Chapter Two
"Andy, this job has been your whole world for years. You nearly lost your friendship with Bishop because she became captain over you. You deserve this position Andy."
"Vic, I'm going to go after what I want."
"And what's that?"
Andy doesn't say anything but she smiles at Vic, moves closer and puts a hand on her right cheek "I want you, Vic."
Vic looked in Andy's eyes, shocked that she would be choosing her over a job she's been wanting forever.
"Vic," Andy waves a hand in front of her face. "Please say something."
"Why do you want me?"
"Please tell me you did not just ask that."
"Why? What's so special about me?" Vic asked and Andy just looked shocked.
""What's so special about you?" What isn't special about you?" Andy asks, moving closer to Vic and grabs her hands. "The way you love life. The way you get when you make up your mind and go after what you want."
"Those seem like pretty general things." Vic said, trying to walk away from Andy.
"Diane, do you mind leaving us alone?" Andy asked, not looking away from Vic.
Diane nods and leaves the room.
"Andy, you can't give up your job. I know you love me and I know I love you but the only work around is marriage and I don't feel like rushing into that." Vic told her, running a hand through her hair.
"Then we won't. I'll just tell Ross I don't accept the job." Andy told her.
"No. Andy. You need to accept the job."
"If it means losing you, no I don't." Andy brings up a hand to touch Vic's face. "I love you, Vic. I don't want to give you up."
Vic sighs. "I don't want to give you up either."
"Let's talk more after shift? I could come over to yours?"
"No. I'll come over to yours. Travis will be home with Theo and I really don't want them eavesdropping."
Andy nods. "We should get back to work. Still have half a shift left."
Vic fake groans. "Ugh. is this the lieutenant side of you coming out?"
"Oh totally." Andy told her, playing along. "But I am serious. We need to get back to work."
Andy nods and they make their way down to the barn. When Andy walks in after Vic everyone's eyes turn to Andy. Travis notices and tries to direct the attention away from her.
"Hey, come on. These rigs aren't going to clean themselves." Travis tried to joke.
"Can someone tell the rest of us what just happened in that conference room?" Maya asked.
"It looked pretty serious." Sullivan added on.
Vic, Travis and Andy all look at each other.
"It's confidential right now." Andy told them. "Everything that was said in that room is staying there for now."
Andy watches as Maya and Sullivan looked like they wanted to ask more but just put their heads down and kept cleaning the rigs.
It was an hour later when Beckett called everyone for a lineup. He announced that he would no longer be captain of 19.
"So who's going to take over?" Maya asked, a hopeful look on her face.
"Chief Ross told me that she would be making the announcement on who will become 19's captain next shift. And no, I don't know if it'll be someone from this house or if it'll be someone completely random." Beckett told them. "Back to work everyone."
Everyone started to restock the trucks when Maya walked over to Andy.
"I wonder if I'll get reinstated." was what came from Maya's mouth when she got to where Andy was standing with Vic. Andy froze on the spot, not knowing what to say so Vic spoke up.
"No idea." Vic said, trying to shrug off how awkward this is.
"Well, we all know I deserve to be captain. McCallister was a sexist asshole and I hope Chief Ross is able to recognize that." Maya paused and looked at Andy. "What do you think about this, Andy?"
"I- Uh- Um." Andy stuttered. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Maya asked, stopping her movements. "You always have an answer for everything."
"Well I guess since moving to station 23 things have changed," Andy told Maya, looking down, wanting to walk away from this conversation. "I have to go to the bathroom." Andy said and walked out of the barn, Vic hot on her tail.
Andy actually went into the bathroom and closed the stall door and tried to get her breathing under control when she heard the bathroom door open.
"Andy, please open the door. I know you're struggling right now but you cannot shut people out." Vic told her, wanting to reach for one of her hands but holding back, knowing Andy may react badly and pull her hand away.
Andy opened the stall door, hair messy and eyes watery. "Vic, please just leave me alone."
"No. We're dating Andy. We deal with things together. We don't let each other struggle." Vic told her, wanting to wrap her in a hug but still held back on touching her.
Andy looked down at her feet and sighed. "I love you, Vic. and I love that you support me and want the best for me but right now I think I just need to be alone." Andy told her, grabbing one of Vic's hands. "I still want you to come over after shift but right now can we leave all the emotional shit alone? I really think we should both be focused on work right now."
"One more thing and then we can go back."
"Fine. What is it?"
"Take the job. I know Maya was practically rubbing it in your face that she should be captain and acting like she's the only one worthy of being captain of this house, but she isn't. And you know that. You knew that when Sullivan named her captain." Vic was watching Andy's facial expression and saw her begin to frown. "I know it's still a painful memory. I know you're still hurt by it and I know you wished this happened sooner but Chief Ross is giving you an option to become captain and you need to take it." Vic paused. "You were born to be captain. So please, take the job. Everything else we'll figure out. Together. I promise."
Andy was about to speak when they heard the door open, Maya standing in the doorframe. "Why are you talking about the captain position like it's already going to be yours?" Maya paused when she saw Andy look down. "Oh my god. You're going to be the next captain of 19, aren't you?" Vic and Andy were both in shock, not knowing what to say. "Wow. some friend you are."
Andy and Vic watched Maya walk out of the bathroom and both had one thought. Shit!
