I know you all have been waiting for me to write a story set after 3x07 and trust me, me too. Sorry it took so long, I had some health issues and had to be taken to hospital. The only bright side was the super cute super kind rescuer that came in the Ambulance to save me and my damn back. I bet Shonda met him and wrote Travis to match this guy!

It was a hell of a day and Pruitt Herrera felt like crap. Thinking back to everything that happened during that one shift, he couldn't breathe. He was waiting for Ben in their new PRT aid car in front of the hospital. He thought he would go inside but found out he couldn't. So he let his two colleagues go and waited in the car.

He had his hand inside Rigo Vasquez. He was a good kid. He knew him for years. He knew his father. And now he had to remember how it felt holding his bleeding vein in his hand. He saw his intestines coming out of his belly. Damn.

He also had the unique privilege to watch Warren do his job. And he was damn good at it. He was the first one to give him hard time about becoming a firefighter but right now he was glad he gave him the shot. He was glad Sullivan gave him the shot. And he was even glad that his attempt at getting job at Medic One failed. Those guys can only watch and be jealous now. He was proud of him, knowing his road wasn't easy. He was a good man and he saved Rigo's life today.

Pruitt heard the rumors about Gibson and Rigo's wife and couldn't believe it. Gibson? That kid wasn't one of those to break the code. Pruitt knew what happened to him, he knew why he wanted to be a firefighter, he knew. So it didn't make any sense. He didn't seem like he was going down the slippery slope after he got better after his PTSD. He was okay. He knew he was. Was it the promotion? Or Bishop dumping him? Why would those two even start dating anyway? Why did people had to date other people from the same station? Those regulations were placed for a reason.

When Ben came back and they drove back to 19, Pruitt knew he wanted and needed to talk to his daughter. She was mad and worried and he didn't help the matters at all. And he owed her an apology and explanation. And he should do it before she would tell Sullivan something she'd regret later. She needed to know that she was his first choice for the promotion. He had to tell her and knew Sullivan wouldn't. He was going through something personal, Pruitt could tell. He was good at reading people after all those years. It was part of the job.

When they came back to the station the atmosphere there was charged and heavy. They met Vic and she told them about what happened, how Andy confronted Bishop and Bishop finally put her foot down and tried to be a Captain as she should. Vic told them about Gibson and his guilt eating him up.

"How are you, Sir?" Vic asked him then.

"I'm okay, Hughes, don't worry."

"Well, sorry, Sir but we'll all worry now." She said and Ben only gave him the I told you so look. Pruitt rolled his eye and Vic grinned at them. Something would never change.

"Is Andy still here?" Pruitt asked then.

"Yeah, she said she needed to lie down," Vic said and Pruitt nodded.

"Thanks. I'll go check up on her." He thanked her and left. He'd have to check the bunks but hopefully, she'll hear him out once he found her. He needed to talk to her and he wanted to see her.

When he was nearing the bunk he heard Sullivan's voice. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Andy, I'm in trouble. And I don't know who else to talk to about it." Sullivan said and Pruitt couldn't believe it. He would never expect him to say something like that, to admit it out loud. His daughter was silent and Sullivan continued.

"But you are who I want to talk to because I'm in love with you. And I've been in love with you... feels like forever." Pruitt felt his heart stop. So he was right. He did love her. It wasn't a fling and it wasn't about taking advantage. The big tough untouchable Sullivan fell for his daughter and it messed him up.

Well he thought that being at 19 could help Sullivan to get back after all he's been put through but he honestly didn't think it would come to this. Especially when Ripley told him that Sullivan and Andy didn't get along well, he knew about the tension, he knew that his daughter was challenging him and that he was distancing himself from the team. Only after he got hurt and allowed them to help him, he was slowly becoming part of the team. Which he was now. They all knew it although nobody would say it out loud. But he knew the crew cared about him.

And judging by his choice to set up his new office at 19, he cared about them too. But this? Wow.

"And I'm failing at it." Sullivan said and Pruitt wanted to leave and leave them, let them have the private moment, but he couldn't. He needed to know.

"I'm failing at loving you. I'm failing at protecting you. I'm failing at being your boss. I'm failing at being your friend. I'm..." Sullivan stopped and took a deep breath. Pruitt's heart was beating madly in his chest. What had he done?

"I'm sorry. And I... And I want to talk. Can we... talk?" Sullivan asked Andy and Pruitt waited for her reply anxiously. Please say yes and let the man talk, he thought. It had to be so hard for him to say all this, to admit all this. She had to, please…

"I can't be angry at my dad, because he is dying. But you're perfectly healthy." Pruitt heard his daughter's reply and his heart broke for the younger man. He heard the door close and he waited not sure about what to do.

He looked and saw Sullivan leaning against the door, his forehead touching the hard surface. That man was hurting so much he could feel it from the distance. And so was his daughter. And he caused it. He caused so much pain and didn't even know it.

"Andy? Andy… please." Sullivan said but there was no response. Pruitt felt so bad. He just stood there and watched him. Man, that loved his daughter so much that made decisions that made her hate him in return. Man, that came broken to the station and fixed the broken team and the team fixed him. Man, that had such a difficult past that it was a surprise he could fall in love again and admit it. Was he who would Pruitt chose for his child? No. But watching him, hearing him, trying to understand him, Pruitt had to admit that he was in a way the perfect choice and was no longer surprised his daughter fell for him too.

And he knew she did. That's why she was so angry at him, that's why it hurt her so much when he misunderstood their relationship. He actually believed it now, that they didn't sleep together. No, they fell in love right in front of his eyes and he was blind to see it. He was the one who suggested to Sullivan to talk to Andy and let her help him be part of the team. And he listened to him.

Thinking back to the Aid Car accident that still made his blood freeze he tried to put it all together in his head. And he had to admit that this was long coming. Only unexpected and very much complicated.

As he stood there and got lost in his thoughts, Sullivan turned around away from the door and saw him. All sorts of emotions came across his face and Pruitt felt like an intruder.

"Sir," Sullivan said and just stood there.

"Sullivan."

"I… Sorry." He told him and wanted to leave. He walked past Pruitt and left. Pruitt had to decide which talk was more important and it was a very difficult decision. He wanted to follow Sullivan but realized that if there was anyone Sullivan really needed, it was Andrea. So his choice was easy in the end.

He knocked on the door and waited. Nothing. He knocked again and when there was still no answer, he called his daughter.

"Andrea, it's me." He said and after a moment Andy opened. He could tell she was crying. He sighed.

"Dad… I…" She wanted to say something but he stopped her.

"Just let me in, sweetheart." He said and she stepped aside so he could come in.

Andy waited for him to comment on her tearful eyes and how tired she looked but he just smiled gently at her.

"There is something I need to tell you and I should have done it a long ago." He said.

"Dad." She wanted to stop him but he wouldn't hear about it.

"You asked me if Sullivan knew."

"I know he knew."

"Well, he didn't."

"What?" She didn't understand.

"After Ryan's funeral I came to Sullivan, I wanted to talk to him about the promotion."

"You didn't, dad."

"Oh, I did. I came here and asked him not to promote you."

"What are you talking about, dad?"

"He wanted you to have to job, Andy. He chose you. He said you earned it and that you should have it. He told me you would do great. He stood by you." Pruitt said and saw how Andy's face changed. How much this affected her. "I should have told you sooner."

She wanted him to stop but he couldn't. He had to tell her everything.

"Ryan knew I was going to die. That's why he came back to Seattle. Because I asked him to come back to be here for you. And when he died I knew you'd be all alone and that you would need time. I didn't want you to throw away your only chance at being Captain and Chief one day. And so I came to Sullivan and asked him not to give it to you, not now. He didn't know I was sick."

"So why did he… dad…"

"Because that man loves you and he decided to trust me when I told him now wasn't the right time," Pruitt said and watched his precious daughter blink away tears.

"He knew you would hate him. He knew you wouldn't forgive him. But he did it to protect you. He did it because he cares. And I am sorry I didn't see it sooner. I am sorry I didn't understand before." Pruitt said and risked it and took those two steps to his daughter and hugged her.

"I'm sorry, Andrea, I'm so sorry…" He said and in a minute she took a deep steadying breath and moved away.

"You had no right, dad."

"I know."

"And you should have told me."

"I know."

"He should have told me!" Andy was getting mad.

"He wouldn't do that."

"Dad," Andy warned him. Pruitt had one more thing to say so he said it. He told her about the money situation, he told her about the insurance and he told her about Dixon calling Sullivan and their talk.

"Sullivan should have put me in line but instead he was worried about me and about you. He asked me if I was sick again and that I should tell you. I dismissed him but he was right."

"So he knew," Andy commented.

"He guessed but long after promoting Bishop," Pruitt said. He gave his daughter time to think and then tried to give her a reassuring smile.

"I'm sorry, I really am. Please. Forgive me." He asked her and she couldn't even answer.

"You have no idea what it all caused, dad. And I'm not talking only about me and Robert." She said and Pruitt had to admit that it sounded weird to hear her say his given name. "Look what happened to Maya and Jack and this place is falling apart." She told him and he knew she was right.

"Bishop will handle herself and learn."

"It almost cost Rigo his life." Andy shot back. Pruitt was silent. Andy turned away from him and just looked outside the window. He came to her slowly to give her time to move away if she wanted to. She just stood there and felt him coming closer to her.

"Do you love him, Andrea?" He asked and she didn't answer. It was too much.

"If you do, then for what it's worth I hope you'll fix it between you two. He's a good man and he loves you and…" Pruitt stopped and didn't know how to finish the sentence. Andy's shoulders were shaking as she tried to control her emotions.

"I'm proud of you, mija. I love you. I just want to see you happy. And if it's with Sullivan then I'm okay with it." He said and kissing her temple, he left, closing the door behind him to give her time to pull herself together.

He had another apology to make. Walking downstairs to Captain's office, he found the curtains closed and the door locked. Bishop probably needed to be left alone after what happened. He would talk to her later then.

Looking up he knew he had to go and see Sullivan if only to apologize. He owed him that much for all the pain he caused him.

Walking to his office, the curtains were closed so he knocked and tried the door. He walked inside and found Sullivan sitting in the dark office, deep in thought. He looked so broken and beaten Pruitt felt even worse.

"Just let me talk, son." He said when Sullivan tried to say something. Sullivan nodded. Pruitt closed the door then.

"I am sorry, Robert. I am sorry for asking you to betray my daughter. I'm sorry for the pain it caused both of you."

"But you were right, Sir. She would blow it now especially with you being ill." Sullivan said.

"Maybe. But I should have never asked you to do that. I was wrong about you. And it was wrong to ask you not to promote her. You put Bishop's name for it and it's tearing this place into pieces. I was so wrong."

"Bishop will handle it, Sir. She's tough. She just needs help." Sullivan said.

"Yes, that's true. And what about you?"

"Me?"

"I heard you, Robert," Pruitt said matter-of-factly.

"Pruitt." Robert wanted to say something. Pruitt just gave him a sad smile.

"I told her everything. She knows now. Just give her time and don't give up on her." Pruitt said.

"I could never do that," Sullivan replied.

"Is it real for you?" Pruitt asked and Sullivan nodded.

"I know you don't agree, Sir. I didn't think I would… that we would… I mean…" He was trying to explain but didn't have the right words.

"You can't plan to fall in love with someone," Pruitt said softly. "It just happens. And you two are lucky because it's mutual. Find a way to be happy. And if you can, forgive me." Pruitt added and Sullivan didn't know what to say.

Pruitt just nodded and wanted to leave.

"I'm in trouble, Sir," Sullivan said. Pruitt turned back around.

"How much?"

"A lot. And I don't know how to fix it. And I can't do it alone." Sullivan admitted. "I don't have anyone to talk to and I'm scared."

Pruitt watched him in shock once more that day and didn't know what to say. He had to think about it first before giving Sullivan a reply that would matter something.

"You're not alone, not here and not when you have the crew standing behind you. You can talk to me if you want to and if not, there are people down there that do care. Just give them the chance." Pruitt tried to advise him.

Sullivan immediately thought about Ben Warren and his concern. He thought about Hughes and her silent support when they lost Ripley. He thought about Gibson and the way the guy tried to let him know about all the small secrets of the station. He thought about Travis and his easy way of talking to people including him. And he thought about Andy.

He needed her and he was ashamed. He screwed up.

"Thank you, sir," Sullivan said in the end. Pruitt just nodded.

"I never thanked you, Sir." He added.

"What for?"

"For calling Lucas and telling him to give me the job," Sullivan said and enjoyed the small surprised look on Pruitt's face.

"I didn't know he told you," Pruitt replied.

"Thank you," Sullivan said again and let Pruitt leave.

Pruitt closed the door behind him and felt absolutely drained. He just hoped he didn't destroy his daughter's happiness. If he had to go and leave her, he needed to know she wouldn't be alone. He tried to repair at least some of the damage he caused. And he hoped those two would find a way. He needed her as much as she needed him. Of course, he was trying to figure out what was wrong with Sullivan but he had no idea.

Before he left he wanted to check upon Warren in the fancy new aid car. They went over the supplies together and got disturbed when Sullivan came and knocked on the back door.

"Warren? You got a minute?" He asked. "Sir." He added when he noticed Pruitt. It was awkward a bit.

"I'll leave you two," Pruitt said and left.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" Warren asked and Pruitt heard the tension in the man's voice.

"You can save my ass," Sullivan said and Warren closed the door to give them privacy. With a smile, Pruitt left.

When he was at the reception he got a call from Andy. She was asking him where he was and he told her. She asked him to wait for her. She wanted to take him out to dinner. He happily agreed.

Pruitt felt something he hadn't felt in a very long time. Hope.

Enough or more? No promises on how fast it could and would be due to the medication making me sleepy all the time.