A/N: Okay, just to clear something up, Andy is not leading Luke on. She told him full on that she was still getting over Sam, and Luke jumped in fully aware of this. She's not doing anything wrong by giving him another shot, he's the "safe" choice, and she's just giving him a chance. And, really, if you don't like it so much then don't read it. Ultimately I'm going to write what makes me happy and what comes from me. This is my story, and I want to tell it how I want to. I don't mind negative comments, its just not going to change how I'm writing my story. I fully accept constructive criticism, thats not a problem.
To those who like my story and are leaving good comments, thank you! I read every single comment, and I love getting new comment notifications. So, keep reviewing and letting me know what you think.
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Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home
Over the days in the hospital Andy was getting plenty of visitors. Everyone from 15 Division stopped by at least once with gifts of flowers, cards, stuffed bears. She missed work, and she missed her friends quite a bit. But, she knew she was going to be off duty for a while.
Of course she'd already given her statement to Staff Sargent Best about what happened, and the guy who had shot her was going to jail for a long, long time.
It felt like forever since she'd woken up in the hospital. But, in reality it'd only been a week. Sam still came by every single day. He was there before shift, during his lunch break, and then a couple of hours after shift. And it was time to finally go home, which she'd been hoping for for days now. She hated hospitals, hated being in them, and wanted to just go home and sleep in her own bed.
Of course her dad was there to pick her up and take her home, back to her apartment. Walking was still hard, but she was getting better at it. Sam came by every day and would help her with her walking along the hallway of the hospital.
And when she finally got to her apartment, she leaned a bit away from her dad and took her keys, unlocking the door. Opening it and taking a careful step inside, she glanced around a little. Yeah, Sam had been there to take care of her apartment for her. Everything was even tidier than she'd left it, and it made her smile.
Walking to the kitchen to see the mail sitting on the island there, and then she smiled when she noticed a vase full of tulips sitting on the countertop with a small card stuck into them, her name written on the card. Stepping up closer to the counter, she reached out to run her fingers against the flowers, leaning in to smell them. They were beautiful and in assortments of reds, yellows and pinks. She liked flowers, and she'd always thought roses were way too typical, and she was anything but typical.
At first, she thought the flowers were from Luke. And she was pretty happy with them, she didn't even notice her father walking past to put her bag into her bedroom.
Reaching for the card, she plucked it from where it was and looked down at it. At first yeah she'd thought the flowers were from Luke, but looking at the card she knew it had to be Sam. Her name written on the front was "McNally", not Andy like Luke would have written. And the idea of them coming from Sam made her heart skip a beat. Flowers were such a romantic thing to do, and that never seemed like Sam to her.
Opening the card, she read the message on the inside.
"McNally,
Sorry I couldn't be here for you coming home. I will be here tonight at 6 o'clock to make you the best dinner you've ever had. I will not let you lift a finger while you heal. We all miss you here at 15, but I miss you the most.
I Love You,
Sam Swarek."
Andy smiled as she read the note once again and looked up at the flowers. They were so pretty. Sam was really trying it seemed. Looking up at the clock, she also noticed it was half past 4, which gave her an hour and a half to settle in before the time Sam promised to be there.
"So, I put your bag in your bedroom. I'll order us dinner and you can relax." she heard her father say, making her look towards him.
Shaking her head a little, she just smiled to him. "I'm fine Dad, really. I apparently have a dinner date tonight. You can go home and get some rest, I'm finally okay. I'll be fine on my own."
"Are you sure? I don't know about leaving you alone. Who is your date tonight? Luke?" he asked with a small smile. He wanted his daughter to be happy, and he thought Luke was her best shot at that.
But she shook her head. "Not Luke. Sam. Look dad, he brought me flowers, aren't they great?" she asked, looking up at the flowers sitting on her counter.
Tommy sighed and walked towards his daughter, resting one hand on her shoulder. "Be careful, Andy. Sam has hurt you before." he warned.
And she nodded, looking back at him. "I know dad. But I love him. I've tried really hard not to, I've tried to get over it. But...but he's trying right now. And I owe it to both of us to give him a shot."
"What about Luke?"
She shrugged and looked down at the card. "I care about Luke. I do. And he wanted a chance too. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, okay? Luke is the safe choice, but I love Sam in a different way than I do Luke. Right now, Sam and I are just friends. I'll be fine though dad, I promise."
Gently he patted her shoulder, looking at her and nodding. "As long as you know what you're doing. I just want you to be happy. Sometimes...happy means jumping in head first into something that might seem scary. If Sam makes you happy, you should try it."
She looked down and closed her eyes halfway, shrugging. "I just don't want to get hurt."
"What'll hurt worse? Trying with Sam, or living with the regret and the what ifs? If you don't try with Sam and you just run blindly into something with Luke, one day you'll wonder what would have happened if you choose Sam. You'll regret it. And you'll have to watch him be happy with someone else." he told her.
Looking up at him and nodding a little. "Yeah I know. I just...have a lot to think about."
Tommy nodded and leaned to kiss her forehead. "You do. Choose whats best for you, Andy. I just want to see you happy...you deserve to be happy. Thats all I've ever wanted, to make my little girl happy." he told her with a small smile.
And she smiled back, resting the note down and hugging him gently, looking up at him. "Thanks dad. I'll um...I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Thanks for bringing me home."
"Any time sweetheart." he said, squeezing her gently before he let go and started to walk out.
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Andy was getting ready for Sam to come over. She'd taken a nice, long bath by herself. In the hospital they'd had nurses help her shower, and she hated it. But tonight she got to bathe on her own. It was a bit painful and she'd had to be careful because of the bandages. But, she'd done okay, along with changing the bandage on her wound.
And then she actually laid out something to put on for Sam coming over. She told herself it was silly, that he didn't care if she wore sweats and didn't look her best. After all, she'd just been shot. But she didn't want to dress like a slob, she actually wanted to look good for Sam. It was crazy though, they weren't dating, just friends. But she still loved him, he still loved her, and he was coming over to make her dinner tonight.
So she'd found the most comfortable thing she could wear without looking like a slob, a summer dress. It came down to just her knees and was white on the bottom with gold trim around her waist just underneath her breasts, and the top from the trim up was a turquoise color. It was pretty plain, but it was nice enough without looking too much, and it was comfortable to wear since it was loose.
She put on a little bit of makeup to make herself look a little better. Just a bit of eyeliner and eyeshadow with lip gloss, nothing too fancy. After all, she had to pretend she wasn't expecting this to be a date.
And then she just had to wait. She'd already used up a lot of energy getting ready, so she decided to sit on the couch curled up a little with a magazine in her hands, flipping through it a little. She'd done so much more today so far than she'd done all week, and it was tiring at first.
When she heard the knock on the door, she glanced at the clock and smiled, looking over at it. "Come in, Sam!" she invited.
And when the door open, she saw Sam walk through with a brown bag of groceries in his arm. He smiled a little as he took her in with his eyes. "Well, you're looking better. Dolled yourself up just for me?" he teased as he closed the door.
She rolled her eyes and playfully snorted. "As if. I was just tired of wearing sweats is all." she answered.
A chuckle came from his lips as he grinned, showing his dimples. "Of course." he said, though he didn't really believe her.
Watching him, she just smiled and shrugged. "How are things down at the station? I can't wait to go back."
Sam shrugged as he started working on taking the groceries from the bag, searching her cabinets for a pan to cook in and started to get things made for the lasagna. "You know, same shit different day. A few drunken disorderlies, a few assaults, drug possession, simple stuff." he replied as he kept his eyes and hands on the task at hand. "You'll be on desk duty while you finish healing, not right back on the streets."
Rolling her eyes and nodding, pushing herself to stand up and carefully walking to the kitchen. Leaning against the counter, she shifted to get in one of the stool seats on the opposite side of the counter as him. "Yeah I know. It'll suck, but I'll be back to work, and thats whats important." she said. Looking up at him and biting her bottom lip a little. "Get to work the streets today?" she asked.
"Of course." he said, glancing at her as she sat there.
"Who'd you get stuck with?" she asked curiously, looking down at the counter, tracing her fingers along the marble top gently, pretending like it wasn't a big deal.
"Peck." he answered.
She couldn't help but laugh a little. "Ohh that must have been fun." she said with a small smile. Shifting to sit up in her seat and sighing as she watched him take out the groceries.
He was getting things ready, seemingly ready to use the oven since he turned it on and started work on his dinner, nodding a little as he did. "Tons." he agreed with a small chuckle. Glancing at her a little from the corner of his eye before he looked down at what he was doing. "Did you like the flowers?" he asked, almost nervously.
Chewing on her bottom lip as she nodded, glancing over at the flowers on the island sitting in their vase, smiling just slowly. "I did. They're beautiful, Sam."
"Not too corny?"
Laughing, she shook her head. "Not too corny. They're just the perfect amount of corny." she said with a grin. Leaning back in the seat and crossing her legs. "After all, friends send friends who just got out of the hospital flowers all the time."
He looked over at her and shook his head. "I'm not trying to be just your friend Andy.."
The tone of his voice made her sigh, her heart feeling like it beat in her throat and she nodded just a bit. "I know. But...but friends is what I can take right now, I can't take more than that."
"You can take more than that with Luke.." he muttered softly under his breath.
But she pouted and shook her head. "Sam please don't start this, okay? I do not feel like fighting with you right now..."
He nodded, turning back to what he was doing. "Fair enough." he said.
Looking at him, she sighed and shook her head. "Sam please...come on. Lets not do this. You knew we'd just be friends, and like I've told you I'm not really with Luke...just...I don't know its complicated." she said, glancing down at the counter and leaning her elbows on it, closing her eyes halfway. "Please don't start an argument...I'm enjoying myself."
Glancing at her for a moment, he sighed and nodded. "Alright alright, subject dropped. But, I'm still not giving up. Don't ever think I'll give up." he said with a smile, showing off his dimples.
Seeing his smile, in turn made her smile. "Good." she said happily. "Can you get me a glass of wine? I so need a drink.."
He looked at her with a stern look, shaking his head. "Nuh uh. You're on pain medicine and pain medicine and alcohol do not mix. I will, however, get you a wine glass and pour grape juice in it so you can pretend." he said with a small grin.
She pouted at him and stuck her tongue out, rolling her eyes. "Fine fine. You are SUCH a party pooper."
"Nope, just a realist. I don't want you killing yourself."
"Hmm...fair enough." she said. Slowly slipping off the chair, wincing and gritting her teeth as she did, drawing in a sharp breath of air. She'd forgotten that getting up and sitting down could be painful.
And the noise she made had made Sam look back to her. "Are you okay? Do you need help?" he asked.
Holding up one hand, she shook her head. "Nope, I'll be fine. I can do some things on my own. I just thought...I'd go sit down. Do you want to rent a movie from On Demand tonight?" she asked, trying to get the subject off of the fact that it hurt to get up and down from a chair. Slowly walking towards the sofa and moving to take a seat, one hand holding her stomach by where she'd been shot, letting out a breath as she finally sat down.
He watched her warily and sighed, nodding. "Sure, whatever movie you want."
Looking up to him with a small grin. "Even a corny chick flick?" she teased.
He shot her a look but nodded. "Even a corny chick flick..." he said in his best voice. He'd watch a chick flick if thats what she wanted, though he didn't enjoy it. Well, he'd enjoy watching them with Andy.
Laughing a little, Andy shook her head. "Wow, the mighty Officer Swarek watching a chick flick. Its almost tempting to do.." she said. Lounging back against the couch, she reached to grab the remote and turn the television on, flipping through to find something to watch.
"Now, lets not make that station gossip, McNally." he said with a grin. Finishing up making food, he popped it into the oven and set the timer.
When the phone starting ringing and he reached to pick it up. "I've got it." he told Andy. Putting the phone to his ear slowly. "Hello?" he said into the receiver.
"Sam...what are you doing there?" the voice on the other line said.
"I'm taking care of Andy for the night. Who can I say is calling?" he asked, not instantly recognizing the voice on the other line.
"Its Luke. Why are you there? I was coming over tonight..." he said on the other end, an irritated tone to his voice.
Sam could only grin a little and shrug. "Because I promised Andy a good home cooked meal." he said, grabbing two wine glasses from the cabinet, sitting them on the counter and then getting some grape juice from the fridge. Oh yeah, he was going there.
Now, Sam could really hear the irritation coming from the man on the other line. "Swarek, let me talk to Andy."
Glancing towards Andy on the couch as he filled the two wine glasses with juice. He wouldn't drink alcohol that night if Andy couldn't. Almost taking a minute to contemplate Luke's request, he shrugged. Picking up both wine glasses and walking to the couch, holding the phone cradled against his ear and shoulder.
Handing Andy one glass, seeing the look on her face as he chuckled. "Relax, its grape juice. See? I've got one too. Dinners going to be ready in about half an hour." he promised. Once she took the glass, he slid the phone from his shoulder, offering it to her. "Its Luke, by the way." he told her as he took a seat next to her.
Andy had been about to take a sip of juice when she heard Sam say it was Luke. Her eyes widened as she quickly snatched the phone from him, glaring at him a little before putting the phone to her ear. "Luke?" she asked.
"Yeah, its me. You know, your boyfriend. WHY is Sam Swarek, your ex, at your apartment?" he asked angrily.
And, frankly, his tone was getting on her nerves. Not to mention the fact that Sam sat down next to her and put one arm across the back of the couch around her shoulders. Shaking her head a little with a sigh. "Luke, he's my friend, okay? He was concerned about me. After all, we'd been partners for a long time. He offered to cook dinner tonight and I didn't have other plans so I said yes."
"Maybe I wanted to bring you dinner! Didn't you ever think of that?"
Sighing a little, Andy nodded. Of course she had, but she'd liked Sam's idea more. "Well, you've been busy with work and I didn't want to bother you. Besides, Luke, we're not really...dating. I said I'd give you a shot but I never said we were actually dating again..."
That just seemed to anger Luke more. "Yes, yes you did, Andy! You did say you'd give me a shot, a shot meaning we're together! And then you invite your ex-boyfriend over?"
"I thought you were working..." she said with a small pout. "Luke you're being ridiculous. I'm allowed to have friends-"
But he cut her off. "Not ones you used to sleep with!"
Pouting a little, she gripped the phone. "Oh really? Okay, so we're not friends either then, Luke. Might I remind you that I suffered through you being friends with your ex, you working with her. Maybe I'm a little more adult and I don't just jump Sam's bones as soon as I see him." she argued right back, anger building up inside her. That had hurt, when Luke cheated on her. It'd broken her heart, even though she didn't realize at the time that Luke didn't hold her entire heart.
"That-that was different. Andy, come on...I'm trying here..."
"No, by my accounts, you're not. I was in the hospital for how long? You kept promising to come see me, and you never did. You came maybe twice. It was Sam that was there with me just about every day, even at my insistence that he leave. So, no Luke, you're not trying. You're falling back into the same old routine. You're putting work first. And, I totally get that, I love my job. But I'd like to think if someone I loved were hurt I'd be there for them..."
"I...Its...its different, Andy. I solve murders-"
It was her turn to cut him off. "Oh and I don't do anything important? For gods sake Luke, I keep people safe too! Both of our jobs are important, but I know when to put my job first, and I know when to put other things first.." she said, shaking her head. She was thoroughly mad now. "You know what? Whatever, Luke, I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" she asked before pressing end on the phone, reaching to plop it down on the coffee table.
Sitting back angrily, she brought the wine glass up and slowly took a drink. An instant irritation came over her when she realized it wasn't the alcoholic drink associated with the glass. "Damnit! I need alcohol..." she said in a soft whine, glancing over to Sam who was chuckling a little.
"No alcohol for you, McNally."
She gave him a pout and then sighed, leaning back against the couch and leaning back against him. A blush spread over her cheeks as she felt his warmth so close to hers, and she glanced up to him slowly. "You like to goad him, don't you?" she asked accusingly.
He chuckled and looked at her, moving his arm more around her shoulders and hugging her up against him. "He's just so easy to goad. All I did was answer the phone. Its not my fault he didn't know I was going to be here."
Sighing a little and nodding, she'd have to give him that. Laying her head against his shoulder, she carefully curled up against his side, holding the wine glass in her hand gently. "That's true..." she said, looking down at the juice that swirled in her glass a little. "I just wish he wouldn't belittle my job. I love my job."
Slowly Sam rubbed her shoulder and nodded, looking down at her. "I know you do. I love that about you. You're an amazing cop."
"Yeah, amazing enough to get shot because I wasn't paying full attention while my brain beat itself up." she said with a sigh, keeping her eyes down on her glass, chewing her bottom lip. "I should have done better...but..but that day wasn't my day. A lot of days haven't been my day..."
"Don't." Sam said. Reaching to rest his glass on the coffee table, taking her glass and doing the same before he shifted, bringing his finger under her chin to bring her face up to look at him. "Don't do that. It's not your fault, you are an amazing cop, one of the best that I've ever trained. You care, Andy. You care and you get the job done. Don't doubt your abilities as a cop. And don't listen to Luke, he's an idiot. Hell, I'm an idiot too for letting you go."
She gave him a small smile and shrugged. "You were an idiot beforehand." she said, leaning her head away from him and moving to rest her cheek more against his chest with a sigh, closing her eyes just halfway. Leaning from him, she rest her head on his shoulder a little and curled up close to him. "Why'd you leave me?" she asked in the softest of voices. "I'd been...wracking my brain ever since it happened for a reason why. I've been going over things in my head over and over. I was distracted that day...and every day before...wondering what I'd done wrong." she asked a lot more calmly than the last time they'd had a discussion about them.
Looking down at her, he rest both hands on her cheeks and brought her face up, looking down into her eyes, seeing the sadness that was there. Sighing a little, he leaned to kiss her forehead. "I was a fool, Andy. I gave up the best thing in my life because I was grieving. We all were grieving, I get that now. I love you, more than words can say. And all I can say for sure is that I'm sorry, and I regret letting you go every minute. I didn't realize how much until Best told me you'd been shot. When I heard those words my heart stopped. If something happened to you...I don't think I could live anymore. I've...I've never loved something-someone so fully like this, it...it scares me.." he said softly, truthfully.
Listening to his words, she nodded a little, reaching up to wipe her eyes before tears could fall, moving her hands to rest on his wrists and looking down. "I..I dreamt about you, ya know. When I was unconscious at the hospital. I dreamt that I woke up, and it was all a dream. That I was in your room and you were waking me up for breakfast. Pancakes..." she muttered with a choked chuckle.
"I'll wake you up for pancakes every morning for the rest of your life if you'll let me..." he said, leaning to kiss her cheek gently, resting his forehead against hers and looking up, his eyes meeting hers. "I love you. And I'll do anything to earn your love back."
Her eyes met his and she sniffled a bit, biting her bottom lip. "I love you too. Heaven help me I love you..." she said with a sigh, closing her eyes halfway. "I was dying and all I could think about was you. All I could think about...was being in your apartment, hearing your voice, feeling you close..." she said with a sigh, closing her eyes halfway.
"Hey hey, you weren't dying..you were fine.."
"I was dying though.." she said, looking up at him. "If we didn't have hospitals or I'd have taken longer at the hospital, I'd have died. I'm coming to terms with that, and I'm grateful I didn't. But I almost did, and it scared me. And...and I just wanted to think about you, being with you, promising me it was all a bad dream and you'd never leave me..."
"I'll never make that mistake again. I can't promise that I won't be stupid sometimes, I'm new at this whole relationship thing. I'm new at caring this much..."
Slowly she rubbed his wrists and nodded. "I am too." she said with a sigh, biting her bottom lip slowly. "But I...but I love you..." she said with a small blush.
He smiled, nodding a little. "And I love you." he said, leaning to kiss the tip of her nose gently, closing his eyes halfway. "Will you give me another chance?"
Looking up at him, she sighed and nodded. "I already am. As friends first..."
"I don't want to be just friends with you. I want to be with you.."
Nodding a little, she smiled. "I know. And I'll hold you to your promise to prove it." she said. Leaning up slowly, she gently brushed her nose against his before pressing her lips against his in the softest of kisses. Leaning back a little before she let go of his wrists with a smile. "We'll try this as friends first. It'll be my way or no way, Sam."
He sighed into her kiss, leaning to kiss her back. But, it was over all too soon. Opening his eyes halfway, looking at her and nodding just slightly. "Fine. Your way. But I will have you back, McNally..."
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A/N: Sorry it took a while for this chapter to be up. This summer has been the worst, I lost my uncle very suddenly and badly, and I've had other projects and what not. This chapter is a bit short, I know, but...but I ran into a roadblock somewhere too. And I start college classes...so I'll try to keep updating as much as possible.