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Maya wasn’t entirely sure why she was nervous. She and Carina had been on a few dates at this point, they were comfortable with each other, hell Carina had even seen her cry and that was not something many people saw. But today, for some reason, she was nervous. Stomach-churning nervous.
She looked at her reflection in the wingmirror of her car. She’d done her best to cover up how tired she looked, but it was definitely still visible. The shift had been busy, with very little chance for sleep, and she’d annoyingly only managed a couple of hours after work. That wasn’t going to stop her going on this date, however. Carina had become a happy place - a safe place. Nothing was going to stop Maya seeing her tonight. No tiredness, and definitely not these ridiculous nerves.
The clock ticked over to 7pm so she climbed out of her car and went over, pressing the buzzer to Carina’s apartment. She gets buzzed into the building, so Maya goes straight up to the second floor. The door was already open, and when she pushed it open more there was a shout from the bedroom. “Mi dispiace, my clinic ran late and I thought I had enough time but… well, I’m nearly ready. You can sit, I will be quick.”
Maya smiled fondly. “That’s okay,” she called back. She didn’t sit, but she did lean against the dining table. For some reason the climb up the stairs had taken it out of her today.
Probably tiredness.
She tried to think about the evening plans to take her mind off whatever her body was up to. They were going to Carina’s favourite restaurant - a fact that she’d managed to get out of her brother Andrea at the hospital the previous week. She’d asked them to book a corner table so they would have a degree of privacy and be able to talk. After the dinner Maya hoped that Carina would be up for a little walk to enjoy the summer evening air, because she rarely wanted their evenings to be over immediately after dinner. Though based on the last few dates, it was likely they’d end up at one of their apartments also.
When Carina walked out of the bedroom Maya felt her jaw drop. It didn’t matter how many times she saw Carina, and to be quite honest it didn’t really matter what she was wearing, she always blew her away. Carina walked over with a smirk on her face, “you like?”
“Very much,” Maya took in the burgundy trousers and black silk blouse combo. It was really quite something. She pushed herself off the wall, but then suddenly went dizzy. Carina quickly took the couple of steps over to her and steadied her.
“Hey, you okay?” she asked, keeping her hands on Maya’s upper arms. “Bambina you look a little pale.”
Maya shook her head, “m’fine, just tired,” she replied, but then got a sudden, very overwhelming urge to-
She shook herself out of Carina’s grasp and just made it to the kitchen sink before she threw up.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think that-”
She couldn’t finish before she was throwing up again.
Carina was going to hate her. What sort of impression was this? Turning up to her apartment and then vomiting into her kitchen sink? Disgusting. She wouldn’t blame Carina for chucking her out and never wanting to see her again.
Except suddenly Maya realised that Carina was right behind her, scooping her hair back out of the way and rubbing circles on her back. “No apologising, you are sick.”
“I should go, you didn’t sign up for this,” Maya spoke, her throat a little sore and the taste in her mouth really not helping the nausea.
She stood up, but Carina wasn’t walking away, instead she stopped Maya from doing so. “Assolutamente no, you are not going.”
Maya was confused. “Carina I’m not exactly in any fit state for a date right now. I swear I thought I was just tired before. I- wait, I should clean before I go. Sorry, that’s-”
“Bambina, you are sick, I want to look after you. You are not leaving, you are not cleaning, you are going to my bedroom. I’ll get you some pyjamas, check your temperature, and we will work from there.”
There was no room for argument. Carina was already leading her to the bedroom, and Maya was too tired to argue. She went into the wardrobe and pulled out some pyjamas, handing them over and instructing Maya to change while she went to gather some things.
Maya slipped off her clothes, cursing herself for wearing jeans right now because she barely had the energy to get them off. She did manage it, pulling on the incredibly soft short PJs just before Carina returned. “Do you still feel sick?”
“Not right now,” she replied. “You really don’t have to-”
“Basta. No, I don’t have to, but I want to. Now into bed. I brought a bowl if you need it,” she showed her, putting it on the floor by the bedside while Maya did as instructed and got under the sheets, staying sat up in the bed. “I have water, sip gently,” she handed Maya the glass.
It was only then that Maya realised she was shaking. Thankfully Carina had only filled the glass just over half full, and she helped her steady it to take a sip, before taking it back and putting it on the bedside cabinet. “Good, now temperature.” Thankfully she had an ear probe thermometer, and so it was a quick and painless process. “38.7, a little feverish,” she commented.
Maya looked up, confused, “38.7?”
There was a small roll of the Italian's eyes. “Stupid Americans and your stupid temperatures,” she commented, clicking a button on the thermometer, “101.7. Here, I have some Tylenol, do you think you can take some?”
Normally Maya would fight it. She didn’t do sick, she could handle herself.
But nobody had ever looked after her while she was sick before.
She nodded, and Carina handed her the tablets and helped her with the water again. Maya took the medication, placing a hand on her stomach as it churned a little, but thankfully it didn’t go any further. “You should rest now.”
“I-”
“No. No arguments. Lie down, rest, sleep. You’re not going home until you’re better so stop fighting it Maya,” she told her sternly. Maya wasn’t entirely sure if it was the Italian or the doctor in her coming out.
Maybe both.
Either option was quite scary.
She lay down, the exhaustion taking hold as she did. Carina stayed too, Maya wasn’t sure why, but she sat with her, gently stroking her hair back while Maya dropped off to sleep.
Seeing Maya unwell was awful for many reasons. She looked so scared, and Carina was pretty sure Maya hadn’t been cared for while sick before. She probably wouldn’t have even admitted to being sick had it not physically happened - and not just to Carina, but to herself too. That broke Carina’s heart, knowing Maya had never felt that kind of love in her living memory. She cared so deeply for her, and she would make sure Maya did not go through sickness alone ever again.
Maya was asleep now, so Carina had quickly changed into loungewear and set about cleaning up the kitchen. After a thorough handwash she made herself a quick sandwich, not wanting to cook anything that might send smells through the apartment. She then called the restaurant they were meant to be going to, letting them know they weren’t coming. Granted the reservation had meant to be a surprise, but she could get a secret out of her silly little brother far too easily, and after she’d seen him talking to Maya the previous week it hadn’t been difficult to find out what they were talking about. She hadn’t let on to Maya though, it was really thoughtful that she’d wanted to surprise her.
That was the thing about Maya Bishop. She was kind, thoughtful, and cared deeper than most people seemed to realise. Carina had seen it in her eyes that day, when Maya had told her she was broken, she had seen it then. It was what made her give Maya a second chance - the best decision she’d ever made. Those beautiful ocean blue eyes told her everything she’d needed to know.
When she’d finished eating she looked around the apartment, considering what else she could do, but it quickly occurred to her there was only one place she wanted to be. Her heart was pulling her back to the bedroom. Everything else could wait.
Maya was still asleep, curled up on her side almost in a ball. Carina climbed onto the bed. She stayed on top of the sheets, hovering awkwardly for a moment before she decided to move closer and gently place her arm around Maya. Her girlfriend briefly stirred, but seemed to move back into the hold and Carina let her, putting her arm around more. She felt Maya’s body relax in her grasp, something that gave her many more emotions. “Sono qui, bambina. Dormi bene.”
As Maya woke up she knew something was different. She felt… safe. It took her a moment to register why, but then she saw Carina’s arm around her front.
It all came flooding back. The date, the vomit, Carina putting her to bed. Maya looked around and eventually spotted a clock on the side table - it was just gone 8am. She’d slept over 12 hours? In her girlfriend’s bed? With no sex beforehand? After having vomited in her kitchen sink?
Honestly she had no idea what to think.
Her first instinct was to extract herself from Carina’s grasp, change back into her clothes, and leave before she woke. But that only lasted a second, because that’s not what she really wanted.
“You’re thinking very loud,” Carina mumbled sleepily behind her, and then seemingly also remembered the previous night’s situation as she spoke more coherently. “Are you okay? Do you feel sick?”
Maya had to consider this for a moment, assessing how her body felt. “No, I don’t think so.”
“That’s good, just a little bug,” Carina relaxed again. “So why the loud thinking?”
Before answering, Maya turned around to face Carina. It was at that point she realised that she was not under the sheets with her. She considered questioning it, but in reality it was obvious why she had done that - and the fact she’d been so thoughtful just made Maya’s next words all the more certain. “When I first woke up and realised the situation my immediate thought was to leave. Partly because of embarrassment, and partly because I don’t do this. Sleeping in someone else’s bed without having sex? That’s not me. But then I realised I didn’t actually want to leave. And that kind of scared me.”
To her surprise, Carina didn’t move away. She didn’t flinch, didn’t even remove the hand that was resting on Maya’s side. “You are not used to being cared for?” she asked gently.
“No,” she replied honestly. “I guess I didn’t know what it could feel like.”
Carina’s hand did move off her side now, but only to move to her face and cup her cheek. “Everyone deserves to be cared for when they’re sick, even Olympic medal winning fire captains,” she told her, her thumb caressing Maya’s cheek softly. “Can I keep caring for you and make you a light breakfast?”
Maya nodded, “I’d like that.”
And she really did.