Part 2
TW – Possible suicide (mentioned)
Robert knocked on the door, opened it and what he saw broke his heart. Andy was lying on the bed, tear stains on her cheeks and was hugging a pillow close to her chest.
"Andy," Robert called and when Andy looked up he could see the heartbreak that was clear in her eyes. "Oh, Andy." Robert rushed over to the bed and scooped Andy into his arms, and she cuddled into him, his strong arms wrapping around her small frame. "It's going to be okay."
"You don't know that, Robert! Covid is deadly. That's what we know. That's all we know about this fucking virus." Andy told her husband and broke down into sobs again. Robert held her tighter and kissed her forehead. He didn't know how to get her through this. He didn't know what he could say to make any of this better.
"Andy, do you want to go home? There's only 12 hours left in the shift and I'm sure Bishop would let you go home." Robert asked.
"I don't think I want to be alone right now, and I can just switch with Gibson for desk duty," Andy told him, sitting up and wiping her cheeks.
"Are you sure?" Robert wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but he knew that after Ryan had died she came back to work the day after the funeral so he figured she might be okay to continue working.
"I'm sure. I need to be around my people right now." Andy told him and kissed him. "Thank you for being here, Robert."
"Always, Andy. Always." Robert told her with a soft smile on his face. "I know it was only a couple of weeks ago when you told me that you felt brittle. Like a strong wind could break you." Andy leaned against Robert again and Andy nodded.
"I'm tired, Robert," Andy told him, almost whispering.
Robert's heart cracked more. He knew the true meaning behind those words and held her tighter, scared to let Andy go.
"Andy," Robert kisses Andy's forehead. "I know so much has happened to you in the last year and a half." Robert thought of Ryan, Pruitt dying, the virus, the virtual funeral for Pruitt, finding out her mom was alive, getting pushed down by a police officer and seeing Robert have a gun pointed at him. "But you're still here, okay? You have me and all of 19 to help you through it, okay?"
"She was the only one who didn't judge me or call me crazy when I was spinning out, Robert," Andy told him. "We ran into each other in the halls at the hospital and she took me to the plant room or whatever it's called after I broke down in her arms after telling her I thought my mom had killed herself because I wasn't ever thinking she would still be alive, and she just listened and comforted me." Andy lets a tear fall from her eye. "I can't lose her, Robert. I cannot handle any more loss." Andy repeated the words she said to Robert a few weeks ago.
"Andy, I know." Robert kissed her forehead again. "I hope to God you don't but know that everyone here is going to be here for you if the worst does happen." Robert thought that would bring her comfort, but she pulled away.
"Robert, I know. I really do. I'm just tired. I'm so fucking tired." Andy looked into Robert's eyes, and he didn't like the pit that formed in his stomach. This is bad. Really bad.
"What do you need right now, Andy?" Was all Robert could think to ask.
Andy looked down at her hands. "To see her. To talk to her. Even if it's the last time at least it could give me closure. I never got that with Ryan. I never got that with my dad." Andy let a sob out. "I get there's covid protocols, I do, but Robert, I need to do this," Andy told him, and he didn't know what to say.
"Andy, stay here. I'll be right back, okay?" Andy nodded. "Is it okay if I get Maya?" Robert knew their relationship had been strained for a couple of months but knew it was back to how it used to be before. Andy nodded her head and Robert walked to the captain's office and knocked.
"Sullivan, what can I do for you?" Maya noticed the worried look on his face. "what's wrong? Is it Andy?" Robert nodded his head.
"Do you mind going up and sitting with her for like 15 minutes? I need to make a call and I don't want to leave her alone right now." Robert asked and Maya could hear the desperation in his voice. She nodded and rushed out of the office, telling him that he could use her office to make the call.
Robert took out his phone. Dialed Richard Webber's number and waited for him to answer.
"Hi, Robert. What's up?"
"Meredith Grey," Robert said and watched Richards's face change to one of sadness.
"You heard?" Richard sounded surprised.
"My wife heard. Look, I know it's against hospital protocols but she really needs to see..."
"I can't allow it, Robert," Richard said, cutting Robert off.
"Can I just explain why we're asking when we know it's not allowed?" Robert asked and waited for Richard to nod. When he did Robert began. "My wife has had nothing but bad happen this last year and a half. She lost her best friend, her other half. She lost her father. She found out her mother was alive when she thought she had died 20 years ago. She had to have the funeral for her dad be a freakin' virtual one because of this damn virus. She got pushed down by cops when she was trying to defend one of her brothers from 19. She had to watch me have guns pointed at me after I stood up for her, probably causing some PTSD reminding her of her best friend being shot." Robert looked into Richard's eyes. "She needs this. Meredith was there for her when everyone, including myself, was calling her crazy for thinking there was some deep dark family secret that was hidden from her. She needs this, Richard. I wouldn't be asking, begging, you if this wasn't important. She never got to say a proper goodbye to her friend. She never got to say goodbye to her father. She needs this, Richard. My wife is falling apart. You know what she told me a couple of weeks ago after seeing the guns pointed at me?" Robert paused for a moment. "She told me "I put up a strong front, Robert, but I feel brittle. I feel like a strong wind could break me." She is already falling apart in her bunk right now. I cannot lose another wife, Richard. I can't. So, I'm begging you. Please. Let her have this." Robert finished and watched Richard look away and motion for someone to come closer.
"Amelia?" Robert was surprised. "What are you doing there? I thought you were working from home?" Robert asked.
"Meredith is my sister-in-law, and I had surgery scheduled for today." She told him. "Listen, hospital protocol is strict right now. We can't just go breaking it because people are having a hard time..."
Robert cut Amelia off. "A hard time?" Robert snorted. "A hard time does not begin to describe what Andy is going through right now. All signs are pointing to fucking suicide." Robert spit out. "Please. Let her do this." Amelia looked to the side, most likely looking at Richard, trying to figure out what to say. "Look, I know it'd be unfair to all the patients who can't have family visit them, and I get it, I do, but please," Robert begged. "I cannot lose her. No one at the station can and no one can be watching her 24/7 and if she sets her mind on something, she finds a way to do it." Robert teared up, thinking about how fragile his wife is right now.
It was silent between the three of them for what seemed like forever when Amelia spoke.
"Robert, it takes less than a minute to obtain Covid. She needs to be dressed in PPE, head to toe and she can only have up to 15 minutes with Meredith and then has to quarantine for a week after the visit. Understand?"
"Understood. Is it okay if we come by when our shift is done?" Robert asked, relief flooding his body.
"Yeah, just come to the breezeway and we'll take her in from there," Amelia told him. "Robert, you can't tell anyone you're doing this, okay? If word spreads...Well, let's just say it would be bad." Robert nodded and ended the call after saying thank you.
I hope this helps Andy. I cannot lose another wife.
Robert sighed. He was thankful that they had agreed. He took a deep breath and let it out before walking out of Maya's office and going back up to Andy's bunk.
