I squinted my eyes to get adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights.
I looked around the room.
I realized I was at Grey Sloan.
I saw Teddy standing in the corner.
I sighed.
"How bad is it?"
"Well, why don't you start by telling me about that old surgery scar on your throat?"
I sighed.
"Come on, Herrera. It can't be that bad."
"It was a stupid teenage mistake. Me ignoring Dad. Thinking I knew better than him."
"How old were you?"
"15."
"What happened?"
"Ryan and me were on his motorcycle. He took a sharp turn too sharp. Ryan flew a good 180 yards away from the motorcycle. And the motorcycle landed on my face and neck."
"Ouch."
"Engine 19 and Ladder 19 arrived. Aid Car 19 was out on a different call at the time. Dad and Uncle Snuffy got it off me. I knew the damage was extensive. The other Firefighters said I wasn't gonna make it to the hospital given the Aid Car was eight minutes away. So, Dad brought me here on Engine 19."
"Basically what Bishop did with Zaza Delgado?"
"Yeah. Exactly. But he didn't defy a direct order."
"Mm-hmm."
"I was diagnosed with a broken nose, fractured skull, broken windpipe, bruised lungs, and bruised/broken ribs."
"That's why you bled out faster, right?"
"Yeah."
"And that's why you have only half a lung?"
I looked up at Teddy.
"Does anybody else know?"
"No!"
"I'm not gonna tell them. Don't worry about it."
"Mm."
"And that's why you only have 12 out of 24 ribs?"
"Yeah."
"Alright."
Robert
Bailey came back.
"She's awake and talking. You can come back."
We followed her.
"How bad is it?" It was Andy.
"Well, why don't you start by telling me about that old surgery scar on your throat?"
She sighed.
"Come on, Herrera. It can't be that bad."
"It was a stupid teenage mistake. Me ignoring Dad. Thinking I knew better than him."
"How old were you?"
"15."
"What happened?"
"Ryan and me were on his motorcycle. He took a sharp turn too sharp. Ryan flew a good 180 yards away from the motorcycle. And the motorcycle landed on my face and neck."
"Ouch."
"Engine 19 and Ladder 19 arrived. Aid Car 19 was out on a different call at the time. Dad and Uncle Snuffy got it off me. I knew the damage was extensive. The other Firefighters said I wasn't gonna make it to the hospital given the Aid Car was eight minutes away. So, Dad brought me here on Engine 19."
"Basically what Bishop did with Zaza Delgado?"
"Yeah. Exactly. But he didn't defy a direct order."
"Mm-hmm."
"I was diagnosed with a broken nose, fractured skull, broken windpipe, bruised lungs, and bruised/broken ribs."
"That's why you bled out faster, right?"
"Yeah."
"And that's why you have only half a lung?"
Andy looked up at Teddy.
"Does anybody else know?"
"No!"
"I'm not gonna tell them. Don't worry about it."
"Mm."
"And that's why you only have 12 out of 24 ribs?"
"Yeah."
"Alright."
I opened the door.
Maya and Vic followed me.
"Ooh. My Heroes."
"What happened?"
"Jeremy and me got in a fight after he raped me. And I lost the fight."
"I don't want you to worry about that guy right now, okay?"
I stroked Andy's long red hair.
"Where is he?"
"Station 19."
"Oh, hell no."
"Andy!"
"No! I am getting the hell out of this place now."
"Um... If you notice anything off with her, bring her back."
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna kick that guy the hell out."
"Somebody should."
"And it's gonna be me. Not you. Not you. Not you. Me!"
"Alright. But you are not confronting him alone."
Andy rolled her eyes.
Maya threw her a bag.
"A change of clothes."
"Well, aren't you nice?"
"Mm. Just call it intuition."
"Intuition."
"And that Herrera's hearts tend to be stronger than most others."
Andy laughed.
She got out of the hospital bed.
Andy nearly fell.
I grabbed her arm.
"I got it."
Andy walked into the Bathroom.
Teddy returned with the release papers.
"Have her sign them when she comes out."
"Yeah."
Five minutes later
She emerged from the Bathroom.
Andy was in a pink hoodie and pink sweatpants.
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