11. CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 11
Winter always turns to spring…representing infinite hope. Sometimes the winter cold can drain a person mentally, emotionally, and physically. But once the spring air arrives, all the tension in your body built up over the winter slowly goes away. A new surge of energy can take over your body at the sign of warmer days to come. For Carina and Maya they didn’t notice the cold, they weren’t bothered by the snow, and the shorter days simply didn’t matter….because of Ginny. The little girl with dark brown locks and light brown eyes gave them their own little surge of energy.
Maya went to work that morning but was able to leave for a little bit in the late afternoon for a meeting with the social worker and children’s advocate back at the apartment. Carina and Maya are so close to finalizing the adoption of the little girl…their Ginny. Maya with her hair pulled back in ponytail and dressed in her uniform opens the door to their apartment in time for the meeting.
“Babe!” Maya calls out as she walks into the house. “I’m back!”
“In here Bambina!” Carina calls from the kitchen.
Maya follows her wife’s voice to the kitchen where she sees Ginny sitting in her high chair and Carina wiping down the counter by the sink. Maya gives the little girl covered in yogurt a quick smile and a kiss on top of the head before sauntering over to the woman she loves.
“Hey.” Maya greets her wife.
“Hey.” Carina greets back as she walks over to kiss her wife hello. “I’ve missed you.”
Maya smiles against her lips before pulling away. “I’ve only been gone since this morning.”
“I know…but I kind of like you.” Carina teases before stepping around her. “Can you clean her up please?!”
Maya can hear her wife start to walk out of the kitchen before answering. “Yes.”
“They’ll be here any minute!” Carina calls from their bedroom.
“I know! I’ll get her!” Maya calls after the rushing woman before zeroing in on the cute baby with a face full of yogurt in the high chair. “Hi my baby.”
Maya reaches over and tickles her neck a little bit resulting in a loud fit of giggles from the baby. The fire captain can’t help but giggle herself when she notices strawberry yogurt behind Ginny’s ear.
“How was your snack?” Maya asks as she reaches for a cleaning wipe from the counter. “Did any of it get in your mouth?”
Maya quickly wipes of her face and behind her ear to get the little girl all cleaned up before their visitors arrive. Once she is clean Maya reaches down to pick the little girl up from her high chair. When she picks the little girl up she remembers seeing her wife in her dark blue scrubs in the kitchen and wonders what is going on.
“Hey Babe?!” Maya calls after the doctor as she starts to sway with Ginny in her arms.
“Yes?!” Carina calls back as she walks back in to the dining room area.
Maya smiles at Ginny and kisses her cheek before turning back to her wife. “Why are you in your scrubs?”
“Ginny and I have to head to Grey-Sloan after the meeting.” Carina answers while picking up the living room area for the meeting with the social worker. “Hayes has been monitoring a pregnant mom for me all day and he thinks he’ll need to perform a neo-natal procedure after I complete the cesarean.”
“Maybe when you are done you can come by the station for a sleepover.” Maya suggests.
“Where are we going to put the 8 month old?” Carina says with a slight chuckle. “One of your desk drawers?”
Maya bounces Ginny in her arm for a bit before shrugging her shoulders. “We can put her pack n’ play in my office…and then we can have some alone time in the bunk.”
“Tempting.” Carina sings as she walks back over to her wife.
Maya grins and leans closer to Carina’s lips. “I’m trying.”
But before they can touch lips there is a knock at the door and Carina pulls away. “I’ll go…you cool off.”
Maya smiles as she walks Carina walk towards the front door before looking at the little girl in her arms. “Are you ready to woo these people…let’s see your game face.”
Ginny looks at Maya and puts her little hand on the woman’s nose. Maya takes this as a good sign before thinking about how important this meeting it. They’ve had a few home visits already and are getting close to finishing all the steps required in order to adopt Ginny. Soon Carina comes walking back with their two guests from Children and Family Services behind her.
“You remember my wife Maya and of course Ginny.” Carina tells Josh Bartlett and Amy Kentzman as they walk over.
Maya smiles politely. “Hello again.”
“Ginny…I love that name.” Josh Bartlett says as he smiles at the baby.
“The nickname kinda just happened…but we think she likes it.” Maya says before placing another kiss on Ginny’s cheek.
Amy Kentzman watches the baby before shaking her head in wonderment. “Wow…she has gotten so big in the last two months.”
“She has…and she has quite a few chompers now.” Maya says.
“The extra bottle feedings have helped.” Carina informs their guests proudly. “She is almost to the 50th percentile.”
“That is great news.” Josh says.
“I think it’s the strained mango.” Maya says which causes her wife to giggle. “Mango is her favorite…she basically turns into a vacuum cleaner.”
“I agree Ginny.” Josh says jokingly to the brown haired baby. “Mango is delicious.”
“Shall we sit in the living room?” Carina suggests as she waves over to the couch area. “I have some tea set up on the coffee table.”
“Sounds good.” Amy Kentzman says before they all start to walk over to the living room area.
As Mr. Bartlett takes a seat at one of the side chairs he notices Maya wearing her uniform. “Are you working today Captain Bishop?”
“I am.” Maya says with a nod as she sits down on the couch with Ginny on her lap. “But I was able to sneak away for this meeting.”
Amy nods her head and notices the other woman in hospital scrubs. “And you Dr. DeLuca?”
“I have to stop by the hospital after the meeting to possibly perform a procedure.” Carina explains as she starts to pour tea into cups for their guests.
“How does Ginetta like the daycare?” Amy asks.
Carina hands her a cup and smiles. “She hasn’t gone there too much…but I think she likes it.”
“Ginny may or may not have a boyfriend there.” Maya adds.
“Stop.” Carina says through a chuckle.
Maya raises an eye brow at her wife before holding two fingers up in the air. “I swear to god I saw Scout Lincoln staring at her when I picked her up the other day.”
“Anyways…” Carina drawls before taking a seat next to Maya on the couch. “What can we do for you? Shall we get started?”
Josh nods his head and takes a sip of his tea before continuing on. “So first we are here to congratulate you on completing the home visits required for adoption.”
“Your meeting last week went great.” Amy adds.
Maya hearing this instantly gets and looks confused. “I thought today was the last meeting.”
“Me also.” Carina says just as confused.
“We wanted to meet with you today to talk about finalizing the adoption.” Amy says explains to the new parents. “How do you feel about the end of the week?”
“Really?” Carina hopefully rasps.
“We have some openings later this week in Family and Juvenile Court.” Amy finishes with a smile.
Josh nods his head as he holds out his hands. “And you both have completed all the requirements required to proceed with the adoption.”
“Oh my god.” Carina chokes out as her eyes start to water.
“Wow.” Maya sighs before smiling over to her wife.
Carina returns the smile before running her finger over Ginny’s cheek. “Did you hear that Ginny?
Maya smiles down at the baby on her lap before up at their guests. “Thank you…this is amazing.”
“We’ve been very excited to share the news with both of you.” Amy admits truthfully.
“I also had the first round of papers drawn up for you to review and sign.” Josh adds as he grabs his bag from the floor to take it all out for them to go over.
Maya nods her head and wipes at her glistening eyes. “Sounds good.”
“Yes, we can sign things.” Carina says on the verge of blubbering as she continues to wipe away streaming happy tears. “Maybe….you might need to point.”
Maya sees this and tries to help while sticking out her bottom lip. “Honey.”
“We are happy to help.” Josh tells the two women.
Carina and Maya looked over the paperwork that Josh and Amy set in front of them and talked a little bit more about what would happen during the ceremony. They talked about what the judge would say and what changes would happen once they signed on the dotted line. The four sat and talked for about 30 minutes until their guests left them to go back to work. Maya then helped Carina pack a diaper bag for Ginny and helped her into her new light blue spring coat. The fire captain with Ginny in her arms looks around and finds her keys on the dining room table. She grabs them and heads over to open the front door, needing to get back to the fire station.
Maya puts the diaper bag over her shoulder and calls back as they leave the apartment. “I’ve got Ginny and the diaper bag!”
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Carina calls after as she finishes putting things in her work bag.
As Maya walks out into the cold with Ginny they feel a gust of cold wind go past them. Maya instantly rolls her eyes at Seattle weather. This morning she wore shorts on her early run, now they are getting hit with gusts of left over wind from winter.
“It’s still chilly…we really do need a beach vacation.” Maya says to Ginny as she tries to shield her face from the cold wind with her hand.
The woman quickly opens up the back seat of Carina’s white Toyota Corolla before carefully setting Ginny down into her car seat before pulling her winter hat out of her diaper bag. She buckles the little girl in before putting the hat on top of her head and handing her a couple of yogurt bites from the bag.
“You be good for Mama.” Maya says to the little girl as she snugs her winter cap over her little ears. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Maya gives Ginny one last smile before seeing Carina rushing out of the building and heading towards her. She carefully closes the back door before reaching for the driver’s side door handle.
“Thank you Captain Bishop.” Carina says as Maya opens her car door for her.
“Anytime Dr. DeLuca.” Maya says with a nod.
“Please be careful.” Maya urges her wife with a concerned warning. “It rained last night and the roads are still a little icy.”
“I will Bambina.” Carina assures the fire captain before leaning down to capture her lips with her own. “I love you.”
Maya smiles and gives her another quick peck before pulling away. “I love you too Babe.”
Carina smiles at her wife before getting in the car and allowing Maya to close it behind her. The doctor looks back to make sure Ginny is all set before starting her car.
“Bye bye.” Maya says to the back window, waving at the little girl who is eating yogurt bites happily in the back.
Maya watches Carina drive away before heading to her dark blue Jeep Cherokee. When she reaches to open the door her phone starts to go off in her back pocket. Maya lets out a sigh and reaches behind to answer it. When Maya sees Jack’s name she can’t help but roll her eyes.
“Gibson….is everything okay?” Maya asks in the phone now worried that something of course has gone wrong. She listens intently to her lieutenant before rolling her eyes. “No I will not pick you up a meatball sub on my way back to the station…I’m heading back to 19 now...unbelievable.” Maya sighs as she gets in her Jeep.
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Carina rushes into the front doors of the hospital with Ginny in her arms as quickly as she can. While she was driving she got a message from Hayes saying that needed to get to the OR as soon as possible because the baby was in distress. Carina starts to walk down the hallway when she sees Hayes walking around the corner.
“Hayes!” Carina calls after the busy doctor.
“DeLuca! Thank you for coming.” Hayes says relieved, extremely happy to see his colleague.
“Of course…I got your message when we were walking up.” Carina says as she adjusts a wiggly Ginny in her arms. “So, we do need to do the cesarean.”
“The baby’s heart is giving out.” Hayes says as he furiously hits the elevator button. “We need to get him out now.”
“Where are you headed?” Carina asks as she hands Ginny a couple of yogurt bites from her coat pocket.
“OR 2…I’m heading to scrub in now.” Hayes says before getting into the elevator.
The OB/GYN nods her head and points at the man. “I’m right behind you!”
“Sounds good.” Hayes says before the elevator doors close.
“We’ve got to hurry Mimma.” Carina says into Ginny’s ear as they hurry towards the other elevator. “Dobbiamo essere veloci.” (We need to be fast.)
Just then Carina spots Levi Schmitt talking to a couple of interns by a nurse’s station.
“Dr. Schmitt! Perfecto!” Carina cheers as she walks quickly over to the resident. “È un'emergenza e ho un disperato bisogno del tuo aiuto!” (It is an emergency and I desperately need your help!)
“I have no idea what you said…but I am nervous about it.” Schmitt mutters nervously.
“I have to go rush for a surgery.” Carina informs the young resident. “Can you please take Ginny to the daycare for me?”
“Seriously…baby duty again.” Schmitt grumbles out. “Why doesn’t Helm have to do any of this?”
Carina simply shrugs her shoulders and hands the baby to Schmitt. “Because Dr. Helm tends to be in surgery after surgery--”
“Are you trying to make me feel better?!” Schmitt shrieks.
Carina resists the urge to roll her eye and drapes Ginny’s diaper bag over his shoulder. “Thank you Dr. Schmitt.”
“Oh no.” Schmitt mumbles out. “I’m basically a human stroller.”
“Levi, come on.” Carina pleads with the man desperately before pointing to a smiling Ginny in his arms. “Look….she likes you.”
Schmitt snots and shakes his head. “Well…this would be a first.”
“I will see you later Mimma.” Carina tells her baby before rushing to the elevator. “Thank you Schmitt!”
Schmitt watches the doctor disappear before looking to Ginny. “I used to be a surgeon before you came in my life.”
The young doctor watches as Ginny finishes her last yogurt bite...leaving a wet sloppy mess on her chin. Schmitt can’t help but smile before letting out a long breath.
“Damn…you are cute.” Schmitt mutters out before wiping the piece of yogurt away from her chin as his boyfriend Nico comes walking over.
“Hey.” Nico greets with his wide smile.
“Hey.” Schmitt says back, happy to see his boyfriend for the first time that day. “I have been given the honor of escorting Ms. DeLuca to the daycare….it’s a big deal.”
“Hi.” Nico says to the baby. “What is her name again?”
“Ginny.” Schmitt answers before looking at the little girl. “Ginny, this is Nico…we like his smile a lot.”
“It is nice to meet you Ginny.” Nico says with a giggle when he notices the baby looking up at Schmitt. “She likes you.”
“It’s a curse and a blessing.” Schmitt deadpans thinking about how many times he has been on baby duty so far.
“Who is this guy, huh?” Nico asks Ginny playfully, tapping into his best baby voice. “He’s pretty cool.”
Schmitt looks at the interaction shocked before sputtering out. “I’m sorry…do you like kids?”
“Yea…I like kids.” Nico says.
“So….” Schmitt drawls before shrugging his shoulders tentatively. “Does that mean you would want…some of these…someday.”
Nico just rolls his eyes. “Levi.”
“What?” Schmitt chuckles as he starts to defend himself. “I’m just asking!”
“I have to go.” Nico says as he leaves a kiss on his cheek before starting to walk away. “I’m scrubbing in on Hayes and DeLuca’s surgery.”
Schmitt’s mouth drops open and he yells after his boyfriend. “Of course you are!”
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A few hours later over at Station 19, Ben is preparing dinner for the team in the beanery. He grilled the chicken in pepper sauce and got the guacamole made for taco night. Maya came in earlier and was happy to get out of paperwork in order to help him cut the tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.
Travis and Vic are the first two to walk in for dinner and immediately get excited when they smell the wonderful spices coming from the taco meat.
“Cap’s in the kitchen!” Travis exclaims with Vic on his heels as they walk over to the counter.
“I still help out.” Maya says with an eye roll as she continues to dice some spinach. “I’m helping Warren with the veggies.”
Vic sees the spinach and shakes her head in disgust. “Veggies on tacos…you lost me.”
“We need more greens!” Maya scolds loudly.
Ruiz walks in with Willet and Andy into the beanery and claps his hands getting super excited over what he is seeing on the counter for dinner. “Tacos!”
“I’m starving!” Willet agrees.
“Those are not tacos.” Andy teases before pointing to the bowl of cheese on the counter. “What color is that cheese?”
Vic instantly snorts at the crack. “Every time.”
“Never fails.” Maya adds as she shakes her head. “We get it…we’re having white people tacos.”
Andy laughing walks over and takes a bite of the chicken as Jack and Dean come rushing in from the rec room where they were chilling after chores.
“We’ve gotta hurry up with dinner.” Jack says as he and Miller walk in. “The game is on.”
“What game?” Vic asks.
Jack rushes to the counter and grabs the plates to put on the table. “Seahawks.”
“What?” Warren asks totally confused.
Jack waves off Ben’s confusion before popping a tortilla chip in his mouth. “ESPN is replaying the Super Bowl game versus Denver.”
“That was a beautiful day.” Miller hums happily before clapping his hands together. “Stupid Buccaneers!”
“Tom Brady is a machine.” Maya chirps before sucking salsa off her thumb.
Dean instantly snaps his eyes over to his boss. “What does Tom Brady have that Wilson doesn’t?”
“7 Super Bowl rings.” Maya says with her smug smile.
Jack laughs and points at Maya. “Traitor!”
“Hey! I’m a Seahawks fan through and through.” Maya laughs out loud before pointing to herself. “But come on…Brady is a machine.”
“Here’s the lettuce and tomatoes.” Ben says before placing the bowls on the table.
Willet walks over with the tortilla chips and tortillas. “Do you think we’ll get a--?”
“Hey!” Vic snaps loudly as she holds her finger up at Carter. “No.”
Jack just shakes his head. “Seriously Willet.”
“Sorry.” Willet rasps before taking a seat at the table. “I gotta stop doing that.”
Dean nods his head and brings the water pitcher over to the table before taking a seat. “You’re worse than Dad was when he started.”
“Hey.” Ben says insulted as he puts the shredded chicken plate down on the table as everyone else takes their seats.
“Come on.” Travis says as he chimes in to the conversation. “You were like a puppy.”
Dean nods his head before taking a sip of water. “A really, really old puppy.”
“This is no longer a safe place.” Ben retorts before passing the meat around to everyone at the table.
The firefighters around the table continue to fill up their plates and start eating their dinner while exchanging jokes and talking about all the plans they had for after shift. Everything is going smoothly Vic notices something unsavory happening. So gross…when did they even grab that?
“No!” Vic yells out as she points to Dean on the other side of the table. “Why?!”
“Nice.” Jack sighs with his mouth full of food as he waves for the ketchup bottle. “Me next.”
“You got it.” Dean says before smothering his taco in ketchup.
Maya looks at the two in disgust before sticking out her tongue. “We have been over this.”
“Don’t knock it till you try it.” Jack retorts as Andy gets a whiff of ketchup from down the table.
“Oh my god…oh my…” Andy whimpers out as she covers her mouth with her hand before running out of the beanery.
Travis sucks in a breath through his teeth. “That can’t be good.”
“Way to go boys.” Maya snaps at Miller and Gibson.
Vic just shakes her head. “You’ll are nasty.”
“What?” Dean asks innocently.
“We’re just eating.” Jack adds.
Willet with wide eyes holds up another bottle. “Is taco sauce alright?”
“Yes.” Vic says with an eye roll.
The boys give her another dumb look before Vic points to the fridge. Jack rolls his eyes but walks over to put the ketchup away. When he makes it back to the table Andy comes walking back in.
“I hate all of you.” Andy says as she points at the boys at the table before sitting back down at her seat.
“What I do?” Willet retorts with his mouth full.
“We’re sorry.” Jack says giving in before pointing to the fridge. “We put the ketchup away.”
“I’m just going to sit over here with my water.” Andy says through a breath before opening up a water bottle she got from the fridge.
“Well, I have some news to share.” Maya says as she gets the attention of the table. “Carina and I were informed today that our adoption date has been set for the end of this week.”
Travis sitting next to Maya drops her fork and smiles at Maya. “What?”
“Ginny will officially and legally be ours.” Maya says with a bright and proud smile.
“What?!” Andy exclaims out excitedly.
“Congratulations Cap.” Carter says to his boss.
Maya offers a smile back to the young probie. “Thank you Willet.”
“You guys are so cute…I can’t.” Travis gushes.
Vic rolls her eyes and squeezes his shoulder. “We know Trav…we know.”
“You and Carina…are rock solid.” Warren says before placing his hand on his chest. “We’re happy for you all.”
“Thanks Ben.” Maya says before Ben wraps his arm around her pulling her in for a side hug at the table.
“Firehouse adoption party?!” Andy suggests to the house excitedly.
Maya lets out a huff but gives in. “Sure, why not.”
“Will there be a registry?” Vic teases.
“Will there be dancing?” Dean adds quickly.
Maya holds back a laugh and bites her lip. “Isn’t there always.”
“I can’t dance.” Willet says with wide eyes.
“Nobody is surprised by that.” Jack tells the probie before taking a bite from his taco.
Vic laughs before noticing something in the air. “What is that smell?”
Andy instantly smells the same thing and a wave of nausea hits her again and she bolts out of the beanery. “Oh my god….not again….”
Vic looks over to Dean and notices him putting another weird sauce on his tacos. “What’s the matter with you?”
“We can’t have barbeque sauce either?!” Dean yells out bitterly.
“I’ll go check on her.” Maya breathes before shooting a comment Jack’s way. “Moron.”
Dean stops eating and looks up. “I heard that Bishop.”
“You were meant to Miller.” Maya chirps back as she disappears down the hallway.
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Carina gets off the elevator on her floor and starts the slow walk to her office. She and Hayes were able to perform the surgery successfully and both mama and baby are resting in their post op rooms. As she walks down the hall she glances out the window to the dark of night. If there is one thing Carina loves about spring coming it is the longer days. Going into the operating room when it’s light out and coming out when its dark can be draining on the psyche.
As Carina rounds the corner she runs into her boss who is looking at one of her surgical boards. When Bailey spots her she immediately waves her over.
“DeLuca how did you the surgery go?” Bailey asks.
“Good…the mama and baby are doing well.” Carina says through a smile before stretching out her sore neck. “Cormac is finishing post-op on the infant.”
Bailey nods her head and looks the doctor up and down. “How are you?”
“I’m sore…I’ve got to find my---oh what is it called?” Carina tiredly rambles on trying to remember what the stupid idiom is. “My legs need to get ready for--uhh-swimming.”
Bailey instantly knows what she is trying to say and offers a save. “You need to find your sea legs.”
“I don’t know why I bother.” Carina grumbles.
“Well, we appreciate you coming in.” Dr. Bailey says still giggling before tilting her head at the brunette doctor. “Do you feel ready to come in full time?”
“I don’t know...” Carina drawls before biting her lip. “Can I think about it?”“Of course.” Bailey says with a firm nod of her head. “Take all the time you need.”
Carina smiles appreciatively at her boss and friend. “Thank you Dr. Bailey.”
“Is Ginny in daycare?” Bailey asks.
Carina instantly smiles at the mention of her little girl. “Yes.”
“I looked in the window the other day and she and Scout were playing with a toy plane…so cute.” Bailey teases as she raises an eyebrow.
Carina chuckles under her breath and shakes her head. “Does everybody ship my baby with Amelia’s?”
“Pretty much.” Bailey says thoroughly amused. “Are you sticking around for a while?”
Carina lets out a long breath and nods her head. “I’ve got some charts to complete and then I’ll probably head out.”
“Have a good night DeLuca.” Bailey says to Carina as she watches the OB walk back towards her office.
Carina heads into her office tiredly and takes a seat at her desk. She reaches for her now cold coffee from earlier and takes a swig before looking down at the charts she needs to complete. But her attention is brought to the new photo that is now displayed proudly in a frame on her desk. It is a photo of her, Maya, and Ginny snuggling up together in a pillow pit in their living room. Carina smiles brightly like she is in the photo. She loves everything about this photo and could stare at Maya kissing a smiley Ginny on the cheek all day.
However, the doctor is soon pulled quickly from the fuzzy memory when her phone starts to ring on her desk.
“This is Dr. DeLuca.” Carina says into the phone.
“Hello Dr. DeLuca this is Gretchen down in the ER. We have a woman down here that is 5 months pregnant who just brought in her husband with a broken arm. She is now complaining of abdominal pain. Can you come down for a consult?” Gretchen asks from the emergency room nurses’ station.
“I am on my way.” Carina says immediately before hanging up the phone.
Carina gets up from her desk and makes the long journey down to the first floor where the emergency room is. When she walks in she spots Gretchen talking with their pregnant patient in the corner by the emergency room entrance.
“Hello.” Carina says to announce her presence.
Gretchen smiles at the OB before introducing her to the patient. “Kiki this is Dr. DeLuca she is the head of OB.”
“Hi.” Kiki says quietly.
Carina offers a warm smile and takes the chart from Gretchen. “How are you feeling Kiki?”
“It feels tight and lots of pressure.” Kiki tells the doctor before biting her lip in fear. “Is my baby okay?”
“I don’t want you to worry, we will get you all checked out.” Carina assures the young expecting mother.
Kiki nods her head and takes a breath before urgently turning to Gretchen. “What about my husband? His name is Seth Levin. He flipped his four wheeler…I haven’t seen him since they did an x-ray.”
“Okay.” Carina says as she places a comforting hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Gretchen will you please go get an update on Kiki’s husband.”
“Absolutely.” Gretchen says before quickly walking away.
“Let’s take a look.” Carina says with a warm smile as she grabs the ultrasound machine closer to the bed. “I’m going to do an ultrasound and then we’ll hook you up to a fetal monitor.”
“Okay.” Kiki mumbles quietly.
“Can you lay back for me?” Carina asks as she helps Kiki down on the exam table. “Is this your first?”
“Yes.” Kiki says as she tries to calm herself down while Carina lifts up her shirt to expose her stomach.
“Okay, this going to be cold.” Carina says before squirting the ultrasound gel on Kiki’s stomach.
Kiki winces at the cold and closes her eyes. “I remember.”
Carina finishes rubbing the cool gel on her belly before putting the ultrasound wand on her stomach in order to find the heartbeat. She has to do a few circular motions before the sound can be heard coming from the machine. Carina lets out a sigh of relief before smiling over at the expecting mother.
“There.” Carina says as she points to the screen for Kiki to see.
Kiki whips her head over to look and the screen and lets out a tearful gasp. “Oh thank god.”
Carina nods her head and takes one more look. “It looks good, but we’ll hook you up to a fetal monitor to make sure.”
“Why does my stomach hurt?” Kiki asks.
“During this part of the pregnancy it is not uncommon for some women to experience pressure in their abdomens…it sometimes happens before Braxton Hicks.” Carina goes on to explain.
Kiki rolls her eyes and Carina wipes off the gel. “This pregnancy just keeps getting more and more fun.”
“Your body is just preparing to deliver.” Carina continues before helping Kiki sit back up on the exam table. She then waves over another nurse to come over. “Katie can you escort Kiki up to OB so we can attach a fetal heart monitor?”
“Yes Dr. DeLuca.” Katie says before offering a reassuring smile to Kiki.
“What about Seth?” Kiki asks.
“I will send Gretchen up.” Carina assures the woman. “When she gets back.”
“I’m back.” Gretchen says as she walks back over with an update. “They are finishing Seth’s cast on his left arm and then they’ll show him to OB.”
“Good.” Kiki sighs relieved before turning to Carina. “Thank you Dr. DeLuca.”
Carina smiles back and hands the chart back to Gretchen. “I will be up shortly to check on you.”
Gretchen and Katie both help Kiki get off the table and start to walk away. The three women only get about 8 feet away when a strange roaring sound can be heard coming from the door.
“Do you hear that?” Gretchen asks Katie.
Katie nods her head and looks around confused. “What is it?”
Carina too can hear the roaring sound get louder and louder until she hears screams coming from outside the entrance. The doctor squints her eyes to try to get a better look through the door when she swears she sees something barreling towards them.
“LOOK OUT!!!”
"THERE'S A CA--!"
Her heart drops to the floor and her breath gets caught in her neck when all of a sudden the glass on the entrance doors shatters and starts flying everywhere as a moving truck breaks through the concrete and glass and crashes into the emergency room…everything explodes. The surrounding walls crumble to the ground, the smell of blood and gasoline fills the air, and the lights flicker as some lose consciousness because of the pain.
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At Station 19 the team is spending the last hours of the night hanging out in the rec room before they all get ready to hit their bunks.Maya is sitting at the round table in the corner finishing up her last reports while Ben is sitting with her looking at an old Sports Illustrated from earlier in the month. The rest of the team is sprawled out on the couches and recliners while an old episode of Park and Recreation plays on the TV. Willet is over playing foosball with Ruiz when Vic sitting next to them sees something that catches her eye from the magazine she is looking at. She creases the page before walking over to Travis on the couch.
“What about this?” Vic asks as she shows Travis a page from her magazine.
Travis snaps and holds his hand up. “Vic you’ve got to stop!”
“What’s going on?” Andy asks interested.
Vic lets out a breath and looks back at the magazine. “We are doing some design upgrades to our house.”
“We…” Travis says as he points to himself before grumbling out. “…are regretting this decision.”
“You’re the one that wanted to revamp your life after Dixon left for Boston.” Vic says.
Travis’ mouth drops open. “Hurtful.”
“I think Montgomery is afraid to lose control of his castle.” Warren says.
Vic glares at the unwanted comment before shaking her head. “We need more women around here.”
“Vic wants to do wallpaper.” Travis goes on to explain.
“Wallpaper is back in.” Willet says confidently until all eyes in the room turn to him making him nervous. “I’ve heard.”
“Hey!” Vic exclaims in defense. “I’ve got great taste!”
“Sea foam green!” Travis snaps as he grabs the color patch from the magazine to hold up. “Are you kidding me?!”
“It would look great with our new sofa.” Vic says.
Travis holds up his finger again at his roommate. “I like my sofa.”
Vic rolls her eyes and goes back to the couch. “Let’s talk about it later.”
“Hughes, it sounds like you’re nesting.” Jack says with a small smirk. “Any chance you might be pregnant?”
“What?!” Vic yells out in shock.
Ruiz hears this and his mouth drops. “Uhhh….”
“Nesting is totally a thing.” Ben says.
Andy nods her head and points to Warren. “Ben’s right…I bought a lamp the other day…just cuz.”
“Bishop?” Ben asks the woman next to her.
“Yes, it’s true.” Maya says as she continues writing something down in a file. “My house now has more throw pillows than ever and I’m repainting the nursery.”
Travis looks over and raises an eye brow. “Color?”
“Spring yellow.” Maya chirps from the table.
Travis scrunches his nose but then shrugs his shoulders. “Still better than Sea foam green.”
“I’m not pregnant.” Vic says sternly before noticing Ruiz still panicking at the foosball table. She rolls her eyes and waves her hands in his direction. “I’m not pregnant!”
Ruiz holds back his laughter and places his hands up in defense. “Okay, okay.”
“You sound pregnant.” Jack mutters under his breath.
Andy rolls her eyes and reaches over to slap Jack on the back of the leg. “Shut up Gibson.”
Before Jack can defend his honor the alarm starts blaring and the lights start to flash in the hallway.
Dispatch: Engine 19, Ladder 19, Aid Car 19. Auto Collision into Structure, Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. Partial Structure Collapse.
Immediately Warren and Maya make eye contact as the air leaves their lungs.
“Did they just say Grey-Sloan?” Warren asks Maya as panic starts to set in.
Maya swallows the huge lump in her throat before addressing her team. “Let’s go!”
The entire team runs out of the rec room and heads to the barn where they quickly grab their things and head into the trucks. Maya going through the motions whips on her jacket and grabs her orange helmet before getting in the truck. In seconds the trucks are speeding down the street with sirens and lights going off in the chilly spring night.Maya reaches for her phone and presses on her wife’s name before putting the phone to her ear. Maya sits there and listens to constant ringing…with no sign of getting an answer.
“Come on Carina...pick up…please pick up.” Maya pleads into the phone…as terror takes over her body.