Author's Note: Hey guys! I thought I'd try my hand at writing again! The idea of Sam and Andy as roommates has been bugging me for a while, so I decided to just write it out. I hope you guys will forgive me for my long absence and that you enjoy the new story! This starts at the end of 2.08 Monster.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue.

Andy took one final swing at Sam, nailing him right in the stomach. Sam groaned and doubled over but smirked up at her, letting her know he wasn't really hurt.

"I think that's enough McNally," he said, settling down to the mats. He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his hands.

"Oh yeah," she said, still bouncing around on her feet. It felt good to be moving around, to take out all of her pent up aggression. She tapped him upside the head playfully. "Can't take anymore, old man?"

Sam narrowed his eyes at her and swung out his leg and got her right behind the knees, catching her off guard and making her topple over. She landed hard on her back on the mat beside him with a pained, "Hmmpph."

Andy lay still for a moment and then shook her head, trying to regain her bearings. She stared straight up at the ceiling as she accused, "Now, that was just mean."

"So was calling me old," Sam countered. "After all I've done for you."

Andy laughed, not making any attempt to get up from the mats. "Thanks," she said after a moment. "I needed that."

"I know," Sam said confidently, unstrapping the boxing gloves from his hands.

Andy smirked at his self-assuredness, but didn't say anything. She was still breathing heavily from their impromptu boxing match and suddenly all the energy she had built up seemed to drain away. Her legs were heavy, her arms felt like lead and her head drooped over to watch Sam.

He felt her gaze. "What?" he asked.

Andy wasn't really sure of what to say. "Nothing, just…" she trailed off, shaking her head.

Sam nodded, understanding what she was trying to convey without her having to say it. "You're welcome," he said. "I usually feel better about things after I hit something." He couldn't help but remember the time he and Luke had gone at it during retraining. It had been stupid, yes, but it had definitely felt good to take out his anger. They sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sam coughed to clear his throat. "You're not a bad fighter."

Andy smiled at the faint praise. "Thanks. My dad's had me in self defense classes since before I can remember," she told him.

"Ah." Sam responded, rolling his neck from side to side before rubbing it with one hand. "You ready to get out of here?"

"No," Andy said, patting the mat. "I just want to stay right here. It's comfortable, I could probably even fall asleep."

"You'd regret that when you woke up with a crick in your neck and a sore back."

"I've woken up with a crick in my neck everyday for the last three weeks," Andy confessed. "Sofa beds'll do that to you."

Sam raised an eyebrow, processing the information. "You're still staying with Nash?"

"Yep," Andy confirmed with a nod. "I've found an apartment, I just can't move in until the end of the month. Almost three more weeks. Traci's been great but I know I'm just in the way. It's tough with her and her mom and Leo…" she sighed. "I think I'm going to get a hotel until the apartment's ready."

"You can't stay in a hotel McNally," Sam said immediately, rolling his eyes.

"And why not?" She challenged, feeling herself getting angry at his easy dismissal of her plan.

Sam looked her straight in the eye, not backing down even though he knew she was getting worked up. "Because," he explained slowly, "Anywhere you can afford to stay for three weeks is not going to be safe."

"Oh please," Andy snapped. "I'm a cop. I'll have my gun. I'll be fine"

Sam just shook his head throughout her argument, "Nope, Andy, no. That's not going to work."

"Well then what do you suggest I do, Sam?" Andy asked, her voice raised. "I don't have a whole lot of options."

Sam sighed and pinched the bridge of his noise. Andy could tell he wanted to say something, he was just holding back.

"What is it?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Out with it."

Sam exhaled heavily and chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before cautiously offering, "Well, I do have a spare room." Before Andy could start to object he continued, "It has a decent bed and its own bathroom and everything."

"Oh no, Sam," Andy protested, pushing herself up to her elbows, "No."

"Why not, McNally?" He asked, his volume rising to meet hers. "You can't stay on someone's lumpy sofa for three weeks and you most definitely will not be staying in a crappy motel. I happen to have an extra room you can stay in. It's a perfectly reasonable solution."

"Don't tell me what I am and what I am not going to do," Andy warned, her eyes flashing with anger.

Sam knew he'd hit a sore spot, so he threw his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. That's not what I'm trying to do," he said calmly, slowly. "I'm just offering. If I was Diaz or Epstein would you have a problem with it?"

Andy sighed and looked away. She knew, logically, that he was right. She couldn't really afford to stay in a hotel and she didn't want to impose on Traci anymore. And if it were Chris or Dov offering she really would be fine with it. But he wasn't Chris or Dov. He was… Sam.

"McNally," Sam said, his voice low and softer than normal.

She turned back to look at him, considering her options. She looked away again, stalling as she slowly and methodically pulled off her gloves. Eventually she spoke. "We'll probably kill each other," she said reluctantly.

Sam's lips began to twitch upwards. "Probably," he agreed, fighting the smile that threatened to break. "But at least you'll get to sleep on a real bed."

"That would be nice," Andy agreed. She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. "Fine," she said, "I guess I'll stay with you."

"No need to act so thrilled about it McNally," Sam said sarcastically, pushing himself to his feet. "I'm the one doing you a favor," he reminded her.

"I know, I know," Andy said, accepting the hand the Sam extended to help her up. He pulled her a little too forcefully and she ended up bumping into him. Without thinking she reached her hand out to his chest to steady herself. When she realized what she had done and where her hands were, one in his hand and the other on his chest, her eyes flew up to meet his.

He just looked down at her with his cocky Sam-smirk fully in place. "And no sneaking in my room at night McNally," he teased her as she pushed away from him, laughing.

"Oh okay," she grinned, thankful he'd lightened the moment that had lasted just a little too long for her comfort. "I'll try to restrain myself." She walked over to the sofas and picked up their discarded uniform shirts, throwing his at him. "You, uh, wanna go for that breakfast now?"

Sam bit the instead of his cheek, something Andy knew he did when he was figuring something out. "You don't have a ride, do you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

Andy laughed, "Am I that easy to read?"

"Maybe not to most people," Sam said, shrugging. He winked at her, "But I'd like to think I know you pretty well."

"Oh, you think so, do you?" She challenged. Sam just nodded, folding his arms in front of his chest and making no effort to move.

Andy ran her tongue slowly along the top of her lip. "Fine," she conceded. "I don't have a ride and I'm starving." She made a motion towards the door, "Please?" She asked. He stood his ground and she repeated in a smaller, weaker voice, "I'm hungry Sam. Food. Now. Please." She waved towards the door again for extra emphasis on each word.

Sam took pity on her and laughed, making his way towards the exit. "Fine McNally. We'll get breakfast and then we can stop by Nash's and get your stuff." He held the door open for her, "You're paying though."

"I think I can handle that," Andy agreed, moving past him. As they made their way back to the locker rooms to grab their stuff she realized that, despite her exhaustion and hunger, she felt better than she had in weeks. Maybe things were starting to change for the better.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sam's gruff voice and she realized she had fallen a couple of steps behind him. "Hurry it up McNally," he called, not even bothering to turn to look back at her. "I'd like to get some sleep at some point today."

Well, Andy thought, oddly comforted as she hurried to catch up with her former training officer, some things changed but others stayed exactly the same.