My missing puzzle piece 🧩

Tre

The next morning Carina was up early, gagging in the bathroom, Maya by her side. The pair had only managed about 2 hours sleep that night so they were pretty exhausted.

"I'm going to call in sick" Carina said in between retches

"Already did that" Maya said rubbing her back.

"Cosa?"

"I texted last night saying you were ill and I have a day off today anyway so I'm going to stay with you and look after you" Maya said.

"Thank y—"

"You're ok I've got you" Maya said rubbing Carinas back.

***
The pair had moved to the sofa. Carina was snuggled up with a blanket and a bowl on the floor next to her. She hadn't managed to keep any fluids down, not even electrolytes. Maya had gotten worried a few hours ago and called Amelia.

Soon there was a knock at the door and Maya got up from her position next to her wife to answer it.

"Hey thanks for coming" Maya said letting Amelia in.

"No worries I was heading home anyway" Amelia said taking her shoes off. "How is she?"

"Sleeping. I don't remember food poisoning being this bad, she's been throwing up all night and day. I'm worried she'll end up severely dehydrated"

"That's what this is for" Amelia said holding an IV "food poisoning is always worse with dairy"

The two walked over to a sleeping Carina.

"Hey Car, wake up a sec for me" Maya said crouching next to her.

"Mmmmm" Carina said rubbing her eyes. As she opened her eyes she immediately reached for the bowl beneath her.

"Oh you poor thing" Amelia said.

"Uh? Amelia? What are you—" Carina gagged again.

"Maya called asking to bring round an IV and some fluids" she replied

"Oh uh I don't need an IV thanks I'm fine" Carina said waving her hand

"Hah yeah Car you've just had your face buried into a sick bowl, you're not fine" Maya replied.

Carina rolled her eyes. Amelia sat next to her and rolled up her sleeve and tried to place the IV.

"Ouch!" Carina said.

"Sorry, you're very dehydrated Carina, your veins are shot" Amelia said trying again, and again, and again.

"Ok ok stop stop enough" Carina said pulling her arm away. "It's fine I don't need one right now"

"Carina" Maya said.

"No no look I'm fine it's only been like what 15 hours since I first threw up? So like 14 hours since I had a drink" Carina questioned

"Uh actually Car it's been 27 hours. You've been asleep most of the day. It's 9:30pm" Maya said.

"What?!" Carina shouted.

"Yeah I've just come off shift. Hence why I have an IV" Amelia said

"Ok look I'm a doctor if I can't keep anything down in the next say 10 hours I'll go to the ER, bene?"

Maya and Amelia looked at each other. "Carina if you're still throwing up by 3am I'm taking you in" Maya said sternly.

"Fine" Just as Carina said that she threw up again. "I'm fine I'm fine"

"Yeah I'll believe that when you can keep food down!" Amelia said.

Carina went back to sleep and Amelia and Maya had some very late dinner. Carina woke up a little later and got up to go to bed. Maya said goodbye to Amelia and went to go check on Carina seeing her passed out on the floor. Shit, she thought.