Title: A Dark Moment - Andrea

Author: Widdy
Disclaimer: I don't own the Devil Wears Prada, or Miranda or Andy, unfortunately someone else does so I'm just borrowing them I will return them after I'm done.
Rating: PG

Feedback: Yes feel free to feed me.

Pairing: Andrea/Miranda

Summary: A dark moment in Andy's life.

A/N: This story includes some angst, and may be upsetting to some readers. If this is you then please do not read, thank you.

Andy felt like her heart was going to explode as she stared sightlessly at the beige wall before her. Her breathing was shallow as her mind stubbornly told her that everything was going to be fine, even though part of her had serious doubts. Andy closed her eyes and tried desperately to forget about her morning, to forget everything that had happened in the past few hours.

In her mind she could still see everything clearly. The events of the past five hours were playing continually to an audience of just one.

She could see two men dressed in navy blue, crouched, their huge bodies obscuring her view; still she couldn't take her eyes away.

It had all happened so fast, there had been no warning, no sign. One minute Miranda Priestly had been standing over her, belittling her with just a look, then she had clutched her chest and a second later the silver haired editor had been sprawled across her desk motionless.

Andy could still recall the bone crushing fear that had seized her chest. Her ears had hurt momentarily as a scream ripped from somewhere next her. Everything faded and Andy had found her world zeroing in on Miranda.

A crowd of people had suddenly appeared. Andy remembered glancing briefly at them as she had rushed around her desk to try and help the woman who was at the centre of her world. Their faces stuck with her, some had clearly displayed fear, others shock, and some had even been filled with joy. They were like vultures circling a carcass.

Emily hadn't moved, her hands had been held up in front of her face obscuring her mouth and nose, her eyes wide. Andy had wanted to do the same, but the fact that Miranda had needed her help had spurred her into action. She had shouting at her workmate to get a grip of herself and to call for the paramedics.

Andy hadn't been sure what she should do. She had stared helplessly at Miranda's body, it was frozen mid action, still slumped over her desk. At the time Andy vaguely recalled remembering something from a television episode about getting an unconscious person into the recovery position, but she couldn't move Miranda on her own. She had glanced to Emily for help only to find her carrying out her orders. Next she had turned to the crowed and the sea of curious faces, and as if some deity had answered her prayer someone appeared at her left.

Andy remembered the feeling of gratitude she had felt as a tall dark-haired man had nudged his way through the crowd. He instructed her to help him get Miranda onto the floor. Andy remembered how the irrational and fleeting thought, that if Miranda was awake she would probably have had a fit if she knew they were about to lay her on the Runway Office floor, in her knee length Michael Koors mink balmacaan.

Her helper, Andy remembered worked for Jocelyn in some capacity. Andy suspected that he had seen the panic that had been flooding her eyes, because he had looked at her knowingly and started to explain to her what he was doing. He had told her that he was trained her first aid. He was checking that Miranda was breathing, when he had confirmed that she was, he unbuckled her red Gucci belt and loosened her skirt.

Andy could still hear his gentle and knowledgeable voice informing her that they had to check Miranda's pulse, and they had to do it every ten minutes until the paramedics arrived. Then had he told her because Miranda was unconscious they had to position her so that she wouldn't choke on her own bodily fluids. Andy could still hear him instructing her how to push up Miranda's right leg and then lift it so it rested over her left, locking it so it stabilized her. He did the same with her arms and then tilted her head. He explained that the mouth is positioned downward so that vomit or blood can drain from it if necessary; that the chin is well up to keep the epiglottis open. Andy had found her mind latching onto his words as he continued to check Miranda's pulse and her breathing.

His voice had been soothing and Andy thanked God that he had been there. He stood suddenly and told her to keep checking Miranda's pulse and her breathing. Andy had asked him where he was going and he told her that he was going to keep everyone back.

Andy had done what he told her, she had checked Miranda's pulse, checked her breathing, and she had prayed. She had prayed to anyone who would listen, begged even that the woman in front of her would be Okay.

A shadow had fallen over her and Andy remembered tracking her eyes up from black Manolos with a suede Spat detail, to a tight black Cristobal Balenciaga dress that had been chosen because of the way it accentuated the figure of its owner. Her eyes tracked further still, up until she reached Emily's face. Her mouth had been moving but Andy didn't hear a word. It was like someone had hit the mute button, there was no sound, and the only thing that Andy had felt was the weak throb of Miranda's pulse underneath the pale and clammy skin of her wrist.

Andy had found her eyes moving away from Emily and back to Miranda. She had looked terrible, her hair which was normally perfect now looked tussled, her face had been even paler that usual and her lipstick had smeared at the corner of her mouth. One of her earrings had been gone and a bruise had rapidly spread over her forehead. Andy found her fingers had moved from Miranda's wrist and entwined with the other woman's fingers.

It was at that moment Andy realised she was terrified and it was in that moment that she realised why. Miranda might be a bitch and treat her like she was a slave at times, but Andy realised that she cared about her boss. For some unfathomable reason, she cared about Miranda Priestly, she cared about her health, and she cared whether she lived or died.

Something had then landed next to her and it was like the volume had been cranked up to full. Noise had flooded her ears and Andy felt someone start to pull her way, while a hand started to untangle her fingers from those of Miranda's. She had started to protest but a flash of a badge, white and blue embroidered onto a navy blue t-shirt halted her plea.

The dark-haired man who had helped her with Miranda had pulled her up from the floor. Andy had felt a moment blip of triumph as she remembered his name was Markus. His hand had remained upon her shoulder but Andy hadn't really felt it, her attention was solely focused upon the two men working upon Miranda.

Movement in front had brought Andy's mind back into clear focus. One of the paramedics stood and shifted his position so that he was stood over Miranda's head. Andy couldn't help the gasp that had escaped her lips. She had been aware of them talking to themselves; words both strange and familiar tumbled from their lips, but her attention had been focused solely upon Miranda. One of them moved and then they had started to lift Miranda upon to the gurney they had brought with them. It wasn't long before between the two of them they had Miranda immobilised.

She had looked so small strapped down to the yellow and black collapsible stretcher.

The gurney had just started to move when blue eyes had fluttered open. Andy had felt an indescribable feeling of relief flood her heart as she watched Miranda blink slowly. Miranda's hand lifted to her face and she tried to pull the oxygen mask from her face.

Automatically Andy had taken a step forward; she surged into the small distance between them when Miranda croaked out her name.

Andy had found herself answering as the paramedics had stopped the gurney to check on Miranda's condition.

Miranda's eyes shined, then she had stuttered as she had asked her, would she come with her, and followed the request with a please.

Andy had felt her eyes widen, Miranda never said please. Andy knew she must be scared, who wouldn't be scared if they had just collapsed in the middle of their work place. Andy had then tried to reply, but had found her throat closed. She had swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat.

Miranda had started to ask her again but didn't get the change to finish her sentence as one of the Paramedic softly told her to keep the oxygen mask in place.

Andy had quickly nodded her head, forced out that she would be right behind her.

Andy had turned and had quickly set about retrieving her belongings, as well as Miranda's. She had glanced left and saw look of shock coupled with envy upon the face of Emily. She had shaken her head, didn't have time to think about that.

The trip out of the Runway Offices and to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital Emergency Room had been a blur. All Andy remembered was the way that Miranda had clung to her hand as she whispered about her children.

Andy had quickly set about reassuring her, murmuring that they were fine, that she would take care of them, that she would take care of everything, and pleading with the headstrong woman not to worry.

When they had arrived at the hospital, the last thing Miranda had said before she was whisked away from her at high speed was, 'don't leave me'.

"Andrea Sachs?"

Andy snapped out of her thought and quickly jumped to her feet at the sound of her name.

In the middle of the emergency room waiting area, a woman stood in green scrubs, orange Crocs, and a white surgical cap. She held a clip board clutched in her left hand while she scanned the crowed waiting area.

"Here, I'm Andy Sachs. I'm Ms Priestly's personal assistant." Andy quickly explained as she drew level with the shorter woman

Closer, Andy could see the doctor in more detail. A large slightly crooked nose dominated the doctor's face, wisps' of dirty blonde hair were trying to escape from under the doctor's surgical cap, and she could see large dark circles dominated the underneath of the doctor's hazel coloured eyes.

"You are here with..." The doctor looked down at her clipboard and scanned the information present, "Mrs Priestly?"

"Yes, its Ms Priestly."

"I'm Dr Reyes; I treated Ms Priestly when she was brought in. I notice here that you haven't put any next of kin for Ms Priestly." The doctor looked up enquiringly and Andy shook her head in response.

"She...she is separated from her husband. She wouldn't want me to call him. She has two daughters, but they are only twelve."

"I see, any other family?" The doctor replied distractedly.

Andy shook her head once more; she didn't have a clue if Miranda had any other family apart from Caroline and Cassidy.

"I don't know. Is she ok?" Andy asked desperate for some form of reassurance, though doubting that the small doctor would provide it.

The doctor suddenly sighed and looked up from her clipboard. She reached up and tucked an errant lock of blonde behind her ear before she answered, "Ms Priestly experienced a myocardial infarction."

"A what?" Andy asked.

"A heart attack Miss Sachs." Dr Reyes explained.

"Oh my God." Andy had suspected that it was a heart attack, but hearing it made the situation suddenly all the more real.

The doctor dipped her head as she turned her wrist to glance at her gold watch. "We have managed to stabilise her."

"Will she be ok?" Andy pressed a hand to her throat and waited for the doctor's reply. She didn't want to think about what would happen if Miranda died.

Suddenly she thought of the two little girls who adored their mother. Andy pushed the image aside as Dr Reyes shook her head.

"I can't answer that at this time Miss Sachs, it all depends upon the severity of the damage Ms Priestly's heart has suffered."

"Can I see her?"

The doctor sighed, "Usually the only ones permitted to see a patient under these circumstances are a spouse or immediate family members, however..."

"Please, I just need to see that she is ok." Andy interrupted.

"I can let you see Ms Priestly for a short period of time."

"Thank you."

Dr Reyes nodded and then indicated that Andy should follow her. They made the trip in silence, apart from the squeak of Dr Reyes' orange Crocs.

Dr Reyes opened a door to her right and Andy followed her into the room. The sight that greeted her was shocking. Miranda was lying in the middle of a hospital bed, surrounded by several different machines, a heart monitor beeped steadily and Andy could see an IV on a pole. Tubes were running from the machines and the IV into Miranda, proving her body with everything it needed. An oxygen mask obscured half her face and her chest was moving slowly but steadily.

A small sharp beep suddenly broke the silence and Andy briefly glanced at Dr Reyes as she removed her beeper from her hip.

"I have to go," Dr Reyes said as she hooked her clipboard under her arm.

Suddenly Miranda's last words to her came rushing back, "Can I stay?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment, she looked as if she was going to argue, but her beeper went off again. She sighed and then nodded her head, "I'll inform the supervising nurse that you are in here."

Alone, Andy couldn't help the tears that gathered in her eyes unexpectedly, Miranda was the most powerful and intimidating woman she had ever met, but at that moment she just looked weak and small. Andy once again wondered why she cared. When no answer came she simply sighed and moved towards the chair situated at the back of the room.

As Andy slumped into the chair, just as she didn't know why she cared so much about her boss, she didn't know why she had asked her not to leave her. She did however know that as always she would do what Miranda had asked, she would stay with her. She would not leave her alone, not now, not ever.

~fin~