Death in the Family
3 weeks after the ball.
Andy was numb as she exited Jack's hospital room. They had just called his time of death.
Time of death, 9:34 pm.
"I'm so sorry, Andy," Amelia told her as she rested a hand on her shoulder. Andy shrugged it off and continued to walk away from Jack's room.
She pulled out her phone and texted Robert, asking him to let Ross know since she wasn't even able to speak at the moment. Marsha tried to talk to her, but Andy just walked by her, eyes downcast, gently squeezing Marsha's hand as she walked by, almost like she was saying "I'm sorry" Even though none of this was her fault.
She still had Jack's ghost stuck in her head though. "I mean, you couldn't even keep me safe. Your best friend." She walked by Ben without saying a word and then left the hospital. Leaving them behind.
Andy decided that she needed to go to the station to let everyone else know. She was still their captain and they needed to know what was happening to their family member.
When Robert got the text he was actually with Natasha in his house in bed and his gasp startled Natasha who was checking something work-related on her laptop, "What's wrong?"
"Gibson…" Was all Robert was able to get out.
"No," Natasha said, not wanting to believe it. "Who told you?" Natasha knew it may have been a stupid question since she knew Andy was with him as much as she could, but she knew a lot had already happened to the newly minted captain not even a month into her new promotion and it had been stress on top of stress on top of stress for the woman.
"Andy did." Robert put his phone on the bedside table. "She was with him when he flatlined in his room and the doctor called the time of death," Robert told her, gently closing her laptop and pulling Natasha into his arms, wanting to hold her close, knowing he was close to losing her after she fell through the floor.
"Fuck." Natasha said and that was exactly how Robert felt thinking about his ex-wife and how Jack had become "her person" after Ryan had died. He briefly thought about her words the day after he had been arrested and nearly shot years ago. "I put up a strong front, Robert. But I feel brittle. I feel like a strong wind could break me."
"Tash, I know you're healing and shouldn't be alone right now…"
"We both go. We do this together, Sully." Natasha cut him off, knowing that he was thinking about going to the station because that's where Andy would be headed.
Robert nodded and let go of Natasha after kissing her on the forehead and got out of bed, helping Natasha to get up after he threw on some clothes.
When they got to the station Andy was already in the beanery, and everyone sitting down at the table.
"I know this house has had hit after hit these last few years, but I need to tell you guys something." Robert and Natasha heard Andy say, making their way into the beanery.
"Captain? Did something happen with Gibson?" Travis asked.
Robert watched Andy's eyes close at hearing Jack's name. Andy heard footsteps and looked over to see him.
"Oh, God," Andy said, and it brought Robert back to the day of the snowstorm having Andy say those same words when she was overwhelmed after finding out her dad had cancer again and only months to live and then seeing him had pushed her over the edge.
Andy ran out of the beanery and firehouse, Maya hot on her tail, having a feeling that Andy was about to tell the house that Jack had died from his injuries. Which left Robert and Natasha in the beanery to tell the team what had happened.
Maya caught up to Andy and turned her around and she was met with her best friend trying to hold back tears.
"Andy, it's okay to let go," Maya told her, hands on Andy's shoulders.
"You to-told me I ne-need to be str-strong. To-tough." Andy said, voice breaking no matter how hard she tried to sound okay.
Maya looked at her, regret in her eyes. Jack is Andy's person. I shouldn't have been so harsh by telling her she couldn't feel how she was feeling just because she's captain now. Maya berated herself in her head.
"Andy," Maya said firmly, looking her in the eye. "You can let go. It's okay. I understand, I get it. I'd break down if I lost you." Maya told her and that was all it took for the dam to break, and tears cascaded down Andy's cheeks, Andy sobbing. Maya pulled Andy into her arms and rubbed her back. "Shhh. Shhh. I got you, Andy. I got you." Maya tried to reassure, doubting that it was helping at all.
Maya had no idea how long they were standing out in the parking lot when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Carina. That was Carina's touch. Maya thought and looked up to see her wife standing there, a pained expression on her face.
"Ross said it was okay for you two to go home. She's called in some subs and Sullivan is going to be taking over the rest of the shift." Carina told her wife, placing her other hand on Andy's back. She felt Andy let out a sob and Carina felt her heartbreak for 19's new captain.
Carina moved back and went to her car to take Liam out. She gently lifted him and carried him over to Andy and Maya. Carina tapped Maya's back, silently asking her to step away.
"I think someone wants some time with his Tia Andy," Carina said, hoping holding him would help calm Andy down. Andy looked up and when she saw Liam in a onesie with firetrucks all over it her heart melted.
"Oh, my God that Onesie is adorable," Andy said, wiping the tears off her cheeks. "Guessing that was a Maya Kathleen purchase," Andy joked, and Carina chuckled.
"It was," Maya admitted taking Liam in her arms. She planted a kiss on his forehead and then handed him over to Andy. "Say hi to Tia Andy, probie." Maya said while Andy took him gently. Maya watched her best friend hold her foster son and watched Liam cuddle into her while Andy ran a finger over his small cheek.
Maya looked at her wife and gave her a small smile. Thank you. Maya mouthed. She needed this.
Carina nodded and gave her a small smile back. She watched Andy lean down to kiss Liam's forehead and she couldn't help the smile that overtook her face. Andy was so sweet with him.
"Andy," Carina called, and Andy looked up. "You know we're always going to be here for you, yeah?" Andy, too emotional to speak just nodded her head. Carina pulled her and Maya close to her. "The DeLuca-Bishop's will always be here for you."