Chapter Text
Fire Chief Lucas Ripley made the following announcement via ZOOM when a member of his department was shot by
unknown assailant: **LIEUTENANT ANDREA HERRERA-SULLIVAN IS ACTING CAPTAIN OF THIS STATION UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE. SHE'S TO BE AFFORDED EVERY COURTESY-EVERY COURTESY -IF YOU EXPECT TO CONTINUE WITH SFD.**
Chief Ripley's announcement early that morning took the entire station off guard: Beckett will be off-line for a minimum
of six to eight weeks; he didn't elaborate and really didn't need to: drunk and bitter after Andy Herrera reconciled with Robert
Sullivan (now the Battalion Chief of Sector 5) he attacked Sullivan from behind at 19's winter Holiday party, after which the latter
took him apart-LITERALLY!-without the smarmy creep ever landing another punch. The resultant SFD investigation found that
Beckett 'engaged in a continuous pattern of harassment and unwanted sexual advances toward Lieutenant Andrea Herrera despite
her repeated verbalized desire to be left alone. He was also found to have 'committed assault against another member of the SFD',
and 'intoxicated or otherwise impaired while in command of an active scene.' He is Suspended Without Pay during his period of
convalescence, once he's fit for duty a full investigation into all charges would commence. An added charge of assault on a Superior
is later deemed to be warranted.
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Northside Nation is a criminal organization in TEXAS.
Proud Boys is a nationwide racist mob that attacks and brutalizes all who oppose them. They're violent misogynists with right-
leaning ideology.
Washington State Militia-designated by the Department of Justice as a domestic terror organization.
All boast 'guns for hire' as well as narcotics producers, arms, and human traffickers, among other crimes.
ONE DAY AFTER HIS SUSPENSION
He moped and stewed and plotted and guzzled booze, all the while conflating details of his demise into some grand
conspiracy against WHITE MEN in general and HIM in particular. Beckett found a kindred spirit in disgraced ex-SPD and
newly-minted SFD Deputy Chief of Purchasing MICHAEL DIXON, fresh from a humiliating exit from the Police Department,
which he seamlessly parlays into his current 'soft landing' (courtesy of his *rabbis in City Hall and County government). he's
for payback: HIS beef is with Sullivan, but he is perfectly FINE with taking-down Herrera as a means to an end. Dixon is an expert
strategist and as cunning as a fox; he and his slimy cohort are a match made in heaven...
"FUCKING SPIC BITCH!" he howled, draining a beer and smashing a bottle against a far wall. "She turned me down to get back with that
half-nigger SULLIVAN...her day is coming...oh yeah! I'd like to fuck that bitch's corpse up the ass while he watches!"
"SEAN...SEAN! I loathe that fucking coon too, BUT DIAL IT BACK...we do this by the playbook-like always." Dixon tossed back another shot
of bourbon and pushed his glass toward Beckett for a refill. "Fortune smiles on us, my boy: The Foreigner is on leave for ten days leaving ME at
the helm. And I plan to put this time to good use."
Wincing boozily, Becket asked, "How so?"
"We use 'hitters' Proud Boys...North Side Nation...WSM (Washington State Militia)...we fuckin' kill of them."
Beckett cried "WHOA-SHIT! You...you mean...KILL 'EM as in... DEAD ?!"
"Try to keep up, Asshole! As long as Ripley's here we can't touch EITHER of them. You have 'beef' with both-so do I! After I kept quiet
about the half-breed and his bitch wife being married they paid me back by fucking me over-we had a good system , with the
inspections, the re-directed dope-which that dyke Tommy Morrison: remember her?-tried and FAILED to side-track before we ran her
degenerate ass out of Seattle and TO the land of 'Fruits n' Nuts'! Now this OTHER monkey: HENDRIX is gonna be a problem...we gotta take
'em ALL OUT, Seanie. It's the only way."
"I need that money, Mike," Beckett complained. "My worthless ex-wives went to court and got increases in spousal support, plus all
the other shit: tuition, Sean Jr needs a car..."
"Cry me a river, Seanie!" Dixon snapped. "We need SOLUTIONS, and I think I have just what we need: if you have the balls."
"Sooo...how do we do it?" Beckett slurred.
"WSM has two dozen ex-military: three are King County Sheriffs. The others are independent, so we use THEM-the independents for
Hendrix; Proud Boys have another 15 they can dedicate to Sullivan. I'm thinkin' let Herrera suffer after her spade husband is taken out"-
"NO...HELL NO!" Beckett interrupted. "She goes too!"
"FINE !-YOU PAY for it! The 'fund' pays for the WSM and PB hitters, and to grease the skids with PD, Sheriffs and State
Police. For SULLIVAN and HENDRIX: nothin' else!"
"WSM has two dozen ex-military: three are King County Sheriffs. The others are independent, so we use THEM-the independents for
Hendrix; Proud Boys have another 15 they can dedicate to Sullivan. I'm thinkin' let Herrera suffer after her spade husband is taken out"-
"NO...HELL NO!" Beckett interrupted. "She goes too!"
"FINE!-YOU PAY for it! The 'fund' pays for the WSM and PB hitters and greases the skids with PD, Sheriffs, and State Police. For
SULLIVAN and HENDRIX: nothin' else!"
Beckett mumbled something, which Dixon can't make out: "WHAT-SPEAK UP! Say it again!" the corrupt police snarled.
"I said OK", Beckett said, properly chastened.
Dixon extends an olive branch: "Look, Seanie: I get it; Herrera is one fine piece o' ass but you're talkin' about risking a two million
a year enterprise-not to mention pissing off the criminals we're discussing. You're puttin' all of us in mortal danger for a PR bitch
who ended up back with her husband any fuckin' way. There's plenty of 'em in the area: is this bitch worth OUR LIVES?"
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On a rooftop, four city blocks from Seattle Fire Department Headquarters, a paid assassin with ties to the Oath Keepers sighted in the
the military-grade sniper rifle he held and waited patiently for his target to appear. To verify his target one final time before 'sending
the round' he whispered into his throat microphone "Really tall darkie-6 ft 4 maybe...looks half-breed...yeah-he's got a sorta beard...
COPY...coolin' him now.." and with a deep intake of breath (which he held for a beat) he FIRED ...
HQ staff, trainees, and others (including Lucas Ripley) pour out of the building-he is one of the first to reach his fallen friend and
administered CPR while simultaneously phoning for an Aid Car (at Station 19 the dispatch sounded: 'Aid 19...GSW at SFD HQ...victim
is CAPTAIN ROBERT SULLIVAN-one of ours...per Chief of SFD EXPEDITE!...
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STATION 19-THAT MORNING...
Andy Herrera cried "What! Did she say...WHAT??!" Her heart thumped and she felt faint: familiar signs of an impending panic attack...
Maya Bishop hurried over to try to calm her fellow Lieutenant/Acting Captain down; Gibson and Montgomery hopped into the Aid
Car and roared out of the barn. The rest of A Shift huddled around the big screen in the day room as news of the shooting rolled
across the screen. "Andy...ANDY! He's gonna be OK-understand?! Andy, look at me...YEAH-focus on me OK?"
"M-M-M-aya...I have to...go...(gasp); Grey's; RO-ROB-ERT..."
Maya looked around and called "Hughes: drive Herrera to Grey Sloan, please? Once she's calm. Take her to her bunk, maybe?"
Vic guided the Latina gently by the shoulders, saying "Let's go Andy" in a soft, soothing voice. She stayed with her for about half an
hour, then drove her to the medical center.
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The entire Seattle Fire Department is on edge because of the recent violence against one of their own-especially '19'. Lucas made sure
to look in on Andy the minute he stepped into the station. "Chief," she greeted him somewhat listlessly. She popped a handful of sugary cereal
into her mouth.
"I really believe that you should go home Herrera...or to the hospital and be with Robert. It makes sense that you're distracted; it's all that
I can do to keep my own mind focused on department business. I'm bringing in a sub."
"Chief, I"-
"Will only need a few minutes to gather your belongings? Excellent."
Andy sighed and closed the box of cereal before putting it away. "I...HATE seeing him like that, and knowing that it's because of me
and my selfish, spiteful, disgusting actions that he's even there. I KNOW IT-HE must be thinking it; just as you and the rest of SFD must
as well. I'm so ashamed and embarrassed and...MORTIFIED, Chief. I can't face him."
"Except that you HAVE TO," Lucas replied, not unkindly. "He needs you, and while it's true that you have been...less than a stellar wife
in my judgment, it's up to SULLY...and he made it clear the last time we spoke that he wants you there. So chop chop."
"I only need my purse; thank you for the kind words, Sir," she added a little testily.
Before they left Ripley advised Bishop that she's interim Captain.
In Lucas' personal SUV the silence was palpable (Andy still stinging from her boss' previous rebuke; Lucas felt some regret for his choice
of words)..."Look, Herrera", he said. "I was a little hard on you before but Sully is the same as my own brother: when we came back from the
Gulf on leave my parents 'adopted him'; My Mom cried for him every night when he went missing for a time over there. So...after you pissed
all over your vows, I was as hurt as he was: maybe more so. He wants to make the two of you work somehow, which means that I have to make
peace with it as well. Just know that if you don't intend to follow through on your promises-"
"There's nothing I want more", Andy said softly. "I'm a mess and I know it; I've contacted Diane Lewis and scheduled weekly sessions with
her. Chief...LUCAS...I won't try to pretend that trauma explains all of my shitty behaviour, but she is confident that it is at the root of most of
why I do what I do."
"Tell him that," Lucas said. "That you are getting help. And don't beat yourself up so much: you're human, Herrera. Your mistakes are serious
but nothing that can't be overcome. Despite what I said earlier I support 'Surrera' without conditions. The thing is...trauma doesn't explain ALL
of your actions."
"You're right; I accept that," Andy said quietly. Then she smiled for one of the few times that week. "Thank you. Thank you SO MUCH, Chief."
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When Ripley arrived home later his sister Jennifer was there, having wine with Vic. In a single motion, the youngest Ripley set her wineglass
onto the coffee table, stood, and rushed into his arms. "Is he dead?! she sobbed brokenly. Her much taller sibling's consoling pats and rubs
don't do much to comfort her. Victoria hung back until her husband brought the now-sniffling Jennifer into the living room and guided her
to her previous seat. "I...I'm okay now. Answer my question, Lukey: is Bobby dead?"
"No. He's shot, and in hospital in the ICU, but he's stable."
Jen breathed a sigh of relief. "So...that's SOMETHING...how is his wife? I met her when you were in the hospital that time."
"Who shot him, Babe-do we know?" Victoria asked.
"The PD is on it...meaning Dixon ...the lead Detective, Damian Asante is former FBI. He quietly reached out to his former
boss in NYC; they'll be here in a day, maybe less."
"Jen said, "I want to see him."
"We'll all go together, in the morning-including Herrera and their child."
======
/
Later, in their bedroom, Vic said "You were really hard on Andy today, Ripley. Harder than you maybe needed to be."
"I don't completely disagree," he responded after a minute.
"Her husband had been shot and at the time we didn't know how seriously. Also, those rumors about Andy stepping out are only
unsubstantiated gossip for all we know. I'm not denying that that text exchange with Tanner went too far and she agrees that she
was way too flirty in them but how long are you gonna vilify her?"
The Chief turned to her with a sigh. "Good and valid points. Flirty texts are one thing, wife: another is she traveled to San Diego and
spent at least one night at the apartment of an ex-hookup, and no-no one can say for certain that anything happened between them
but it LOOKS BAD, wouldn't you say? With her past history can I be blamed for drawing certain conclusions? And we still don't know for
that I'm wrong."
"I KNOW . She told me that she didn't and I believe her. I can read Andy like a book and she told me the truth."
"Alright. You win; I'll speak with her at the hospital tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sweetie. Goodnight."
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The Northside Nation's top man Tomas Serrano imposed upon his second in command (Garrison Murphy) to pass along his great
displeasure about the recent events in Seattle Washington. "Mr. Dixon, Mr. Serrano isn't happy with the mess that's been made in your
Seattle. To be frank he's mother-fucking beside himself. You've heard of the fabled Texas Rangers? They're looking into our business
partnerships in Texas. Task forces are forming as we speak in Illinois, California, Washington, and other states; local and state agencies
we can handle: FEDERAL AGENCIES not so much and in Mr. Serrano's mind all of this stems from YOUR inability to maintain
even a modicum of control over the drunks degenerates, and imbeciles in your 'organization'. I suggest that you do whatever is necessary
to bring the situation back into line. QUICKLY."
"Of c-course, Mr. Murphy. You have my guarantee that the situation is as good as fixed."
A dial done is his only response.
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At Grey Sloan, The Ripleys + Jen, Andy, and her child meet with Meredith Grey and Callie Torres before they can visit Sullivan.
"Chief Sullivan suffered gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and lower back. He has two broken ribs which won't require surgery.
Dr. Torres?"
"Yes, hello...Mr. Sullivan-rather Chief Sullivan also broke his wrist when he fell after being shot, which I repaired without any
complications. I expect it to heal without complications as long as he doesn't try to use it for at least six weeks."
Meredith said "At this point, your Chief's status is serious but not life-threatening. We'll want to keep him here a week or so
to monitor him for infection. And Chief Bailey wants a word; Dr. Torres and I have patients to see. Good to see you all again;
excuse us."
Victoria leans closer to her husband and says "Hey...'Bailey wants a word'? What's THAT about?"
"It might be about Sully not wanting to see...you know."
She nods, but before she can ask a follow-up question Miranda Bailey enters the room. "Good morning, all. I found it
necessary to set some ground rules concerning this visit. Sullivan is not to be upset," she states baldy, her eyes squarely
on Andy. If he indicates in any way that any of you are not welcome here you will immediately exit the room. Agreed?"
Once they all voice their agreement Miranda leads them to the private suite where Robert rests, lightly dozing. 'ON YOUR
YOUR GODDAMN FEET, CAPTAIN! Those bee-stings earn you no pity from me," Lucas says loudly.
Jen shakes her head, rolls her eyes, and murmurs "Lukey."
Vic adds "Y'KNOOOW..."
Bumping friends with the man he considers his brother Lucas says "The baby doesn't even know what I'm saying and Sully
doesn't mind."
Sullivan accepts a kiss on the forehead and cheek from Jen, who warns "You ARSE-don't you ever scare me like that ever again!"
"My heart stopped when we heard," Victoria admits, kissing the hand with no IV attached. He smiles warmly at her in response.
Approaching tentatively, Andy says "Hey." Their son yells "PA!" and tries to squirm from his mother's arms.
"Hey. *Ahi esta mi picito de oro*" (there's my little piece of gold) Robert says hoarsely, stroking the child's leg lovingly.
"I, um...I'm so glad that they didn't kill you," she says, taking his hand. "This is ME...all me and I wouldn't blame you if"-
Robert interrupted. "Leave it for now"-and coughed; Andy quickly gets the nearby plastic cup of water from his bedside shelf and
holds it while he drinks. "Thanks. Rip...who tried to hit me?"
"A pro. Precise. Accurate. He didn't anticipate the capabilities of even a wounded Marine."
"Can we table that for now?" Andy asks impatiently, holding Dario's hands so that he can walk on his Daddy's hospital bed. "I
wanna talk to Robert"-
"Let's table that too," Sulivan said, fighting to keep his eyes open. "Chief Bailey's...uh...holding open visitation slots for family,
friends, and department members...even um...after visiting hours...until 2300."
In turn, Jen, Vic, and even Lucas kiss him goodbye (on the cheek or head); after he awards hugs and kisses to Dario Andy leans
to ask "Can I...can I kiss you, please?"
No need to humiliate or embarrass her in front of the rest...he nodded yes and she left a light kiss on his mouth. "I'm so sorry,
Mi Amor...but I now know why I've acted the way that I have..."
"We'l talk. Later," he says.