Still Burning

5- Breakfast Dessert

4 MONTHS LATER

The click of her heels echoed as she entered the open building. The trucks were parked but there wasn't any noise which was unusual. With a frown, Andy walked in further. When she entered the kitchen, she found all the firefighters sitting at the table, their heads in their hands.

"Hey guys. Why do you look miserable?"

Nathan groaned before standing up. "Not now Andy. Please, just go home." Andy frowned before making her way towards him. He was standing near the tap with a glass on his hand.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I said to go, Andy."

"But-"

"Just go! No one wants you here right now. I don't want you here right now so for the love of God just get lost!" Nathan stormed away to his office, slamming the door behind him. Andy felt her neck burn in embarrassment as she put the tray down.

She cleared her threat before speaking. "I made some pasta bake for you guys. Vegetarian because I know Jess is trying to stay off the meat." She glanced around the room. "Where's Jess?"

"She...she went back for a person- well she thought it was someone," Tony started.

Before Andy could panic, Carr came to her side. "Don't worry, Andy, she's fine. Critical but stable. We would usually be at the hospital right how but visiting hours are over and the nurses on shift were a pain in the backside." He kissed the top of her head with a small smile. "Tony should know about that." Tony stuck his finger up before walking up to her.

"Listen, she's okay."

"What are the doctors saying? Head injury? Back?"

"She looks okay for now. Broken leg. Swelling in the brain so the doctors are worried about that. We can only know how much damage is done when she wakes up yeah?" He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Andy smiled and quickly wiped away her tears. "For now, we pray for her- which Mo is doing right now- and we enjoy your lovely food."

"You guys eat. I'm gonna go home, okay?"

"Hey Andy," Mo said as he came in. "Going already?"

"Yeah. Listen guys, if Nathe asks- actually he won't." She shook her head with a sad smile. "Just tell him that I've got that inspector coming over to the cafe in the morning so I won't be home. That was kind of the reason I came right now. And please keep me updated on Jess. I'll see her tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to everyone, Andy walked out. She slowly walked to her car, running her fingers through her hair. Her hands skimmed the lacy collar of her blouse and she smiled. She had worn it to see whether Nathan would remember it as it was what she wore on the night he told her he loved her. She shook the thought away before getting into her car. He probably wouldn't have noticed anyways, she thought.

Nathan looked up at the sound of the knock on his door. He was expecting to see Andy but saw Mo instead. He lifted his hand and motioned for him to step in.

"Hey lieutenant, thought you might want something to eat. You haven't eaten in a while and we still got the rest of the night." With a smile, he took the play off him. Mo leaned against the cupboard, glancing at the wedding photo Nathan had on his desk. "Lieutenant, may I ask you a personal question? Well it's more of a statement."

"Shoot," Nathan said as he took his first bite. "Wait did Andy make this?"

"Yes. She's actually what I wanted to talk about. I've been where you are. Newly wed, still a firefighter. I have kids, lieutenant. Every time I run into a building, I always think of my wife and kids, making it my mission to get out so I get home to them alive." Mo sighed. "For years I felt as though I didn't need to talk to my wife. Years went by and I bottled it all up. I was brought up in a very male dominantated house so I was brought up to hold everything in. You can talk to her, lieutenant. She wants you to talk to her. I know you do for most stuff but you-"