Live in The Moment (#2 in Fawson Series)(Sequel to Memories)

Chapter 5: Ups and Downs

Olivia had stayed behind in Seattle for a few days to spend some time with everyone after the funeral. Given the circumstances, Boden had granted a few extra days away. Unfortunately Antonio had leave to go work on a case that he had dealt with before but Olivia had reassured him that she'd be okay. Olivia was leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping on a cup of coffee. It felt somewhat weird being in the station and not being in uniform, ready to jump into action, but at the same time, it felt nice being around her friends again. Tensions were high throughout the station. Obviously Andy was still off work and everyone else was struggling to deal with the loss of such a special man. He was a father figure to them all at one point or another and now there was an empty space where he used to be. The team had found themselves reminiscing on the good times with Pruitt and telling a few jokes. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the special moment until it all seemed to become too much for Vic.
"Hey! We are alive because of Pruitt Herrera. Emmett got to live long enough to come out because of Pruitt Herrera. We get to laugh and... and clap and make chilli because of Pruitt Herrera. We get to breathe! We get to live, OK. We all get to live because of Pruitt Herrera." Vic said loudly, taking everyone by surprise.
"Vic...no-one's forgetting that. We're simply honouring his memory. We're doing our jobs, that's what he'd want. That's what Andy would want us to do right now." Olivia said calmly before anyone else could say anything.
"I-, hmm, I'm sorry." Vic apologised as she started crying before she walked off.
"I got it." Olivia quickly put her coffee down, first to go after Vic before Travis or anyone else could. She walked off in the same direction Vic went.
"Vic..." She found her standing on the walkway in the barn that was above the rigs.
"I'm sorry about that." Vic apologised quietly.
"It's okay Vic, everyone gets it." Olivia told her friend. Vic nodded quietly.
"Look, we're all gonna have our ups and downs. That's how grief works for everyone. You know that. We just lost a big part of our family Vic. It's okay to not be okay." Olivia told her friend sadly.
"He saved us. All of us. He saved us from that fire." Vic said close to crying again.
"I know he did. I'm sorry I wasn't there." Olivia felt the need to apologise even though she knew deep down there was no need.
"Look, we're gonna get through this. Some way or another we will. As a family. Whether we're all together or not. It's how life works and it's what Pruitt would've wanted." Olivia said wisely.
"We all just have to keep doing what we do best to make him proud." Vic said.
"Exactly." Olivia smiled.
"It's gonna hurt like hell for a while but eventually it will hurt less. That doesn't mean we're gonna forget him, it just means he'll always be with us in some form or another." Olivia told her friend who she could see was struggling. All of this had to jog up a lot of memories for Vic regarding her relationship with Ripley and Olivia knew that couldn't be easy for her friend.
"Thank you." Vic said as she pulled her friend in for a hug.
"Look at you getting all wise in Chicago." Vic joked, making them both laugh.
"Hey, I work with some pretty wise people. Seems to be rubbing off on me I guess." Olivia shrugged, happy she could make her friend laugh.
"Look, I'm heading off soon but you know you can text me or call me whenever right? I might not be here in person but I'll always be here for you guys. You're my family, nothing's gonna change that." Olivia said, giving Vic another tight hug. Vic nodded as she wiped her eyes. Just then the alarm sounded. Vic ran off. Olivia stood and watched as everyone ran to the vehicles and got into their gear. Travis paused as he went to get in the air car when he spotted Liv on the walkway. He knew she would be gone by the time they got back as she had her flight to catch.
"I'll call you." She shouted down to her friend. He smiled and blew her a kiss before he climbed into the aid car with Warren and followed the other vehicles out of the station.

Walking through the station one last time during her visit, some many memories flashed through her head. The memories she had the honour of sharing with Pruitt Herrera. The first one that sprung to mind was the day she decided to leave Seattle. It had been Pruitt that had helped her through that. Standing by her old locker, Olivia smiled as she remembered the talk she shared with him that day.