The Weight of Tomorrow (A Marina Story)

Chapter Twenty Three

"Maya!" Carina exclaimed, her heart racing as she turned to see her wife collapsing. Time seemed to freeze as panic gripped her, propelling her to Maya's side in an instant. "Maya, Maya! Can you hear me?" she cried, her voice laced with desperation.

Jack quickly took Andrea from Carina's arms, his eyes wide with alarm as he watched his friend lying still on the ground. Carina desperately tried to gently shake Maya awake, but Maya continued to lay unmoving, her eyes closed, an unsettling stillness enveloping the room. Carina cradled her face in her hands, her voice trembling. "Maya! Come on, bambina, wake up for me! Please!" she pleaded, her voice rising in fear.

Vic and Andy knelt down on the other side of Maya, their faces pale, filled with fear at the sight of their friend's collapse. They quickly pushed their own fear aside and began to check her over, their training kicking in.

"She has a pulse, but it's weak," Vic reported, trying to shift into paramedic mode, though her hands trembled slightly, betraying her anxiety.

Just then, Ben burst back into the room with supplies from the aid car. He swiftly connected Maya to an ECG monitor and checked all her stats. Carina moved over slightly but didn't remove her hands from her unconscious wife, unwilling to let go.

"Why is this happening? She's been okay. She was okay this morning! I didn't... I didn't see any signs," Carina cried, her voice breaking as she spoke, not really talking to anyone in particular but rather voicing her fears aloud. Tears streamed down her face as she once again checked for any signs of consciousness. "Bambina, please wake up. Come back to me," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"She's hypertensive and bradycardic. Let's get her on a stretcher and to Grey Sloan, fast!" Ben ordered, his tone urgent and commanding.

Travis stepped in to help move Maya from the floor to the stretcher, but she remained unresponsive throughout the process. Carina felt a growing pit in her stomach; the fear of losing Maya was overwhelming, and this moment made that fear feel all too real. If not today, then one day in the not-so-distant future, she might lose Maya. The thought was unbearable, and Carina started crying even harder at the prospect of a life without her wife.

They carried Maya down the stairs to the aid car, where Vic was already in the driver's seat, ready to go. As Carina went to jump in after Maya was secured in the aid car, she suddenly turned around, panic washing over her. "Merda! Andrea!" she exclaimed, her eyes frantically searching for her daughter.

"It's okay, I have her. Go, go with Maya. I'll meet you at the hospital," Jack assured her, holding Andrea close, his expression serious and protective.

Carina nodded, her heart racing. "Grazie, Jack!" she said quickly, the words tumbling out in her rush to get to Maya. She jumped into the back of the aid car with Ben and Maya, her mind racing with worry. Andy jumped in the front with Vic, as there was no way she could stay behind.

As the aid car pulled out of the station, sirens blaring, Beckett walked out of his office, his demeanor calm yet concerned. "I've put nineteen out of action for now and called B-shift in. You all go to the hospital. Go be with Bishop," he stated, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

The remaining crew nodded, their expressions grim and somber. "Thank you, Cap," Travis said before they rushed out of the station, their hearts heavy as they headed to meet everyone else at the hospital.

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Inside the aid car, Carina fought to keep her composure as the familiar sights of the city blurred by. The sound of the sirens filled the air, but in her mind, all she could hear was the rhythmic beeping of the monitor. She squeezed Maya's hand tightly, willing her to respond. "You're going to be okay, bambina. I'm right here with you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos.