Hi Everyone. Due to the over whelming response I decided to add another chapter to this story. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter as much as the first. Let me know.
One Year Later
His partner's complicated. Their partnership's complicated. Her relationship with her mother definitely complicated. The relationship with her father tends to revolve around complications. Her boyfriend and she have a complicated and messy relationship. You would think with this much complication in her life she would be pulling her hair out on a regular basis. The fact is the complete opposite is true. She thrives on complication and somehow makes every relationship work.
Twenty months ago her relationship with her last partner became too complicated for the work place. Frank began to assign her with him instead. They were never asked if they could try being partners. Frank decided their personalities complimented each other. It turned out Frank was right. Over a very short period they developed a trusting partnership and became best friends.
Which brings him to today. He knew his partner, probably more than her mother did, more than her father would admit to and definitely more than her boyfriend liked. After all he spent hours in a squad car with her and he did have the privilege of living with her for a six month period during an undercover op.
He glanced at his partner sitting in the passenger seat of their squad car. She was quiet and staring blankly out of the passenger side window. A large part of dealing with all the complication in her life was to chat constantly. No chatting with a blank gaze were never good signs when it came to Andy McNally.
"Something is going on in that pretty little head of hers and it is playing with her emotions. The signs don't lie."
"A penny for your thoughts."
"Hmmm!" She replied turning to face him.
"A penny for your thoughts." He repeated glancing at her and grinning.
"Nothing...I'm fine."
"Andy...out with it."
"It's nothing. It's not a good time of the month."
"Andy, you're not on your period. I know when it's your time of the month."
"WHAT! How? No you don't."
"Oh yes I do."
"How? You keep TRACK?"
"No, I do not keep track."
"You don't know."
"Andy, I lived with you for six months. I know. The day before your period you get a headache. You take Tylenol but, it doesn't completely eliminate the pain. You sit and rub your temples."
"I do?"
"Yes, the next day you have lower back pain and you walk differently because your calves ache."
"My gait is different? Does everyone notice?"
"Relax; your gait is not different. You walk slow."
"I do?"
"Yes, but the biggest sign is how Sam treats you when he drives you to work and when the two of you leave at the end of the day. Normally, in the morning, Sam parks the truck and the two of you walk across the parking lot together. The first couple of days of your period Sam drops you off at the door and then parks the truck. In the evening, instead of the two of you walking to where the truck's parked, you stay at the station's door and Sam gets the truck and picks you up at the door. Guess what? I saw the two of you walking across the parking lot together this morning. You are not on your period." He said while smiling.
"We know each other too well." Andy sighed.
"Soooo...a penny for your thoughts."
"Nick..."
"All right then we are going to play twenty questions. I ask the questions and you supply the answers."
"No...Nick..."
"There are only four people who can make you sit silently and over think. Your Mom, your Dad, Sam or myself. I'm quite positive I am not the cause of this state. That leaves either one of your parents or Sam. Which...one...is...it?"
"Nick..."
"All units near Bathurst and Queen. Robbery in progress..."
"Saved by the radio." Nick said smiling over at her as he flicked on the squad car's lights and siren.
Hours later Nick waited patiently, on the steps of the station, for his partner.
"Hey! Are you going to "The Penny"?"
"No, I...Sam has to work late tonight. He's the lead detective on the Cassidy murder case. Some new evidence came to light late this afternoon. He's tied up till around ten tonight. Are you heading over to "The Penny"?"
"No...Gail's attending a family baby shower tonight with her mom. It's at some fancy restaurant. Her mom's already picked her up."
"I wouldn't worry about her Nick. She'll have fun."
"I know she will. Are you hungry? Would you like to go get something to eat?" Nick asked.
"I have to get home. Sheena needs to go for a walk. Sam was able to pop over to the condo at lunch and take her out but, that was hours ago."
"Are you taking the truck or are you walking?"
"I was going to walk. I thought I would leave the truck for Sam."
"Would you like a lift?"
"I..."
"Come on Andy. Let me give you a ride. I'll help you walk Sheena and then we can go get something to eat."
"Come on!" He said smiling as he nodded his head towards his vehicle.
An hour and a half later Nick pulled into a parking spot at Frenchman's Bay in Pickering.
"You get Sheena out of the back seat and I'll get the food." He said.
Ten minutes later the pair sat on a bench over looking, the clear blue water of, Lake Ontario eating home-made roast beef deli sandwiches with tossed salad. Sheena sat quietly beside Andy's leg eying several seagulls. It was an early spring evening. The sun was still out, but slowly slipping below the horizon. The air was slightly crisp and a gentle breeze was blowing.
"These sandwiches are amazing." Andy said.
"Yea, the deli has been there for years. My mom use to take me in, when I was little, sometimes for lunch. The same family is still operating the place."
"She's talking, but she's not her chatty self. Something is going on in that head of hers and I think I know what sparked everything."
"Soooo...back to earlier today. A penny for your thoughts."
"Nick..."
"Okay...we are doing the twenty question thing. If I recall correctly I eliminated myself as the cause of your lack of chatter. That leaves your Mom, your Dad or Sam. My money is on Sam."
Andy glanced over at him a moment before once again gazing out on the blue water of Lake Ontario.
"It is Sam!"
Andy gave a small sigh before turning to look at Nick.
"Sam, he... he asked..."
"He asked you to move in with him. He wants the two of you to try living together."
"How did you know?"
"Our lives have paralleled for almost two and a half years. When I arrived at the 15th you and Sam were starting a relationship. Gail and I were reconnecting. A year later we both left for six months. Essentially we took a break from our love interests. When we returned Sam patched things up with you and I once again reconnected with Gail. Those relationships, over the last few months, have been healthy. Three weeks ago I asked Gail to move in with me."
"You did?"
"Yea"
"What was her answer?"
"She said no."
"Are you okay with her saying no?"
"Initially I wasn't but, then she told me why. I respect her reasons. We're fine."
"I use to live with Luke."
"I know."
"When we broke up...I was homeless for three months. I did nothing wrong but, I was the one sleeping on my dad's sofa or Traci's couch. I didn't want to take charity but, it takes time to find an apartment and even longer to find a condo to buy."
"You don't want to experience that feeling ever again. The feeling of being left out in the cold."
She shook her head.
"Gail felt the same way when she and Diaz broke up. She stayed at a hotel for the first three nights after Chris asked her to leave. Hotels are expensive so she moved back in with her parents. It's not the best situation but, she knows they won't throw her out in the cold."
"Nick...are you really okay with Gail's response."
"Yea, I am actually. She wants to be married the next time she lives with someone. I get it. Once bitten, twice shy."
"I vowed I wouldn't live with someone again unless I was married to them."
"Then tell him Andy. Talk to him. Tell him the truth. Tell him you love him, but moving in together is not right for you at the moment. Sam is a smart guy. He will be fine with your answer and reasons."
"I'm worried he will want me to rent out the condo. That way I will always have a place."
"He won't. You may own a place, but if other people are living there you can't simply show up and throw them out the door. You have to give them notice and time to move out. It could be three to six months before you could move back into the condo."
"Talk to him Andy."
Andy sat and gazed out at the water deep in thought. A few moments later she turned and smiled at her partner.
"Thank-you."
"Your welcome partner. Andy our lives parallel. I'm fine with Gail and I not moving in together. Which tells me Sam will be fine with your decision."
Andy nodded.
"Do you know what's special about today?" Nick questioned a minute later.
"It was a year ago today you brought me down here for the first time. We were still in deep cover."
Nicked smiled. "Happy Anniversary!" He said as he handed her a small jewellery box.
"What is it?"
"Open it and see."
Andy opened the box slowly and smiled. Inside was a fresh water pearl necklace.
"I thought it represented the occasion well."
"It does. It's beautiful Nick...Thank-you. Actually, I have something for you as well!" She replied as she removed a similar sized box from her jacket pocket.
Inside was a gold toned and fresh water mother of pearl Cross pen and pencil set.
"I like it...Thank-you." Nick said smiling. "Listen, would you like to get an ice-cream cone and go for a walk along the boardwalk?"
"Yea, I would actually."
"Come on then. My treat." Nick stated as he stood up and extended his hand.
Two days later Andy was back to her chatty self as she and her partner drove through the streets of Toronto.
"You talked to Sam didn't you?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"I know you Andy."
"Yes, we talked."
"Everything is good?"
"Everything is good. Thank-you for the advice."
"Your welcome...now right here." He said as he leaned over towards the passenger side of the squad car and tapped his cheek with his finger.
Andy smiled and shook her head as she leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"I think I'm going to add something to my list of talents. I mean, I'm already the world's greatest break-up buddy and I'm the G.I. Joe of partners."
"What were you thinking of adding?"
"Amazing relationship advisor!"
Andy smiled and shook her head.
Let me know what you think.