How Much Is Too Much

CHAPTER 3 - The Darkness Is Devastating

As the time ticks by, Carina feels herself getting more and more worked up, pacing up and down, the Station 19 team long having given up suggesting she sit down, or maybe grab food or water...

"Carina... Dear... Please, come sit down..." Jim tries gently.

Carina looks at her Father-In-Law about to open her mouth to protest when the creaking of the waiting room door captures everyone's attention. Turning, Carina feels her stomach roll at the sight of Dr. Bailey and Dr. Hunt with sombre looks on their faces.

"Mr & Mrs Moore, Carina, can we speak with you privately please?" Dr. Bailey asks.

Gloria shakes her head looking at Jim who nods softly. "Please, just tell us how he is. Everyone in this room is family, doctor. There is no need for privacy... Just tell us, is he ok?" She pleads.

Carina looks at the faces of Dr Bailey and Dr Hunt and feels as though a bucket of ice water has been thrown over her. In that moment, as Dr Hunt's empathetic gaze flickers over to Carina she knows. She knows that when they open their mouths her world will irrevocably change, that they will tell her, her husband is dead. She lets out a strangled sob. "No...Please." She whispers.

"I am so very sorry to tell you all, but Leo's injuries were catastrophic and despite our very best efforts he succumbed to those injuries in surgery." Dr. Bailey says gently.

Gloria and Carina collapse into one another as Jim desperately tries to hold them up, the rest of the team gathering them between them to support them as their grief consumes them.

The team lower Carina and Gloria into the seats as they sob uncontrollably, as Leo's father wraps his large arms around them joining them in their grief.

"Dr. Hunt..." Jack starts, looking around the room. "Um I... God, this is..." He trails off sniffling from the tears constantly clouding his vision as he rubs a hand over his face. "But what about Maya? Do you know anything yet?" He asks, his voice breaking with emotion as he speaks.

Dr Hunt looks at Carina with pain seeing his friend and colleague so broken as he turns to face Jack. "Um... What? Why would... Maya was fine..." He says confusedly.

Jack sighs, lowering his head as he brings a hand up to wipe his eyes shaking his head. "No... We thought so too. But..." He clears his throat trying to gain control of his emotions. "After you took Leo down, she collapsed. Dr Altman was dealing with it, she lost a lot of blood and had a laceration across her abdomen..." He says.

Owen's face contorts in confusion. "She was fine? I would have checked her if she..." He trails off.

Jack sniffles, as Andy stands next to him. "Dr. Altman said something about adrenaline... That she probably didn't realise she was injured until it faded..." Andy says as tears roll down her cheeks.

Owen takes a deep breath, his heart breaking even more for his friend now knowing how close she is to Maya as well. "I... Let me go and find out. I will be back as soon as I can." He says.

"Thank you." Andy whispers, turning to look over to the corner of the room where Carina and Leo's parents are sobbing together uncontrollably.

Less than 10 minutes later Dr. Hunt enters the waiting room, Jack and Andy immediately on their feet to speak with him. "Guys, sit down... I don't have much for you right now." He says gently.

"Is she?" Andy chokes.

He shakes his head quickly. "No, she's alive, Dr Altman and Dr Webber are operating, there was some internal damage and they are trying to get the bleeding under control. She is critical but stable at the moment, but that's all I can tell you right now." He says.