Chapter Text
‘Finalmente’ Carina thought as she got into her office and flopped onto the sofa after another hectic night shift treating COVID patients coming into the ER. She found herself at the hospital almost every day now, with so many staff off and such a high volume of patients. It was also rare to find herself working on the maternity ward, these days, and even rarer to find herself outside of the COVID side of it. With so many of her colleagues having families to take care of she was more than happy to treat poor moms with COVID. Her job wasn’t the joy-filled light experience it used to be, now, she found herself, turning away new fathers hours after their babies were born and teaching mothers how to keep their babies safe in such a terrifying world. One bonus of the shift in the ER had been that she had had the chance to work with Andrea all night; any time spent with her brother was time spent well.
Now though, she was exhausted. Her feet and back ached, her face felt bruised and…
‘No, no, per fevore no.’ She said to herself as a familiar sensation washed over her. ‘Fanculo’. She quickly changed back into her home clothes, dropped her scrubs off in the laundry bin, and walked back to her office. With a sigh, she picked up her phone; if what she suspected was happening, she’d need supplies.
“Hey,” Maya’s voice came through the other end of the line as it connected, sounding slightly breathless as if she’d been rushing around.
“Hi, bad time?” Carina asked with a wince, as she realised she might have called right at company change and Maya might be about to do a lineup.
“No, no, go for it,” Maya responded, and Carina noticed the background noise tail off, as a door clicked closed, “What’s up?”
“Okay, I just need to know if we have these things?” Carina said, pulling her jacket on, desperate to leave work after another brutal night shift, even if she was late.
“I will try my best,” Maya informed her.
“Crackers, of any type.”
“Yeah, I have saltines and graham, I think,” Maya said, sounding thoroughly confused.
“Okay, what about uh, electrolyte things or Pedialyte?”
“I have electrolyte gels but they aren’t the nicest,” Maya answered, and Carina could almost hear her frown. “Are you coming down with something, babe?”
“Okay, so we’ll need some of that,” Carina mumbled to herself putting on a new mask, “what about teas, do we have mint?”
“I remember that you moved some in but I don’t think we have any left after your last period.”
“Right,” Carina remembered, “what about you know just other things to settle your stomach?”
“Are we just stocking up in case or is this a real life ‘got a sick Carina on our hands’ situation?” Maya asked, her voice concerned, “What’s going on, love?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. I have an inkling that I’m getting sick but I’m not sure.” Carina was quite sure but Maya didn’t need to know that.
“Oh, okay, are you- have you been sick?” Carina heard her girlfriend’s voice deepen with even more concern.
Carina sighed, “no.”
“So you have a stomach ache or a fever or something?” Maya pressed, trying to understand what was going on.
“No... not yet.”
“Uh, do you have any symptoms?”
“No, I’ve just got an inkling. I can feel it.”
“But it isn’t nausea or a bad stomach or a fever or gas or anything else?” Maya listed, her confusion clear now.
“No, no, so anyway, Tylenol? And Ibuprofen? What about those things?” Carina redirected, not wanting Maya to worry too much. After all, she wasn’t worried, she wasn’t even sick… yet.
“Yes to both, they’re under the bathroom sink or in by beside drawer if not. Do I need to come home from work and look after you?” Maya asked, thoroughly confused but nonetheless ready to help.
“No, I’m fine. A thermometer?”
“Two, so you’re okay now, but you think you’re getting sick from an inkling?” Maya clarified, still sounding both entirely confused and deeply concerned.
“Mmhmm. Not sick, probably gonna be sick,” Carina summarised.
“Right?” Maya said, clearly still trying to grasp the situation.
“Yep. You’re back at seven right?”
“Most likely, do you want me to pick up these things we don’t have from the store? If you don’t feel- aren’t going to be- feeling good?” Maya offered, she could easily be home in an hour if Carina needed, A-shift could manage themselves fine.
“No, I got it. Thanks, bambina.”
“Okay, love you, feel better?”
“Love you too,” Carina said with a sigh, feeling slightly better after hearing Maya’s voice.
The thought that she was going to be ill was not pleasant, but she was slightly comforted by the idea that she wouldn’t be ill and alone. Moving into Maya’s had, for the most part, gone smoothly. She’d watched Maya’s momentary freak-out but had been pleasantly surprised when Maya has communicated it. And, of course, Andy had moved in, which put a pause on the amount of sex you can have as a newly cohabitating couple. But, generally, it had gone smoothly. So whilst the prospect of potentially (likely) falling ill was not a particularly nice one, she was glad that she’d have Maya there to cuddle her and rub her back.
She stopped by Owen and Emmett in the test centre and got herself a rapid COVID test that came back negative before she even made it to her car. A relief, despite knowing the inkling she had was definitely not related to the virus.
The store was thankfully deserted; people working remotely rarely had need to grocery shop at seven a.m. anymore. Carina was quite sure it was her and other health care workers in the store. She grabbed the items Maya didn’t have as well as some plain foods and apples to make some stewed apples which her Nonna always swore by when they were sick as children.
Her Nonna.
That was probably the hardest death that COVID had bought. Even before Italy had locked down, her Nonna had died from COVID. Gone before anyone even understood what it was.
At home, she had a light breakfast, not wanting to give her stomach the opportunity to become sick any sooner than the inevitable and then curled up on the bed, cuddling Maya’s pillow, everything she’d need when she was ill next to her, including a new washing-up bowl.
Curled up in bed was how Maya found her a few hours later. The blonde had come home at five, unable to shake persistent worry gnawing at her insides. The idea that she should be home if Carina was sick stopping her from focusing on anything else. A-company were more than capable of managing themselves, especially with Andy and Jack in charge.
Maya stood in the doorway for a moment, coat still on, surveying the scene. The bedroom was dark, the curtains drawn but the lamp on. It cast a soft glow around the room, highlighting Carina’s tousled hair and the slight furrow of her brow, even in sleep. She could tell, even from afar that the usual rosiness in Carina’s face was gone, replaced by pale skin Maya had never seen on her girlfriend before. There was a half-empty glass of water sat on the nightstand next to a pack of crackers and a new washing-up bowl that was evidently functioning as a sick bowl. All signs seeming to point to the fact that her decision to return home early was the right thing to do.
Maya crossed the room as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Carina if her sleep had been broken by illness. She reached out and gently placed the back of her hand on Carina’s forehead. Feeling for any telltale warmth that would indicate a fever, Maya frowned, realising that Carina’s forehead felt normal. She checked it against her own. Definitely no fever. But Carina was ill, wasn’t she? Everything Maya had seen suggested it.But then Carina had said she wasn’t... yet.
Carina stirred slightly at the tough, a soft murmur escaping her slightly parted lips. Maya watched her for a moment longer, then decided it was probably wise to check more accurately. She picked up the digital thermometer form the nightstand and placed it into Carina’s ear the device beeping and flashing green once it had taken the reading.
“Maya?” Carina’s voice was a sleepy whisper, as her eyes fluttered open.
“Hi you,” Maya replied softly, stroking Carina’s cheek with her thumb. “How are we feeling?”
Carina mumbled something incoherent, burrowing under the cover a little more. She opened her eyes again and offered Maya a weak smile, “not sick yet.”
“Not sick yet?” Maya repeated, there again was the mixed confusion and concern.
Carina shook her head, “but it’s starting.”
Maya sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from Carina’s forehead. “Okay, what can I do?” she asked simply, choosing not to delve into the perplexing state of being ‘not sick yet’ but ‘starting to get sick’.
“Cuddles.”
“Okay,” Maya chuckled softly, as she quickly pulled off her trousers and climbed into bed behind Carina, wrapping her arms around her and holding her close. She nuzzled closer, enveloped in the scent of Carina’s shampoo, happy to hold the love of her life forever.
“Baby?” Maya whispered after a minute; her lips close to Carina’s ear.
“Yeah?” Carina responded, Maya noticing her voice was already thick with sleep.
“What’s going on?” Maya asked, pressing a kiss to the back of Carina’s neck.
Carina sighed and turned, facing Maya. “Since starting medical school, I’ve been able to kind of predict when in going to end up sick, even if I don’t have symptoms. It doesn’t have a time frame or anything but I just know that in the next day I’ll end up sick. And after I got to my office at the end of the shift, I had the feeling. I got a rapid COVID test, that’s negative. Anyway, I know it’s going to be a vomiting thing.”
“Oh,” Maya said, taking in everything she said. “So… when you called this morning you weren’t sick, but now you’re not sick still… but sicker than this morning?”
“Yes? I don’t know, I can’t explain it. Well, I couldn’t. Now I know my instinct was right because my tummy has bloated,” Carina took Maya’s hand and put it on her stomach, the slight roundness confirming her words.
“Oh yeah, it is. Okay, so you’ll get sick this evening. Any idea how long it’ll last?” Maya asked, gently rubbing her stomach, trying to provide a little comfort.
Carina shook her head and sighed, “it’s no fun.”
“I’m sure. You don’t have a fever yet, bub. Have you slept all day?” Maya pulled her closer.
“Yeah, I had a busy shift. But whatever I have is probably taking it out of me, too.”
“Well, I could do with a nap if you just want to cuddle until something happens?” Carina nodded and pressed closer to Maya.
“I love you.”
“Love you too,” Maya replied softly, her arms tightening around Carina. “I’m gonna be right here if-“
“When-“
“Right, when you get sick.”
“Thank you,” Carina murmured, already feeling a little better now Maya was here.
About an hour later something changed. Carina mewled in Maya’s arms and turned, her face scrunching up in discomfort. Maya, who hadn’t managed to sleep, felt the shift immediately, her senses finely tuned to Carina’s every movement.
Maya gently rubbed Carina’s now definitely bloated stomach, feeling taughtness under her fingers, and bought her other hand to Carina’s forehead. The heat now radiating from Carina’s skin was unmistakeable. “Fever,” she mumbled, not needing the thermometer this time.
“Okay,” Maya whispered to herself. She moved, careful not to jostle her too much and began rubbing her back in slow comforting circles to wake her up. As she did, she reached over to the nightstand and grabbed some Tylenol.
“Carina, sweetheart,” Maya murmured, kissing her cheek, “wake up for me.”
Carina stirred, eyes fluttering open with a pained groan. “Maya?”
“Hey, I bet you don’t feel good now,” Maya said sweetly, brushing some hair from Carina’s clammy forehead and tucking it securely behind her ear.
Carina shook her head weakly and tried to snuggle closer. “Hang on, you need some Tylenol, you have a fever now,” Maya said, holding the tablets and glass of water ready for Carina.
“I don’t think I should,” Carina mumbled, Maya watching as her eyes squeezed shut, with pain or nausea the blonde didn’t know.
“Love, you have a fever,” Maya insisted gently, “it’ll help bring it down.”
“It’s not- my tummy hurts,” she admitted her voice trembling slightly.
“It’s really bloated now, bub,” Maya lightly rested her hand on Carina’s stomach. “Do you want some tea? That helps when you have your period?” she suggested, trying to think of anything that might ease Carina’s discomfort.
“I think I just need to stay here.”
“Okay, what can I do?” Maya asked again, Carina knew what she needed best.
“Cuddles and then hold my hair back.”
“Oh, are we at that point?” Maya said, her concern deepening, cuddling Carina closer.
“I can feel the start of some nausea. You know kind of here,” Carina explained as she rubbed her chest, trying to pinpoint the source of her discomfort.
“I’m sorry you don’t feel good,” Maya said, kissing her head as Carina became the little spoon, seaking comfort from Maya’s arms. She was right, being ill but having Maya was infinitely better than being ill and alone.
“Is my hand okay here?” Maya had her hand hovering over Carina’s stomach, hesitant to cause any more pain.
“Yes. And maybe you can rub it a little? Nothing will stop me being sick but it might help everything a little bit.”
“Absolutely. Try and rest,” Maya whispered, lifting Carina’s vest up slightly and gently stroking her stomach.
“I don’t think I can.” There was both frustration and obvious fatigue in her voice.
“Okay, I’m here,” Maya comforted her, continuing to rub her stomach in slow, soothing circles.
Carina just hummed in response and closed her eyes. If she didn’t feel right when Maya came home, she definitely didn’t feel good now. She snuggled in and yawned, trying not to wince when a small burp followed. “Sorry.”
“You’re not feeling good, it’s fine,” Maya reassured her, pressing a kiss to her temple.
A few minutes later, Carina got heavier in her arms, and when Maya whispered her name she was pleased to see that the Italian had drifted off. “Sweet dreams, my love, I’ve got you.”
Unfortunately, Carina’s sleep lasted no more than a few minutes before she jolted awake, her body tense. She sat bolt upright in the bed, her hands instinctively reaching for her stomach as a wave of nausea washed over her. “Bowl.”
“Yep,” Maya had already leaned past her and had the bowl in her lap in plenty of time. Gently, she gathered Carina’s hair up, tucking extra strands behind her ears and began rubbing her back in slow circles. “Ooh, baby, you’re okay,” she said gently, “get it up.”
Carina leaned back against the pillows, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath. “I thought,” she began between panting breaths, “I thought I would feel better, but I feel worse.”
“I think it’s one of those things you’re gonna have to get out of your system,” Maya said, passing her a glass of water, watching her take a sip to rinse her mouth out before she took another. Carina sat forward again, unable to get comfortable. Instinctively, Maya began rubbing her back again, “you must have picked up a bug.”
“I don’t want it,” Carina whined flopping back in frustration, her hand still clutching her stomach.
“I know,” Maya leaned down and pressed a kiss her forehead, as she took the bowl, “you’ll feel better in no time babe, I swear.”
“If I have to know when I’m gonna be sick why can’t I know when it’s gonna end,” Carina muttered, her voice a mix of frustration and exhaustion.
“I do not know,” Maya said from the bathroom cleaning out the bowl, her voice muffled. “Will you take some Tylenol now?”
“I’m only gonna end up being sick again,” Carina huffed, reaching for the tablets Maya had left out.
“I know, but all we need is thirty minutes. Please, you have a fever,” Maya reminded her, peaking her head out of the bathroom, smiling when she watcher Carina sigh and take the tablets, swallowing them with a grimace. “Thank you.”
“Maya it’s bubbling?” she pressed a hand to her stomach again.
“It will do, it’s gonna feel unsettled isn’t it,” Maya said, reappearing with a clean bowl in hand. She placed her other hand on Carina’s burning forehead, her touch cool against the feverish heat. “We’re gonna have to hold off on the hot water bottle for now,” she said, her brow furrowing with concern, “but I could grab the tens machine.”
Carina shook her head weakly, closing her eyes in exhaustion, “I just need to lie flat.”
“Okay, what can I do for you.”
“Make me stop being sick faster?” her voice was small and vulnerable as she asked.
“Hmm, a little tricky, how about some cuddles instead?” Maya suggested with a gentle smile, her arms open and ready to embrace Carina.
“Fine,” Carina replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she nestled into Maya’s comforting embrace. Cuddles would certainly make it a little less uncomfortable.