Chapter Text
A noise wakes Carina up from her sleep, although she doesn't immediately realise this. Carina believed she had just woken up naturally, perhaps to the light streaming though the curtains or maybe even a ding on her phone. In reality it was a knock, a very feeble knock, that is difficult to even discern as a knock until it happens again. She climbs out of bed and stretches, realising she's naked, as the cold air hits her body and she shivers uncomfortably. She's not sure what time it is but with the third knock she's calling "sì, I'm coming," loudly and pulling on her silk robe and a pair of knickers, that are accidentally Maya's. She gets to the front door and opens it, a yawn dying on her lips as she sees who it is.
Maya is stood in front of her, a scraped up, bloody mess. One side of her face is darkened with a bruise, whilst the other is bleeding a little from hundreds of tiny scrapes. Carina was scared to keep her eyes moving down, and she was right to be. Her wife was very obviously splinting her arm, it was at a right angle against her stomach and she held it in a way that Carina was sure it was hurting. The other arm was scraped up too, though the hand of this arm was pressed tight to the opposite set of ribs. The whole left side of Maya's left leg was bloodied and she could see that there was a big rip in the running shorts she had been wearing.
"I think I need to go to the hospital," Maya mumbled then collapsed in front of Carina's very eyes. Unmoving.
"Come on Maya. Maya," Carina shook her shoulder, the uninjured one, as the phone connected to 911 and an operator started talking. "Come on bambina- hi, yes, yes she's breathing, no she's not conscious. She's, it looks like she has a shoulder dislocation, she was holding her ribs and her face is bruised. I don't know and then she just collapsed."
"They'll be here soon, Mai," Carina reassured, as she lifted her girlfriend's top up and gasped, "Dio, Maya, what happened, how," she used shaking hands and traced the huge bruise on her ribs and side, "it gonna be okay, help's coming. You got back to me, you did really well."
"Ow."
"Hey, hey," Carina took her hand, which looked like someone had taken a cheese grater to, "you're okay, you got back to me," she repeated, "you did it," she brought the rough hand to her lips.
"My chest."
"I know, I know. What happened, Bambina?"
*flashback*
"I'm going on a run," Maya whispered quietly, lips on Carina's temple, "sleep well. I love you." The brunette didn't so much as stir which wasn't unusual for quarter to seven on any day, let alone a day off.
Maya was the earlier riser in their relationship, whereas Carina loved to lie in and cuddle. Maya was slowly converting to this way of life, particularly on days where she would return from work and Carina would be in bed. Something about being cuddled to sleep after a long shift had her hooked. Today, though, the bright seattle sun shining through the window and the promise of the first nice spring day had been too much for Maya to ignore.
So she had planned a short run whilst she had been filling up on cuddles with her very warm and snuggly girlfriend and was now set to go on that run before planning to return back to bed and cuddles. Hopefully with pastries that she could pick up on the way. And a coffee from a Carina approved café.
Carina didn't budge at Maya's love confession and Maya was almost certain she'd return to find her in the same position; cuddled up with a pillow, long hair covering most of her face. Maya thought she could stare at her girlfriend forever without getting bored. And even though she surely had every inch of it remembered she was certain she could find something new if she kept staring. Despite this the sun was tempting and so one last longing glance saw her on her way out of the flat.
The pounding of her feet against the pavement and the slight pull in her hamstrings was blissful. Whilst cuddling with Carina was amazing, running would always be her sweet escape. Whatever was going on in her life, a quick run in the fresh air could always make her feel better. And even though she was coming to the realisation that her Dad's methods hadn't been the best, running would always be it. Him and his abuse could never take away what running gives her back. The freedom. The joy.
"Good morning," someone said to her, as she entered the park she would be running through to get to the bakery where the good pastries were.
"Morning!" She replied with a bright smile. This was the good part of running non-competitively, the community. And, whilst she'd never be one to join a local park run group, she liked seeing familiar faces out on the trails.
Arriving at the bakery after around two miles Maya was pleased to see there was no queue. This establishment was particularly special, as it was one of the only Italian owned bakeries in Seattle. It would always be worth the extra mile and a half out of the way to get a taste of home for Carina. It was also a great opportunity for Maya to practice her Italian, which was pretty terrible still. What's more, Maya had discovered it after she had saved the owner's life so there was usually a free item thrown in there and a personal greeting.
"Ciao, Alfonso."
"Ah Capitano Bishop, buongiorno. Come va?"
"Sì, bene, er, due," she held up two fingers, "cornetti al cioccolato." They're some of Carina's favourites, the cornetto vuoto are nice but the chocolate just makes them even better.
"Cornetti al cioccolato, sì."
"And, ah, quatro cannoli al pistacchio. E, una focaccia plain," she's forgotten the word for plain so just has to go for it. "Focaccia al aglio," Carina is forrever complaining how not enough garlic is used in American cooking so a garlic focaccia from Brunelii's is almost always on her list. She scans the counter a few more times as Alfonso is getting the items and spots the apple turnovers. Maya doesn't recall ever having them from here but Carina had been talking about how she always ate them on road trips when she was younger so Maya thinks it might be a welcome surprise and a good demonstration that she was listening. "E infine due palline de mele, per favore."
"Brava Capitano, per Carina?"
"Sì, I left her dormi," Maya says as she hands over her card, the total coming to less than $10 which is much less than it would be from an American bakery, "grazie mile Alfonso."
The paper bag full of goodies thankfully doesn't act too much as a hindrance as she starts her journey home. The streets are getting a little bit busier now, Maya's sure she's seen some tourists on their way to the metro station that will inevitably deliver them to the space needle, the aquarium or for a tour on the puget sound. They're excited about their day, chatting away as they walk along, and Maya is able to catch glimpses of conversation as she jogs.
Eventually she turns away from the busy areas and she's back to running on quiet roads. It's back to being near deserted. Back to early morning bliss. And Maya returns to her usual running thoughts; Carina. She really hopes her girlfriend is still in bed, asleep, when she gets in. She loves being the one to wake her up. Using kisses to induce consciousness, so she feels like a magician. She hopes there's a sleepy kiss waiting for her in return and a wide grin at the coffees and treats.
The coffee shop that has the best coffee in Seattle aside from her girlfriend's is in sight when the wind is knocked out of her chest, there's a cracking sound followed by searing pain and pastries flying.
It came out of nowhere. She was just jogging across the road. She'd checked both ways. She'd pressed the button. The machine was still counting down. It was safe.
It came out of nowhere.
It feels like an eternity before gravity finally kicks in and she rolls against the asphalt for what feels like miles. Yet, she still wasn't able to protect her face or curl up. She just slid. She's not sure but she thinks she might have lost consciousness because it's gone from coffee shop in her vision to asphalt.
When people described pain to her as throbbing, Maya had never understood previously but now it was all she could feel in her head. Her vision is fuzzy as she looks at the dark ground and even when she rolls onto her back it's filled with black spots and definite blur. Her ears are ringing. Its like it's two years ago when her ear drum perforated; everything is muffled by a loud ringing.
Worse than the throbbing in her head is the pain flying through her ribs, sharp like a knife. It feels like someone is slicing her with a scalpel with every breath. It sears as she moves. She can't catch her breath.
Through the pain. Through the confusion. One thought is louder than anything else.
Carina.
She needs to get back to Carina.
She'll be waiting.
She needs a good morning kiss.
Carina.
Maya pushes herself to sit up. It takes three or four goes, as her shoulder is screaming at her uncomfortably, she doesn't want to look at it, sure its nowhere near where it should be. In the back of her mind she can hear a talk Warren did on self-splinting, so once standing she snaps it against her stomach, to try and stop the pain. She uses that hand to hold onto her ribs which protest initially before dulling slightly.
The journey back to the apartment... to Carina, is arduous. Its slow. Its painful. She's limping because now there's also a pain in her foot.
As she goes she takes time to assess herself. Her brain is still foggy. She thinks she was hit by a car. It must have been going fast, as she had looked. She hadn't seen it so maybe 40 ot 50 miles an hour. Based off where her injuries are, it's hit her side on. Her right ride. Liver. Lungs. Liver and lungs. There's pain in her ribs. She probably has broken them. If she concentrates, the pain in her head is almost entirely on the right side. She wonders if she hit it on the bonnet then. But her left shoulder is dislocated so that must have happened when she hit the floor. She can't work out how she hurt her foot but it's in as much pain as her ribs and shoulder so she wonders if it's broken too.
The steps up to their front door take at least five minutes and takes up the remainder of her adrenaline fueled effort. She can barely knock on the door. Has no breath left to shout for Carina.
"Sì, I'm coming."
The black spot in her vision has grown. Her breaths are getting more difficult to take. The pain is reaching a crescendo.
Carina.
Words.
Nothing.
"Er- Capt- erm, Maya, Maya Bishop, thirty ah thirty-two. Witnessed collapse. Repeated LOC. Multiple injuries. Haematoma to right side of head, pupils equal and reactive, left shoulder dislocation, possible clavicle fracture, still displaced. Multiple rib fractures, reduced air entry to lower right lung. Bruising to right chest and side. Pain response on palpation. Left foot is looking very swollen." Jack finished, Carina trailing behind him, unable to keep hold of Maya's hand as people crowded.
"Thank you, any known cause of injury," Owen looked to Carina.
"She went for a run, I think, and came back like this. She hasn't been awake enough to tell me. But," she stepped into the room, "I think this is a tire mark," she gently traced Maya's shin.
"Possible Car versus pedestrian," Owen said, understanding completely, "can someone get me PD here? And I want all hands on deck, this is one of ours, people." They lifted Maya across onto the bed, her arm hanging limp by her side. Somehow in all of the chaos that ensued, Carina managed to stay by her feet, hand on the none injured one at all times. This was the longest Maya had been unconscious, boardering on 11 minutes, and the obstetrician held her breath, as Amelia was paged.
"Okay, what do we- Bishop?" Amelia stopped in her tracks, then looked up, meeting Carina's eyes. "What happened?"
"We think car versus pedestrian," Owen answered, "she's got significant bruising to the right side of the face, into the scalp. There's a palpable zygomatic fracture. She's been unconscious since beginning of hospital transport and has had-" he looked to Carina.
"Four"
"Four episodes of unconsciousness, increasing in duration."
"Alright-y," Amelia said, "we've got her Carina."
"Carina do you want to-"
"No."
"Carina, è tempo di lasciarci lavorare. Lascia che i tuoi amici si prendano cura di Maya. Vai a prendere un caffè e siediti nel tuo ufficio. Cambiarsi," Carina looked down, as her brother crossed the short distance to her. She hadn't even noticed she was still only in a robe, Maya's nickers and a pair of Maya's shoes. She nodded then burst into tears, hugging Andrew tightly. [Carina, it is time to let us work. Let your friends look after Maya. Go and get a coffee and sit in your office. Get changed.]
"Andrea," she sobbed. Even as he hugged her tighter, and sobbed harder, she kept her hand on Maya.
"Starà bene. I medici e gli infermieri la tengono al sicuro. Starà bene. Hai fatto tutto ciò di cui avevi bisogno. Dai," he said into the top of her head, before turning to Owen who was currently running over Maya's abdomen with an ultrasound, "Dr Hunt, am I needed here or can I go with my sister? It's not technically family but-" [she'll be okay. the doctors and nurses have her safe. she'll be alright. you've done everything you need. come on.]
As far as he was concerned Maya was the closest thing to married to his sister without being married. Ever since Maya came into her life, his sister seemed more whole and happy than he had ever seen her. Maya was it for her, he knew. She was the one. And his sister's 'the one' was currently lying unconscious in trauma one whilst his sister watched.
"Go."
"Forza, Carina, lasciali lavorare. [Come on Carina, let them work.]"
"I- Devo dirti ciao."
"Can she say goodbye," Andrew asked.
"Its just see you later," Amelia reassured kindly, waving Carina over. The older Italian felt like she was walking on stilts, wobbly and unbalanced, as she squeezed past countless people, most whom she didn't know. She reached Maya's bruised and bloody face and leaned down, kissing her temple, feeling her rough skin from the road rash against her lips. "Ciao Bambina, you'll be okay, everyone's looking out for you. I'm going with Andrea to my office. You're doing so well. I love you. Come back to me." She stroked Maya's hair as she said this, against her temple, "I love you. I'll be waiting."
"Andiamo."
"Sì," she kissed Maya's bloodied hair before stepping back into Andrea's guiding arms, wiping her tears as she did.
"Will someone regularly update us, we'll be in Carina's office on the third floor."
"What happened?" He asked as they walked along to her office, hand on her lower back.
"I don't know. I woke up to the door knocking and then I answered and she was there, looking like that. All," she felt physically sick at the image of Maya at the front door. Bile had been rising since she saw her. The doctor dipped out of her brother's caring hand and ran for a clinical waist bin.
"Va bene."
"No, Andrea." She wiped her mouth, "Its not okay. Maya is dying."
"Sorry." They were in complete silence as they continued to the lift.
"Did she say anything?"
"Just 'I think I need to go to hospital' and then she collapsed." Carina explained, "and then she said her chest hurt and that's been it."
"They'll get whoever did this," Andrew reassured, "they will. There'll be a camera or someone will step forward. Maya will be able to tell you."
"I hope."
"She will."
"What if she doesn't, Andrea."
"Let's not think like that, do you have clothes or should I go and get you some from the scrub machine?" They were nearing her office.
"I have."
"Ok, cambiati, io prendo caffè e colazione." [get changed, I'll get coffee and breakfast]
"Non posso mangiare." [I can't eat]
"sì, ma posso." [yes but I can]
"Andrea," she turned to look at him, "dammi un aggiornamento su Maya." [Get me an update on Maya.]
"Sì. Carina," he pulled her into an almost bone crushing hug, "Ti amo, andrà tutto bene." [I love you, everything will be okay]
Carina entered her office and felt like the gravity of everything that had happened in the hour since she woke up fell over her. It took her to her knees, tears streaming down her face, breath hard to catch. It felt like she was 22 again, loosing her Mamma. Like the only thing she loves being pulled, ripped, away from her. Andrea and Maya, that's all she had left, and now the universe was threatening to take her away before Carina ever really got the chance to have her.
How cruel that Maya had only just confessed her love. And now? Through the panic and the pain and the worry, Carina had an awfully overwhelming feeling that she needed to prepare herself. That being realistic was important. Maya was in a bad way. There was probably a head injury, maybe severe enough for brain surgery. Her liver was in danger. She had a pneumothorax. Her shoulder and foot looked bad. She was unconscious. Maybe she wouldn't make it through. Carina had to be ready for that.
Andrea's voice sounded far away. His rough hand on her knee felt both heavy and light. She couldn't quite make him out. "Maya's in CT." It broke through and echoed around her head, he had her update on Maya.
"What?"
"She's going to need surgery, her liver looks damaged but Meradith is confident she can fix it easily. Her lung is reinflating as we speak, she responded well to the chest tube. Lincoln has her shoulder back in place already too. She has a complex foot and ankle fracture but he's confident he can fix it fine she'll have some pins and screws and plates but that's alright. Amelia isn't concerned, she's using the CT to rule anything out. Maya had an episode of consciousness and she asked for you and said her pain was better before she fell asleep. She's rousable though and she signed consent for the surgery."
"So?"
"She seems to have had a fairly lucky escape."
"Oh my god. I thought I was losing her. Again."
"She's alright, just a few hours. There is one thing."
"What. Andrea Bruno. I swear if you have bad news that you didn't tell me first."
"Maya's okay. Her dad's here. The hospital called-"
"No, he's, he assaulted her Andrea."
"I know. Bailey stopped him. He's in the waiting room but we're trying to get him to go."
"He can't be here."
"My tummy hurts."
It was so quiet Carina almost missed it. It was even quieter than a whisper, easily hidden by the beeping machines. In fact, Carina had thought she imagined it until she lifted her head from where it had been resting on Maya's hospital bed and seen heavy eyelid lined eyes staring back at her, pain and worry painted in the watercolour eyes.
"Hi," she said gently, pushing Maya's hair back from her forehead, "you're awake."
"My tummy."
"Sì, Bella," Carina laid her hand gently on Maya's stomach, "you had emergency surgery."
"On my stomach?"
"And your foot."
"Was I hit by a car?" Everything felt fuzzy and dimmed to Maya. Like the memory wasn't her's. Like she wasn't in her own body, like this wasn't her pain.
"Sì, we think so," Carina stroked her cheek, "you've not been able to tell us, Bambina."
"My tummy really hurts," Carina's heart broke further as her girlfriend started to cry, trying to move, which only hurt more.
"I'll get help, it's okay," Carina pressed the call button, "try and stay still, Bella." Every tear that fell she caught, wiping it away as soon as possible, "it's scary, hmm," Carina soothed, "I have you, you're okay, you're doing so well, my love, so well."
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure, you just showed up at home very very injured."
"I made it home? I got to you."
"You did," Carina kissed her temple, "thank you for doing that."
"I got pastries in Italian." She had been quiet for at least a minute, the statement initially confused Carina.
"And I ran back," evidently the day's events were coming back to Maya. "I could see Deja Brew ."
"You could?"
"I was going to get you a coffee," Carina held her hand up at the nurse who had just walked in, sensing Maya was reaching the accident. "Pain."
"Where bambina?"
"I flew through the air."
"What happened?"
"I think a car hit me, I didn't even see it. And I looked."
"Its okay," Maya had become teary again, "you're here and safe, that's all that matters. Nurse Sorayah is here, do you want to tell her what hurts and she can help?" Carina tried to stand up out if the way but Maya's hand latched on hers, keeping her stuck there.
"My-my head and my tummy, my chest, wait-" she had just found the chest tube.
"Just a drain Bella," Carina pulled her hand away gently, "your head, chest and stomach?" Maya nodded.
"I can put a bit more medication through your epidural. And give you some acetaminophen in your IV?"
"That sounds good hmm, Bella?" Maya nodded.
"Okay, we'll sort them, sweetheart."
"Are you ready to sleep?" Carina asked, once Maya's pain had begun to subside.
"What did I have operated. What did they do to me?"
"Are you sure?" Carina asked.
"I need to know."
"Okay," Carina took a deep breath, ready to recount everything her colleagues had told her when the operation was over. "Your head is okay, there was a small bleed here," she stroked over the right side of her head, "but it had already healed or started healing by the time you had your CT, no lasting damage there. You have a fracture here, and a very cute black eye," Carina used the lightest touch against her cheek "doctor Avery had a look at it whilst you were asleep and he think it will heal okay on its own. But he's going to keep you under review. Okay?"
"Those bits hurt but now they feel okay. I think that's from where my face hit the car."
"Sì? Allora, next. You have 5 rib fractures and one of your ribs punctured your lung. It collapsed so you have a chest drain but in your post op scan it was already 97% inflated. And it has good output. Your ribs will be extremely sore but will heal nicely without surgical intervention. Dr Altman is going to monitor that. Next your pancia. This was for Dr Grey. You had a bit of blood in your abdomen and on the ultrasound they found that it was your liver. She fixed it with relative ease, but they did an ex lap which is why you have a big scar all the way up." Carina used the lightest touch to trace the dressing, "your gall bladder was a little unhappy so they removed it and your kidney looked bruised but had good blood flow and good output. Nephrology will look after that as well as Dr Grey."
"I don't have a liver?"
"No baby, its still there, she took 9% of your liver but your whole gall bladder. You'll be okay though."
"I think my shoulder hurts?"
"Sì, you had a dislocated shoulder and a fractured collar bone. Dr Lincoln put it back in easy and you have a sling whilst it all heals. No surgery for that. However your foot was a bit more tricky. It looked like it had been run over. So you had a few burst fractures. He's used 3 small plates and screws but fixed it nicely. It's in plaster for now but you should be in a boot soon. Your ankle looked okay. And lastly you have nasty road rash and Jackson dressed a few areas with honey dressings. And I have cream for them too."
"Is that all?" Maya laughed lightly, wincing at the pressure it caused in her chest and stomach.
"Sì," Carina smiled sadly, "you'll make a full recovery but might just have to stay for a few days. Hey listen," Carina took her hand, "your dad was called. I was your emergency contact on the hospital record but-"
"No, no."
"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay," she kissed Maya's cheek, stroking her hair, "breathe, breathe, in, out."
"H-he he can't."
"I know, they turned him away. He's not here. He didn't come anywhere near you."
"Did he see you?"
"No, Bella, I was in my office. Bailey turned him away."
"Was he angry?"
"I don't know. But it's okay, I just wanted you to know. They know not to let him in," Carina reassured, kissing her cheek again, "just rest, hmm?"
"Can you stay? I don't want you to go."
"I'll be right here." Carina promised, "vai a dormire amore mio."
"Mmm," Maya cuddled close into Carina's side, the doctor perched on the edge of the bed, her arm over Maya's head, massaging her scalp lightly every once in a while.
"Te voglio bene, Bambina Mio, per sempre."