No, you are not stranded in a desert and this is not a mirage. I lost my mojo once the angst was over. I am not good with fluff (although this chapter holds no fluff) but I know you all want it after all I put our favorite couple through. I promise to update a lot sooner and give you hope for McSwarek having a happy ending. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you everyone who PM'd me over these last few months to check in and make sure I was still alive. As always, your reviews make me happy so please don't be shy.

"Sam," Jerry gently spoke to his friend who was cradling Andy fiercely. "EMT is here."

Sam lifted his head briefly to look up at the stairs as several people in uniform, both police and emergency, descended. Still running his fingers through Andy's hair, and rubbing on her back, he whispered to her. "Andy, people are here to help you."

"Okay," Andy squeaked out, not bothering to lift her head to look.

"Miss, can you stand?" A light haired, medium build woman asked Andy as she came to kneel next to her.

"I…I don't think so. I'm pretty stiff from being inside that cage for so long."

At Andy's statement, Sam's heart sunk even lower. "Just keep your arms around my neck, I got you," he directed. He then picked her up under her legs and started for the stairs to a waiting gurney. "Don't look at him, McNally. Just close your eyes," he directed as he stepped over JT's body. With each move, Andy let out a little cry and Sam wasn't sure whether to tighten his grip around her or hold her more gently. Am I ever going to know what the right thing is to do after all that she has experienced? Sam wondered.

When he reached the top of the stairs, he softly lowered Andy onto the makeshift bed and when he pulled away, she clutched onto his hand, not wanting him to let go. "Don't leave me, please," Andy begged.

The desperation in her eyes broke Sam into a million pieces and this moment threatened to shatter his already cracked resolve to be strong for her right now. "I'm not going anywhere," Sam promised. Unfortunately, this was not a promise he could keep right now.

"Swarek."

Sam looked up to see Staff Sergeant Winters entering the residence and Sam closed his eyes knowing he would have to answer for JT's death. In the midst of reuniting with Andy and worrying about her condition, the fact that he just ended another person's life was lost on him.

"Why didn't you wait for backup?" Winter's asked with anger etched in his voice.

"Can we not do this right now? I need to make sure Andy's alright and then you can question me all you want."

"You know I can't do that," Winter's said determined.

"I'm not asking," Sam shot back.

"Sam," Andy called out to him while squeezing his hand.

"I just got you back, I'm not leaving your side," he said while running his hand through her hair and giving her a reassuring smile.

"Sam, I'll go with her," Oliver reassured, knowing his best friend was going to get himself into even bigger trouble than he already has if he doesn't go with the Staff Sergeant.

"No," Sam stated through gritted teeth, still holding onto Andy, while a few EMT's were checking her vitals.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," Winter's demanded.

Finally taking his gaze off of Andy he looked up at the person in charge. "Why are you doing this?" He asked almost pleading.

"You know I don't have a choice," the staff sergeant responded.

"Sam," Andy quietly called out causing him to look at her. "Go."

"I'm not leaving you."

"I'm not going anywhere, I'll see you at the hospital," Andy reassured him. "You don't have a choice and the sooner you go then the sooner you can come back to me."

Sam sighed in defeat, knowing she was right. He killed someone and there was no getting around the fact that he has to answer for that now rather than later. As a cop, he knows there is no other choice.

Bending down, he brushed his nose against hers and gave her a feather light kiss on her dry, cracked, swollen lips. "I will come to you as soon as I can," he promised. "You're going to be fine."

"I know," Andy agreed.

"Oliver, you go with her…please?" Sam asked while turning to him.

Oliver walked closer to Andy and slid Sam's hand out of hers and replaced the absence with his own hand. Looking up at his best friend there were no words necessary.

With one last glance at Andy, Sam turned to Winter's and walked out of the house with Jerry and Frank in tow.

Four hours later, Sam was ready to spit nails having been asked question after question. Repeat after repeat. He had to start at the painstaking beginning with his time in foster care and the assault on his sister. He continued on with the nightmare realities that JT created for him and Andy for the last couple of years with the final culmination from this morning. How Sam could even concentrate and tell the story straight every time he was asked to repeat every minute detail, he will never understand. Perhaps its knowing the more he cooperated the sooner he will get back to Andy.

The palpitation of his heart increases with intensity the longer he sits in the interview room by himself. There is no clock for display but he can guess Staff Sergeant Winter's left him about half an hour ago. The water bottle in his hand was long ago emptied and crushed by the weight of his grip. The thin plastic is the only thing that prevents him from attempting to put a fist through the observation window. Instead he channels his anger into the recyclable object, focusing on the crinkling noise to drown out all the voices in his head that are telling him how bad he screwed up. How Andy will never be the same and he is to blame for everything that happened to her.

The door opens and he automatically stands up as if he's preparing for battle. For a split second he wonders if they have come to take him away. Maybe the Vancouver police force doesn't believe he killed his brother in self defense. Maybe, just maybe they will try to spin the situation and tell the District Attorney the shooting was done in malice, retribution for what JT had done to Andy. Breath that he had been holding rushed out of him as Jerry and Frank entered the room.

"How you holding up Sammy?" Jerry asked patting his friend on the pack.

"I'm fine, it's Andy that I'm worried about," Sam tried to brush off any concern for him. "If they would just let me out of this damn room then I can go where I need to be."

Before anyone could answer, Winter's entered the room with a piece of paper. "I just need you to sign your statement and then you can be on your way."

Relief coursed through his body. "Really, that's it?" Sam asked in disbelief.

"Yes, another detective interviewed Jerry and Frank who collaborated your account of the events. Ran it past the D.A. and no charges will be filed."

"Thank you Sergeant. Appreciate it," Sam acknowledged while holding out his hand to shake Winter's hand.

"Take care, Swarek. Sorry for all you've been through," Winter's offered sincerely. "Thank you for your cooperation."

Sam didn't respond, just nodded before exiting the room.

Upon entering the hospital, Sam forgot about his friends and raced to the floor they told him Andy had been admitted to. Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached the fourth floor and burst through the stairwell door. He found himself in a waiting room where other people sat in vigil for their loved ones. Ignoring the curious glances shooting his way, he found the closest nurses station and asked for Andy McNally's room.

Sam saw Oliver exit from the bathroom a few doors down before the nurse could answer. "How is she, Oliver?" Sam asked, rushing up to him.

Oliver could see the expectant look on his friend's face, the look that begged only for good news. "The doctor is in with her right now," he started, putting a hand on Sam's shoulder. "I sat with her until the doctor said he needed me to leave the room."

"What? Why?"

"He just wanted to do some more evaluating, I think without an audience."

"What did the doctor tell you?"

"Nothing so far," Oliver answered. "But, they tried to give her some food and she threw it up immediately."

Sam ran his hands over his face, shaking his head. Before he could respond the door to Andy's room opened and a short, pudgy man in a white lab coat stepped out. Realizing he must be Andy's doctor, he ascended upon him.

"Doc, please…how is she?" Sam asked, desperate for some information.

"Are you Sam Swarek?" The doctor inquired.

"Yes, please. How is she?" he repeated, sounding more desperate than before.

"Why don't we go somewhere more private, there is a consult room around the corner."

They could see the battle waging in Sam right now, wanting to know all he can about Andy but not wanting to walk away from the woman he has been fighting so hard to find.

"It will just take a few minutes and then you can go see her," the doctor explained, sensing the war within. "She's sleeping now anyway."

Nodding his head, he peeked through the window in the hospital room, eyes zeroing in on the frail body lying in the bed. "A few more minutes McNally," Sam whispered to no one but her.

Following the doctor down the hall, he was grateful for his brother that wouldn't leave his side, no matter what information he was about to hear.

Entering the consult room, the doctor shut the door. "There is a lot going on with Ms. McNally right now. To start with, she is extremely dehydrated and malnourished. Two weeks with hardly any fluids or food…well, it's amazing she is even still alive. It's as if her abductor knew just the bare minimum to give her to keep her here."

Sam figured as much, but hearing the confirmation hurt worse than he thought it would. "What else?"

"She has several broken ribs due to blunt force trauma."

At that, Sam dropped down into the nearest chair. "Go on."

"As you saw before she arrived, she has numerous bruising and cuts all over her body. She is going to be sore for a while."

"What about…" Sam had to clear his throat before continuing. "What about signs of sexual assault?" Sam asked, holding down the bile threatening to come out of him.

The doctor sighed at his question and Sam feared the worse. "Oh God."

"There is bruising on the inside of her thighs that could be consistent with forced sexual assault but after completing a rape kit there was no other physical evidence discovered."

Sam's breathing became more labored as he struggled to keep control of his anger. "Is it possible then she could have been sexually assaulted but he used a condom."

Taking a deep breath before answering, the doctor gave the news Sam had feared from the beginning. "Yes."

"Son of a bitch," Sam said through gritted teeth. His hands gripping the end of the chair's arm rests and Oliver could see his fingers turning white.

"Fight it Sam, you have to be strong for Andy," Oliver tried to keep his friend calm.

Sam's breathing continued to labor hard and fast. Closing his eyes, he tried to regain some composure, knowing if he lost it now it is likely hospital security would escort him out. Hmm, just let them try, Sam thought.

"We are treating the dehydration with fluids from an IV. We tried giving her some chicken broth but her stomach rejected the food almost immediately. We'll try again when she is sufficiently hydrated," the doctor started explaining, hoping to bring Sam back to the present and away from his harmful thoughts. "Her ribs will heal and in the meantime we have the sides of her abdomen wrapped."

"I'm going to see her now," Sam simply stated, hearing enough. Standing up from his chair he did not look at either man in the room. He kept his focus on what was directly in front of him, Andy's room was a homing beacon and he was the ship trying to find home.

When he reached her room, he gently opened the door and stepped inside. Making sure the door didn't slam, he waited until the slab of wood was completely shut before letting go of the cold, steel knob. He walked over to Andy's bed where she was laying on her side and he realized she was awake.

"Hey," Sam whispered to Andy while sitting down next to her and taking her hand in his own.

"Hey," Andy whispered back, even in the softness of her voice he could tell how weak she was.

The light from the hallway shined through the door window and illuminated just enough of the room for Sam and Andy to be able to see each other.

"I've missed you, McNally," Sam blurted out. "So much."

"Missed you too," Andy admitted. "More than you will ever know."

Sam squeezed her hand in recognition of knowing exactly how much.

"Everything okay?" Andy asked, concerned for Sam after killing his brother.

Not really surprised she is more concerned with him than all that she has gone through; Sam gave her a weak smile before answering. "Yes, McNally. Everything is okay. Cleared of any wrong doing."

Andy let out a sigh of relief followed by a wince from the pain the simple gesture caused her.

"You okay?" Sam asked concerned, getting up from his chair, ready to find the doctor.

"Sam, sit down. I'm okay," Andy tried to reassure the worried man before her. "Just going to be sore for a while."

Sam took his seat again and brushed away loose strands of hair off Andy's shoulder before taking her hand once again.

The two lovers stared at one another, each one not sure what to say next. Sam finally worked up the courage to be the one to start. He needed answers even if he was too afraid to ask. "I need to know everything, but I can understand if you aren't ready to talk."

A stray tear escaped down Andy's dirt bruised face and Sam gently wiped it away. Taking her free hand, she cupped the hand Sam used to hold her other one. "I want to tell you everything; I'm just worried about how you will handle it."

Sam laughed, but the sound held no humor. "Me?" He asked in disbelief. "You don't need to worry about me, McNally."

"I know you, Sam. I know you blame yourself."

"I do but there's nothing you can say that will change that."

"And there's nothing you can say that will make me believe that."

Silence descended upon them, the air becoming thick with regret as each breath escaped from Sam. "I'm here, please talk to me."

"Where do you want me to start?"

"From top of the hospital roof."

"Okay, when JT got me in the helicopter and I turned around and saw you were hurt, I tried to jump out but he held me back. I was screaming for you and he just laughed at me. We landed in some field several miles outside of the city where a van was there waiting for us. He dragged me inside. I tried to fight, but he was too strong."

"I can't figure out how he got you over 2000 miles across the country without being seen. I had your picture going on every major news channel for days."

"He drugged me."

"With what?" Sam asked with concern etched in his voice.

"I don't know but I was in and out of it for days. My first clear thought was waking up in a bedroom in the house you found me in. That is where the games began."

"What kind of games Andy?" Sam inquired, rubbing his free hand up and down her arm, trying to offer her as much comfort as possible.

"He wanted me to give myself to him and I wouldn't. I kept telling him I would never love him and he needed to give me back to you," Andy explained, her words starting to rush together. "But he wouldn't and every time I resisted him, he would hurt me."

"I saw the pictures," Sam acknowledged while placing soft kisses on her hand. "I saw the wedding dress and all the blood. Oh God Andy, there was so much blood," Sam cried out as he laid his head down on the bed next to her.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that." Andy reached towards Sam and started stroking his hair.

Lifting his head, he fought to keep the tears in his eyes from spilling over. "Keep going…I want to hear everything you're willing to tell me."

"Okay."

"Did he force you to marry him?"

Andy was glad she could tell Sam something that would cause him some relief. "No, he wanted to get married but I would never say yes. He wanted me to come to him freely because he knew it would hurt you more."

"So he hurt you instead." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, and after a week of being beat up day after day, he finally realized he wasn't going to break me."

"Is that, uh…is that when he put you in the cage?"

"Yes," Andy whispered. She let her mind wonder and the memories of being confined for so long overpowered her. "He would let me out once a day to use the bathroom and every other day for some bread and water."

"Oh Andy, I'm so sorry."

The liquid emotion that Andy was fighting so hard to hold back finally overflowed and spilled down her cheeks. "He was hoping I would finally choose his bed over the cold, damp basement and cramped cage I was in."

Sam was doing his best to fight back his emotions, wiping away Andy's tears and willing her to go on until he knew everything she had endured.

Andy felt his strength as she continued. "I was so cold and in so much pain. I couldn't move except the shivering I couldn't stop. After what I think was a few days I started to hallucinate you. I would think you were right there, trying to get me out, only to snap out of it and realize I was still all alone in the dark." Andy could no longer talk as the sobs racked her body.

"Shhh, it's okay Andy. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," he promised. " JT is gone and he will never hurt you again."

Sam continued to rub Andy's back and reassure her he was there. When her cries subsided, she fought to wipe away her tears, but the simple gesture caused her too much pain which told her the meds were wearing off. Sam, realizing the simple movement was too much at the moment, gently wiped away the warm liquid for her.

"Thanks," Andy said, giving him a weak smile, the best she could offer him right now.

"I will be here to wipe away your tears for the rest of time."

"Will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Will you crawl into bed and hold me. I just need to feel your body surrounding mine," Andy pleaded. "I have craved your warmth for so long."

Without any hesitation, Sam took off his jacket and laid it on the chair and then removed his shoes. Walking around the bed he lifted up the covers and crawled in next to her. He scooted until his front was completely against her back and then he enveloped her with an embrace that promised to never let go.

After several minutes of being with one another Sam worked up the courage to ask the one question that was still left unanswered. "I need to ask you one more question, Andy. I need to know something else."

"What Sam?" Andy asked concerned.

"Did…uh…did JT…did he force…" Sam stopped mid sentence, unable to continue.

Andy reached up as far as she comfortably could and rubbed her fingers up and down Sam's arm that was wrapped tightly around her waist. "No, Sam. JT did not force himself on me in anyway."

At this admission, a 100 pound weight released from Sam and floated away. Closing his eyes he lost his fight and the damn holding his own tears finally broke. All the build up from the last two weeks, and truth be told, ever since he came back from his undercover op and found out JT had made contact with Andy, was too much and he let it all go.

Andy could feel his sobs rack his body and she grabbed his hand and held on. "I'm okay, Sam. I'm okay." Knowing he needs to be reminded of this because she had no doubt that while she was going through her terrors inflicted by JT, Sam was in his own private hell as well.

"I tried so hard…so hard to find you," Sam said trying to calm himself down. "I wouldn't sleep until my body started shutting down and even then I would just allow an hour or two until I was back out looking for you and chasing leads. It was killing me not knowing what he was doing to you or if you were okay."

"I have no doubt," Andy reassured him. "I knew you would come for me."

"No one could stop me," he said determined. "I would never have stopped."

"I know."

They laid together for what seemed like hours. At times, Sam would nuzzle her neck and run his hands up and down her body in an effort to comfort her. Andy would take in all that Sam had to offer her in those moments.

"Where do we go from here? What do we do now?" Sam asked, realizing they were two lost souls trying to find their way after unimaginable horrors.

Two words came from the bruised and battered woman on the receiving end of his embrace. The words were soft but they held conviction and promise. They were music to Sam's ears. "We heal."

I hope it was worth the wait. Not sure how many more chapters, but I feel this story is drawing to a close soon. Please review, I would love to hear how you liked this chapter.