It's Not Over

Smile Like You Mean It

The day Pruitt Herrera died, Andy felt more pain than she thought possible. Robert had run into the building after her without a second thought but he wasn't the one to save her. Ultimately, it'd been her father, who'd given his life for her and her team. Andy never got to say goodbye. She didn't break down when she realized what'd happened. In fact, at the scene, she was the only member of the station not in tears as she stared at his hat and Maya informed them of his final heroic action, though she knew they'd already figured it out.

No one spoke on the way back to the station but many tears were shed. Again, not by Andy. She refused to let go and let herself think or cry or do anything that differentiated her from a robot. Not until she was alone. Until she could truly process the depth of what she was feeling  Jack had to help her hang up her turnouts and guide her out of the station. Her face was blank. Empty.

When they got back to the apartment, he ran the shower for her and helped her strip, with little assistance from herself. He climbed in with her, almost oblivious as he got soaked and his clothing began to weight him down. Water dripped down her face, allowing tears to escape unnoticed at first, but once the seal was broken, everything came pouring out and Jack could barely stop her from collapsing on the bathroom floor in sobs and lowered her down carefully. Tears began escaping his own eyes, a combination of the loss of his hero, the physically draining day, and the sight before him. Sitting on the floor of the tub, he pulled her into his lap and craddeled her in his arms. She clung to his shirt as she sobbed, the pain evident in the cries reflecting only a little of the aches she suffered throughout her whole body. He didn't move when his legs went numb or his hands resembled raisins more than fingers. Not until her sobs finally died down, purely because of exhaust.

"I don't deserve you," she whispered to him when he helped her into bed.

"Try and get some sleep," he whispered, softly. He was well aware she couldn't love him, but this was bigger than that.

Andy never did fall asleep. Nor did she eat or talk. She wouldn't have even remembered she needed to leave for her mothers wedding so soon if Rosie hadn't called her to try and get her flight information so he could pick her up. He immediately picked up that something was wrong.

"I'll be there Thursday," she simply replied before hanging up. By the time Thursday morning came, Andy had practically been awake for three days. The only sleep she'd gotten had been out of extreme exhaust and was restless. Not to mention she was on the verge of fainting every time she stood and was extremely dehydrated. Still, she packed a bag an hour before Jack dropped her off at the airport, and made her way to Miami. Rosie had failed to get her flight information out of her and had no idea when and where to go pick her up. She ignored his texts and got a cab home. While it was more expensive she wasn't ready to see anyone just yet: another reason she was glad her mother had left her a key under the mat, having to be at work when she arrived. She was so tired, she took no notice of the familiar car parked across the street.

"Villa, is that you?" Ira called out from the kitchen when he heard the door open.

"Hornstock? What are you doing here so early?" She asked, doing her best to mask her exhaust while closing the door behind her. Speaking was the last thing she wanted to do. She thought she might throw up.

"Finished a case. Thought I'd clean up for your moms dinner," he explained, traveling from the kitchen to the dinning room. He hesitated for a moment at the sight of her. Her hair was dull and slightly tangled and her red rimmed eyes were bloodshot. She wore a green jacket too large for her and too warm for the Miami weather, but she was still cold. Her lips were bloodless and he wouldn't have been surprised if she wavered in her stance, but still, she forced a weak smile on her face. He pulled it together immediately, telling her, "welcome back," as he continued towards her. "How was the flight?"