Chapter Four

I really need to work on updating faster and I'm so sorry I haven't been. Merry Christmas, everyone. Currently, 2:40 am right now Christmas morning.

Andy sighed and walked out of the beanery and down the stairs to her office. Andy walked in and saw Theo pacing. "Ruiz," Andy called, getting Theo's attention. "Sit down. Let's chat."

Ruiz follows Andy's order and sits down on one of the two chairs in front of her desk.

"I'll be honest and forward because we have work to do. Sound good?" Andy doesn't wait for him to give a reply or even nod his head. "Good." She continued. "Upstairs while you were waiting in here, we did a vote on 'yes' or 'no' to having you at the house." Theo looked down, knowing his actions and words were cruel and not needed "There was one more vote for 'no' to you staying at the house than there were 'yes's'. BUT, I already told Ross I would give you another chance and I stand by my word. I'm sure we can chalk today's call up as a mistake?" Theo nods. "Glad we agree. Clean and stock the aid car please." Andy ordered Ruiz and he raced out the door.

Soon after he left there was a knock on the, already, open door to her office. "Come in" Andy called without looking up, yawning as she did.

"Come on Sleepyhead. Let's get you home." Meredith said, trying to contain her giggles. "The pain meds I gave you are starting to kick in."

The pair started to walk out of her office, Andy leaning on Meredith when another knock came. Andy looked up from the floor and stood up straighter when she saw Sullivan, Bishop, and Chief Ross in the doorframe.

"What do you all need? I was just getting ready to leave." Andy told them, rubbing her forehead but groaned when she accidentally rubbed where she got cut.

"Who do you want in charge while you're gone?" Ross asked, not wasting any time.

"Neither of them," Andy answered, with no hesitation. "Even though past mistakes are pretty much forgiven, they'll be at each others' throats if I choose one of them." Andy looks from Bishop and Sullivan to Ross. "Make Gibson the acting captain. He deserves it after being sidelined."

"Are you sure, Herrera?" Ross asked as Andy was rubbing her forehead again.

"Jack was meant to become captain of this house before me anyways, so yes, let him be in charge the next month. He'll be able to handle it and even not, he'll have Sullivan's, Bishop's, and Ruiz's help."

Ross nods. "Okay. Fine. He can be acting captain." Ross turns to Bishop and Sullivan, "What are you two doing here? Leave. You have work to do." Ross told them and they scattered out of the office in different directions and Meredith had to turn away to hide her amusement from the fire chief. Ross looks at Andy to Meredith, "What's so funny Doctor Grey?"

Meredith's smile drops and her expression turns to one of shock. "How do you know my name?"

"Weren't you one of the doctors who looked at Jack Gibson the first time he went to the hospital after his concussion?" Ross asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Uh, I, yeah." Meredith clears her throat and Andy finds it amusing as to how fast she switched to doctor mode. "I was. Sorry, just deal with so many firefighters, I mostly got my hands full with this one." Meredith pokes Andy and Andy just glares back.

Chief Ross's expression changed from joking to serious. "Speaking of." Ross looks at Andy. "We need to have a serious conversation about you hiding the status of your health from the department." Andy blushed and Meredith just looked confused. "Oh, you don't know? I just had a lovely conversation with Carina DeLuca, and she told me about how you had cancer." Ross looked harshly at Andy. "Why the hell would you not disclose something like that? News so life-changing? And how did you go through it all without me even noticing anything was wrong?" Ross asked.

"I had 23 running like a well-oiled machine. Never have any problems or issues, no reason to have a chief show up to a scene." Andy looked up. "Chief, I'm not proud of my actions, I'm not proud of having Theo constantly lead or take over my calls, but it happened, and I know better because of it. I promise you, any new news about my health will make its way to you. By doctor or me." Andy told her, looking her in the eyes.

Andy had Ross looking at her for a good 30 seconds before replying.

"Deal. Now go home and get some rest. I don't want to see you for a month. At least. Got it?"

Andy nodded but Meredith answered. "Don't worry, Chief. Your best firefighter will be nowhere near the firehouse for a month."

"You don't need to answer to my boss for me, Mer. You're not a doctor right now." Andy jokes and then looks to Ross. "I promise I won't step in a firehouse before I'm fully healed."

"Good." Ross said and walked out.

Meredith, still with an amused smile on her lips turns to face Andy, an arm still wrapped around her, supporting her weight. "Let's get you home, sleepyhead." Meredith pauses. "Take two."

Thanks for reading, everyone. And again, Merry Christmas.