Title: Surrender and Certainty

Fandom: the Devil Wears Prada

Pairing: Miranda/Andy

Rating: M

Summary: AU - Andy must lie to Miranda to do her job and bring down an elaborate crime ring involving Irv Ravitz. Circumstances will force Andy back into Miranda's professional and personal life whether the editor wants it or not. Will she be able to trust the brunette and let her in to her heart?

Disclaimers: Not mine, obviously. Just taking them out of the box for entertainment and will return them when finished (or not).

A/N: Once again, I apologize for the lateness of the update but life and such things. I apologize for not putting the chapter behind a cut, LJ is being goofy.

Chapter Fourteen

The agent turned and strode quickly to her office her expertly trained eyes scanning the room to make sure it was clear. Then, she waited for each of them to cross the threshold while she kept her eyes on the front door and leaned against the door frame. Once everyone was inside, Andy shut and locked the door before securing her gun in the back of her jeans. A hand gripped hers tightly and she tried to smile reassuringly. "It's alright," she spoke gently and stuffed a chair under the doorknob with her free hand.

The room was glowing from the small lamp on her desk and she let go of the child-sized hand belonging to Caroline so she could unplug and hide her laptop. Before she slipped the small silver computer behind one of the book shelves, she unplugged and pocketed the USB drive. The brunette glanced toward the only window where the fire escape was and picked up the broken piece from her desk putting it into her back pocket. She could see the unknown vehicle was still sitting on the other side of the street, but her window was out of sight of the car. Slowly and quietly, the agent lifted the window. She leaned out of the window carefully and surveyed her surroundings. The fire escape was clear. She smelled smoke and could see people starting to gather on the street as she put one leg through the window and leaned outside.

"Be as quiet and as careful as you can. Stay behind me at all times unless I say otherwise. Got it?" each of them nodded at her whispered instructions. The agent lifted her other leg and motioned for the girls to go first. Miranda helped both the twins climb out and then lifted herself out using Andy's hand.

The CEO was trembling and the younger woman did her best to reassure her with a light squeeze of her hand as she shut the window. She jammed the broken piece of her desk she picked up earlier in the slot between top and bottom portion of the window. Satisfied that no one would be able to open the window without breaking is she turned and began climbing the rickety metal. The brunette stepped carefully to avoid making too much sound as she made her way up to the roof. She kept her eyes focused and continued to check their surroundings.

As they neared the top edge, Andy instructed them to duck and keep low once they were on the roof so they wouldn't draw any attention to themselves. She checked again before pulling herself over. The agent crouched low and faced the three of them. "Stay here for a minute, I'll be right back," she said barely above a whisper. Miranda nodded holding her twins close. Andy slipped her shoes off so she didn't make too much noise and quickly checked the roof to make sure it was safe. She found the board right where she left it and went back to the edge where she left the girls and Miranda.

The younger woman helped the twins up and then the older woman before putting her sneakers back on. "Now what?" Miranda asked slightly irritated but Andy knew she was more afraid than she left on.

"You and I are going to move a board I left up here for this very purpose," she responded and crouched low motioning for them to do the same. If anyone saw them they were sitting ducks until that board was moved. Andy lead them behind the structure that lead back into the inside stairwell to the building and made the girls stand against the brick. "Don't move until one of us come to get you," she told them and pointed to the board. "We need to move that so it's lying across the gap between this building and that one."

"The board? Andrea? This is crazy!" the older woman whispered harshly.

Andy grabbed her shoulders and forced the woman to look at her. "Listen to me. The building is on fire. I called 911 but we both know the response time is too long. I smelled gasoline which means this building has maybe an hour before it goes up in flames. We've already wasted nearly a half hour. This board is our only way out. You will help me move it and the three of you will cross first. Do you understand?" Andy knew her eyes were wide and showed her concern, possibly even her fear. She couldn't lose them.

"I understand," Miranda replied softly with a brief incline of her head.

Satisfied, Andy moved to pick up the far end while Miranda grabbed the end closest to her. The agent maneuvered the board with the CEO's help until it was level with the other building. "Careful when we put it down, we don't want to lose the board. Switch places with me," Andy waited for the silver haired woman to take her place and moved to the back. "When I tell you to let go, go back to the girls and bring them over here. I'll place the board." Miranda nodded and they moved the board until the agent was happy with its position. "Okay, let go," Andy nodded and held the board up using her thighs as the older woman carefully let go.

Andy watched from the corner of her eye as Miranda moved to where the twins were and she slowly lowered the board until she had to let the far end drop. It was louder than she intended and she cursed under her breath. "I thought we were supposed to be quiet?" Cassidy asked and Andy couldn't help but laugh. Leave it to one of the girls to have some sort of comedic timing.

"We are supposed to be quiet but the board was heavy," the agent shrugged and sent Miranda across first. "Don't worry I tested the weight a while ago."

"That's supposed to reassure me?" Miranda looked at her as if she had three heads.

"Well, yes," Andy didn't wait for her reply. "When you get to the other side there should be a bat on the ground, check the roof before I send the girls over."

Miranda nodded and carefully climbed up on to the ledge. She tilted her head up skyward and muttered to herself as she stepped one foot in front of the other. To Andy it seemed like the walk took an hour when she knew it only took a few minutes.

Miranda bent down to pick up the wooden bat and carefully checked the other roof before signaling Andy to send the girls. "Cass, you'll go first. I want you to crawl across the board."

"But mom walked," the shorter twin said.

"I know, but you'll have a lower center of gravity if you crawl. It's a little windy and both of you weight about half of what your mom does. You'll be less likely to fall."

"Fall?"

"Come on, let's not think about that. Crawling, you'll cover more distance and you'll be with your mom before you know it," she said helping Cassidy up on to the ledge. Andy held her hips as the redhead lowered herself and she held on until she couldn't anymore. Miranda stretched out to grab her hands immediately when she was close enough to do so and pulled Cassidy to her. "Alright, Caro, you're next."

Andy helped her up. "What about you?" Caroline asked looking back at the brunette.

"I'll be right behind you," Andy smiled softly and held on until she couldn't and waited for Miranda to stretch to grab her other daughter.

Once both of them were safely across and in Miranda's arms, the brunette felt like she could breathe a bit easier. She lifted her knee and crouched to pull herself up on the ledge fingertips gripping the brick. Andy heard a sharp intake of breath and Miranda called her name before she felt the tug on her hair pulling her off the ledge. She reached back with one hand and stumbled backwards nearly tripping over her own feet as she was pulled back from the ledge. She stretched the other hand to brace herself as she was thrown into the wall.

Her head and shoulder slammed into the brick leaving her dazed as she fell to the ground. "Andréa!" Her vision was fuzzy and her ears ringing. The stench of smoke was stronger in her nostrils than it was before. She pushed herself up slowly to her knees trying to figure out where the attacker was but her senses were dulled. She didn't know who attacked her or where they were. "Andy! Behind you!" the girls shouted.

She was too slow though and the attacker kicked her in the stomach. She felt her ribs protest as her body was flipped with the force. The brunette landed on her back and rolled to the same wall she was thrown against moments before. She could feel the roof getting hot; the fire would reach them soon. A figure bent over her and picked her up by her shirt. "I'll make her pay for this. It's all her fault! She never loved me and once you came along she was head over heels for you like the delusional old woman she is. Why would she want you? You are nothing!" he spat.

Andy immediately knew who her attacker was after he spoke. "Stephen, you put that fancy suit on and parade around like you're this big hotshot lawyer when really you're nothing but a lowlife criminal," she antagonized him.

"And who are you? Huh? Some stupid assistant?"

"Actually, I'm an FBI agent or did your informant in the bureau forget to mention that?" she spat back indignantly.

He punched her in the face, his ring cutting open her cheek. "I don't care who you are. You are nothing."

Her head bounced off the ground and her vision swam. "Me? What about you? I know what your rap sheet looks like. I know you helped traffic those models. Who knows what else you've done for Alexi? If I had to guess I'd bet you laundered money for him at the very least. Do you know how long you'll be in jail?"

He growled and slammed her into the ground before standing and kicking her again and again. He didn't seem to care what portion of her body he hit either. Some blows landed to her stomach, some to her ribs or back, a few around her hips, and at least one to her face. Miranda and the girls were screaming. She could hear the sirens, they'd be there soon, but she wasn't going to let her family see her being beaten. And certainly not by this sorry excuse of a man. Stephen went to kick her again and she grabbed his leg using his momentum to pull him forward into the wall as she rolled away and reached for her gun.

She pulled it in seconds and had it pointed at him. He growled and moved faster than she could take the safety off. His hands gripped her wrists and twisted the gun down. She could feel it pressed against her as they struggled. She jammed her heel into the toe of his shoe and head butted him breaking his nose. He grit his teeth and forcefully slammed her back against the wall. One of her hands slipped from the gun. A shot rang out and she felt a warm liquid cover her. "Andréa!"

Stephen's eyes went wide as he looked down at his chest. Blood seeped through his shirt. Another shot rang out and he fell to his knees. "He'll kill you," he said blood flowing down the sides of his mouth. "You, that bitch and her stupid kids," he spat staggering to stay upright.

Andy felt a white hot anger rise in her chest as she tried to breath over the rising smoke. The roof was getting hotter. "No one will touch them," her voice was deep but clear as she walked towards him. "And if anyone tries to hurt my family they will end up just like you," she seethed and pushed his body to the side and returned to the ledge. She slowly and carefully made her way over and collapsed on the other roof in Miranda's arms just as flames exploded through the door to the roof.

The sirens were closer and she knew if Stephen wasn't dead from blood loss he'd definitely be thrown in jail. At least he wouldn't be a threat anymore. Miranda was stroking her hair while the girls held each hand. "I'm fine," she said trying to smile though she was sure it looked more like a grimace. Her ribs were probably broken and her face was a mess but it could have been worse. She sighed and let her vision go black.

She woke up in the hospital with Miranda holding her hand and the girls asleep on cots they put in her room. She squeezed the older woman's hand gently easily waking her from a fitful sleep. "Andréa," Miranda sighed kissing the top of her hand tears pooling in her eyes.

"Hey, I'm okay," Andy rubbed her thumb over the top of the CEO's hand. "Why don't you tell me what the doc said?"

"You have a concussion and three broken ribs. One of the bones punctured your lung. And your face is covered with bruises."

"So I look like I feel, good to know," she chuckled softly so she didn't jostle herself too much.

"It's not funny," Miranda chided.

Andy stopped and squeezed her hand. "I know, but I'm fine."

"Hastings will be stopping by later, she checked in a little while ago but you were asleep."

"Did she say what she wanted to discuss?"

"Something about a safe house," Miranda sounded reluctant.

"Probably for the best, Mira. I'll need to ask her to put a detail on my family and our friends. They won't like it but it needs to be done. I don't want Karoff coming after anyone."

"I've decided to send the girls to James' parents in Rhode Island. He's going with them. I don't want them to be involved in this anymore than they already are."

Andy nodded. "I'm sorry; I should have suggested it sooner."

"It's not your fault," Miranda sighed. "I'm their mother. Regardless of our relationship I should have sent them away when all this started. But they love you and I knew you'd protect them with your life. I just can't ignore James anymore, they're his children too. He wants to keep them shielded from anything else and I'm inclined to agree given what happened last night."

"I'm sorry; I never wanted them to see any of this."

"I know. Like I said, it's not your fault. I wanted them here. I was being selfish."

"You're the least selfish person I know when it comes to the people you care about."

"Ah, but that's when I am really the most selfish," Miranda admitted with a small smile. "I don't like to share; I've never been all that great at it, even when it comes to my girls seeing their father."

"Miranda, you love fiercely, don't ever apologize for that," Andy said seriously pulling the older woman to get so she could kiss her.

They broke apart hearing the knock on the door. Hastings was in the doorway. "You're awake, good," she shut the door to keep their conversation private. "Stephen Tomlinson was pronounced dead on arrival due to his injuries."

"Am I in the clear?" Andy asked.

"We managed to get a full confession out of him in the ambulance. Apparently, his reasoning behind all of this was that Miranda made him look like a fool. We also took witness statements from Miranda, the girls, and a few of your neighbors who saw him set the fire and attack you. So yes, you're in the clear. There won't be any internal review."

"Well, I should hope not," Miranda said indignantly and Andy smiled at her protectiveness.

"I've set up a safe house for you in the mountains until we find out who the mole is and put Karoff behind bars. You've dealt with enough. I want you to lay low; no internet, no phones, no television. If you need to contact someone you can send a message via transmitter radio on a secure channel only we have access to."

"What about the girls?" Miranda asked.

"It's probably best you don't contact them while you're in hiding. There's a good chance they'll be watched carefully," Andy was about to speak when Hastings held up her hand. "I've already called the local police department and they have assured me there will be a detail at all times. They won't be leaving the house without one."

"Do we have a cover while we are upstate?" Andy asked.

"Maureen and Ava Fontaine," she said handing them their new IDs and paperwork. "You'll be pretty close to the Canadian border so you'll need the passports. Greg will pick you up when you are discharged and drive you up there. A car, food, and clothing have already been provided. If you need anything else you can let us know over the radio."

"What about my badge and gun?"

"Greg will have them when he picks you up after you are discharged."

"And what name was I admitted under?"

"Grace Williams, the same name on your lease."

"You switched my lease?"

"It was the only way to protect your identity."

"I want a detail on my family and our friends."

"I keep a constant detail on your family in case your cover is ever blown. Your friends I don't have the power to keep under that kind of detail but I'll put an order in until this whole mess blows over."

Andy nodded and before Hastings could leave her mouth started moving. "I want out. When this is all over, I'm done. Give me a desk job."

Hastings stopped in the doorway and glanced at the agent. "Demitri is retiring soon; you can take over the profiling department when he does. I'm guessing you're a bit rusty so until then you'll train with him and get familiar with the team. We'll go over my expectations at a later date. Get some rest. I'll keep you informed of the situation while you're upstate."

A few hours later, Andy was saying goodbye to the girls while James spoke with Miranda. She heard parts of their conversation but tried keep her attention on the twins. "What if something happens while we're gone?"

"Don't worry so much Cass, you'll get wrinkles like your mom," Andy smirked knowing the older woman could hear. She received a playful glare from the doorway. "I'm kidding, your mom is beautiful. But my point is you're just kids; let me and the grown-ups worry about the big stuff. You just stay safe and enjoy your time with your dad because when this is all over I doubt your mom will allow you any time to yourselves," Andy smiled.

"Andy?"

"Yes, Caroline?"

"Please don't let anything happen to our mom," she said pleadingly.

"Yeah! And you're not allowed to die either!" Cassidy said with her finger in Andy's face.

"Hey, hey, I know you're scared," Andy gathered them in her arms as best she could given she was still in the hospital bed and leaning over the side. "I love you guys and your mom more than anything in the world. I promise I'll do my very best to make sure we both make it back to you, okay?"

They both nodded and hugged Andy tightly. "Girls," James called for them from the doorway. "Say goodbye to your mother, it's time to go." Andy watched as Miranda hugged them extra tight and smothered them with kisses telling them to be good. "Take care of her," a deep voice said from beside her.

Andy looked up at James. He was a handsome man with graying dark hair, a strong jaw, and blue eyes; he was any woman's dream really. "I'll do my best," the agent said meeting his eyes both determined and respectful.

"I can see why she loves you," he said with a small smile. "Take care of yourself too, we'll see you soon. Maybe you'll be the one to make an honest woman out of her," he said squeezing her hand.

She tilted her head watching him go with the girls and Miranda walked with them to see them off. I think he just gave me his blessing to marry Miranda. Andy smiled and then laughed to herself. It's not like she hadn't thought of asking already but there were still things she had to do first like ask the girls and Nigel, pick out a ring, tell her parents. God they haven't even met Miranda or the girls yet! And this mess needed to be over with. Yes, she would ask when the time was right.