Ghosts

The air is thick with smoke, the orange glow of the wildfire reflecting off the helmets of exhausted firefighters. Andy Herrera steps out of the command tent, brushing soot from her sweat-dampened face. The past twelve hours have been hell—raging flames, lost structures, and barely a moment to breathe. Yet, she pushes forward, as she always does.

“Bishop! Herrera! Over here!” Captain Sullivan’s voice cuts through the chaos. Andy exchanges a glance with Maya Bishop, who stands beside her, equally exhausted but determined.

They jog over, boots crunching against scorched dirt.

“We’ve got reinforcements from New York,” Sullivan continues, nodding toward a newly arrived crew. “FDNY’s finest.”

Andy barely pays attention. More firefighters. More hands to battle the inferno. She’s grateful, but right now, she just wants to get back out there.

And then she hears it.

A voice—firm, commanding, unmistakably familiar.

“Alvarez, Battalion Chief, FDNY. Where do you need us?”

Andy’s breath catches. Her entire body goes rigid. The name alone is enough to make her pulse skyrocket. But it’s the voice, the cadence, the authority laced with a slight Puerto Rican accent, that shakes her to her core.

Slowly, as if moving through molasses, Andy turns.

There, standing in full turnout gear, helmet tucked under her arm, is a woman Andy hasn’t seen in over twenty years. A woman she thought was dead.

Elena Alvarez.

Her mother.

The woman who died when she was eight.

Maya notices first. “Andy?”

Andy’s hands are trembling. Her breathing is uneven. This is impossible. This can’t be real.

“Chief Alvarez?” Sullivan repeats, reaching out to shake the woman’s hand.

She nods, scanning the area like any seasoned chief would. But when her eyes land on Andy, she freezes.

Andy can see it—the flicker of recognition, the moment of shock.

“Elena,” Sullivan continues, oblivious to the tension, “those are Leuitenent Bishop and Lieutenant Herrera, one of our best—”

Andy takes a shaky step forward. “Mami?”

Silence.

The fire rages in the distance, but all Andy can hear is the pounding of her heart.

Elena’s lips part, her expression unreadable. And then—

“Andrea?”

Andy’s world tilts. She doesn’t know whether to scream, cry, or collapse.

Maya moves beside her, a steady presence, but Andy barely feels it.

Her mother is alive.

And she has no idea what to do next.

Sullivan and Maya looked at each other. That couldn't be right Elena Alvarez was supposed to be dead.

That was when Captain Nash stepped in. " We really need to move. The fire is spreading fast than we anticipated. "

Sullivan nodded. " Herrera if you need seat this one out-"

Andy cut him off. " I can do my job Captain. "

Sullivan studied Andy for a minute before speaking. " All right. Herrera you are on the command of 19 for this one. I will join station 55 since their Capitain is down. You got to the north flak with Chief Alvarez and her team. "

Andy nodded. " Copy that Captain. Miller you are with Bishop, Montogomey with me. Gibson with Warren, Larson with Cutler. Dixon go help with triage. Let's move 19. Do not separate from your pair in any circumstances. Keep your hose line secure. Let's kil this beast!"

Andy made sure to keep distance from her mom as they walked through the wild. Was son as they reached the north flak Chief Alvarez started to bark orders.

" There are people trapped inside. 19 I need you to get this fire under control so my team can rescue those people."

Andy held her breath. " Copy that Chief. 19 full pressure on those hoses!"

The firefighters sprang into action, their movements precise despite exhaustion weighing down their limbs. Water blasted from the hoses, cutting through the raging flames with a fierce hiss. Andy kept her focus locked on the fire—on the mission—on anything other than the woman a few feet away from her who shouldn’t exist.

Maya was by her side, working in tandem as they doused the flames. "Andy," she murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. "Are you okay?"

Andy gritted her teeth. "Not now, Bishop."

Maya didn’t push. She never did when Andy was on the edge like this. Instead, she adjusted her grip on the hose, shifting slightly so her shoulder was almost brushing Andy’s—silent support in the middle of chaos.

Chief Alvarez barked another set of orders to her crew, her voice steady and firm, just as Andy remembered from childhood bedtime stories told by her father. The stories she’d clung to when she was eight years old, mourning a mother who had supposedly died in a fire.

And yet, here she was.

"Fire’s creeping toward the eastern ridge!" Montgomery called out.

Andy snapped back to reality. "Bishop, Miller with me!"

They moved fast, dragging the hose line forward to cut off the fire’s advance. Smoke burned Andy’s lungs, but she pushed through, spraying down the flames until they began to shrink.

Then a new sound cut through the chaos—a sharp, panicked scream.

"Help! We’re in here!"

Andy’s head snapped toward the partially collapsed building just beyond the fire line. The structure was barely standing, flames licking at its edges.

Chief Alvarez turned toward Andy. "Lieutenant, I need two of your best inside with my team to get them out."

Andy nodded. "Bishop, Gibson—you're with me!"

Without hesitation, they put there oxigen tanks and masks on ,grabbed their axes and forced their way through the weakened doorway. The heat inside was suffocating, the air thick with smoke.

"Fire department!" Andy shouted. "Call out!"

"Here! Please—my son, he’s trapped!"

Andy followed the voice, spotting a woman huddled near the ground with a small child in her arms. The boy wasn’t moving.

Maya crouched beside them, checking the child’s pulse. "He's got a weak pulse, but he’s alive."

"Let’s move!" Andy barked.

Gibson took the mother while Andy scooped the boy into her arms. Maya led the way back, checking their path for structural weaknesses.

They were halfway out when the ceiling groaned above them.

"Move, move, move!" Andy shouted.

They burst through the doorway just as part of the roof caved in behind them. Andy tightened her grip on the boy, shielding him from the falling embers.

Outside, Chief Alvarez was waiting.

"Medics!" she called out, waving over a team.

Andy carefully handed the boy to them, watching as they placed an oxygen mask over his face.

Only then did she feel the weight of Alvarez’s gaze on her.

"Good work, Lieutenant," her mother said.

Andy swallowed hard, her heart hammering. She should say something, ask something—but not here. Not now.

Instead, she nodded stiffly. "Just doing my job, Chief."

Elena studied her, a flicker of something in her eyes. But before either of them could say anything else, Sullivan’s voice crackled over the radio.

"All units, regroup. We’re shifting focus to the eastern perimeter."

Andy exhaled sharply and turned away. There was still a fire to fight.

She’d deal with her mother later.

Later that day Andy was laying on the top of the engine with Jack , Dean , Maya , Travis and Vic.

Vic was the first one to speak. " So can we talk about your mom coming back from the dead? "

Andy took a deep breath. " I don't even know what to think! Did she just fake her own that or was my dad who made that up? "

Travis turned to Andy. " Maya you should call you father and ask him."

Jack bit his lip. " Or you could ask her. I mean she is right there talking to Sullivan. "

Maya who had been quite spoke up. " Maybe we all should let Andy handle or not handle this how ever she wants. "

Andy stared up at the darkening sky, the weight of exhaustion pressing against her chest. The adrenaline from the fire had faded, leaving behind a hollow, gnawing confusion.

"Yeah, I second Bishop on this one," Dean added, shifting beside her. "It's Andy’s call."

Andy clenched her jaw, the question echoing the turmoil in her own head.

Before she could respond, Sullivan’s voice cut through the chatter. "Herrera!"

She sat up, spotting him near the command tent—standing beside her mother.

Andy exhaled, forcing herself to her feet. "Guess I’m about to find out."

Maya sat up too. "You want backup?"

Andy shook her head. "No. I got this."

She crossed the dirt lot, each step heavier than the last. The closer she got, the more details of her mother’s face sharpened—the same strong jawline, the same dark eyes she saw in the mirror every morning. The years had added lines to Elena’s face, but she was unmistakably her.

Sullivan gave Andy a nod before stepping away, leaving them alone.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The fire had quieted, the only sound the distant chatter of firefighters packing up.

Finally, Andy broke the silence. "Se supone que estas muerta " (You’re supposed to be dead.")

Elena’s gaze didn’t waver. " Lo se"

Andy let out a hollow laugh, running a hand through her soot-covered hair. " ¿Eso es todo? ¿No es un pedido di disculpa? ¿Ninguna explicación?"(That’s it? No I’m sorry? No explanation?)

Elena took a deep breath. "Nunca quise que pensaras que estaba muerto. Todo esto fue idea de tu padre. Te amo Andrea pero lo estaba muy infeliz"

(I never wanted you to think I was dead that was all your father's making. I love you Andrea but I was unhappy-")

Andy cut her off. "Podrías haberte divorciado de papi y aún estar en mi vida. Podría haber pasado el verano contigo. Podría haber llamado cuando tuve mi primer período y me dio vergüenza decírselo a papá. Simplemente te fuiste como si no importara. Y ni siquiera miraste atrás. "

(You could have just divorced papi and still be in my life- I could have spend summer with you. I could have called when I had my first period and was to embarrassed to tell dad- You just left like I meant nothing. And you didn't even look back. ")

Elena’s face tightened, but she didn’t look away. “No fue tan simple.” (It wasn’t that simple.)

Andy let out a bitter laugh. “Siempre es así, ¿no? Nunca es ‘simple.’” (It always is, isn’t it? It’s never ‘simple.’)

She took a step closer, the rage and hurt bubbling to the surface. “¿Me dejaste crecer pensando que estabas muerta porque no era ‘simple’?” (You let me grow up thinking you were dead because it wasn’t ‘simple’?)

Elena exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over her face. “Andrea, yo—” (Andrea, I—)

“¡No me llames así!” Andy snapped, her voice raw. “No tienes derecho.” (Don’t call me that! You don’t have the right.)

Elena’s expression faltered for the first time. Andy saw something there—regret, guilt—but she didn’t care. Not now.

“¿Tienes idea de lo que eso me hizo?” Andy continued, her voice shaking. “¿Cómo me pasé años soñando con ti? ¿Cómo papá nunca hablaba de ti, como si decir tu nombre fuera a romperlo?” (Do you have any idea what that did to me? How I spent years dreaming about you? How Dad never talked about you, like saying your name would break him?)

Elena closed her eyes for a second before opening them again. “No sabía que él haría eso.” (I didn’t know he would do that.)

Andy scoffed. “¿Y eso qué? ¿Eso te hace sentir mejor? ¿Que no sabías que él me haría creer que estabas muerta? Porque claro, saber que mi mamá me dejó hubiera sido mucho mejor.” (And so what? Does that make you feel better? That you didn’t know he’d make me think you were dead? Cause knowing my mom had left me would have been so much better. "

She shook her head, stepping back. “No sé por qué vine aquí,” she muttered under her breath. (I don’t know why I came here.)

Elena reached out, hesitating before letting her hand drop. “Andea…”

Andy clenched her jaw. “No sé quién eres,” she said, voice quieter now but no less sharp. “Y no sé si quiero saberlo.” (I don’t know who you are. And I don’t know if I want to.)

With that, she turned and walked away, her chest heaving.

She barely made it ten steps before she felt Maya’s presence beside her, steady and quiet. Andy didn’t look at her, didn’t say a word, just kept walking—because if she stopped, if she let herself think, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to breathe.

Andy stepped inside the Engine with Maya with behind her. " She just left me Maya. She left me like I was nothing - And my father he made greave a woman that wasn't even worth my pain- He lied to me my whole life -"

Maya pulled Andy into a hug. " Andy he was trying to protect you- What he did was very wrong but put yourself on his shoes for a moment. How could you just tell a kid your kid that their mother just left and didn't want anything to do with them. "

Andy took a deep breath. " I guess I have no idea of what I would do if I was him his shoes but I can't - I can't not be angry at him I just can't!"

Maya tightened her arms around Andy, grounding her. " You are allowed to feel whatever you feel. I was just trying to put into perspective but if you feel angry at your dad so be it. "

Andy exhaled shakily against Maya’s shoulder. "It just—" She swallowed hard. "It hurts. I spent my whole life missing her, grieving her, and for what? She was alive. And she just—moved on like I was a unimportant mistake."

Maya pulled back slightly, searching Andy’s face. "I know," she said softly. "And that’s not fair. None of this is fair."

Andy let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well, life isn’t fair. I should know that by now."

Maya didn’t argue because she knew Andy didn’t need empty reassurances. Instead, she gently grabbed Andy's hand.

For a moment, they sat in silence.

Then, Andy spoke again, voice rough. "I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore. My mom is alive. My dad—he lied to me my whole life. What does that even make me?"

Maya reached for Andy’s hand, squeezing it tight. "It makes you Andy Herrera- Soon to be Grey. The same woman who runs into burning buildings without a second thought, who would do anything for her team, who carries everyone else’s burdens even when she’s drowning in her own. Andy still manage to catch a hot doctor with three adorable kids that totally adore you. "

Andy blinked rapidly, her throat tightening. "Maya—"

"You are not defined by them," Maya continued, her voice firm. "You are not your mother’s abandonment or your father’s lie. You are you—strong, brave, stubborn as hell." She smirked a little. "And honestly, kind of annoying sometimes."

Andy let out a choked laugh, shoving Maya’s shoulder. "Thanks for that."

Maya smiled. "Anytime."

Andy looked down at their joined hands, then back up at Maya. "I don’t know what to do, Maya. I don’t know how to move past this."

Maya exhaled, considering her words carefully. "Maybe you don’t have to figure that out right now. Maybe, for tonight, you just let yourself be mad. And when you’re ready—when you decide—you’ll figure out what comes next."

Andy nodded slowly, her body sagging with exhaustion. "Yeah. Maybe."

Maya squeezed her hand again. "And whatever you decide, you’re not doing it alone. We’ve got you, Andy."

Andy let out a slow breath, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. "Yeah. I know."

Maya grabbed Andy's phone from her jacket. " Andy maybe you should call Meredith. Maybe chat with the kids. You are always annoyingly happy after you talk to them. "

Andy grabbed her phone from her best friend and made a video call to her fiance. " Hi mi ángel. I really need you right now even if is trough a video call. "

Meredith's expression twisted with concern. " What happened princesa are you hurt?'

Andy shook her head. " Not physically. My mom she is alive. She left to be a firefighter in New York. "

Andy swallowed hard, gripping the phone tighter. "She’s alive, Mer. She never died. She just left. My dad let me believe she was dead."

Meredith’s face softened, but there was fire in her eyes. "That is unbelievable."

Andy let out a hollow laugh. "Yeah, pretty much."

From the background, a small voice piped up. "Mama, who are you talking to?"

Ellis’s  head appeared beside Meredith, eyes sleepy but curious.

"Hi, baby," Andy murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Ellis’s face brightened. "Aunt Andy!"

Meredith adjusted the phone so Ellis could see her better. "Honey, Andy had a hard day. Can you tell her you love her?"

Ellis pouted dramatically. "I love you, Aunt Andy! Come home! We give you lots of hugs "

Andy’s throat tightened. "I love you too, baby. But I won't be home for a few days. Bit I promise when I do we will have a lot of cuddles. "

Ellis nodded but then squinted at the screen. "Why are your eyes wet?"

Andy wiped at her face, forcing a smile. "Just tired, cariño."

Bailey and Zola must have heard the commotion because they both appeared behind Meredith.

"Aunt Andy, you okay?" Zola asked, sharp as ever.

"Yeah," Andy lied, her voice shaking. "Just… figuring some things out."

Bailey frowned. "Did you get yelled at again?"

Andy snorted. "Not this time, buddy."

Meredith took a deep breath. " Princesa why don't we do something special when you get back. Just the four of us. "

Andy let out a smile. " I would love that. Specialy if involves a lot of cuddles with my favorite people. "

Meredith smiled softly. "Of course. We’ll have a movie night, blankets, popcorn, the works. Just you, me, and the kids."

Andy exhaled, some of the weight on her chest easing. "That sounds perfect."

Ellis clapped her hands excitedly. "And hot chocolate! With extra marshmallows!"

Andy chuckled. "Definitely extra marshmallows."

Zola tilted her head, studying Andy through the screen. "You promise you're okay?"

Andy hesitated, then sighed. "Not really, Zo. But I will be. Talking to you guys helps."

Zola nodded solemnly. "Well, we love you. And when you come home, we’ll make you feel better."

Andy swallowed against the lump in her throat. "I love you all so much."

Meredith’s eyes softened. "And we love you, princesa."

Andy nodded, gripping the phone like it was a lifeline. "I should probably go. Get some rest before my next go."

Meredith frowned. "You’re still working?"

Andy sighed. "Yeah. Thing are rough here."

Meredith didn’t look happy about it, but she didn’t push. Instead, she just said, "Be safe. Please."

Andy nodded. "Always."

Bailey piped up, "Can you tuck us in over the phone?"

Andy’s heart squeezed. "Of course, buddy."

She stayed on the call as Meredith got the kids settled, whispering goodnight and making sure they knew how much she loved them. By the time they were asleep, some of the tension in Andy's body had eased.

Meredith looked at her once the kids were down, voice gentle. "You should try to sleep too."

Andy ran a hand through her hair. "I’ll try."

"Call me if you can’t."

Andy nodded. "I will."

They stayed there for a moment, just looking at each other, before Meredith finally whispered, "Goodnight, mi amor."

"Goodnight, Mer."

As the call ended, Andy let out a shaky breath, setting her phone down.

Maya was still beside her, watching quietly.

"You okay?" Maya asked.

Andy shook her head. "No. But I will be."

Maya nudged her shoulder. "Good. Because you’ve got people here for you. "

Andy glanced at her, offering a small, grateful smile. "I know."

For the first time all night, she actually believed it.

Andy was at sleep at on the top of the Engine and Maya decided to call Carina.

Maya climbed down from the Engine quietly, pulling her phone from her pocket. She leaned against the rig, taking a steadying breath before dialing Carina’s number. It was late, but she knew Carina would answer—she always did.

Sure enough, after only two rings, Carina’s warm voice filled the line. “Amore? Is everything okay?”

Maya closed her eyes for a brief second, letting the sound of her wife’s voice ground her. “Yeah,” she exhaled. “I mean… no. Not really.”

Carina’s voice softened instantly. “What happened?”

Maya turned her head, glancing up at Andy, who was curled up on the top of the Engine, arms wrapped around herself even in sleep. “Andy found out tonight that her mom is alive. That she left and never looked back.”

There was a brief silence, then a quiet, heartfelt, “Oh, Maya…”

Maya swallowed hard, the weight of the night settling deeper into her chest. “She’s wrecked, Carina. And I don’t know how to help her.”

Carina sighed, her voice filled with understanding. “You are helping, amore. You are there. You are listening. That is more than enough.”

Maya shook her head. “It doesn’t feel like enough.”

“It never does,” Carina murmured. “But trust me, it is.”

Maya ran a hand over her face, glancing up at Andy again. She was so strong—stronger than anyone Maya knew—but even the strongest people had their breaking points. And Andy had been carrying so much for so long.

“She called Meredith,” Maya said softly. “Talked to the kids. I think that helped.”

Carina hummed in understanding. “Of course it did. Andy’s heart is with them.”

Maya smiled faintly, nodding. “Yeah.”

Carina hesitated for a moment, then asked, “And you, amore? How are you doing?”

Maya let out a dry chuckle. “Not the point of this conversation.”

“Maya.”

Maya sighed. “I’m fine.”

Carina made a disbelieving noise. “Amore.”

Maya scrubbed a hand over her face. “It just—” She hesitated, then admitted, “It hits close to home. Parents who hurt you. I know Captain Herrera was trying to protect her that is more than my mom ever did but still - he only made worse in the end. "

Carina’s voice softened. “I know.”

Maya exhaled. “It’s just—Andy’s dad wasn’t supposed to hurt her. He was supposed to be a good father. "

Carina stayed quiet for a moment, letting Maya’s words settle. Then, gently, she said, “Even good parents make terrible mistakes.”

Maya swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah. I guess.”

Carina’s voice was warm, soothing. “And Andy will get through this. Because she has you. And Meredith. And her team. She is not alone.”

Maya glanced up at Andy again, watching the slow rise and fall of her breathing. She wasn’t alone. And neither was Maya.

Maya let out a shaky breath, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I love you.”

Carina’s voice softened even more. “I love you too.”

Maya looked up at Andy one more time before whispering, “Thank you.”

Carina’s voice was full of love. “Always, amore.”

As Maya ended the call, she felt a little lighter. Andy wasn’t the only one with people who loved her.

And no matter what, neither of them would ever be alone again.