Chapter Text
Carina was thankful to have gotten the entire week off for Christmas. The housewarming turned Christmas party had been a success, taking into account that Carina had been baked a majority of the time. She had worried that Maya would look down on her for consuming marijuana, especially for migraines. There was not a single ounce of judgment in Maya, only understanding and hurt that Carina had to endure some of the most painful migraines.
What she did not expect was to work on New Year's Eve but be hit with a sudden and blinding migraine two hours in.
Carina was at the tail end of a c-section when the pain encroached behind her temples, causing her vision to double and blur.
She could faintly hear Jo asking if she was alright, finishing the sutures before stepping away.
“F— fine,” her words began to slur although not noticeable to anyone unless they were very observant. “Juss a head’che.”
Unfortunately for Carina, Jo Wilson was a very observant woman who spent countless days working under her.
“You aren't,” Jo pointed out, noticing the slight dilation in her mentor’s eyes. “How many migraines this year?”
Carina had been meticulous in documenting her chronic migraines since her diagnosis in medical school. Jotting down in a journal the start date, how bad the pain was, various other symptoms, and the end date.
If she had to guess, this would be her sixth migraine. Carina shakily held up six fingers, flinching at the bright lights when stumbling out of the OR.
Nurses gave Carina looks of concern as she walked by, noticing that she leaned against the wall for support. What was usually a ten-minute walk from the OR to her office turned into thirty.
Walk then stop to catch her breath.
Resume walking before stopping once again to clamp her eyes shut to avoid the harsh fluorescent lighting of Grey Sloan.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Carina pushed the door to her office open, slamming it shut and quickly regretting it. She felt the rattling in every fiber of her being, deep in her bones.
Carina’s head felt as if it might explode any minute. She let out a pained whimper, dragging her feet over to the futon, once the lights were all off, plunging the space into complete darkness.
“Maya—” her voice was barely above a whisper.
She had prided herself on only consuming edibles or taking a puff or two of her vape when necessary but even then stubbornness took over at times, pushing Carina’s decision to wait until the worst possible moment.
Some time must have passed, or gone by at a snail's pace because she woke up to Andrew hovering over her. Carina’s movements were sluggish as she reached into her lab pocket for her phone, wincing at the brightness.
“It's barely 7:30, sorella,” Andrew noticed the rosy complexion in his sister’s cheeks, uncomfortable with the heat radiating from her body. “You have been asleep for the last eleven hours.”
Carina’s stomach lurched, head lolling to the side, vomiting onto the floor. “Cazzo. Non avevo un'emicrania così forte da due anni.”
“I could tell,” Andrew scurried to clean up the vomit, grabbing towels. “You were paged three times, Jo came by, and multiple doctors and nurses heard crying for hours.”
He did not scold Carina, having grown up with such a fierce yet stubborn sister. Andrew knew in that moment that she must have spiked a fever within the last two hours based on her symptoms.
“Maya—”
“Is on the way,” Andrew interjected, pressing the thermometer to her forehead, grimacing. “103.9. Non va bene, sorella.”
Her head felt as if it were swimming, a loud noise of discomfort sounding from the OB as Andrew practically hoisted her into his arms.
“Where are we goin’?” Carina could barely keep her eyes open, breath hitching with every step Andrew took.
“Getting you admitted into a private room for the night,” Andrew kept his voice soft, just above a whisper but enough that Carina could hear.
Everything behind that point completely blurred together. A nurse whispering about an elevated heart rate, high fever, and possible risk for seizure activity.
She tried to pull away from the sharp stinging feeling in her arm. All movements ceased when a familiar pair of hands delicately restrained her.
Soft.
Honey scented.
The faint smell of smoke.
“Fever is climbing, currently at 104.8, tachycardic, vomited once before being brought down,” Andrew rattled off quickly, peering over his shoulder. “Where the hell is Shepherd?”
“Here!” Amelia burst into the room, flinching when she noticed the figure curled up on the bed. “Carina? Another migraine?”
“Like two years ago,” Andrew commented, stepping aside to allow the nurse and Maya to finish getting Carina into a gown. “This episode is just like that. Slurred words, blurry vision, and horrible nausea.”
Maya had seen the same stubborn streak in her wife since their first date. If she had to bet, Carina was adamant on not taking an edible or anything marijuana related until her migraine reached its peak.
“Carina didn't take an edible,” Maya reached into her pocket, pulling out a vial of 30 milligram THC drops. “It's in her medical records that she's tried every medication under the sun, oxycodone included. Nothing helped.”
“Even though it's legal in Washington state,” Amelia began, analyzing the vial in Maya’s hand. “Does she have a medical card? Because otherwise I cannot administer the THC drops.”
Carina had a temporary reprieve courtesy of the morphine drip. “Yes.”
Amelia exchanged a carefully guarded look with Andrew then Maya before holding her hand out, her expression softening. “Carina is my friend and there is absolutely no judgment. Now how many drops does she usually take with a severe episode like this one?”
“Two full drops,” Andrew gave Amelia the go-ahead who opened the small jar, drawing up the first dose. “It's okay, sorella.”
“Mhm—” Carina reluctantly opened her mouth a fraction of an inch, gagging at the taste. It happened again not even a minute later. “Le gocce sono assolutamente terribili, ma aiutano con l'emicrania.”
“Hopefully they kick in soon, my love,” it absolutely gutted Maya to see her wife in pain.
Amelia handed Maya the bottle back, pulling the blanket up to Carina’s shoulders. “Carina will need to be kept under observation for twenty-four hours or until her fever and migraine are gone.”
“Whatever it takes, Amelia,” the blonde nodded. Once it was just the three of them, Maya quietly removed her shoes, climbing into the bed behind Carina.
Andrew had occupied the semi-comfortable chair, keeping vigil over Carina. A half hour had gone by and both doctor and firefighter noticed the tension dissipate from Carina.
Her once hunched shoulders and furrowed brows had softened, making Carina almost appear serene.
Maya noticed Carina felt slightly cooler to the touch, smiling. Andrew caught onto this, looking at Maya with a look of relief.
“Thank god,” Maya let out a breath she had been holding in. “Hopefully this will be just an overnight observation.”
Andrew wanted to believe that Carina could be discharged after twenty-four hours but knew from prior history that those hours are critical.
There was a possibility of her fever returning.
Or a seizure. Though it rarely happened for Carina, it was still a very real possibility.
Thankfully neither had to worry as each hour that went by, Carina continued to sleep, waking up in the occasional short burst and asking the time.
“Just rest, Carina,” Maya told her for the hundredth time, watching the time inch closer to midnight.
Carina opened her eyes slightly, glancing at the digital clock on the wall.
11:55PM
“Dio mio,” the Italian groaned quietly to herself, taking note of how much lighter her entire body felt. “Have I really been sleeping all day?”
Andrew chuckled, earning a light-hearted punch to the shoulder from Maya. “Hey!” he rested a hand on Carina’s knee with a proud grin. “Questo è il periodo in cui ti sei riposato di più.”
“Non avrei potuto dirlo meglio.” Maya agreed, glancing at the clock. Sixty seconds to the new year.
“Hopefully another migraine doesn't come on,” Carina joked, feeling more exhausted than usual but also very hungry at the same time. “I am hungry though. Most places are probably closed.”
Andrew was quick to pull out his phone, tapping away before turning the device so Carina could see. She grinned happily. Her go-to food after a good smoke session.
Taco Bell
“Grazie,” she giggled, leaning heavily into Maya while trying to fight off sleep.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One…
“Buon anno nuovo!” they all whisper-cheered, being mindful of Carina who was still fragile despite her migraine easing up significantly.
Fireworks erupted somewhere in the distance. The loud crackling did not bother Carina one bit. Despite the late hour, a nurse brought the bag of takeout food, a nurse Carina recognized.
Gayle.
“Glad to see you feeling better,” the graying-haired woman smiled, handing Carina the bag and drink. “And an appetite.”
“Thank you, Gayle,” Carina said, taking her food and diving right into a Doritos Loco Taco. “Mhm— this hit the spot.”
Gayle let the small family be, promising to swing by when Carina is discharged.
“You gonna share, sis?” Andrew snickered.
Carina looked between the bag, then Andrew and Maya. She pulled out two tacos and chicken quesadillas. “You really think I was going to leave you both hanging?”
Maya gratefully accepted the food, pressing a gentle kiss to Carina’s forehead. “I am glad to see you feeling better.”
Carina momentarily froze, a piece of quesadilla in hand. The stubbornness and refusal to take an edible or drops had weighed on her mind for the last two hours.
“Hey,” Maya had already finished one quesadilla, her arms wrapping around Carina. “It's not your fault, Carina. All that matters is you're feeling better.”
“But—”
“No buts, Carina,” Andrew intercepted, effectively cutting off her rambling. “Maya is here, just let her know if you feel a migraine coming on.”
Carina just nodded with a faint smile.
They ate mostly in silence, with the occasional comment from Carina who asked about going home. Maya indulged her, saying they would be able to leave in the morning once Amelia cleared her.
Maya cleared the wrappers, disposing of them in the bin nearby. She turned around, only to find Carina sound asleep. Andrew must have quietly slipped out, in his place a note.
Thought I would give you two some privacy. I'll be by in the morning to pick you guys up.
-Andrew
Maya smiled, climbing back into the bed, mindful of the wires Carina remained attached to. It's was close to one in the morning, the events of the day hitting her at full force.
Her hand snaked up Carina’s shirt, coming to rest on her stomach. Her comfort spot. Maya’s gentle touch whenever Carina had difficulty sleeping, the firefighter would gently rub in a circular motion until she fell asleep.
Maya needn't rub more than two rounds, soft snores filling the space. And if she had to confess herself, this small gesture lulled her to sleep.
“Good night, my love.”