I apologize for the delay in updating, down the last week of my first semester as a grad school student and it has been grueling. I had to finish this in order to get my policy report done, which is currently only on page 8 of 25, so until next Wednesday, this will have to be my last update. I am very very sorry! I didn't want to leave you hanging too long.

Thank you for all the reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy

Nikka

Two weeks without seeing her except for brief glimpses at the Penny when she came in to get Chris and the duo promptly headed home. Sam was trying to be objective about this situation. He knew that Boyd was probably putting her through the ringer at headquarters and that all she probably wanted to do after a day with him was curl up on the couch and watch a movie.

Knowing her, it would probably be some sappy chick flick where the guy got the girl and she could get her fill of happily ever after. Sam tried to swallow the bitter pill that tasting oddly like jealousy as he realized that Diaz probably enjoyed watching all those girly movies with Andy and he probably made her smile trying his best to playfully imitate the Prince Charming of those movies.

Sam snickered a bit to himself. If he was going to feel truly sorry for himself, he might as well go ahead and admit that he would really love to be the man curled up on the couch with Andy indulging her girly whims and making her smile. God, did he love her smile.

Parade had been totally lost on Sam as he continued to ponder his partner's home life. He couldn't count the numerous times he'd prayed and tried to bully her into companionable silence. Now suddenly, two weeks of not hearing her upbeat voice had him feeling very alone. Worse than that, it had unnerved him how she just seemed to extricate herself from his life. Like it was suddenly just that easy to do. It was just simple and effortless for her to cut herself out of his life and not talk to him for weeks.

On his way out to the cruiser, riding solo again for the day, Sam resolved to take means into his own hands. Something wasn't settling right with this whole situation, and he would be damned if he would trust anything Boyd said to him about Andy of all people. Even if Best had said the same thing to him, Sam needed to hear the words from Andy's mouth to fully believe them.

Sam reached into his side pocket and retrieved his cell phone. He taped the wheel for a moment before deciding to send a message.

What do you say I spring you for lunch? I'll even buy. Boyd can't deny food.

Before he could over think it, Sam hit send. After his phone told him it was sent, he checked to make sure the volume was all the way up, and that the vibrate was on so there was no way he'd miss her response. Shaking his head at how foolish he was being, and trying to chalk it up to concern and not something actually being amiss, Sam tucked the phone into his vest pocket to rest against his chest.

Andy had spent the better part of her day helping toddlers finger paint. It honestly hadn't been as bad as she had anticipated at the beginning of this activity, but still, she was a bit leery every time a little chubby faced munchkin tottered towards her. Little paint splatters and hand prints decorated her jeans. Still, she managed to smile and giggle with the children finding more often then not that she didn't really mind at all.

Secretly, Andy admitted that while she wasn't supposed to have favorites, while a teacher wasn't supposed to, she really had fallen in love with Gracie Brennan. The little blonde curly haired blue eyed cherub had clearly stolen her heart. Andy felt a bit guilty about how she was in place to get to close to this child to try and get information about her parents.

Andy had tried to temper her growing affection for the sweet little girl, but she was finding it difficult. Throughout the day, Andy had smiled as Gracie tugged on her pant leg, or snuggled into her side during story time. She had also enjoyed watching the child as she slept during nap time and couldn't help but smile when she sought Andy out first thing after waking up. It seemed this part of Boyd and the Superintendent's plan was working. There was no way that Gail would have been able to handle this time of assignment. Gail Peck barely tolerated anyone, and tolerating children was right up their on her list of things to love right along with getting her finger nails ripped out one by one.

The end of the day had come before Andy had anticipated and she was darting around the room getting kids ready to go. She felt little arms wrap around her leg as, startled, Andy looked down to see Gracie hugging her legs. Andy smiled and crouched down to look at Gracie.

The child smiled at her and began a serious of rambling about what they would be doing tomorrow . Andy laughed and was absorbed in Gracie's antics when a she felt a large presence come to stand behind her.

Andy pivoted a bit to look at the man over her shoulder and felt Gracie tense up and lean into her. She straitened up to look at the man who was beginning to unnerve her. Eyes wandered over him trying to take in any type of detail about this man who despite trying to put on a friendly face exuding waves of discomforting energy. Feeling Gracie press closer to her legs prompted Andy to speak.

"Can I help you Mr-" she looked up at him realizing just how bit of a man he was. He easily had Andy out weighed by fifty or more pounds and all of it was hardened muscle.

"Jimmy Rourke," he said casually extending his hand to her.

"Gabby Scott," she told him simply, accepting his hand.

There was something malicious in his eyes, something that made Andy want to squirm. She decided that it wouldn't be in her best interest not to do and simply shook his hand and resisted the urge to wipe away the grim from touching him when he released her hand.

"What can I do for your Mr Rourke," Andy ask him in a sweet unassuming voice. She only hope that her face didn't give away her suspicions. Feeling Gracie tighten her grip on her legs, Andy reached down to pat the head of the child that hand somehow worked her way behind Andy. Jimmy Rourke noticed Gracie and smiled. Andy decided right then and there that there was nothing pleasant about his smile.

"I work for the Brennans," he stated simply, but with authority. "I'm here to pick up Gracie."

Andy looked at him and felt herself bristle. She knew that Jimmy had seen her bristle as well and that this conversation was not going to go well. Her grip tightened a bit on Gracie as she shifted her further behind her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Rourke," she stated firmly meeting his eyes. "The Brennans have express written consent not to have Gracie released to anyone but them. I'm afraid that Gracie has to stay here until Mr. or Mrs. Brennan come to pick her up themselves."

Jimmy Rourke's face visibly darkened as he stepped forward crowding her space. Andy felt herself struggle to remain calm. He leaned in toward her tying to get his point across.

"My employers are not tolerant people Ms. Scott," he voice was low and controlled. This was definitely a threat. "I'd hate for them to speak your boss about making things more difficult than they have to be. I can't imagine the outcome would be very pleasant."

Andy narrowed her eyes at him and felt a bit braver. She could handle idle threats. Shrugging she merely looked at him, "As unfortunate as that would be, I still can't violate a signed agreement. I'm sure the Brennans would understand Mr. Rourke."

"Oh I completely agree Ms. Scott," a calm voice said from behind Rourke.

Both turned to look at the man who was standing in the door frame. He was of a lighter coloring that Jimmy Rourke but looked like he could be just as lethal. If she had to guess, Andy thought he was a little bit broader then Sam, but he was definitely well bit. Andy was slightly distracted as she felt Gracie loosen her grip on her before shouting "Daddy!" and running excitedly towards the man.

Jamie Brennan smiled at his daughter and bent down to scoop her up. IT would have been an entirely endearing scene if only Andy hadn't been briefed on just how Jamie Brennan used to get his kicks. This man was a conundrum. How could he be so gentle and loving with Gracie, but be one of the best enforcers that the mob had ever had?

As Andy stood there processing the interactions of the two men, it was clear that Rourke took Brennan's presence as an invitation to leave. Once the man was outside of the classroom and Brennan was assured that his daughter was comfortable in his arms, he looked to Andy.

"Thank you for following our wishes Ms. Scott," he said coolly, his face betraying no emotion. "Gracie should never be released to anyone but my wife of myself. Mr. Rourke will not be making another appearance. I apologize for him being difficult."

Andy stood there and nearly gapped at Jamie Brennan. His manners had apparently forced him to apologize and come as a complete surprise to Andy. She felt her mouth trying to work, but luckily she was saved by Gracie's babble.

"Miz Gabby fun!"

She watched as Jamie Brennan smiled at his daughter and couldn't help but do the same as he looked up at her. Adjusting Gracie in his arms, Jamie looked at her and surprised her with his offer, "Come on Miss Scott, looks like Gracie is the last one here. I'll give you a ride."

"That's okay," she responded hoping not to sound as shocked as she felt. "I'll let you get on home. I've got to meet someone after work but thank you."

Brennan ran his tongue over his front teeth in a manner she had often seen Sam do before he told her something she wasn't going to like. Usually some kind of observation that she had carefully side stepped in an attempt to avoid it. It seemed like Brennan might have more in common with the decent men in her life than she'd care to admit.

"Don't you mean you have to meet your boyfriend at the coffee shop down town on Court?"

Andy's eyes widened in shock. Boyd had been right, she was being followed. Thankfully, she had followed every part of his plan to the letter and it looks like it was paying off. Clearly, Brennan had been having her followed.

"You look surprised Ms. Scott," Brennan mused turning to head to the door. "My wife told me about a new teacher at Gracie's school. I don't like people I don't know around my daughter and the school didn't notify us of a new teacher. Come on now, I've already kept you long enough to miss your bus and the next one doesn't come for almost an hour."

Andy merely gapped at him and then grabbed her bag. She looked over at Amy, the other teacher in her room and smiled as she waved her on clearly unsurprised by Brennan's offer or interaction with her.

She met him at car, a rather safe, family looking sport utility vehicle. He had finished buckling Gracie into her car seat before turning to open the door for her. "After you Ms. Scott," he said closing the door after she hesitantly got in.

Sam's day hadn't been going much better either. Andy had taken almost two hours to respond to his text and then had turned down his lunch offer. Apparently, Boyd was keeping her under lock and key at headquarters and had ordered in for the staff. She had even mentioned that he seemed to be helping her rather than make her life more difficult. He was stumped.

His mood had not improved when she said she just wanted to relax at home tonight instead of meeting him out for a drink at the Penny. He would have scowled at her obvious attempts to avoid him if only he hadn't heard Diaz making plans to do something epic, his words not Sam's, with Dov this evening. Whatever it was these two rookies had up their sleeves, it had them bouncing with excitement for the end of their shifts. Sam was almost jealous, his plans for the night had been shot to hell.

On second thought, if Diaz was going to be occupied with rookie man boy, then Andy was going home alone. Maybe he would just stop by Diaz's house, as much as he loathed the idea, and force her to talk to them. He needed to to know what was going on in that head of hers and whether or not the transferring rumors were true. If they were, then Sam was going to accept Boyd's offer and go under.

Time and space would give him a chance to breathe without Andy McNally and hopefully, help him crush whatever feelings he had for her. At least, that's the line of crap he was feeding himself for the moment.

Brennan had pulled up next to the coffee shop where she usually met Boyd. She saw him sitting by the window clearly looking annoyed and kept checking his watch. From the look on his face Brennan noticed Boyd too and pursed his lips. The ride over had been somewhat awkward but mundane as Gracie babbled and laughed about her day.

As she reached for the handle of the door, Brennan's voice stopped her.

"I used to work for some very dangerous people Ms. Scott," he said looking at her, blue eyes boring into hers. "Maggie and I are extremely cautious about who is around out daughter and do our best to keep a low profile. I apologize for Mr. Rourke's behavior, and I can assure you that he won't be back. I trust you not to release Gracie to anyone other then my wife or myself?"

Andy simply nodded at his honestly and seemingly genuine sincerity. Now wasn't the time to ask any questions. Brennan's reputation preceded him. He could smell a cop a mile away, but he hadn't made her yet , she was pretty certain of that. She just wanted to be out of this car before she could screw anything up.

Andy broke the eye contact first and opened the door. She turned to thank him for the ride, but was cut off by his words. He seemed to be exuding wisdom today.

"That man isn't right for you Ms. Scott," he smiled at her confused face as she turned to look at Boyd in the window and then back at him. "He doesn't look at you like you are his world, just one more task to check off. It's not love, its companionship."

Against all odds Andy felt herself shrug. "It's enough for now. Sometimes it's all you get."

Jamie Brennan actually smiled at her through the car window, she heard the bell over the coffee shop door chime and Boyd call out her alter ego's name.

"You'll know what your missing some day when some crashes into your life and turns it all upside down."

With that he rolled up the window and pulled away from the curb. Careful to keep up appearances, Andy tucked herself into Boyd's side and told him what happened as they walked towards "their" apartment. Before they left each other, Boyd swapped phones with Andy, giving her back her personal cell and taking her cover phone. They weren't going to take any chances after Brennan's apparent interest. Boyd wanted to get her cover phone tapped.

Sam pulled onto the street that Diaz's house was on and found a spot to park. Boyd had spent the last hour on the phone harassing him into agreeing to the UC going after Jamie Brennan. There was still no concrete evidence that the mob's biggest enforcer turned suburban dream house dad had returned to his old life, but Boyd was adamant.

As if sensing the reason for Sam's delay in accepting his offer, Boyd seemed to throw the final jab in about his partner. Apparently, Andy's stint with Guns and Gangs was going to continue. She was showing some definite promise and Boyd was thinking that he may have been seriously mistaken in her skills. While Sam wanted to roll his eyes at Boyd, the possibility that Boyd would help her transfer if it was true ate away at him.

He walked up to the blue door of the house where his partner had found herself living post-broken engagement. Just as he was getting ready to knock, movement from inside the window. Not normally one to look in a window like a common peeping Tom, he felt guilty but couldn't peel his eyes away from the scene.

Andy had come into the living room and handed Diaz a beer before settling down on the couch next to him. They were laughing at something that Dov was saying as he talked animately with his hands. The way that Andy and Diaz kept looking from Dov and Sue to each other, they were sharing a private joke. Dov said something which had caused Andy to toss her head back in laughter and her hand found her face to Diaz's knee. For his part, the rule loving rookie, tried not to laugh and ducked his head to whisper something into Andy's ear.

Sam felt like he'd been punched in the gut at watching such an intimate scene. Rather than intrude, he found his way back to his car cursing his stupidity about what he was going to say to her tonight the whole way. He didn't think that he had misunderstood anything that had been going on lately.

Sam reached for his phone and hit a number he knew well. Boyd's gruff voice answered on the other end. He didn't bother with a greeting, he simply muttered, "I'm in."

I promise it will get better... but we've got to establish a few things before the story can move forward! I promise... the UC will get better … and Sam finds out what has kept Andy from the 15th next chapter. Any guesses on how he's going to react ?

Until next time!

Nikka