Chapter Text
After Lieutenant Andrea Herrera divorced her husband Lieutenant Robert Sullivan, 3 years ago, she decided that she was done mixing her personal and professional life. She had been fuck buddies with Jack Gibson, who at the time was also a Lieutenant. After Gibson, she went on and slept with her captain, Robert Sullivan, before he was demoted for stealing drugs from the PRT. They got married within a month of being together. during the mist of their divorce, she was forcefully transferred to station 23. She ended up sleeping with 19's new captain, Sean Beckett. She noticed how messy her life had become, so she decided that she wouldn't date a firefighter.
Since the transfer 3 years ago, she was reinstated at station 19. She worked along side Lieutenant Maya Bishop, Travis Montgomery, Jack Gibson, Lieutenant Theo Ruiz, Victoria Hughes, Lieutenant Robert Sullivan, and Ben Warren.
Chief Ross had asked Andy to be intern captain, but she declined. Andy didn't want a temporary spot. She deserved a permanent spot as captain. Ultimately because Herrera had declined, Ruiz got to fill in as acting captain.
•••
Current
•••
Over the last few weeks Andy and Vic have been throwing subtle glances at each-other, small touches when simultaneously doing chores around the station, and overly compensating compliments. Although Theo and Vic were in a relationship, which had been declining horribly since he became captain because of his lack of self-confidence. Hughes and Herrera still had thought these were innocent gestures as they both still thought and considered themselves straight.
Over the past few weeks Vic had been leaving her apartment earlier in the morning to meet up with Andy for coffee and take walk while drinking their coffee.
Andy- "You want to be my work-out buddy?"
Vic- "You know I hate working out."
Andy- "It's good for us firefighters to work out."
Vic- "Fine, but you owe me a coffee every morning."
Andy- "My pleasure"
After they had finished their coffee, they had started jogging around the park and to the station. When they arrived they headed to the showers to get ready for their shift.
Everyone was doing their own thing. Bishop and Gibson were cleaning the ladder, Hughes and Montgomery were checking and stocking the aid car, Herrera and Warren were cleaning the engine, and Sullivan was on desk duty.
Vic had made a few glances towards Andy when she wasn't watching and of course Andy had done the same. Andy started to become confused has to why she felt different than how she did with Robert just from a few glances and hand brushes.
Why does Vic's compliments give her butterflies or her touch give an electric sensation shooting through her veins. When that light brush of Vic's fingers leave her skin, she instantly craves more. Of course she had always thought that her friend was pretty. Doesn't everyone? Why does she feel like she's an outsider from everyone else. Like she needs to force her self to love men and feel what she feels around Vic towards men, just like when she was married to Robert. She feels like she can't like Vic because she's her friend, and well to be completely honest why would she feel that way towards a woman. She had always been with men, but why, just why does she feel this way? It may be confusing to her, but if she were to ask any queer person majority of the answers would be the same.
All those thoughts had been racing through her mind and Herrera hadn't even realized that they all went up to the beanery for lunch. They had all signaled for her to follow and eat, but she hadn't moved. After minutes of Andy not following the group, Vic went back down to the barn to see Andy zoning out. Vic could tell when her friend was overthinking. Andy would bite her lip and have this look in her eyes that shouted that she had a hundred different thoughts racing through her mind and she couldn't figure out what to do with them. Vic knew that no matter what she said, it wouldn't get her out of her daze, so Vic went up behind her and put one hand on her back and the other on her jaw to turn Andy's face towards her.
Andy- "Wha- What? Did you say something?"
Vic- "Andy, what's going on? You're overthinking. What are you thinking about?"
Andy- "It's nothing. Uh- I-I should go up."
Andy walked fast up into the beanery, passing everyone as she walked towards her bunk before shutting and locking her door. She laid in her bunk staring at the ceiling, going over and over through the thoughts she was having...She knew she needed answers, but where was she going to get them from? Internet? No. You can't always trust that. Maya or Travis? No because they would find out about Vic. Wait. Why does she even care about finding out about Vic if she claims to think that is just innocent friendly gesture. Never mind Whatever. Diane? It would be confidential, so no one would find out about how she was feeling.
Just like that, she had texted Diane about needing to talk when she had the time. They made an appointment for 2pm at the station, the next day.
0000
After Andy had left Vic in the barn by her self she had been looking for Andy. She reached the beanery and everyone had told her that Andy had gone towards the locker room. As she was about to open Andy's bunk door, Andy had opened it. Before Vic could say anything to her she walked past her and went to the station gym. Herrera started hitting the punching bag at full force until Maya walked in.
Maya- "Woah Herrera. Whose face are you imagining on that punching back right now?"
Andy- "No one"
Maya- "You are hitting that punching bag harder than I would."
Andy- "Did you come in here to talk or workout because if you are here to talk, just leave."
Maya- "Alright. I'll just get on the treadmill."
Just like that they worked out in a comfortable silence, or at least Andy did. Maya was worried about slipping up and saying the wrong thing. By the way Andy was throwing punches for all she knew, her face would be the next target. After Bishop finished running she left the gym and entered the beanery, where her team was sat.
Maya- "Have you noticed Herrera acting weird?"
Warren- "Other than ignoring us and going to her bunk earlier... No."
Maya- "She told me to leave the gym if I wasn't going to work out. She was hitting that punching back like it was her worst enemy. I don't think she's okay."
Montgomery- "I can talk to her"
Vic- "You can try but she pushed past me twice."
As everyone was talking about her, she walked into the beanery. Instead of saying hi, she walked straight to the fridge to get a bottle of water. After she downed the water, she went to take a shower.
Andy needed time to herself. She needed to figure out the confusion she was feeling instead of having her team prying at her for answers herself didn't even know. She lied in her bunk for an hour before the station was called in.
The speakers roared "Aid car 19-ladder 19-Engine 19"
Everyone went rushing down to the barn. Warren and Bishop were on aid car. Ruiz, Montgomery, and Gibson were on the ladder. Herrera, Hughes, and Sullivan were in the engine.
Of course of all people she has to be on the engine with Vic, Andy thought. The ride was silent, Andy made sure of it. They arrived at the structure fire of the apartment. Ruiz started handing out orders.
Ruiz- "Bishop. Warren, you're on triage."
Maya- "Yes sir" she said as they started setting up.
Ruiz- "Montgomery. Sullivan and Gibson, you're on fire attack. Herrera and Hughes your on evac. GO GO GO"
Now not only did they have to ride together, but also had to evacuate civilians together. Vic tried to talk to her, but Andy didn't respond unless it was work related.
Andy- "Seattle Fire. I need you to evacuate!" she said as she banged on each door.
Ruiz- "Herrera. Status Update?"
Andy- "Knocking on the last door now."
Ruiz- "Copy"
Andy- "Seattle Fire. I need you to evacuate the building immediately."
"HELP"
Andy- "We're coming in"
Andy kicked through the door with Vic following behind. The fire was starting to creep into the room. It was a kid. Maybe 9. Home alone.
Andy- "What's your name?"
"Hope"
Andy- "That's a nice name. We need to get you out of here."
Hope- "I want my bear"
Andy- "Go with my partner here. Her name is Vic. I'll get you your bear and I'll be right behind you."
Just like that, the girl took Vic's hand and made it outside. Vic had realised that Andy hadn't came out yet. Ruiz seen Vic come out but not her partner.
Ruiz- "Where's Herrera"
Vic- "This girl wanted her bear. She was alone. Andy was getting it and said she'd be right behind us."
Ruiz- "Herrera what's your status?" he said through the com.
Andy- "Ive got the child's bear. I'm heading-" before she could finish her sentence there was an explosion and the ceiling collapsed on top of her.
Ruiz- "Herrera do you copy?"
Ruiz- "HERRERA"
Vic could feel her chest tighten. She felt the glances, hand brushes, and compliments with Andy. She knew it was wrong that she was in a relationship. The thought about possibly being into woman as well weren't anything new to her. She felt them before, but she pushed them aside, but when the explosion happened the only thing she could think about was getting Andy out.
Vic- "We need to get her out!"
Ruiz- "We can't send anyone in"
Vic- "Screw it" she said as she started running toward the door.
Hughes ran in and was stopped by piles of rubble lying all over the place. She started to call out her friend by her first name. She made her way towards the apartment room that they had came before the explosion. She found Andy with her leg clipped under the rubble, lying there unconscious and barely breathing. After a couple minutes she was able to unclip her friend's leg. It was horrific. The rubbish went all the way to her femur. Exposing her bone. Vic quickly picked her up and ran out towards an aid car. Warren hopped into the drivers seat as Hughes hooked Andy up to machines.
Vic- "You need to stay alive, so you can tell me why you're icing me out. Come on Andy"
She started to code. Ben had to start compressions, which took 3 minutes to get her back into sinus rhythm. They made it to Grey-Sloan within 5 minutes.
Link- "What do we got?"
Vic- "34 year old female. Ceiling collapsed at a structure fire. Her femur is exposed and she coded on the way here. It took 3 minutes to get her back. She has been unconscious since I found her." she said as they were wheeling her into a trauma room.
Vic was ordered to wait in the waiting room.
••In trauma 2••
Link- "Get me an ultrasound for her belly and a portable chest x-ray."
Link- "She has a pneumothorax and she's bleeding internally. Put chest tube in and rush her for a head CT NOW. Page Grey. She's needed in surgery."
They had her upstairs quickly and got her into surgery after a head CT. Dr Shepard was still keeping an eye on her during the surgery. Meredith started talking.
Meredith- "She had her hand inside a boy the first time we met. She was holding the hepatic artery"
Link- "You know this woman?"
Meredith- "Yes. She's Lieutenant Andrea Herrera. We met a few times after that when her dad was seeing doctor Bailey about his cancer before he passed."
Amelia- "The first time I met her was when her husband had a nerve surgery."
Link- "I don't think they're married anymore. The firefighter that brought her in was about it as worried as I would be if something happened to Jo."
Amelia- "Her husband was a firefighter"
Link- "I don't think her husband was a woman."
••In the waiting room••
Ruiz- "Your suspended for disobeying a direct order"
Vic- "Whatever."
Ruiz- "Is that all you have to say."
Vic- "SHE WOULD HAVE DIED IF I DIDN'T RUN BACK INTO THAT BUILDING AND YOU KNOW IT. SHES ONE OF US. SHE'S APART OF 19!" she said as she was crying which she never really did. when she finished she realized a few doctors had been standing in front of her waiting to finish.
Ruiz- "How is she"
Link- "We can only talk to her emergency contact."
Ruiz- "Who's her emergency contact?"
Amelia- "Victoria Hughes"
Vic- "Yeah that's me."
Meredith- "Let's go talk somewhere private."
As Vic was following the doctors into a private room, her chest started to tighten and she bang to worry more and more with each step she took. Would if Andy didn't make it through surgery? Would if she lost Andy? They finally made it into a room after what felt an eternity and sat down.
Vic- "Is she okay?"
Meredith- "She suffered a severe trauma, but she pulled through" Vic let out a long sigh.
Link- "Her femur was exposed to the bone and that does take a long time to heal."
Meredith- "She also had internal bleeding in her belly. I was able to stop it. We had to put a chest tube in because she had a pneumothorax."
Amelia- "Her brain seemed to be fine. Just a. minor concussion, but when she ends up getting discharged she will need to stay with someone for a while."
Vic- "Of course I would, but I'm not sure she would agree."
Link- "Why"
Vic- "She's been icing me out. She's been ignoring everyone. Not only that but she is a very independent and stubborn woman"
Amelia- "Could her ignoring everyone be why she was in the building when it exploded?"
Vic- "No matter how she feels about any one on the team, she knows how to act during a call. She stayed back to get a 9 year old’s teddy bear. I'm the one who disobeyed an order by running in to save her, but I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing while she died."
Meredith- "How long have you known eachother? "
Vic- "8 years"
Amelia- "I have to ask, but are you and Herrera a couple?"
Vic- "What? No. We are both straight... I think?
Amelia- "Sorry if I overstepped"
Vic- "No. I actually think you helped figure out why she's been distant today."
Meredith- "Would you like to share? You won't be able to go to the ICU for another hour."
Vic- "Andy and I have been sharing glances, light bushes on the hand, and compliments for weeks now. I've questioned my sexuality before, but brushed it aside. I think that might be what's wrong. She's confused."
Amelia- "You might want to talk to her about it."
Vic- "I will. I don’t want to be iced out for longer than today."
After Vic got done talking to the doctors, she went and updated her team. She told everyone to go back to the station. She let everyone know that's she'd keep an eye on Andy and if anything changes she's let them know.
Vic had pulled a chair up to the side of Andy's hospital bed. She held her hand for an hour before her friend started to slur awake.
Andy- "What happened?" her voice still groggy.
Vic- "A ceiling collapsed on top of you. Ruiz wanted to leave you there, but I went back in anyway."
Andy- "Mm you should've just left me"
Vic- "What the hell Andy. You know I wouldn't have done that."
Andy- "Shh"
Vic- "You need to tell me what's going on. You are ignoring everyone at the station especially me."
Andy- "Really you're gonna ambush me. I have just woken up from surgery."
Doctor Jo Wilson came in as they were arguing.
Vic- "No. You have to stay with someone while you recover and I already volunteered, but you are icing everyone out."
Andy- "DROP IT HUGHES"
Jo- "Andy are you okay? I just found out" she said as she grabbed Andy's hand.
Andy- "I feel like a ceiling fell on me." she chuckled
That was the first smile that Vic had seen from Andy in a few days. She felt a little jealous although she didn't know why. She was getting ahead of herself. She doesn't even know how Jo and Andy know each other. After the first interaction between her friend and the doctor she went back to the station.
••Explanation••
Nobody knows that Jo and Andy are sisters yet. They have the same mom. Her mom left when she was 9 because she found out she was pregnant with Jo. She had cheated on her husband. After she left and had the baby, she gave it up for adoption. [Jo had the same childhood she did almost Grey's anatomy] Jo has a daughter Luna and is married to Link. Her stepson is Scout. Link was aware of who he was operating on, but had to make it seem like they didn't know each other.
••Andy's Room••
Jo- "I was so worried Andy"
Andy- "I'm okay now. There's nothing to worry about."
Jo- "You are going to stay with Link and I during your recovery. Scout and Luna miss you."
Andy- "I miss them too and thank you."
Jo- "You're my sister. I would do anything for you. Can we talk about what happened with your teammate?"
Andy- "I've been icing everyone out because I'm confused about myself. I'm meeting with Diane tomorrow or at least I was suppose to."
Jo- "What are you confused about"
Andy- "You know I've always dated men, but Vic and I have been glancing at each other through the station, light finger brushes, and complimenting each other a lot these past few weeks and I thought it was just an innocent gesture, but if it's just that why am I having these thoughts and why do I feel something weird in my body. Different from Robert, Jack, and Ryan. I'm really confused."
Jo- "You have feelings for her Andy."
Andy- "No. It can't be. I've always dated men."
Jo- "Amelia dated men her whole life until a couple years ago. Arizona has always dated woman. Levi dates men. Hell even I have dated women before. Andy you've been around gay people. You know you can feel that way. You are friends with queers. You can't control who you have feelings for."
Andy- "It's just hard to wrap my head around."
Jo- "I understand. I have had friends tell me that they never had feeling for a guy and when they accepted that they liked woman, they forced themselves to believe they liked men as well, but eventually they accepted who they were." her phone started buzzing.
Jo- "I have a patient in labor, so I'll be back later to check on you."
Andy- "Okay"
••At the station••
Everyone had taken showers and got back into uniform. Warren was making dinner while everyone was sitting at the table. Vic came bursting in.
Vic- "We need to talk about Herrera"
Maya- "Is she okay"
Vic- "Physically yes. She's awake now."
Sullivan- "Then what's the problem"
Vic- "I tried asking her why she is ignoring everyone at the station and she lashed out telling me to drop it. Then a doctor in black scrubs came in and took her hand."
Ben- "OB has been wearing black scrubs, so it definitely wasn't one of her doctors"
Travis- "Do you think?" he said as he turned to Maya
Maya- "No! Andy would've told me."
Travis- "Unless she wouldn't have"
Robert- "If you are saying what I think you're saying, there's no way. She's straight."
Maya- "Unless she isn't"
Vic- "I forgot her name, but on her badge it said double board certified in OB and General Surgery"
Ben- "Andy's straight. I know that doctor"
Vic- "Who's the doctor?"
Ben- "Jo Wilson. She's married to one of her doctors and they have kids"
Vic- "Are you talking about her or the surgeon?"
Ben- "Yes. I went to their wedding."
Robert- "I told you all she is straight"
Maya- "Chill it Sullivan. We all know you want her back."