Chapter Seven

Sorry for the long wait. Been really busy with my two jobs and school. I'm sorry if this chapter isn't as good as others or if it's shorter than others.

Andy and Robert sat in silence for several minutes when Robert looked at the time.

"I'm so sorry, Andy but I need to get going," Robert said, letting go of Andy's hand and standing up. Andy nodded and watched Robert leave.

Andy sighed and leaned back against the pillows on the hospital bed. Andy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, feeling a panic attack coming on.

"Oh, so we're not allowed in this parking lot, but you're allowed to kill a man that was like our brother?" Andy couldn't help but think back to the one man's words. Andy swallowed. She remembered everything that happened to her, and she hated it. Her eyes welled up with tears as she tried to push the memories back but being alone wasn't doing her any favors.

Andy sighed again and closed her eyes again, trying to move down on the bed to get comfortable enough to sleep when she heard a knock on the door. Andy looked up and when she saw that it was Michelle she rushed to sit up and winced, having moved too fast.

"Hey. Hey." She said, coming into the room. "You don't need to sit up for me. What happened, Andy?"

Andy looked at her sister-cousin and sighed, looking down at the hospital blanket. "I was going to the station to let everyone know that I was being named the new captain when these three guys jumped me in the parking lot," Andy told her, not being able to look up.

"I can assume what happened next so I'm not going to make you explain any further." Andy nodded, grateful that Michelle wasn't going to push her. "I just need to know, why didn't you call me sooner? I heard from Maya that you've been here for at least a couple of days. I would've come right away."

Andy looked at Michelle and had to look away when she saw the love and concern in Michelle's eyes. She looked down at her hands, not knowing how to answer.

"Prima," Michelle spoke, lightly putting a hand on Andys'. "I can't imagine how you're feeling right now, and I don't want to upset you but if you'd like you can talk to me. It doesn't have to be about the attack, I just don't want you to hold anything in."

Andy continues to look down, tears starting to cloud her vision again. "I know I should be talking about what happened and that holding it in will only hurt me, but I just can't do it. Talking to the police about it was bad enough. Having to go over what happened. I don't want to do it again." Andy wiped a tear off of her face. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry, Andy." Michelle gently grabbed one of Andy's hands. "I don't know what you're going through so anything you need. I'll be here to help. You're not going to go through this alone." Michelle told her, wiping away the tear that fell from Andy's eye.

Andy squeezed Michelle's hand. "Thank you, Michelle. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."

"It's no problem." Michelle gave Andy a small smile. "So," Michelle smirks "was that Robert I saw leaving a few minutes ago?"

"Yeah, it was," Andy told her cousin.

"Why don't you seem happy about that?"

"I don't know." Andy brought a hand up to her face and rubbed her forehead. "He was sitting with me for a while." Andy started, "We started to talk about us, and I mentioned that I didn't know if I was ready, and I guess it made things awkward so after the detective came in and out, he felt he couldn't stay so he left." Andy sighed. "While I still have feelings for him, I just don't know if getting back together or even trying us again would be a wise idea," Andy concluded.

Michelle gave her a small, sympatric smile and squeezed her cousin's hand. "I just want you to know I'm here for you, okay? As long as you need me."

Andy looked at Michelle and gave her a small smile. "Thank you." I really appreciate you coming." Andy said, squeezing back.

"I also heard that you haven't eaten anything in the time you've been in here so can I get you anything?"

Andy looked down, "I'm fine. I don't think I could stomach anything right now."

Michelle smiles sadly, "at least let me get you a smoothie?"

Andy doesn't say anything, she just continues to look down but nods her head once and Michelle is up and out of the room, leaving her alone.

Andy sighs and leans back into the bed.

"Yeah, I know that sigh. I bet you're sick of this place?" Meredith came into the room and asked.

Andy looked up and nodded, "Yeah, I am."

"Well, if your tests come up fine tomorrow, we can see if you're able to hold down a meal and we'll let you leave if you can," Meredith told her and was pleased when a ghost of a smile formed on Andy's face. "I know you want to leave now, but you need to start being able to eat."

At that moment Michelle walked in, holding two smoothies, and wearing a smile on her face.

"Here you go," Michelle said, walking towards the bed with the smoothies before addressing Meredith. "Sorry to interrupt, I was just talking to Andy about food too and that she should be eating, and we settled on a smoothie." Michelle paused and looked from Andy to Meredith. "I hope that's okay?"

"It's okay. It's something healthy and if Andy can stomach it that's a bonus." Meredith told Michelle. "I was just telling Andy that if she can hold down a meal by tomorrow and her scans come in fine, she can leave."

Michelle smiled, "That's good." Michelle looked at Andy's bruised face and her smile got wiped off her face, "I'm assuming she needs someone to look after her until she can walk around or even sit up without wincing?" Michelle asked, looking from Andy's battered body to Meredith.

Meredith nods, "Yeah, she will. Are you offering?"

Michelle nodded. "Yes. I'll stay at her apartment with her." Michelle smiled and Andy groaned, not needing, or wanting a babysitter.