CHAPTER ONE

Autumn sure was one of the most beautiful seasons in Canada, but there had always been something especial about the season that made Andy like it a little more than the others. Now as she was walking towards the station with two coffees in hand she took her time to enjoy the view since she was actually early.

Sam had spent the night at the station organizing cases that were meant to go back on trial this week. Since the prison was having an overcrowding and some cases were being reviewed. She knew he was going to be exhausted once she got to see him this morning so she woke up an hour early to go to the café to get him some breakfast.

"Hey, Andy. You got me coffee, how sweet!" Traci said as she stepped onto the barn. "I knew there was a reason I liked you so much."

Laughing Andy took a second to pass her own coffee to her friend. She did drink her own before she left the café, so she wouldn't be missing it too much.

"You need it more than I do. Trust me." Andy said as she took a second to observe her friend.

Traci pushed Andy lightly. "I'm just going to let that go. I don't have enough energy for this."

Both of them start walking towards the women's locker room together, but make a quick detour towards the D's to see if she could hand Sam his coffee.

It didn't take long for her to see him standing over his table filled with files.

"I find it intriguing how you can work in such a mess." Sam startled as Andy spoke next to him.

"Hey." He said smiling lightly at her.

"I thought you would need this." She said as she handed him his coffee and a bag with whatever she thought would please him this morning.

Sam obviously took it without complaining. Andy took the clear spot on his desk to sit on as he sat on his desk and as Sam started to eat she saw the opportunity to go through his things and see what he had to deal with the whole night.

Most of the files seemed fine. People who got put away for not paying child care or mortgage, stuff like that. Most of them weren't a threat to society, so it didn't seem like such a big deal. Except for when Andy caught the sight of three bigger files at the opposite end of the table.

"So what did you do all night long without me?" Sam asked when he noticed a certain person too interested in what he had laid out.

"Oh, you know. Drank your beer and when we ran out we drank all your scotch. The usual." She said casually.

Sam let out a small laugh. "You wouldn't dare."

Andy looked at him mischievously. He knew she'd never have the guts to drink all his scotch. The beer she'd drink it easily, but never his scotch. It was the bottle of scotch Jerry had given him on the weekend prior to his death, so Sam had the feeling it would take a long time and a very special moment for him to open it.

"Yeah, okay. I binge watched The Bachelorette."

"Without me?" Sam asked as if he was offended by the thought of that.

Andy took a bite off his croissant and smiled sweetly. She knew he never liked the show, but even then he always watched it when she wanted. Now she even had someone to talk about the show with.

"We can always watch it again."

"No. I'm good. I bet I'll have the full report before I the weekend."

Andy took the coffee from his hands and took a sip "Probably."

"I thought you got this for me."

"Yeah, but it just looks so much better than the one I had."

Sam smiled at her and stood up picking up his files.

"Some would say I have good taste."

Andy pulled him for a quick kiss. Their lips meeting fast like it was the natural thing to do and they almost forgot they were in the D's office and someone could come in at any moment.

"That you do." Andy whispered after they broke their kiss.

"You should go. You still have to put on your uniform before parade starts." Sam said as he closed the bigger files.

"Need any help?"

"Nope. Got it all covered."

Andy stood up in a jump and picked her bag from the floor.

"I'll see you at home after my shift then."

"As you all know by now. Some of you are going to be picking up prisoners for their trials this week. So I don't want any trouble during this transportation." Frank said loudly to the room filled with officers. "And I need to remind you all the gala is back. Next month so you all have time to buy your tickets. It's important for the division that you all show, so I'm counting with every single one being there. Assignments are on the board and if you're supposed to be picking up someone I suggest you get to it, it's a long drive."

As the room cleared and Andy stepped away from Chloe, they walked towards the now viewable board.

"Don't bother McNally, you're with me. We are going on a little trip." Oliver said as he waved towards Andy. "Come on, we don't have all day."

Andy and Oliver didn't get very far seen as Sam stood by their squad car. He looked a lot more serious than before and a lot more tired. His arms were crossed and his face blank with expression. Oliver just stopped and shook his head.

"Not now, brother."

"Which one is it?" Sam asked Oliver without giving any attention to Andy who stood behind Oliver with a puzzled look.

"Does it even matter? They only gave us a number. We'll review his file once we get there."

"That's wrong. You need the information beforehand. Tell me the number."

"170043"

Once Oliver had said the number Sam's face fell a little, but he kept it together like most detectives could. But Andy knew better. He fixed his posture and he kept biting the inside of his cheek, a classic sign he was nervous.

"Can't you change it with someone else?"

"Not anymore. Everyone assigned a prisoner has left already. What is this about?"

Sam looked for the first time towards Andy, but still showed no emotion other than the annoyed nervous look he had before. She didn't have much to go on. He could just be tired and looking out for her and his best friend, but something more than that was bothering him and she knew that she wouldn't find out until later on tonight.

He stepped away from the car and moved to the side of the building grabbing Oliver by the arm. They started a conversation in whispers so Andy couldn't make out what it was about, but it sure had Oliver a little more anxious too.

"Hey, Andy, get these things inside the car and wait there. I'll be just a little more and then we'll be heading out. You choose where we get coffee on our way."

It was extremely weird of Oliver to say that, but Andy knew better than to push it now. Maybe she'd get a chance to talk to Oliver and get him to open up about what was going on.

After a few minutes sitting alone in the car and watching their conversation by the rear view mirror she saw them walking over to the car.

"We'll be back by eight, so she'll be home at ten the latest. I'll make sure of it." Oliver said as he stepped inside the squad.

"I'll be back at work by seven, so I'll see you when you get back." Sam leaned on Andy's window and kissed her. As brief as it was, she could sense how tense he was.

"We'll be fine. Go home and get some sleep. You need it."

With a small smile the car took off and she kept looking at him from the rear view mirror until she lost him.

Now she just needed to figure out what all the drama they had going on was about.

"What had Sam so upset about out prisoner?" Andy asked trying to make it seem like she wasn't so curious. Maybe make it seem like small talk, but Oliver didn't buy it.

"McNally, we won't be talking about who we're picking up, because all I know now is his number. Once we get there and get his file we'll have about an hour to look through his file. Then we'll talk." His voice was lower than usual, something she noticed he did when he felt frustrated.

Damn it with all the guys I work with - Andy thought as she leaned more against her seat.