What Happens In The Dark

CHAPTER 20

Andy arrives back in Seattle feeling positive about having seen Maya, and that she thinks she got through to her, sure she will make the right decision and come home.

She heads straight to the station from the airport, knowing her team will be on shift, and she needs to give them the information on Maya. She took leave without telling them where she was going - just in case. Despite that she is fairly sure they will be guessing she has gone to track her down.

For the 4 or so weeks since she shared with the team that Maya was in Philly the team checked in with her asking if she had called her yet, each time getting the same answer. That no she hadn't, and she wouldn't until she had a plan in place to try and not 'spook' her.

What she never shared with the team, was that the plan all along had been to get all her 'ducks in a row', speak to the Chief to take some personal days, and hop a plane out there. When Andy arrived the team were all out on a call, with Theo as acting Captain in Andy's absence.

Andy walked into the beanery, made a coffee and sat at the table waiting for them to get back. It was only 15 minutes later that she heard the doors opening signalling the teams return. She takes a deep breath thinking about what she wants to tell them and waits until the doors to the beanery open.

"Oh man, you seriously can not think that would have been any different?!" Vic exclaims through a chuckle.

"I gotta agree-" Travis starts but the conversation is halted as they walk into the beanery - rest of the team not far behind - stopping dead as they see their Captain not in uniform sat at the table.

"Cap?" Vic says tentatively "You ok? Are you back from leave?" She follows up.

Andy looks up smiling at the team "Hey Hughes, um, no next till next shift, but um, there's something I wanted to talk to you all about. Why don't you guys go get cleaned up and head back in here - I can catch you all up then?" She suggests seeing they are all dirty from the fire.

"Sure, you heard Cap, get cleaned up and back here ASAP." Theo says, watching as the team files out and to the showers.

When it's just the 2 of them he moves toward Andy "Is everything ok?" He asks.

She nods, "I think so. Go get yourself cleaned up, and I'll tell you guys everything together." She says.

With a quick nod, Theo goes to join the rest of the team to get cleaned up.

++++

20 minutes later the team are all sat around the table, Andy standing up leaning against the Island. "Ok, as some of you no doubt suspected, the leave I took...was to go to Philly-" Andy starts, however the second the word Philly is out she is met with a plethora of questions from at least 5 voices.

Andy holds up a hand and raises her voice "GUYS! Please. One at a time. But maybe hold your questions until I have told you everything - then ask?" She suggests with a raised eyebrow, seeing most of the team nodding looking somewhat sheepish.

"Ok, so as I said, I went to Philly. The reason I hadn't called Maya earlier was because not knowing what her mental state was like, I was worried that if I did and she hung up she would run again, and we would be back to square one." Andy tells them.

"But you found her? Like you physically saw her?" Vic asks quickly.

Andy nods "I did. I called her first, but from a coffee shop, near her place. Predictably she hung up, told me to leave her alone, lose her number or something..." She waves her hands "So I left and went straight to her place, safe to say she was not expecting me on her doorstep" she chuckles at the memory of Maya's shocked face.