AN: Ahh, I know, it's been forever. You guys answered the call with all the reviews, but between work, hockey, and getting ready for my trip I just didn't have time. Sorry!

The taxi sped up to the entrance to the hospital and Andy was practically out the door before it even came to a complete stop in front of the emergency doors. Traci appeared at her side and they began to pull Sam out of the cab as quickly as they could without jostling him too much. Mercifully, a paramedic noticed their struggles and promised to be right back with a stretcher. The two minutes it took him to come back were the longest of Andy's life. At least when they were in the cab they were Moving, and she could feel like they were getting closer to helping Sam, but just standing outside the hospital waiting for the stretcher Andy felt utterly helpless.

The paramedic came rushing back with a stretcher and another paramedic to help him. Andy watched them load Sam onto the stretcher as if detached from the entire situation; she felt oddly like she was watching a stranger's life on TV. The next 5 minutes passed in a blur as Andy jogged next to the stretcher answering the paramedic's questions regarding the accident. Andy had enough presence of mind to inform them that this was No accident. She could barely keep her voice level as she described how she and Traci had come upon the scene of Sam being beaten by the two thugs.

Her hand reached instinctively reached for her gun, only to realize she wasn't armed. Which was extremely lucky for the two lowlifes, because she knew nothing could have stopped her from killing them, had she had the means necessary.

A few minutes later Andy was vaguely aware of Traci leading her somewhere. She pushed gently on Andy's shoulders and Andy sat obediently in what she now realized was a waiting room chair.

Tears prickled the corner of her eyes, but she forced them back. She had to be strong.

"What if he doesn't make it?" she whispered, giving voice to her biggest fear.

"He will, Andy! He will."

She sounded so sure that it instilled more confidence in Andy. She shifted in her seat, leaning on Traci both literally and figuratively. She was glad her friend was here, she was sure she couldn't do this without her.

Traci pulled away saying she was going to call the station and Andy snapped out of the daze she'd been under.

The station.

Boyd.

This was his fault. This was his operation. How the hell could he let something like this happen?

She jumped up from her seat and starting pacing anxiously, suddenly on high alert. Traci walked back over, and Andy was on her immediately to find out what happened.

"What did he say?" she asked eagerly.

"Best and Boyd are on their way. Boyd didn't sound too pleased about how we found Sam though."

"Why the hell would he care how we found him just as long as we found him?"

Traci shrugged. "I don't know, we did break protocol."

Andy shook her head. "I don't trust him."

"Andy...what are you getting at?"

"I don't know. I have a feeling that Sam had been made, but he's one of the best undercover officers in the city; Boyd has said so himself. There's no way he would have given himself away. Boyd must have messed something up, it's the only explanation."

"Andy, I would tread lightly if were you." Traci said in warning. "You don't want to go around accusing your superiors of something when you have no proof to back up your suspicions."

"You're right. I know you're right, but I just can't shake the feeling that there's more to this situation than meets the eye."

Andy continued her pacing, finding she just couldn't sit still. Every time a doctor so much as looked in her direction she tensed, wondering if he or she was the one that was going to either put her back together or destroy her.

"McNally,"

She spun around towards the entrance to see Best and Boyd striding quickly towards her. They approached her and Best put a hand on her shoulder.

"What happened?"

Andy quickly relayed the story of what she had overheard in the bar and the scene they had come upon at the shipyard, wondering why Best was making her repeat a story that Traci had already told him.

Best glanced at her sternly, but didn't reprimand her; he must have realized that this was not the time nor place. Boyd, however, didn't seem to have any similar reservations.

"What the hell were you doing following those guys? Shit, McNally, you just love to get yourself mixed up in my ops, don't you?"

"Why did I follow them? Because I sensed that Sam was in trouble, and I was right! But you're right, this is your operation. So why the hell was it me coming to Sam's rescue? What kind of op are you running here?"

Boyd's eyes widened in fury, but it was too late to take her words back. She realized she had just done exactly what Traci had warned her not to. She had just insulted a superior officer. There was really no way of salvaging this situation. Well then, she thought, might as well let him know exactly what I think of him.

"Where do you get off telling me how to run my ops, rookie?" he spat out, saying rookie as if it were a dirty word.

"I don't know. Where do you get off scolding me after I just saved the life of one of your men, while you just sat on your ass?"

"Andy!" Traci exclaimed, trying to keep her friend in check.

Boyd took a menacing step closer.

"I'd watch how you talk to your superior if I were you, rookie." he threatened.

"You don't feel very superior at the moment."

"McNally, watch yourself." Best interrupted, before Boyd could respond. "I understand this is a hard time for you, but that gives you noright to speak to a superior officer in that way. Now go sit down before I'm forced to take you back to the station and write you up!"

Andy walked sheepishly back to her chair, embarrassed to have had such a meltdown in front of her boss, but she held firm in her position that Donovan Boyd was the devil reincarnate.

What seemed like hours after they had arrived at the hospital, but in reality was only thirty minutes, a doctor made her way towards them.

"Is this the family of Sam Swarek?"

Andy jumped up. "I'm his girlfriend, and we're his coworkers. His sister is on her way. Is he alright?"

The doctor hesitated if only for a split second, but it was enough to raise the hair on the back of Andy's neck.

"He has a concussion, also four broken ribs, one of which has punctured his right lung. I will be taking him into surgery immediately. There is no reason to believe that the surgery will go anything but smoothly. I will have one of my residents come out to give you periodic updates. I assure you I will do everything I can."

Andy shook hands with the doctor and then watched as she walked away towards the ER, where she would hold in her hands the most important thing in Andy's life.

As Andy sat in the waiting room between Traci and Sarah, she daydreamed. She daydreamed about a life where she didn't have to worry about the safety of Sam's life on a daily basis. She wondered what life would be like had she and Sam chosen a different profession. There were plenty of perfectly safe, mundane career paths they could have taken. They could live their safe, boring lives and have children without fear of one day leaving them without a parent. They could live their lives without the constant fear that the person they loved most in the world wouldn't be home for dinner that night.

Andy had to admit it was a tempting fantasy, but she always came back to the simple fact that if one or both of them had chosen a different career they most likely would have never met. And although Andy could envision a different career, a different lifestyle, she could not imagine a life without Sam. Also, her job had shaped her into the person she was today. So all in all, although there were definite drawbacks to the job she and Sam had, she knew it was the job they would both keep for the rest of their lives. It was what they loved.

She tried to keep her thoughts positive, but every now and then doubts would creep into her mind. When Dr. Cristof - the resident keeping them informed - was late for his hourly updates, Andy assumed the worst. Nevertheless,he came by 5 minutes later stating again that everything was going well.

Andy clutched Traci's hand tightly, pretty sure that she was dangerously close to cutting off her friend's circulation. She couldn't help it though; it was as if Traci's hand was a tether, the only thing anchoring her to reality.

Dr. Cristof came walking towards them and Andy's heart raced as it did every time she caught sight of the resident. Be good news, be good news, she chanted relentlessly. He must have sensed Andy's nervousness because he sent her a reassuring smile.

"The surgery went very well, but the next few hours are very crucial."

Andy breathed out a sigh of relief; it felt like it was the first time she had breathed since she and Traci had found Sam.

"Can we see him?" She wanted to say I, can I see him, but she knew she wasn't the only one worried about him.

Dr. Cristof hesitated. "He needs his rest. We have given him sleeping pills; he'll be out until morning."

Andy wasn't about to leave though, no way in hell was she leaving until Sam opened his eyes and told her himself that he was okay.

"Would it be alright if I stayed with him? I wouldn't disturb him."

"Well...that's against our policy." He looked around, as if just remembering they were police officers, and seemed to decide to make an exception. "But it should be alright."

Andy nearly cried from relief; there was no way she could go home now. She got up from her seat, shook hands with Best, glared daggers at Boyd, - though she had to admit; she was impressed he was still here - and hugged Traci and Sarah in that order.

"I'll call you the second he wakes up." she promised. She dropped her key to Sam's into Sarah's hand. "Here's the key to Sam's house."

Sarah brushed a stray tear away. "Thanks, Andy."

After everyone had left,Andy made her way to Sam's room, barely restraining herself from breaking out into a run. She opened the door to his room and rushed to his side. She looked around at all the monitors he was hooked up to; it broke her heart to see him looking so helpless.

She stood over him, and very carefully pushed his hair out of his eyes. She kissed his forehead, careful not to jostle him in the slightest.

"I love you," she whispered to his prone form. "I don't know if I've told you this, but I can't live without you. So, please, please, come back to me."

She took his hand in hers and threaded their fingers together. Then she sat down in the chair next to him and memorized every feature on his face...

She was back at the boat yard. She watched as the men beat the life out of Sam. She watched as the agony slowly left his eyes, making way for emptiness. His mouth moved, and even though he was gagged she could hear him clear as day.

"Andy," he cried weakly.

She tried to run, but a thousand hands were holding her back and she was rooted to the spot.

"Andy," he repeated in the same bleak monotone.

"Get off of me!" she screamed at the hands, using every last ounce of strength to pry them off of her.

"Andy!" said a different voice, and she jolted awake.

She opened her eyes to see Dr. Cristof looming over her. She shrank back instinctively, still shaken.

"Andy, it's alright. You were just having a dream."

Just a dream, easy for him to say. It was a nightmare is what it was, a nightmare that had very nearly become reality. She shivered involuntarily at the thought.

"Andy," She was about to snap on the doctor if he tried to tell her again how it was 'just a dream', then she realized it wasn't him speaking.

She snapped her head to the left to see Sam looking back at her. She jumped up and brought the hand that wasn't still clasping his, up to his face, caressing softly. A tear escaped her eyes without her permission, sliding slowly down her cheek.

"Sam," she whispered awestruck by simply being able to stare into his eyes. "Oh my God, I was so worried about you. I thought I was going to lose you."

The tears were now streaming freely.

"Water," he croaked.

Andy grabbed the water sitting on the bedside table and led the straw to his lips. He drank greedily for a few moments, and then turned back to Andy.

"I'm so sorry," were the first words out of his mouth.

"No, don't be sorry. I'm just so glad you're alright. Please, never leave me again." Her voice was raw with emotion, as she fought in vain to keep the tears at bay.

She leaned in to kiss him and thought that maybe, this time, she would never stop.