Haunted By The Past - A Surrera Story

Chapter Eleven

Robert's pov
I tried to get to Andy, but Luke wouldn't let me. He held me back as I struggled to get out of his grip. He told me that I could be making my injuries worse but I didn't care. I just wanted Andy to be okay. I should never of suggested this coffee shop. If we'd of gone to a different coffee shop, this would never be happening. I watched as Warren started compressions, and then Hughes came running in with extra med bags and stretchers. She stood there for a few seconds, shocked at how Andy's condition had so quickly deteriorated, and how I was screaming, crying about it. Then, Hughes took over compressions and Warren got the defibrillator. This couldn't be happening. The love of my life was here, injured and possibly dying in front of me, and there was nothing I could do about it. They have to bring her back. They have to, I can't lose her again.
After shocking her twice, they finally found a pulse, and I sighed in relief. She was alive. Andy was alive. I looked up at Luke and he nodded before letting go of me. I crawled over to Andy, still unable to stand because of my leg and the shard of glass in my chest,and grabbed hold of her hand. I brushed the hair out of her face, and whispered in her ear, "You're okay, you're going to be okay. We're going to be okay. You scared me then, I thought I was going to lose you again. I can't lose you again Andy, I love you. We have to get through this." As I talked to her I brushed my thumb across her cheek to comfort her, even though she wasn't conscious yet. Then, a sharp pain cut through my leg and I realized that I had, as Luke had predicted, made my injuries worse. I winced in pain, but still, I didn't regret fighting to get to Andy like I did.

Ripley's pov
I sat back and watched as Robert broke down beside Andy. I knew we needed to get them both to the hospital, but I wanted to let my best friend have his moment first. A few seconds later, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I glanced up to see Hughes standing behind me. "Are you okay?" She asked, genuine concern in her voice. I shrugged, unsure on how to answer her.
"Honestly, no. I was there the last time Robert lost Andy, and it was partly my fault. And I know that there is no way in hell that he will be able to get through losing her again, and the same the other way around," I said, although I don't know why I was telling her how I felt. I usually take a while to confide in people like that, to feel comfortable enough to talk to them. But somehow, here I was, pouring my heart out to one of the many firefighters that I was Chief to. She crouched down beside me, her hand still on my shoulder.
"Andy told me what happened, and it wasn't your fault. You had no choice but to report them, otherwise all three of you would've lost your jobs. And as for today, all we can do is get them to the hospital, and hope and prey that they will make it through this," she said softly, and I smiled at her.
"Thank you Hughes," I said, "For now and earlier." She just nodded and held out a hand to help me up. Taking hold of it, I got to my feet and helped her and Warren get Robert and Herrera onto the stretchers. Now we just had to get them outside, which was going to be much harder than it sounds. The whole of Station 19 are out there, along with multiple other stations. I knew that 19's focus would break when they saw not one, but two of their own being carried out on a stretcher, but they needed to get the rest of that fire out.
"We'll need to call someone else in to help us carry them on the stretchers," Warren pointed out, and I thought for a moment.
However, before I could say anything Hughes said, "I'll go and get Travis, he's close with Andy, but he's probably least likely to blank out or anything like that, and he can keep a secret." She ran out of the coffee shop, going through the exit that we had found that was safe enough and away from the fire, before returning a few moments later with Montgomery behind her. I'm guessing she had already told him briefly what had happened but his face still fell when he saw how bad they were. Robert was still crying by Andy's side, and she was still unconscious with a ceiling panel in her stomach. Then, as Hughes had predicted, he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, and walked over to the two of them.
"We need to get them to the hospital right now," he said, and we all agreed with him.
"Sully come on, you need to get on the stretcher now," I said, bringing the stretcher over to Robert. There was no way he was going to be able to walk with his leg like that, plus we didn't want to risk him moving the glass anymore than he probably already has. I stood behind him as he shook his head.
"I'm not leaving her," he whispered, as if he was scared that somebody would hear him.
"Robert you have to. You're both hurt, and we need to get you both to the hospital. Andy's already crashed once, you saw that, if we don't get her there ASAP, there's no saying that it won't happen again. And you need to get that leg sorted out, and that shard of glass out of your chest," I explained to him gently. Eventually he nodded.
"Just make sure nothing happens to her," he said, before allowing me to help him into the stretcher. Beside us, Montgomery and Hughes were loading Andy onto the other stretcher. Then, with those two carrying Andy, and me and Warren carrying Robert, we headed out of the coffee shop.