Watch your step," Andy cautioned, tightening her grip around Sam's shoulder.
He gave her a disparaging look. "Andy, I've lived here for nearly 10 years; I know where the step is."
"Shut up," she groused. "You don't get to be flippant today."
"Andy, I'm fine. The doctor wouldn't have released me otherwise."
"He explicitly said no exerting yourself," Andy argued.
Sam huffed in frustration. "Walking over the threshold is hardly exerting myself."
She gave him a look that said she didn't appreciate his sass. "Just humor me, alright?"
"Okay," he agreed; he did owe her that much.
She helped him settle onto the couch and fussed over him, making sure that he had everything he needed. Did he have enough pillows? Did he want something to eat? Did he need another pain killer?
Frank had given Andy the day off, so she was free to take care of Sam, even though Sam had insisted that it wasn't necessary. The determined look in Andy's eyes effectively shut him up, though. She needed this. She needed to know he was okay, and he figured it was the very least he could do for her.
Sam reached for the controller to the TV and groaned a little too loudly as he shifted onto a particularly tender spot.
Andy appeared at his side instantly.
"Are you okay?" she asked, the alarm evident in her voice.
He was still a little breathless from the pain and couldn't respond immediately.
"Sam!"
"Fine," he said in between pants. "Just hurts like hell,"
Her face was twisted in fear and something else that he couldn't quite place. Her eyes followed his outstretched arm, and then she saw the controller where it fell on the ground just below the coffee table. She looked like she was about to cry; yet another reminder of how this whole situation has really affected her. She crouched down to pick up the remote.
"Damn it, I should have thought of that. I'm sorry," she apologized as she handed him the remote.
"Don't worry about it; you can't protect me from everything." She frowned, and he realized that probably wasn't the best thing to say. "I just mean -"
"I know. You're right, though. That's the worst part." She sat down on the couch next to him, careful not to get too close. "Maybe I can help you feel better, though." Andy had a mischievous smile on her face when she asked, "Where does it hurt?"
Everywhere, he thought, but he didn't want to alarm her. He pointed to a few indiscriminate places on his torso, wondering what she was up to.
She lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing the smattering of purplish bruises covering his upper body. She winced at the sight before her.
"It looks worse than it feels." he said, even though it was the other way around.
She leaned down and started pressing feather light kisses all over the expanse of his chest.
It was embarrassing how quickly he became almost painfully aroused, but in his defense it had been awhile...
"Andy...don't start anything you can't finish." Sam half warned.
Her fingers descended to the waistband of his sweatpants and pulled.
"Oh don't worry; I won't be the one finishing."
Andy made dinner for herself and Sam and carried it out to the living room, where Sam was watching some old sitcom on TV. She helped Sam into a sitting position as carefully as possible, and then sat down and snuggled in as close to him as she dared without fear of hurting him. He lifted his arm gingerly and brought it around her shoulders.
"I've missed this," she said once they were done eating.
"What?" he asked, amused. "Eating dinner on the couch and watching reruns?"
"No, just being here, with you."
"Me too," he whispered, pulling her in a little closer to his body.
He just reveled in the feeling of closeness for a few minutes, promising himself that he would never take simple things - like eating dinner and watching reruns - for granted ever again.
"Sam?" Andy said some time later.
"Hmm?" he asked, sleepily. He was dozing off a little, so very comfortable right where he was.
"What was it like?" she asked softly, almost timidly.
He opened his eyes. "What was what like?"
"That day that I found you." She cleared her throat. "I mean…the…you know, beating." She seemed to have trouble getting the words out.
He wasn't quite sure what she was looking for. Reassurance?
"It was terrifying. I was sure they were going to kill me, and I couldn't even lift a finger to defend myself. It was like all my training, all my experience, didn't mean shit." Remembering that helpless feeling made him feel angry and oddly claustrophobic.
"I'm so sorry," she breathed.
"Sorry? If it wasn't for your religious abhorrence to following rules, who knows how bad it would have been." he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She smiled weakly.
"Well, now I guess I know how you felt when I would always put my life in danger."
He smiled grimly. He never wanted her to know how that felt. He wouldn't wish that on his worst enemy.
"Let's just quit our jobs and do something boring and safe," Andy suggested, "like accounting. Accountants don't get into near death experiences."
Sam laughed at the idea of Andy crunching numbers behind a desk all day.
"I don't know if that's true. You would probably die of boredom."
She looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Probably," she agreed.
"How about I promise to never go undercover again and you promise not to go into soon-to-collapse buildings and dark storage lockers?" Sam suggests.
The corner of her lips turned up. "Deal."
The next day, Andy begrudgingly went back to work. Sam assured her that he would be fine, but she was still uneasy about leaving him alone. She made him promise to call her if he needed anything.
"Anything?" he had asked with a suggestive smirk.
"Sam, I'm being serious."
Andy updated everyone on Sam's status and then headed to Best's office, as per his request to come see him when she arrived. She walked inside the neat office and Best gestured for her to sit down. She bounced her leg nervously, waiting for Best to inform her of the reason he'd called her in. Whenever Best wanted to see her, the thought: what did I do now? was always at the forefront of her mind.
"I just wanted to update you on Boyd. He has been suspended indefinitely by Internal Affairs pending a full and thorough investigation."
Andy couldn't help the smile that spread over her features. As it was, it was taking all of her restraint not to pump her fist in the air in triumph, or something equally as stupid.
"That's good," she said, hoping she didn't sound too smug.
"Andy," Best started in the tone he usually reserved for reprimanding her. Damn, she was so close. "I do not approve of your little detective side show with Callaghan. You should have brought your suspicions straight to me."
"I'm sorry, Sir, I really didn't mean to overstep. I just wanted to have some proof, instead of making an accusation that I couldn't back up."
"Hmph," he muttered, probably realizing that she had a valid point. "No, I suppose that's something the old McNally would have done."
She wasn't offended by this accusation, because, well - it was true.
She smiled. "You've taught me well, Sir."
"Alright, McNally, get out of here before I remember one of your past transgressions that I forgot to punish you for."
Andy took him at his word and hurried out of his office, even though she was pretty sure he was joking. Okay, maybe partially joking.
She was just about call Sam to tell him the good news when Oliver walked by and plucked her phone out of her hands.
"No personal calls when you're partnered with 'The Shawster', rookie."
Andy scowled.
"Okay, first of all: I am so not a rookie anymore…" she protested, reaching for her phone. But Shaw continued to hold it just out of her reach before depositing it into his pocket. "…and second of all: 'The Shawster'? Really?"
"Hey, it's going to catch on, you just watch."
Jerry walked by, having heard the end of Andy's rant.
"Oliver, stop trying to make 'The Shawster' happen, it's not going to happen."
"Barber, did you just quote Mean Girls at me? That's it; hand over your man card, right now." Oliver motioned with his hand expectantly.
"Hey, you're the one that recognized it. What does that say about you?"
"It says that I have three daughters. What's your excuse?"
"Oh my God," Andy said, shaking her head at the conversation playing out before her. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or use Oliver's momentary distraction to try and get her confiscated cell phone back. She chose the latter.
She stepped closer to Oliver, who was still going back and forth with Jerry, and reached her hand carefully into his right pocket. Her hands closed around her phone. Aha, she thought. Suddenly a hand closed around her wrist.
"Seriously, McNally, fifteen years on the job and you didn't think I would notice you clawing around in my pocket? Why that's damn near insulting." She dropped her phone guiltily as Shaw pulled her hand out of his pocket. "I was just being a jackass before, but now, I think I'm going to teach my rookie a lesson." He smiled gleefully. Teaching the rookies lessons was one of Oliver's favourite things to do.
Andy crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her current riding partner, missing her usual partner more than ever.
When Andy arrived back at Sam's house that night, she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was fall into bed next to her man. She headed down the hall to Sam's room, shedding her clothes as she went, until she was down to just her panties. She was too tired to bother with even putting pajamas on.
As she lay down, Sam stirred beside her. She leaned over to give him a peck on the lips.
"Missed you today,"
He smiled sleepily. "Wouldn't know, since you didn't answer any of my texts."
"Ugh," she said rolling her eyes, "that's because I was partnered with the cell phone Nazi."
Sam chuckled. "Shaw confiscating rookie's cell phones again?"
"I'm not a rookie!"
"Touchy, touchy," he teased.
"I'm going to sleep." she informed him. She rolled over so her back was to him, and he immediately wound his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
His fingers splayed out on her stomach and inched higher and higher.
"Uh, why aren't you wearing a shirt?"
She laughed at the choked quality his voice had taken on. "To torture you, obviously.Now shh, I'm tired."
Andy was cooking breakfast for Sam and herself in honor of Sam's first day back to work, when Sam strolled into the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxers.
"Notice anything different about me?" he asked her.
She turned attention away from the stove and gave him a very thorough once over, not even bothering to pretend that she wasn't ogling his half naked body. He spun around for affect, and she snapped her fingers.
"You got a haircut."
"Nope. All my bruises are gone." He grinned and spun around again, so she could see for herself.
She gasped and approached him in order to get a closer view. She examined every inch of previously bruised skin, to find that he was right. She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck.
"Love you," she murmured.
When she pulled back he had a serious look on his face. "Andy, I need to ask you something. Here sit down." He ushered her over to a dining room chair. She sat down, suspicious of what was going on.
Sam disappeared into his room, and emerged a minute or so later, dressed and with something small concealed in his hand. He knelt down in front of her on one knee and she swore she stopped breathing for a moment.
"Andy McNally, would you do me the honor of," he opened the box to reveal a key, "moving in with me again?"
Once she got over the initial shock, she reached out and smacked him on the arm.
"You jerk! That's not funny!"
He laughed and ducked her next blow. "Oh, come on, it was a little funny. You should have seen your face." He laughed again at the pouty expression on her face. "I'm serious, though. I want you to move in again. You're always here anyways, and when you're not I miss you like crazy. So, what do you say?"
"I still say you're an ass." she said, as she folded her arms across her chest. She sighed in resignation. "But I also have to say, it took you long enough! I will do you the honor of being your lovely roommate." she said, playing along with his joke.
"Good. This house never felt quite right after you left. If the past few months have proved anything, it's that we can get through anything as long as we're together."
"Anything." she echoed.
AN: Last chapter! I'm excited to see that little 'c' beside this story! (if you read mobile you'll know what I'm talking about) Thanks to everyone that reviewed, favourited and alerted, and thanks for stickin around even when I took months to update haha. And a special thanks to my beta deedee920, who I couldn't have finished this story without!