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Part 1 of VENGEANCE-THE AFTERMATH
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Published:
2025-09-16
Updated:
2025-09-16
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3,195
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5/6
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THIS CAN'T STAND

,

Summary:

We've rewritten this entire fic: As originally published, the villain of the fic – JOSH BARRENS – is Andy Herrera’s ‘ex ’; in this re-written
version he’s an overzealous stalker who met her ONCE during a vehicle collision, and Andy treated his fractured wrist…that brief encounter
(and a chance sighting @ the Emerald Bar) are the catalyst for his twisted mind to conflate a medical treatment and a circumstantial non-
meeting at a public bar into AN ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. he goes TOO FAR ...
///

With the kind permission of StationWriter19, the JOSH BARRENS character is based on a story by that author, FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE.
It's dark, but worth a read to tie the plot together.

 

Notes:

Chapter 1: THE COWARD STRIKES

Summary:

Joshua Barrens' (OC-S19) obsession with a stunning SFD Lieutenant/Paramedic (whom he met the ONE-TIME when she treated him
for a broken wrist suffered in a vehicle accident) spins out of control not long after, and a chance sighting of the same woman sealed
BOTH OF THEIR FATES: This leads to a life and death struggle to survive, which neither Andy Herrera nor her life partner had any
reason to see coming

 

.

Chapter Text

~PREVIOUSLY~

--ANDY--

Though she and 'Kaos' Kate Powell have been antagonistic with one another at best and outright hostile at worst, Andy decided to offer to share
her dinner of Tika Marsala with the mouthy and abrasive blonde: with a sigh (and a hope that 'Kaos' would turn her down her offer), the newly-
pregnant Latina is eating for two and would prefer to have BOTH portions herself EXCEPT: Powell was at the desk when the food arrived, sooo:
her trained ears picked up the sound of a powerful engine with lots of hp under the hood, revving loudly - very close to the building, apparently...-
Andy shrugged and began to descend the stairs, wondering if Robert was awake and needed a reminder to come for her at 10 pm...

()()()()()()

--JOSH BARRENS--

Barrens didn't decide to drive his truck into the building until 10 seconds before he did it: a short, blocky blonde was chatting it up with a woman
wearing a red food delivery tee--for some reason, those two women - having a normal chat: 'kicking it' - infuriated him: INSULTED HIM - and
instead of making another circle of the building, he whipped the wheel left and increased his speed until he calculated that he'd have enough to
momentum to 'jump' it; once his chassis cleared it, he barely avoided a head-on collision with the flagpole displaying the US and Washington State
flags and only some skillful manipulation of the steering wheel permitted the big man to wrestle the heavy Ford back onto its desired trajectory: the
building's glass entranceway...

()()()()()()

-ANDY-

A truck plowed through the glass entrance of the fire station, careening off the front desk work area and barreling over a DoorDash@ delivery person;
Andy had seen (and heard) it accelerate over the curb and bash into the flagpole on the front lawn: she was fast knelt to attend to the screaming woman pinned
beneath the undercarriage of the Ford F150 at the same moment that the Stalker and Creep she recognized from before, fighting his way through the twisted
metal and assorted debris dragged by the truck after the multiple collisions, blocking his driver's side door - he picked up speed about fifteen feet away from
her, despite the plaintive cries from the food courier and from 'Chaos' Kate Powell, pinned between the front desk and the plate glass window, Andy decided
that the expression of pure hate and fury on his face dictated her immediate absence from the area, which she did, as much as she hated to do so.

()()()()()()

-JOSHUA BARRENS-

Josh Barrens sat in his vehicle half a block from SFD HQ after following the Bitch and her High Yellow Black Buck from the firehouse to downtown, where he
parked behind a moving van offloading office furniture into a two-story office building (offering a very suitable vantage point for surveillance)...the former Special
Forces sniper reached into his back seat and fondly stroked the M110 (SASS) ) : a semi-automatic chambered for 7.62/81mm, with an effective range of 800mm...
which happens to be Joshua K. Barren's 'ER'...he could do the 'yo' right now - his muzzle and flash suppresors on the rifle would HAMPER DISCOVER -not prevent
it COMPLETELY. Better to wait...

Chapter 2: THE RESCUE AT 19

Chapter by

Summary:

Detectives Tom Hackett, Damien Asante, and Ricarda "Rica" Benitez, and Operations
Captain Robert Sullivan, arrive @19 just in time 'save'(?) Andy Herrera

Chapter Text

[A couple strolling near 19 had phoned in a 'suspicious person' to SPD; instead of dispatching a patrol unit, Detectives Tom
Hackett and Damien Asante, along with Ricarda "Rica" Benitez go to the scene. (It just so happens that Detective Benitez is who
took the complaint from MAYA BISHOP this evening, after the blonde bestie had gotten a look at Herrera's face when the latter reported
for shift. On the way to S19, Damien phones his good friend Robert Sullivan, (who he knows was once involved with Herrera) and who
immediately burns rubber to his former 'house' at speed...arriving less than a minute after the police trio do. Sullivan advises them that Andrea
Herrera is here alone, and that if the suspect is who he believes him to be, they'd better be extra careful. As if to verify this, the police scanner
in the Investigator's vehicle crackles: Unit 7Delta...be advised that your suspicious person suspect is believed armed and extremely dangerous,
may be former marine sniper-advise use caution when approaching...rescue and additional back up responding'...]

[The foursome enter the building, and discover the front desk un-occupied (there is an over-turned stool on the floor, along with some
scattered documents on the. Tom, as the ranking Detective, dispatches Rica Benitez to the 'clear' the upper floor, while he and Asante take the
the ground floor, advising Sully to KEEP BACK! ...as they are about to begin their search for the missing firefighter, they hear a
blood-curdling scream: ROBERT! HELP ME, ROBERT! With no regard for the instruction to stay behind them, Sullivan blasts down the hallway,
much the same as he did as an ALL-NCAA wide receiver at WSU...giving chase, Hackett and Asante shout 'SULLIVAN!', and follow in his wake.]

HERRERA IN PERIL

From the corner of her eye, she sees Josh's arm come down again, and SOMEHOW, she rolls to her left, and the blade only deeply gashes her side.
Through tear-blurred eyes, she watches, in slow motion, as the blade descends again....I'M DYING, HE'S KILLING ME, she thinks dully...
...I'LL NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO TELL ROBERT HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM, HOW SORRY I AM ...with supreme effort, she
gathers as much air as she can into tortured lungs and screams ROBERT! HELP ME, ROBERT! -she has no idea why she did it,
just that he is the last person she thinks of, the one person she most regrets leaving. In these last moments, she mourns the life they should
have had, the children hey'd talked about having ...

At once, she's filled with an all-encompassing hate, and an anger that this waste of sperm would DARE attack her in her own house. As the blade
comes down, she finds the strength, from somewhere, to fire her left foot directly into his crotch. Berens staggers back, howling in agony, and dropping
his knife. He drops to one knee, grunting with effort as he struggles to pick the knife up, and renew his attack. Before he can, something hurtles into him from
outside of her sight line, slamming him against the wall, and falling on top of him. ROBERT, it's ROBERT! a voice in her head shouts joyously before she
passes out.

She doesn't see Sully pounding Josh's face into mush, or the bruises and bumps suffered by Hackett, Asante, and Benitez as they try to drag
to drag him away. She does not feel the prick of the morphine needle that Warren administers as part of the Medic One responding team. Or the portable
defib machine paddles, shocking her back to life after her heart stops briefly. Once she's stabilized, they trundle her out of the blood spattered hallway, along
with Sully, who injured his back while attacking Berens, and the shit-bird himself, who's in no condition to walk, beaten to a pulp as he is. Hackett whispers to
Warren, "Your people are FIRST PRIORITY-this bloody tiger nuts, if he happens to bleed-out before he can be seen, we're good with it."

'TIGER NUTS?", Ben grins.

"Fecal chafe...what you Yanks might call dingleberries."

Chapter 3: THE ER @ (SLOAN GREY MEMORIAL)

Chapter by

Summary:

Andy, Sullivan, and Josh are rushed to the ER @ Grey Sloan, all with possibly life-threatening injuries

Notes:

The chapter has been-re-written to reflect more accurate medical scenarios, because of time
constraints, I left some of the original as first written. 100K thanks to JUDOALY, who provided
the information I mentioned above

Chapter Text

"VALIENDO MADRE!", yells Calliope Torres, as the first wheeled stretcher bursts through the ER doors, and she gets a look at the patient
strapped to the gurney: "That's ANDY HERRERA!"

EMT Votte rapid-fires: “Hispanic Female, approximately 30 yrs, possible concussion, scalp laceration left side...morphine 1 mg administered
on site...stab wounds to lower left quadrant and right front torso, BP 150/90, in and out of consciousness...also possible cracked rib."

Own Hunt pulls on a plastic covering and starts barking orders: "Put her in B2..."

Seconds later, a second patient is wheeled in: "AA Male, approximately 42 yrs, previous spinal complications...BP 122/70...broken knuckles
left hand...deep laceration to right forearm, could be from a blade…antibiotics and morphine administered on site...he's lucid and responsive..."

New arrival April Kemper announces "OH, GOD!!! Is that Robert Sullivan?!! Is B3 open, Owen?"

Hunt answers 'B4', and the EMTS, ER Nurses, and Dr. Kemper go into action. Less than a thirty seconds later, a THIRD gurney is pushed inside,
Patrol Officer Jeff Conners says LOUDLY, “This is the asshole who did the attack on 19; no rush on Mr. Motherfucker, here!”

Detective Hackett warns the Officer to dial it down and keep cool. The EMT, grudgingly, calls out (in a monotone): Cauc Male, approximately 35
yrs old, multiple head and facial ‘lac’, both bilateral…pulse thready…appears comatose due to severely fractured skull…severe SCROTAL trauma...
broken left leg, carotid massage and CPR enroute, broken left leg…OH...BP 70/50...

Alex Karev snaps, “Put him in 6” (under his breath ‘SHITBIRD’)...Levi taps him on one arm: "ALEX...EARS"...

 

In B2

 

Hunt: "1 liter of normal saline 'wide open' and 4 mg of IV morphine...'type and cross her' for transfusion, and we need an iStat8-
what are her stats?

ER Nurse #1: Heart rate 140; BP 80/60, Doctor

Hunt:

Head CT as well...

Torres: Head CT, please...I'm irrigating the stab wounds-no obvious debris Elia...can you clean the scalp ‘lac’, please?

Nurse Barrios: Of course Doctor

Torres: Someone scan her abdomen, please...

Nurse Knightley: FAST scan results, Dr. Hunt...

Hunt: Blood in the abdomen! Call up to the OR, and page Bailey…and get Meredith-if she’s on call, GET HER HERE: tell her
it’s the 19!

 

 

In B4:

 

Kemper: Abdominal XRAY, and page Dr. Lincoln, someone, please, for an Ortho consult…careful when you roll him, he’s had some
spine issues.

Nurse Parras: WAKALA! We got a stab wound, lower left quad; blade is broken-off at the skin line; EMTS missed it!

Nurse #3: Scanning!

Kemper: Finish up and page DeLuca! NO-ALTMAN! And we need an OR! GO!

 

 

In B6

 

Karev warns everyone: “We work this like anyone else, guys." (then in a lower tone): “He's leaking brains anyway, so let’s play
it out.”

“What’s his vitals?” Before anyone can answer, Levi Schmitt yells “He’s in VTACH!”

(beeeepbeeepbeeepbeeepbeeepbeeepbeeep! All Doctors present in B6 start calling orders; the Nurses respond in concert):

GET A CRASH CART!

 

 

VITALS!

BP’s falling: 70/50! HEART RATE'S UP and rising!

He’s gonna ARREST!

1 mg EPI!

EPI'S IN!

Defibrillator’s charged! 120!

No change! Again!

Once more, 200!

PUPILS ARE BLOWN!

He’s gone…TOD 0322

(Nurse Maddie mutters ‘FUCKSTICK’ as she departs the bay)

Chapter 4: PRESS CONFERENCE/RYAN TANNER (?)

Chapter by

Summary:

ANDY ADDRESSES THE MEDIA
RYAN TANNER @ SLOAN-GREY?

SFD HQ GETS AHEAD OF THE REPORTING BY HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE.

RYAN TANNER APPEARS AT ANDY'S BEDSIDE, WANTING TO TAKE HER BACK TO SAN
DIEGO-WITH HIM

Chapter Text

Andy Sullivan’s surgical procedures successfully resolve her stab wounds; non-surgical staff attend to her mild concussion, head
contusion, and cracked ribs. She’s monitored in the ICU, but expected to fully recover. The mental trauma is another matter. She wakes
several times during the night, crying out for Sullivan. She tells the Sloan Grey staff, the police, the media, and anyone else who will listen that
only because of HIM, separate and apart from medical treatment is she alive. Each inquiry as to his condition is met with 'he's resting comfortably';
one older Nurse (Backman), even says 'Your Man is gonna be just fine.' Andy smiles back, not bothering to correct her.

That afternoon, a press conference is called. Chiefs Frankel and Ripley,various captains, and all of her S19 mates attend. The SPD is represented
by the Detectives first on scene, Most of the Medic One Responders, and a few EMTS, also there at the time of the incident. Captain Robert Sullivan
is hailed as 'the hero who risked his life to save one of SFD's finest.' A local rag somehow gets the 'goods' on their prior relationship, and their
headline story is 'Hero SFD Captain gives all, salys the Beast who attacked his Beauty.'

‘Captain Robert Sullivan, at great risk to his own personal safety, subdued my attacker and saved my life…he suffered serious wounds, and now
lies critically injured in this very hospital, as a result. I owe him my life. Also, the Medical One Team and EMTS whose rapid response and great
skill allowed the doctors and nursing staff here at Sloan Grey to work their magic. I don’t want to forget the Detectives responding to the scene,
Tom Hackett, Damien Asante and Ricarda Benitez.'

‘Josh Barrens was a dangerous and violent man, whom I never should have associated myself with. After he began abusing me, I should have reached
out to my co-workers, friends, the SFD, the SPD. I didn’t, and so I bear some of the blame for what happened last evening. Myself and Captain Sullivan
likely would be waiting for an emergency call, over at Firehouse 19, and Josh probably wouldn’t lie cold in the hospital morgue. Please don’t take from
this that I’m victim blaming-I’m certainly NOT. I am saying that getting family, friends, co-workers, or social services involved, before enforcement has to
intervene, might help avoid these tragedies. Thank you.’

Even this brief press conference wears her out, and she is immediately 'shooed' back to bed by Dr. Bailey, where she falls into a deep, narcotics induced
sleep.

RYAN TANNER

The low volume beepbeepbeepbeep of the machines monitoring her vital functions, filtering and re-integrating her blood, and disposing
of her urine and other fluids slowly nudge Andrea Herrera awake. At first, like most people coming to after surgery, she panics, not knowing
where she is. A slow circle with her eyes of the hospital room, and she is jolted back to memory of the night before, the attack by Josh-and
ROBERT. ROBERT’S HURT-she remembers seeing him on a gurney, being attended to by Medic One. She struggles to rise, and a familiar
voice cautions “WhoaWhoaWhoa! Easy there, Rambo! Do you need the Nurse?”

“Ry…HI…umm; she shouldn’t have come all the way from California…”

Ryan interrupts. “Why wouldn’t I come? Actually, I’ll find it close to impossible to take you back to SD without coming myself.” (Whaaaaaat!??)

“Ummm…I’m not going to San Diego. My life, my career…”

“…and SULLIVAN, right?

“That’s right. Robert’s here.” She hates to answer so badly, but he went there first.

“I don’t get it! You and he aren’t even together-I hear that this Berens, the one who almost killed the two of you, is who you were with…
LOOK-just come to San Diego, where I can protect you.” (The reference to Josh Berens passes right over Andy’s head)

“I don’t need it. Also, you’re engaged: remember Jenna, who is WHERE, by the way?

“Cali”

"Ryan, thank you for coming, but you should go home. The only place I’M going is down the hall, to look in on Robert."

“Ahhh-If he doesn’t take you back...I’m saying... come with me NOW-the offer’s off the table if you go down that hall.”

Pressing the call button to summon a Nurse, Herrera says “Try to be happy in San Diego. I’m sorry; I’m staying here. Have a safe trip-‘bye,
Ryan.”

With the Nurse’s assistance, she maneuvers from hospital bed to wheelchair. When she’s settled, it’s down the hall to check-up on Sully she goes.

Chapter 5: CAPTAIN AMERICA

Summary:

Lucas Ripley talks to his team about Herrera and Sullivan/ A press release ties the Mayor's and the department's hands

Chapter Text

[Miranda Bailey's office, Sloan-Grey Memorial...Lucas Ripley called his firefighters and Lieutenants here so that all of them are on the same page
regarding the current situation. He has heard the rumblings and grumblings among the group, and wants to
nip what might become a rising wave of dissent in the bud before it gets to breaking point.]

"Alright, everyone: the situation is the situation. It doesn't matter how we got here: here we are, with one of our Captains in
induced coma, and another of our comrades recovering from life-threatening injuries. Stand by them the way that you stood by
me when I was here last year. BOTH OF THEM. Most of you are aware of their situation, and no matter how we feel about that, we
pull together. The Captain is at HQ now: he's still NINETEEN. So is Herrera. If you feel that you can't stand by them, THE BOTH OF
THEM, let me know where you'd like to land. I'll make it happen. Questions?"

"Maya Bishop says, "I believe that I speak for all of us Chief, when I say that everyone in 19, each and every member, of each
and every shift, stand ready to support our Captain and our Lieutenant, now and always." She pauses, then adds: "I knew what was
going on with Andy and Asshole, and I should have done something...MADE HER do something. She swore me to secrecy, tried to work
it out on her own. The bastard threatened her life, and the lives of anyone who tried to interfere. Captain Sullivan would have gone after
him if he knew, but the puke is an ex-marine, and expert sniper...Herrera begged me not to tell him. I still should have said or done
something, and so some of this is on me. I'm so, so sorry."

Ripley stares at her for a few seconds, then says, "Who else knew about the abuse?"

Jack, Travis, Kat, Dean, and Vic all raise their hands.

"This isn't SFD policy; it's MY policy, going forward: no matter what secrecy you're sworn to, or blood oaths, you come
forward with information about suspected abuse of one of our family members. Do it anonymously, as long as you do it. We
all failed Herrera, and our failure nearly cost both her and the Captain their lives. One man is dead, who better belongs in prison.
Let's DO BETTER."

['The suspect in the brutal attack at Station 19 two evenings ago has been identified: Joshua Barrens, a former marine sniper
who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Barrens, a native of Springbrook, Illinois, died as a result of the injuries he
incurred when Captain Robert Sullivan, now known as the HERO CAPTAIN by some, as CAPTAIN AMERICA by others, intervened
in Barren's cowardly and vicious attack against Lieutenant Andrea Herrera, who you may recall is the daughter of deceased Captain
Pruitt Herrera, who perished in the line of duty nearly two years ago. Sources tell us that Lt. Herrera suffered on-going physical and
mental abuse at the hands of Barrens, and that the attack was triggered by her attempt to leave the relationship. A spokesman from
SPD has advised this FOX News that had Barrens survived, the charges he faced include assault with grievous body harm, aggravated
assault, attempted murder, and lesser charges, such as trespassing. Sullivan, who remains in an induced coma, is expected to be
presented with the Seattle Fire Department's second highest award, The Maltese Cross, should he recover and be discharged from
Sloan-Grey.]

"Well, grouses the Mayor, we can't very well hang a Maltese Cross around 'Captain America's' neck one minute, and hand him a
notice of hearing for the inappropriate relationship the next...FUCK!"

 

His Aide offers a solution: "We SPIN IT, Sir. We use the fact that he nearly lost his own life, saving hers. The prior relationship
isn't known outside of the Department. And you saw that news report: he's a fucking hero. We forgive our heroes their failings."

"No choice, do we? Make it work."

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