Chapter Six
Theo drove as quickly as he could to the house Andy grew up in and sighed when he pulled into the parking lot. He parked, grabbed Andy's bags from the backseat and helped her out of the car and into the station where Vic had been waiting for Andy in reception. When Vic saw the state her girlfriend was in, anger clouded over her face.
"What the fuck happened?"
Theo looked down at the floor, feeling bad for not getting to Andy sooner.
"Can we go somewhere more private?" Theo asked, looking at Vic and back to Andy who had a tear running down her face. Vic nodded, wrapped an arm around Andy and led her into the captain's office.
Vic locked the door once the three of them were in the office and pulled Andy into her arms when she saw the tears pouring from her eyes. Theo watched the sad scene and pulled out his phone. He dialled Chief Ross and told her that she needed to come over to station 19 right away before hanging up.
"What the hell happened, Theo?" Vic asked, concern growing at the sobs her girlfriend was letting out. "Why didn't you protect her?"
Theo sighed. "I'm sorry, Vic. I'm so sorry. I got to the locker room and saw Maddox and Barnes cornering her. I pulled Maddox off of her and pushed Barnes away, but the damage had already been done. I'm so sorry, girls. I wish I got there sooner," Theo told Andy and Vic, remorse clear on his face and in his voice.
Vic sighed. She knew Theo did all he could. "Theo, do you mind leaving us alone and waiting outside for Chief Ross?" Vic asked and watched Theo nod and walk out of the room.
Vic looked down at Andy and noticed that her sobs had quieted down, and her tears had slowed.
"Andy, I know you won't want this, but I need to take a picture of your eye," Vic told Andy gently and was thankful when Andy nodded. She was scared Andy would fight her but when Andy gave the go-ahead Vic grabbed her phone from her pocket and took a picture of the bruise around her eye and the fingerprint marks on her arm while trying to hold it together for Andy's sake. She knew she had to be strong for Andy right now, but she hated this. She hated how broken Andy looked right now.
Vic pulled Andy back into her arms and felt Andy sigh against her.
"I love you, Andy," Vic told her, gently pressing her lips against Andy's forehead.
Added sniffled. "I love you too, Vic," Andy replied, gripping Vic, scared that she would disappear at any moment.
Vic held her in her arms until she heard a knock on the door. She pulled back from Andy.
"You ready, babe?" Vic asked before going to open the door. Andy nodded, walked to a chair placed in front of her desk and sat down while Vic went to open the door.
Andy heard the door open and sighed. She wasn't looking forward to reliving what happened, but she knew she would have to. She looked up and was surprised when she saw Ross along with a female police officer.
Ross walked into the office, not sure what she would see but was shocked at the state Andy was in. Dried tear tracks on her face and a growing purple bruise around her eye made her cringe. She couldn't believe this happened under her supervision of the department and felt terrible. She had told Maddox to take time off until she decided on a punishment but the fact that he didn't listen just proved that he wasn't someone who could take orders without questioning a superior.
"Herrera, I know you don't want to, but you need to tell this officer and I what happened."
Andy was looking down, but she nodded and then looked up. "I know," Andy sighed and looked at the cop. "I went to my old station to pick up my belongings when I got cornered in the locker room by two firefighters who had harassed me before," Andy ran a hand through her hair, trying to control her breathing. "Maddox and Barnes moved closer to me and Barnes blocked me from running out while Maddox walked closer to me and clearly punched me in the face and he also gripped my arm," Andy pulled up her sleeve to show the officer and Ross the fingerprint bruises. "and he also punched my stomach," Andy told them and pulled up her shirt. Revealing her abs but also a growing bruise on her stomach.
Ross sighed and looked at Andy with pity. "Herrera, I am so sorry."
Andy shook her head. "It's not your fault."
The police officer, Madeline Cruz, spoke after finishing her notes. "We have enough to arrest Maddox and Barnes, Captain Herrera," Madeline told her. "I also suggest you get a restraining order." Andy nodded, agreeing. "I also need pictures of your injuries for the report. Do you mind if I take them?" The officer asked, considerate of Andy's emotional state but Vic spoke up.
"I took some," Vic said, holding up her phone.
Madeline nodded and gave Vic an email address to send the pictures to and then left the office after double-checking that she had everything for the report.
Ross walked Madeline out, leaving Vic alone with Andy for a moment. She bent down in front of Andy and held onto her hands.
"Andy," Vic tried to get Andy to look at her. "Do you want to stay, or do you want to go home? I could call someone at the hospital to stay with you if you'd like?" Vic offered.
Andy thought about it. While she wanted to stay here, knowing Vic would be here, she'd rather go home and relax right now and being in a station might make things worse.
"I don't want to stay," Andy admitted after a moment. "I can call Meredith," Andy told Vic, pulling out her phone.
Vic nodded and watched her girlfriend dial Meredith and talk to her for a moment before Andy agreed to let Meredith pick her up. Andy hung up and then looked back at Vic.
"I love you, Vic. I'm sorry I'm bringing you into my drama," Andy said, eyes tearing up again.
Vic brought a hand under Andy's chin and got Andy to look into her eyes. "Andy, you don't need to apologize for being harassed and bullied, okay? I love you too and that won't stop just because you're going through a hard time," Vic told her, bringing Andy into a hug. Vic felt Andy trying to slow her breathing when there was a knock on the door.
Andy and Vic looked up and Andy called for whoever it was to come in.
"Herrera, you're taking the rest of the week off," Ross told Andy and instead of arguing Andy just nodded. "Also, I asked the cop to fire the restraining order, and she gave me her card. You can call her later today or tomorrow when you're feeling better," Ross explained, and Andy just nodded. "Call me later in the week to let me know how you're doing, please," Ross asked.
Andy nodded again. "I will."
Before anyone could speak another word there was a knock on the door. Ross, standing the closest, opened the door and Meredith was standing on the other side.
"Hey, I got here as fast as I could," Meredith told Ross and then looked inside the office. When she saw the bruise on Andy's face, a frown grew on her face. "Andy, are you going to the hospital or just to your apartment?"
"My apartment. I'm just a little sore is all," Andy told the doctor. Meredith nodded and watched as Andy said goodbye to her girlfriend and Ross before walking out of the office, being stopped by Vic though as Andy was walking out of the office.
"Get some rest, baby," Vic told Andy and kissed her forehead.
Andy nodded. "I will. I love you so much, Vic," Andy said and then kissed Vic's forehead.
"I love you too, Andy. So much."
