A/N: This is the last chapter of 'Miracle'.
I want to thank everybody who took the time to read, alert and/or review. I keep saying it, but your reviews really help.
An epilogue might follow, I have one half written, but I'm not too sure about it. Just to be sure I already marked this story complete.
XX
Sam just walked into an empty interview room when his phone ringed. He checked the caller ID and when he saw it was Andy he hesitated for a moment.
He had been back at work since a few weeks. Andy was doing really good and could fully use her leg again. She was able to walk around with Jesse on her arm, so there was no need for him to be at home anymore.
At that moment he really didn't have the time to talk to Andy. His suspect could be brought in at any moment and phone calls with Andy were rarely short. He was worried though. She normally didn't call if she knew he was working.
His concern won and Sam quickly answered the phone. ''Hey,'' he said. ''I'm just about to interview someone, what's going on?'' In the back he could hear Jesse cry.
''Jesse has been crying since he woke up,'' Andy answered. Sam heard the small break in her voice and immediately felt bad. There was not much he could do though, he couldn't leave work because his three month old son was crying.
''He's had days like this before,'' Sam tried to comfort Andy. ''They told us it's perfectly normal for him to go through days like these.''
''I changed him, I fed him, I bathed him, I rubbed his belly, I sang to him, I tried everything I could think of,'' Andy sniffed. ''I can't even get my own baby to stop crying.''
Sam closed his eyes and heard someone tap on the door. ''Sweetheart, I have to go,'' he said. ''I'm sorry, just lay him down in his crib for a while. Maybe he'll grow tired and fall asleep.''
''I already tried that,'' Andy responded. Sam could hear the frustration in her voice and shook his head even though nobody could see him.
''I'm really sorry sweetheart,'' he said again. ''I've got to go, they're here with my suspect.'' Andy didn't respond right away so reluctantly Sam ended the phone call. He had to be professional and he knew that Andy could deal with it, even if she didn't believe that herself.
When Sam opened the door Traci was there with the cuffed suspect. She raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask why it took Sam so long to answer. ''Detective Nash,'' Sam said.
''Swarek,'' Traci answered. ''Look who I brought with me..''
It took them a while, but five hours later they had a signed confession and all the paperwork filled out. ''Nice work detective,'' Sam complimented Traci.
''It was your idea,'' Traci said. ''I just followed your hunch.''
''Good call,'' Sam smiled. He checked his watch and sighed when he saw the time. Normally he was able to go home on a normal hour, but today he missed dinnertime.
Traci noticed Sam's facial expression and sat back in her chair. ''What's wrong?'' she asked.
''Nothing,'' Sam tried. When he looked at Traci he saw that she didn't believe him. ''Andy called right before we started the interview,'' he explained. ''Apparently Jesse is having a bad day, he had been crying all day and she didn't know what to do anymore.''
''That's nothing to worry about,'' Traci commented. ''Babies have days like that. As long as it doesn't happen on a regular basis it's fine. Leo and Jerry both had days like that when they were around Jesse's age.''
''I know.'' Sam ran a hand over his face and took a file of his desk. ''I just hate it that she has to deal with it on her own. She's still tired, she doesn't say it, but I see it.''
''You have Monday off, right?'' Traci wondered. When Sam nodded she continued. ''How about I take Andy out for a day. We'll go to a spa or shopping, whatever she wants. You'll be with Jesse, so she won't have to worry about him.''
''She never leaves him alone,'' Sam answered. ''Last week I suggested taking him to her dad for a few hours, but she didn't want that.''
''You're his father. It's not like she'll be dumping him with a stranger,'' Traci protested. ''I know that you guys waited a long time for this, but she has to learn to leave him with other people. He'll go to daycare when she goes back to work, right?''
Sam nodded and pinched the bridge of his nose. ''She won't be back for a few months,'' he explained. ''We talked about it and she wants to be with him as much as she can.''
''And what do you want?'' Traci asked.
For a moment Sam thought about it. He thought about the little family he had at home. ''If this makes her happy, than I want that too. It gives Jesse some stability and Andy just has a little trouble leaving him alone.''
''That is perfectly understandable,'' Traci told Sam. ''But she needs time for herself too. She's a mom, but she's also still a wife, daughter, friend, colleague.. She has to remember that too.''
Sam smiled and looked at the picture on his desk. In the picture Jesse was on a blanket on the floor with Andy hovering above him with a big grin on her face. ''She will,'' Sam promised. ''She'll be fine.''
''Go home,'' Traci told him. ''I'll finish up here.''
''It will be faster if we do it together,'' Sam tried. ''You have a family too.''
''And how many times have you stayed longer so I could go home?'' Traci smiled at Sam and nodded at the door. ''Go and talk to Andy about Monday. Tell her it's not optional.''
''I'll try. Thanks Nash.'' Sam quickly grabbed his coat and made it out of the station in record time. He didn't shower at the station, but decided to just do that at home. Within thirty minutes he was parking his car in the garage.
When he walked into the living room he found Andy on the couch with Jesse on her arm. She was rocking him while the small boy let out tiny whimpers.
Sam slowly sat down next to them and pressed a kiss to Andy's temple and then to Jesse's forehead. ''He's been like this all day?'' he wondered.
Andy sniffed and shook her head. ''He napped for about an hour and a half and then again for about two hours. As soon as he woke up he started crying again though. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.'' She bowed her head and Sam saw a tear escape her eye.
''It's not you,'' he promised. He threw an arm around her shoulder and squeezed it. ''You're giving him everything he needs. All babies have days like this. Tomorrow he'll probably be his happy self again.'' When Andy didn't respond Sam kissed her temple again. ''Let me take him,'' he said.
Sam placed his arms under Andy and took Jesse from her. For a moment Jesse's whimpers intensified, but then the boy got settled in his father's arms. ''Why don't you take Boo out for a walk?'' Sam suggested. ''Get some fresh air.''
Andy seemed to doubt for a few moments, but then shook her head. ''It's fine,'' she answered. ''I'll go heat up your food.''
With a sigh Sam shook his head. ''Sweetheart, just take some time for yourself. I've got him, okay.''
''I know you got him,'' Andy protested. ''He'll get hungry in a little while.''
''So I'll give him a bottle, we have them in the refrigerator. I'll heat one of those up.''
''He always drinks with me,'' Andy argued. ''What if he won't take the bottle? It's fine Sam.''
''We never know until we try.'' Sam smiled and took Andy's hand in his. He gave it a small squeeze and looked at her. ''Nash told me that she's taking you out on Monday, so he'll have to drink from a bottle sooner or later.''
''I can't leave him for a day,'' Andy said.
''I have the day off.'' Sam shifted Jesse around so the little boy was lying on his chest. ''I'll take care of him and you can have time for yourself.''
''I'm a mom,'' Andy answered. ''I don't get time for myself. Jesse is my first priority now, as it should be. He still depends on me for his feedings. I can't just leave him alone.''
''You can pump and we'll use the bottle.'' Sam understood Andy's hesitation, but she needed some time for herself. ''If it doesn't work out, I'll call you and you'll come home. Traci won't take you far.''
''I don't know,'' Andy hesitated. ''Maybe when he's a little older.''
''Sweetheart,'' Sam tried. ''He's doing okay. He's out of the weather. The doctor's even said that he's doing better than they expected.''
Andy sighed and laid her head on Sam's shoulder. She placed her left hand on Jesse's back and slowly rubbed up and down. ''I worry,'' she admitted.
''I know,'' Sam answered. ''Me too, but we can't let that rule our lives. We have to have some faith that everything will work out.''
Both stayed silent for a while. Andy traced Jesse's cheek with her finger. Their little man was beginning to get tired again so his crying was slowly dying down.
''Since when did you become the optimistic one?'' Andy asked. She turned her head a little so she could look Sam in the eye. The small smile around her lips told Sam that she was beginning to see his side of things. ''I haven't been much fun lately, huh?'' she wondered.
Sam sighed and rubbed his thumb over the piece of skin between her jeans and sweater. ''You have been figuring out how to be a mother,'' Sam defended her. ''And we didn't have the easiest start.''
''Rocky starts seem to be our thing,'' Andy agreed.
''We always find our way though,'' Sam smiled.
''We do.'' Andy gently kissed Jesse's cheek. ''I love him so much. When I look at the two of you together it feels if my heart could just burst with love. And on one side I'm so deliriously happy and on the other side I'm so scared that we'll end up losing him.''
''I think that makes sense,'' Sam said. ''We've been through a lot. Right now it's time to enjoy things though.''
Andy stayed quiet for a moment while she observed her husband and son together. ''He's calming down,'' she whispered.
''He's probably exhausted.''
Andy nodded. ''You were right,'' she admitted. ''I'll go walk Boo. It will be good for me to get out of the house for a moment. Call me if you have trouble feeding him.''
''It will be fine,'' Sam promised. ''If he looks anything like you he won't complain as long as he gets his food.''
Andy playfully nudged Sam's side and smiled. She whistled and Boo took that as his sign. The dog perked up and walked towards his female owner. ''Let me take you out buddy.'' Andy petted the dog's head and stood up in search for his leash.
''In the hallway,'' Sam helped her out.
''Thanks.''
An hour later Andy walked back into the house. She let go of Boo's leash and laughed when the dog put his little feet against her leg. ''Looks like someone missed me,'' Andy said as she ruffled his hair.
When Andy walked into the living room her lips curved up. On the couch was Sam with Jesse on his arm. Apparently feeding Jesse from a bottle wasn't a problem, because the little boy was drinking as eagerly as always.
''He didn't protest?'' Andy wondered.
''He looked a little confused for a moment, but when he found out the effect is pretty much the same he just went for it,'' Sam explained. ''Like I said, as long as we feed him he's happy.''
''Like mother like son,'' Andy agreed. She leaned in and gently kissed Sam. ''I love you,'' she muttered against his mouth. ''There's no one else I could've done this with.''
XX
Three weeks later Andy woke up when the bed dipped besides her. ''Happy birthday mommy,'' Sam said softly as he placed Jesse besides his mother.
Andy turned to her side and smiled when she saw her happy baby boy kicking his feet. ''Good morning,'' she said. She first kissed Jesse and then Sam.
''Happy birthday,'' Sam repeated. ''We made you breakfast.''
''We, huh?'' Andy laughed. ''You already started your culinary career Jesse?''
''Well, he kept me company,'' Sam laughed. ''But he was beginning to fuss so I thought that he might be hungry. So why don't you feed him while I finish downstairs.''
Andy nodded and took Jesse in her arms. With a big yawn she settled back against the pillows. She loved her mornings like this. Of course it was easier to just bottle feed Jesse, especially during the nights because than she and Sam would be able to take turns. She didn't want to change anything though. She loved having Jesse so close.
When he finished drinking Andy burped him and laid him down in their bed. ''Mommy will get dressed buddy,'' she whispered against his cheek.
Within ten minutes she was dressed and applying some light make-up. When she was satisfied with the result she picked up Jesse and bounced him a little when he protested.
''Let's go see what daddy's been up to.''
Slowly Andy made her way downstairs. Sam was sitting at the breakfast table reading the newspaper. He looked up when he heard her enter. ''Hey,'' he said. ''Come sit down.''
As promised he served her her favorite breakfast. When she was done eating Sam handed her a small wrapped item. He took Jesse from her and sat down on the chair next to Andy. ''I had no idea what to get you,'' he admitted. ''But I thought you might like this.''
''Just this would have been fine too,'' Andy admitted. Still she eagerly unwrapped the tiny box. When she opened it she found a silver long necklace with a heart pendant on it. ''It's beautiful,'' Andy promised.
Sam held out his hand and clicked on the heart. With one motion he opened one side of the heart. When Andy looked she saw two tiny pictures. On the left side was a picture of her and Sam on their wedding day. In the picture they were grinning at each other. On the right side was a picture of a smiling Jesse.
''I don't recognize that picture,'' Andy noticed. ''When did you take it?''
''Actually,'' Sam said. ''Jesse also got you a little gift.''
From underneath the table Sam got Andy another gift. Inside Andy found a picture frame with the exact same picture of Jesse. ''It's beautiful,'' Andy said again. ''He's so beautiful.''
''Peck took it,'' Sam told Andy. ''That Monday when you were out with Traci?''
''You had Gail come over?'' Andy wondered. Gail and Sam got along fine, but they were never particularly close.
''Well, she came by to drop off that dress that she borrowed from you. She found me while I was trying to make a picture of him, but every picture I took was horrible.''
''I'm sure he was cute,'' Andy argued.
''He looked scary,'' Sam protested. ''Seriously, I'll show them to you. I'll have to warn you though, because he looks like an alien.''
''He does not,'' Andy said with a shocked voice. She took Jesse from Sam and nuzzled his nose. ''Who does daddy think he is? Calling you an alien. You're mommy's pretty boy, aren't you?''
To prove his point Sam grabbed his laptop. He quickly found the album where he saved the pictures he took that day. ''Exhibit A.''
When Andy saw the pictures she couldn't help but laugh. ''Wow,'' she said. ''How is it possible to make pictures that ugly?''
''He wouldn't smile at me.'' Sam shrugged. ''But then Gail walked in and of course he started to smile immediately.''
''Already charming the ladies,'' Andy commented. ''He really is your son.'' When Sam showed her another picture she shook her head. ''He must get that from you too. I'm adorable in all my baby pictures.''
A few hours later their house was slowly filling with all of their friends. Everybody congratulated her on her birthday and soon everybody was chatting away.
Sam made sure that everybody had a drink, but soon decided that everybody knew the way around the house well enough to take care of their own drinks.
Everybody brought their kids too, so the house was very much alive. ''Aunt Andy?'' Abby's voice took Andy away from the conversation she was having with Traci. ''Can I hold Jesse again?''
The little girl was absolutely crazy about her nephew. She was very glad that she wasn't the youngest one of the family anymore. She was the big girl now.
''I'm talking to someone right now sweetie,'' Andy explained. ''When I sit down with him you can hold him.''
Abby pouted and walked away again. Sam saw her sulk and picked her up in a smooth motion. He tickled her sides with one hand which cost Abby to let out a big giggle. ''What got you so sad just now?'' he asked when her laughter died down.
''Aunt Andy said that I couldn't hold Jesse because she was talking,'' Abby said with a big frown on her face. ''I can hold him by myself.''
''Ah.'' It all clicked for Sam. ''Aunt Andy is right though. We have to be very careful with Jesse.''
''I am careful,'' Abby protested. ''I got to hold him last time too.''
Sam sighed and looked over at Andy. She was still talking to Traci while carefully bouncing Jesse on her arm. ''Jesse is asleep right now sweetheart. Why don't you go play and then you can hold him later.''
''Okay,'' Abby agreed.
Sam put her down on the floor again and watched her run towards Epstein's daughter. ''You doing okay?'' Sarah asked when she joined her baby brother.
''Yeah, great,'' Sam said. ''It's nice to have everyone over again. It's been a while since we've seen everybody.''
''The joy of being a new parent,'' Sarah mused out loud. ''I remember how that was when I first had Joshua. Midnight feedings, changing diapers, days filled with the sound of crying.''
''It's not that bad actually,'' Sam answered. ''He's a pretty good sleeper.''
''Lucky you,'' Sarah laughed. She looked at her sister in law and smiled. ''She looks good. If I didn't know I wouldn't be able to tell she just had a baby. She looks happy too.''
''She looks great,'' Sam agreed. ''We are happy. It's not all perfect, but we're dealing with things together and I think that everything is falling into place. At first she was too afraid to leave him alone for a minute, but she's getting better.''
''When is she going back to work?'' Sarah wondered.
''Probably when Jesse is 6 months old, maybe a little after that.'' Sam smiled when he saw that their little boy was waking up in his mother's arms. He let out a huge yawn and smiled up at his mother who was making a funny face at him.
''Good looking kid,'' Sarah said. ''He must get that from our side of the family, right?''
''That's what I've been trying to tell Andy.''
XX
''Sweetheart,'' Tommy said when he entered the house as last of all the people who were invited. ''Congratulations. I didn't know what to get you, so you can just buy something for yourself.'' He handed her an envelope and kissed her cheek.
''Thanks dad,'' Andy said as she gave him a one handed hug.
''Now let me see that handsome grandson of mine.'' Tommy opened his arms and Andy handed Jesse to him. ''He looks just like you when you were a baby.''
''Sam thinks he looks like him,'' Andy smiled. ''And you have to admit, he definitely has some Swarek features in him.''
''He's a perfect mix,'' Tommy said as he pressed a kiss to Jesse's forehead.
Together they walked into the living room where everybody was still talking and having fun. When they entered Oliver cleared his throat and silenced everybody.
''People,'' he started. ''I just wanted to use this moment to say some words to our friends. I think I speak on behave of everyone here when I say that we are incredibly glad to see you two this happy. The road to where you are now was long and hard, but you two never stopped loving each other. Even when you didn't admit it.''
Sam found his way back to Andy and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He took Jesse back from Tommy and continued to listen to their friend.
Oliver shook his head and looked at Andy. ''When I first worked with you I knew that you would be a good cop. When I got to know you I learned that you're also a good friend. Over the years you've grown into a good wife and a great mother. I wish you a lot of happy years with your family.''
With a small nod towards Andy Oliver ended his speech. ''Now I believe someone said there would be cake?''
XX
''This was a nice day,'' Andy said as she got undressed that evening. ''It was nice to see everyone.''
''Yeah,'' Sam agreed. ''Do you want to put on an alarm clock?''
Andy shook her head and laid down next to Sam. She rested her head on his chest. ''We'll wake up when Jesse does. We don't need an alarm clock for that.''
''True,'' Sam laughed. ''You tired?''
''Exhausted, but wouldn't have it any other way.'' She happily sighed and kissed Sam's jaw line. ''Thank you for today.''
''Sarah did most of it together with Nash. Happy you enjoyed yourself though.''
Silence washed over them as they both got lost in their own thoughts. ''We should go to sleep,'' Andy yawned. ''Jesse will probably wake up in like six hours.''
Sam nodded and closed his eyes. ''Probably,'' he agreed.
With another kiss to her forehead he nodded off. Just thirty minutes later a loud wail woke him up again. Sam opened his eyes and groaned when he realised that he just fell asleep.
''I'll get him,'' Sam mumbled. He stumbled out of bed and with his eyes still half closed he found his way towards Jesse's room. ''What's up buddy?'' he asked when he picked up his son. ''Had a little too much excitement for one day?''
He sat down in the rocking chair that was in the small room. While stroking his back Sam rocked back and forward. Jesse's crying quickly stopped and Sam smiled. ''You just want to be held, huh?'' he wondered.
Ten minutes later Jesse was fast asleep again. Sam gently lowered him back into his crib and went back to his bedroom.
''He okay?'' A tired Andy asked as she snuggled closer to Sam's warmth.
''He's perfect.''
XX
The end