Hey everyone! I came up with the idea for this series after watching the commentary for "To Serve or Protect". Ben Bass said that he liked filming scenes in the car because it was simple and there weren't a lot of people around to distract them. If you haven't watched it yet, you should.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to do a story about some of the conversations Sam and Andy have in their squad car. My plan is to make this a multi-chapter story, but please let me know what you think!

Takes place after To Serve or Protect.

Chapter 1: Conversations about Midol and Warm Hands

Andy had been unusually quiet the whole day. Any quiet was unusually quiet for Andy, but she had barely spoken a word since they'd gotten into the squad car that morning. Sam didn't think she was mad at him, at least he couldn't remember anything he had done that would cause her to be mad at him, but he couldn't figure what was going on with his rookie.

"No offense, McNally," Sam said later that day, glancing over at her, "but you look terrible."

"I didn't get much sleep last night," she confessed. Before Sam could make a comment she added, "And no, it had nothing to do with Luke keeping me up, so don't even go there."

Her tone was much sharper than normal, so he decided not to push it. "Okay," he said, returning his focus to the road.

They rode in silence until Sam looked over to see Andy grimacing and bending forward. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked, his voice raised in alarm.

"Its nothing," she squeaked out, taking a few measured breaths before sitting up straight again.

"Its not nothing, McNally," he said, "You look like you're in pain."

"I'm fine," she said, avoiding his gaze and looking out the window.

Sam took in her paled skin, her bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath. He remembered how she had been on edge the day before, snapping at everything he said one minute and the next minute almost crying when she saw a dead dog on the side of the road. Today she had been withdrawn, rubbing her forehead and sitting balled up in the passengers seat. Suddenly it all came together.

"Oh," he said, smiling knowingly.

Andy's eyes shot over to meet his. "What?"

"Andy," he said patiently, looking over at her. "Is it that time of the month?"

"Why do men always assume that?" Andy asked, aggravation evident in her voice. "Just because I'm not laughing at every little thing you say does not mean that it's that time of the month," she emphasized the phrase with air quotes. "It could just be that you're not that funny."

Sam raised his eyebrows, slightly taken aback by her tone. "But I am funny," he protested, feigning offense. "Remember the hambulance?"

She looked over at him and he grinned at her goofily, causing her to crack a smile.

"See, I got you to smile," he said proudly. "Admit it, I'm a little funny."

She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, but admitted, "Maybe a little."

The truth was that she felt terrible. She had been cramping all day long and had a horrible, pounding headache. When Sam had turned on the siren earlier on their way to an attempted robbery, she thought her head was going to explode. Sitting in the same position all day had been torturous and her back was beginning to spasm, begging for relief.

Another cramp seized her and she hunched forward, trying to relieve the pain.

"Andy," Sam said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Do we need to get you some Advil or something? What is it girls take… Midol?"

Still hunched over she shook her head. "I've already taken some," she said, her eyes squeezed shut. Breathing in deeply, she leaned back. "Its not helping."

Sam tried to think back through the months that they had spent together. "Is it always like this?" He asked, looking at her with concern. "I've never noticed before…"

She shook her head, embarrassed. "No," she said, "Its not usually this bad." Sam watched as she rubbed her back, her face pinched in pain. "I was up all night," she admitted miserably.

"Lean forward," he told her.

"What?" She asked, not bothering to look over at him.

"Lean forward," he said again, motioning with his hand. "I'll rub your back."

"Oh, no…" she said, straightening, "You don't have to do that."

Sam sighed. "McNally, this may surprise you but I have been in relationships with women," he said. "The cramps, the headaches, the backaches… Believe it or not, I'm not totally unfamiliar with how it all works. Now," he instructed again, "lean forward."

She hesitated, but when he shot her a look she reluctantly did as he asked, leaning forward and resting her forehead against her knees, arms dangling down to the floor of the cruiser.

He felt her tense as he placed his hand on her back, sliding it beneath the vest she wore. "Andy," he said quietly, trying not to sound irritated, "would you just relax?"

"Sorry," she mumbled into her knees, willing herself to relax under his touch. His hand was warm even through the fabric of her shirt and he pressed his thumb into the sore muscles of her lower back, massaging with just enough pressure. He moved in tiny circles up one side of her backbone and down the other before spreading his fingers out to cover a larger area.

Sam heard a soft moan escape Andy's lips and he couldn't help but smile to himself. Driving with one hand on the steering wheel, he worked out the tight knots he found in her back, kneading the tension out of her muscles.

"Thank you," he heard her mumble appreciatively, making no attempt to move from his ministrations. It wasn't only the way he was massaging her back, it was the warmth of his hand that was causing her muscles to relax. "That feels really good," she told him, finally getting some relief.

Even though she couldn't see him, he nodded. "I'm glad it helps," he said sincerely. He continued to rub her back, concentrating in on certain areas when he heard her sign with approval. Eventually he felt her entire body go limp and knew she had fallen asleep.

They weren't busy that day and nothing was coming in over the radio, so he decided to let her sleep. Gently he used her shoulders to pull her back into the seat, letting her lean against the door for support. She mumbled something and he thought he had woken her up, but she curled against the door seemingly undisturbed.

Andy woke with a start when Sam shook her shoulder. "Did I fall asleep?" She asked, rubbing her eyes and looking around.

Sam laughed, motioning out the front window. "Yeah, we're back at the barn. Shift's over."

Andy looked down at her watch and then back up at Sam, "You let me sleep on shift?" She asked, surprised. "Isn't that against the rules?"

"Probably," Sam shrugged, "but nothing happened while you were sleeping. I just rode around for two hours." He grinned at her, "Did you know you talk even in your sleep?"

"What did I say?" She asked, panicked.

Sam turned in his seat look at her. "That you love me," he said seriously.

Her eyes widened and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "That's not… I don't know…" she stuttered until Sam interrupted her, laughing.

"I'm kidding McNally, you didn't say a word." He unbuckled his seatbelt and reached across to unbuckle hers. "Let's get out of here."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Jerk."

"I'm going to chalk that up to PMS and forgive you McNally," Sam said, smirking at her over the top of the car.

She returned his smirk, shaking her head as she walked around the car to join him. "You're too kind."

"Oh, I know McNally," he said, taking her bag from her, "I know."