Hi Dear Readers! Hope you enjoy this chapter. I have no idea what the Rookie Blue writers have in store for the characters in Season 4, so please don't take anything in this chapter seriously. Let me know what you think. I enjoy reading feedback. Thank-you all for reading.

Four months later.

He likes blondes. It's no secret. His mother knows he likes blondes. His father figured out blondes were his son's thing back when his boy was in grade two. That was the year Jessica Brontman arrived at the school and assigned the desk directly across the aisle from him. She was tall, thin, pretty, shy and blonde and he made the mistake of telling his father the prettiest blonde girl in the school sat next to him. Even his sister, who didn't pay much attention to her brother's love life, knew blondes were always on his radar. So it was no surprise, six years ago, when he brought Gail Peck, a tall, shapely blonde, home to meet his family. It never even fazed them when he arrived, six months ago at his cousin's wedding, with Gail who is still a blonde on his arm. Now it wasn't to say that brunettes and red-heads were not worth a look. He simply navigated towards blondes.

The one and only exception is his partner of the last two and a half years. She is a brunette, and he did admit between her shapely body, her height, her tanned skin tone, her personality and her pretty face his partner's hot. He isn't completely sure when he came to this realization. There was the time, during their six month undercover op, that he walked in on her in the bedroom wearing nothing but that black lacy Victoria's Secret bra and bikini panty ensemble and there was the time she walked out of their bathroom wearing only a towel. She claimed she didn't hear him come into the apartment. It really did not matter when he decided Andy McNally is hot. The fact is his best friend is hot. He still prefers blondes.

This brings him to his current predicament. Between his girlfriend and his partner he spends ninety percent of his time with two of the prettiest and hottest girls at the 15th. As good as his situation is it does come with its share of problems. The main one being jealousy. To say that he has heard the term "Lucky Bastard" or a sly remark more than a few times definitely is an understatement. Generally he takes the comments with a grain of salt as he walks away smiling. After all they are the ones with the jealousy problem. He and his girls are good.

As he walked along, with an ice cream cone in each hand, he smiled at his partner playing with Sheena, on the beach. It was good to see Andy having fun.

Especially when he knew something, for the past four days, was bothering his partner. She was trying hard to hide it from everyone and for the most part she was successful. He, however, was not most people. He knew her far too well. Sure she was chatting, but not quite enough for Andy McNally. She was smiling and joking, but not quite as much as usual. Then the day before yesterday he caught her, for a few seconds, staring out the passenger side window with a blank gaze. Something was definitely swirling around in that pretty little head.

Flashback: Two days ago

"A penny for your thoughts."

"Pardon, what?"

"A penny for your thoughts. You look like you're deep in thought. Is everything okay?"

"Oh...um...yea. I'm just a little tired. It's been a busy shift."

"More like non stop. Are you sure everything is okay? Want to talk?"

"Yea...No...I mean I'm fine thanks."

"Okay, are you and Sam coming to The Penny for a drink after shift? I haven't seen you there lately."

"No...I think we'll head home. I'm tired."

"Okay." He said as he glanced over at her while thinking, "Something is going on in that pretty little head and sooner or later I'll figure it out. Then we'll talk."

Fortunately Andy and he were in the middle of a split series of shifts. It involves working three days, having two days off and then working another four days. Most officers are not fans of the shift, including his partner and himself, but this time their rotation through coordinated perfectly with their lives. Andy needed to talk and the only way he could ever get her to open up and discuss what was troubling her was to bring her to Frenchman's Bay, at the bottom of Liverpool Rd, out in Pickering. With them both having the next two days off, and with both Gail and Sam working, he knew he could find the time and a way to get her to agree to come down with him for a visit. It took him most of the first day to realize Andy's problem, but once he did he smiled to himself as he formulated a couple of solutions in his head and planned out the next day's activities. It would start with a phone call to his partner around 11:30 in the morning.

"I'm in your neighbourhood. Let me take you out for lunch and then I can take you and Sheena down to the beach."

"Nick, I..."

"Come on partner. It'll be fun. We'll get ice-cream cones."

He knew her weakness was cones. One mention of the delicious treat and she agreed.

Two and a half hours later he was at the ice-cream stand placing their order.

As he approached, with the cones, Andy waved and walked over to their favourite bench with Sheena in tow.

"There you go...one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of banana. Just how you ordered." He said as he handed her the dessert.

"Thanks!...What flavour did you get this time?"

"Pralines and cream!" He replied with a smile.

"Thank-you for bringing me down here today. I don't think we've ever come here in the fall. It's beautiful with all the leaves on the trees changing colour."

"No problem, Sheena looks like she had a good workout." He said as he glanced at the dog lying beside Andy's feet yawning.

"Yea, I found a stick for her and I to play fetch. I think I wore her out."

It was a beautiful fall day. The sun was shining. The sky was cerulean blue with a patchwork of a big fluffy white clouds. The air was warm with a hint of fall crispness and the breeze was gentle. The sound of small waves, as they lapped the shore of Lake Ontario, completed the atmosphere.

He glanced over at his partner and smiled. She was wearing a pair of light gray Capri track pants that stopped just below her knees, a white form-fitting tank top with a white sports bra underneath, a dark grey hoodie she did not zip up and a pair of running shoes.

"Time to try to get her to talk."

"A penny for your thoughts."

"What!" She replied with a slightly confused look.

"Are you going to tell me what's been upsetting you for the last few days?"

"Nick...you can tell? It's nothing. It's...I'm being silly."

"Yes I can tell. Andy it's been bothering you for a while. I'm sure it's not silly. Talk to me."

"I'm...I've...been worried about Sam and I. He hasn't done...he hasn't given...it's just there is...this girl..."

"Officer Marlo Cruz." Nick said with a grin.

"Nick! Again! You have everything figured out don't you?"

"It took me awhile, but...yea I think I do. Andy, our lives parallel. Once I realized all I really needed to do was to look at what was going on in my life, everything fell into place. Remember a couple of weeks ago the fire fighter who met Gail when they both responded to the same car crash scene? He kept asking her out. He wouldn't take no for an answer."

"I remember. He even showed up at "The Penny" looking for her."

"Yea, well I didn't worry too much. The first few times Gail politely told him "no" because she has a boyfriend. When that didn't work she went into Gail Peck mode and smacked him down. Firefighter gone bye-bye now." Nick said while smiling.

Andy smiled as she shook her head.

"Anyways, I figured you were not having a problem with some guy. I mean I would know, but I doubt I would have to help. Sam would just give him the Swarek glare and the guy would slink away somewhere, to never be heard from again."

"Yea, that's Sam."

"That left me with only one option. Someone's trying to move in on Sam. There is only one candidate...Marlo."

"It's subtle little things, but she seems to always be there hovering around him. Sam and I will be talking, at the station. It doesn't matter if we are discussing work or a personal issue she will come over and insert herself in the conversation. The next thing I know she is leading Sam away to look at something to give his opinion. We go to "The Penny" after work for a drink and I go and sit with my friends while Sam and Oliver play a round of pool. The next thing I know, Marlo is over at the table joining the game. I go to join my friends, for a game of darts, while Sam sits and has a drink at the bar with one of the detectives. Two minutes later Marlo is sitting in my seat beside Sam. She is everywhere hovering around him."

"That's why we haven't seen you at "The Penny" lately."

"Yea, I was okay with everything until a few days ago. Nick...she..."

"She asked Sam out on a date."

"How did you know? I know because Traci overheard the conversation. She was the one who told me. I made her promise not to tell anyone."

"Andy relax...it wasn't Nash. I just made an educated guess. Firefighter guy was asking Gail out on dates. Our lives parallel. I figured based on what you have just told me of Marlo's antics the next step would be for her to ask him out. Did Nash hear Sam's response?"

"He declined. Sam told her he was taking his girlfriend out for dinner. I have a feeling she asked him out again. The last day we worked...that morning, in the locker room, the way she looked at me. I don't know. Maybe I was reading too much into her smirk."

"No, I think you read her correct. You're a good cop Andy. Part of the reason you are good is that you are observant."

"I was once engaged to Luke."

"I know."

"He cheated on me a week before the wedding."

"Gail told me."

"It was with his ex. She was working out of the 15th for a few weeks. I think the reason I'm upset is that she use to look at me with the same smirk Marlo gave me in the locker room. It scared me."

"I think you need to talk to Sam and soon. Sam loves you Andy. He has done everything to make his relationship with you work. You told me he once said he couldn't be a cop and be with you too. Well he found a way. He became a detective and gave up being a beat cop. Now he is a police officer and is with you too. I see the way he looks at you Andy and he loves you. I think Marlo is trying to drive a wedge between you and Sam. She wants the two of you arguing. Once she accomplishes that she is planning on swooping in, on her broomstick, and taking Sam for herself."

"I want to talk to him but, I feel awkward approaching Sam about this whole situation. I mean, I don't want to come across as the jealous lunatic girlfriend. Especially when Sam himself hasn't given me any reason to feel...like I do at the moment. I know he hasn't told me about Marlo, but on the other hand he is with me every night. He usually co-ordinates his shifts to match mine. This week is hard because we are on a split rotation."

"Want me to talk to him?"

"No...I'm not sure...if..."

"You're not sure if I would be the best choice." He said smiling.

"No...yes...no...it's just...I don't know how Sam will react if you try to talk to him. I've never told him that I talk to you about our...I mean he's a really private guy. He doesn't talk...well to me he talks...but not to others. He usually prefers to internalize everything. It's a big step for him to talk to me. Do you think I'm overreacting?"

"No, I don't. Okay, lets look at the facts. You want to talk to Sam but you're not sure how to approach the topic. I am willing to talk to him, but you're not sure I am the best choice. We...I think...should call in back-up. I'll get Gail to talk to Sam." Nick said grinning.

"I...I..."

"Andy, she is perfect. Gail comes across as tough and uncaring, but honestly...it's a smoke screen. She is actually very loyal and respectful. Especially to you and the other rookies she graduated with from the academy."

"I know. It's why she took the blame for the prisoner shooting in booking a couple of years ago. We all knew the review board was out for one of our badges. She took the blame, because she felt they wouldn't dare take the badge of a Peck. If they decided to pin the blame on Diaz, Epstein or myself they would have taken our badge and charged us, but not a Peck. She felt she would get a suspension or a demotion, but at the end of the day she would still have her badge and the rest of us would be cleared. It's exactly what happened. She saved the three of us. She saved our badges and our livelihoods."

"She did and she will take care of this problem for you as well Andy, let me talk to Gail."

Andy studied Nick a moment and then smiled.

"Will she go all Gail Peck mode on Sam?"

"She may...I'll let her decide how she want's to handle the situation. Okay partner?"

Andy nodded her head.

"It will be fine. You and Sam will be fine. Our lives parallel. Gail and I survived firefighter guy. That tells me that you and Sam will survive Marlo. Do you remember back when you appointed me your break-up buddy?"

"Yea, my mom gave me that book. You spent the day reading the different steps and getting me to talk."

"Do you remember at the end of the day, I pulled out the diploma at the back, found a pen and filled it all in and told you that you graduated."

"I do."

"I bought a book on how to plan a wedding. It has a diploma at the back that you fill out the day of your wedding. I pulled it out and made a photocopy. I want two diplomas. One for myself and one for you. I keep the book and the diplomas hidden in my locker."

"Andy, things will be fine. I even have this really nice pen and pencil set now that a pretty brunette, I know, gave me as a gift. I use the pen everyday. I'm planning on using it to fill out the diplomas."

Andy smiled and shook her head.

Want to go for a walk along the boardwalk before we head back to the city?"

"Yea, I would."

"Okay, let's go." Nick said as he stood up and extended his hand.

The next morning before parade.

"Swarek! Come, I need to talk to you and meeting room one is empty."

"Well, parade starts in ten minutes and I was..."

"It's important and will only take five minutes." Gail said as she pushed Sam down the hall.

Sam leaned against the conference table in the room and faced Gail with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Generally I am only concerned with what makes me happy." Gail stated.

"Ah...okay."

"Right now I am not happy. I am not happy because Nick is not happy. Nick is not happy because Andy is not happy. Andy is not happy because of Marlo hovering around you all the time. So I need you to put Marlo in her place and then fix things with Andy. That way Andy will be happy. Which means Nick will be happy. Which means my happiness will be restored."

"Whoa! What? Andy's...what do you mean hovering? Andy's upset?"

"Seriously! You haven't noticed?"

"Marlo isn't hovering. I mean she is like one of the guys. I knew something was bothering Andy, but I..."

Gail glared at him incredulously before whacking Sam on the back of the head with her hand.

"Okay Swarek listen! Have you noticed that every time you and Andy are in a conversation, at the station, that Marlo appears. It doesn't matter if you two are discussing work or a personal issue she will walk over and insert herself in the conversation. The next thing I usually see is her leading you away to look at something and to give her your opinion."

"Yea...I guess!"

"Did you notice what happened the last few times you and Andy went to "The Penny" after work?"

"Um...?"

"Andy comes and sits with us while you and Oliver play a round of pool. The next thing we all see is Marlo over at the table joining the game. Andy joins her friends, for a game of darts, while you stay at the bar and have a drink with one of the detectives. Two minutes later Marlo is sitting in Andy's seat beside you. She's everywhere hovering around you. Why do you think Andy hasn't wanted to go to "The Penny" after work for the last two weeks?"

"I...didn't realize."

"Well what is really upsetting her is that someone reported back to Andy that Marlo asked you out."

"She asked me to go for pizza...it was because I lost a bet...she wasn't asking me...Was she asking me out on a date?"

"Uh...yea! I mean everyone else can see she is trying to put a wedge between you and Andy. Frankly, it is starting to work. She has Andy upset."

Sam stared blankly for a moment processing everything.

"So! Are you going to take care of this problem. Like I said it is interfering with my happiness."

"I'll take care of the situation."

"Okay! Well then I'm heading to parade. I'm expecting my happiness restored by the end of the day."

"Peck!"

"Yea!"

"Can you arrange for you and Cruz to come to the hallway where my office is a few minutes after parade. Watch me. I need you to arrive with Cruz five seconds after I turn down the hallway."

"Sure, no problem."

"And Peck...thanks"

"You're welcome."

"Hey Andy!" Sam said as he ran up behind her outside the parade room five minutes later.

Andy turned around.

"Can you and Collins meet me in the hallway where my office is after parade for a few minutes."

"Yea, sure."

A couple of minutes after parade Andy met up with Nick and the partners went to grab coffees.

"Ready to head out." Nick asked.

"Actually, Sam asked for us to meet him in the hallway outside his office for a few minutes before we head out on shift. It's probably to clarify one of our reports or something."

"Sure"

Sam walked around the corner and approached Nick and Andy standing outside his office.

"Hey Collins! Here hold this." He said as he took Andy's coffee cup out of her hand and handed it to Nick."

A second later Sam pushed Andy up against the wall outside his office. He placed one hand on her cheek, his other hand on her hip, pressed his body hard against her and crashed his lips down on hers. It took Andy a second to respond. She was momentarily in shock. A second later she slowly moved her hands, which were flat against his chest, up his body and encircled his neck with her arms. She felt Sam run his tongue across her bottom lip, asking for permission to explore her mouth. Willingly she gave him access.

Nick stood holding two coffees while smiling and shaking his head.

Mainly because Sam timed his little stunt just as Gail turned the corner, to the hallway, with Marlo Cruz. The look on Cruz's face was priceless.

A minute later Cruz, who was carrying two cups of coffee, turned around and stomped off throwing one of the cups of coffee into a garbage bin.

"She probably meant it for Swarek." Nick and Gail both thought.

Sam pulled away slightly from Andy and placed his forehead against hers and his hand on her cheek.

"Andy, I love you. I'm sorry...I didn't even notice. You have a problem like this ever again please come and talk to me. I am not losing you over a huge misunderstanding. Okay!"

Andy nodded her head as a small tear slid down her face.

Sam wiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

"Now come on. I'm going to walk you out to the squad car." He said as he took her hand.

Nick handed her back her coffee as Sam bent down to pick up her bag and carry it for her to the car.

The trio made their way out to the stations parking lot.

At the squad car Sam placed her bag into the trunk of the car before giving Andy a long embrace.

"Are we alright?"

"Yea, we are Sam. Thank-you."

"I love you Andy. I'm making us reservations at your favourite Greek restaurant on the Danforth for dinner tonight. We are going to go out for a nice meal and to talk. Okay!"

"Okay" Andy said smiling.

"And Sam...I love you."

"You have a good shift." He said as he opened the squad car door for Andy.

He closed the door, bent down and gave Andy a quick peck on the lips through the car's open window.

"Take care of her today Collins."

"I always do Sir."

Sam turned and walked back into the station.

"Peck! Wait up!"

"Detective Swarek! What can I do for you, Sir."

"Just wanted to tell you that I believe your happiness is well on its way to being restored."

"Yea...that was quite the smack down Swarek. Didn't think you were going to move so fast, but thank-you."

"Actually I'm the one who should say Thank-you."

"In that case. You're welcome."

"Have a good shift Peck." Sam said just before turning and heading to his office.

Let me know what you think. I enjoy reading feedback.