Come Fly Away With Me

Successful Launches & Sentimental Send Off's

"As you can see from these graphics, the Crisis One program has progressively reduced the incident escalation rate since its inception. Community interaction with law enforcement has also shown signs of increasingly positive impacts as this video will further explain. Please enjoy."
Vic stepped to the side of the stage as the lights dimmed and the screen came to life. Maya and Travis looked over at Vic and flashed her thumbs up as she smiled and gave them a quick wave. As images and testimonials played out, showcasing the Seattle area and heavily peppered with images of the firefighters of Station 19, all three of them watched with wistful expressions. Seeing themselves, their friends and especially Dean Miller had Travis wiping a tear from his eye as Vic could barely hold her own tears back. Carina kept her face forward but reached over and grasped Maya's thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. Maya's head dipped down as the video continued, showing her in her captain's uniform and standing with Dean as it played out a clip on the local news when they were interviewed. Carina snuck a sideways glance and saw the tears fall from her wife's cheeks and onto Liam's head before Maya wiped them, exhaled and picked her head back up again.

Vic was surrounded by various uniforms and suits as she chatted with all the representatives who had come for the conference. Travis was explaining something to Mason and Katherine and Maya was still sitting in her seat, letting Liam grasp her fingers as she bounced him on her knee when Carina made her way back toward them. She was carrying a small tray of snacks and munching hungrily on them as she sat down.
"Uh oh, are we entering the you are constantly hungry phase babe?"
"I think so. I can't wait to get to Italy so I can have all the pasta and gelato I want. There's a wonderful tiny restaurant that I want to take you to and around the corner is the best tasting lemon gelato ever made."
Liam began squirming on Maya's lap so she lifted him off her knee and held his torso, letting him kick his feet on the ground and smiling as he started giggling.
"He's going to be able to pull himself up soon, and once that happens, he's going to want to walk."
"I know, I just wonder what country we will be in when it happens."
"Speaking of what country and pasta and gelato, who were you talking to this morning before we got on the elevator?"
"I called Gabriella."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Carina...."
"Maya...."
"My love, you remember when I didn't understand Italian except for a very few words? Those days are gone now. I know you weren't talking to Gabriella, so who was it really?"
"It was my cousin Raphael. He's very excited we are coming."
Maya eyed her wife suspiciously but decided to drop it for the time being as Carina finished eating her snacks.

Maya was just about done with her run when Kate found her.
"How'd it go?"
Maya went to turn off the treadmill but Kate waved her off as she hopped on to the one next to Maya and started her own light jog.
"All things considered, she took the news much better than I expected. But I know my wife, she made a couple of calls home so I'll have to make sure you know who's who. I don't want anything to happen to Carina's family because they got confused for Sami's shit brigade."
"Sounds good. I'm heading back to Hawaii first thing in the morning and once you send me your itinerary, I'll make sure we arrive a day before you guys do. Are you still letting your mom and Liam come?"
Maya stepped to the sides of the treadmill and stared at her friend.
"Katie, I can't leave my son for six months! And yes, my mom is still coming too. She's so excited so Carina and I talked about it and decided to not explain it to her unless it becomes absolutely necessary. She has formed a really good bond with Liam so I can't take this away from her. "
Maya stepped back on the treadmill pad and lowered the speed as she started her cool down.
"We leave the day after tomorrow. We're going to be in New York with a couple of Carina's doctor friends before heading to Italy."
Maya fell silent and kept jogging as Kate kept pace with her.
"Maya, I know we haven't seen each other in years, but I want you to know that you never stopped being my friend. I'm sorry that this bullshit is going on, but I'm also grateful that it put us back in touch. Getting the opportunity to reconnect has really been a gift and I want you to know that when I promised you I'd keep you and your family safe, I meant it. I'm still that awkward bean pole you met in the village, but I'm also a badass when I need to be."
Maya smiled and nodded.
"Katie, when you walked into this gym the other day I couldn't believe it. And even though this isn't the best circumstances, even though my anxiety is through the roof, I believe you. You were legit the only person who didn't expect anything more from me than to be your friend. And since I didn't really have the chance to get close to anyone because of my dad, your friendship means as much as my medal does because those are the two things I won in London. So, with that being said, I have to make these speeches on the tour and I was wondering, can I at least reference you in it? I won't call you out in front of anyone, but I want to acknowledge our friendship."
"I would be honored. You know, you truly do embody what it means to be an Olympian Maya, don't ever think otherwise, got it? I don't want to have to kick your ass."
Both women chuckled as Maya reached over and playfully punched Kate's arm.

"Waitaminute, so you are ok with putting Mom, Liam and Carina at risk for this?"
Maya sat quietly as Mason, Vic and Travis all looked at her in shock. Carina laid a hand on Maya's arm and spoke up.
"It wasn't just her decision Mason. She was willing to cancel her tour but I still have my own that we need to do. And her friend Kate has a very experienced team that will be with us every step. We will all be ok, I'm sure of it."
"Right, but still, this is like next level from the shit we just left back home. And none of us will be there to watch your backs."
Vic stared at Maya before getting up and excusing herself. Travis and Mason went to follow but Maya stopped them.
"Let me go, stay here please. Carina is right, we will be fine. Besides, she's already made calls to her cousin so see if you can get her to tell you what she won't tell me, hmm?"
Carina's lips formed a thin line as she gave Maya a look. Maya stood up, gave her wife a quick kiss and then went to find Vic who was sitting on a couch in the far corner of the lounge.
"Hughie, you ok?"
"That's a loaded question and you know it."
Maya sat down next to Vic and waited.
"Maya, do you know how much you mean to me? You have been my big sister and one of my heroes for as long as I've known you."
"Even when I was drill captain Bishop?"
Maya saw the corners of Vic's mouth start to smile before she looked at her friend.
"Yes, even then. Maya, I know it's not easy for you to believe that people could love you for just who you are, but I do. All of us do, we always have. We're nineteen Bishop, we're family. You know that. How can I be ok with my family being so at risk and so far away for so long?"
"Because like you said, we're nineteen. That doesn't change just because we are all in different places and different time zones. Think about how Andy and Jack and Ben feel. Even Miranda and Pru miss us. Hell, I miss you and Travis already and we're still together right now. But we don't live in fear, that's not who we are, that's not who Captain Herrera saw when he brought us all together. That's not who Dean was, even when he was afraid to tell you he loved you."
"Maya, I need you to promise me that you and Carina and Liam and my little unborn twins all of whom I intend to spoil are going to come home safely. Travis and Mason and I are going to get Crisis One set up and rolled out and then make our way back across the country on our stops, because I need to have you and Carina walk through that international gate when we walk through the domestic one."
Maya smiled and wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders.
"Vic, remember when you were scared of fire? I told you I'd get you through it because I believed in you and your courage. This is no different. Katie is the most honest person I know, she has promised me that she is going to keep us safe and I completely believe her. I need you to believe her too, because if you do then Travis and Mason will, got it?"
Vic laid her head on Maya's shoulder as Maya rubbed her arm and hugged her.
"You are the best big sister, you know that?"
"Can we FaceTime Andy and tell her? You know I do love being the winner at anything."
Both women laughed easily as Vic hugged Maya back.