Hey, guys! Sorry I wasn't able to get this up earlier. I had hopes to get it up before I moved, but that just didn't work out. Anyway, this one is a bit longer than the others, which I don't think you'll complain about. :)

Please don't forget to review! And thanks to everyone who did last time and favorited/followed this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue.

Andy can't sleep that night after walking home from the Penny. Every time she closes her eyes she can see Tyler bleeding out under her hands as she desperately pleads with him to stay alive. And when her eyes get so exhausted that she finally does manage to drift off into slumber, she's haunted by nightmares. The nightmares consist of her trying to save Tyler, but when she looks away for a second and then looks back down at him, it's Sam that's lying on the floor bleeding out. After she finally wakes up to her own screams, the process repeats itself over and over until it's time for her to get up for work.

Andy sees Sam at work, knows he's not sleeping either based on his appearance: dark circles under his eyes, not quite on top of everything as he usually is. He plans – that's right, Sam Swarek has a plan for once – to leave Andy alone the next day, though it might be killing him to not know how she is, giving her space to deal with the heartbreak of loss in her own way. Plus, Andy was more than happy to inform him that he lost the right to know personal details when he asked for space.

He knows that she's right, but he can't help but feel concern for her. This temporary situation doesn't impact how he feels about her and just because they're taking space does not mean that he doesn't genuinely care about her wellbeing.

Sam's plan is completely ruined however, when they're paired together working the desk. Andy avoids talking to him at all costs; she's just not ready for that. So instead she settles on doing paperwork from yesterday and tapping her pen to the tune of her favorite song. After lunch she can tell that all the silence is getting to Sam, which is surprising since he's usually the one who's mute. He's all fidgety, like he's nervous about something. At one point someone drops something out in the bullpen and honest to god he literally jumps enough to fling his pen across the desk and onto her paperwork.

"What is your problem?" Andy hisses at him. She picks up the pen and throws it back at him, hitting him square in the chest as he swivels his chair to face her.

"What?" His brow furrows like he's completely unaware of this.

"You're all nervous and jumpy, it's weird."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sam. You just launched your pen at me, I think we both know you're being weird. Now knock it off."

She goes back to her paperwork, fed up with him.

Another hour or so passes before he finally asks the question he's been holding back all day.

"So, uh, how are you? Ya know, with what happened yesterday and everything…"

Her pen stops moving but she doesn't look up when she says, "I'm fine."

Sam rolls his eyes before asking quietly, "Wanna talk about it?"

Andy shakes her head and starts writing again. "Nope."

He observes her, the way her jaw is now clenching and she's all hunched over, like she's trying to hide her face a little. Sam stares at her for another minute or two.

"Listen, I know things between us haven't changed, but if you do wanna talk, I'm here. Okay?"

"Yep."

The rest of the day passes in silence and before she knows it, shift is over. Andy walks home in the rain that's been gracing Toronto lately and literally falls into bed, exhaustion catching up with her from the past few days. It's around 2 am when she wakes to her own cries and whimpers. The rain is full on pouring now, thunder and lightning illuminating the sky.

For some reason, this nightmare is different. It's worse.

Way worse.

Andy shakes with sobs and sits up against the headboard. She pulls her knees up and wraps her arms around them.

Sam.

Is he okay? The dream was so real. She felt the life leave his body as she frantically screamed for help.

She feels an overwhelming need to see him to make sure he's okay and that he's safe and not laying in a morgue somewhere.

Now.

Andy scampers out of bed and pulls on the first articles of clothing her hands make contact with: a pair of yoga pants and one of Sam's sweatshirts that's lying on the floor – which she has been planning to throw out or burn or whatever, she just never got around to doing it. She grabs her keys and heads out into the night rain in search of Sam's house.

Tears streak down her face as she runs up his steps and knocks five quick, impatient times and waits for him to answer. When he finally does manage to pull on a pair of jeans and open the door, he scratches his bare chest as a confused, half-asleep expression graces his features.

He looks at her bouncing nervously from one foot to the other and sees the tears – or is that just rain? –making their way down her cheeks.

"Andy," he starts to say all rough and low and laced with concern, but she stops him when she propels herself towards him and wraps her arms around his waist as tight as she can.

Sam can tell she ran over here because when she buries her face in his neck he can hear the pants of air being released as she cries. He instinctively wraps his strong arms around her and pulls her inside out of the downpour. Andy's rain soaked clothing against his bare chest makes a little shiver race down his spine.

"You're safe, you're safe," he hears her mumble into his neck.

Sam helps her shed her wet sweatshirt – hmm, that looks familiar, he thinks – and leads her down the hall to his room.

Sam's never really seen her like this, and he figures it's because she doesn't trust him enough to let him see this side of her that rarely makes an appearance. The Andy McNally he knows is strong and doesn't let anyone think of her as weak or damaged.

Sam has an idea of what brought on this episode, but he's not 100% sure. So when he gets her in his bed and they're both lying on their sides with their legs tangled together, he puts his palms on her cheeks.

"Andy," he pulls back and looks deep into her red, puffy eyes. He uses the pads of his thumbs to wipe the quiet tears that escape from her eyes. He knows that he should just ask the one word question he has in mind, but he can't help himself as he closes the distance between them.

Sam brushes his lips against hers in a kiss that's promising and comforting. Andy sighs and leans into the kiss, reveling in the feeling and remembering how much she's missed him in the past few weeks.

When he pulls back and bumps her nose softly with his, she bites her lip as she waits for him to say something.

"Nightmares?" he asks simply.

Andy nods, "I keep seeing it. I keep seeing you. They're so bad, Sam," She cries and tucks her head into his neck once more.

"I know, I know."

A period of silence graces them as she continues to quietly cry into his shoulder. She's about to fall asleep when he speaks into her ear quietly.

"It's gonna be okay, Andy. It might take a little time, but we're gonna be okay."

Andy nods into his shoulder and tightens her hold on him and she lets the crying take over her. She loses herself in the way his hand softly threads through her hair while the other soothingly rubs her back and she slowly falls asleep wrapped in his arms.

Andy wakes in the early morning to the front door opening and closing. Sam is on the morning shift today, which explains the big cold spot her hand finds in the sheets when she reaches out for him. A second later she hears his truck start. She rolls over onto his pillow to nuzzle her head in and breathe in his scent.

That plan is ruined however when her face connects with something crinkly and not quite as soft as a pillow. She pushes herself up on her elbows to inspect what assaulted her.

It's a piece of paper. Andy flips it over and squints her tired eyes a little to make out Sam's handwriting. She sits up in his bed and crosses her legs pretzel style before brushing her hair out of her face.

Andy,

We still need to talk. I have to go to St. Catherines after work to help Sarah move this weekend. Talk when I get back?

Andy stares at the note for a minute before letting her hand fall to the bed, note in hand, and sighs.

Ugh, that guy.

Two days later – after not hearing anything from Sam yet – she's at the Penny again playing darts with Dov and Chris after shift.

Gail's still in recovery mode, being fawned over by her family while she heals. And Traci? Andy tried to always stop over there at least three times a week but she makes sure to call daily. Traci's been back at work a few times since Jerry died, insisting that she needs something to do other than sit at home and watch reruns of Grey's Anatomy for the fourth time. Frank makes sure it's lighter stuff, mainly front desk work, but Traci's happy with anything she can get. Andy's happy that Traci's been coming into the station; it means that she's starting to move on past the not-showering, not-getting-off-the-couch stage.

Dov calling Andy's name snaps her out of her reverie, telling her that it's her turn at darts. She takes her turn, sits back down and watches Chris line up his shot with precision. He and Dov are in a heated battle; loser has to buy all the drinks for the night. Chris and Dov are in the middle of a trash-talking match when Andy spots Nick over at the bar. She's surprised to see him there; most nights he goes to see Gail.

She tells the boys she'll be back and makes her way over to Nick, who's currently looking down into his beer with a lost look on his face. Andy slides onto the stool next to him. When he doesn't notice her presence, she nudges him with her shoulder.

"Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you spent most of your nights with Gail."

"Yeah, I guess." His answer is short and she gets the impression that he doesn't want to talk about it. Oh well, the alcohol in her system dulls that sensation and she doesn't really care about pissing him off.

"Oh." She senses more is going on than he's telling her so she pushes on. "So, how are things with Gail?"

Nick ignores her question and fires one back at her.

"How are things with Swarek?"

She fakes innocence. "What? What do you mean?"

Nick grins at her. "Oh, don't give me that. I was there at the crime scene, I saw you two. Something's going on."

She sighs and looks away, back down at her drink.

"I asked you about Gail first."

He's silent for a minute. "Well, there's not much to tell. She's getting better. She's recovering. I just thought that her wanting me there for her recovery meant that she really wanted to try being together, but I think I was wrong."

"Why's that?"

"I don't know… I'm just getting different signals from her. Like I said, it's nothing much. I'm just gonna help her get better and wait to bring that stuff up."

"Hmm."

"What?" he questions.

"Nothing." Andy smirks a little, like she's holding back a comment.

It's a minute before Nick speaks again.

"Okay, it's your turn," he says with a smile.

"What?"

"That's how this works," he says, motioning between them with his hand, "I told you about Gail, now you get to tell me about whatever is going on with Swarek."

"There's nothing to tell," she lies and downs the rest of her beer.

Nick's smile grows. "Bullshit," he states.

Andy laughs a little self-deprecatingly, "Yeah, I knew you'd call me on that one." She pauses to think a little. "If I'm gonna tell you I need something a little stronger."

She gets the bartenders attention and signals him over and orders another beer and a few shots of tequila. She downs two before looking back at Nick.

"It's pretty simple actually."

"Nothing ever is with relationships."

"Well, it is. He just… he broke up with me, or something." She shrugs, like it explains everything.

"Or something?"

"We're 'taking some time' or whatever."

Nick's brows knit together, "Okay, so, why?"

She laughs again, "You know, I've asked myself that every day for the past two weeks."

He doesn't laugh. He just watches her.

Andy looks down at beer, her fingers making tracks in the condensation on the side of the bottle. She shrugs again, "We had a fight. And apparently I went too far, asked for too much."

"What did you ask for?" He questions.

"Communication. Sam knows everything about me and my family and I don't know one single thing about his. He never opens up. About anything! He's just too stubborn." Andy gestures with her hands and she realizes at that moment that she's almost yelling. "And I just got so frustrated that I yelled at him and he told me we should take a break," she finishes softly.

"Hmm." He repeats her earlier phrase, taking a big gulp of his beer.

She looks over at him skeptically. "What?"

Nick swallows, "I don't know, the guy's probably just nervous to open up. He seems like a pretty guarded guy."

Andy nods and glances down at the bar for a second. "Yep, he sure is. And you wanna know the best part?"

"What?"

She doesn't look at him when she answers him quietly. "He sort of implied that he blamed me for Jerry."

Nick takes a sharp breath and pauses for a few seconds. When he speaks his voice is soft and sympathetic. "Andy, I'm sorry. Nobody should ever have to –"

She cuts him off with a wave of her hand and a sad shake of her head.

"It's fine, I'll be fine. Sam and I will be…" Andy drags the word 'be' out like she's unsure of how to finish.

"Fine?" Nick supplies.

Andy nods. "Yep."

They sit in silence sipping their beers for a few minutes.

"Hey, what are we doing?" Andy asks all peppy.

"What do you mean? We're sitting in the Penny –"

She interrupts him. "Not what I mean, Nick. It's the weekend, we don't have to work tomorrow, and we're sitting here moping. We should be having fun!"

"I don't really feel like fun."

"Well, that's about to change." Andy smiles and calls the bartender over and orders shots for them.

Three hours later and completely hammered, Nick and Andy take a cab to his apartment. They clumsily wander inside, giggling about who-knows-what the whole way, and he helps her manage the steps.

Andy takes residence on his couch while he goes to pee and when he comes back to ask her about something – he can't even remember what at this point, he's so wasted – and finds her sound asleep on his couch.

Nick grabs a blanket and covers her up before stumbling to his room and collapsing on his own bed with slumber claiming him soon after.

Andy wakes to the wonderful aroma of coffee and sunlight streaming in the windows and practically blinding her.

"Good morning sunshine," Nick greets her as she sits up on the couch, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning." She swings her feet to the ground before asking groggily "What time is it?"

He takes a sip of coffee before turning to look at the tiny digital clock on his microwave. "Quarter to nine. Coffee?"

"Oh shit, I've gotta go. I'm supposed to meet my dad in like an hour for breakfast."

Nick nods. "Sounds fun."

She looks over at him. He's already showered and dressed, standing barefoot in his kitchen in a t-shirt and jeans. He looks rather unaffected from the previous night's activities. "How are you so happy right now?"

"I don't really get hung over."

"Bastard." She swears at him, the alcohol from last night still looming somewhere in her system.

Nick chuckles, "What can I say, it's a gift."

Sam's at her house sitting on her front stoop when she gets dropped off by the cab. He takes in her appearance: wrinkled clothes, messy hair, and smudged eye makeup. He can tell by her grimace when she gets out of the cab and into the sun and her slight stumble over a crack in the pavement that she's completely hung over.

Andy smiles when she sees him, but that disappears when he says, "Wow, you move on fast," as she reaches him.

Her brow furrows and her voice holds offense when she speaks. "What?"

Sam doesn't say anything. He just gives her a once over and then looks at her pointedly. Sure enough, Andy understands.

"You think I'm with somebody else?" She questions, like it's the most preposterous thing she's ever heard.

"Well, you have gotten all buddy-buddy with Collins."

"He was helping me fix what you broke. Nick and I are friends, Sam."

Sam scoffs at that.

"You know what? That's why this isn't working, Sam. You don't trust me."

He looks up at her still standing in front of him, "Yes I do, Andy."

"On the job, sure. But with your heart?" She shakes her head, answering her own question.

"Excuse me?" Sam questions, hostility in his voice.

"I said it's not like it was that serious anyway. I mean, Sam, come on. You never sleep in with me in the morning; you're always running out the door with last night's clothes on. We don't talk, not about the stuff you're supposed to talk about in a serious relationship anyway. I don't even know what your tattoo means, and that's pretty basic stuff here."

"I thought you said you were fine with taking it slow, Andy." He says quietly.

"Taking it slow doesn't mean treating this like a reoccurring one night stand," She argues with him, crossing her arms.

Andy sighs, "We were supposed to fight for this," she tells him loudly, "And you? You bowed out the first round."

"Fine. You wanna know the truth about me and my life Andy?" Sam's practically seething with fury as he stands from his spot on the steps and invades her personal space a little bit. Andy takes a step back and glares up at him. It occurs to Andy in the back of her mind that maybe her front porch wasn't the best place to have this argument. Nevertheless, she continues on without hesitation.

"By all means!" Andy swings her arms out, waiting for him to tell her.

"My childhood? My mom was too stoned most of the time to remember to buy groceries or go to work, a neighbor found out a reported my mom which got Sarah and I sent to four different foster homes, three of which were abusive. My tattoo is the initials of a buddy I had in highschool that was killed in a driveby shooting two weeks before graduation on our way to the store to get something his mom needed. I held him as he died in my arms."

Andy was taken aback by his admission; she definitely wasn't expecting all of that. She fidgets a little with the hem of her tank top and looks down at his shoes, feeling awkward – what was she supposed to say now?

Sam seems to sense her hesitation and decides to break the silence.

"Okay, so, what now?" He asks with a smirk.

Andy laughs despite the situation and shrugs. "I don't know. I've no idea."

He lets a small smile grace his features as he recognizes that phrase from almost a year ago.

"Maybe we should continue this inside?" Sam suggests.

Andy starts to nod and head up her steps before she turns around. "Wait, no. I can't."

A confused expression appears on his face before she quickly explains, "I have dinner with my dad in," she checks her watch, "like, thirty minutes. Can I call you later?"

Sam's relieved, although he obviously doesn't tell her that. "Yeah, later is fine," he says with a small smile.

"I don't think me getting closer with Nick helped matters much. We're just friends, partners; I don't get why Sam made a big deal about it," Andy tells her father at breakfast later that morning.

"Let me guess, Swarek accused you of foolin' around with this Collins, is that right?" Tommy says before popping the last piece of his toast into his mouth.

"Dad," Andy admonishes, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.

Tommy just stares at her, waits for her to answer the question.

She sighs, "Yeah, pretty much."

"Well, tell him he's wrong, set him straight."

Andy shakes her head, feeling silly. Is this what it's come to? Asking her father for relationship advice? Oh, well. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

"I did. But that's the problem, Dad. Sam doesn't trust me, at least not enough to tell me about himself and what's going through his head."

"Hmm," Tommy hums. He picks up his coffee cup and drains the rest in one gulp. He sets it back down on the linoleum table before reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. "Sounds like he's scared."

Andy shrugs, looks down at her coffee. "Sometimes I just don't know with Sam."

"You'll figure it out, kiddo. You always do." Tommy says as he stands a throws a few bills on the table for their breakfast. He ruffles her hair a bit and leans down to place a kiss on the top of her head before walking out of the diner, leaving Andy to her thoughts.

A/N 2: Please review!

Also, I don't really know where this story is headed, so feel free to let me know what you'd like to see happen in this story next. I'd love to hear everyone's ideas and opinions!