The Devil Wears Prada: Science of Fashion Part 13
Title: Science of Fashion (13/?)
Author: vicar_dibley
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Andy/Miranda AU
Rating: G (for now)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from The Devil Wears Prada
Author's note: English isn't my first language, this hasn't been beta'd so forgive me. The mistakes (language wise and otherwise) are all mine. This is my first DWP fan fiction. Hope you like it:) Comments are welcome!
Summary: It’s an alternative universe, Andy is about 35 and Miranda is 50. In my story Andy is not cheery.
Science of Fashion
13
“Miranda...”, Maria’s voice was only a whisper.
“No, Maria. I have been a foolish old woman to think ...”, Miranda trailed off.
Stealing herself to be pushed away Maria took a chance and walked over to Miranda. Putting a warm palm against the younger woman’s cheek she wiped away the tears with the pad of her thumb. Compassionate green eyes locked on vulnerable blue ones.
“Why are you always so hard on yourself, little one?” Maria asked with a sad smile.
“Little one?” Miranda snorted with a raised eyebrow. Leave it to Maria to lighten the mood.
“Technically I’m old enough to be your mother.”
“True”, Miranda had to agree.
“Now, why don’t you come with me and tell me what happened?”
Sighing and rubbing her forehead tiredly Miranda thought of declining the offer but finally thought better of it and followed Maria into the kitchen.
Taking her usual seat, Maria handed her a handkerchief to blow her nose and wipe her face.
“What happened?” Maria asked again from her place opposite Miranda.
“Nothing much, really. I went to see Andrea, after three weeks of avoiding me like the plague.”
“So that’s what had you so uptight the past weeks”, Maria nodded in understanding. “Go on!”
“Roy drove me to the University where I met her friend Pauline who informed me that Andrea wasn’t there but she gave Roy the address where to find her. First I thought it was a mistake but when I saw her standing in the rain in front of a gravestone I knew we were in the right place.”
“Whose grave was it?” Maria carefully asked.
“Her wife’s”, Miranda’s voice was barely a whisper and Maria had to strain to hear her. Gently clearing her throat Miranda went on.
“Anyway, we drove to a café to talk. Andrea told me about her wife, Sarah, about the accident where Sarah and their child died and she was so badly injured.”
“They had a child?”
“Sarah was pregnant at that time. Worst of all the accident happened on their anniversary, on their way home from dinner.”
“Oh, dear”, Maria breathed, feeling her heart go out to the young biologist who, without knowing it, had so completely captured Miranda’s. “But there is more, right?”
“She more or less thanked me for showing her my world. Then she told me she can’t give me what I needed, kissed my hair and went away. It was her way of saying good-bye.”
“Sounds as if she is trying to protect herself”, Maria offered.
“No. It means, I don’t feel the same as you do for me”, Miranda clarified.
“How would you even know? Did you even tell her what you feel for her?”
“There was no need to. The message was loud and clear.”
“You don’t know that! You just presume, you guess but guessing is not knowing”, Maria insisted.
“Let it go, Maria! I know you mean well, but it was obviously not meant to be. Just a foolish dream.” With a gentle squeeze of the older woman’s hand, Miranda slid from the chair and left the kitchen to take a shower before dinner.
“Stubborn as a mule!” Maria muttered, returning to her chores.
Convinced it had been the right thing to do, Andy still couldn’t help but miss Miranda’s presence. Nearly a month later and she still missed her with the same intensity like at the beginning. She missed their playful banter, the telephone conversations and e-mails. She dearly missed their meals and the girl’s youthful enthusiasm. Plain and simple, she just missed the Priestly women, even that silly dog.
Shutting down her computer because she was supposed to meet Pauline downstairs to drive home together, Andy sighed after a quick glance at her watch. A late Friday night, again. The building was completely empty by now, even the cleaning crew was gone by now. Pauline had talked her into dinner and movie night at her place. Andy was grateful for the distraction but it wouldn’t fill the emptiness she constantly felt.
With a last glance back she closed the door and locked up her office. Cane in hand and backpack on her back she walked down the hall to descend the stairs. A first floor office was very convenient, not too many stairs to climb to make it uncomfortable. Although, downstairs was trickier for her Andy as was her habit didn’t use the elevator but walked the two flights.
When she started down the second and final flight of stairs, it happened. Slipping on a wet spot, left by the cleaning team Andy could do nothing but hope that her fall wouldn’t be too severe. Crashing down on her right side, the excruciating pain knocked the breath out of her and brought stars to her eyes. She nearly fainted because of the intense stab of hot white pain that shot through her right side, she lost control of her bladder and soiled herself. Not so much the constant throb in her leg but the humiliation brought tears to her eyes. Thanking her lucky star that Miranda wasn’t here to witness her in such a state. Andy was sure she wouldn’t survive it, pity was the last thing she wanted to see in those beautiful blue eyes.
Roaming in her trouser pocket for her mobile phone, Andy speed dialled Pauline’s mobile which was answered after the second ring.
“Hold your horses, I’m on my way”, the physicist panted into the phone on her way to her car.
“Pauline, please, listen for a moment”, Andy hissed when another stab of pain coursed through her body.
“Andy what is it?” Pauline was worried, hearing the tears in her friend’s voice.
“I just fell down the stairs and landed on my bad leg. Pauline you have to call an ambulance, please.”
“Andy, I...”
“Pauline, please! I can’t move, something isn’t right with my leg”, Andy pleaded frantically, “Please, Pauline!”
“Sure, I’m on my way over”, Pauline gasped.
“Thank you.” Cutting the connection Andy lay still and let the tears fall freely.
Within minutes Pauline Langton came crashing through the front doors of the Biology department. Seeing her friend helplessly lie on the cold marble floor in her own wetness tore at her heart.
Kneeling down at Andy’s side Pauline took her hand and with the other she gently wiped the hair from her forehead.
“They are on their way. It shouldn’t take too long”, Pauline answered the silent question in Andy’s eyes.
“Thank you”, Andy sobbed relieved.
“Shhh”, Pauline tenderly kissed her brow as she carefully placed Andy’s head in her lap.
True to her words they soon heard the sirens of the ambulance coming closer. Two paramedics with a stretcher entered the building and took charge of the situation much to Pauline’s relieve. After fixing Andy’s leg to elevate the pressure and to keep it immobilised to prevent any further injury they put her on the gurney with a mixture of ringer-solution and painkiller in her arm.
Pauline was allowed to ride with them in the ambulance and on their way to the hospital she called Claire to meet them there.
At the ER Dr Hoffman was already waiting for them, she was the surgeon who had performed all the surgery on Andy’s leg and was best suited to take care of her. The paramedics wheeled Andy into the first available exam room leaving the formalities to Pauline. While she was filling in the forms at the counter she was joined by Claire who just like Pauline looked terribly worried for her friend.
When the paperwork was done they went to the waiting-room, with Claire wringing her hands and Pauline pacing the length of the room, frantically hoping it wasn’t as bad as she feared.
“Should we call Miranda?” Claire suddenly asked her partner out of the blue.
“Certainly not!” Pauline looked at Claire as if she had lost her mind.
“Why the hell not?”
“Because for one, Andy only recently ended their friendship and what’s more important Miranda Priestly is the last person Andy wanted to see her like that.” Pauline sank with a sigh into the chair next to her partner.
“But she loves her”, Claire pouted.
“I know, my love. And that’s exactly the reason why our British gentlewoman in there wouldn’t want to see Miranda right now.” Pauline rolled her eyes at her best friend’s stupidity.
“Speaking of British, maybe we should call Emily. You know stiff upper lip is easier together.”
“Do you really think Andy needs help with that?” Pauline snorted.
“Nope. But I love how Emily kicks her in the ass.”
“That would be arse, my dear! I’ll give her a call.” Pauline laughed at the prospect of seeing Emily again. When she had met the constantly stressed redhead she found she liked her.
“Well?” Claire asked when Pauline returned from her call.
“She is on her way.”
Being poked and prodded for hours on end had never been one of Andy’s favourite past times. But for once she was glad about Dr Hoffman’s thorough examination and all kinds of tests he had ordered to get a full picture of her injury. When she returned from an MRT scan Dr Hoffman had come to a decision on how to proceed.
“So, what’s the verdict doctor?” Andy asked with some trepidation.
Taking a chair over to Andy’s gurney the doctor sat down at her head.
“There are good news and bad news. Which one first?”
“Oh, please John would you just get it over with you don’t have to molly cuddle me”, Andy was getting annoyed at the tip toeing around the topic.
“Okay. As I have told you after your last check up surgery is inevitable. Tonight’s accident makes it even more important. The scans show further problems with the scar tissue in your hip and you also have an inflammation of your hip-joint which we have to take care of first. Then you will get a new hip-joint which is the good news now because it will mean less pain after being on your legs for a longer period of time.”
“How many surgeries?” Andy’s voice was flat.
“Two, at least. Followed by extensive physical therapy.”
“How long before I’ll be back on my feet again?” Swallowing the lump in her throat Andy hated the idea of a prolonged stay in hospital.
“A month, maybe more. Depends on the healing process.” John gave it a guess, an honest answer for he knew Andy would expect nothing less from him.
“Bloody great”, the biologist muttered.
“Look, I’m going to make sure that you are send upstairs to my ward and on my way I send in your friends.” He was already getting up to leave.
“Suit yourself”, Andy sighed defeated and let her head fall back onto the gurney.
Dr Hoffman found Andy’s friends in the waiting-room anxiously looking up when he entered the room. Smiling in a what he hoped reassuring and soothing way, he joined them on one of the visitor couches to give them a short overview over the upcoming procedures before he signed Andy in as a patient on his ward.
As soon as Andy was settled in her new room, three heads looked around the door with cheerful smiles making the biologist nearly burst into tears.
“Hey, hey, what’s that”, Pauline was the first at her side, “no tears.”
“The Professor is quite right”, Emily chimed in with a haughty voice. “We are British! I want to see that famous stiff upper lip right now! We have a reputation to hold up, Sachs, you bloody well remember that.”
Laughing through her tears Andy hugged both of them as best as it was possible in her condition. Claire was the last to say hello, she softly kissed Andy’s cheek and gave her hand a light squeeze before she found a seat at the window leaving it to her lover and Emily to lighten the mood considerably.
“Oh, Em, you truly are one of a kind”, Andy laughed at her friend.
“Bloody time you realise that”, Emily sniffed. “You are just too loveable to stay mad at you.”
“Thank you, Emily”, Andy said with honest gratitude.
“Just get out of that hospital bed so I can wipe your arse at snooker.”
“You wish.”
The banter between the three of them carried on for some time before the nurse asked them to leave. Pauline promised to inform Carl Richardson first thing in the morning to take care of her lectures and seminars for the time being. Claire vowed to bring Andy’s pajama´s, hygiene articles, books, mobile, reading glasses and things she would need.
Whereas Emily had to swear on her life that she would under no circumstances whatsoever tell Miranda about Andy’s hospitalisation.
Keeping her promise to Andy was one of the hardest things Emily Charleton had ever faced. She was tremendously relieved when the biologist’s first surgery had gone well, preparing her for the all important second one. Although the inflammation of the hip had been more serious than initially suspected Dr Hoffmann could not only take care of it in one turn, also the scar tissue that had caused the pain during Fashion Week had been removed successfully. All in all it went well so far. Most of the time Andy was rather cheerful given the circumstances. Only from time to time a small depression was surrounding her like a black cloud. Even though it was a silent agreement between them to never mention Miranda on purpose the name did slip during her visits at the hospital, Emily could see a longing in Andy’s eyes that gave away her true feelings for the editor.
Miranda on the other hand was a different cup of tea. Ever since Andy had ended their friendship the silver haired woman was nearly unbearable. She was more cutting, faster to slash out than ever before, beastly and nearly impossible to please, no matter how hard one tried. Even Nigel got his fair share of third degree burn. Not that Emily did mind that hard in his case because she thought he deserved it and more. He was supposed to be Miranda’s friend but the way he had behaved at the reception wasn’t that of a friend at all.
Although Emily was used to a lot from Miranda this was going on for too long now and even she could only bare so much. How in the bloody hell could two such intelligent women be so damn obtuse? It was completely beyond her. What was there not to understand? All they had to do was look into each others eyes. For her it was plain as day by just listening to them and watching them at close proximity. From what she had heard from Pauline and Claire, Andy had more or less been courting the fashion queen from the moment they met. And Miranda had been delighted by the attention. Why were they so stubborn and refused to see what was in front of them?
It was Andy’s third week in hospital and her second surgery yesterday had been a success much to Emily’s joy. She was truly happy for her friend. What she was absolutely not happy about was her boss. Miranda was on a warpath, having Irv breathing down her neck about last month budget didn’t help the already tense situation either. Neither did another fired second assistant, the third in two weeks.
Miranda had already left two designers in a puddle of tears, fired another accessories assistant and sent Emily to Starbucks and it was only one p.m.. When Nigel exited the editor’s office looking like he had been commanding his own execution Emily decided that enough was enough. Desperate situations called for desperate measures.
Planting both her hands firmly on her desk, Emily heaved herself out of her chair, squared her shoulders, tossed her long red hair back and with a determined look she stomped into Miranda’s office. Ignoring her co-workers inquisitive glance she shut the door behind herself and her resolve was strengthened when she found Miranda in front of her windows gazing down into the busy streets of Manhattan.
“I can’t remember calling you, Emily. So you have either hit your head on the edge of your desk or you are plain suicidal.”
“Neither nor”, Emily boldly answered.
Turning around Miranda narrowed her eyes at her first assistant ready to cut her down but when she opened her mouth to speak Emily beat her to it.
“No, you are going to listen to what I have to say. When you fire me afterwards so be it but you will listen until I’m done.” Emily set the rules and hurried on before she lost her nerve.
“This has been going on for too long. Enough is enough, even I can only take so much. Pardon me for saying so but you are both complete idiots. You care for each other, bloody hell, you more than care for each other. Andy is my friend, I want her to be happy and I like you, not that I would ever admit that publicly but I do. Now you are both miserable and unhappy. Andy has been insecure and tried to protect herself from heartache and you simply let her. That’s not the Miranda Priestly I know. Get your head out of your arse and do something!”
Seeing the shocked look on the editor’s face Emily felt herself soften. Miranda loved Andy she was sure of it and Andy loved her. What was more, Andy needed her right now.
“She has been to the hospital for the past few weeks.” Emily let the bomb go off.
By the worried and frightened look on Miranda’s face Emily knew it had been the right thing to do.
“She took a nasty fall and injured her leg, yesterday was her second surgery. It was successful but now comes the physical therapy.”
Grabbing a post it note from the desk and a pen Emily wrote down the address and room number of the hospital and put it back on the desk.
“Now you can fire me.” Without waiting for a response she returned to the outer office.
Too shocked at the news at the end of Emily’s tirade Miranda couldn’t utter a single word. No sarcastic or snide remark came forward. Andrea was hurt and it was not any kind of injury. Miranda knew how the younger woman constantly struggled with the limitations of her body since the accident and now this. She was unsure how to proceed; Andrea had walked away from her and more or less ended their friendship by doing so. So what should she do? As much as it pained her to admit it but that insolent, disrespectful but well meaning assistant of hers had been right. She was unhappy and miserable without Andrea. How could she not? She was in love with the younger woman. She shouldn’t just let go so easily and she wouldn’t. With a new found resolution she called out to Emily and ordered her to call Roy and wait for her outside the building.
Collecting her bag and coat from the new Emily she determinedly walked out of the office, clearly a woman with a mission.
Miranda sat in the back of her car wringing her hands with worry for Andrea and desperation as to what to say to Andrea. But she also wondered how the younger woman might react to her visit. Andrea had refrained from calling her after her fall, so she didn’t want her to know about it and Miranda questioned her decision of going to the hospital. Her only defence was that she wanted to convince herself that Andrea was all right.
Roy helped her out of the car and with a sigh she walked towards the entrance. The elevator brought her to the 7th floor where she asked at the nurse’s desk about Andrea’s current state. When the nurse assured her that the surgery had been a full success and Andrea was sleeping she felt relieved.
Upon entering Andrea’s room Miranda found it in semi darkness. The blinds were down but not completely shut. She put her coat and bag on one of the two chairs next to the bed before she took a closer step to look at Andrea’s sleeping form.
The younger woman’s face looked drawn, even thinner than usual. Lines at the corner of her eyes were visible where there had been only a few when Andrea laughed. It was more than clear that the recent incident had taken a toll on her. But to Miranda she had never looked more beautiful than right now. Careful as not to wake Andrea she bent down to put a soft kiss on the biologist’s forehead. Miranda would wait for Andrea to wake up on her own, no matter how long it would take. It seemed that with this woman her patience was infinite.
Miranda walked over to the windows, looking out into the afternoon sun while Andrea slept, helped her to think about what she was going to say when the object of her affection woke up. What was it Andrea had said before she had walked away? I can’t be what you need. How would Andrea know? Because until recently she hadn’t known herself. Their friendship was something Miranda had treasured, an unexpected gift full of surprises and comfort. Come to think of it, she had to admit that she had been falling in love with Andrea right from the moment they met. Even if Andrea didn’t feel the same she wanted to preserve their friendship or at least she wanted to try. But what if the younger woman didn’t want the same? She would see. Sighing at what was to come Miranda slightly jumped when she heard Andrea’s sleep roughened voice from the bed behind her.
“Miranda?”
Andy’s sleep had been anything but emotionally relaxing. It had been filled with images of one silver haired beauty. Miranda was haunting her dreams, they brought memories of their wonderful time together, at the zoo, the museum, fashion week, their dinners with the girls. She couldn’t get rid of them, not that she wanted. But what was the point. Just on the brink of waking up the last image had been of Miranda in her dress at the reception, looking absolutely gorgeous. And when Andy opened her eyes and looked at the window there stood the vision of her dreams. It was not a vision though, Miranda was there in her hospital room looking every inch the beautiful woman Andy knew she would.
“Miranda? What are you doing here?” Shifting in her bed to sit up straighter, Andy winced when she moved her freshly operated hip.
“Visiting you”, Miranda said from her place by the window.
“Who told you I was here?” Andy asked miffed at whoever had spilled the beans to the editor.
“Emily. You shouldn’t hold it against her though. I suppose she couldn’t stand my dreadful behaviour any longer. It was an act of desperation on her part. Brave and stupid but brave nonetheless.” Miranda had been truly impressed by Emily’s forceful bravado. The young woman did have a spine after all.
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Andy was grumpy at her friend, Miranda was the last person she wanted to visit her. There was a reason why she didn’t call her and the fact that she had went away from Miranda the other day was only one of them.
“Why is it such a preposterous thought to call me when you are in hospital for surgery?” Miranda hadn’t meant to but the hurt she felt was clearly detectable in her voice.
Andy had heard it too, it pained her more than anything to hurt the other woman but having the editor here in her room was the last thing she had wanted.
“Because I didn’t want you to see me like this”, Andy explained with more force than she intended.
“Like what?”
“Like this”, the biologist waved her hand over her sheet covered body, “in pain, weak, in need of help to do the easiest things on my own.”
“But... “ Miranda just couldn’t understand what the problem was. She didn’t mind, why would Andrea think otherwise? When had she ever given the impression that she was put off by her body’s limitations?
“No, Miranda. The point is, I’m not the woman I used to be. I knew during the reception that something wasn’t right. My doctor confirmed it after a check-up. The fall sped things up, fortunately. That doesn’t mean it was a pleasant experience. I fell down a flight of stairs and the pain was so intense I even wet myself. That is what I’m talking about.”
Looking for any signs of repulsion or disgust on the older woman’s face Andy was surprised but glad when there were none. Although, it made what she had to do even harder.
“So, please Miranda, go! Leave me alone, please! Go back to your magazine, your fashion, your models and your life. That is where you belong, not here. Please, Miranda, just leave!”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Miranda went to the chair to collect her bag and coat. When Andrea refused to look at her, she simply leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to the younger woman’s left temple. Inhaling the scent of her skin she softly said “Good bye” and without looking back Miranda exited the room.
“Good bye, my love.” Andy whispered to the room, emptier than before, without the presence of Miranda Priestly.
TBC