Girls night in.
6:30 PM
Within 30 minutes Andy's SUV had arrived back at the 15th. They got out and the two operators flanked Andy, Jessica and Traci. They walked into the 15th, where they where greeted by Shaw, Jerry and Best. Peck, Chris and Dov were waiting behind them. Best approached, he was pissed, but he also respected the chain of command.
Jessica spoke to Best 'Andy is to be taken to your office. Traci, if you want your free to go'
'what, wait, what about Andy?' Traci said with a concerned voice
' Andy will be fine, we are going to make sure that she is in covered until this is finished. She's in no danger, neither are you' Jessica replied
Andy looked at Traci. She had been there all this time, but she needed space, and she knew that Traci needed to be with Leo and Jerry. She nodded and hugged her. Traci whispered to her 'its going to be ok', Andy said ' for who ?' and a tear rolled down her cheek. Traci knew who she was referring to.
Jessica started giving orders to everyone around 'only her close friends are allowed near her'. She nodded to the the operators and they all begin to move to Best office. Sam leant against Sarah, she was so tired. Sarah placed her arm on her back, rubbing it as they walked to Best office. Jerry embraced Traci while everyone else was unsure what to do. they felt for there friend, but there were so many unanswered questions.
10 Minutes later Shaw walked into Best office, after getting the ok from Jessica. He handed her a coffee. He had got one for himself but Jessica had taken it. When he entered it was clear that they were in the middle of a deep conversation, a conversation that Andy was fully invested in. He smiled at Andy, remembering the promise that he made Sam and left. Jessica spoke to Andy in a low, comforting tone
' I know how tired you are but you have to realize that what Sam has been doing is all for you. He wants to keep you safe'
Andy, looking at Jessica
' I know, thats what is killing me. This weekend I realized that all he has ever done is keep me safe. Why didn't I see it before, what is wrong with me'. She was exhausted, cradling her head in her hands.
' because he won't let you'
Andy looked up, wanting more
' I knew a guy like Sam a few years ago' she gave a weak smile ' on the outside he was strong, tough, cocky and always so sure of himself' she paused ' but on the inside he always alone'
Andy looked up. Jessica gauged by her face that she didn't quite understand and continued
'they live in this weird head space, people like Sam. They care so much that all they see is the happiness of others, regardless of the cost to them ... ' she tock a deep breath ' and worst thing is that they never realize, they never figure out that the one thing they can do to really make the people they love happy is to be there, to open up and to let themselves be loved'
Jessica's voice had was low, and tears were forming in her eyes. Andy looked at her and without thinking asked 'what happened to him ?', she knew as soon as she saw Jessica's reaction that she shouldn't have asked but Sarah, wiping a single tear from her cheek said 'he was killed 2 years ago' she paused and looked at Andy ' he died saving my life', a tear escaped, she looked down and then looked at Andy and said in a whisper 'I never got to tell him how much he meant to me, how much' ... he stiffened and took a inhaled though her noise ' I never got to tell him how much I loved him. I keep on thinking of all the time we missed, its something that I will never forgive myself'
They sat in silence for a while and the Jessica added
' I don't know that much about you Andy, or Sam, but I can tell he has feelings for you. He will never admit them to you, but take my advice, you need to get him to open up, for him to speak to you. You need to open your heart to him, it will hurt but there is nothing worse than living with regret'
Andy looked at Jessica and nodded, knowing exactly what she was speaking about. Just like this morning, she was determined to speak to Sam, but know it wasn't about her, it wasn't even about what she had discovered this weekend, it was about them. She paused on that thought. Them. There was now a them, whatever it was. She knew that it was not about being partners, or friends, but it was something deeper, something that she had pushed away, but something that for her sake, and more importantly his, she could no longer run from.