13. CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 13
Maya and Carina walk hand in hand down the hallway of the airport towards the big swinging doors that lead to airport security. They dropped off Carina’s luggage at the front and now are milking every second they can before Carina absolutely has to go or she’ll miss her flight.
“This sucks.” Carina pouts.
Maya nods her head in agreement before letting out a sigh. “This sucks so hard.”
“But…I will only be gone for 4 weeks.” Carina says trying remind herself of this fact as well as Maya.
“That’s a lot of lonely nights…without my fiancé.” Maya rasps as she moves her lips closer to Carina’s.
Carina smiles and places her lips on Maya’s lips before pulling away slowly. “It’s a good thing we know how to be creative.”
Maya giggles before taking a steadying breath and looking around. “Do you have everything?”
“Yes…we triple checked remember.” Carina huffs before smirking. “You had a clip board and everything Maya.”
“Yea, yea.” Maya quips.
Carina smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes when she notices the time on the wall. “I should go Bambina.”
“You’re going to be careful, right?” Maya questions before reaching over to grab Carina by her jacket to pull her closer…again worrying about sending the doctor into the Covid hotbed.
Carina steps closer while nodding her head. “I will be careful…I promise.”
Maya raises an eye brow at her fiancé. “Carina.”
“Bambina…you crammed my bag with extra gowns, face shields, goggles, and N95’s.” Carina says before shaking her head. “I barely had room for my clothes.”
Maya moves her hands from Carina’s jacket to around her waist. “I just want you to be safe.”
“I know.” Carina sighs sadly as she places her hands on Maya’s chest. “I want you to be safe too.”
Maya takes a breath before grabbing Carina’s bare hand. “I should have gotten you a ring.”
“We both can get rings later.” Carina assures the woman she loves, again giving her a subtle reminder that she will be back soon.
“Here.” Maya says as she moves to take off a chain she’s been wearing under her shirt. She takes off the necklace and puts it around Carina’s neck.
“What’s this?” Carina asks as she gets a good luck at the penny with a hole drilled in it and hanging on a chain. “I’ve never seen this before.”
“It’s just kinda private.” Maya explains with a shrug.
Carina raises an eyebrow and smirks at the woman in front of her. “You have private things from me….your fiancé.”
Maya simply rolls her eyes. “This is the only thing...I promise.”
“What is it?” Carina asks before looking back at the coin now around her neck.
“It’s my good luck charm.” Maya finally explains. “I want you to take it.”
“Oh no! No way!” Carina yells out in a panic as she reaches to take the chain off. “I am not taking this.”
“What?” Maya asks confused at the reaction. “Why not?”
Carina just shakes her head in a slight panic. “Because you are the one that runs into burning buildings for a living.”
“It is not a fire good luck charm….I promise.” Maya explains as she stops Carina from taking off the chain.
“Bambina.” Carina warns…not wanting to be lied to.
“I promise.” Maya says through a small laugh before looking at the coin. “I found that coin on the floor of Joe’s the night I met you.”
Carina is completely taken back at the revelation. “What?”
“I picked it up...and I kept it.” Maya says as she thinks back to that night. “Which was strange…I’ve never been one to pick up coins off the ground.”
Carina giggles under her breath as she takes the penny in her fingers to examine the coin. She remembers those early days of meeting Maya and can’t help but smile brightly.
“But after a really crappy day I met this amazing woman who made me laugh and she made me smile.” Maya says smiling brightly before shrugging her shoulders once more. “So I picked the penny up off the ground.”
Carina’s mouth drops open slightly as her eyes start to water. “Maya.”
“It’s my favorite good luck charm…it reminds me of you.” Maya says shyly.
“Bambina.” Carina gushes before reaching her hand over to flick Maya in the shoulder.
Maya steps back in shock and places her hand on the attacked shoulder. “Owe…..what was that for?”
“I can’t believe you kept this from me!” Carina teases in shock.
“I’m sorry.” Maya says with a small laugh before wrapping her arms around Carina’s neck…taking a moment to admire her chain now hanging from her neck. “But don’t get too attached…I’m going to want that back.”
Carina nods her head and smiles through her tears. “You got it…I love it.”
“Good.” Maya says with a proud smile as she feels Carina’s arms wrap tightly around her waist.
“And I love you.” Carina adds.
“I love you too.” Maya says as she tries to blink back her tears from falling. “You’ll be back soon, right?”
Carina nods her head. “Yes.”
“Don’t fall back in love with Italy.” Maya half teases, her voice thick with emotion. “You are needed here.”
“I told you…you are my home Bambina.” Carina says to her fiancé as a tear finally falls down her cheek. “I’ll be back soon and then we can start the rest of our lives together.”
Maya nods her head and wipes away Carina’s tear before leaning in for a soft kiss goodbye…kiss goodbye.
“Bishop!”
Maya shakes her head out of her thoughts and is immediately brought back to the scene of the accident at Grey-Sloan. She looks around as people are still running around before realizing that she is now clutching her good luck penny around her neck. Maya blinks a few times before focusing on her boss, who shouted her name a few seconds ago.
“Sir.” Maya says firmly to Sullivan before noticing that they are alone. “Where did….”
“Andy had to tell Ruiz something and Dr. Bailey is talking to the police again.” Sullivan answers.
Maya nods her head and swallows the lump in her throat. “What’s the report?”
“Bishop I got this.” Sullivan says softly to the captain. “You should be upstairs.”
“Chief, I won’t have any idea what is happening upstairs.” Maya snaps trying to keep her composure….and failing. “But I know fire…just for a moment--uhh--can you--.”
“Okay.” Sullivan cuts her off knowing what she needs in this moment is a brief distraction from thinking about her wife in surgery. “Station 12 just finished putting the portable beams up to stabilize the ceiling.”
Maya nods her head. “Who are you sending up to check for damage on the second floor?”
“I’m sending in Station 41 now.” Sullivan answers.
“What about 19?” Maya asks.
“I sent Willet and Hughes to help Ruiz on triage.” Sullivan explains before pointing back over to the hospital. “Everybody else will do a final sweep.”
Maya nods her head and struggles to exhale a struggling breath. “Good.”
“Chief!”
Sullivan looks over to the captain from 41 who is calling him over. “I’ll be right back.”
Maya nods her head as Sullivan leaves her to go talk to another one of his stations. She is left there alone for a quick minute before Roy and Paul from hospital maintenance make their way over to where she is standing.
“Hey!” Roy exclaims to Paul. “They finally moving the truck?!”
Paul nods his head. “Yup, pulling it out now.”
Roy clicks his tongue against his teeth. “I heard it hit that nice doctor from OB.”
“No shit!” Paul yells out.
“Yea, she was right in the path.” Paul explains further as they keep walking. “The sawbones are upstairs trying to save her.”
Maya hears this as the two men walk away and the little air she’s been holding on to leaves her body completely. The only thing she is left with is the image of her wife being hit by the moving truck before her stomach starts to bubble. She immediately clutches her stomach and makes her way to the grass before emptying the water content from her stomach.
“Maya!” Andy yells out after watching her friend throw up by the edge of the parking lot. She runs over and places her hand on Maya’s back trying to offer support.
“Woo.” Maya sighs through shallow breaths as things start to spin. “Woo.”
Andy reaches over and tries to wipe her hair away from her eyes. “Maya, it’ll be okay. Let me take you upstairs.”
Maya just shakes her head as Bailey walks back over to them with a water bottle in her hand.
“Here Bishop.” Bailey says before handing Maya the water.
Maya takes the water and takes a couple a sips before wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her fire jacket. “Station 12 put the beams up in the emergency room.”
Andy playing along nods her head and listens. “Okay.”
“Station 41 is assessing the damage to the second floor now.” Maya adds before looking back to the hospital.
Andy nods her head before glancing at Dr. Bailey to share in a moment of worry for the fire captain. Before either of them can try to offer another comforting word Dr. Schmitt comes running over from the front of the building.
“Chief!” Schmitt yells out before rushing over to the three women.
Bailey looks up and holds out her hands. “What is it?!”
“Is it Carina?!” Maya asks in a panic, immediately thinking the worst.
“Uhh…” Schmitt stutters out while glancing at Maya before turning to his boss. “They should be starting soon.”
Andy nods her head and places her hand on Maya’s sleeve….knowing they should be up there in the surgical waiting room. “Maya, let’s go--”
“Where’s Ginny?” Maya asks Bailey.
Bailey reaches over and places her own hand on Maya’s arm. “She’s still in the daycare.”
“I need to go see my daughter.” Maya says firmly.
“Okay, we can do that.” Bailey says while nodding her head. “Do you remember how to get there?”
“Yes.” Maya says before quickly walking away.
“Maya! Wait!” Andy calls after her friend who ignores her and keeps walking. She looks to Bailey who motions for her to follow.
“Go…go.” Bailey says.
Andy nods her head before calling to her Aid Car partner. “Ruiz!”
“I got you covered Herrera!” Ruiz calls back before Andy starts running after Maya.
Bailey watches as Andy runs to catch up to Maya before taking a long breath. “What did you need to tell me that you couldn’t say in front of Captain Bishop?”
“Dr. DeLuca coded twice on the way to the OR.” Schmitt says.
Bailey’s face immediately drops towards the ground.
Inside the hospital Andy is still chasing after Maya who is all but booking it down the hallway towards the nearest working elevator. The fire lieutenant has been calling after her from outside but Maya can’t hear her…she can’t hear anything.
“Maya! Wait!” Andy calls out again.
“What?!” Maya finally snaps as she stops in her tracks.
Andy catches up and motions down to Maya’s hands. “You need to wash your hands first.”
Maya hears the words coming out of Andy’s mouth and looks down at her hands that are covered in blood. She instantly is brought back to her wife lying beneath the rubble with her head covered in blood. Maya can still feel that wetness of Carina’s hair when she was trying to put pressure on the open wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
“Okay.” Maya murmurs out.
“I’ll take your jacket.” Andy says as she slowly takes the fire jacket off Maya leaving her only in her Station 19 t-shirt and bibs. Andy drapes the jacket over her arm before nodding her head to a nearby empty exam room to use the sink. “Come on.”
The two friends walk over to the sink in the exam room and Maya slowly washes the blood off her hands. She stares as the watery blood washing down the drain. Once her hands are washed Andy hands her a paper towel and helps her dry them clean.
Maya looks down at her now clean hands before looking up at Andy. “I gotta get to my daughter.”
“Let’s go.” Andy says.
Maya and Andy don’t speak as they get in the elevator at the end of the hallway to get to the second floor daycare. When the doors open they quickly rush out and start walking towards the other end. They brush through the doctors and nurses obviously talking about the accident. As they get closer to the daycare they can hear crying. Maya recognizing the cry quickens her step and she and Andy round the hallway corner. When the crying gets louder Maya starts to jog a bit to get to the daycare where she sees one of the daycare workers Angie holding her crying daughter in her arms.
“Captain Bishop!” Angie calls out as she continues to try to calm Ginny down in her arms. “She just woke up pretty scared.”
“Come here Baby.” Maya says as she reaches for her daughter from the daycare worker. “Come here.”
Ginny nestles against her mommy and clutches desperately at her t-shirt as her hard cries start to soften. Maya runs her hand through the soft brown locks while resting her cheek on the side of the baby’s head as Andy watches from the doorway.
“I got ya…you’re okay.” Maya soothes in Ginny’s ear as they continue to sway causing her cries to turn into soft whimpers. “Mommy’s here…Mommy’s here.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upstairs in the OR Meredith and Maggie walk in to the main room with their hands in the air ready to get going on Carina’s procedure. Dr. Grey looks around and notices Bokhee standing by Carina on the operating table.
“Gloves and gown please.” Meredith says to one of the nurses before speaking to the elderly nurse by Carina. “She’s going to be okay BokHee.”
“She is a good one.” BokHee says before walking over to take her position by Carina’s feet.
Meredith nods her head and sighs. “I know.”
Meredith walks over and takes a look at Carina. They perform surgeries all the time every day but it never gets easier seeing one of their own on the table. The site of the usually vibrant Carina on the table unconscious, barely breathing with a tube down her throat is almost too much to even be around….but they have a job to do and they need to do it quickly.
Dr. Grey takes a breath as the doors open and a scrubbed and ready to go Amelia Shepherd rushes into the operating room.
“Okay! I need to see her scans!” Amelia yells out as a couple scrub nurses put a surgical gown over her scrubs before slipping on her gloves.
“I’m on it!” Dr. Kim yells out as he looks through the files for her scans.
When the gloves are finally slipped on Dr. Shepherd steps over to the operating table and looks down at one of her closest friends.
“Carina, its Amelia...I’m here.” Amelia says as she steps closer to stand by her friend’s head on the table. “I got you…okay. You hear me?”
Amelia gives her one last look before one of the monitors starts going off alerting all the people in the room.
“B.P. is dropping.” Maggie states.
“Let’s put her under.” Amelia tells the anesthesiologist firmly. “Do it now.”
“Yes Dr. Shepherd.”
Amelia takes a steadying breath before looking back to the monitors. “The blood flow around or inside her brain is depriving it of oxygen. We need to move quickly.”
Dr. Kim puts the scans up on the light before calling over the neurosurgeon. “Dr. Shepherd.”
The doctors immediately look up at the scan to see what Amelia will be dealing with when she starts the procedure. Dr. Shepherd studies every millimeter of the scan and just nods her head…taking it all in…needing to focus on the job in front of her.
“She’s hemorrhaging all around the Parietal lobe.” Amelia says as she points to the picture of Carina’s brain before noticing a dark mark on the scan. “Damn it…hematoma near the bottom of the Frontal lobe.”
Meredith looks over Amelia’s shoulder and points to another spot. “Is that all swelling around the Parietal lobe?”
“The pooled blood is putting pressure on her brain.” Amelia says with a nod of her head. “It looks like there could be swelling around the parietal lobe.”
Maggie squints her eyes at the scan. “What about the brain stem?”
Amelia looks down at the bottom of the scan to take a look. “It seems to be intact.”
“Good…that’s good.” Maggie sighs…thankful for at least a little good news.
“We need to perform decompression to relieve the pressure on her brain.” Amelia says as she starts to strategize the plan of attack in her head. “I need to get in there to remove the blood and repair the damage to the blood vessels.”
“We’re going to need more blood!” Meredith yells out to Dr. Kim. “Go now!”
Dr. Kim nods and heads towards the door. “Got it.”
“Call the blood bank! Tell them to have it ready!” Meredith says to an intern in the corner who immediately picks up the phone off the wall to relay the urgent message.
Maggie looks back at the scan before turning to Amelia. “Craniotomy?”
“No.” Amelia says as she keeps her eyes glued on the scan. “I can get it by performing an Endoscopic evacuation.”
“Amelia…” Maggie warns softly wondering if this is the best choice. “Are you sure?”
“She’s sure.” Meredith states firmly to Maggie before facing Amelia. “Dr. Shepherd can do this.”
Dr. Shepherd gives Dr. Grey an appreciative nod before he three step back over to Carina. Maggie and Meredith stand at Carina’s sides while Amelia takes her post at DeLuca’s head that is now sporting a tiny shaved spot near the gash.
“Blade.” Amelia says as she holds out her hand for the scalpel.
Meredith hands Amelia the knife before leaning closer to Carina down on the table. “We’re going to fix you DeLuca…just hold on.”
Amelia holds the scalpel to a small part of exposed skin on Carina’s head. “Once I start draining the hematoma you can examine her abdomen.”
“The sooner the better.” Maggie says as she places her hands on Carina’s stomach. “Her belly is tight.”
Amelia makes the first incision before holding her hand out for the next tool. “Drill.”
Dr. Shepherd is handed the drill and quickly but carefully starts making the two burr holes to help relieve pressure on the brain. Meredith and Maggie watch closely as Amelia finishes. When she is done she takes the scope from the nurse on her right.
“Moving the endoscope near the Frontal and Parietal lobes.” Amelia says as she methodically slides the tiny tube through the burr hole in Carina’s head.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The elevator doors open and the firefighters from Station 19 all pile out and walk towards the surgical waiting room where they were told Maya and Andy would be. The firefighters quickly made their final sweep of the ER and when they were done Sullivan dismissed them and told them they were being pulled off shift. They all immediately rushed into the hospital to check for an update on their friend.
When they walk into the hospital waiting room Andy is sitting quietly at a chair while Maya is standing in the middle of the room nervously pacing with Ginny in her arms.
Hey.” Jack says hesitantly into the room to announce their arrival.
Maya turns around smiles slightly at the site of her team.” Hey.”
“We just finished with our sweep.” Travis tells their captain.
“How’s Carina?” Vic asks urgently.
Andy looks up at Maya to see if she answers before stepping in. “She’s in surgery now.”
“Cap is there--” Willet starts to say but is immediately cut off by Maya.
“You guys should go back to the house.” Maya tells her team before continuing to pace in the waiting room with Ginny in her arms. “Get cleaned up.”
Travis just shakes his head before crossing his arms. “We’re good.”
“We’re not going anywhere.” Dean says quickly as they sit down at a couple of chairs.
“Do you want me to take her?” Vic asks Maya motioning to the baby in her arms.
“No.” Maya answers quickly before stepping away from the group towards the window.
“I think holding her close is helping.” Andy explains to Vic.
Vic glances over to Maya who is looking out the window with Ginny. “Yea.”
“Did you see Robert?” Andy asks Jack.
“Station 41 just finished the sweep.” Jack answers as he runs his hand over his head. “The second floor is fine.”
Andy nods her head and sighs. “That’s good.”
“Ruiz is helping Dr. Wilson and Dr. Helm with the last of the triage patients.” Warren goes on to explain as he places his hands on his waist. “Should be done soon.”
“Does Jo know about Carina?” Andy asks.
Warren nods his head. “She knows…she’s just keeping herself busy.”
So they wait…and they wait. The firefighters of Station 19 are not great at waiting. They are always the first to the scene with the best response times in the city. But now all they can do is sit and pace...and wait for word on Carina. Before they realize it an hour has gone by with no updates on the surgery happening upstairs.
Ben Warren wipes at his tired eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose as he sees his wife walking in with an intern behind her. They come bearing drink trays with coffee and bags of water for the firefighters after a tough call.
“Here.” Bailey says as she starts to hand out the coffees to the firefighters. “Coffee and water from the cafeteria.”
“Thanks Bailey.” Travis says as he takes the bag of water bottles from the doctor before sitting back down.
“Thank you.” Bailey says as she shakes her head thinking back on what just happened…getting dazed in the process. “Thank you all.”
“Thanks.” Andy says as Bailey hands her a coffee.
Bailey nods her head at Andy before looking to Maya who is looking out the window while rubbing Ginny’s back with her hand. She takes a seat next to Herrera and motions over to the fire captain.
“How she doing?” Bailey asks.
Andy just shakes her head. “I called her mom…she’s on her way.”
“What about Carina’s father?” Bailey asks.
“I wouldn’t know how to get a hold of him.” Andy says as she shrugs her shoulders. “Carina doesn’t talk about him…at least with us.”
Bailey simply hums knowing firsthand the issues between father and daughter. “Mmmm.”
“I don’t even know if he knows about the baby.” Andy adds.
“That would not surprise me.” Bailey mutters under her breath. “Vincenzo DeLuca is something else…I’m sure Carina’s been trying to figure out how to tell him.”
As the two women continue to talk quietly, Owen and Teddy rush in. They were at home with their kids when they got the call about Carina and immediately dropped them off with Owen’s mother before coming straight to the hospital.
“Hey!” Teddy says as she tries to catch her breath.
“We came as soon as we could.” Owen says as he looks around at the room full of firefighters.
“Anything?” Teddy asks.
Warren shakes his head. “Not yet.”
“I’m going to go check upstairs.” Owen says to Teddy as he places his hand on her arm.
Teddy offers back a small smile and nods her head. “Okay.”
After Owen walks away Teddy notices Maya by the window and walks over softly to speak to the woman she knows is freaking out right now. Teddy has had the unique experience of bearing witness to the love shared between the two and can feel the terror radiating off the woman by the window.
“Maya.” Teddy says softly to Maya as she looks her up and down. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Maya just keeps her eyes on Ginny in her arms before speaking. “They’re good, right?”
“The best.” Teddy answers quickly.
Maya sadly nods her head and closes her eyes when she feels Teddy place her hand on her back to offer support. Vic and Travis watch the interaction and look away when they see a tear escape down Maya’s cheek before she quickly wipes it away.
They rest back in their chairs before Vic clicks her tongue and hisses out a spurt of air through her clenched teeth.
“This is bad.” Vic mumbles out as she continues to shake her head.
Travis snaps his head up and hisses back at his friend knowing they need to stay positive. “What are you doing?”
“You and I know better than anyone…” Vic whispers to Travis before waving her hand around in front of her. “That this is bad.”
“No.” Travis states to himself. “I refuse to believe that what happened to Michael and Ripley is going to happen to Carina.”
“I think we’re cursed.” Vic murmurs out as she leans back in the chair. “All Station 19 firefighters are destined to lose the people they love…Bailey should have stayed away.”
Travis shakes his head at his friend going off the deep end. “Hughes…go take a walk or something.”
“I’m sorry...okay.” Vic says as she starts to rub her temple with her fingers. “I’m sorry.”
Travis looks around making sure nobody is listening to their conversation. “You need to pull it together.”
“I’m freaking out.” Vic hisses under her breath before letting out a sad sigh. “At their wedding Carina cried and she hugged me….she thanked me, okay.”
Travis hears this and nods his head before placing his hand on Vic’s leg. “We are not cursed.”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt to invite like a priest or some kind of Wiccan to cleanse the firehouse.” Vic argues back.
Travis rolls his eyes and places his hand on Vic’s face. “Shhhh.”
It takes another half an hour before Dr. Kim comes walking in the waiting room. They all stand up and inch closer. Maya swallows the lump in her throat looks at Ginny who is about the fall asleep in her arms. There is something inside of Maya knowing she can’t hear what the doctor has to say with her little girl in her arms.
“Uhh...” Maya says looking around for a solution before motioning to Andy to take her. “Can you?”
“I got her.” Andy says as she carefully takes the sleepy girl from Maya so she can focus on the doctor.
Maya takes one last look at her daughter before stepping over to Dr. Kim. “Uhh…”
“She’s alive.” Nico cuts in to reassure the terrified wife. “Dr. Shepherd is repairing the bleeding in her brain now.”
“Oh my god.” Maya says to herself as her body becomes very, very heavy.
“Maya, bleeding around the brain is common with head injuries.” Bailey says as she grabs hold of Maya’s arm. “More often than not they can be easily repaired.”
Maya nods her head in a daze. “Okay, okay.”
“This surgery could take hours…you should all go home for a little bit and get some sleep.” Dr. Kim says to the crowded waiting room.
The firefighters of Station 19 make no sign of movement with Dr. Kim even getting an eye roll from Vic who thinks that was a stupid thing to suggest. Nico looks around once more and again tries to convince them all that they can’t do anything here…that they should go home and wait for an update
“Really…you should all go home.” Nico says repeating himself.
Dean nods his head but makes no sign of movement. “We heard you the first time.”
“Carina’s family.” Travis says firmly. “We’re good here.”
Nico lets out a sigh. “But--”
“Dr. Kim, you might as well stop trying to convince them to leave.” Bailey tells the young doctor, knowing these people are not leaving any time soon. “It’s not going to work.”
“I’ll be back with another update soon.” Nico says to the worrying group before heading back to the elevator.
The firefighters watch Nico leave before sitting back down at their chairs to wait. Bishop stands there in a daze...not being able to move. Teddy sees this and carefully guides Maya down to sit at one of the chairs before sitting next to her. The fire captain does so…but keeps her eyes forward.
“I’m going to go get some fruit or something.” Vic says standing up, needing the break.
“I’ll help.” Theo suggests to his girlfriend before the two walk out in search of some light food for the very long night ahead. Andy rocks the baby in her arms for a few seconds before stepping over to Miranda.
“Dr. Bailey can I use your office?” Andy asks as she picks up the diaper bag from the floor. “I’m going to take Ginny and change her diaper.”
Bailey nods her head. “Absolutely, I’ll show you where it is.”
“She should have a pair of pajamas in the diaper bag.” Maya tells her friend as she keeps her eyes staring forward. “Carina keeps a pair in there just in case.”
Andy nods her head and offers a small smile to her friend. “I can do that.”
“Thank you.” Maya replies back softly.
Bailey guides Andy and Ginny out of the waiting room while Maya sits in a daze…with her eyes staring forward.
“Teddy?” Maya says through a soft breath.
Teddy knows immediately what to say. “They’re the best.”
“Will you just keep reminding me?” Maya asks as she blinks her eyes. “Please.”
“You got it.” Teddy says as she places her hand on Maya’s hand that is resting on top of her leg.
“Thanks.” Maya sighs.
Teddy nods her head and tilts her head. “Those sisters upstairs…I would never bet against them.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another hour goes by and different parts of the hospital are waiting for any word on Carina’s operation happening on the surgical floor. Carina DeLuca is a favorite among the hospital staff from the doctors to the cafeteria workers to the nurses…everybody.
When Jo heard that Carina was hurt during the crash she went into auto-pilot and kept her focus on the triage patients. If she could busy herself with cuts and scrapes then she wouldn’t have to think about Carina’s gaping head wound. But now she is sitting alone in the hospital stairwell…hiding from the reality of the situation. She can only hide for so long when the door opens at the top of the stairs and Jack Gibson comes walking out.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jack apologizes when he sense he is intruding on a private moment.
“It’s fine.” Jo huffs as she bitterly wipes the tears away from her face.
Jack nods his head awkwardly. “I was just looking for a vending machine.”
“There’s one on the floor below us.” Jo says before resting her chin on her hand. “Get the garlic pretzels.”
“I will.” Jack says nodding his head as he slips his hands in his bib pockets. “I’d ask if you’re okay but…I have eyes.”
Jo chuckles sarcastically before licking her bottom lip. “Yea.”
“What are you doing?” Jack asks.
“I’m crying alone in the staircase.” Jo deadpans.
“Why?” Jack asks as he sits down on the step right above Jo.
Jo shakes her head and wipes away another tear. “I don’t think Maya needs to see me being a blubbering mess while she worries about her wife.”
“I get that.” Jack says as he lets out a long breath. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
Jo looks up at Jack and squints her eyes at the firefighter. “Is this what you do…you’re the listener.”
“I tend to listen to other people’s problems so I can avoid dealing with my own.” Jack answers honestly.
“That checks out Gibson.” Jo says before staring straight ahead at the wall again. “I really want Carina to be okay.”
“We all do.” Jack mutters out.
“I just keep thinking…not her…you know. Like enough is enough.” Jo rambles on, her voice thick with emotion. “We’ve lost enough already.”
Jack nods his head in agreement. “Yea.”
“So yeah….that’s what I’m thinking.” Jo confesses before letting out a grumble. “What are you thinking?”
“I told you…I avoid talking about my stuff.” Jack replies back.
“Spill.” Jo demands.
Jack stares at her for a moment before giving in reluctantly. “I’m worried about Maya….she loves Carina so much.”
“I know.” Jo sighs through a sad breath.
“If something happens to Carina…it’ll shatter her.” Jack says as he claps his hands together before sighing. “Not break…shatter.”
“Yea.” Jo whispers as she runs her hand over her head tiredly.
Jack takes a moment before speaking out again. “Wow…it’s a good thing we’re hiding in the stairwell.”
Jo can’t help but let out a small chuckle before the door above them opens and Cormac Hayes comes walking onto the stairs. He takes a moment to look down at the two blocking the path down and greets his co-worker.
“Dr. Wilson.” Hayes says.
Jo offers a small wave. “Dr. Hayes.”
“Schmitt called me and told me what happened.” Dr. Hayes says quietly. “I had to come back…to be here.”
Jo nods her head and again wipes at her watering eyes. “Us too.”
“Uhh….Jack Gibson.” Jack says as he holds his hand out to Hayes.
Hayes smiles and shakes the man’s hand. “Cormac Hayes….you must be with Station 19.”
“Yea.” Jack says.
“What are you both doing in the stairwell?” Hayes asks as he raises an eyebrow at the two.
“We’re hiding.” Jo mumbles.
Hayes just nods his head before crossing his arms across his chest. “Well, if you want…you two could come with me.”
“Will there be alcohol?” Jo retorts.
“No.” Hayes snickers before taking a calming breath. “I think Carina would want us to go to the chapel and light a candle.”
“You’re right…she would do it for any of us…” Jo says as she starts to straighten up before looking up smirking slightly at Jack. “Even you.”
Jack smiles sadly and nods his head. “I’m in…let’s go.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yet another hour passes and Teddy finds herself in the gallery of the operating room where they are trying to save Carina’s life. She goes there expecting to see Owen when she is met with Richard Webber sitting alone watching the surgery from above.
“Dr. Webber.” Teddy says not expecting to see the man sitting there. “I didn’t know you were in here.”
Dr. Webber just nods his head and looks back down at the operating room. “I slipped in after Shepherd inserted the catheter.”
“I thought Owen was up here.” Teddy says.
“Owen went to scrub in on a limb reconstruction with Dr. Lincoln. They think the truck ran over the patient’s leg.” Richard explains as Teddy walks over.
Teddy sighs and takes a seat next to Richard. “What a nightmare.”
“I know.” Dr. Webber says sadly.
“Why Carina?” Teddy huffs to the universe sadly.
Richard nods his head and looks over to Teddy. “It doesn’t seem fair…does it?”
“I can still see her face when we told her about Andrew.” Teddy says as her voice breaks. “It haunts me.”
“You did everything you could for Andrew DeLuca.” Richard reminds her.
Teddy bites at her lip bitterly. “It wasn’t enough.”
“You did all you could…all anybody could do.” Richard repeats firmly.
“She just…has to be okay.” Teddy says softly.
“She’ll be okay.” Richard says as he turns back to the surgery. “Carina’s stubborn.”
Teddy snorts softly. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Richard smiles at Teddy before looking around the gallery. “Do you know that one time Carina and I sat together in this very spot…talking about items we’ve found inside of people.”
“You mean inside…inside?” Teddy asks.
“That is exactly what I mean.” Richard says before shaking his head. “She’s got some stories.”
Teddy snickers under her breath once more before looking back down. “Yea.”
“Carina…” Richard drawls through a breath. “She makes it through this…period.”
Teddy blinks back a tear and smiles gratefully at the man. “Thank you Dr. Webber.”
Richard smiles back before noticing something on the monitor down in the OR. “Looks like Amelia is at the damaged vessel.”
“Please…” Teddy pleads under her breath.
“Come on Shepherd…steady.” Richard urges the surgeon.
Down in the operating room Amelia starts to carefully fix the damaged vessels as the other two surgeons tend to the bleeding in her abdomen.
“Removing the arteriovenous malformation now.” Amelia says as she keeps her eyes focused on the monitor through the scope. “Clipping the first vessel.”
Meredith on the other side of Carina continues to try to repair the damage. “Dr. Pierce what do you see in the left pocket of the abdomen?”
“Definitely got some new bleeding.” Maggie says before nodding to Meredith. “Remove the abdominal packs carefully.”
“Clipping the second vessel now.” Amelia says out loud as she continues to work. “I’m almost done.”
“Irrigation.” Meredith says to the scrub nurse to her left. “Slowly push the heparin.”
“We've got more blood!” Nico says as he runs back in the OR with more bags in his hands.
They had to send Dr. Kim again down for even more blood during the surgery…which worried everybody involved.
“Good.” Maggie says as she looks at her numbers on the monitor. “She needs another transfusion.”
“Dr. Kim go get scrubbed in…we may need you.” Meredith tells the younger doctor.
“There!” Maggie exclaims as she finally finds the sources of the bleed. “We found it.”
“We need to reverse the heparin and try the retroperitoneum repair.” Meredith says as she places the clamp down. “Flip on the echo.”
“Suction” Maggie says needing better visibility.
Amelia announces her next move. “Removing the needle over the guidewire.”
“Rechecking the retroperitoneum.” Meredith says out loud as she examines the recent repair they made.
Maggie nods her head and performs another clip. “I've got access. Give me some suction.”
“Ready Dr. Grey.” Nico says as he walks back over dressed and ready to go.
Meredith nods her head as Nico stands next to him at the table. “Clamp and give me a tie, please.
Nico takes the clamp from the scrub nurse and puts it down before handing Meredith a tie. “Tie.”
As Meredith completes the tie to stop the bleeding Amelia removes a secondary wire before looking to the monitor for an update on her brain activity. “Brain is decompressing.”
They continue to work as the doors slide open and Miranda Bailey comes walking in while holding a mask up to cover her face.
“Any updates?” Bailey asks.
Amelia keeps her eyes on the monitor as she moves the guidewire around. “I’m doing one more scan to check for additional bleeding between the Frontal and Parietal lobes.”
“Grey? Pierce?” Bailey asks the other two heads looking for an update.
Maggie nods her head as she completes another tie. “We think we clipped the bleed in her abdomen.”
“Brain bleed has been controlled.” Amelia says through a relieved breath. “Pulling out.”
Everybody freezes for a millisecond when the alarms go off on the monitors.
“What’s happening?” Bailey asks as she looks towards the beeping monitors.
Maggie sucks in a heated breath. “Idioventricular rhythm”.
“Damn it. She's bradying down. Pressure's down. 55 systolic.” Meredith says as she nods towards the nurses. “Push one of atropine.”
Nico looks over to the monitor to his left. “Pulmonary artery pressures just went up.”
“Damn it!” Maggie yells out as she looks again in Carina’s stomach. “Where could she still be bleeding?”
“B.P. is dropping fast!” Nico yells out at the sudden change.
Meredith looks up from Carina towards her sister. “Maggie we need to find the bleed.”
“I know, I know!” Maggie yells out as she continues to try to find the source of the bleeding.
Up in the gallery Dr. Altman and Dr. Webber notice the loud beeping from the monitor and the hurried actions from the surgeons operating.
“What’s happening?” Teddy asks Richard worried as the man stands up to talk in the intercom.
Richard presses the button quickly. “Meredith?”
Meredith looks up to the gallery and shakes her head at the man…not having an answer.
“Oh god.” Richard says under his breath as he closes his eyes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in the waiting room the firefighters are talking quietly among themselves as they wait for an update. Andy took the baby to get changed and when she came back the little girl was dressed in her pajamas, asleep with her cheek resting on Andy’s shoulder.
Maya is rubbing soft circles on the sleeping girl’s back when Miranda Bailey comes walking in. When she walks in the whole room stands up and rushes towards her for any news concerning Carina.
“Hey!” Maya greets the doctor eagerly…needing an update on her wife. “What did you hear?”
“Carina is still in surgery.” Bailey informs the fire captain. “Dr. Shepherd was able to drain the bleeding from her brain.”
“Thank god.” Maya says with a small smile. “That’s good news, right?”
Bailey just nods her head. “Yes.”
Ben seeing the look on his wife’s face steps closer. “Miranda.”
“Dr. Pierce and Dr. Grey are still trying to repair the bleeding in her abdomen.” Bailey says offering a cautious explanation. “It’s taking longer than they suspected.”
Maya’s mouth drops open in confusion. “And that’s bad….”
“How much blood?” Ben asks sternly knowing exactly what that means.
“Benjamin.” Bailey warns her husband.
“What?!” Maya yells out wanting a straight answer on what is going on with her wife. “What is it?!”
Bailey takes a steadying breath before facing Maya. “She’s needed multiple blood transfusions….which is making it difficult to stabilize her blood pressure and heart rate.”
“What does that mean?” Maya asks harshly.
“We are doing everything we can for her Maya…I promise.” Bailey says.
Maya just shakes her head angrily before taking a breath to calm down. “I know.”
“I am going to go back up there and wait for another update.” Bailey tells Maya and the rest of Station 19 in the waiting room. “I’ll come back as soon as I know anything.”
“Thank you Bailey.” Maya manages to mumble out before grasping again at the penny around her neck.
Bailey nods her head before reaching in her pocket to take out a ring. “One of the scrub nurses gave me this…I thought you’d want to hold on to it.”
Maya’s hand shakes as she takes Carina’s wedding band from Miranda and looks at it in her hand.
“Maya.” Ben says softly.
“Thank you…I appreciate it.” Maya tells Bailey as her eyes remain on the ring.
“I’ll be back soon.” Bailey tells Maya before heading out of the waiting room.
Andy looks up to her friend. “Maya.”
“Can you watch Ginny?” Maya asks with the ring still in her hand. “Please…I need some air.”
“Of course.” Andy says.
“I’ll go with you.” Ben offers but Maya holds up her hand in the air angrily.
“No!” Maya yells out startling everyone in the room. “I need to be alone.”
The firefighters watch helplessly as their friend storms out of the waiting room near tears. They all slowly take their seats once more as Andy takes over for Maya and starts rubbing circles on Ginny’s back.
“Crap.” Andy whispers to herself as she cuddles the baby closer.
Maya walks out of the waiting room and down the hallway as her eyes start to water and her lip begins to tremble. She wipes at her face tiredly when she hears a voice behind her.
“Maya.”
Maya turns around and sees her mother standing there and finally breaks.
“Mom?” Maya cries out as she starts to walk over to her mother at the other end of the hall, finally breaking into heavy sobs with every step.
Maya falls into her mom’s arms and desperately clings to the woman.
“I got you baby…I got you.” Katherine says as she wraps her arms around her daughter, holding her tightly.
Maya buries her face in her mom’s shoulder and continues to cry. “Mom.”
“It’ll be okay, baby.” Katherine promises as she holds up her trembling daughter. “She’ll be okay.”
Back in the OR the surgeons are still struggling to figure out how to save the doctor that is barely hanging on as the monitors keep flashing showing signs of distress. Maggie moves blood soaked gauze from Carina’s abruptly and shakes her head in frustration.
“It might be an air embolus.” Maggie says as she furiously tries to save Carina. “We need to hang another bag.”
“We've already replaced almost her entire blood volume.” Nico chirps in as Maggie and Meredith continue to work on their friend.
“Push one of epi. Find whatever's bleeding and shut it down.” Amelia hisses with her eyes glued to the monitor.
“Pressure’s still dropping.” Meredith growls. “We’re losing her!”
Amelia can feel herself starting to finally to lose composure. “Shut the bleeding down now.”
“Damn it!” Maggie yells out as she continues to search for a solution as the beeping continues over the monitor. “Come on! Come on!”
Carina lays there on the table and can feel herself slipping further and further away.
When she opens her eyes she is standing with her toes buried in the soft sand in San Lorenzo. Carina can’t help but smile when she looks out at the soft blue waters ahead of her, knowing the tall hills and village are safely behind her. Carina smiles softly to herself when she closes her eyes to focus on the sound of the waves.
“La brezza è piacevole, vero?” (The breeze feels nice, doesn’t it?)
Carina’s eyes shoot open at the familiar voice and she turns around.
“Andrea?” Carina gasps.
Andrew smiles and nods to his head. “Hey Sis.”