Chapter Seven
Figured I needed to give Andy some help.
It was the end of the shift when the team was walking down the stairs.
"Anyone up for some day drinking?" Maya asked. "Carina's working, Liam is at the hospital daycare, and I want to go out." Maya looked around.
"I'm in." Travis and Vic said at the same time.
"Yeah, Miranda is also working and Pru is also at the hospital daycare," Ben said.
Everyone else agreed, having all been surprisingly free.
"I'll go ask Herrera and I'll meet you there," Maya said, and they all nodded and walked out of the station while Andy stayed behind and knocked on the captain's office.
"Come in!" Maya heard Andy say through the door. Maya opened the door just as Andy was putting her shirt on. "What's up, Maya?" Andy asked, avoiding eye contact.
"The team is going for drinks. Do you want to come with us?" Andy shook her head. "Why not?"
"Because if I go to a bar chances are I drink too much," Andy told her, and Maya frowned.
"Why would you drink too much?" Andy didn't say anything. Maya looked at Andy really looked at her and could see the faraway look in her eyes. The same look she had after Ryan died and her heart dropped. "Andy, what happened in between the last shift and this one?"
Andy looked at Maya and sighed. She knew holding this in wouldn't help anything, but she also knew she shouldn't dump all her problems on her friend. "I just need to go home and get some rest. Was up all night, didn't get any sleep." Andy told her, technically not lying since she hadn't really slept since finding out about Michelle.
"Want me to drive you? You look ready to pass out." Maya offered, wanting her friend to be safe. When Andy nodded Maya exhaled, grateful that she knew her friend would at least be safe at home. "All right, let's go." Maya wrapped an arm around Andy's shoulder and tried to comfort her. She didn't know what was going on with her best friend, but she knew it must be something big.
When they got to Andy's apartment Maya helped Andy up since she had fallen asleep against the passenger side window. "You going to be okay alone, Andy?" Maya asked, helping Andy into bed.
When Maya didn't hear Andy respond she assumed she was asleep and went to leave the room. She was about to close Andy's bedroom door when she heard Andy speak.
"Michelle died," Andy said and opened her eyes while Maya turned around. Maya walked over to the bed. "I found out around 10 pm Thursday from Dr. Altman," Andy explained.
Maya didn't say anything, she just kicked off her shoes and got in bed with Andy. She quickly sent a text to Carina and Vic, telling them different versions of what was going on. Maya tapped on Andy's shoulder and spread her arms open, offering Andy a hug if she wanted it. Andy turned and wrapped an arm over Maya's stomach while resting her head on Maya's chest. It took a moment, but Andy broke down in sobs and Maya tightened her embrace. She held Andy in her arms and thought about asking how she died but stayed silent and ran a hand through Andy's hair, trying to calm her. Maya felt Andy's breath even and sighed.
Maya had only met Michelle a few times, but she could see how much it meant to Andy to have Michelle back in her life. Maya felt her heart crack, life was unfair. It was unfair to everyone, but Andy has had to deal with so much loss in the last five years. Maya moved down, trying to get more comfortable.
Maya grabbed her phone and saw that she had a text from Carina letting her know that it was okay, that she would have Jo cover any deliveries that may happen, and that she would bring Liam home when the hospital daycare closed later today. Maya saw that Vic had texted her back a simple 'okay' and turned off her sound and wrapped her arm back around Andy.
It was a couple of minutes later when Maya felt Andy's breathing pick up. Maya adjusted Andy so that she was able to listen to her heartbeat and ran a hand up and down Andy's arm, trying to calm her from the nightmare she was sure Andy was having. She sighed in relief when Andy had settled.
Maya closed her eyes after yawning and shortly fell asleep after.
Three hours later
Andy slowly woke up and rubbed her eyes. She sat up and noticed Maya lying with her and was grateful she stayed with her. Andy, too tired to do anything else, fell back onto the bed, wrapping an arm around Maya's stomach but laying her head on her pillow. Andy fell back asleep a minute later, exhausted beyond belief. All the grief and stress were starting to weigh her down and physically impact her.
2 hours later ~ 2 pm
Maya woke up and was disoriented for a moment before remembering she helped Andy get back to her apartment. She felt something on her stomach and realized it was Andy's arm.
Maya moved to sit up, carefully taking Andy's arm off of her. She got off the bed and watched Andy curl around the pillow Maya put in place of herself. It was clear Andy needed someone with her, that she missed having someone next to her. Maya left the room and started brewing a pot of coffee and sat down on Andy's couch. Maya pulled out her phone and texted Carina.
Car, I'm going to stay with Andy for a little while longer, she told me something that happened and it has her pretty shaken up. I just want to make sure she's a little calmer before I leave.
Maya only had to wait a minute before she received a text from her wife.
It's okay, Bambina. Just be there for her as long as she needs.
Maya read the text and smiled at how understanding her wife was. Maya looked up when she heard footsteps. She watched Andy walk over to the kitchen and sit down on one of the stools at the island. Maya watched Andy lean forward on her elbows and rest her head in her hands with a heavy heart. She could only imagine how heartbroken Andy was right now. She sat a cup of coffee in front of Andy and watched Andy move her arms to hold the cup in her hands.
"Is there anything I can do, Andy?" Maya asked, lowering herself onto a stool next to Andy and resting a hand on her thigh. Andy didn't say anything. She just leaned over and rested her head on Maya's shoulder.
"Just," Andy paused. "Can you be here a little longer?" Andy asked looking at Maya, tears in her eyes.
"Of course, Andy. I'll be here as long as you want." Maya said, pulling her into a hug.