Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Partial canon, 90% alternate version of Season 4, Episode 3-WE ARE FAMILY.

Andy Herrera lobbies each member of her team, mustering support and favorable testimony for her husband's hearing. Spying Ben Warren re-stocking the PRT,
she approaches him:

" Andy... I already know what you’re going to say: and I completely understand your need to try to save your husband's SFD career. But I'm gonna tell the truth. "

" And I’m not telling you not to. I’m just saying Robert made a mistake, Dixon kept AT HIM and at HIM-snide little comments about me; racist crap...Robert had
enough-the stress, the constant harassment about him and me...it all combined and he made a mistake. All I'm asking is that you phrase your answers so that they
understand that one mistake should not end the career of a good man, Warren. ."

" The best that I can do is testify to the hateful things that he was saying before your husband knocked the shit out of him, and the few times I've overheard him
mocking the two of you. SFD career. They're going after him on the Prohibition against Workplace Violence section of the SFD policy.I can also say that I know him
to be an honorable man who would not attack a superior for no reason: that he was provoked. "

Andy sighed with relief. " That's all I want-put the event in the best light that you can. I've lost so much, Warren and I hate to put this on you but losing my Best friend,
finding out the truth about my Mom, the possibility that we might lose my Dad...the-the miscarriage...I can't lose my husband on top of all of that...because it WILL KILL
him...if he loses his career he'll be lost. Just...please do the best that you can. "

Commissioner Lowther began the questioning: "Mr. Sullivan, regarding the events of 15 September 2020...did you strike Deputy Cheif Michael Dixon, causing serious
to his person?"

"I did, Sir."

"And you are aware, of course of the Seattle Fire Department's strict no-tolerance policy against workplace violence?"

Sullivan responded, "I am, Sir."

"In your present capacity, had a subordinate engaged in a physical altercation resulting in one party suffering the types of injuries that Michael Dixon has, would
you determine that a violation of the Seattle Fire Department's Prevention of Workplace Violence policy was breached?"

After a brief hesitation, Sullivan answers "I'm inclined to say 'yes', Sir."

Fire Chief Lucas Ripley says "Mr. Sullivan, what caused the altercation?"

"For over half a year now, Deputy Chief Dixon has engaged in a pattern of harassment against me, and my spouse. The Deputy Chief created a hostile work
environment for my family including racist, misogynist, disrespectful, and overt sexual advances toward my spouse. I remember him asking if 'Spicy Latinas'
are as fiesty as rumored. I'd had enough, Sir."

"I see," Ripley said. "Do you regret your actions of that day-the day of the altercation between you and the Deputy Chief?"

Sullivan stands and says "COMMISSION...I know what I did was wrong. I committed assault and for that, I am sorry, no matter the provocation. I provided a poor
example for the members of my Battalion, and for the entire Seattle Fire Department. The decision I made on that day was a colossally poor one; I'd like to point out
that while I own the events of that day, I also know I made a lot of good decisions in my decades of service here and in other fire departments. I've saved lives, helped
more people than I can count, and I’m not even close to being done. Look, I regret every moment of pain I caused my colleagues. I regret breaking their trust, and I plan
to spend the rest of my career making it up to them, making it right if you see fit to allow me the opportunity."

Heads around the table nod, including Battalion Chief s Gregory and Sato, and Commissioner Salas and Patterson. Sato asks for permission to pose a question, Ripley
allows it.

"Mr. Sullivan...you were one of the SFD off-duty personnel who rescued two teens from a human trafficking 'safe house', which caught fire, yes? No proper equipment?"

"That's correct. Firefighter Dean Miller and I didn't believe that the victims could survive the seven minutes we'd been told the responding firehouse would take to
arrive...we reacted as firefighters who witnessed a fire with an imminent threat to life."

"Thank you. That's all for me, Chief."

"Yes...Let's break for the noon meal, and re-convene at 1330."

*JUDGEMENT DAY1JUDGEMENT DAY1JUDGEMENT DAY1JUDGEMENT DAY1JUDGEMENT DAY1

At lunch, Vic asks her husband "Can you talk about it?"

He shrugged. "General ones only."

"Do you get a good feeling or bad feeling to this point-in general?"

"His service record both here and in the Marine Corp are strong motivators for those inclined to see what happened as an aberration. Nearly twenty years with the
SFD, and this is the first such incident of this magnitude. Add in the provocation, and I wouldn't be surprised at a favorable outcome. Fresh in the pane's minds are the
the scene at the military surplus when he de-escalated that very volatile situation and the pedophile creep Bob. The SFD almost shooting him was brought up in
early deliberations."

Vic says "I wish we could let Andy know what's happening...she's going nuts."

Chapter Text

Retired Commissioner Jose Carnes welcomes his old friend into his home, thrilled that the retired Captain seems to have beaten his second
bout with the form of deadly cancer he himself is a survivor of. "Sit, Hermano, take a load off. How goes it?"

"Rigo... no vine a bailar . (I won't bullshit you): my Son In Law is the one who broke Dixon's ass last week."

"And the Commission wants to 'end' him-I heard. Lastima ." (a shame).

"What's the scuttlebutt on what they're planning? If you know."

Carnes hesitates, then says "They can't get at the CHEIF Cheif, in part for what they call his 'social activism' on behalf of People Of Color, women,
the LGBTQ community...his policy changes ruffled many a feather. Plus, his marriage to Victoria Hughes... tu me entiendes (you know what I mean).

Pruitt makes a disgusted noise, shaking his head.

"Didn't sit well with the 'greatest generation' let's say. Those who delayed OUR promotions as long as they could. They also aren't happy with the way your yierno
(son in law) handled the incident at the pedófilo's house. Him marrying YOUR daughter doesn't help. They're still bitching about your having ten
women and LGBTQ people in your house when you ran 19. They can't get your scalp: they'll settle for his."

Garcias, Chema . (Thanks Joe). Let's have lunch soon."

@//////////////////////////////////////@

@ROBERT FORBIDS ANDY FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE THE COMMISSION-FOR NOW@

" Absolutely NOT,Andy. Under no circumstances do I want you to testify at the hearing ".

I WANT TO...I can convince them that you would never attack anyone unless you'd been provoked beyond endurance. LET ME SAVE YOU ."

They're out for blood, and they'd like nothing more than to drag you into this...NO.."

"Alright...for now.."

@AMELIA SHEPHERD TESTIFIES AT THE HEARING@

BATTALION CHIEF GREGORY: Dr. Shepherd, you are the Cheif Of Neurosurgery, Ger Sloan Hospital, yes?

AMELIA: I am.

GREGORY: You examined and performed surgery on Michael Dixon as a result of injuries sustained at the hands of Robert Sullivan?

AMELIA: I don't know that, Sir. I performed surgery on Michael Dixon to relieve cranial pressure from a skull fracture-I cannot speak to how the injury was sustained.

GREGORY: What have you HEARD, about how the injury occurred?

AMELIA: I don't usually put much stock in gossip or what people say, Cheif.

GREGORY: Thank you, Doctor. Commissioner Lowther?"

LOWTHER: Will BENJAMIN WARREN come forward please?...Mr...SORRY: Dr. Warren...how well do you know Battalion Cheif Sullivan?

BEN: Well enough that I don't believe that he would attack another unless severely provoked.

LOWTHER: Did you witness the assault on a police officer the day of the incident for which Sullivan was arrested?

BEN: I witnessed a police officer shove a pregnant woman-the Battalion Chief's SPOUSE-to the ground in such a manner that Dr. Carina DeLuca feared for the
Lieutenant Herrera's pregnancy. If Robert Sullivan hadn't gone to his wife's defense I WOULD HAVE.

LOWTHER: Thank you, Dr... does the chair have questions?

Renee Branwen shook her head no: "I'll reserve my questions for later...Commissioner Jones-Wright?"

@//////////////////////////////////////@

"Maya..."

"I'm going to do all that I can to help your man, Andy-you know that."

Andy clasps her hands together to stop them from shaking. "I'm SO SCARED...he really fucked Dixon up, and I can tell by their questions that are steering toward
constructing a narrative to fit the decision that they've already made."

"They can't get around the testimony that we'll all give that he's Harassed Sullivan for six or seven months, making snide innuendos and casting outright sexist, racist
and misogynistic dispersions against him, you, and the team: each more blatant and outrageous than the last. I never thought I'd ever say this, but thank god for his
stupid garbage-spewing mouth."

"Yeah...he'll be fine. He'll be fine. Andy smiled gratefully at her friend. "Thanks, Manita . (short for hermanita-little sister)

" De nada ". (think nothing of it).

@//////////////////////////////////////@

Commissiomer Kenya Jones-Wright asks Dr. Meredith Grey the first question of the afternoon session: "Dr. Shepherd, according to this report you treated Michael
Dixon for a ruptured spleen, broken nose, cuts, and contusions. Were any of those injuries life-threatening?"

"No. He was brought to our facility in more than enough time that complications from his injuries would not have been an issue."

"Could you determine whether those injuries were caused by one person o considerable strength striking another?"

"I did determine that...yes."

"Did he-Mr. Dixon-say anything to you: was the victim conscious?"

Emily Lopez stood and said "Objection-anything Mr. Dixon may have said-HEARSAY-also as to the characterization of Mr. Dixon as a 'victim'. That has not been
determined."

"Re-phrase the question, Commissioner, please," said Chair Branwen.

"Surely: did was Mr. Dixon conscious, Dr?"

"He was not."

"Lastly...in your follow-up examinations, did the patient say anything about how he came to be injured?"

Meredith can't think of a way to avoid the question: "He said that ROBERT SULLIVAN did it."

@//////////////////////////////////////@

After the session is concluded for the day, Andy said to Emily "Meredith hurt us."

Sullivan rebuts this, hugging her to his side. "Em did what she could, but what could Grey DO? She dodges the question, it hurts us more. It's DAY TWO, Babe.
MARATHON-"

"Not a RACE," she sighed. "Let's go, Amor. I'm tired. See you tomorrow, Em."