6. CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 6
Ginetta has been with Carina and Maya for a couple days now and the three begin to get into a little rhythm when Ginetta’s teething completely throws everything for a loop. Now all of a sudden the two women are going on little sleep, spending most of their time trying to comfort the fussy baby. The two spent the morning together watching the news and playing with the baby when Maya fell asleep on the couch.
She wakes up two hours later and looks for her wife who she hears in the kitchen. Maya gets up off the couch and walks over where Carina is sitting by Ginetta in the high chair, trying to get her to eat something for lunch.
“I’m sorry.” Maya apologizes to her wife as she walks into the kitchen. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You obviously needed the sleep.” Carina says back.
“I fell asleep reading the chapter on teething from one of the books I got.” Maya says through a last yawn as she starts to stretch her neck out with her hand. “How’s she doing?”
Carina takes a sad breath and places her hand gently on top of Ginetta’s head. “Her gums surrounding the new tooth are red and swollen…which means another tooth is making its way to the surface.
“Another one?” Maya asks before sighing out. “That sucks.”
“We are trying to eat some cold applesauce.” Carina tells her wife before trying to get a small spoonful of applesauce into Ginetta’s mouth with no luck.
Maya watches the spoon hit the closed mouth and winces. “It doesn’t look to be going well Ms. DeLuca.”
Carina chuckles sadly before studying her wife. “Bambina are you sure you’re okay taking another shift off?”
“I am entitled to family leave.” Maya says reassuring her wife. “Station 19 is covered…Andy has it covered.”
Carina smiles gratefully at her wife before trying again to get Ginetta to eat something. “Come on Mimma….one more little bite.”
“Mimma?” Maya questions curiously. “That’s a new one.”
“It’s the smaller term for Bambina.” Carina says filling in the blanks for her confused wife.
“That one I’m familiar with.” Maya says with a sweet smile.
Carina smiles back before finishing explaining. “It’s a term used by parents, mostly in Southern Italy.”
“I like it.” Maya says sincerely.
“My mom used to call me Mimma.” Carina adds before Ginetta lets out a whimper. “Oh, I’m sorry…it’ll be okay.”
“What should we do today?” Maya asks as she grabs the coffee pot to pour herself yet another cup of coffee.
“I think we should be prepared for a pretty sad and fussy little girl.” Carina says as she continues to try to get the baby to eat just a little something. “It’s only gonna get worse.”
“Her teething is going to get worse?!” Maya exclaims through her teeth. “How could it get worse? Look at her…she’s miserable.”
“I know.” Carina sighs sadly as she studies the pained features on Ginetta’s face. “Poor girl.”
“Maybe we should take her in.” Maya suggests starting to get concerned. “Have her checked out by a--”
“Doctor.” Carina finishes cheekily.
Maya realizing what she was about to say scrunches her face. “Never mind.”
“She’ll be okay.” Carina assures her wife before Ginetta starts to whimper out cries from the high chair. Carina immediately reaches out to pick the little girl up. “Come here Mimma!”
“What do you need from me?” Maya asks watching her wife sway with the little girl, wanting to help.
“Mmmmm……” Carina hums dramatically before pointing to her cheek.Maya rolls her eyes before kissing her wife on the cheek. “You’re very cute Dr. DeLuca.”
Carina giggles at her wife as she continues to sway with the little girl in her arms. When she starts to rub comforting circles on her back, her cell phone goes off from the counter. Carina reaches for it with her free hand and puts it up to her ear.
“Dr. DeLuca.” Carina answers.
Maya continues to sip at her cup of coffee but her heart stops in her chest when she sees her wife’s body go still and her eyes drop to the floor. Her wife looks at her regrettably before letting out a long sigh.
Carina just shakes her head before talking to whoever is on the phone. “No, no. I’ll be right in. Have her ready for pre-ops…I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“You need to go in.” Maya guesses.
“One of my patients is in active labor.” Carina says as she slips her phone in her back jean pocket. “The labor isn’t progressing like it should and there seems to be complications with the mom and baby. If the mother’s labor goes how they think, I’m the only one available to do the cesarean.”
“Babe--” Maya starts to say.
Carina sighs again and runs her free hand through her hair while still swaying with the fussing baby in her other arm. “I need to go in, I don’t have a choice.”
“I know…I got this.” Maya assures her wife.
“Are you sure?” Carina asks.
“Give me.” Maya says as she holds out her hands for the baby.
Carina looks to the baby briefly before passing her off to her wife. She watches for a second as Maya continues to sway with Ginetta who is getting fussier by the minute.
“Bye Piccola.” Carina says to the baby before kissing her on top of the head.
“Honey, I’ve got this.” Maya says confidently. “You go kick ass.”
“Okay, I’ll be back later today.” Carina says as she kisses her wife on the cheek before hurrying to the foyer where she grabs her bag, jacket, and keys.
Maya follows Carina to the foyer with Ginetta in her arms. “Please be careful…don’t speed to the hospital.”
“I know Bambina, I know.” Carina replies back before opening the door to leave. “Bye!”
“Bye!” Maya calls after Carina before the doctor closes the door behind her.
Maya looks at the closed door for a few more seconds before making her way back to the kitchen with Ginetta. She looks around nervously as Ginetta lets out another quiet whimper.
“Well, it’s just you and me kid.” Maya says as she tries to soothe the baby with gentle rubs on her back. “Should we try more applesauce?”
Maya walks over to the high chair and grabs a spoonful of applesauce for the baby. She brings the spoon to the baby’s lips but before show knows it Ginetta is batting the spoon away causing it to fall to the floor.
“No, definitely not.” Maya says to herself before stepping away from the mess. “That’s a terrible idea.”
Ginetta’s face looks pinched with pain, her eyes red and puffy from the constant stream of tears. She makes a low humming whine as she rubs her cheek with her hand…trying to take away the pain from her mouth that she doesn’t understand.
“What did that book say?” Maya asks out loud, trying to keep herself from panicking. “Ice cubes…should we try ice?”
Maya goes over to the fridge and grabs an ice cube before gently placing it on Ginetta’s cheek…offering her help. It only lasts two seconds on her cheek before Ginetta is swinging her hand at the object causing it to fly.
“No ice….good to know.” Maya says out loud as Ginetta’s cries start to get louder.
The baby’s cries alternate with wet coughs as Ginetta’s throat starts to feel raw from all the crying…causing even more tears. Maya tries her best to console the child she’s known for three days but fails miserably…adding immense guilt and shame.
Ginetta’s cries only increase in intensity as Maya continues to pace with her throughout the apartment. The little girl’s face is still tight with frustration and immense pain. She continues with her sobs as she stars to pull at her earlobe…now her whole head is hurting.
“Okay, we’re okay.” Maya tries to console the girl but when hearing Ginetta’s desperate cries she knows she is way out of her league….way out of her league.
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It has been 3 hours and Maya is at a complete loss. She has tried everything she could think of for the last two hours trying to help Ginetta with her pain. She tried putting ice cubs on her gums…fail. She tried putting the teething rings in the freezer before giving them to her…major fail. No matter what she’s done Ginetta’s cries have only gotten harder and her tears have become more and more pitiful. The sharp, aching pain made the baby girl stuck in a constant cycle of tears and watery coughs.
The couple few days of poor sleep and frustration at the continued teething pain has finally caused the baby girl to hit her breaking point. Seeing the baby crying harshly in constant pain has only made Maya tear up at the sight….which only makes her feel worse.
“Oh, I suck, I suck.” Maya cries under her breath as she continues to bounce Ginetta lightly in her arms.
When Ginetta starts to wail Maya quickly grabs her phone from her back pocket and quickly calls Andy. The phone rings a few times before going straight to voicemail.
“Andy! Hi, it’s me…Maya.” Maya says desperately in the phone with Ginetta’s loud cries in the background. “I can’t get her to stop crying, and now I can’t stop crying. What do I do, what do I do Andy? Please help me…bye!”
She hangs up the phone and continues to try to comfort the crying baby in her arms. Maya bounces the girl with one arm and uses her free hand to cradle the baby’s head against her chest…nothing is working. Maya decides to try to pacifier again to see if maybe it’ll work this time and gently puts it in her mouth…muffling the crying sounds a bit.
“Oh, I know babe. You’re just so miserable aren’t you?” Maya coos as she rubs gentle circles on the baby’s back. “I’m sorry I suck at this.”
The baby continues to cry around the pacifier and Maya knows she is out of options. She grabs her phone again and dials her mom’s number. She puts the phone to her ear and her mother answers on the second ring.
Maya’s mom had stayed with her and Carina after the wedding for about a month. Katherine having the full support of her daughter was finally able to pull away from Lane Bishop fully and begin her own life. When Katherine’s sister found out that they were getting divorced she was thrilled and asked the woman to come stay with her for a little bit in San Francisco. Lane Bishop had no time for extended family throughout their marriage and the two sisters drifted apart. Katherine was sad to leave her daughter but excited to reconnect with her sister.
“Maya?” Katherine says into the phone from her sister’s kitchen where she is looking through an old recipe book.
“Hi Mom.” Maya says back before her mother starts to ramble.
“Maya it is so good to hear from you! I have tried the best newest thing, it’s so good.” Katherine says as she places the phone her shoulder to free up her hands. “It’s got chickpeas and some type of oil….hummus. Have you had it?”
Maya instantly rolls her eyes and shakes her head annoyed. “Yes Mom, I have had hummus. Mom listen--”
Katherine flips the page and continues on. “Your aunt and I are getting ready to go shopping in Chinatown…she’s hoping to find a certain type of seasoning she needs for--”
“Mom!” Maya yells into the phone trying to get her attention which causes Ginetta to spit out her pacifier to cry loudly. Maya immediately feels like a complete jerk and tries to comfort the distraught girl. “Oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Katherine hearing the cries straightens up and grabs the phone with her hand. “Is that a baby?”
“Mom, I have some news.” Maya begins carefully. “Do you remember me telling you about Carina’s brother?”
“The nice doctor who died?” Katherine asks.
“Yes, we just found out that he and a girl got pregnant before he died and now the baby’s mother has given her up for adoption.” Maya goes on to explain as she continues to sway with the baby in her arms. “It’s a baby girl and her name is Ginetta.”
“Oh my god.” Katherine says on the other line. “Am I a grandmother?!”
Maya thinks about it but then simply shakes her head. “Yes, I guess you are.”
“What?!” Katherine shrieks loudly into the phone before yelling out to her sister in the other room. “Laurie! I’m a grandmother!”
“Mom!” Maya exclaims again into the phone wanting her to stay focused.
“Why is she sobbing?” Katherine asks going back to her daughter. “What’s happening?”
“She’s teething. She’s been fussy for two days and now she’s sobbing nonstop. Carina had to leave for a surgery and I’m all alone.” Maya explains utterly defeated, desperate for help. “What do I do?”
“Well, what have you tried so far?” Katherine asks.
Maya closes her eyes and retraces her steps of the day. “Uhh…I just tried using an ice cube on her gums…she hated it.”
“Don’t use ice cubes.” Katherine retorts quickly.
“But the book said that placing an ice cube would help.” Maya argues back.
“Heaven help me.” Katherine mutters under her breath. “Stop reading those books.”
“What do I do?” Maya pleads to her mother as Ginetta’s cries get louder. “She just keeps crying….and those stupid teething rings aren’t helping either.”
“Maya Katherine would you want to chew on plastic?” Katherine asks her daughter.
“No.” Maya grumbles.
“Exactly.” Katherine says.
Maya thinks about it and immediately concludes that they probably taste horrible and are too hard on the baby’s gums. “Okay…so what should I do?”
“Okay, put her down in her high chair.” Katherine says first.
Maya rolls her eyes at the suggestion. “She just cries more if I put her down.”
“Maya, do you want my help or not?” Katherine asks.
“Okay.” Maya sighs before putting the baby down in the high chair. “She’s down.
Katherine nods her head before giving out the second instruction. “Go run your fingers under freezing cold water.”
Maya goes over to the sink and places her pointer and middle fingers under the tap before turning the cold water on. She waits for ten seconds and then goes back to talking with her mother. “Now what?”
“Prop open Ginetta’s lips with your other hand before putting in two of the cold fingers in her mouth.” Katherine instructs.
“You want me to do what?!” Maya yells out.
“You are going to use those two cold fingers to massage her gums gently.” Katherine continues to explain to her stubborn daughter. “Your soft, cool fingers will feel good in her mouth.”
“Fine.” Maya murmurs as she gently props open Maya’s mouth with one hand before putting the two fingers she ran under water in her mouth. Once she starts to gently push down on Ginetta’s sore gums, the little girl finally starts to relax. “Does that feel better?”
“What’s happening?” Katherine asks from the other line.
Maya continues to massage the girl’s gums, when she tries to pull her hand out the baby grabs hold of her wrist and pulls her hand closer causing Maya to let out a tiny laugh.
“She likes it! She finally looks relaxed, thank god.” Maya says into the phone as Ginetta starts to gurgle around her fingers.
“I told you it would work.” Katherine says smugly from the other line.
“Thanks Mom.” Maya mutters quietly before taking a breath. “Do you have anything else for me? I’m probably gonna need this hand in the near future.”
“Do you have any fruit?” Katherine asks.
“Umm…” Maya drawls as she starts to move but then is quickly reminded that her fingers are in the baby’s mouth. Not wanting the cries to start up again, she holds the phone to her cheek with her shoulder. She then carefully moves to get the baby out of the high chair with her free hand, mindful of jarring movements on sore gums. “Okay, we’ll be gentle.”
Maya takes the baby around the kitchen looking around at their supplies. When she gets to the fridge it takes some finagling to get the doors open but she manages. She then goes back to her mother on the phone for the next tip. “We have some apples and grapes in the fridge….and some frozen pears and mango in the freezer.”
“Grab the frozen pears.” Katherine instructs her daughter as she starts to pour herself a cup of tea from the other line. “Do you have piece of cloth?”
“Carina keeps some spare cloth in the hall closet.” Maya tells her mom.
“Put a frozen pear slice in the cloth, tie it up and give it to her to suck on.” Katherine says before smiling in the phone. “Definitely better than plastic.”
“I’ll do that.” Maya says with a small laugh before going quiet for a moment. “Thanks Mom.”
“She’s going to still sob at times…and you’re going to hate it.” Katherine goes on to say, knowing from her own experiences. “Just hold her…it’ll be the best thing for her.”
Maya bites her lip to keep her emotions under control. “I can do that.”
Katherine continues to smile on the other end before going on to gush. “Wow…my baby has--”
“Mom.” Maya groans.
“Can I meet her?” Katherine asks.
“Of course you can.” Maya says sincerely.
“Thank you.” Katherine says to her daughter. “I’m only one call away.”
Maya nods her head. “I’ll hold you to that…enjoy your hummus.”
“Bye Sweetie.” Katherine says.
“Bye.” Maya says back before hanging up the phone.
Maya never thought she would get to this place with her mom. It seemed almost impossible with their history and past actions. But, she wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. And she couldn’t be happier at the peace both her and her mother feels. She smiles thinking about her mother before going back to Ginetta who is still sucking on her fingers in her mouth.
“Well, should we try?” Maya asks Ginetta. “Pears probably will taste better than my fingers.”
Maya tries to take her fingers out of the baby’s mouth but again is met with tiny hands grasping on her hand to keep her cold fingers in place. Maya chuckles again at the action and shakes her head, getting a kick out of this kid. “Or we can keep using my fingers as a chew toy…that works too.”
The blonde continues to massage Ginetta's sore gums with her fingers gently but eventually her hand starts to cramp in the baby’s mouth. She decides that it is time for plan b. Maya puts the baby down in the high chair which causes the baby to start crying out loudly yet again. She moves quickly around the kitchen to grab the supplies before making the contraption that her mother suggested.
The woman with the wrapped pear in one hand goes back to get Ginetta who is holding up her hands at Maya pleasing to be picked up. The fire captain picks up the baby gently and starts to sway with her in her arms.
“Okay, my mom says this works. But we’ll let you be the judge, right?” Maya asks Ginetta in her arms before nodding her head. “Right.”Maya hands Ginetta the slice of pear wrapped in cloth to suck on. The baby looks at the object for a second but opens her mouth when Maya helps guide the object to her lips. Ginetta puts the cloth covered fruit in her mouth and immediately let out a content hum.
Maya looks down victorious and smiles when she sees the baby start to suck on the fruit eagerly. “Is that good Ginny?!”
For the first time in two days Ginetta lets out a small smile around the fruit. The fruit in cloth is soft, cool, and the taste of pears is definitely better than plastic.Maya chuckles as she walks over to the living room and takes a seat on the floor, resting her back against the couch. She kisses the girl on the cheek before setting the baby down on the blanket she put down earlier that day. Maya lets out a relieved breath as she stretches her sore arms out in front of her. The woman closes her eyes and finally manages to take a real, honest breath. But before she can take a second one she notices a strong smell coming from the baby.
“Oh boy, here we go.” Maya says to herself as she reaches over to grab a diaper and the wipes from the coffee table. She starts to undo the baby’s onesie before stripping the dirty diaper off. She quickly wipes away the mess before managing to put a clean diaper on all while Ginetta’s just sucking away on the pear.Maya rolls the dirty diaper up and gets up to throw it away in the diaper genie. When she gets back from the baby’s room she sees Ginetta resting on a pillow she found on the floor. Her body is resting fully on top of it with her cheek nestled in.
“Do you like that pillow?” Maya asks looking down at the baby. “Well, you’ll love this place. Carina brings home a new throw pillow into this apartment every three days.”
“Well Ginny, we really only have once choice here.” Maya says seriously.
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Over at Grey-Sloan Hospital Carina walks into the surgical room after scrubbing in. She walks in with her hands up in the air and waits for one of the surgical nurses to gown her up before continuing. When Dr. DeLuca is ready to go, she walks up to Dr. Schmitt and Dr. Wilson who are already scrubbed in and ready to assist her with this complicated c-section. Mrs. Barnes came in already with a high-risk pregnancy and was showing signs of fetal distress.
The doctors need to move quickly in order to save both mother and baby.
“Dr. Schmitt is the warmer ready?” Carina asks as she steps up to stand in front of her mother who has been put under anesthesia and is ready to go.
Dr. Schmitt nods his head. “Dr. Hayes is on stand-by if complications arise with the baby.”
“Well, let’s hope we don’t need him.” Carina says through ha breath before checking to see if her resident is ready to go. “Dr. Wilson?”
“Ready.” Jo says with a nod.
“Okay.” Carina says as she takes a scalpel from her head nurse before pressing down on the woman’s stomach. “Making initial incision now.”
Carina carefully makes her first incision before allowing Dr. Schmitt and Dr. Wilson to move aside the skin and muscle to make room for their tools and other incisions.
“Dr. Wilson, why are we performing a vertical incision instead of a horizontal incision?” Carina asks her lead resident.
“Because of the high risk pregnancy and the risk of uterine rupture it offers better access to the baby.” Jo says answering the question. “We can get to the infant more quickly.”
“Drawbacks?” Carina asks as she makes another cut.
“Due to the vertical incision she will not be able to give birth vaginally with later pregnancies.” Jo answers immediately.
“Good.” Carina says as she finishes her final cut. “There we go….Dr. Wilson we are ready for the follow-up incisions.”
“Making follow-up incisions.” Dr. Wilson says before making her incisions into the Mrs. Barnes’ abdomen.
“Nicely done.” Carina says to Jo when she finishes up her cuts. “And, before I forget…thank you again for your help. Maya and I really appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Jo says before looking over at Carina across from the table. “You guys seem really happy.”
“We are.” Carina says with a nod of her head.
“I was that happy once.” Jo mutters bitterly before looking back towards Carina. “Are you sure Maya doesn’t have an ex somewhere with her secret babies.”
“I don’t believe so…no.” Carina says amused.
“Well, you should check just to make sure.” Jo adds.
Carina bites back a laugh before going back to the patient. “Dr. Schmitt how is the baby’s vitals?”
“Stable.” Schmitt says after looking at the two monitors to the side.
“Good.” Carina says as she goes back to the examining the incisions. “Alright, Dr. Schmitt I need you to push aside the bladder and intestines to the side.”
Dr. Schmitt nods his head before completing the instruction.
“There we go.” Carina says before discovering a bleed by her right hand. “We’ve got a bleed.”
“Can we continue?” Jo asks as she watches Carina cauterize the vessel to stop the bleed.
“Yes.” Carina says before nodding her head towards Jo. “Suction.”
Jo grabs the tool and begins removing the access blood quickly. “How is Ginetta doing?”
“Teething.” Carina replies.
Jo sucks a sharp breath through her teeth. “Ouch.”
“She’s been fussing for last two days.” Carina explains further as she continues to examine for more bleeds in her patient. “Her gums are all red and swollen.”
“Poor kid.” Jo sighs.
“Yes, she’s been through a lot.” Carina continues as she discovers another small bleed to cauterize. “Maya is home with her now….suction.”
“Got it.” Jo says before removing more blood.
Schmitt watches the two doctors attentively. “Is Captain Bishop good with babies?”
“She is actually.” Carina says with a smile wide enough it can be seen with her surgical mask on. “Though she would tell you no.”
“Do you have any pictures?” Schmitt asks.
“Not yet.” Carina says when she notices another two bleeds from the patient. “Dr. Wilson can you get that bleed.”
“I’m on it.” Jo says as she grabs another cauterize tool from a nurse before helping Carina.
As the two women work diligently to stop the tiny bleeds the monitors start to go off startling everyone in the surgical room.
“BP is dropping.” Schmitt says as he looks at the monitor.
“What?” Carina asks out loud wondering what the problem is before she looks by the intestine to see gushing blood. “Oh no…we’ve got a major bleed near the intestine.”
“She’s hemorrhaging.” Jo says urgently as she tries to suction blood out of Dr. DeLuca’s way so she can work. “We need to run a blood transfusion.”
Schmitt notices something near the uterus and snaps his head up towards the Italian doctor. “Dr. DeLuca is that--?
“Scar tissue inside the pelvic region.” Carina says with a nod of her head before talking to everybody in the room. “Let’s go…let’s go…we need to get this bleeding under control.”
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The station had been pretty busy throughout the day and by the time Andy was able to check her messages it was a couple hours after Maya left it. When Maya heard her friend panicking, near tears on the message she quickly put Gibson in charge before rushing over to the apartment.
Andy jumps out of the car and makes her way through to the apartment, quickly opening the door with the key she still has from living there. When she walks in she calls immediately for her friend.
“Maya?” Andy calls out urgently.
“In here.” May grumbles from the living room grabbing Andy’s attention.
“Woe.” Andy says when she notices all the pillows and blankets on the floor with Maya lying in the middle. Maya has her head propped up with a pillow and a seeping Ginetta nestled on her chest. “Were you guys robbed?”
“We made a pillow fort...nest thing.” Maya whispers, careful not to wake the baby up. “Finally, my wife’s pillow obsession has paid off.”
“So many pillows.” Andy says a she continues to look around. “Where is your wife?”
“She had to go into the hospital, emergency surgery.” Maya says as she feels the baby nestle further in her chest. She continues to rub soothing circles on her back before turning to her lieutenant. “Uhh…who is covering the station?”
“Gibson…I just wanted to come check on you.” Andy answers as she gets down on the floor next to Maya.
Maya hearing this instantly smiles. “Thank you.”
“Oh my god.” Andy whispers as she finally gets a good look at the sleeping baby nestled on top of her chest. “Maya…”
“I know.” Maya sighs, instantly gushing.
“Wow.” Andy sighs as she continues to study the little girl. “She looks like Carina.”
“She totally does.” Maya agrees, thinking Andy has truly no idea. Ginetta’s eyes are all Andrea but her soft brown locks and little smile…identical to Carina.
“How’s it going?” Andy goes on to ask. “I came as soon as I could, your message sounded frazzled.
“Frazzled?” Maya teases with a smirk.
“It’s a word.” Andy defends.
Maya lets out a small chuckle before explaining quietly. “She’s teething and spent all day crying her eyes out…I panicked.”
“Ohhh.” Andy sighs sympathetically before looking to the baby again. “Well, she looks good now.”
“Yea, with a little help from my mom.” Maya explains as she runs her hand a couple times down Ginetta’s back. “She kinda saved my butt.”
“That’s nice.” Andy says with a small smile before getting quiet.
Maya seeing this immediately regrets bringing up her mom in front of her friend, knowing everything going on with her own mom…enter foot in mouth. “I’m sorry…Andy was that--”
“No…I’m glad you and your mom are in a better place.” Andy says cutting her friend off kindly, not wanting her to feel bad at all. “She loves you and she’ll love this little girl.”
“My head was about to explode and watching her in so much pain was awful.” Maya says sadly as Ginetta starts to stir a little bit on top of her chest. Maya instantly starts to rub calming circles on her back in an attempt to sooth her. “Shhh…”
Andy watches this in awe. “Wow.”
“Are you crying?” Maya asks as she notices Andy’s eyes start to water.
“No.” Andy lies terribly as she bites down on her bottom lip to keep the tears away.
“You are crying.” Maya says able to see the tears in Andy’s eyes. “I cannot handle any more crying Herrera, and if you cry I’ll cry.”
“It’s just…” Andy starts to say as she gushes accordingly. “Seeing you and her…it’s beautiful.”
Maya rolls her eyes slightly but can’t keep the small smile from escaping. “Okay.”
Andy smiles at her friend before looking at her watch. “I should get back to the station…is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
“We’re good….I’m gonna put her down soon and then just wait for Carina to get home.” Maya says.
“Sounds good.” Andy smiles as she gets up from the floor.
Before she can leave Maya looks up at her friend to get her to stop. “Andy?”
“Yea?” Andy asks turning around.
“In case I don’t say it enough.” Maya starts to say as she begins to get chocked up. “Thanks for being my person.”
Andy just nods her head with a smile. “Thank you for being mine.”
Maya smiles back as she watches her friend leave. When the door closes she inhales a long breath and closes her eyes, thinking about the very long day they’ve had. She exhales the long breath and tilts her head slightly to get a better look at Ginetta’s face before smiling at the baby. She moves her hand from the baby’s back to her little head covered in soft brown locks.
“Don’t worry Ginny, you’ll get through this.” Maya says as she keeps scratching Ginetta’s scalp with her hand.
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By the time Carina finished with the surgery and post-ops it was dark outside. She made a quick exit of the hospital and made her way home to see her two girls. After she parks in the parking lot she wipes the long day from her face and reaches to the front seat where she has a six-pack and a brown paper bag filled with fries from their favorite burger joint.
She slowly gets out of the car and makes her way into the apartment before opening the door to their unit. When she opens the door her eyes immediately go to the living room floor that is covered in every throw pillow and throw blanket they own.
Carina speechless just blinks a few times before sputtering out. “Wha--?
“Hey.” Maya greets tiredly from the hallway.
“Hey.” Carina says back to her wife before looking over to see her wife sitting on the floor outside the baby’s room. “Did a bomb go off in our living room?”
“Sort of.” Maya mutters with a small smile before running her hand through her hair. “How was your day?”
“There were major complications with my patient…the surgery took much longer than anticipated.” Carina explains tiredly before smiling when she thinks about the outcome. “But she and the baby should be fine.”
“That’s great.” Maya says.
“How was your day?” Carina asks before looking around briefly. “Where’s Ginetta?”
“She’s asleep…finally.” Maya sighs as she blinks the exhaustion from her eyes. “Just went down about an hour ago.”
“And?” Carina ventures cautiously.
Maya just tilts her head back and forth a bit. “We spent a lot of the day crying.”
“Maya, I’m sorry.” Carina says before going over to Maya to take a seat next to her against the wall.
“Hey, don’t be sorry.” Maya says firmly before nudging her wife’s arm with her own. “You were saving a life...or lives.”
Carina just exhales a long breath before shrugging her shoulders. “I feel bad about leaving you alone for the first time with the baby so soon.”
“Is that why you brought me fries and beer?” Maya teases as she raises an eye brow at her wife.
Carina laughs but gives in quickly. “Yes….I feel bad.”
“Don’t….” Maya says sternly before reaching over to take Carina’s hand. “Honey, I promise. We actually figured some things out.”
“Like?” Carina asks very interested in the answer.
“Well, after you left her fussiness turned into full out sobs.” May starts to explain as she thinks back to their hard afternoon. “I think the pain finally became too much.”
“Teething is like knives in the gums for little babies.” Carina says, nodding her head.
Maya nods her head and holds her hands up in defeat. “And nothing I was doing was working…I felt so helpless.”
“I would have too.” Carina says as she runs her hand down the back of Maya’s head.
Maya leans back into the touch before letting out a breath. “I called my mom.”
“You did?” Carina says surprised knowing the complicated relationship her wife had with her mom.
“Well, I actually called Andy first but couldn’t get through.” Maya says before shrugging her shoulders. “So I call my mom.”
“How did she take the news?” Carina asks.
“Good. I told her about the baby and begged her for help.” Maya goes on to explain before sticking out her bottom lip. “She actually helped quite a bit.”
Carina smiles at this before urging her to continue. “Really? Like what?”
“Well, she told me to stop reading those parenting books.” Maya explains.
Carina snorts and lets out a giggle. “I could have told you that.”
“Yea, yea.” Maya giggles back.
“What else?” Carina asks.
“She gave me some tips.” Maya says before holding out her two fingers in front of Carina. “Like running your fingers under cold water and then gently putting pressure on her gums.”
“Makes sense.” Carina hums.
“She also told me to take whatever fruit we have and wrap it up in a piece of cloth…let her suck on it.” Maya adds before pointing to the living room. “There’s chewed up pears all over the floor.”
Carina thinks about it before holding up her hand. “Genius.”
“I took a bag of frozen pears out and found a piece of cloth in the drawer.” Maya says to Carina, giving her the play by play. “You should have seen her little face...it was pretty cute.”
“Looks like you and your mom made a pretty good team today.” Carina says.
“Oh no.” Maya says as she takes the hand she’s holding to place a kiss on the back of it. “You are my favorite teammate.”
“Well, if you told your mom…I should probably tell my dad…” Carina sighs as she leans back against the wall.
“Probably.” Maya hisses knowing that is not going to be an easy call to make for her wife.
“But…that is a problem for another day.” Carina says before nodding her head towards the living room. “How did the pillow explosion happen?”
“After we figured out how to relieve some pain in the gums she found a pillow and kind of tackled it to the ground.” Maya explains.
“What?” Carina laughs.
“I think the fluffy pillow felt good on her cheek.” Maya laughs as she runs her hand on her cheek.
“So you made a giant pillow fort.” Carina gushes at the incredibly sweet gesture from her wife.
Maya just shrugs her shoulders. “I got a giggle or two.”
“Good work Captain.” Carina gushes as she leans her head down on Maya’s shoulder.
“Yea, yea.” Maya drawls before kissing her wife on top of the head. “So Ginny and I spent the rest of the afternoon and night hanging out in a pillow fort and sucking on pears.”
“That sounds like a good day…” Carina starts to say but when her brain catches up to what Maya said she lifts her head up to look at her wife. “Wait…”
“What?” Maya asks confused.
“Ginny?” Carina asks with her eye brows raised.
“Oh, yeah.” Maya says with a small smile. “It just kinda came out.”
“Ginny.” Carina says with a smile as she tries out the new nickname again.
“Is that okay?” Maya asks in a slight panic, now thinking maybe that wasn’t okay. “I’m not desecrating some ancient Italian name rule am I?”
“Uhh no.” Carina says with a slight laugh before sticking her bottom lip out. “It’s cute….Ginny.”
“I also called her Elvira a couple times.” Maya says as she stretches out her neck for Carina to get a better look. “She earned that nickname when she started to use my neck as a chew toy.”
Carina spots the mark on Maya’s neck before reaching over for a beer to hand to her wife. “Well, it sounds like you earned this.”
“Thank you.” Maya says with genuinely before turning to shock when she sees Carina open a beer for herself. “What are you doing?”
“I am going to have one too...without the faces.” Carina says as she holds out the beer to cheers with her wife. “To cheers my wife for doing a wonderful job helping our baby through a tough day.”
“I didn’t help that much.” Maya says as she clinks their beer bottles together. “I kinda felt like I was failing most of the day.”
“You weren’t.” Carina says firmly, truly wanting her wife to believe her.
Maya smiles warmly at her wife before noticing the slight bags under Carina’s eyes, immediately feeling selfish on her part. “I’m the worst….you’ve been in surgery all day and I’m the one dead on my feet.”
“Let’s just agree that we both deserve cheers.” Carina says as she bites back a yawn before taking a sip of her beer.
“Absolutely Dr. DeLuca.” Maya says as she takes a sip of her own. “How long do you think she’ll be asleep for?”
“With her mouth hurting so badly, I don’t know.” Carina says as she thinks it over. “Maybe a couple more hours….possibly three.”
“Better make the most of it.” Maya says before hopping up on her feet.
“Oh yea.” Carina sings as Maya helps her up quickly. “What do you want to do?”
Maya grins to the Italian before leaning closer to her ear. “I want to take these fries and beer….go to the pillow fort….”
“Yea…” Carina says flirtatiously back, her eyes glued to Maya’s lips.
“And cuddle until I pass out from exhaustion.” Maya finishes before placing a kiss to Carina’s ear.
“That sounds so hot.” Carina says through a heated breath.
Maya nods her head and moves closer to Carina’s lips. “We could even put on the finale of Top Chef.”
“Now you’re just being a mean fire captain…getting me all ramped up.” Carina giggles before Maya places a quick kiss to her lips.
“Will you help me over to the living room?” Maya asks out she slouches against the wall. “I think my legs are asleep.”
“Of course my love.” Carina says with a sweet smile as she wraps her arm around Maya’s waist to help guide her to the living room.
“To the pillow fort!” Maya cheers quietly as to not wake the baby.
Carina smiles at her wife before looking around at the floor covered in pillows. “You know…I think we could use more--”
Maya cuts her off and places a finger to the Italian’s lips. “Nope, don’t even say it.”