into the 15th that day, his ego had grown just a little. Smiling at the fate of two very unlucky rookies, Sam Swarek walked past the break room and confidently approached a familiar uniformed figure.

From a different and less-used entrance, Traci Nash gingerly tiptoed into the station Monday morning. Looking anxiously over her shoulder, she made a beeline for the women's locker room. Her Sunday had been spent tidying up the house before Leo came back, buying groceries, making advance preparations for Leo's menu that week, calling Leo's babysitter to confirm the schedule for the next three days, and recovering from her Saturday night hangover. Her domestic duties complete, this was a women who was both tense about having to leave her baby behind, and also terrified at the thought of running into the man who she believed currently had it out for her. Breathing a sigh of relief that he wasn't at his usual place chatting and swapping stories with the other officers, Traci Nash quickly rounded the corner and bumped into a male form.

Andy McNally on the other hand, staggered into the station that morning, berating herself for snoozing the clock one too many times. She had spent yesterday lounging on the couch attending to her massive headache, and had only managed to clear out her overstuffed magazine rack in addition. Cooking was out of the option so she had opted for Chinese and stale leftover lasagna. Although her living room and kitchen was still in complete disarray from the boozing on Saturday night, here was a lady that had one thing and one thing only on her mind - getting through the day in one piece. Well, that and avoiding Sam Swarek like the plague. Weaving through desks and squeezing between bodies, Andy McNally sped along the quickest route to the women's locker room. She was jerked from her reverie when someone accosted and then dragged her to a quiet corner by the men's locker room.

(Scene on Sam)

"Morning," greeted Sam, throwing his arm with unnecessary gusto around the dark haired woman standing in front of him.

"Sammy, you devil," exclaimed Noelle as she punched him affectionately in the gut.

"Oooh, careful there sister. What did I ever do to you?"

"You've been holding out on me that's what," replied Noelle with a pout and a twinkle in her eye.

Sam's brain froze and he internally panicked for a moment. How the hell did she know? Keeping his cool, he tossed out a casual response. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"To hell you don't! Jerry told me."

"Jerry knows" asked an alarmed Sam who was really starting to worry now.

"Um, yeah. He was there," she stated in a matter of fact manner. Noelle raised an eyebrow as she studied her friend's increasingly dismal expression.

"I am going to wring his neck," muttered Sam, a murderous look settling in his eyes as he turned his head to look for Jerry.

"Over a thirty dollar pot and a stripper," came Noelle's disbelieving voice.

"Whoa, hold up. Who we talking about here?" Sam's gaze returned to Noelle as she stared back inquisitively, curious about his highly unusual behavior.

"Epstein's girlfriend. That whole does she or doesn't she keep a pole in their bedroom?"

"Oh. Right." Sam winced internally, knowing he had almost let the cat out of the bag. Relief surging through his body, he schooled his expression and innocently asked, "So, I take it that means you want in?".

Noelle slowly nodded her acknowledgment but refused to let the topic drop.

"Not so fast, Swarek. What did you think I was talking about?"

Sam shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Epstein. And his stripper. What else?"

"You're still a bad liar, Sam. Some things don't change."

Coming to the conclusion that now would be a good time to make his exit, Sam flashed her his trademark bad-boy grin and backed away from her penetrating stare.

"You look beautiful today, Noelle. Give the thugs a kiss for me wilya?"

Smiling and shaking her head, her voice rang clear with a promise. "You know I'll find out, Sammy. I always do."

His response was barely audible as he turned in the direction of break room. "Always said you were Fifteen's finest," he called back to a chuckling Noelle.

(Scene on Traci)

Just around the corner, Traci let out an audible "Oomph" as she smacked straight into a firm chest.

"Whoa, you in a rush to get somewhere?"

"Jerry! Hi," replied Traci breathlessly with a sense of relief, continuing to look nervously over her shoulder.

Leaning in to kiss her, he lowered his voice and softly whispered, "I missed you this weekend. Almost wish I hadn't promised Best I'd go fishing with him. He's not allowed to keep me warm."

Traci laughed and returned the kiss. "Mmm… Lucky me."

Still feeling amorous, he pulled her close for another long one.

"So, how did girl's night go? You two kept out of trouble, I hope."

With the memory of Swarek snapping her back to reality, she averted Jerry's eyes and gazed down at her hands and feet.

"Oh, it was okay… Good... Nothing too out of the ordinary."

"Two beautiful, sassy women and a ready supply of alcohol. Surely you must have at least one interesting story to tell," Jerry coaxed, kissing her lightly on the nose while rubbing his hand dotingly along her arm. Traci felt herself melt at the intimacy of his touch.

"It's ladies night Jerry," she scolded. "Which means, ladies talk. No men allowed."

"I'm pretty sure that's code for sex stories, Jer... Isn't that right, Officer Nash?"

Startled by the sudden interruption, Traci jumped at the unexpected voice and looked up only to realize it belonged to none other than Sam Swarek, who conveniently happened to be passing by. Traci paled, looking like she was about to pass out right then and there.

Jerry chuckled, unfazed. "Well someone's been lonely lately!"

"Not as lonely as you'd think, buddy. I'm pretty sure I got more booty calls than you this weekend."

With that, Sam gave both her and Jerry a sly wink before disappearing into the men's locker room.

"Don't mind him," Jerry assured her. "He's just jealous that all the pretty ladies are taken."

"Uh, yeah," Traci replied looking quite distraught.

"I, er, better go change. I'll see you later okay," she practically babbled, dashing off and leaving in her wake a very confused boyfriend.

(Scene on Andy)

Andy's first instinct was to protest the rough early morning treatment, but the expression on his face and his surprisingly firm grip on her arm made it clear that this was not suitable for public discussion.

"Tell me about the photos."

"Photos?"

"Come on Andy. I know about the pictures. Traci told me."

"She did what? I am so going to kill her," huffed Andy with a frantic look on her face.

"Hah! I knew it. There are pictures," Dov exclaimed with a self-satisfied look gracing his boyish features. "When do I get to see them? Are they hot," he asked with just a little too much enthusiasm.

"No, Dov! It was just one photo, and it's private," Andy protested, lowering her voice and glaring at Dov to keep his voice down.

"Hey, after all the trouble you and Traci got me in with Edie, the least I deserve is a quick peek. I won't breathe a word to anyone else, I promise."

"Dov Epstein, you are never getting your pervy hands or eyes on that photo. Now let me go or I'm going to be late for Parade."

"McNally, I wouldn't have pegged you as the photography type."

Magically appearing in the doorway of the men's locker room, Sam's expression was hard to read save for the hint of a smirk at the edge of his lips. His thumbs were tucked into the rim of his pants and his hair looked slightly damp, as if he'd just come out of the shower. Andy felt the heat in her cheeks as she blushed a deep red.

"Uh, Sir. Officer Swarek. We... were just discussing our Flickr photo album. From the evening of Fite Nite. You, ehm, remember Fite Nite?" Dov cleared his throat, placed his hands on his belt, stood a little straighter, and just looked back at Sam in typical Dov fashion.

Andy gave him an incredulous look and had to keep from rolling her eyes. Trust Dov to come up with some boneheaded smart ass response even in the face of Sam Swarek. Sam probably didn't even know what Flickr was.

With a scowl worthy of Gail Peck being ordered to babysit a kitten, Sam's piercing stare bore right through him. Dov, getting the feeling that he was moments away from being propelled head first off the nearest rooftop, quietly excused himself and turned tail.

Andy watched Dov flee from the corner of her eye, her mind still reeling from complete humiliation. Rooted to the ground and staring stupidly at her TO, she felt like a cat really had caught her tongue this time.

"Something you want to share, Officer McNally?"

"No, Sir."

Lowering his voice, Sam gave her a meaningful look. "You sure? Could have sworn you wanted differently Saturday night," Sam gently teased. "Could have fooled me."

There it was, that smug look with the dimples again. Andy's blush deepened.

"Yeah, about that," Andy started to say before Sam held up his hand, cutting her off.

"A picture is worth a thousand words McNally. Unless you plan on doing a show and tell, I suggest you listen to your own advice and get running." Then, as magically as he had appeared, Sam vanished back inside the locker room.

Groaning internally, Andy wished a bus would just run her over right then.

From the other end of the room, Noelle's perceptive eyes caught the entire uncomfortable exchange. Maybe today was going to be the day she found out after all. Officer Noelle Williams, Fifteen's Finest. It had a nice ring to it. Smiling at the thought, Noelle Williams excused herself from her present company and strode purposefully across the room.