Chapter 3: Saved

Jacks POV

"Andy Herrera, 27-year-old female, deep head laceration, possible blunt force trauma, open leg wound after a steep fall. BP 187 or 120 coded three times en-route no known allergies or previous medical conditions" I said as Hughes and I lifted the gurney of the rig.

"oh my god is that Herrera?"

I looked up. "Ya… Its Dr. Grey right?"

"yes… is there anything I can do for you"

"just stay with her… Please. Make sure she's ok. I need her to be ok"

"Alright" Meredith said grabbing the gurney. And just like that, the doctors were speeding away, whisking Andy into a nearby trauma room. I ran after them and saw them go into trauma 1. As they rushed against time to save her I paced back and forth outside the room. I needed her. I couldn't go on if she died.

Meredith POV:

This was a mess. She had lost at least half her blood, she was barely breathing, and if she didn't get any more oxygen, she would be brain dead in a matter of minutes. I packed and dressed her head wound and examined the rest of her body. She would need surgery on her leg, and it would most likely be broken. Her arm was most definitely broken in two places, her head lack was deep, possible brain-damaging, she had internal bleeding and her hip bone was shattered.

"she's crashing" A nurse called

"crap… one of epi, starting CPR" nothing happened. I grabbed the paddles off of the cart.

"charge to 200…Clear" I looked out the window of the trauma room and saw Gibson standing there as her body hit the table with a large thud, he winced, turning away and sinking to the floor.

"charge to 300… Clear"

"sinus rhythm, she's back"

With that, we headed straight up to the OR. She would need surgery after surgery after surgery. This was going to be a long day.

Vic's POV

Andy had been in surgery for 7 hours. Most of us took shifts, switching off every 4 hours. Right now, Travis and I were here while Maya and Dean were at the station.

"she has to be ok, she has to be ok, she has to be ok" I look up at Jack. He has been restless ever since she went into surgery. Refusing to leave the waiting room, pacing back and forth, repeating that same sentence over and over again.

"she has to be ok, she has to be ok, she has to be ok" He hadn't slept, he hadn't eaten, he hadn't even had a sip of water.

"Gibson, Hughes, Montgomery" I looked up to see Dr. Grey walking up to us. I immediately shot out of my chair, as did Montgomery

"what's happening, is she ok, is she going to be ok" Jack asked

"she pulled through" Dr. Grey responded

We were able to remove the tree branch from her leg and stop her internal bleeding. There were some complications…"

"what…" jack interrupted "what complications?"

"she had a brain bleed, we didn't see it for a while. Dr. Shephard was able to control it before it became too bad however we won't know if there is any damage until she wakes up."

"When will that be? When will she wake up?" Jack pressed

"she still needs surgery on her hip and arm, and a little more on her leg and abdomen so we are keeping her in a medically induced coma for the next few days. After that… it's hard to tell"

Jack's eyes dropped. He stopped breathing for a moment and collapsed into a nearby chair.

"she has to be ok, she has to be ok, she has to be ok"

General POV

It had been 17 days. 17 days since the crash. 17 days since Andy had last been conscious. And for 17 days, Jack had barely slept. As soon as his shift was over at the station, he would come to the hospital to be with her. He slept whenever he could, in the bunks at the station in between calls and occasionally falling asleep in the chair in the corner of Andy's room. Now, he had pulled the chair up to the bed. He was holding her hands tightly and resting his head on her chest. He was just about to doze off when he heard something. He shot up and looked at Andy. Hope flooded through his body, was she awake? But to his dismay, her eyes were closed. He must have imagined it. For a moment he though she was back. A beautiful, fleeting moment. He sunk back down into his chair when he saw her lips move, he couldn't quite make out what she was saying.

"Andy?" Jack asked.

"I love you too" She whispered, smiling weakly at me.

"So, you remember?" Jack asked

"everything"

Jack looked out the window of the room and saw Sullivan passing by in his wheelchair. Sullivan looked over at him sternly. Jack pulled his hands away from Andy's

"Jack" Andy said her voice shaking "jack please stay… don't let go"

"I just have to tell Dr. Grey your awake. I'll be right back"

Jacks POV:

I stood outside her room, watching Dr. Grey and Dr. Shephard give her a neuro exam. I heard them telling her how she had been unconscious for 17 days. How it would be weeks before she could walk, let alone go back to firefighting. I watched as she tried to be strong, to be brave.

"you can go in now, she's asking for you," Dr. Grey said as she exited to room

I nodded and re-entered her room, sitting down in the chair by her bed.

"I need to talk to you about something"

"That sounds serious" Andy replied. I could see the fear in her eyes. I hated to do this… to hurt her.

"Captain Sullivan is paralyzed from the waist down, he has to resign," I said "he wants to make me captain… but I can't be captain and be in a relationship with my Lieutenant."

Andy's eyes fell. Damnit. I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted Andy, but she has a long recovery ahead of her. She needs a captain who understands that not a new captain coming in, stressing her out and pushing her harder than she can handle. I need to protect her, but the only way I can do that is by breaking her heart.

"well I guess we only have one option then"