Bambino

26

Maya climbed into the back of the ambulance with Alex, her heart still racing from the adrenaline and fear of the past few hours. She tried to keep her hands steady as she settled in next to Alex on the stretcher. The doors slammed shut behind her, and the siren blared to life as they started speeding toward Grey Sloan Memorial.

Alex's small voice broke the heavy silence, his face pale and eyes wide with fear as he called out, "Mamma? Where's Mamma?" His voice trembled, and he reached out for Maya, tears welling in his eyes.

Maya's heart clenched painfully. She reached out, taking his small hand in hers, gently squeezing it as she knelt beside him. She forced a calm smile onto her face, doing everything she could to reassure him.

"Mamma's in another ambulance, Alex," Maya explained softly. "The doctors are going to take care of her, just like the doctors are going to take care of you. We'll all be at the hospital soon, and you'll see Mamma, I promise."

Alex sniffled, his lip trembling as he tried to be brave. "Is she hurt really bad? Is she... is she gonna be okay?"

Maya swallowed hard, her throat tightening at the question. She didn't have all the answers yet, and that terrified her. But she knew she had to stay strong for Alex, to keep him calm despite the uncertainty swirling inside her.

"She's hurt," Maya said gently, stroking Alex's hair. "But the doctors are really good at what they do. They're going to help Mamma feel better. And I'm going to be with you the whole time, okay? You're not alone."

Alex nodded, though his tears didn't stop. He looked up at Maya with wide, pleading eyes. "Can we see her soon? I want to see her now..."

Maya's chest tightened as she held back her own tears. She leaned down and kissed Alex's forehead, her voice soft and soothing. "I know, buddy. I want to see her too. We're going to be with her as soon as we get to the hospital. And when we get there, I'll be right beside you the whole time."

The ambulance rocked slightly as they sped toward the hospital, and Maya kept her gaze on Alex, trying to focus solely on him, even though her mind kept drifting to Carina. She wondered how bad Carina's injuries were, how long she would be unconscious, and what kind of recovery she might face. But she pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, Alex needs her.

"Maya?" Alex's voice broke through her thoughts again. "Will Mamma need a cast, like me? On her arm or her leg?"

Maya smiled softly, grateful for the innocence of his question. "Maybe," she said, keeping her voice light. "But if she does, we'll make sure she gets the coolest cast in the hospital. You two can even match if she needs one."

Alex giggled softly, though his tears still clung to the edges of his eyes. "I want mine to be blue," he said, his voice trembling but more hopeful now.

"Blue is a great choice," Maya said, giving his hand another gentle squeeze. "And Mamma would probably love blue too. You're such a good kid, Alex. We're going to get through this together."

The ride felt endless, the minutes ticking by agonizingly slowly as the ambulance raced toward Grey Sloan. Maya could feel the weight of the unknown pressing on her, but she couldn't let it consume her. She had to stay focused on Alex, on keeping him calm and reassured. He was being so brave, and she owed it to him to be strong, even though her own heart was breaking.

As they neared the hospital, Maya leaned in closer to Alex, pressing her forehead against his. "We're almost there, buddy," she whispered. "You're doing so well. I'm so proud of you."

Alex nodded, still clutching his toy dinosaur in one hand and Maya's hand in the other. "I'm scared," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Maya felt a lump form in her throat, but she pushed it down, offering him another gentle smile. "I know, sweetheart," she said softly. "But you're not alone. I'm right here, and we're going to be with Mamma soon. We're all going to be okay."