Tissue warning: This one's gonna break your heart before it gets better. You've been warned. Not to worry, as is typical for me, if I break it I fix it. XO, Reddixon.

This was the second time tonight that Andy found herself leaning up against the brick wall outside Vic's family's restaurant. It was a comfortable summer night in Seattle with temps in the upper sixties, but she still felt a chill in the air. She wrapped her arms around herself for warmth and thought back over the last couple of days. They had been impossible...in fact, she couldn't remember having been on this much of a mental and emotional rollercoaster since her dad died. Andy guessed that was to be expected since it seemed her world was being blown up again.

Her and Robert had been pulled into the Chief's office for an investigation into Maya and the violation of protocol on a call earlier in the week. Maya had bravely violated the Chief's explicit orders and opted to rush a young, injured boy to the hospital on the engine. While Andy was proud of her friend for standing up and doing the right thing, she knew decisions like that had consequences. Doing something similar had cost her the captain's job under Chief Ripley. She'd hoped McCallister wouldn't be too harsh, Maya had grown into a good Captain and the Station was doing well, all things considered.

Andy had been dismissed from the meeting with Robert being asked to stay behind. Somehow he'd come out with a possible reinstatement of his rank and Maya on the chopping block. She was hurt and disappointed. It seemed that no matter what, Robert was always going to choose the job first. Over her and over friends that had become family. She'd watched it happen time and time again, but for some reason this felt different. Like maybe it was the last straw. It could be, because this time he said, what he did was for her, to save 19. But the reality was, she just didn't believe him. And coming to that realization was both sad and terrifying. How could she love a man and be married to a man that she didn't trust fully and sometimes felt like she didn't even know.

Lost in her thoughts, Andy didn't hear Robert approach. She'd wished she had because now she was trapped. There was no getting away. They were going to have to talk and she just wasn't sure she knew what could be said. Her anger towards her husband was still raging and when her temper flared she said things she'd regret later. That was a habit she hadn't exactly broken yet. Further, she was confused and just felt like she needed time and space to figure out where to go from here. "I don't have anything to say to you right now." Andy said angrily as she faced Robert.

"Maybe you can just answer this question," Robert began calmly. He was doing his best to diffuse things versus add fuel to the already raging fire. "McCallister said 19 was already on the chopping block because of budgets, Maya had been on his radar for months...he was ready to disband our firehouse. What should I have done differently, Andy? How should I have handled this situation, this split second decision so that I'm not at odds with my wife and maybe my entire team?"

"I don't know Robert, because I wasn't kept in the meeting. Who knows what was discussed between the two of you?" Andy replied quickly. Her voice dripped with venom. Yet another instance in her life where two men behind closed doors were making decisions about her future.

"So you're upset that you were dismissed?" Robert shrugged his shoulders in confusion. "I had nothing to do with that."

"Ugh," Andy sighed deeply. "You think I'm upset because I was excused from a meeting? Are you kidding me? I'm upset because from where I sit, you threw me, Maya and the rest of 19 under the bus so you could be a hero and save the day. How else does it work that you potentially get offered a job that isn't even open yet." Andy's eyes were wide and her hands were on her hips.

"Oh...so you're upset that you didn't get a chance at Maya's job, is that it?" Robert knew his words would upset her further, but her arguments weren't making much sense. She was clearly angry and he was tired of being her punching bag, especially when he didn't deserve it.

"What?!" Andy said incredulously. "I'm angry that my best friend is losing her job and my husband stabbed her in the back for a promotion. I'm angry because now I'm going to be caught in the middle of you and all the other important people in my life. How can I defend actions I think are indefensible?" Despite her lack of reaction at Robert's statement, she knew it pricked her. If everything went as expected, she would remain Lieutenant and Robert would be Captain again which meant he got a demotion and a promotion without anything ever changing for her career wise. She didn't want it to bother her, but to herself alone she could admit that it did.

"Great," Robert said with visible frustration. "So it's not just you that doesn't trust me, it's pretty much everyone." Robert nodded his head and disappointment washed over his face. "You know, a few weeks ago you told me that no one is just good. You said... we make mistakes, we learn from them and we do better. That's how goodness works. But despite all my efforts to make amends, to do things differently, you still don't trust me and apparently other people don't either." Robert's voice was quieter now. It hurt to draw the conclusion he had, but he could be logical when he needed to be.

Andy, even in her anger, couldn't help but notice the sadness and heaviness overwhelming Robert's features. "I don't know what to tell you, Robert. Do I think you've tried to do things differently at times, yes. Have you worked to make amends in some ways? Absolutely. But maybe you just are who you are? Maybe your ambition is just too important to you, because everything about this situation screams me, myself and I."

"Wow, that's how you really feel?" Robert responded with genuine surprise. "If you think so little of me... if I'm so one-dimensional, why did you marry me?"

Andy shook her head in annoyance. "No. I'm not doing THAT with you tonight." She evaded the big question and moved to walk around Robert's large frame. No matter how angry she was, she understood a conversation about that right now could be a landmine. The rest of the team was tearing down the wedding and reception. She wanted to take off the heels she was wearing, help them finish cleaning up and head home. To say she was exhausted would be an understatement.

"Fine, but know this, I had a split second to make an impossible decision. I made the best one I could and it saved 19. I won't keep apologizing. Not to you and not to anyone." Robert's face was firm, he was angry now. He was doing everything he could to be a better person. Struggling at times to make the right calls, but he knew at the core of his being that this was the right move. He hoped down the road, the truth would come out and people would see. But if they didn't he was okay with that, because he believed he'd done the right thing.

"Not surprising, admitting you were wrong has never been one of your strong suits." Andy saw the flash of anger cross Robert's face and proceeded to walk back towards the building, satisfied that she'd gotten the last words.

Robert considered just letting her walk away and saying nothing about what he overheard, but he knew it would eat at him and why should he be the bigger person here. He wasn't wrong. "Kind of ironic that you'll avoid me all day, walk away from any conversation I attempt with you, but have no problem communicating with Jack." He said it more calmly than he felt on the inside, but when he saw Andy turn around he knew it had gotten under her skin. Mission accomplished.

"What are you talking about?" Andy replied sassily with no idea what was coming next. She knew Robert wasn't a jealous man so it was unusual for him to make a comment like that and about Jack of all people.

"I heard you earlier. I followed you outside to try and talk to you, but when I got to the entrance...well, we both know what was said." Robert said flatly. This time, he did an excellent job hiding his emotion. He watched Andy as surprise and recognition hit her. Her jaw dropped just slightly, the color drained from her cheeks and understanding clouded her eyes.

Like a deflated balloon, her anger dissipated and she tried to reason with him. "Let me explain." Andy said quickly.

"Explain what?" Robert yelled, much to his dismay. He was trying to keep his wits about him, but replaying her words over in his mind wasn't helping. "What could you say that would make any of that better?"

"I'm sorry..." Andy added quickly, but was cut off before she could say anything else.

"That you said it or that I heard it?" Robert asked incredulously. Andy was silent trying to gather her thoughts. Robert shrugged his shoulders. "Here I am, all in. So sure that we're just a married couple having a fight, but the joke was on me. You're questioning everything." He shook his head in disbelief.

"You're putting words in my mouth," Andy said .

"No, I'm not. Those words, the things you said, will be seared into my memory forever. What was it, "...when life hits you hard and choices need to be made, you realize you don't really know the person you thought you loved..."

"I didn't mean that I didn't..." Andy tried again to get a word in, but Robert was having none of it.

Like a bulldozer, Robert didn't stop at her pleas and continued reciting her words back to her, "...You confuse lust for love...protocols for respect."

"Robert, please." Andy was crying now. Tears pooled in her eyes and before she could catch them, they fell.

"Please, what, Andy? You said it." Hurt and anger ran deep as he yelled. He looked around wanting desperately to have somewhere else to release his anger. "Those were your words. I'm not confused here. You made it very clear you were doubting pretty much every aspect of our relationship except the sex." Robert said bitterly. "At least I got something right."

"I didn't mean it the way it sounded." Andy said with pleading eyes, begging him to listen to her.

Robert's eyes were hard and his voice was sharp as he spoke. "So were you lying then or are you lying now?"

"It's complicated." Andy said as she tried to reach for him. Robert pulled away from her grasp and maintained their distance.

Dejected, Robert said. "It shouldn't be and if it is, I know everything I need to know." He turned away from her and started a slow gate towards his SUV.

"Please don't go" Andy tried, her heels clicking against the cement to follow him. "We need..."

Robert turned back to her briefly and shook his head. "No." He said flatly. "If I stay, I might say something I can't take back and we've had enough of that today." Andy flinched as she felt the sting of Robert's words. "I won't be home tonight. No need to sleep on the couch again."

After doing her best to pull herself together, Andy headed back into the restaurant. Using a quick gate and a be-right-back motion to the group, she made it to the bathroom without being stopped. She just needed a moment to breathe, check on her mascara that had likely run and get her bearings. She could white knuckle it through the rest of the evening. It was just clean-up at this point anyway. Distracted, she pulled open the door and ran right into Miranda Bailey.

"I'm so sorry," Andy said quickly as they bumped into one another. "I wasn't paying attention." Andy offered a fake smile with still watery eyes.

"No worries," Miranda said happily. After months of difficulty things were finally starting to feel hopeful again and she couldn't help her good mood, but it only took a split second to notice that something was bothering the woman in front of her. And being who she was, she couldn't help but be concerned. "I've seen that look before, in fact, I've had it myself a time or two. Do you want to talk about it?"

Andy wiped at her eyes and looked at the woman in front of her. She didn't know Bailey that well, mainly as her dad's doctor and what she'd come to learn from Ben. What she did know is that Bailey was kind, had a big heart and cared deeply about people... she also had a marriage that was enviable. They seemed to be constantly withstanding the tests life brought them and somehow making it look easy. That being said though, Andy didn't know what she would say. She didn't have her thoughts or wits about her. "I appreciate it, Miranda, I really do. But, I'm okay." Andy said.

"My friends call me Bailey." Miranda said with a smile. "And look... I know we don't know each other that well, but I do know when someone needs a friend. I can be that friend."

"I wouldn't know where to start," Andy said, with a slight shake of her head and disheartened look on her face. That was the truth.

"The beginning is usually a good place," Bailey replied back with a gentle smile.

"How much time do you have?" Andy questioned rhetorically while avoiding eye contact.

"Let me guess... from the way you and your husband were playing hide and seek during the reception tonight, I'd say you had a fight..." Bailey said and when Andy gave her a surprised look, she added. "I'm a doctor, naturally observant." With a small shrug of her shoulders she continued. "And from the look on your face now, I'd say it was a big one. The kind that makes you think your marriage just might not recover from it."

Feeling a bit at a loss for words, Andy managed. "That obvious, huh." Filled with regret, she sighed long and deep. "I keep replaying it all over and over in my head, wondering how it got so out of hand and now, I just don't know what I could possibly do at this point to fix it." Emotion welled up in her throat again as she remembered the hurt expression on Robert's face.

Bailey saw just how badly Andy was trying to hold it together and the wisdom gained through life lived and years married told her now wasn't the time for tough love. She needed hope and encouragement. "Look," Bailey began, "You don't have to give me the details." She shook her head a bit. "Marriage is amazing and wonderful and hard. You'll hurt each other in ways you never thought possible, because you'll be closer to them than anyone else in the world. But when you find a love that takes your breath away..." She smiled thinking of Ben. "The kind of love that makes you feel like you might die if you're not with that person. That's a love worth fighting for. So fight it out, argue, say the things that need to be said, forgive, be willing to see the other person's point of view and trust the container of your love to be enough."

Andy brushed away the single tear that slid down her face at Bailey's words. "Thank you, Bailey..." She tried to find something else to say, but words were failing her. Hearing someone who had weathered so many storms in their marriage and was still happy and in love, was the encouragement and support she didn't know she needed.

Bailey gave her a genuine smile, patted her on the arm and headed out of the bathroom. Before slipping out the door fully she turned and said, "You have my number, use it if you need to." Andy gave her a grateful, watery smile as she left.

A Downtown Seattle Hotel...

It was nearly 1am by the time Robert had gone home, picked up some clothes and checked into his hotel. He peeled off his suit jacket, tie already gone and dropped onto the edge of the bed. He sat for a while with his hands in his head, not sure how to feel. The past 3 days had been a nightmare in slow motion and today was the worst of it. He didn't know how to rationalize what he heard from Andy, he had no way of making it make sense. How had something he did to help, get misinterpreted so badly and worse yet...why was Andy now doubting everything. Why was their entire relationship being called into question because of an argument? All sorts of thoughts, just like this, persisted and he knew he had to do something to get out of his head. Throwing his workout clothes on, grabbing his headphones and water bottle he headed down to the hotel gym.

An hour later, sweat poured from him as he landed punch after punch on the boxing bag. Eminem's Till I Collapse pulsed in Robert's ears so loudly, it felt like he was in concert. As each thought passed through his mind, as each image of his wife from that night and the days prior flashed before his eyes, he hit harder and harder. He just wanted to forget. He just wanted a moment of peace. Jab. Cross. Hook. Jab. Cross. Hook. Over and over he did this until his breathing was heavy and he was so exhausted he couldn't stand. When he felt his legs nearly ready to give out, he let himself fall onto the nearby bench. Robert pushed the headphones off his ears and leaned forward to catch his breath. Grabbing the towel next to him, he used it to wipe the dripping sweat from his face and holding the towel to his eyes, he did the one thing he didn't want to do, the one thing he didn't expect. He let it out. Tears of frustration, anger and grief poured from his eyes. Painfully, his body contracted as sobs vibrated through him. This was an ache he'd never felt before.

Robert wasn't sure how long he sat there in the empty hotel gym but eventually he cleared his throat, swallowed the remaining emotion and pulled himself together. Going through the motions of gym etiquette, he wiped down the bench and bag from his sweat, grabbed his things and headed back up to his room. After a hot shower, he fell into bed and let exhaustion take over.

The next morning, before Robert's eyes fluttered open, he instinctively reached for his wife. Instead of finding her warm, supple body, he was greeted by cool sheets. Reality coasted over him as he opened his eyes and he remembered. He wasn't home. He wasn't waking up to his wife. He was alone, in an unfamiliar hotel room, with doubts he never thought he'd have. He laid there for some time before the ding of his cell phone pulled him out of his thoughts. It was Richard confirming they'd meet at the coffee cart near the hospital for their walk. Seeing the time, Robert knew he had no more time to wallow, he had to get up.

Over at Robert & Andy's Place...

Andy woke up the next morning with what felt like a cement block in her stomach. Her eyes were dry and no doubt puffy from crying herself to sleep last night. The bed felt weirdly empty and the house she and Robert shared was too quiet for her liking. She didn't know what she would do with the day, they were off after the wedding and she had nothing to keep herself occupied. There was a part of her that wanted to stay in bed, but she doubted that would help. Sleep the night before had been hard to come by despite how exhausted she was physically, mentally and emotionally.

When she crawled into bed last night she couldn't help the shame and regret she felt as she stared at the ceiling replaying her conversation with Robert over and over in her head. He was no doubt angry, but beyond that, she saw the hurt. The pain in his eyes was clear and she had done that. She had seen him at some of his worst moments - the windstorm, Ripley's death and others, but she'd never seen anything like the anguish she'd seen in his eyes last night. And she was responsible. Her words, her actions. It pained her just to think about it. She needed to talk to him, explain. The problem was... she didn't have a reason or excuse that would justify her words. There was nothing she could say that would take back what he heard. As this thought passed through her mind, fresh tears ran from her eyes to the pillow underneath her.

When Andy did finally make it out of bed, she shot a quick text off to Maya to check and see if she was okay. She had been strangely calm about the whole thing last night. All of their phones dinged with the update and when Maya realized what was going on, she reassured everyone that she was good. She just wanted to be in her happy wedding bubble and focus on Carina. Work would sort itself out. It was an unusual and unexpected response from Maya of all people, but so was the fact that she was getting married at all. Much like Andy, she had been career focused and commitment phobic. Andy smiled at the response she got back from her friend. "Stop texting me! I'm better than good. Trust me. We'll chat in a couple days." At least one of them was happy.

Meanwhile near Grey Sloan...

"It's just... what's the point of making amends and doing all the things if in the end, people still don't trust you and still don't believe you?" Robert asked as he sipped his coffee and walked with Richard, the man who was quickly becoming more than a sponsor.

He was so frustrated by the fact that it seemed no matter what he did, it still wasn't enough. He'd gotten himself to the point where he was willing to transfer as Battalion Chief so he and Andy could be together, then he followed her into a burning building to get her out even though it was a violation of protocol, he fell on his sword with the Dickson situation and went to the Fire Commission, he had been working hard as a Probie, bumpy at first but he'd found a rhythm. He'd even told her about his change of heart when it came to Miller's lawsuit. He thought all of those things should add up to show he wasn't putting his job first anymore. That he had realized there were more important things to consider, but apparently that wasn't translating for her.

"You're not pulling any punches this morning?" Richard joked a little in hopes of lightening the mood, but Robert barely broke a smile. As soon as he encountered him that morning Richard knew something big was going on. Taking a breath he started to explain his understanding of amends. "You make amends for many reasons...it causes you to confront the truth. Forces you to face how your actions impacted people you care about. It also gives you an opportunity to repair harm and rebuild trust. The important thing to remember is that amends don't stop at an apology, they are about taking action and showing a change of behavior over time."

"And what if time has gone by, but you're still being judged based on mistakes from the past?" Robert asked uncomfortably.

"You wait. You keep doing what you know to do and show patience. That can be the toughest part. There's no timeline for this process and honestly, no guarantee. And that's where you have to have faith that it will work out and trust that your best efforts are enough." Richard took a sip of his coffee and waited for Robert to reply.

Robert thought for a moment about what Richard said. "And this is why you have to do the work for yourself because if something goes wrong, the process of rebuilding takes longer than you expect or other people can't see your progress, you could be discouraged and start using again." Robert said aloud. He was with Richard in conversation, but this felt a little like him having his own personal realization.

"Exactly." Richard replied with a smile. He was feeling a sense of pride with the progress Robert was making. He was getting it. They walked a little further before Richard decided to pry and see what else was going on. "You know in all the time we've been working together, you've never wanted an extra meeting. I don't mind it, but suspect something happened. You wanna tell me about it?"

Robert gave Richard a knowing look. Richard always seemed to have his number. Taking a deep breath he began. "Well…long story short, our Captain broke protocol and defied the orders of the Fire Chief," Robert said. "A decision that was basically the straw that broke the camel's back and gave the Chief cause to relieve her from duty and potentially close down the entire firehouse. I stepped in to save it and I know what I did was right. I know I did it for the right reasons, but Andy doesn't believe me. She doesn't trust my intentions and thinks I did it for myself, for my career." Richard nodded as Robert continued, showing he was following along. "We got into it, of course," Robert shook his head. "She said things, I said things. And now, I just don't know if this is something we come back from." Robert debated adding his final thought, but opted for transparency. He trusted Richard. "I stayed in a hotel last night just to give us both space, but honestly that doesn't feel like enough."

"Well, first of all, a night in a hotel isn't a crisis. I won't be worried until you reach the monthly rate." Richard said teasingly.

This time, Robert did crack a smile and found the humor in the older gentleman's statement. "Something tells me that's happened to you before?"

"I won't confirm or deny anything." Richard said with a knowing grin. He took a deep breath before continuing. "A few months ago, Robert, we were walking on this same street and you were a wreck because you were separated from Andy and you missed her. Now, you're a wreck because you're doing what married couples do." Richard paused for emphasis. "It doesn't matter how much you care about one another, inevitably you'll argue, say things you don't mean, hurt the other person and have to make up. That's how relationships work. You'll both have to choose to see the other person's perspective, apologize, forgive and move forward."

Robert didn't want to out his wife. Even angry with her, he wanted to protect her. He didn't want anyone thinking badly of her. So he didn't say what the specifics were, but did need an answer to what he was sure would be a nagging question. "But aren't some things unforgivable?"

Richard had many thoughts on this. His own sordid past with Ellis, to the addiction that came from it and the forgiveness he received from Adele was a story he would likely share one day. Today, though, it wasn't the right time. Robert didn't need his already cluttered mind clouded with Richard's journey. He needed help thinking through his own. "Only you can decide what is unforgivable to you, but I think it would be important to investigate why whatever your wife did or said, feels unforgivable."

Robert didn't need to look hard for that answer. He already knew. "I would never do it." He said quickly. He knew like he knew his name that he loved Andy and had believed they would be together forever. He wasn't unclear, uncertain or unsure, ever.

"But you've done other things, made mistakes, that require someone to forgive you?" Richard offered. He knew that every single one of us humans had something they needed forgiveness for.

Robert sighed deeply. "I see where you're going here..." Robert replied knowing he'd made a lot of mistakes over the years and even some big ones with his wife.

Richard stopped walking so the two men could face each other. "Look Robert, I won't pretend like forgiveness is easy. It's hard as hell, but what I can say is that it's not just for the other person. Forgiveness heals you. It doesn't change the story of what happened in the past, it doesn't undo what was said or done, but it does help you acknowledge that there is nothing you could do to change it. And once you do that, you can start moving forward." Richard eyed Robert closely and saw that the younger man was picking up what he was putting down. The two men continued chatting a while longer, before parting ways. Richard heading back to the hospital and Robert deciding to walk the waterfront and think.

Several hours later...

Andy was in the kitchen scouring around for something to eat. She'd worked out for two hours and gone for a run, cleaned pretty much everything in the house and watched some cooking shows, but she was still restless. She had texted Robert hours ago, just asking him to let her know he was okay and he hadn't responded. She assumed he was fine, but her mind was going to every worst case scenario possible right now. She was startled slightly by the sound of the door opening and when she looked up, relief washed over her.

"Hi," Andy said from her place behind the island. She dropped the dish towel onto the counter and made her way towards Robert. Like her, he looked like he'd had a fitful night of sleep and a long day. Still though, he was a sight for her sore eyes. Never would she look at him and not think he was the most attractive man she'd ever laid eyes on...even tired he was still so damn handsome.

"Hey," Robert returned. He offered nothing else, so silence hung between them. Looking back at his wife he could see that her eyes were tearstained and puffy. Her natural curls hung around her shoulders, she wore a sleeveless black top and comfortable jeans. He loved her dressed up, like last night at the wedding, but this was his favorite. This is how they loved to be together. Well, this is how he thought they loved to be together. Now he wasn't sure.

Andy knew it was up to her to make the first move. It was her who owed him an explanation... something... anything. She took a deep breath and slipped shaky hands into her denim pockets. " I wanna talk. Can we talk?" Her voice trembled slightly, just saying those few words felt nearly impossible. She hated that they were so close, yet it felt like there was an ocean between them.

Robert looked at Andy for a moment before responding, "I'm not back to stay, Andy. I'm just here to get more clothes." He started moving toward the stairs before he heard her voice again.

"You're leaving?" Andy questioned. She couldn't help the desperation in her voice. It's how she felt on the inside. No sense in hiding that at this point.

"Until we can figure this out I'll stay at a hotel or the station," Robert replied with a shrug of his shoulders. Emotion whirled around his insides, but he showed nothing. His resolve was strong and he was focused on getting in and out. He didn't want to fight, not tonight. He was exhausted and tomorrow they'd be back to work. With everything going on with Maya and him taking back over, it was sure to be a helluva day.

Robert headed upstairs and Andy felt like she was holding her breath the entire time he was gone. Never before had she so desperately wanted to grab someone and force them to talk to her, but she knew she couldn't do that. It wasn't long before Robert was coming back down the stairs, large black bag in hand. She leaned up against the couch and watched him head towards the door.

It was clear that Robert didn't want to talk, not now and she wanted to respect that, but how could she say nothing? "How can we figure this out if you won't talk to me?" She asked, hearing the hypocrisy as soon as the words left her lips. He'd spent all of yesterday and even the day prior trying to talk to her and she would barely engage. When she did it was yelling... in hindsight she knew she hadn't been fair to him.

"I'm not ready." Robert replied back and this time, he couldn't keep his feelings out of it. He was devastated, hurt beyond anything he'd felt in years. To open himself up and let someone see him, really see him. To think he'd gotten a second chance at love after thinking it wouldn't happen. To be all in with someone for the first time since Claire. Sure he'd dated in Montana, had some one-night stands...he was a man, but he'd never let anyone in. But Andy was different. And to think that all this was one sided, to think she felt like maybe it wasn't real, maybe it was just physical caused him to ache in a way he didn't think possible. He was trying to reconcile it all, the things she'd said last night with the things she said before, the way they had supported one another and stood by one another. That was love, right? While Robert wasn't sure about how Andy felt, he knew he loved her. He was sure. He was certain.

"I'm sorry." Andy said from her place against the couch. When he stopped to look at her, she moved in his direction. "I had a momentary lapse in judgement and while I was angry, I said things that were thoughtless and damaging. If I could take them back, I would. But Robert, I do..."

Before she could finish her statement, Robert interrupted her. He knew what she was going to say." Don't. Just don't. I don't want to hear that. Not from you. Not right now." Robert sighed in frustration. He didn't want to hear her "I do love you" , because at that moment he didn't know what to believe. Andy looked at her husband and willed the tears welling up in her eyes not to fall. She'd hurt him, what she saw now wasn't anger, it was pain. She bit the inside of her cheek hard to keep the tears at bay. Robert paused for a moment with his hand on the door and without looking at her said, "Dammit, Andy. I wasn't questioning us, but I am now." He swallowed back the remaining emotion in his throat and took a quick glance in Andy's direction. "I guess you're not the only one who doesn't know the person they married."

With that Robert walked out, the door slamming loudly behind him. Andy locked the door and let grief overtake her. Back to the door, she slid down to the ground and sobbed. What had she done? On the other side of the door, Robert heard her. He was sure he hadn't heard her cry quite like that since the days after her father's death. It tugged on his insides. His natural instinct called for him to go back and comfort her and tell her they would work this out, but the truth was, he wasn't sure. Not this time. He threw the large black duffle into his SUV, got in himself and drove away.

Preview for the next chapter...

Andy stood in line with the rest of her team listening to Chief Mcallister's words. She saw him and heard him, but felt like she was in a daze. A sinking feeling filled her gut as the Chief confirmed everything her husband told her. The Chief was planning to disband 19 and send them all to different stations. He could cut budget and add experienced members to other firehouses which would make them stronger. After a 30 day suspension without pay, Maya would be allowed to rejoin 19 as a Lieutenant and when an opening was available elsewhere she would have to transfer. But that wasn't the worst of it. 19 wasn't totally out of the woods. McCallister said he'd be re-evaluating his decision in 90 days and any mis-step could result in a closure.

Things had been bad before, but she was sure they'd just gotten worse. Andy came out of her daze just as Chief McCallister said, "You should be thanking Sullivan. If he hadn't made a case for keeping this place open, you'd be done." Everything Robert said was true. It had played out just like he said and she didn't believe him. She tried to find his eyes, but he wouldn't look at her. How could she have been so off base and so easily mistrusted him?