They sat in silence for a while, content with just being with each other for as long as they could be.
Sam finally broke the silence. "Are you mad?" He whispered.
"No, not at you anyway, maybe at the situation, though. You told them five years ago you were done. I do have to admit I'm surprised this didn't come sooner though."
"What do you mean?"
"You were one of Guns and Gangs best UCs. I expected them to try this a few years ago. They've actually been pretty good about it, until now, anyways," She paused. Sam knew she wasn't finished, though, so he waited for her to go on. "Sam? How do I do this, we have a system, everything gets done on time because we work together. When I'm doing it on my own, how am I supposed to get them ready for school? How am I supposed to get to work on time?"
"I'll be home as soon as I can be. You'll have your dad, Traci and Jerry, Nick, Oliver and even Epstein. I spoke with Frank, too. He said you can have a couple of days to get a routine down if you need. You can come in late, or just take a few days for yourself and the girls, he'll understand. And I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Is Blackstone running this?"
"No, this is one of Boyd's old cases."
"Boyd? Boyd, as in the one who almost got you killed? You're working for Boyd? Why wasn't he fired?"
"The evidence mysteriously disappeared. There's no proof he had anything to do with that. He got suspended, but with no evidence they couldn't prove he'd done anything wrong. It was our word against his. The only record of that case in the computer is the one he messed with."
"And you're going under with him in charge?"
"He has someone monitoring him and the information, but he's running it. I have to do this, you know if there was any way to avoid it I would, but I can't. Why were you asking about Blackstone?"
"Blackstone gives a few weekends off, but I guess this is better, we don't want the girls to get excited when you come home, just to have you leave again. But it would have been nice to see you once in a while."
"I know. I'll miss you, too. But I'll be back as soon as we have enough evidence, I promise."
"What if you don't come home, Sam? How would I tell the girls? As far as they're concerned, you've gone off playing pretend to find out who stole the cookies from the cookie jar."
"Hey, that was your metaphor not mine," he laughed, but stopped once he saw the look in her eye. "Seriously Andy, I'm not going to let anything to me, I would let down too many important people."
"Really? Who are these people? Do I know them?" She actually managed a laugh.
"Well, there's this woman, beautiful, brunette, love of my life. In fact, she's one of the few women I've ever loved. Name's Andrea, but she goes by Andy, or my personal favorite, McNally."
"It's Swarek now, if you don't mind. Now what about these other women?"
"Well, there's Lillian, spent some of the best years of my life with her, almost as beautiful as Andrea. She has these eyes she uses when she wants something, melts you. Makes you give want to give her an extra cookie, or two, even though her mommy said one was enough."
"What? When was this?"
Sam smiled nervously, "Do you want to hear the rest or not?" She stayed silent, so he took that as a cue to continue.
"Danielle, I've spent the shortest amount of time with this one, but I love her just as much as the other two. Even when she makes me sit at a tea party and makes me be a princess."
"Then, there's my favorite sister in the whole world, Sarah, who would most likely revive me just to kill me again for dying on her, and all of you."
"Finally," but he was cut off by her turning around.
"There's more?"
"Just listen. Finally, there's Oliver, best friend, best man extraordinaire. His words not mine, and never tell him I said that. There through thick in thin, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad…"
"Are you married to me, or him?"
"You, you're more attractive, not to mention he was already married when I proposed to you."
"Is that the real reason you asked me? He was taken?"
"No, Andy. I have never loved anyone, this way at least, but you."
"I guess that's okay then."
"We should get some sleep; tomorrow will be a long day."
They headed upstairs shortly after that. They had just settled in when they heard a knock on their door and two small heads poke in.
"Hmm?" Sam groaned.
"Can we sleep with you and momma tonight, daddy?" Lily asked.
Sam and Andy shared a glance. Letting the girls into their bed was a rare occurrence, as they didn't want any habits to be formed. Tonight was special though, Sam would be leaving in just over 24 hours and they both wanted him to spend as much time as he could with the girls before he had to leave.
Sam sighed, "Okay, but just for tonight."
The girls came around to opposite sides of the bed, and were lifted in and placed in between their parents.
"Night night, momma, night night, daddy, night night Lily."
"Good night, momma, daddy, Dani. See you tomorrow."
"Good night, girls. Night, Sam."
"Good night, ladies."
'I love you's' were exchanged, and soon the girls were sleeping soundly, faces buried in their parents' chests. Sam and Andy stay up staring at each other, and having hushed conversations for hours afterwards until they finally fell asleep. Andy dozed off first, and Sam drifted off soon after, watching his three girls sleep.