8. CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
Maya barely got any sleep that night after getting that phone call at the end of the night the day before. When she woke up she needed to speak to her team but was getting bombarded with phone calls and emails from the brass and didn’t get a chance. Now she is in her office rushing to get ready for the meeting she called to have before shift change. Both A-Shift and B-Shift would be at the meeting so she would be able to tell both teams at the same time.
She takes another look at her latest email before closing her computer and wiping down her tired face with her hand. Maya walks over to her mirror to fix her hair before walking out of her office to find the person she really needed to talk to….immediately. As she turns down the hallway she sees Jack walking towards her.
“Jack! Have you seen Andy?” Maya asks hurriedly.
“Yea, she was out back running through a drill with the probie.” Jack answers Maya before noticing the weird look on her face. “What’s up?”
“Crap.” Maya grumbles through clenched teeth. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Does this have to do with the meeting?” Jack asks but Maya simply ignores him and starts to walk away. “This can’t be good.”
Back in the beanery Dean and Vic are sitting around the table as other members from the team gather in the kitchen to engage in small talk and drink coffee. Travis steps into the beanery and notices people eating yogurt and English muffins before walking over to Hughes and Miller at the table.
“Why are we meeting before shift change with B-Shift?” Travis asks nervously before taking a seat at the table.
“Beats me.” Miller says as he pops a pretzel in his mouth from the dish on the table.
“Do you know?” Vic asks Jack as he steps up to the table.
“I just ran into Bishop….she is totally on edge.” Jack says before he flips the chair around to take a seat and rest his arms on the back.
Travis’ eyes go wide. “That’s not a good sign.”
Theo walks over to the group and hops up to sit on the table by where Vic is sitting. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Vic greets her boyfriend back.
“You wanna grab brunch after shift?” Theo asks with a smile.
“Absolutely.” Vic replies with a big smile of her own.
Travis glares at the two after not getting an invite. “I like brunch.”
Vic rolls her eyes and turns to her best friend. “Aren’t you helping your mom with something?”
“Why did I tell her I knew how to digitize her old photos…stupid.” Travis pouts to himself before hitting himself on the forehead.
Vic laughs before turning to the other guys. “Miller? Gibson?”
“I can’t…I’ve gotta go pick up Pru.” Miller says before grabbing another pretzel.
“Rain check.” Jack tells the two before looking around to see if Maya is going to start the meeting yet.
Theo turns to Vic and gives her a wink. “Looks like it’s just you and me.”
“I want hash browns and bacon…lots of bacon.” Vic demands through a low chuckle.
“Heads up Guys, B-Shift is starting to come in.” Warren warns his team as he walks ahead of the group of firefighters from the other shift.
The team looks up from the table and watches a swarm of B-Shift firefighters invade the kitchen area. They all come in happy and pumped for their upcoming shift when Donny Gregson points to the table.
“Look guys, it’s the Shift A-Holes.” Gregson says as they walk over to the counter in the beanery.
“Cute.” Vic says with a fake smile.
Miller looks over and sees just the guy from B-Shift he’s been waiting for. “Hey, O’Murphy, you left your wet towel in front of my locker again.” Dean then takes the wet towel from the floor and throws it at the guy.
“Hey!” Timmy O’Murphy yells as he ducks out of the way.
Miller just points at the guy. “Clean up after yourself, please.”
“What are you, my wife?” O’Murphy huffs before taking a cup of coffee from Gregson.
“19 listen up!” Maya says as she walks into the beanery to speak to her team and B-Shift.
The entire beanery full of firefighters from both shifts slowly stops talking to give their attention to the captain at the front of the room. When the talking continues to die down Andy and Willet come walking up from the other direction and are instantly caught off guard by the full beanery.
“What’s going on?” Willet asks in a hushed whisper.
Andy just waves her hand at him to quiet the probie down. “Shh.”
“Captain?” Jack says wanting Maya to continue with what she has to say.
“I’m going to make this quick so we can get on with shift change.” Maya begins to explain to all of her firefighters. “Chief McCallister has informed me that we have a new Battalion Chief.”
“Again.” Travis sighs under his breath.
Before Maya can continue Robert Sullivan comes up from behind her and stands to her right in front of the now speechless room of firefighters. You could hear a pin drop with the deafening silence.
“Hello.” Robert says to the team before placing his hands on his waist.
Maya swallows the lump in her throat before finishing the announcement. “Robert Sullivan has been appointed our new Battalion Chief; he will be stationed here at 19.”
“Thank you Captain Bishop.” Robert says with a nod of his head before addressing the shocked firefighters in front of them. “I am honored to be back here as your Battalion Chief.”
“Please tell me I’m hallucinating.” Miller says to his friends as Robert continues his speech to the full beanery.
Travis starts to loosen his collar. “Does anybody else feel nauseous?”
Vic nods her head throws her eyes in Andy’s direction. “Herrera looks like she’s gonna throw up.”
“Just what we need…Captain Fire Grinch is back.” Travis huffs.
“Except its worse now…Battalion Chief Fire Grinch.” Miller hisses through clenched teeth. “Son of a--”
“Miller! Is there a problem?” Maya snaps at Dean.
Dean just shakes his head. “No Captain.”
Just then the alarms start going off catching everybody a little by surprise when the dispatch signal starts going off.
Dispatch: Engine 19, Ladder 19, Aid Car 19, Battalion, Structure Fire, High Rise. 11th St.
For a second nobody moves because currently there are two shifts in the house…both eager to take the call but unsure of whose it belongs to.
“That's us right?” O’Murphy asks Gregson.
“Yes.” Gregson says firmly as he motions for them to head to the barn.
“Uh-uh, that's our call.” Jack says standing up as he points to his team. “A-Shift's still on duty.”
O’Murphy shakes his head and glares at Jack. “Except we’re on shift change, it’s us now.”
Dean stands up and points to the clock on the wall. “Technically your shift doesn’t start for another 10 minutes, so….”
“So come on, A-Shift, let's move.” Maya instructs her team.
“Chief?!” Gregson yells at the Battalion Chief wanting him to step in here.
“A-Shift will handle the call.” Robert says quickly giving the team the nod to continue to the barn.
Gregson glares at the shift as they walk by. “Miller, try to aim the water at the fire this time.”
“Don't be a sore loser, O’Murphy.” Dean chirps back before walking away.
“B-Shift, finish getting ready for the shift.” Robert says to B-Shift dismissing them from the beanery.
Andy still in shock makes her way through the beanery to get to the barn but is stopped by Robert at the front.
Sullivan goes to reach for her arm. “Andy! Can we--”
Maya immediately cuts Sullivan off. “Sir, I need my lieutenant on this call.”
“Go.” Robert concedes to Maya as he motions towards the barn.
Maya gets ready to walk away but stops when she sees Andy frozen in her tracks. “Lieutenant, let’s go.”
Andy nods her head numbly as she walks past Maya towards the barn. The fire captain gives one more look at the new battalion chief before following towards the barn.
A-Shift makes quick work on getting into the Truck, Engine, and Aid car and quickly starts rolling down the street to their next call. Each firefighter does what they need to get ready and check their gear with Maya looking over the information that is being sent to her iPad from dispatch.
“Alright, we are 5 blocks away.” Maya says into her radio to 19. “I want Truck and Engine to pull up on the corner of 11th and Roosevelt.”
“Copy.” Miller says from the front of the truck.
“Copy Bishop.”
Maya takes one more glance at her iPad before looking to Andy who is double checking her gear before looking out the window. “Hey.”
“I’m good Captain.” Andy reassures her captain firmly with a nod.
“Okay.” Maya says back.
When they arrive on scene the firefighters quickly hop off the rigs and head towards the tall apartment building where people have started gathering below including a panicking bellman. The team quickly runs towards the group in order to gather more information on the call.
“Hey, where's the fire?” Herrera asks the group huddled on the sidewalk in front of the tall apartment complex.
“I think it's one of the first floor units.” The bellman says through a couple big coughs. “Uh, the hallway's real smoky!”
Gibson nods his head and turns to the other people who have evacuated. “Okay, anybody know which unit?”
“Willet, get these people over to the other sidewalk please.” Maya instructs the probie before turning to Travis and Jack. “Montgomery and Gibson offer oxygen to anybody that needs it.
“Got it Cap.” Travis says as he and Jack help the bellman towards the rig.
“Yes.” Willet says to his captain before ushering the people back. “Okay, people, back behind me on the other sidewalk.”
“Captain?” Andy asks Maya looking for the go ahead to go up. When she gets the nod she motions for the team to move on in. “Come on, let's go.”
Andy followed by Miller, Warren, Hughes, and Ruiz all head towards the front of the building where they quickly rush through the tall glass doors. They look around trying to find any sign on fire in the main atrium.
“Let’s split up.” Herrera says to team. “Warren and Miller take the east and the rest of us will take the west.”
“Copy.” Miller says as he and Warren make their way towards the stairs, helping people towards the exit as they do.
“Ready?” Herrera asks Ruiz and Hughes who nod in return.
When Dean and Miller get on the floor they are checking on and evacuating they notice the hallway slowly filling with dark black smoke. They both crouch down and continue to move forward.
“Hey, smoke's coming from everywhere.” Miller says in his walkie as they slowly make their way down the hallway.
“Yeah, looks like it's coming out of the HVAC.” Herrera says in her walkie as she looks up at the vents and can see the slow smoke. “We’ll do a primary search on the first floor hallway.”
Miller nods his head and clicks his radio. “Got it.”
As Maya continues to give orders to those on Engine Robert Sullivan pulls up in his Battalion jeep. He quickly jumps out with his white helmet and rushes over to Maya who is first in command on scene.
“What do we have here Bishop?” Sullivan asks as he looks up at the building.
“We’re doing a primary search now Sir.” Maya informs the chief.
Sullivan nods his head and points to Maya. “Good…this is still your scene Captain.”
“Yes Sir.” Maya says before speaking into her radio. “Truck and Engine 19, be ready with the hose line.”
“Copy!” Cutler says from the engine, ready with water.
Back in the building Miller and Warren are still knocking on doors and checking for people stuck inside. They continue down the hallway as the smoke gets blacker and thicker in the air.
“Fire department, evacuate the building!” Miller yells through the blaring alarms.
“Fire department, call out!” Warren yells out.
Miller shakes his head and points to the other hallway. “It's not this one. Down here!”
Outside the building Maya is looking up when a frantic voice pulls her attention. She looks over and sees a man in his early 40s running frantically towards the building.
“Jamie!” The man yells out as she runs over. “Jamie!”
“Woe, woe Sir.” Maya says to the frantic man as he stops him in his tracks, trying to hold him back from the building. “You cannot go in there.”
“My name is Evan Hathaway, my son is up there.” He sputters out, clearly out of breath as he pleads with the first responders to help him. “He’s in unit 106. Please, you have to help him! He’s thirteen; I only left him for 30 minutes to go get groceries.”
“Sir we will get your son.” Maya assures the panicking man.
“Bishop, fire's in unit 106!”
“Miller we know.” Maya says back into her walkie. “We have a confirmed victim in there….13 year old boy, name is Jamie.”
“Copy that.” Miller replies back before continuing his search.
“Miller we are on our way to you now.” Ruiz says in his walkie before knocking on another door to check for people. “Fire department, call out!”
“Jamie!” Miller yells out as they arrive to the door.
“Help, please!” a voice calls from inside.
“Hold on!” Miller yells through the door as Ruiz and Warren make their way to him. “Someone's in there.”
“We gotta kick it down!” Ruiz yells through the loud alarms going off. “The key cards aren’t working, everything is shut down.”
“Great! Miller yells out exasperated before getting ready to kick down the door. “Stand back!”
Dean takes a breath and tries to kick the door down but after the third kick realizes that it is no use. The three men examine the door and figure out that no amount of force is going to do any good.
“This thing is Fort Knox!” Ruiz says.
Warren shakes his head and goes to his walkie. “Hey, Bishop, we can't breach the door!”
“Herrera and Hughes are on their way with the saws.” Maya says in her radio as she watches Hughes and Herrera get back into the building.
“Miller we’re almost there.” Herrera adds in her walk as she and Hughes head towards the stairs.
Back out side the father of the boy trapped inside snaps and he rushes towards the firefighters.
“I’ve got to get up there!” Evan Hathaway yells as he again tries to get around the barricade.
Chief Sullivan steps in front of the man again to stop him from bolting towards the burning building. “Stop! You need to let my firefighters work!”
“He’s my son!” Evan Hathaway cries out.
“Hey!” Maya exclaims as she steps in front of the man to get him to look at her and not the building on fire. “I know that you’re scared….I have a kid too, she’s 7 months old.”
“Then you get it.” Evan says to the fire captain, pleading with her to let him go. “I need to get up there.”
“My team is the best in Seattle.” Maya says as she tries to reassure the scared parent. “We will get your son.”
Evan just nods his head slowly before backing away, giving in. “Okay….okay!”
“Good.” Maya says through a breath before turning back towards the building. She looks to the engine and watches two of her firefighters heading in with a line. Maya goes to her radio once again. “19, Cutler and Willet are headed to your location with the line.”
Herrera and Hughes walk up to the hallway and are immediately hit with blinding black smoke. The two crouch down with their chainsaws and slowly make their way down trying to find the rest of the team.
Herrera has trouble trying to figure out where the unit is and yells out. “Hey, Ruiz!”
“Over here!” Theo calls out to Andy to give help her find the way to them.
“We’re coming Jamie! Miller yells through the door as Andy and Vic rush over with the saws to get the door open.
The two women carefully get the saws started and start making their way through the doors. Luckily the metal in the doors starts to give in and break apart allowing for the saws to work properly. When they cut a big enough space for them to fit in they step away. Miller with Warren behind him quickly steps in and start calling out for their victim.
“Hey! Fire department, call out!” Miller yells out with Warren behind him.
“Help!” a voice calls from somewhere in the apartment unit.
Warren looks around trying to figure out where the voice is coming from. “Jamie! Call out!
“I'm in here!” Jamie yells out scared.
“Fan out!” Herrera tells the fire fighters. “We gotta find him so we can soak the place.”
“Fire department, call out!” Ruiz yells out as they continue to search.
Miller makes his way towards the back room. “Fire department!”
“Fire's in the master bedroom! In here! I'm in here!” Warren yells out to the group before running towards the closet in the master bedroom to find the thirteen year old boy. “I got him!”
“You gotta get me out of here!” Jamie cries to the firefighter. “
Miller runs over to Warren and the boy and checks him out. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I was in the bathroom when the alarm went off! It got so hot so fast out there!” Jamie explains to Warren through frantic gasps.
“We got to move.” Miller tells Warren as he watches the fire travel up the walls.
Ben nods his head and faces the boy. “All right, I'm gonna walk you out there.”
“We're going out there?” Jamie asks terrified.
“Yeah. Don't worry; I'm gonna stand between you and the fire.” Warren tells the teenager before taking off his mask to place it on his face. “Just get ready and stay low. Okay, put that over your face.”
“Here Lieutenant.” Cutler says as he and Willet bring the hose into the room and get down low, ready to blast the flames.
Back in the bedroom Miller goes to his radio. “19, we're coming out of the master bedroom! Can you cover us?”
“Yeah, ready when you are!” Herrera replies to Miller.
“All right.” Warren says to Jamie before they get ready to rush out. “Ready? On my count! One, two, three!”
“This way! Come on!” Miller says as he leads Warren and Jamie through the apartment and out into the hallway.
Warren checks over the boy before slapping him on the shoulder. “See? Nothing to worry about.”
“Hey, Captain, the fire's out in 106, but we better check that unit above. It looks like there was an electrical fire in the wall.” Herrera says into the walkie as she moves with Hughes and Ruiz to check the other units.
“Okay, check all the units. I don't care how many doors you have to break down.” Maya nods her head and replies to Herrera.
Maya continues to look up at the building strategizing her next move when she spots Miller and Warren escorting the teenage boy out of the building.
“Jamie!” Evan yells as he rushes over to his son being helped by the firefighters.
Jamie hearing his father’s voice turns and sees him immediately. “Dad!”
“Are you hurt?” Evan asks his son as Gibson and Travis from the aid car rush over to help.
Jamie still struggling for air shakes his head. “No.”
“Let’s get him checked out over in the aid car.” Travis tells the father as he places an oxygen mask on the teenager’s face.
As Travis and Gibson move to handle their patients by the aid car Station 66 from their battalion comes rolling up to offer aid. The captain of the station Marco Mizzeti hops down before putting on his red helmet and walking towards Sullivan and Bishop.
“Hey, Chief, are we too late?” Captain Mizzeti asks Chief Sullivan with his team behind him.
“No, you can help with the overhaul.” Sullivan informs the man before pointing over to Maya Bishop by the 19 truck. “Take your direct orders from Captain Bishop.”
“Ah, it figures. First good fire in our district in weeks and we're tied up with a heart attack ten blocks away.” Mizzeti jokes as they walk on over to Maya.
Maya smiles at her fellow captain nods her head. “Captain Mizzeti.”
“Captain Bishop.” Mizzeti greets back.
“Take your teams and head over to the south side of the building.” Maya says as she points back to the building. “Double check evacuations and do a check on the vents.”
“Copy that.” Mizetti says before motioning his team towards the building.
Maya watches them rush away before walking towards the aid car where Gibson and Montgomery are checking on the teenage boy they pulled out. “How’s it going?”
“He’s going to be fine Captain.” Gibson informs his captain before walking over to the driver’s seat to get inside. “We’re going to take him to Seattle Pres, just to make sure.”
“Thank you.” Evan says gratefully through happy tears to Maya and Travis at the aid car. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Maya says to the father before getting ready to walk away.
“Hey!” Evan yells getting Maya to turn around. “What’s your daughter’s name?”
Maya caught off guard swallows the emotional lump in her throat. “Ginny.”
“That’s a beautiful name.” Evan says with a thankful smile.
“Mr. Hathaway, we’re ready to go.” Travis says gently to the man grabbing his attention.
“Thanks again.” Evan says to Maya before getting up in the aid car with Montgomery and his son to ride to the hospital
Maya watches as the aid car start driving down the street with sirens blaring. She lets out a long breath and wipes the sweat from her brow before thinking back on what the dad said to her. Maya gets lost in her head before quickly shaking the thoughts away to focus on the job at hand and heading back to the building to lead her team.
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Meanwhile over the Deluca-Bishop apartment Carina is sitting on the floor in the living room playing with Ginny. They already had a pretty full morning of breakfast, diaper changes, crying over teething, and a quick morning nap.
Now they are getting lost in a very important game of peek-a-boo when there is a knock on the door. Carina smiles at the baby and tickles her tummy before getting up to answer the door. When she opens the door she is met by a smiling Richard Webber.
“Dr. Webber.” Carina greets with a warm smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”
Richard Webber smiles back and holds out his hands. “Is this okay?”
“Of course…come on in.” Carina says as she moves to the side and waves the man on in. “Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”
Richard follows her in to the living room. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
“I made a pot of tea.” Carina says as she points to the tea on the dining room table.
“Tea sounds lovely.” Richard says.
“Please take a seat and please excuse the mess.” Carina says as she goes over to the dining room table to pour a couple cups of tea. “Ginny is cutting another tooth so we’ve been lying around all day in the pillow pit.”
“Why?” Richard asks with a laugh.
Carina returns the laugh and walks back over with the tea. “She likes to rest her cheek on the soft pillows.”
“And the gummed up orange slices?” Richard asks as he takes a seat on the couch.
Carina laughs again and puts the tea on the coffee table. “Again…teething remedies.”
“Well it seems to be working.” Richard says as he finally focuses on the baby girl sitting on a blanket on the floor surrounded by toys. “She is all smiles.”
“You’ve caught her in a pretty good mood.” Carina chirps as she smiles down at Ginetta who is playing with some colorful figures. “She’s also figured out how to sit with no help so…pretty proud of herself.”
Richard continues to smile and shakes his head in awe. “She really is something DeLuca.”
“I agree Dr. Webber.” Carina says proudly before taking a sip of her tea. “How is everything at the hospital?”
“Oh you know.” Richard drawls before handing Ginny a colorful ring. “We’re getting along…your prodigy is thriving.”
“Dr. Wilson has not needed a lot of help from me.” Carina says.
Richard smiles as Ginny bangs two rings together. “I disagree….respectfully of course.”
“Any good surgeries?” Carina asks somewhat thirsty for adult conversation.
“We had a veteran who served in Vietnam come in with a sharp pain to his kidney.” Richard says as he leans back on the couch before grabbing his tea. “Turns out he has had a piece of shrapnel in there this whole time.”
“Oooo….interesting.” Carina drawls.
Richard nods his head and continues. “The shrapnel was a piece of metal from the helicopter that blew up next to him on the battlefield….still had two of the serial numbers on it.”
“Wow.” Carina mutters.
“It was pretty cool, I will admit.” Richard says as he takes a sip of tea. “And our patient really found a lot of comfort in the fact that Dr. Hunt was on the case too.”
“That’s great.” Carina says with a smile.
“What about here?” Richard asks as he looks around the living room. “Other than the teething adventures of course.”
“We have discovered lots of things.” Carina says as she leans over on the couch to get close to Ginny on the floor. “We love pears and hate bananas.”
“I would agree with you on that one.” Richard chirps.
Carina lets out a chuckle and continues. “We love baths before bedtime…with blue ginger body wash.”
“Is that soap?” Richard asks with a raised eye brow.
“Sì.” Carina says with a smile. “We like cuddles in the rocking chair before naptime…”
Richard watches amused as Carina reaches over to Ginetta who is watching every move the woman makes with a smile on her face.
“And we are very ticklish in this little spot right…” Carina says as he leans over and tickles Ginny behind her ear resulting in tiny giggles. “Here.”
Richard can’t help but laugh too at the sound of the baby laughing while looking lovingly at the woman who tickled her….a beautiful sight indeed.
Carina reaches over and runs her hand gently over Ginny’s s head. “Mia piccola rosa.” (My little rose.)
“I’m really proud of you Carina.” Richard says to the woman next to him.
Carina’s heart skips a beat when she hears this and looks over to Richard. “What?”
“I’m proud of you.” Richard repeats strongly. “What you and your wife are doing for this baby girl…it’s truly remarkable.”
Instantly at the words of praise Carina’s eyes begin to water and her breath starts catching in her throat with strangled cries. The woman tries to gather herself as Richard looks helpless and feeling responsible for the small outburst of tears.
“Oh…I’m sorry.” Richard says regrettable as he scoots a bit closer to Carina.
Carina continues to cry and begins to feel embarrassed at her impromptu outburst. It’s just her dad never has said that he is proud of her so when she hears it from a man she trusts and admires…she loses it.
“My apologies Dr. Webber.” Carina blubbers out while grabbing a tissue from end table to dab her watering eyes.
“That’s alright, that’s alright.” Richard reassures the younger woman. “Is there anything I can do?”
“You’ve already done it.” Carina says with a small smile before going on to explain. “You’ve met my dad.”
Richard nods his head before squinting his eyes. “Yes…eccentric.”
“He has never been one for words of affirmation….at least for me.” Carina explains with a shrug of her shoulders. “Andrea got most of it.”
“Well, I’m great at them.” Richard says as he places his hand on his chest. “Made a whole career using them.”
“I know.” Carina says giggling before acing over to take the man’s hand in hers. “Thank you.”
Richards nods his head and squeezes Carina’s hands a little tighter when her phone lets out a loud chime indicating a new message.
“Excuse me.” Carina says as she takes a quick glance at Ginny before getting up from the couch.
“Of course.” Richard says waving off Carina before bringing his attention to the little girl sitting in front of him. “We’ll just sit here and sort the rings by color.”
Carina walks over to the dining room table where she set down her phone earlier in the day and looks to see who texted her. When she reads through the message she shakes her head and runs her hand through her hair.
“Oh no.” Carina mutters as she continues to read the message.
“Everything okay?” Richard asks, looking back.
“It’s Chief Bailey.” Carina says as she lets out a long breath before running her hand down her long ponytail. “Wilson just got sent home with the flu…she is struggling to find somebody to cover for the rest of the day in OB.”
“Tis the season.” Richard says knowing that flu season is upon them. “You want a ride?”
“No, I better drive myself.” Carina says as she walks back over and immediately looks down at the baby. “Will you help me sneak her into the daycare?”
Richard nods his head dramatically. “Sounds like a job for Special Ops…I always felt like I missed my calling.”
“Looks like we get to go on a field trip.” Carina says smiling down at Ginny.
Richard too smiles at Ginny. “I’ll hang out with Ginny while you gather your things.”
“Thank you Dr. Webber.” Carina says appreciatively.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about anyways.” Richard says before smiling at the baby who smiles back immediately at the funny man. “I’ve got to start pitching Grey-Sloan now for when she starts her internship.”
“Please do.” Carina chuckles before walking away to get ready to leave.
Richard watches Carina start to get ready before turning back to Ginetta. “Just don’t do your internship at Mayo…it’s basically the Arctic.”
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After Station 19 finished the call at the apartment building the team headed back to the house to get changed and move on with their day. Maya quickly changed into her street clothes, put some files in her duffel bag and heads to her car. She really meant to go straight home but somehow found herself driving to a little dive bar The Roadhouse on the others side of town. She walked in and ordered a beer and just sat there.
She sat thinking about everything in her life…about Carina and the baby…about almost losing her post…about Sullivan coming back…about parents…and screwing up. All of these things bombarded her head and before she knew it…four hours had past. The bartended hands another customer a coke and notices Maya staring straight ahead, blanking out.
“Is something wrong?” the bartender asks as he leans her elbow down on the bar.
“What?” Maya mutters out.
“With your beer?” the bartender asks as he motions down to the beer in front of her. “You’ve been here a while.”
Maya looks down at the beer she has only had 4 sips of before shaking her head. “No…it’s good.”
“Can I get you anything else?” the bartender asks sensing something is off. “On the house.”
Maya just shakes her head. “No thank you.”
“Just let me know.” The bartender says before walking away to help another customer down the bar.
Maya nods her head and takes another small sip as a guy in a cheap suit and expensive haircut comes walking over to the bar. He smiles as he leans his body against the bar top to get closer to Maya.
“Hey.” The man says with a grin.
“No.” Maya says quickly.
“But I--”
“I’m married.” Maya says cutting him off as she takes another small sip of beer. “To somebody way, way hotter than you.”
The man lets out a small chuckle before raising an eye brow. “Happily?”
“Do you want a pool cube upside your head?” Maya snaps bitterly.
The man’s eyes go wide. “I do not.”
“Beat it.” Maya demands to the man who finally walks away leaving Maya alone once more at the bar.
The fire captain is only able to get lost in her head for another 5 minutes when again she is interrupted…this time by her phone ringing. She contemplates letting the phone go to voicemail but goes against it when a quick thought of something being wrong with Carina or Ginny pops in her head.
Maya rolls her eyes at the interruption but answers her phone. “Bishop.”
“Hey.” Jack says on the other line from his apartment.
“What do you want Gibson?” Maya asks coldly.
Jack hearing the tone lets out a breath. “I just called to see how you’re doing.”
“I’ m good.” Maya says abruptly.
“The thing with Sullivan is a lot.” Jack says as he thinks back to the meeting they had earlier in the day at Station 19. “Did you see Andy’s face?”
Maya rolls her eyes at the stupid question. “Of course I did.”
“We gotta keep an eye on her.” Jack says.
“I know, Andy’s my best friend.” Maya says with zero patience.
“I’m just saying…We gotta stick together.” Jack says referring to the new development.
Maya nods her head. “We will…Sullivan won’t come between us again.”
“Are you home with Carina and Ginetta?” Jack asks as he continues to pick up around his apartment.
Maya develops a lump in her throat and she manages to stutter out. “I’m out running errands.”
“Your errands sound an awful lot like a bar.” Jack deadpans hearing the sounds in the background.
“Congratulations Detective.” Maya hisses.
“Where are you?” Jack asks as he stops what he is doing. “I’ll come get you.”
“I’m not drunk.” Maya informs her petering friend. “I haven’t even had a full drink.”
Jack wipes at his a face with his hand at the run around. “Then what are you doing?”
“Figure it out Detective.” Maya hisses once more.
“Spill Bishop.” Jack demands.
Maya exhales a long breath before giving in. “I’m scared to go home.”
“Did you and Carina get into a fight?” Jack asks.
“Yes.” Maya sighs as she tries not to think about it. “I finally freaked out and I crushed her.”
“Just talk to her Bishop.” Jack says into the phone. “Explain your feelings.”
Maya closes her eyes and lets out a tragic chuckle. “I can’t explain what I don’t even understand.”
“Then tell her that.” Jack says as he shrugs his shoulders.
Maya looks up at the ceiling before deciding to move on from the topic. “Will you check on Andy?”
“I did…she’s good.” Jack says before tilting his head back and forth. “I mean…sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of?” Maya asks demanding more information.
Jack on the other line rolls his eyes at the official captain voice. “She’s just not feeling well…thinks it’s the flu.”
“You sure?” Maya asks.
“Yes.” Jack says firmly into the phone. “Go talk to Carina.”
“Bye Jack.” Maya says before hanging up on the man and setting the phone back on the bar top.
Maya grabs her drink and takes a big gulp before wiping her mouth off with her sleeve. She knows she needs to go home and face the music…but she’s terrified. Maya knows that if she causes Carina to have that devastated look on her face again…it’ll kill her. It’s the look Carina had when she threw the affair with Jack in her face. It’s the look Carina had again when she freaked out over one simple word yesterday morning. Why did she have to freak out? Why did she have to crush the woman she loves…again?
“Damn it.” Maya sighs before downing the rest of her beer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Around 10:20 that night Carina quietly opens up the door and walks into her apartment with a sleeping baby in her other arm all bundled up in her winter gear. She slowly closes the door behind her before dropping her medical bag and diaper bag on the floor.
The second Carina had arrived at the hospital all hell broke loose in the maternity ward with 4 mothers coming in with various labor pains. She spent most of her afternoon and into the night going from one mother to another before finally calling it a day. She picked up a sleeping Ginny from the daycare and made the journey back to their house for some much needed sleep.
“What a very, very long day.” Carina sighs under her breath as they make their way towards the baby’s room. “Sono morto in piedi.” (I am dead on my feet.)
Carina carefully slips off her shoes as she glances down at the slumbering baby in her arms. She then slowly and quietly makes her way in to the baby’s room where she slowly helps Ginny out of her coat and hat to get ready for bed.
“I think we can skip pajamas tonight.” Carina whispers, placing a soft kiss on Ginny’s forehead before laying her down in the crib. She gets her all tucked in before swiping her bangs away from her little eyes. “Goodnight Mimma, sogni d'oro.” (Sweet dreams.)
Carina turns on the night light and quietly leaves the room after giving the baby one more glance and turning off the lights. She gently closes the door and instantly walks over to the couch where she collapses immediately. She lets out a long breath and covers her eyes...trying to calm down after a tough day.
Meanwhile in the bedroom Maya is laying in their bed waiting for Carina to come in. She heard the Italian make her way into the apartment and figured she was getting Ginny down for the night before she would head into their room. Maya gives her wife about twenty minutes but when there is no sign of the doctor she slowly gets up from her bed and walks out of the bedroom. She walks over to the living room and finds Carina fast asleep on the couch.
“Great.” Maya mumbles under her breath. This must mean that she is still really, really mad at her for what happened yesterday.
She takes one last look at Carina before walking away but stops in her tracks in the middle of the hallway. Maya instantly walks back to Carina and tries to wake her up. There is no way she is going to let her wife have a restless night while trying to sleep soundly on their not so comfy couch.
“Carina…..Babe.” Maya says gently to her wife to wake her up. “You really shouldn’t sleep on the couch; it’s not good for your back.”
“Wha--” Carina mumbles in confusion as she struggles to wake up. “I’m on the couch?”
“Let’s go to bed.” Maya says as she grabs on to Carina’s arms to help her up off the couch.
Carina still half asleep looks around for the baby. “Ginny?”
“You put her in her crib, she’s asleep.” Maya reassures her worried wife as she helps her down the hallway towards the bedroom.
When they get to the bedroom Maya guides Carina down on the bed and helps adjust her wife so her head is lying on top of her favorite pillow. She then takes their comforter and places it gently on top of the slumbering woman. Maya looks down at her wife and thinks about getting into bed with her and wrapping her up tight.
But Maya gives her one last look before walking out of the bedroom. She thinks about lying on the couch herself but instead finds herself walking quietly into Ginny’s nursery. Maya lets out a small smile instantly when she looks down in the crib and sees the baby fast asleep. Maya crosses her arms on the bar before setting down her chin to simply gaze down. For the second time that night she finds herself getting endlessly lost in her thoughts…though the tiny brown haired beauty is much more enjoyable than a crappy old beer.