"Hey Honey, we're getting Mia tonight after shift and then we'll meet back up with Marlo tomorrow night."
"Sounds good," Andy said from across the kitchen table. "I talked to Dad and told him we'd pick him up for lunch tomorrow. Speaking of which, we need to pick up the ham after shift today as well."
It was December 23rd and Sam had arranged with Marlo to have Mia on Christmas Eve. Sam and Andy both had to work Christmas so it worked out well with Marlo who was off. The couple was just finishing up breakfast and then they'd be off to work.
"When I take lunch today, I'll get it and swing back here to drop it off. Epstein can cover for me for a little bit if necessary," Sam said. "That way we can head straight to Hamilton and pick up Mia when shift's over."
"You've planned this all out, haven't you?"
"What? No, I just think fast on the fly."
"Nah, I don't buy that. You've put a lot of thought into all of this."
"Heh, yeah, you got me. I just want our first Christmas together to be great. And Mia's first Christmas, too."
"That's sweet, Sam. You better be careful, you wouldn't want your softer side to start showing to just everybody."
"Trust me, I've had some experience at burying things," Sam grinned widely.
They both laughed. Andy was the one person that knew just how much Sam could bury down within himself. But she had been able to get it all out of him eventually, with a few bumps along the way. But their relationship was worth the winding road it took to get here.
On the way to work, Sam's phone rang, it was Marlo. He handed it to Andy and she gave him an uncertain look before answering it.
"Hey Marlo, it's Andy. Sam's driving"
"Oh, Hi Andy. Listen, I told Sam you guys can pick up Mia tonight and bring her back tomorrow."
"Yeah…"
"Well, it turns out that instead of my sister coming down here for Christmas, I'm going head up there instead."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, so you can pick Mia up over there and bring her by my sister's place tomorrow. That will be easier for everyone."
"Yeah, of course. I'll tell Sam. About what time do you think you'll be up here?"
"I'm actually leaving soon, so when you two get off work, you can come by any time."
"Cool. We'll see you later then."
"Yep."
"Ok, bye." Andy disconnected and handed Sam back his phone.
"So Marlo's coming up here?", Sam asked as he made the turn in to 15's parking lot.
"Yeah, she'll be at her sister's house for the holiday so we can pick up and drop off Mia there."
"That works nicely." Sam parked and they both got out.
"She said she was just about to leave, so she should be here anytime," Andy said as they walked towards the door. "She sounded like she called on her way out the door, kind of rushed."
"Well, as of a couple hours ago she was going to stay in Hamilton. Sudden change of plans can make things hectic."
"Yeah, I know."
Sam opened the door and held it for his wife to enter then followed her in.
Sam and Dov were signing off on some case files when Sam got up and said he was heading out. "I might be a little while but if anything happens just call me."
"Got some errands to run?", Dov asked as he looked up from the papers on his desk.
"Yeah, I got to pick up a ham for tomorrow. We have Mia and Tommy is coming over."
"Nice. Don't worry I'll hold down the fort."
"I'm taking my truck in case you need the car for something."
"I don't think there is much going on for us today." So far, the whole day had been about paperwork.
"The glamorous life of a detective. Not always so glamorous," Sam said heading down the stairs from the D's office.
In the parking lot he pulled out his phone and dialed up a number on his missed call list.
"Hi, this is Sam Swarek. It's ready to be picked up?"
After picking up the ham and putting it in the fridge, Sam took off for an art studio downtown. He had contracted a painter to paint, on a much larger scale, a picture taken at Oliver's Cabin after the wedding. It showed both of them against the railing looking out at everyone gathered around them. Andy looked radiant in the photo, he could see the happiness that had radiated off her that night. He hoped the painting would capture that as well.
He walked into the studio and the guy Sam had hired popped out of a back room then led Sam back to see the painting. The portrait looked amazing and he was sure Andy would love it. The wait had been well worth it.
"That looks awesome man, better than I ever thought it could."
Sam payed the rest of what he owed for it and with carried it out to the truck. The challenge now would be finding a place to put it in the apartment. Oh, well. He was sure Andy would pick the best spot. He returned to the apartment and pulled out the remaining wrapping paper and carefully wrapped the portrait up as best he could and placed it by the tree. Andy would see it right away and he couldn't wait to see her look when she finally opened it. He closed the door and went back out to his truck to drive back to 15.
Almost back to 15, Sam stopped at a hot dog cart to grab a quick snack. When he got out of the truck, two guys were arguing with each other next to the stand, hot dogs in hand. Sam was heading over to ask them if everything was okay when one of the guys knocked the other's hotdog from his hand. That guy then got shoved in retaliation and soon both guys were on the ground grappling with each other on the street. People gathered to watch but didn't do anything else.
Sam unclipped his badge from his pocket, pointed it at the crowd, and said, "Somebody call the police, tell them there's a plain-clothes officer on scene." He noticed some of the people reach for their phones as he moved closer to the altercation.
One man, the larger of the two, had gotten the upper hand on the other combatant.
"Police! Break it up! Fight's over!" That approach didn't seem to make any in-roads. Sam sighed. Listen up idiots, if you wait for my backup to arrive, you will be pepper sprayed, or tazed. Oh, and that siren you hear is them rapidly approaching. So, make up your mind fast. Talk with me or wash out your eyes for the next few hours down at the station."
After a few more seconds, the men separated from themselves and Sam ordered them to sit down on the sidewalk. "Good choice guys." A squad from 15 pulled up and Diaz and Price got out. "Are wither of you hurt?", Sam asked the two men.
They both shook their heads.
"Okay then, do you want to tell me what led to the wrestling match?"
"He knocked my hot dog out of my hand!", the bigger man shouted.
"And he shoved me!", shouted the other.
"Yeah I saw all of that. What started the argument?"
Neither one said anything and they both looked away.
Sam looked around. Price was dispersing the crowd. Diaz was radioing in that the situation was under control. "Diaz, do me a favor and watch these two."
"You got it."
Sam walked over to the hot dog cart and talked to the operator. "Hi, there. I'm Detective Swarek, Metro Police. Neither one of them is being cooperative. I was hoping you might be able to fill me in on what I'm missing."
"Both of them bought a hot dog. The big guy loaded his up first and when the second guy got to the tray's there was no relish. He asked me if I had any more. When I said I didn't, he turned on the other guy. I guess he thought the big guy took too much relish."
"All of this over relish?"
The operator nodded.
"Wow. Okay, thanks for the help."
Sam walked back to the two men, Price had joined Diaz watching them. "Relish!? This is all about a condiment?"
"What?" Price asked.
Sam was about to explain when the smaller man made a comment about the bigger man's weight and then they were at it again. Diaz and Price moved in, separated, and restrained both men.
"Alright, you two culinary enthusiasts are under arrest for disorderly conduct and assault," Sam said. To Diaz and Price, "Get them back to the barn."
Diaz radioed for an additional squad for transport and Sam walked back to the hot dog cart. "Since I'm here, can I get a hot dog?"
Sam payed and received the plain hot dog. When he got to the condiment table and began loading it up, he asked. You really don't have relish, huh? That's a damn shame." He ate the hot dog in a couple bites, discarded the trash, and went back to his truck.
As the arresting officers, Diaz and Price would handle most of the paperwork but Sam still would need to provide a statement for the report. He turned the key and the truck came to life. Pulling away, he reflected back on his life in patrol. Incidents like this were a dime-a-dozen then. Not the case as a detective. Sam felt good to do some grunt police work again. As long as he wasn't wearing the itchy uniforms and high-riding belts.