It's been 6 months since the incident. There hasn't been any life-threatening incidents again, though I might've jinxed that just by thinking it.
Marlo broke up with Sam. They're both doing better, but I think Marlo just needed a fresh start. Which was why she moved to Montreal and started studying art history.
Sam is... Sam. Trying to play the tough guy. He says he's all right, even though I see he's pushing himself into work harder than normal. We don't talk about the speech he said before he was shot, and I don't mind. I don't avoid him, and he doesn't avoid me. We have an unspoken agreement of being in that limbo place between acquaintances and friends.
Tracy and Steve are going steady. And Leo really likes him! He's a good guy, good to Trace and good for Leo.
Chris is dating one of the new rookies-Megan. He wasn't really serious about it because of what happened before, but we knocked some sense into him.
And Nick. Nick is smiling right at me. He still manages to make butterflies appear in my stomach and make my heart skip a beat. I smile right back at him.
"What are you smiling about?" He asks me.
"You," I answer bluntly.
"I love that answer," he says before he gives me a quick kiss.
"Get a room," I hear Gail say from behind me.
I turn to look at her.
"I gave you my blessing, but that doesn't mean you can cause public indecency. Last time I checked, I'm still a cop who can arrest people who do that."
She gives me a mean look that softens into a smile, "I really missed you."
I roll my eyes, "You could have visited me in the hospital-"
"And expose myself to germs? I love you, but I don't love you that much."
I see Chloe push through the doors of 15, Dov right behind her.
We all start clapping. It the first time since the incident that she came back to the division.
She has longer hair now-and a wedding ring?!
Dov catches my eye and just shrugs.
"Married? You guys got yourself married without me? You know how much I love weddings!" I whined.
"Oh don't worry, Andy. I got him to promise me a big'ol Church wedding," Chloe said with a grin.
"Yey! This is gonna be so much fun!" I hear Gail retort.
"It's nice to see you too, Gail," Chloe replied.
They do the rest of their rounds while Nick and I just watch them.
"So, Andy McNally, are you the type of girl that dreams of big weddings?" I hear Nick ask me.
"Why? You planning something Nick Collins?" I deflect with a smile.
"I don't know, should we?" He smiles at me.
I see what he's doing. He's testing the waters. He's afraid I'll run if things get too serious, too fast.
"I'm a small wedding kinda girl. As long as I have the right guy beside me, and I hear the magical words, that would be perfect," I finally answer his question.
"And how do you feel about engagements?"
"Should be short. Like a quick interlude to marriage," I half-joke.
He scans the crowd, "Come with me."
He takes my hand and leads me to the locker room. He starts taking off his vest.
"Uhh. Nick, I love you and all, but this really isn't the most romantic place to do it," I laugh.
He continues to take off his vest, "When I was in the army, some of my buddies taught me to write prayers on my vest, or like letters to loved ones whenever I had to go on a mission that wasn't exactly 'Driving Ms. Daisy'."
He hands me his vest, "I wrote this down 6 months ago."
I flip the vest over, the words are a little faded, but I can still read them out.
I'm not sure who'll be reading this, but lucky you. You get to read a love letter.
I love Andrea McNally. Clear as day.
I love her.
As I'm writing this, I'm scared out of my mind because I haven't told her that I love her yet and I'm about to step out of this precinct with literally a target on my back.
I promise myself that by the time anyone reads this, I've already told Andrea McNally I love her.
And if luck is on my side, I've already asked her the most important question I'll ever ask anyone.
And she said yes.
I look back up and see Nick leaning on his locker.
He gauges my reaction before taking a knee to the ground, "Andy McNally, will you go down to the courthouse after our shift ends and marry me?"
He takes out a small box from his pocket and opens it.
I nod my head, not able to find words.
He slips the ring on my finger and gets up to kiss me.
"We could probably do it over our lunch break," I say with a grin, finally able to form words.
"Don't tempt me," he says with his own grin.