"You want to be my friend?" Sam asked mockingly, not believing his ears. "Generally speaking, McNally, I'm not usually friends with women I want to see naked."

Andy didn't know what to say, shocked as she was by Sam's honesty. She felt her colour rising.

"I don't see the problem, Sam. Technically, nothing happened - it was a mistake. We stopped before things got out of hand. Can't you just let it go?" she pleaded, almost believing her own press…almost.

She was in damage control mode. It was just so uncomfortable between them since the night of the blackout. She missed her partner…missed the comfort level they had shared…the good natured sarcasm…the unspoken support and understanding. Damn it, she missed Sam.

"Here's the problem, McNally…you're the one who showed up at my door. You needed me. You kissed me. You honestly believe that if the lights hadn't come on, you still would have stopped? You opened the floodgates and now you think that by just closing them there won't be any consequences? Something that powerful leaves a mark, Andy, and trying to put limits on our relationship isn't going to make this thing go away."

"You're still my training officer, Sam. Once we cross that line…" Andy stopped; feeling cornered when Sam backed her up against the cruiser and grabbed her arms, giving her a little shake.

"You think that I don't know that? You think that I don't lie awake at night all twisted up inside, thinking about what it could do to your career?" Sam didn't give a shit about the danger to his own career. He was fairly confident that he was well-respected enough to weather any storm of controversy. "Or even worse…what could happen if we got distracted or I made the wrong choice and something happened to you? Even with all of that, I still can't get what happened out of my head. And after the way you responded in my arms, you're fooling yourself if you think that what's between us could ever stop at just friendship."

Having said his peace, Sam dropped his hands and stepped back, needing some distance.

Andy had been so sure that they could work things out, or at least come to some sort of agreement to put things behind them. She was disappointed to realize that she was wrong. Their emotions were still too close to the surface to try to disregard those few powerful moments in each other's arms.

"Well, can we at least try to let go of the animosity between us until I can be reassigned to another TO? That's what you want, isn't it?" Andy asked accusingly.

She was torn. She had hoped, but knew deep down that it would be almost impossible for them to be just friends, and if their Rookie-TO relationship continued, it was inevitable that they'd end up in bed together – not the wisest choice, even if it was what they both wanted.

"Oh you're not getting reassigned, McNally. You're my rookie and it would be a reflection on me if either one of us requested a transfer." Again, Sam didn't care about what Best would think of him, he was just looking for an excuse to keep Andy close. "We're stuck with each other until your evaluation period is over," Sam replied sardonically.

He was well aware of his conflicting feelings, but still couldn't let her go, even knowing that the next few months as her Training Officer would be the most challenging of his career – and his life.