PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 104: Back To The Station

Megan gave Carina a small wave and quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Carina turned her attention back to Maya, gently running a hand through her hair once more. "Rest well, Bambina," she whispered, her voice full of love and tenderness.
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A/N: Day 2 of IVF

Maya stirred slightly at the sound of Carina's voice, her eyes fluttering open for a brief moment before closing again. She shifted in bed, curling into a more comfortable position, and let out a soft sigh. Carina watched her with a weary yet affectionate smile, her hand still gently stroking her hair.

Carina's exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she succumbed to sleep. She rested next to Maya, her body seeking the comfort and warmth of their bed. The room was quiet and still, save for the steady sound of their breaths in the night.

A few hours later Maya has an early shift at the fire station.

The blaring sound of the alarm clock shattered the silence, jolting Maya awake with a start. She groaned, her mind clouded with exhaustion and a pang of nausea. It took her a moment to remember the early start to her shift.

Maya sat up slowly, her movements sluggish as she grappled with the lingering effects of the medication. The nausea from the previous night still haunted her, but she knew she had to push through. She looked over at Carina sleeping peacefully beside her and felt a pang of guilt for having to leave so early.

Quietly, she got out of bed, trying her best not to disturb Carina. She padded slowly to the bathroom, stifling a yawn as she went through her morning routine. The tiredness hung heavily on her eyelids, and she could feel the weight of the long shift ahead on her shoulders.

After freshening up, Maya went back to the bedroom and got dressed. The room was still bathed in the soft light of the early morning, and Maya couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety. This wasn't just any ordinary shift; it was the first one since she started the hormone treatment.

She looked at Carina, still asleep in the bed, and took a moment just to watch her, feeling a pang of both love and worry. She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Carina's forehead, whispering, "I love you," before quietly slipping out of the room.

Maya silently made her way down the stairs, her movements still slow and sluggish from fatigue and lingering nausea. She found Andy and Megan already waiting in the kitchen, their shift about to start.

Andy looked up as Maya entered and offered a weary smile. "Hey, you made it! How're you feeling today?"

Maya managed a weak smile in return. "Better than yesterday, I guess. Still a bit tired and nauseous, but I'll manage."

Megan glanced at Maya with a mixture of concern and understanding. "You sure you're okay to be going in today? You look like you could use some more rest."

Maya shook her head, trying to project a sense of confidence. "Nah, I'm good. Can't take a day off just because I feel a a bit under the weather. We've got a job to do, and the team needs me."

Andy chuckled, giving her a knowing look. "You can be so stubborn, Maya. But okay, if you say so. Just remember to take it easy if you start feeling worse, alright?"

Maya smiled wryly, appreciating her sister and best friend concern. "Yeah, yeah. I'll try to remember that. But can we please get going? We're gonna be late otherwise."

Andy nodded, draining the rest of her coffee. "Right, you're the captain. You call the shots."

Megan finished her coffee as well. "Come on, let's go. And Maya, don't forget to grab the hormone injection, just in case you need it."