A/N: Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews I'm happy you like the story so far! Be advised that though it hasn't happened yet I will probably be upping the rating to M in later chapters.
Dis: Don't own RB!
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After getting a positive I.D. the two teens were read their rights and taken back to the barn where they left them with other officers to get booked. While Andy contacted the parents, Sam went to get more coffee where Oliver was getting his own cup. Sam smirked when remembering the look on Oliver's face when he got caught sucking down a soda in a stairwell. Oliver had ended up buying at the Penny and Sam had bolted right for the coffee when the bet had finally been settled. He wasn't sure he was going to do something so stupid ever again.
"Heard you caught the kleptos," said Oliver.
"Yep. What're you doing back here?"
"Old woman ended up assaulting a kid on his skateboard with her walker. Kid ended up with a concussion."
"Oh yeah?" laughed Sam.
"That wasn't the funny part," said a grinning Oliver. "The funny part was watching Peck try to subdue the old woman. Lady got a good couple shots in before Peck finally snatched the walker away."
They shared a laugh and went their separate ways when Gail, who had a black eye, arrived saying the woman was booked and in a holding cell till her son came to pick her up. Sam strolled down the hall and stopped in his tracks when he heard yelling. He wasn't the only one listening in, a couple other cops were standing outside the door but when they saw him they booked it. It was Callaghan's office and the yelling wasn't coming from him, but from Andy.
"Great," he muttered. "Just great."
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Andy had gotten a delivery while on patrol. It'd been waiting at the front desk while she and Sam arrived. She'd commented on the white lilies to Officer Jane Riggs who'd been working the desk and Jane had then told her the flowers were for her. Andy had admired the blooms and had snagged the card from the tissue paper. She'd been thinking they'd been from her Dad, or something, so when seeing they were from Luke she'd seen red, grabbed the vase, and stomped to his office. As soon as she entered the office she chucked it, vase and all, at Luke.
"What the HELL, Luke?"
"Andy!" He'd barely avoided getting hit in the head by the glass vase. "Calm down!"
"Calm down? CALM DOWN? You can't tell me to calm down. Why the hell did you send me flowers? And have them delivered here of all places?"
"Andy I've made the biggest mistake of my life. I want you back. Please. I love you, I've been miserable without you. I can't believe I threw it all away for Jo."
"Yeah, but you did," she snapped. "We're over Luke."
"I'm not going to accept that. I love you. I want you back. What do I have to do to get you back?"
A pause.
"Be someone else," she answered coldly. "By the way, I hate white lilies. Don't send me anything else again. It'll just end up in the trash."
She was lying, not too long ago she'd been admiring the flowers, but he didn't need to know that. Instead she kept her head high and exited his office, barely containing the inner need to slam his door. On the other side was Sam. He'd probably heard the whole thing and was thinking on what to say, what with the somewhat panicked look on his face right now. She was livid and she was certain she was pulling the Medusa routine and had a look that promised she'd turn whoever glanced at her into stone. She liked anger because it was keeping the need to breakdown and cry at bay.
"Well, Sir, what're you standing there for? Shouldn't we go out and catch more bad guys?" she asked.
"Ah, erm… yeah." He sighed. "Let's go, pal."
"Yeah, okay, bud."
He smirked, his dimples working overtime, and gestured for her to lead the way back to their car.
"You hungry?"
"Starving," she answered. "I need a burger. A big, fat, juicy burger with extra cheese, bacon, and a fat slice of tomato."
"Frans?" asked Sam, speaking of one of his favorite diners.
"Yes please!" she said as they got to their car, she opened the door and paused getting in when he spoke her name.
"You good?"
She thought for a moment, REALLY thought about it. "For now? Yeah. I'm good."
"Great cause you're buyin'!" he said before ducking into the car, making her frown.
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"Food coma," moaned Andy as she plopped back into the cruiser.
"Not my fault you ordered the double bacon cheese," he said with a smirk, sliding on his sunglasses. "AND the extra onion rings. AND the pie."
"Worth it," said Andy, patting her stomach.
Sam grinned as they pulled out onto the street. Stopping at a light he chuckled and poked Andy in the arm and pointed to his left at a larger set man, speed walking down the street, in shorts so short the bottom of his ass was just about ready to poke out. His crack was clearly visible though, as well as the large belly that jiggled as he speed walked with two light weights and a Chihuahua on a leash.
"Get a load of that guy!"
"Ugh," groaned Andy, looking away so she could keep her burger down. "All the power to him, but I don't even like seeing fit guys in tiny shorts like that."
"Think we could bust him for public indecency?" inquired Sam, driving a little bit slower than usual to keep the walker in his sight.
Yeah, right," snorted Andy. "If that was a chick you'd be drooling like the dogs men are."
"Maybe," he said, once again showcasing his dimples. He gave her a sidelong glance and was it her imagination but did his eyes linger on her longer than necessary? "Depended on the girl."
Andy rolled her eyes, trying to shake it off, and Sam turned his attention back to the road, speeding past the walker and into heavier traffic. Since the robberies the rest of the day had been quiet. The radio remained silent, not even a traffic accident had been reported in. Sam turned down Church Street and went slow as they passed through the residential area. Parked in front of a two-story brick home was a white, Dodge Neon with its driver side door open. Normally Sam would just glance at the car and drive by but when he saw the purse on the ground he slowed.
"Sam?"
"Purse on the street and door wide open, we should-"
Just then a woman came out of the home, red hair flying and looking flustered as she ran barefoot to her car. She picked up her purse and shut her car door. She cast a look at the officers and gave a curious wave. Sam and Andy waved back before she headed in.
"Well never mind," said Sam, moving on.
They rode in silence again before Andy glanced at him through her sunglasses.
"Going to the Penny tonight?"
"Maybe," answered Sam. "Why? Are you offering to buy me a drink?"
"What? No! I was just asking," she said, a little flustered as she looked out her window instead of at him.
"C'mon McNally," he said, partaking in his favorite pastime: goading his partner until she had fire in her eyes and fought back with her own verbal barbs. Call him a masochist but he loved it. "How can you refuse to buy a drink for a guy as handsome and charming as me?"
"Very easily," she said, "especially when you lack both of those non-existent qualities."
"Oh! Ouch!" Sam held a hand over his heart. "Felt that one!"
"I'm sure you'll get over it," she said as the radio crackled.
'All units be advised, a 2002 white Toyota Camry has been reported stolen, plate number Zulu, Alpha, Delta, 2, 7, 0. Ontario plates. Suspect is an African American female, mid-thirties, shaved head and last seen wearing an orange bikini. Suspect could be armed and dangerous, and the vehicle was last seen heading north on Bay Street.'
"Looks like we're going to have a little fun before the Penny tonight," said Sam, eyes now solely focused on his surroundings.
"Looks like."
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Shaw and Peck managed to pull the woman over, and since Sam and Andy were in the vicinity they drove over to back them up. When they arrived the bikini-clad carjacker was in cuffs and in the back of Oliver's car. Oliver was speaking to the stolen car owner while Gail leaned against the police car. Sam walked to Oliver while Andy moved over to Gail who looked beyond irritated.
Andy could guess why. The woman was screaming obscenities to Gail and spitting at the window all while rocking in the back seat. Gail smacked the window to gain the woman's attention. Andy could tell the woman was drunk.
"Knock it off or I'm going to taze you!" threatened Gail.
"I'm glad I don't have to ride back with that," said Andy.
"Oh I bet," sneered Gail as a woman came up to them.
"Excuse me?" Andy and Gail turned their attention to the woman, ignoring the belligerent rambling of the woman behind them. She wore a local basketball team t-shirt as well as jeans and had on a zip-up hoodie that was unzipped. One hand clenched her purse while the other clenched a photo. "Can you please help me?"
"What's the problem, Ma'am?" asked Gail.
"My daughter is missing."
"Since when?" asked Andy.
"Last night. She's only sixteen and she didn't come home. She's always so good about being home on time or calling if she's spending the night somewhere. Please. She's only sixteen."
"Teens run off all the time," said Gail. "Are you sure she didn't just stay at a friend's house?"
"No! She'd call." She turned begging eyes to Andy. "Please." She handed Andy a picture. "Help me!"
"Have you filed a report?" asked Andy, taking the picture, looking at the bright eyed teen that reminded her of Kate. Andy swallowed thickly and turned her attention back to the mother.
"Yes! Yes! But they aren't LOOKING for her. It hasn't been twenty-four hours and since she isn't under the age of sixteen they aren't-I just… please. She's my baby," begged the woman.
Gail wasn't doing much so Andy too the initiative to get information. The girls name was Rachel Thomas, she was last seen leaving basketball practice. She lived close to her school so she walked. There has been no sign of her since five the previous night and it was pushing five now. Andy assured that as soon as possible she would get 15 on the case and the woman thanked her.
"Kid probably went to someone's house. Parents always say their kid is responsible and always follows the rules, fakes us out thinking we'd take the case more seriously rather than if the kid is a loser."
"Wow." Andy blinked. "Gail strikes again. Do you ever get tired of being such a bitch?"
"No," said Gail with a tight smirk.
"Just like you had no problem leaving Melanie you have no problem leaving a woman wondering where her child is. One of these days, you're going to get someone killed."
"If I remember right, YOU are the one who has killed someone," said Gail, her ice blue eyes glaring daggers.
"Yeah, I have, to protect myself and a little girl." Andy swallowed the tears. Though he'd been a scumbag it still weighed heavily on her after all this time. "With you, it'll be someone who doesn't deserve it."
Andy turned and walked away, determined to not cry as she pocketed the photo. She had never really blown up at Gail before, always shrugging off her comments but seeing her roll her eyes at a mother… That'd been the final straw. Andy got into the car and waited until Sam followed. The good mood she had was gone and he could tell when he entered the car.
"Open-shut case it looks like Miss Eva Ricci has stolen cars before… what's with the gloom and doom over there?"
"Gail. She just… pisses me off." Andy spoke to Sam about the woman, leaving out the part of Gail not caring. She didn't want to rat on Gail, and hoped that someone liked a T.O. would start to notice her lack of sensitivity. "It'll be twenty-four hours in about an hour."
"Let's finish this shift, see if the girl has shown up, if not, we'll get the ball rolling."
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Andy entered the Penny and searched for her friends. She saw Gail with Chris and Dov and instantly knew that wouldn't be where she was sitting. Traci and Jerry were sitting in a corner together and there, at the bar by himself, was Sam. She slid onto the stool next to him and he spared her a glance before taking a sip of the whiskey in his hand.
"Hey," said Andy after ordering a beer.
"Hey."
"Checked before I came here, still no word on the girl and everyone out tonight will be looking for her. I have tomorrow off, but I know I'll be thinking about her all day."
"If something pops up I'll call you," promised Sam, making Andy smile.
"Thanks Sam."
"No problem," he said taking another drink. "SO, what'll you be doing tomorrow?"
"Apartment hunting," groaned Andy. "Not looking forward to it again, but I need to do it."
"There's a building on my street, decent place, I know the landlord. Rent isn't too bad, if you want me to make a call."
"You'd do that?" asked Andy. His place hadn't been that far from her old building. Of course, thinking of that, made her think of the night of the blackout and what they'd almost did. She blushed now, just thinking about it, and her whole body tightened. She remembered kissing him and having him on top of her and…OK maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to have him so close.
"What're friends for?" he asked as she got her drink.
"Really?" She put her hand on his arm, and she felt his muscles tighten there. "Thanks, Sam. I can't keep taking advantage of Traci's hospitality… so. If I were to, oh, ride in with her to work in the morning could I… borrow your truck?"
"Again?"
"Please?" she asked, pulling out her full arsenal. She gave him the sad eyes and stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.
"That isn't going to work on me," he said. Her lip gave a small tremble. "Damn it! Fine!"
"Thanks!" she said, leaning forward for a hug that had her chest against his arm and he stiffened for a fraction of a second before relaxing. "Who knows, if your guy pans out, I could be moved in by the end of the day."
"And let me guess, you'll want to use my truck to do it?"
"Luke will be working tomorrow," said Andy. "I need to get the rest of my stuff…"
"Then keep the truck as long as you need it," said Sam, earning another, longer lasting hug from Andy. "If I had known all it took for you to get your hands on me would be to borrow you my truck more often I'd of done it sooner."
Andy pulled back, sitting up straight as a rod on her stool before swiveling back around to face the bar.
"Wow. Moment over."
"We had a moment?" asked Sam, grinning as he signaled for another whiskey, eyes not leaving Andy.
"Over," she said before drinking her beer.
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Watching the entire exchange was Oliver and Noelle.
"I give it two weeks before all of that," said Oliver, gesturing toward Sam and Andy. "Heads to the bedroom."
"You think so?" asked Noelle, cracking a peanut. "You know how stubborn the both of them are." Her eyes narrowed as Sam threw his head back and laughed at something Andy said. "Fifty bucks and I vote ONE week."
"You're on," said Oliver.
"From how well your track record is as of late when it comes to bets, I'm already thinking on what I'm going to do with that money," said Noelle with a cocky smirk.
"Hey, gotta win sometime!"
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TBC…
Reviews are appreciated!