Chapter Text
"Don't worry ma'am we will be at the hospital in two minutes," I say trying to calm the screaming woman down.
"TWO MINUTES? I HAVE A HUMAN COMING OUT OF ME RIGHT NOW!" I would do anything to be driving this ambulance right now instead of being back here.
"One more minute and we are there," I add to comfort myself more than her. Why do people even like having babies? I could never push a 6 pound tiny human out of me.
"AHHHH," her scream brings my attention back to her.
"Okay we are here!" I say as Travis and Vic hop out of the front of the ambulance to open the back door.
"35 year old female, water broke approximately 30 minutes ago, contractions are 8 minutes apart, and she is complaining of severe pain... everywhere," I say looking at the patient as I get ready to remove her from the ambulance.
"And she has been the worst person to be stuck with DURING THESE PAST THIRTY MINUTES!" The woman laying on the gurney yells.
"Don't worry! You're here now and we will take great care of you," I hear a woman say with a thick Italian accent. I turn around to see a woman in pink scrubs waiting anxiously for me to get the patient out of the ambulance. She looks from the patient to me and her smile becomes tight. I get out of the ambulance and hear her instruct another woman in pink scrubs to transport the patient. She then turns to face me once the other woman leaves and says, "What did you do?"
"What do you mean?" I ask confused.
"A woman is in labor and is complaining how horrible you were to be with. What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Well, maybe that's the problem."
"Excuse me? You don't even know me." I see Vic and Travis from the corner of my eye watching the argument grow.
"Look," the Italian woman says scanning my uniform for my name, "Captain Maya Bishop. When women are in labor, being warm and comforting them is important. They shouldn't be in so much distress on the way here. That's all I'm saying. I'm sick of pregnant women being brought here and complaining about how horrible the journey here is."
"So you're just implying that all first responders are the same and automatically rude when a woman in labor is being brought in? Yeah I'm gonna pass on taking advice from you."
"Ma-"
"Go attend to your patient. My work here is done," I say furious and shaking my head. Who does she think she is lecturing me on bedside manner?
"Wow you're rude," she says as she storms off. Vic and Travis slowly make their way over to me.
"Who does she think she is? I wasn't mean at all to that woman."
"No you weren't!" Travis says. "But you're also not the warmest when it comes to comforting others."
"Emotions are for the weak anyways," I say walking to the driver's seat.
"Hey! It's my turn to drive," Vic says. I glare at her and she backs off. The ride back to the station in silence is therapeutic. As soon as I park, I see Andy.
"Do you want to go for a run?" I ask her.
"I wouldn't say yes to that," Vic chimes in.
"Why?" Andy asks laughing.
"She got told off by a hot Italian doctor and is angry."
"I didn't get told off. I told her off."
"Mmhmm," Vic and Travis say together walking away.
"I'll join you," Andy smiles. "But only if we cap the run at 3 miles."
"5," I say trying to negotiate.
"4," Andy says in response.
"Deal."
"I just don't understand why people choose to settle down for one person. I can't imagine my self-care Wednesdays being the same man or woman every time." Even the thought of it scares me.
"I actually think it's sweet. Look at me and Robert. We are so comfortable with one another now and we are in this beautiful routine."
"See! Imagine your sex life feeling like a routine. Couldn't be me."
"Okay we get it. Monogamy isn't for you."
"Yeah. Monogamy is for the weak."
"Moving along, was the Italian doctor hot?" Andy asks as we finish up our run and sit at a park bench.
"I honestly couldn't tell you. I was too angry to even bother checking her out."
"Really? Because rumor has it that Dr. Carina DeLuca is bisexual as well, single, and beautiful," Andy says nudging me with her shoulder lightly.
"I could give you a couple adjectives for her and none of them would be positive," I say truthfully making Andy laugh. I don't care how attractive someone is. If they are so judgmental right off the bat, I want nothing to do with them. My phone rings and I roll my eyes seeing my mom's name.
"Maya, you HAVE to pick up. That's the third time she has called you today."
"I don't want to. She's gonna start the same thing over and over again about finding myself a partner to bring to the family holiday events."
"Why don't you just find a date that'll be willing to accompany you. Say you're dating and then fake a breakup once the holiday season is over. Easy." I think about Andy's plan. It would help my family lay off. But who would I take? I can't remember the last time I stayed in touch with a hook-up.
"I literally don't have anyone to bring with me."
"You've been saying that Mason's friend has a sister he wants to try setting you up with. Why don't you give her a shot?"
"Oh yeah." I try to remember what Mason told me about her but nothing comes to mind. "Watch this be an epic disaster. I don't know if this is worth the headache."
"Just try. What's the worst that can happen? If anything, I'll get to hear a great story," Andy teases.
"Fine. I'll message him. Now let's run back." I grab Andy's hands pulling her up to run back to the station.
Once I get home, I pick up the phone contemplating if I should call Mason. If this works, I'll get to have a chill Christmas break with my family without them complaining. If it doesn't, it'll just be like every other year. While my phone is in my hand, I feel my phone vibrate. It's a text from mom.
Mom: You know you can't keep avoiding me. Are you bringing someone this year? Your dad keeps saying you need to settle down with someone.
Settling down is something that is never going to happen, but her text is motivation enough for me to call up Mason. Mason picks up the phone on the third ring.
"Is everything okay?" He asks making me laugh.
"Can I not call to check in on my brother?"
"You only call when something's wrong or when you need something and often times they go hand in hand."
"Remember how you told me one of your friends has a sister he wants me to go out on a date with?"
"Yeah," I can hear the smile in Mason's voice. "Do you want me to set you two up?"
"Please try to hide the excitement a little."
"No can do. I'm gonna message Andrew right now. When are you free?"
"Tonight. Sorry I know it's short notice."
"That's not a problem. Let me text you once I hear back from him."
As soon as the call ends I feel my nerves kick in. I try to avoid them by distracting myself with some work. Only 6 minutes pass before Mason texts me.
Mason: She's available in an hour. Will that work?
Well that was quick, but I guess it's better for me.
Maya: Yes. Do you want to give me her number?
Mason: What's the fun in that? Let's keep it as a blind date. Meet her at Joe's bar in an hour
Maya: Mason, that's dumb. How will I know if she's there and who to look for?
Mason: She's tall, a brunette, and incredibly pretty. Trust me you won't miss her.
Maya: And she agreed to this blind date idea?
Mason: Yeah I think she actually listens to her brother and likes him enough to agree. Oh what I would do to have a sister like that
Maya: Shut up
I put on a casual outfit trying not to overdress or stress for the date. It's just another Wednesday date except on a Friday... and I somehow need to convince this woman to fake being in a relationship with me. It'll be fine.
I get to Joe's bar right on time and don't see anyone fitting the description Mason gave me. Great, late on the first date. I sit at the bar and order myself an old fashioned waiting for a tall brunette woman to enter but try not to seem to eager.
After 15 minutes of looking over at the door every time someone walks in, I decide to just go home with anyone I find attractive instead. I probably got stood up. I look down at my phone to text Mason how bad his idea was when I hear someone say something to me.
"Excuse me, I think our brothers..." I look up and as our eyes meet, I can tell she's just as shocked as I am.