Crash- Station 19/Marina

Awake

Morning of day 5, when it's time for rounds just Meredith and Amelia come in.
"Good morning" Carina says "where are all the residents?"
"I told them to find something else to do so you two weren't so crowded for this" Meredith said, smiling and looking at Amelia
"You were right, she just needed a bit more time. She started breathing over the vent overnight. We're going to extubate and take her off sedation" Amelia says
"Really!?"
"Yes, she still needs to be laying flat in traction but she doesn't need the vent so we can let her wake up. She's probably not going to be able to move and even if she can I don't want her moving yet but she should be able to talk"
"Si, I know, I just want to see her eyes and her face without all the tape and tubes"
"We're leaving the NG tube for now and she might need oxygen but she'll have a lot less on her face in a few minutes"

They got everything ready and took the tube out. Maya struggled for a minute but then her breathing evened out, she needed oxygen because her breathing wasn't great but she was breathing on her own. Carina took a picture of her face without the breathing tube and sent it to Andy.

"Ok, now I'm going to stop the sedation. She should wake up fairly soon" Amelia said. "I'll be back in half an hour to check on her but page me if she starts waking up before then"

Carina tried to keep herself busy while she waited for Maya to wake up, Amelia came to check on her then left to do some other work. Amelia came to check on her again when it had been about an hour since they stopped the sedation and was talking to Carina when she noticed Maya trying to open her eyes.

"Hi bella, I'm right here"
Maya opened her eyes and looked at her.
"Hi, I've missed seeing your eyes"
"Hey Maya, I'm here to. It might be hard for you to talk because you've been intubated for a few days but can you try to say something". Amelia said, Maya was looking around trying to find her but she couldn't see her from her position laying flat on the bed. "Sorry, I'm just checking some things, I'll come over so you can see me in a minute" Amelia said, having noticed Maya looking around. "Can you try saying something?"

"Kiss" Maya said very quietly
"I did promise you that" Carina said, smiling as she carefully gave Maya a kiss.
"How about I finish what I need to do then I can leave you two alone for that!" Amelia said as she walked over to where Maya could see her.
"Fine" Maya said
"Do you remember what happened?"
"Driving... Andy... ER" Maya says very quietly, struggling to get enough air to speak
"Good, seems like you remember everything you were conscious for"
"Why can't I move?" Maya asked, Carina started crying but was trying to hide it from Maya. Amelia started explaining everything.

"Can I... recover?" Maya asked after Amelia told her about her injuries
"Traction's been helping your neck, you've already made progress, you weren't breathing on your own at first. Hopefully with more time in traction and then a lot of rehab you should be able to recover a lot from that injury, we'll know more in a few weeks. The injury at T6 is complete, there's nothing we can do when the spinal cord is severed"
"So I'm... paralyzed?"
"Yes, I'm sorry"

Maya just looked up at the ceiling, not saying anything else. Carina and Amelia both stayed quiet, letting her process it for a bit. Carina kept her hand on Maya's head so she knew she was there. After a few minutes she looked at Amelia.
"Can you leave? I'm sorry... I just-"
"Maya you don't need to apologize. I have to do a few more tests but I'll come back later. And if either of you have any questions Carina can page me or you can call me if I'm not working. I'll be back later and I'll make sure the nurses leave you alone until your next round of meds"
Maya didn't respond so Carina did
"Thanks Amelia"

She left and after a minute Maya spoke again
"She's gone?"
"Si, she left, it's just us, the door's closed" Carina said, understanding that her wife wanted privacy.