Maya's Next Step

Part 140

Maya POV

"Man that took forever," Hughes said dramatically as we all climbed out of the engines now we were back at the station.

"How! Just how did it take that long?" Montgomery added.

"I blame station 23, more interested in impressing onlookers than actually fighting fires," Miller said, clearly exhausted.

"You're just jealous the blonde didn't give you a second look," Andy joked, taking off her turnouts.

"Well I don't know about you but I'm heading to the showers then straight home to my girls," I said, heading straight upstairs to the locker room.

"Poor Carina, bet she's had a longer night that you Bishop," Gibson laughed.

"I'll have you know that Elva settles much more quickly when I'm called into work now," I pointed out.

I showered as quickly as I could, but took my time to ensure all smells of smoke were gone, especially from my hair.

Wrapping my myself in my towel, I went to my locker for a fresh set of clothes. While waiting to dry off a little more, I switched on my phone to message Carina, needing to let her know I was okay.

It was still early morning, only 6:30am, so I hoped she was still asleep. However I knew that she could never fall into a deep sleep while I was out so would probably wake when her phone went off.

Before I could even click on Carina's name to text her, message after message from Winter came through.

My eyes scanned them as quickly as they could, panic setting in with every line I read.

She knew about Elva

She needed to talk to me and I wasn't available.

She didn't know I'd been called to a fire.

"Bishop you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Vic asked, worry laced in her voice.

"Yeah," I replied flatly.

"Yeah, I just need to get home," I added quickly.

I rushed to get dressed as quickly as I could, and dried my hair with the towel the best I could before tying it up in a bun.

I flew down the stairs and through the station, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone and unlocked my car. Dialling Carina's number, I didn't care how early it was, I pulled out of my parking space and began to drive.

"Hmm bella? Everything okay?" I heard her ask, not fully awake yet.

"I'm okay my love I promise," I said, a wobble in my voice.

"Maya what's the matter? What's wrong bambina?" She asked, knowing something wasn't right.

"Is Elva asleep?" I asked, not wanting her to overhear anything.

"Si bellina, she's curled up beside me," Carina whispered.

For a second I found myself smiling, picturing my baby sound asleep in my love's arms.

"Winter knows about Elva," I said, getting straight to the point.

"What! How!" Carina asked, her voice a lot louder.

"Please don't wake Elva," I said, feeling my chest getting tighter.

"What's happened Maya?" She asked seriously.

"I don't know, I'm heading over there now," I told her.

"Maya it's not even 7:00 am,"

"I know but you should see the messages Car, she thinks I lied about being there for her. She thinks we don't want her back in Elva's life so aren't going to see her again," I explained, wiping tears of frustration away as I drove towards the group home.