PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 28: Food

Carina took a seat at the bedside again, her voice quiet. "I'll talk to her later, once she's had some rest. She needs to understand that she's not a burden, and her health is important, not just to the team, but to everyone who cares about her."
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Andy smiled warmly at Carina, touched by her dedication to Maya. "You're a good partner, you know? Taking care of her even when she's too stubborn to admit she needs it."

Carina chuckled softly, her eyes on sleeping Maya. "Yeah, she's a handful, that one. But she's worth it."

She reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair back from Maya's face.

They sat quietly for a while, in silence watching over Maya.

Andy broke the silence with a question. "How long do they expect her to stay here, by the way?"

Carina's expression turned slightly more serious. "At least a few days, if not a week. They want to monitor her recovery and make sure there are no complications."

Andy nodded, her concern flaring again. "Jesus, a week in the hospital? She's going to go crazy being stuck here that long..."

After a few moments of silence, they noticed Maya stirring from her sleep. Her eyes opened halfway, blinking as she adjusted to the light in the room.

Carina immediately leaned closer, her voice soft. "Hey, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Maya groaned softly, shifting in the bed. "Still tired... and everything hurts..."

Her voice was rough and hoarse, reflecting the pain she was dealing with.

Carina reached out, gently touching Maya's hand. "I know, I'm sorry. You'll need more pain medication soon."

Andy leaned forward, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you in a lot of pain right now? Should we call a nurse?"

Maya grimaced but gave a weak shake of her head. "No... I can handle it for now."

She looked at Carina, her usually guarded expression replaced by vulnerability. "Just... stay with me, please?"

Carina's heart ached at the vulnerability in Maya's voice. She knew how much it took for Maya to ask for comfort, especially in front of others.

She didn't hesitate, taking Maya's hand in hers. "Of course. I'm not going anywhere."

Andy smiled warmly at the scene, her heart warmed by their obvious affection for each other.

Maya relaxed slightly, comforted by Carina's presence and words.

Suddenly, her stomach rumbled, a low grumble that was almost comical in the quiet room.

Carina chuckled softly, a small smile tugging at the edges of her lips. "Sounds like someone's hungry."

Andy let out a small laugh. "And I thought firefighters had superhuman metabolisms."

Maya's cheeks turned a slight pink, a hint of embarrassment crossing her face. "Yeah, well..."

She tried to push herself up in bed, wincing in pain as she did so. "I could eat something small, maybe..."

Carina gently held Maya down, her hand on her shoulder. "No, no. You need to rest. I'll order something light from the cafeteria for you."

She looked at Andy, a silent request for help.

Andy nodded in understanding. "I'll go take care of it."

She gave Maya a small wink as she headed out of the room to order some food.