Back with an update! Sorry its been a while! We love that everyone is loving this story as well as You're My Home! As always, please review, follow, and favorite! We love hearing from you!
-D.H. Caldwell and HAS5245
Back at the station, Andy was sitting in her office trying to organize paperwork when Maya walked into her office and slipped into her usual seat across from the desk. Andy didn't even acknowledge her as she was too busy getting her snack in order to do so. "Andy", Maya called, only for Andy to ignore her. "Andy", she called again, more impatient this time, only to be ignored yet again. Maya sighed and used her last ditch effort to get Andy's attention, "Andrea Herrera Gibson, are you going to answer me or just ignore me?"
Andy finally looked up from her stack, annoyed at how many times she had been disrupted by Maya. She had been trying to count a stack of papers to see if she missed printing any pages and lost count with Maya's pestering. "Whatever this is better be good, I have a million things to do in the five minutes before Squires gets here", she warned as she sniffed the air in front of her, waving a hand in front of her face as she did. She looked up at Maya who was dripping with sweat. "The chief doesn't do group workouts", Andy muttered as Maya walked over to her mini fridge and pulled a water out before resuming her place in her seat across from Andy.
"She does when your husband can't", Maya answered as she took a sip of her water. "And I forgot how exhausting they are. Is it just me or are you extra hormonal and stressed today?"
Andy ignored the last comment and arched an eyebrow at her, narrowing her eyes, "What do you mean by my husband can't? I sent Jack to run workouts an hour ago. Where was he?". Maya pretended not to hear Andy and instead reached over on the desk to adjust a framed picture of the kids at the courthouse from the day of their adoption. "Maya, is there something you're not telling me?", Andy wondered. Jack had been cagey that morning and now Maya was being the same way. "Maya?"
"Jack had to go pick DJ up from camp so I took over workouts. No big deal", she answered absentmindedly, not realizing what she said until it was too late. Maya put a hand over her mouth as Andy arched an eyebrow at her, silently asking for more information. Maya let out a nervous laugh, thinking about how Jack was going to kill her when he found out that she told Andy. She looked over and Andy and got the feeling that Andy would kill her if she found out she knew and didn't say anything. Maya honestly wanted to be anywhere else besides Andy's office at the moment. "Did I say that he had to pick DJ up from camp?", she asked, playing it cool.
"Yes, that's exactly what you said", Andy answered matter of factly as Maya looked away from her. "Maya, what is going on? Squires is coming in five minutes and I don't have time for the games and the bullshit. What is going on?", she asked with eyes pointing like daggers at Maya.
Maya chuckled, "Has anyone ever told you how great of a captain you are?". Andy blinked at her in disbelief and stared at her silently. "You want to know the truth?", Maya asked as Andy nodded her head while glaring at her. It pissed her off that Maya was trying to hide something, and it pissed her off even more that the something she was trying to hide had to do with DJ. Maya sighed, "DJ got in a fight so they're sending him home and Jack told me not to say anything to you"
"Why?", Andy asked impatiently before the first thing Maya had said registered in her mind. "DJ was in a fight?"
Maya shrugged as she sipped her water and made herself comfortable in her chair. "Wow it's really hot in here", she excused trying to change the subject. She could feel Andy's glare on her like the hot sun. "Jack didn't want to stress you out before the meeting with Squires. He was deceptive but it was out of love Andy", Maya confessed.
Andy closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a slow breath. "He purposefully didn't tell me out of love?", she wondered. "He thought that telling me that our son got sent home for fighting would stress me out? ", Andy asked, her voice going up an octave. "How's DJ? Is he okay, is he hurt? What was the fight about?", she added, concerned for her son.
"I don't know. All I know is that Jack has better get his ass in here soon because Squires just got here. Vic's got him occupied, thank God", Maya answered, looking out the window. She breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed the Jeep pull into its usual spot in the parking lot. She cringed as she watched Jack and DJ get out of the car, getting a quick glimpse of DJ's face before Squires walked in the room. "Jack just pulled in so he'll be up in a few. DJ definitely has a black eye I would say, and his nose looked a little swollen. Again, I don't know, I'm just judging by what I'm seeing up here", Maya added.
Andy sighed and whispered to Maya while Squires sat down. "I want DJ checked out by Altman and Avery when he gets in here. Immediately". Maya nodded quickly and shot a quick text to Teddy before Squires started the meeting.
Squires took the spare seat next to Maya and made himself comfortable before starting off the conversation between the three of them. "I haven't seen an office this organized since Robert", he complimented. "Bishop over here says that you've been working your tail off the past few days. Is that true?", he chuckled. Andy felt like she was going to throw up again; she did all that worrying for a compliment. Maybe the conversation was going to be about just that, about her overworking herself in the second trimester.
"I'm going on vacation the week after next sir, I figured I could put in the time now, that way I have less to do when we get back", Andy smiled as she put a paperclip on a stack of papers and checked out the glass window for any sign of Jack walking up the stairs. "Sorry for the wait, one of our kids got in a fight at school and Jack's dealing with it", Andy apologized
Squires smiled at her and chuckled, "Don't worry about it, please". Squires looked around at the pictures on the shelves and Pruitt's uniform which was neatly folded on a shelf. "Your father was such a good man. You're just like him; one of the greats". He checked for Jack too and decided to make small talk until he got there. "Where are you guys going on vacation?", he asked
"We're taking a drive across Pennsylvania to visit Jack's family. It's his first time meeting his mom and his stepfather. We're renting an RV and sightseeing on the way for the kids. We're spending two weeks at a campground close to where Jack's mom lives", Andy answered before seeing Jack run into the room, out of breath. He took a seat on the couch while Squires and Maya chuckled at him. "So, is our little slugger down with Teddy?", Andy asked much to Jack's surprise.
"You know about that?", he asked exasperated, his eyes wide with fear. He turned to Maya who simply shrugged and mouthed an apology. "Last time I ever tell big mouth over here anything. What part of "don't tell Andy" don't you understand? I was going to tell her when I got here. When she wasn't stressed out", Jack scolded.
Maya rolled her eyes and scoffed at him, "Big mouth, in front of our boss? That's real nice Gibson. Way to be professional"
"I hope we're not starting this again you two. The last time you guys fought I had to send both of you away to that conference", Squires reminded them to both Maya and Jack's displeasure.
Both looked at each other distinctly remembering the day they got called into the meeting with Squires and instead of firing them, which he said he could have easily done, given their circumstances he cut them slack and only made them attend the mandatory bonding day. The ride there and back had turned into fights over who's fault it was that they got sent there. Even breakfast on the way there turned into a fight over money and the station, and each other. However, once they were back at the station, they made a pact to keep things civil in order to keep Chief Squires out of the station until Andy got never imagined just being civil turning into as close of a friendship as it did. "Lord knows I don't need you arguing again. I have enough on my hands with Roy from 23 and the complaints he had about the unprofessionalism from his battalion chief", Squires added while looking at Maya.
Maya scoffed and rolled her eyes, "That's not my problem sir. Maybe I'd be professional if the guy would give a shit about the way his team works. I swear to God someone from 23 is going to get killed because they can't work together. Weakest piece of shit I've ever…..". Maya stopped mid sentence when Squires cleared his throat and arched an eyebrow at her. "Fine, I'll try to be professional as long as you talk to him about keeping his crew under control"
"That's not what I asked you about. Now can I trust you and Gibson not to argue?", Squires asked.
"Yes sir", Jack answered, staring directly at Maya. "We're all professional here. However, when I ask my chief to keep something confidential, shouldn't she?"
Maya stared at him back, unblinking like her father often did when he was mad, "Andy is his mother. She has the right to know. You're just afraid that she's going to get all stressed out and pass out again"
Andy, clearly caught in the middle and wanting to move on, ran her fingers through her hair and then rubbed her temples in hopes of soothing the forming headache. She stood up and intervened, seeing the argument brewing between her husband and Maya, "Look. I care that DJ fought and we're going to talk about that after Squires leaves, and we're going to talk about your genius plan to not tell me he got in a fight before you left. However, right now is about me and Squires and I need the two of you to stop acting like children and sit down before I separate you".
Maya stared at Andy with an open mouth, wide eyed. She certainly wasn't expecting that. "Damn", Maya muttered under her breath.
"And that sir is how we get things done in the Herrera-Gibson house. Now, what did you want to tell me?", Andy asked as Squires shook his head, trying to regain the train of thought he lost when Andy flawlessly took control of the argument like she did. "Squires?", she asked again.
Squires smiled and put a folder marked with the city seal and the state seal on the desk. He pushed it towards Andy and she looked at it dumbfounded while he chuckled. "My wife told me that I'm getting old and that I need to retire. She doesn't want me running into burning buildings anymore, so I need to name a new fire chief. I've talked to a ton of candidates but only one caught my eye. Now, I got statements from everyone on your team including these two. The resilience and the passion that you've shown in the past year with everything you've been through. Your first husband was an addict, and you lost three people, him being one of them in the same year. You ran away and had enough courage to come home and work through your grief. You got married again to the love of your life and adopted three wonderful kids who are just like their Mom and their Dad in so many ways. You stepped right into your role as a captain and as a mother each time and brought all of this passion and drive to the table like nothing I've ever seen before. You juggle both the station and parenthood flawlessly. Even I couldn't do that during my time as chief before Ripley", Squires explained as Andy sat in front of him looking as if she was about to cry. Jack smiled and squeezed her hand, wondering how she was going to respond to what Squires had to say next. "The last time I saw talent like yours in someone, I was working with your father. If he could only see you now there is no doubt in my mind that he would be so proud", Squires summarized before glancing over at the photo of Andy and Pruitt.
"What are you saying sir?", Andy asked, confused. Was she in trouble or was this something else; something better perhaps? "You're making me nervous"
Squires smiled as he walked up next to her, "Your father told me once that he wanted to see you become fire chief one day. You were just a little girl, I'll never forget that. He already knew you would achieve greatness. He may not be here to see it, but I know he's looking down. Now, on behalf of the civil service commission, I want to promote you to the SFD Chief position, effective February 13th, 2023. That is if you'll accept"
Andy was speechless and tried to formulate something to say, something of a thanks, but no words came out. She put a hand over her mouth and tears came to her eyes. It all seemed so surreal. Andy felt like she was going to pass out right then and there. Maya must have noticed because she felt her hand on her shoulder not even a second later. She looked up at Squires, who was patiently waiting for her to say something. "Great. Um, thank you sir. I'm just a little shocked as to why you picked me. Bishop has the higher rank", she stated, flustered.
"Bishop was actually the one that recommended you for the position. If you take it, you not only make history as the first female chief, and the youngest chief yet. Besides Bishop is happy enough in her role bossing your husband around and threatening Roy, which does need to stop by the way Bishop", Squires chuckled
Maya groaned, "Noted sir"
Squires continued, "If you take the position, Gibson will become Captain of 19 effective in February. You will take the vacant Chief's quarters at 19, previously occupied by Ripley. It's important to me to keep you and Gibson together which is why I'm not going to make you go to city hall. Bishop will stay here too"
Andy was crying at this point and dried her eyes with a tissue that Jack kindly handed to her, "I'll take it. Of course I have to finish my leave first, but I'll take it no question. Thank you for letting me work out of 19 and for this opportunity. You have no idea how much that means to me"
"It's the least I can do. I know you're going to do right by your father. You deserve this Andy Herrera. Make us proud", Squires stated as he checked his buzzing phone before standing up to leave. "I have an emergency meeting with 23 so I have to run. Call me with any questions you have. Congratulations to both you and Gibson", he added before walking out the door, leaving behind an awestruck Andy and Jack. That was definitely not what they were expecting. Andy let the news of the promotion sink in. She couldn't wait to tell the kids, and she couldn't wait for the shift to be over so she could go to the cemetery and visit Robert's headstone and Pruitt's ashes. She wanted to tell them everything. She wiped away another stay tear as she put her thumb over her father's picture and then Ryan and Robert's. She would give anything to be able to tell the three of them about her promotion, but she had a feeling that they already knew and maybe even had a hand in making it happen.
Jack smiled and put a hand on her shoulder as she reached up and touched it, linking her fingers with his, "They're so proud of you right now, that's for sure. I know I am", he assured her as they shared a quick kiss. "Missing them a little extra today?"
"Yeah. I remember last year, every time I would even think about Robert, or Ryan, or my father I would go into this dark and downward spiral. Now I can think about them and smile", she explained as she reached over with her free hand and grabbed her, #1 Mom, coffee mug that Rowan bought her for Mother's Day with his allowance money. She sipped the hot coffee inside, thinking about them and how they would have reacted, "I know they're up there watching over me and now the kids; and you. They're so proud of you too. Especially my Dad. He wanted you to be captain. Looks like we both achieved what he wanted for us"
Seeing that she had no place in the conversation, Maya stood up to leave and make herself useful by checking on DJ who was down with Teddy and Jackson. She walked towards the door, pausing for a minute of her way out, "I'm going to leave you two to do that mushy, "I love you" shit with each other while I go take care of the station and your son"
Andy looked at her from over Jack's shoulder as she pulled away from him, "Ohhh, you're not going anywhere", she chuckled, "You're in trouble; both of you are. Now sit down"
"I just want to say that I'm innocent here. Jack told me not to tell you and I didn't want to deal with him getting all pissy if I did", Maya confessed, defending herself from Andy's interrogation about DJ's fight. She pumped her fist triumphantly in the air as Andy told her to go, satisfied with her confession.
The absence of Maya left just Jack and Andy in her office. The two sat in silence while Andy patiently waited for Jack to say something. "I'm waiting", she told him flatly while he tried to think of the perfect way to explain all this to her. "Jack, how could you find out about DJ and not tell me? I could have rescheduled with Squires and helped", she told him with a hint of hurt in her voice.
He would have given anything to take the hurt away from her. It hurt him seeing her upset like that. "I handled it honey. DJ was in a fight. Roger was making fun of him, DJ told him to stop, and he didn't. I guess Roger's been making his life hell for a few months now" he explained, "DJ finally had enough and punched Roger right in the face"
"Did you talk to DJ about fighting?", Andy asked as Jack nodded affirmatively. "More importantly, did you find out what the school's going to do about Roger bullying our son?"
Jack shook his head, "It's up to Peterson. Peterson doesn't want to tell me how they're handling Roger, which means that they're doing nothing. Probably because Corrie is the head of the PTA and they don't want to upset her". Andy made a face revealing her disgust with Corrie, Roger's mom, and Jack couldn't help but laugh lightly when he noticed it. His voice got serious however when he told Andy about his solution, "So, I pulled DJ and Rowan out of that school. And before you say anything, the bullying has been extended to Rowan too and if I know him, he wasn't going to tell us about it"
"Woah, back up a second, you pulled them out of school?", she asked angrily. "You can't just decide to pull them out of school without consulting me. Did you tell what's-his-face that I would talk to him?", Andy wondered, trying to see if Jack exhausted every last option before jumping to the extreme.
"I told Peterson that you would be glad to talk to him and DJ even mentioned that he'd sic Aunt Maya on him. He still wouldn't budge", Jack yelled, defending his decision. "Now, you can hate it if you want but I already found a great school; Bayview Academy down by Elliot Bay", Jack suggested after giving Andy the rundown about what was said at the meeting. "They've been around since 1900 and so many successful people have gone there. You should see their graduation rate", Jack pitched, hoping Andy would find it just as good of an idea as he did. "Did I mention they have a preschool program?"
Andy arched an eyebrow at him, "Private school? You want to send our kids to school with stuffy rich kids whose parents are lawyers and accountants?". Andy sighed as Jack nodded affirmatively and pulled up the application page on his phone. She had to admit that she loved how prepared he was. "I'll have to think about it", she told him as she pushed the phone back towards him. However, her opinion changed the second DJ walked into the room. Andy ran over to him and looked him over. "Oh my God. Dalton James Herrera Gibson, what happened?", she asked as she hugged him tight.
"Mommy, let go, you're squishing me", DJ told her as she loosened her grip. She had DJ sit down in the chair across from her desk that had been previously occupied by Maya. "Am I in trouble Mommy?", DJ asked quietly, unsure of how Andy reacted when Jack told her about the fight.
Andy shook her head as she walked to a mini fridge and pulled out a fresh ice pack. She handed it to DJ and took the old one away. "Keep that on your face for twenty minutes. Look at you, that looks so painful", she fussed as she got a closer look at the black eye, the split lip, and the swollen nose, "Did you let Aunt Teddy check that nose buddy? It looks really, really swollen", Andy asked as she ran her finger over it herself, causing DJ to wince from the pain.
"It's not broken Mommy, it just hurts alot", DJ answered as Andy kissed his nose
"I would imagine it would honey", Andy answered as she went to her desk to find the Qtips and the Neosoprin for under his nose where it had been bleeding. She put some on the cut below his nose while DJ winced. "I know honey, I'm almost done", she told him before looking up at Jack who dangled his phone with the ad for Bayview in front of her face. "How fast can we send in that application?", she asked.
Jack chuckled as he pressed 'send' on an email to Carol Williams, the headmistress of the school. "Already done", he explained with a smile as he watched Andy put the Qtip in the trash. Andy walked over to her office phone without a word and dialed a number, angrily pressing the buttons, saying something Jack couldn't understand as she went. "Ummm, Andy, who are you calling?", Jack asked as Andy held up a finger.
Andy chuckled as she waited for someone to pick up on the other end, "He would be an idiot if he didn't answer a call from the Seattle Fire Department". She waited a few moments longer, listening to nothing but the ringing of the other phone. She sighed, tapping her fingers on the desk. "Come on, pick up", she muttered under her breath as she glanced over at DJ and then back at the phone.
Jack and DJ exchanged looks before Jack reached across the desk and held Andy's hand that sat on the receiver of the grey phone; the phone itself was off the hook and clutched in Andy's other hand as she waited silently for the other person to pick up. "I think Mommy's really mad", DJ pointed out, catching up on what he thought was going on. "Is she mad at me?", he questioned as Jack shook his head.
Jack was happy that in that moment, he spotted Vic walking down the hallway in front of Andy's office. Jack was set on getting him out of there before Andy tore into the unfortunate soul on the other line, using not so child friendly words. "DJ, buddy, can you go eat your lunch and finish your ice with Aunt Vic? Mommy and I will be in there super soon okay?", Jack asked DJ as DJ readily agreed.
Vic stopped in front of the door to Andy's office and heard Andy shout, "What do you mean you want me to hold? Yeah, well I don't care if he's talking to Corrie. You get him on this phone right now", while DJ walked towards the door. "Do you want me to take him to the beanery?", Vic asked Jack as he nodded affirmatively. Vic stood silently in the doorway and held out her hand for DJ as he joined her at the door. "I heard you got into a fight today kiddo, how about I make you a PB and J sandwich and we talk about it? Does that sound like a deal?", she asked as she hugged DJ. Jack watched as DJ nodded and the two of them walked off. If they couldn't get him to talk about the extent of the bullying maybe Vic could. Unlike him, Andy, and Maya, Vic had a level head when it came to this sort of thing.
Once DJ was out of earshot, he turned his attention to the yelling already happening on the phone. "Alright, now can you tell me who's on the phone?", he asked as she held a finger up to shush him like she often did with the kids whenever one of them interrupted her calls. He cringed as he listened to her scream at the person on the other end and watched outside her office to make sure her yelling at whoever it was wasn't causing panic with their co-workers. "Andy, who are you on the phone with?", he asked again as she held up the same finger, ignoring his question.
Andy chuckled sarcastically, "Yeah, sure and I want my mother to be a decent person but it looks like that won't happen either. Oh no, my kids are not going back tomorrow or ever". Jack cringed; Andy was furious and he assumed that she was giving Peterson the earful he deserved. "Why? You really are an idiot aren't you? Well, my sons are getting bullied because you don't want to upset Miss Prissy Pants and tell her that her demon son is terrorizing other kids, specifically his former best friend. Or that her son's older friends are starting to attack my older son for no reason", Andy yelled as Peterson tried to talk to her. "Oh its policy to suspend my son? Let me tell you what I think of your policy", she yelled
"Andy…", Jack stated, trying to get her to stop before they got a call from Squires about her using the station phone to brutally grill the East Grammar principal. It was no use, Andy was already on a roll and there was no stopping her.
Angry and frustrated, Andy continued, "You and Corrie can take your stupid zero tolerance policy and shove it all the way up your ass before I shove it up there for you. Unprofessional? I'm being unprofessional? Listen here you little….."
Jack took the phone away from Andy and spoke to Peterson himself, "I have no sympathy for you right now. You pissed off my wife, who happens to be that scary when people screw with her family on a daily basis. That's one of the many many reasons why I married her. My kids aren't coming back. Have a good rest of your day". He put the phone back on Andy's desk while, clearly frustrated, Andy leaned back in her chair. "Now do you agree with pulling them out of that school?"
"Absolutely. Peterson's an ass, no way I'm sending them back there", Andy answered before letting out a small chuckle. Jack arched an eyebrow at her, wondering what was going through her mind. "I blame Roger's stupid mother. Corrie's always had it out for me. While Amelia was in the hospital, she volunteered us to host the 5th grade end of the year party. I didn't even get a text asking me if it was okay. She just told the other moms and dads that Mrs. Herrera Gibson was hosting", Andy fumed. "She used to send me the wrong dates for the meetings so I could never attend. I thought middle school was over, but then I met that bitch"
"Aren't we on vacation the day of that party?", Jack questioned remembering the dates that they had set and how Rowan had been refusing to attend.
Andy rolled her eyes, "I found out from Kendra, and when I texted the Queen Bitch herself, she told me and I quote, 'Serves you right for not showing up to my meeting'. I hate that woman". Andy scrolled through her emails, stopping when she saw the one from the PTA about the pool party. It was big and flashy and had their address in bold across the bottom. "I told her that Amelia just had surgery and she asked why you couldn't handle the meeting. I told her you were at the hospital too and she told me that we were coddling our child", Andy stated angrily, still looking down at her phone to type out a text to Dustin's mother. "Want to talk about coddling children? She should take a look in the mirror. She gets her bratty son out of trouble all the time"
"I wonder if Kendra had any idea what was going on. I only met her once, but she seems like the type that would say something", Jack wondered, bringing up Dustin's mother.
Andy shook her head and sighed, "No, but I bet if I ask her, she'll get Dustin to say something. All three boys were so close. Did DJ tell you anything about what they've been saying to him and Rowan?"
"I couldn't get him to say much through all the crying. He said that Roger's been saying things like we don't want them and it should have been him and not Jenna", Jack mentioned, wishing that DJ had told him more. He hoped that DJ would talk to Vic about it and that Vic could shed some light on what happened. Andy looked so angry at the situation as she remained silent for a total of ten minutes, taking in everything that Jack was saying.
Andy arched her eyebrows and drummed her fingertips on her desk as she glanced at her cell phone, metally daring Corrie to call her. "I want to call her so many things right now. So many non-child friendly things", she expressed as Jack turned her phone over. "So, what's this school you want to send the kids to?", she asked, attempting to change the subject to something happier to distract her from wanting to call Corrie.
"Bayview Academy. It's a two hundred year old private school that has so many amazing reviews", Jack explained. "I remember Inara telling me that she sent Marcus there when she was married to Ted"
Andy shot him a skeptical glance, "The guy who tried to kill you? That Ted?"
"Yes, let's not revisit that please. Apparently he was a high school math teacher there or whatever", Jack recalled, remembering how Ted threw him up against a wall and beat him senseless until Andy ran in there and stopped him. He didn't even know she was that strong to pin him down and hold him there the whole time while they waited for the police. Inara fled with Marcus after that and Andy stayed by him the whole time while he was when they started becoming each other's person. The moment that started it all. He sighed as he shook off any memory of that day, "Inara always said that Marcus loved it there when he went there. Their orchestra and their robotics club has been nationally recognized, and their preschool is excellent. We can even get Lia into gymnastics and dance like she's been wanting to do. I was reading up about it while DJ and I were waiting for our food at the restaurant"
Andy opened her computer and began searching the school. She glanced up at Jack and smiled as she came to Bayview's webpage. "You are so proactive that it's annoying", she complimented as she clicked on tabs and quickly read up about the different programs offered there. It did sound perfect. "I never even knew this was here until now. They let Jerkface be a teacher here?"
"Apparently, but I guess they weren't so happy when it came out that he beat his ex wife. He told me that I cost him his job", Jack chuckled as he got up from his chair to stretch, giving Andy a smug look of satisfaction for him being right about sending them to Bayview. "So are we doing this?"
"Sure. Don't give me that look", she muttered as she shut her laptop and walked over to the small play area she had set up for DJ and Amelia when they came to the station. She grabbed a Lego model out of a drawer as well as crayons and paper to keep DJ busy in the beanery.
Jack chuckled as he held her office door open for her, "I wasn't giving you a look but okay". Andy rolled her eyes as he left with him. "Now let's go see how our slugger is doing"
"How is he?", Andy asked Vic as they walked into the beanery where DJ was sitting at the island munching on a plate of apple slices. "Did he tell you anything?"
Vic gave Andy a sympathetic look and put her hand on her shoulder before going to grab a Capri Sun from the fridge. "This Roger kid did a number on him. It's been going on since their Gotcha Day and he didn't want to tell you because Roger had him convinced that he would get in trouble if he did. I want to destroy this kid right now", she explained as she handed DJ his juice and sat down beside him.
"I want to as well Vic, believe me. I just told off the principal and my job is the only thing keeping me from going all Mama Bear on this kid's mother. I don't know how to handle bullying", Andy confessed. "One kid, Jason Hart, used to make fun of me in elementary school for being too much of a tomboy. My father used to tell me to ignore it, but with something as serious as this, how could DJ ignore it?", she asked as she checked DJ's face again. "Just ignore it Andrea, he'll stop. I ignored it and it got worse. Ryan beat Jason Hart up; then he stopped", Andy explained truthfully.
"The way I handled things is the way we don't want DJ to handle things. When you're constantly on the move, you learn how to defend yourself and your possessions. Going from home to home, I would always get picked on, but I slowly became the kid that everyone was afraid of", Jack answered as he stole an apple from DJ's plate.
Andy ran her finger over the bottom of DJ's eye while he cringed. "I know honey. You're going to have a good black and blue there", she told him as Vic went over to grab another ice pack from the freezer.
"Am I in trouble?", DJ asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry Mommy. I really am", he cried as the tears of remorse came down. Andy could tell by his bloodshot eyes, that he had been crying before they got there.
Andy's heart broke; there was no way she could say yes to him and punish him after what Roger did. "No baby. No you're not. Mommy knows why you did it. I'm not happy that you fought but I understand why. Sweetheart, why didn't you and Ro come to us when it started?" Andy pressed in a loving tone as she got up to grab tissues.
"''Cause Roger said that his Mommy worked for the PTA and that she could make you have a terrible time. And he said I'd get in trouble", DJ confessed as Andy pulled him into a tight hug.
"Roger was lying honey, I hope you know that. You are so important to us Dalton James. All three of you are. I hate that someone is making you feel like you aren't important", Andy expressed as DJ wiped his eyes on her uniform shirt, the only one that fit her. She could feel the shoulder oaked by tears and snot but she didn't care. "I love you all to the moon, around Mars, and back"
DJ formed a small smile as he lifted his head off her shoulder and looked up at her, "And I love you to the moon, around Pluto, and back". He thought for a minute before adding, "But Mommy, we don't use the word hate"
Andy simply smiled at him and messed up his hair, "You're absolutely right DJ. However, I'm giving myself a pass this time. I'm using it as a feeling, I'm not saying it to be mean", she explained. "I don't like that Roger is bullying both of you. You boys did nothing wrong and I want you to know that. The responsible parent in me would have to give you a lecture about fighting and words are better and all that good stuff"
"Are you going to?", DJ asked as he handed Vic back the ice pack.
"Yeah, are you going to?", Vic asked as she handed DJ back the ice pack. He hadn't held it there for nearly long enough and was still very swollen.
Andy watched as DJ dramatically sighed and groaned while affixing the ice to the spot between his cheek and his eye, where it hurt the most. "20 minutes on and off kiddo. You know the drill. Also, as a proud mama bear, Roger got what was coming to him. Just, don't do it again. Come to a parent or one of your aunts or uncles first next time"
Jack arched a skeptical eyebrow at her, "I'm sorry, did I hear you correctly? Don't do it again?". The whole ride over, he had been preparing for Andy to get mad and sit down with DJ talking about right and wrong for two hours. Clearly that wasn't going to happen tonight.
"Yeah, I'm letting it go", Andy answered simply before clearing a spot at the table for DJ to work on the Lego model that she grabbed for him. She was too angry at Corrie, Roger, and the school for letting it continue as long as it did. DJ merely did what he thought he had to do to protect himself and his brother; she couldn't be mad at that.