NYPD Blue Fanfiction

Tina's Fanfic
Extended Final Scene for “Lie Like a Rug” 

Rated: PG  

Author’s Note: This little scene is my continuation of the ending to the 1^st episode “Lie Like A Rug” from Season Nine and explores what might have happened had Andy actually gone with Connie to her apartment that night instead of Connie seeing that Andy just got home safely. 

This end scene left me wanting for more. I wanted to explore the aftermath of that bar scene in a little more detail and define their friendship at this point in time a little more thoroughly. Connie had stopped Andy from drinking again. It was after watching this excellent scene that I became convinced that something might be on the horizon for these two battered and tortured souls. 

This scene set a tone for the rest of Season Nine. I just feel I expanded upon it a bit so fans can gain a better sense of what I think Steven Bochco is trying to explore with Andy and Connie’s relationship. This is the heart and soul of their relationship stripped bare for all to see. At the heart of it all, they share a real friendship. Sylvia Costas may have been the love of Andy’s life but Connie McDowell has become the other half of his soul.

Enjoy! 

Your VP, 

TC

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He’d walked into the bar and sat down. After being a smart-ass with the bartender, Andy asked him to pour him a drink so he could smell it. 

Andy’s worst fears had been realized. Danny’s dead body had been found. He’d let this kid down the same way he’d let Andy J. down. “What did I do? Did I get this kid killed?” he asked himself over and over again. He’d called Katie and asked her to take care of Theo for a few days. He needed time to get his head around this. 

He brought the drink to his lips. Just then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up to find Connie McDowell staring down at him with a disdainful look. She was the angel on his shoulder watching over him. 

“Diane told me I’d find you here. I’ve got enough on my mind without worrying about you having to drink.” As she put the drink back on the bar and gave it back to the bartender, she asked him “What else can you do tonight besides drink?” 

“You can drink if you want to” he told her. And Andy put his hand on her shoulder gaining strength from her. Even in his grief, he was trying to console her. She had suffered the loss of a friend and colleague too. 

“No.” “C’mon, let’s get out of here. You’re coming home with me tonight.” 

Andy paid for the unused drink and he and Connie got up and left the bar. Walking on the street in silence with Connie by his side, Andy realized just how close he’d come to drinking again. He was lucky to have Connie McDowell as a friend. She’d certainly put up with a hell of a lot of crap from him in the past few months since Danny had disappeared. He owed her his sobriety and his life. 

They walked for quite a long time just sharing the frantic pace of this city that was still recovering from all its losses. They’d reached her apartment. Connie turned the key to open her apartment door. “C’mon in. I wasn’t expecting company.” 

“I’ll put on some coffee and then we can talk.” As she took his coat. 

“Thanks.” He replied. 

“You can talk to me, Andy…about anything.” 

She poured him a cup of coffee and began to talk to him about her father’s passing. It was then that the floodgates opened and Andy began to share with her some of the grief and loss he’d been carrying with him for so long. 

He told her about his relationship with Katie and how they’d had Andy J. He told how he never was the father he’d wanted to be with Andy Jr. He told her about Andy’s Jr’s life and his death and how Andy lost his way then and began to drink again after Andy Jr.’s death and how Bobby had been there to save him. And now, even Bobby was gone. So many people, so many losses.  

He tried to let it all out. Through it all, Connie sat there quietly and just listened. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it.  

As they finished their last cup of coffee, Connie began to yawn. It was almost 2:00 a.m. 

“We’d better get some sleep.”  

Andy picked up his jacket from off of the couch. Connie stopped him. 

“I meant what I said. Don’t go.” 

She went into the hallway and pulled out an extra blanket and a set of sheets from the hall closet and found an extra pillow. 

“Here.” She told him as she tossed the linens to him. 

“What’s this?” Andy asked her. 

“I told you before. You’re staying the night.” “On the couch.” She added. 

“Connie, you don’t need to do that.” 

“Oh, yes I do. For my peace of mind. Stay, Andy, just for tonight so I know you’re alright.” 

“I won’t forget this.” He told her as she made the sofa up into a bed. 

“Don’t worry…I won’t let you forget about it.” as she smiled at him. “You owe me Detective Sipowicz. I’ll let you buy me dinner. Your treat.” 

“OK, it’s a deal.” 

“Goodnight Andy.” She told him. As she rubbed her hand across his shoulder in an effort to comfort him, he reached up and touched her hand. He reached over and pulled her to him and held her. As he did, she felt his warm, wet tears on her hair. She started crying then too. She knew what it meant to lose someone you loved and she knew that Andy had lost so many people that he’d loved and cared about. She knew how badly he was hurting right now. He was blaming himself. How many times…how many sacrifices would be enough. Danny was yet another casualty. 

She’d worked with him long enough now over these past few months to get some sense of the real Andy. A complex man but a gentle man nonetheless. She knew what a good man he was deep down. She saw through the brash, rough exterior he put up as a distraction. He used it as a way to not get too close to anyone. 

Connie had also seen the gentle side as well. The Andy who could be caring and compassionate with victims. She’d witnessed it firsthand since she’d partnered up with him five months ago.  

She also saw on a daily basis the demons he struggled to deal with and keep at bay. She knew as long as he was fighting, he’d be OK. But today had been an extremely hard and difficult day. She had to let him know it was OK to grieve but to still keep fighting.

“It’s OK. Let it out, Andy. I miss him too.” 

They stood that way for quite a while holding each other, comforting each other in silence. No words were needed. She held him close to her. They’d turned another corner in their relationship. They felt lucky to have each other as friends. Tomorrow would bring a brighter day and a new beginning for them as darkness engulfed the city that never sleeps. 

The End