Chapter Three

"Ruiz is already on his way here. I don't want you to run into each other when you're leaving so no, you need to stay here." Ross sighed. "I'm going to tell Ruiz I'm making you permanent captain and that he'll be moved houses. I want you to wait in the conference room until the meeting is done and he leaves. Got it?"

Andy can only nod. Chief Ross shoo her away when they hear a knock on the door.

"Lieutenant Ruiz. come in." Ross said as she opened the door. "We need to talk."

"About what?" Theo asked, trying to act innocent.

"About what you said to Herrera earlier today." Ross watched Theo look down. "Yeah, so you do know what I'm talking about then."

"I do, but what's the big deal?" Theo wasn't getting what the issue was.

"Do you seriously not understand the seriousness of this situation?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong?" Chief asks back, not believing how dumb Theo was being right now. "Theo, your words drove her out of the station, led to her being who knows where. I still can't get a hold of her."

"That isn't my problem."

"Ruiz, you need to stop lying to me. I know you said something about Jeremy, and I refuse to let my firefighters be bullied."

"Bullied? That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't you think? If she can't take a few harsh words that's her problem. Not mine.'

"Okay, I was just going to suspend or transfer you, but now I'm thinking I should fire you. You're failing to see how problematic your actions are."

"Problematic? If I made these comments to a male firefighter, would you be making this a big deal?"

Ross leans back in her chair, unable to comprehend how stupid Theo was being right now. "So, here's what's going to happen, I'm making someone else permanent captain of Station 19." Ross saw Theo about to protest and raised her hand, stopping him. "No. this was already decided earlier today and soon I'm going to make it official. Ruiz, I can't keep you at station 19 in good faith. You're going to be transferred. I'm not going to keep a toxic person at that station."

Theo scoffs. "This is ridiculous, no one wants me gone from the station." Theo tried to fight. "I want to stay. Please."

"You're finishing off the week and then you'll be moving houses."

"Station 19 is the best house in Seattle. Please don't move me." Theo tried to beg. "Look, I admit I haven't been a perfect acting captain but I'm a good firefighter. Please let me prove that."

Ross sighed. I don't know if I can do this to Herrera. Andy's already been through enough lately. Ross thinks. "You'll finish off the week and then I'll decide." Ross decided, sighing again, hoping that Herrera wouldn't yell at her.

Ruiz nods. "Was there anything else you needed to talk to me about?"

"I know who will be taking over 19."

"Let me guess, Andy is going to be captain?" Ruiz asked, rubbing his forehead.

Ross nods. "I'm sorry. I asked Andy about the acting captain first-"

"-I know. She told me." Theo cut her off.

"I had to make a decision as to who would be named captain for good since I found out Beckett wasn't going to be coming back so I chose Herrera."

"Am I allowed to get back to work now?" Theo asked, standing up after he saw Chief Ross nod. "I'm not proud of my actions, but you can't honestly tell me-"

"-Ruiz, stop while you're ahead." Ross put up a hand. "Get back to the station. Once I find Andy, you owe her an apology." Ruiz scoffed, nodded, and then made his way out of the office.

Once Andy heard the door close, she walked out of the conference room and glared at Chief Ross. "What the fuck was that?"

"Andy, I know that wasn't how you wanted the meeting with him to go, that wasn't how I wanted it to go," Ross said, standing up.

Andy didn't even know if she could say anything that would convince Ross to call Theo back to fire or transfer him on the spot. She just shook her head, not believing the turn of events. "I should get back to the station. See if Theo actually plans on keeping his word and apologizes."

"Please just watch your back, okay? I'll go with you to the station to announce that you'll be taking over for Ruiz."

Andy nods and turns to walk out of the office, Ross following behind her. Andy walks to the parking lot and gets into her car while Ross gets into hers. Andy is the first to get to the station so she leans against her car, waiting for Ross to come so they can go in together and announce what was going to be happening.

"You ready?" Chief Ross asked her.

"I guess," Andy answered, walking towards the station.

When they walked in, they saw Vic sitting at reception. "Andy! Chief Ross. What are you doing here?"

"I need everyone to go to the beanery. I have an announcement." Ross told her, getting straight to it.

Vic nodded and then walked around the house, telling everyone that they needed to head into the beanery because Ross needs to talk to everyone. Once everyone was gathered in the beanery, all saying "hi" to Andy Ross told them that they should sit down.

"What's going on Chief Ross?" Maya asked.

"I've come to let you all know that I've chosen a permanent captain." Ross smiled.

"Who?" Robert asked.

"Herrera," Ross told them. "Herrera deserves it the most."

"Then why didn't you make her acting captain, to begin with?" Jack asked.

"She didn't want to be acting captain. Said when she becomes captain of this house, she wants to stay captain. Doesn't just want to be a "babysitter" as she said."

"I mean, it's true. I've wanted to be captain of this house for years. It's my home." Andy told them, speaking for the first time.

"So, what's going to happen now?"

"What do you mean?" Ross asked Vic.

"I mean does Theo stay at the house or is he going to get moved?" Vic clarified. "I'm assuming you heard what happened earlier today."

"I did. That didn't influence my decision." Ross told them.

Andy stepped forward. "Look, I know some harsh words were said earlier, and I know I ran away, but obviously that was a wrong move." Andy sighed. "I'm happy to accept the position as captain. Ruiz, however, is on probation for the rest of this week and if everything goes okay, he'll stay, but if something happens, he'll be getting transferred." Andy told them and everyone looked at Ruiz. "Ruiz and I don't have a problem, so I hope nobody else does either." Andy looks around the room and turns to Ross. "I think I can take it from here, Chief."

"Alright, I need to get back to my office anyways," Ross told the group. "I'll be checking back in in a few days." Everyone nods and says "bye".

Andy turns and looks at the group, smiling, so happy that she's finally captain. "Let's get to work, everyone."

Trying to update my stories as fast as I can. Going to be getting busier with a second job and starting my last year of college soon.