PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 70: Baby Fever

Travis chimed in, his voice laced with amusement. "Looks like Carina's caught the baby itch. What are you going to do about it, Captain?"
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Maya sighed, the weight of the topic hanging heavy in her mind. "I don't know, guys. Carina and I have discussed it before, and you all know my stance. I've always been upfront about not wanting kids. But I love Carina, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her. This baby fever thing she's got going on is making everything more complicated."

There was a moment of sympathetic silence over the radio as the crew understood the dilemma Maya was facing. It was a tough situation, juggling the love for someone and different desires for the future.

Jack's voice came through the radio, a hint of concern in his tone. "Have you talked to Carina about this since you found out about her baby fever?"

Maya sighed again, feeling the weight of the topic on her shoulders. "No, I haven't. She's at work, and I'm in the middle of this call. But we'll definitely be talking about it later. I can't avoid it forever, especially not when it's something this important to her."

There was a chorus of understanding responses from the crew, each reassuring Maya that they were there for her and supporting her in her dilemma. The radio went silent for a moment, as they all shifted their focus back to the fire and their jobs at hand.

The crew continued working, the conversation about Carina's baby fever lingering in the back of Maya's mind. She knew they would have to address it eventually, and it was weighing heavily on her heart. But for now, she needed to concentrate on the mission at hand and ensure her crew's safety and the safety of those affected by the fire.

The radio crackled to life again, pulling Maya out of her thoughts. Andy's voice came through, a hint of tension in her tone. "We're getting reports of a gas leak near the fire, Captain. It's getting unstable."

Immediately, the crew's focus sharpened. They knew the dangers of a gas leak, especially in the middle of a fire. Maya spoke into the radio, her voice stern and urgent. "Copy that. Proceed with caution, guys. Watch your step and stay alert."

The unexpected explosion rocked the scene, the force sending a wave of heat and smoke through the air. The crew stumbled back, caught off guard by the suddenness and intensity of the blast. Maya immediately radioed in a warning. "We've got an explosion, I repeat, there's been an explosion! Everyone, check in!"

Maya's heart skipped a beat as she heard the voices of her crew checking in, but when Megan's response didn't come through, a sense of dread washed over her. "Megan, come in. Megan, respond!" she called out urgently over the radio.

Jack's immediate response came through the radio. "On it, Captain."

He took off towards where he last saw Megan, his heart pounding with each step. The smoke and flames hindered his vision, but he pressed on, determined to find their teammate.

Maya clenched her fists as she watched Jack disappear into the flames, her heart racing with worry for both Jack and Megan. She took a deep breath, trying to push aside her fear and focus on being the strong leader her crew needed right now.

Maya quickly grabbed Andy's arm, stopping her from following Jack. "We can't risk losing more people, Andy. Jack's got this."

Andy protested, her eyes filled with worry. "But Megan's out there! She's my girlfriend! I have to go help!"

Maya's grip on her arm tightened, her voice firm yet gentle. "I know, Andy. But we can't recklessly rush in there. We need to stick together and trust Jack to find her."