Title: If today was your last day
Author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Sam/Andy friendship possible preship
spoilers: Heavy for 2x04
Notes: mild swearing

'Each day's a gift and not a given right.'Nickelback 'If today was your last day'

When Andy arrived at the Silver car diner she spotted Sam instantly. It didn't surprise her that he was early. From how he sounded on the phone Andy doubted he had gotten any sleep. The death warmed over look Sam was sporting Andy knew he hadn't gotten any rest.
Her worry grew as she reached the booth and slid in. What could be bothering Sam so much that it was stealing his sleep?

"Morning."Andy greeted.

"Morning."

"How much sleep did you get?"McNally asked as she picked up the menu.

"Not enough."Sam replied as he took a sip of coffee. "But I'll live."

The waitress took their order and promised to be back with Andy's orange juice shortly.

"What's eating you?"Andy inquired softly watching as Sam absently traced the rim of his coffee cup.

Sam sighed leaning back against the seat. His dark gaze traveled to the window.

"I never really thought about it."

"What?"

"The risk."Sam replied quietly. "It was just part of having a badge."

"Part of getting out of bed too."Andy added glad he was talking to her, trusting her. "What changed?"

Swarek shrugged as the waitress returned with Andy's juice.

"What was the nightmare about?"Andy prompted softly.

Sam's dropped his gaze to the coffee before looking up at her. "You didn't make it out of the laundromat."

"Sam..."

"Most realistic damn dream I've ever had."Swarek continued.

Andy sat quietly listening and waiting for Sam to talk at his own pace. She'd had her own nightmares of that building collapse. Mainly dealing with being stuck with a burned corpse. A few days after the incident Oliver had told her that Sam had wanted to go in after her. Well before the building was stabilized.
At the time she had silently wondered if that action had been Sam as a partner or Sam as a friend.
Now as Andy watched him struggle to put the nightmare into words she knew it was both.

"In the dream I attended your funeral."Sam stated solemnly. "And I hated myself for not getting you out."

"Sam,"Andy began quietly. "You're the best partner I could ask for. What kept me sane in there was knowing I could talk to you if I needed to. Knowing that you'd be waiting when they got me out. Your training was how I was able to focus in there. How I was able to keep Lydia calm was all because of what you taught me. So even if you weren't the one physically rescuing me you did save my life."

Their food arrived breaking the grim mood. Andy's waffle with strawberries smelled wonderful and Sam's everything omelet with salsa looked good too.

After several minutes of companionable silence Andy could tell something else was bothering her friend.

"Sam?"

"Hmm?"Swarek asked as he took a forkful of hashbrowns.

"There's something else bothering you about the dream."

Sam sighed as he put down his fork. "Regrets."

"We all have them."

"The dream made me realize I never told you."

"Tell me what?"Andy asked seeing a range of emotions dance across Sam's brown eyes.

"You're important to me."Swarek stated as he started to reach for Andy's free hand but stopped.

Andy smiled as she squeezed his hand. "You're important to me too, Sam, always."

By the end of breakfast Andy was happy to see Sam was back to his old self. Bantering and joking. They left the diner and headed to the 15th together ready to start another day.

end