Our Station 19 Verse

At the hospital 

And and Maya were put on the same room at Grey Sloan. Carina was seating next to her girlfriend as Pruitt was seating next to Andy. " Your idiotic girlfriend almost got herself killed today. She threw herself in front of a flying object at the explosion she was lucky it didn't hit her like a bullet. "

Carina eyes winded. " Bambina why would you do something like that?"

Maya bit her lip her hearing was terrible and she was resorting to reading lips. " I was afraid this ungrateful idiot would get hit. "

Andy rolled her eyes. " You were a rackless idiot and you ignored my detect order. You are cleaning toilets when we are clear to get back to work. "

Was than that Meredith walked in. " Those two are fighting from a hospital bed? You guys are worse than Zola and Bailey. "

Meredith came close to Andy's bed and kissd her temple. " How are you feeling beautiful?"

Andy smiled at her girlfriend. " Like I had just almost cooked to dead.  Dad you should go home and rest. I'm in good hands now. "

Pruitt sighed, reluctant to leave but knowing his daughter was in good hands. He glanced at Meredith, then at Andy. “You sure, mija?”

Andy nodded. “I’m sure, Dad. Go home, sleep. I’ll be fine.”

Pruitt gave her a lingering look before squeezing her hand and standing up. “Alright. But if anything changes, you call me.”

Meredith smiled reassuringly. “I promise we won’t let her out of our sight.”

Pruitt nodded at Meredith in thanks, then shot Maya a pointed look. “Try to not do any more heroic moves. "

Maya, still struggling to hear properly, caught enough of the tone to know he wasn’t exactly pleased with her. “Yes, sir,” she muttered, though she wasn’t exactly repentant.

As soon as Pruitt left, Carina turned to Maya, crossing her arms. “You still haven’t answered me, tesoro. Why did you throw yourself in front of an explosion like some action movie hero?”

Maya shrugged. “I wasn’t thinking. I just—" she hesitated, flicking a glance at Andy before looking back at Carina. “She was in danger. I reacted.”

Andy groaned. “You reacted by being reckless. That’s not how this works, Maya. I gave an order.”

Maya scowled. “Oh, excuse me, Leuitenent, for not standing by while you almost got  killed.”

Meredith sighed, sitting on the edge of Andy’s bed. “You two really are worse than my kids,” she muttered.

Andy turned her head toward her girlfriend, her eyes softening. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

Meredith’s expression softened too, and she brushed a strand of hair from Andy’s face. “Always.”

Carina, meanwhile, was still fuming. She reached over and flicked Maya’s forehead, causing the blonde to yelp. “Ow!”

“That’s for scaring me,” Carina said firmly. Then, with a softer voice, she cupped Maya’s face. “And this—” she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Maya’s lips, “—is because I love you.”

Maya sighed into the kiss, finally relaxing a little. “I love you too,” she murmured.

Andy pretended to gag. “Oh great, now they’re being gross.”

Meredith smirked. “You say that like you don’t turn into a lovesick puppy the second I touch you.”

Andy opened her mouth to argue, but Meredith silenced her with a kiss of her own.

Later that day Carina walked into Maya's apartment with her girlfriend. " Let's get you to the shower. You will feel much better after a cold shower. "

Maya legend agaist her girlfriend. " That is exactly what I need. "

Carina guided Maya toward the bathroom, her arm wrapped securely around her girlfriend’s waist. Maya was still unsteady on her feet, partly from exhaustion. Her ears were still ringing. 

Once they reached the bathroom, Carina turned on the shower, letting the cold water run for a moment before adjusting it to a more comfortable temperature. She turned back to Maya, who was leaning against the counter, looking drained.

"Come on, tesoro," Carina murmured, reaching for the hem of Maya's shirt.

Maya let Carina strep out her cloths before they walked tougher inside the shower. 

"Is it helping?" Carina asked softly.

Maya let out a breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. "A little."

A moment of silence passed between them before Maya finally spoke again. "I scared you today."

Carina let out a shaky sigh. "Yes, you did."

Maya shut her eyes, the guilt settling heavy in her chest. "I didn’t think, Carina. I just—" She swallowed hard. "I saw Andy in danger, and I didn’t want to lose her."

Carina’s voice was soft but firm. "I understand that. But do you know need to think about yourself too."

Maya reached for Carina’s hand, squeezing it tightly. " Car I didn't have much time to think. I just took a slip of second decision. "

Carina stepped closer, leaning her forehead against Maya’s through the shower glass. " I understand. Just… promise me you’ll be more careful. Please."

Maya nodded. "I promise."

After Maya finished showering and changed into clean clothes, she walked out to find Carina sitting on the couch, her arms wrapped around a pillow. She looked tired, worry still etched into her features.

Maya didn’t say anything—she just walked over, sank onto the couch, and pulled Carina into her arms. They sat there in silence for a long moment, holding each other, the weight of the day finally settling around them.

Maya crouched on the bench in front of her locker, rolling her shoulders like she could shake off the weight pressing down on her. The firehouse hummed with noise—the murmur of conversation, the distant clatter of boots on the stairs—but it all reached her in muffled, indistinct waves. Like she was underwater, like the world was speaking a language she no longer understood.

Her ears still rang from the garage explosion days ago, but worse than the ringing was the silence creeping in behind it.

She hadn’t told anyone.

Not Andy, who had been watching her too closely ever since they got out of that fire. Not Jack, who’d ask questions she wasn’t ready to answer. 

No, she could handle this.

She had to handle this.

She focused on the locker in front of her, pretending to listen as Andy said something from the doorway. Her best friend’s voice barely registered—just a blur of sound, the edges lost in the static inside her head. Maya forced a smile anyway, nodding at what she hoped was the right moment.

Andy frowned. “Maya, you okay?”

Maya’s stomach clenched. “Yeah,” she answered too quickly, forcing nonchalance into her tone. “Just tired.”

Andy’s eyes narrowed, but before she could press further, the alarm blared overhead. Maya felt it more than she heard it, the vibration against her ribs.

She grabbed her gear, relieved to have an excuse to escape. She didn’t see Andy’s lingering concern as she followed the team out to the rigs.

She didn’t hear Andy call her name again.

They were called to a apartment fire. Andy was the Captain that day. " Bishop I need you and Miller on search and rescue. Hudges, Warren , Larson vent that Gibson , Montogomey Fire attack. Diaz and Cutler set triage. "

Maya couldn't understand what Andy was saying. Miller grabbed her arm. " Bishop let's move. "

Than Maya understood. She was on search and rescue with with Dean. She put her mask on and moved inside. 

Ten minutes later they were still searching for victms. Than Maya realized she didn't have eyes on Dean. The visibility was low. Than she  heard something coming from the pantry. She opened the door to find a kid that couldn't be more than ten. She grabbed the kid in her arms. " My dad! " The boy yelled enough for Maya to heard it. " Dean I have a kid here there father is at the apartment somewhere.."

Maya hears him replay but couldn't tell what he was saying. That she heard Andy yell something she couldn't understand. Maya moved to walk out the apartment but the exit was blocked. Maya head a bip half of her oxigen was gone. 

Meanwhile outside the building. " Bishop do you copy? Miller ready to the extraction trough the wall? Where is Bishop. ," ready Cap I have the dad. I don't have eyes on Bishop but she said she has the son. "

Andy took a deep breath. " Gibson get Miller and the father out fast.  I'm moving inside to get Bishop and the kid. "

Gibson shook his head. " Andy you just called for a mayday!"

Andy put her mask on. " That is why I'm sending myself and not someone else. No one else gets in this building. I have no time to waist use the ladder do get Miller I will climb up the light pole and get in trough the window. Be ready to extract us. "

Maya’s breath came fast and shallow as she crouched, shielding the boy against her chest. The fire roared around them, thick smoke curling along the ceiling. Her oxygen supply was running low. She could feel the lightheadedness creeping in, the edges of her vision dimming.

She tried the radio again. “Andy, I need an exit—”

Silence.

Or maybe not silence. Maybe there was a response, but she just couldn't hear it.

The kid whimpered, clinging to her bunker coat. "We have to find my dad!"

Maya’s heart clenched. “He’s safe,” she assured him, not sure if she was speaking too loudly or too softly. “We’re gonna get out now, okay?”

She turned toward the hallway, scanning for any possible escape. The front door was blocked, flames licking at the walls. The window—the only way out—was too far, too high.

Then she felt it. The vibrations through the floorboards.

Someone was coming.

Andy gritted her teeth as she climbed the light pole, smoke stinging her eyes. She could hear Gibson barking orders over the radio, could feel the team’s tension. But right now, her only focus was Maya.

She reached the second-floor window, smashing it with her Halligan. Flames reflected in her visor, the heat immediate and oppressive.

“Bishop!” she called, her voice raw.

For a moment, nothing.

Then—movement. A shadow shifting in the smoke.

Andy hauled herself through the broken window, landing hard on her knees. The heat was unbearable, her breath already labored through her mask.

Then she saw her.

Maya was crouched low, holding the kid tightly, blinking sluggishly like she was fighting to stay conscious.

“Andy?” Maya’s voice was distant, uncertain.

Andy’s heart dropped. She was close enough to see the confusion in Maya’s eyes, the way she hesitated like she wasn’t even sure what Andy had just said.

No time to think.

Andy crossed the distance in three strides, grabbing Maya’s shoulder. “We’re getting out.”

“Follow me,” she said praticly dragging Maya towards the window 

Maya nodded.

Andy scooped the boy into her arms and yanked Maya toward the window.

Outside the building 

Jack and Dean were waiting, ladder extended, ready for extraction.

Andy climbed through first, securing the kid to her harness. “Take him!” she shouted as she handed him off to Dean.

Then she turned back to Maya.

Maya hesitated.

“Come on, Bishop!” Andy reached for her.

For a second, Maya didn’t move. Like her brain was catching up to everything all at once. The heat, the deafening silence, the exhaustion clawing at her.

Then she saw Andy’s eyes—fierce, determined, hers—and she grabbed Andy’s outstretched hand.

Andy pulled her through the window just as flames swallowed the room behind them.

Jack and Dean hauled them down the ladder, Andy holding tight to Maya’s gear as they hit the ground.

Only then did Andy let herself breathe.

Maya swayed on her feet. Andy caught her.

“Bishop,” Andy said firmly.

Maya’s lips parted. “I can’t hear you.”

Andy’s chest tightened.

“What! Andy yelled loud enough for Maya to hear it. " I don't have time for this everyone back off this thing is about to collapse!"

Andy dragged Maya away as the building stated to collapse. " Are you out of your mind! You almost got yourself, that kid and me killed!  I'm benching you for a week. Than you are on desk duty until an doctor clears you right Gibson?"

Gibson nodded. " Yes right! You were fucking reackles Bishop!"

Maya sat on the back of an ambulance, her head in her hands, her body still shaking from adrenaline and exhaustion. Her bunker coat was unzipped, sweat-soaked, and heavy around her shoulders. The ringing in her ears had only gotten worse, a steady, high-pitched whine that drowned out most of the chaos around her.

She barely registered the paramedic checking her vitals.

Andy stood a few feet away, arms crossed tight over her chest, pacing like she was trying to keep herself from exploding. Jack was next to her, shaking his head, his own frustration barely contained.

“Reckless doesn’t even cover it,” Jack muttered.

“No, it doesn’t,” Andy shot back. She turned to Maya, stepping forward. “You knew something was wrong, didn’t you?”

Maya lifted her head, her jaw clenching. “I—”

“Don’t even try to lie to me right now.” Andy’s voice was sharp, cutting. “You couldn’t hear me inside. You weren’t reacting like you should’ve. And instead of telling someone, you walked into a burning building and almost got yourself killed.”

Maya wanted to argue. She wanted to say she had it under control. But the truth sat heavy in her chest. She hadn’t had it under control.

She swallowed hard, staring at the ground. “I thought…I thought it would get better.”

Andy let out a harsh breath, dragging a hand through her soot-streaked hair. “You thought?”

Jack stepped in, slightly calmer. “Maya, you should’ve said something. If Andy hadn’t gone in after you—” He stopped himself, shaking his head again. “ She shouldn't even have gone in. She had to break protocol and put her life at risk. If I was the Capitain today you would be under that ruble. "

Maya clenched her fists. “I tough I could handle-”

Andy knelt in front of her, her voice softer but no less firm. “I need you to understand something. This is not a track meet Bishop. At this line of work you don't get a silver medal when you lose. You die. !"

Maya’s stomach twisted. Firefighting was everything. It was the only thing she’d ever been good at. “Andy—”

“No.” Andy’s tone left no room for argument. “ You don't get to put your life and the life of others at risk just because you can seat out after an injury. 

Jack exhaled, stepping back. “You need to see the doctor. Now."

Maya wanted to argue. She wanted to pretend she could still fix this. But the ringing in her ears was deafening, and the exhaustion in her bones was impossible to ignore.

So, instead, she just nodded.

Andy held her gaze a moment longer, then stood, turning to the paramedic from 88. “Make sure she gets checked out.”

Then, without another word, she walked away.

Maya didn’t watch her go. She just sat there, staring at the ground, knowing she’d messed up.

Knowing she’d have to face the consequences.

Maya sat stiffly on the hospital bed, arms crossed tightly over her chest. The beeping monitors and hushed conversations around her felt distant, blurred by the unrelenting ringing in her ears. A nurse had already checked her vitals, but now she was waiting—waiting for someone to tell her what she already knew.

She wasn’t okay.

The curtain swished open, and Maya barely turned her head before Carina stormed in, her dark eyes sharp with concern.

“What the hell, Maya?” Carina’s voice was thick with emotion, her Italian accent more pronounced than usual. “Why am I hearing from Andy—Andy, not you—that you ran into a fire half-deaf and nearly got yourself killed?”

Maya winced, looking away. “I didn’t—”

Carina grabbed her chin, gently but firmly turning Maya’s face toward her. “Do not lie to me right now.”

Maya swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Carina’s gaze. “I thought it would go away,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Carina closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, like she was trying to find patience she didn’t have. When she opened them again, they were glassy with unshed tears.

“I swear, Maya, if you ever—ever—put yourself in danger for being stupida like that-” Carina trailed off, shaking her head.

Before Maya could respond, the curtain opened again, and Amelia Shepherd stepped in, flipping through a chart. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite reckless firefighter.”

Maya sighed. “I feel like I should be offended by that.”

Amelia gave her a look. “You shouldn’t. Because you were reckless. But let’s talk about your ears.” She set the chart down and folded her arms. “You have significant temporary hearing loss. The explosion caused acoustic trauma, which basically means your inner ear took a serious beating. It might improve with time, but there’s no guarantee. I asked for a consultation from orto. Dr. Patel will see you shortly."

Maya didn't say anything. Didn't take long for Dr.  Patel to walk in. " I'm Dr. Hanni Patel. Let take a look on your ears. "

Maya winced slightly as Dr. Patel examined her ears, the ringing in her head growing louder in contrast to the gentle touch of the doctor’s fingers. Her mind was still on the fire, on the chaos, on the consequences.

Dr. Patel adjusted her glasses and looked up from the examination. “Maya, right now there is a lot of inflammation going on. We are going to put you in some steroids and we will see how you recover. You may have permanent partial hearing loss. It that case you may need hearing aids.  "

Maya shook her head. " I will have to quit being a firefighter?"

The doctor took a moment. " We will have to run tests with the hearing aids to see if you can meet the department hearing requirements. And you will need time to adapt. I'm sorry to not have better news."

Maya’s heart sank at the words. She had always been a fighter, always pushed through, but the reality of losing her hearing hit harder than any physical injury she had ever sustained. The thought of not being able to return to her job—the job she had poured every ounce of herself into—felt like a death sentence.

“No,” she muttered, shaking her head again as if she could somehow will the reality to change. “I can’t—I can’t quit. I can’t leave this behind.”

Dr. Patel’s expression softened, but there was no denying the gravity of the situation. “I understand, but if you can’t meet the hearing requirements, the department won't let you go back to the field. It's not up to you to decide.”

Maya’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t imagine a life without firefighting, without her family at Station 19. She didn't even know who she was without that job anymore. 

Just then, Carina stepped closer, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and something more. She reached for Maya’s hand, squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to figure out anything now,” she said quietly, her voice breaking through Maya’s swirling thoughts. “ I'm here for you bambina. "

Maya nodded, though it didn’t ease the dread settling in her chest. She tried to focus on Carina’s comforting words, on the soft touch of her hand, but the ringing in her ears was relentless, a constant reminder of how everything had shifted.

A week had passed, and Maya found herself sitting in the waiting room of Dr. Patel’s office, the soft hum of the overhead lights adding to the familiar yet foreign sound of her world. The ringing in her ears had not subsided, still present as a constant, intrusive companion. She shifted uncomfortably in the chair, her leg bouncing in rhythm with her anxious heartbeat.

Carina was beside her, her hand resting lightly on Maya’s knee, a silent comfort in the midst of Maya’s brewing storm. Maya had barely spoken over the past few days. She had been trying to absorb everything, trying to come to terms with the fact that her entire future could be altered by something as simple as the sound of an explosion.

“Maya,” Carina said softly, leaning in so only she could hear. “We’ll take this one step at a time, okay? No matter what happens, I’m with you.”

Maya gave a slight nod, appreciating the reassurance but unable to silence the voice of doubt in her head. Her whole identity had been tied to being a firefighter, and the thought of losing that, of being forced into a life she couldn’t even imagine, felt suffocating.

The door to Dr. Patel’s office opened, and the doctor’s warm smile didn’t quite ease the tension in Maya’s chest. “Maya, come on in,” Dr. Patel called, stepping aside to let them both enter.

Maya stood up, her legs slightly unsteady beneath her as she followed Carina into the office. The walls were lined with diplomas and medical certifications, a sterile, clinical space that felt worlds apart from the chaotic, adrenaline-fueled world of the firehouse. Dr. Patel gestured to the exam chair, and Maya sat down reluctantly.

“Let’s see how things are progressing,” Dr. Patel said as she set a few charts down on the desk. She glanced at Maya with a professional yet sympathetic expression. Before staring to exam her ear“The steroids we started last week have healed the inflammation, but not the arm done by the explosion."

Maya’s heart dropped. She had been holding onto the faintest hope that things would get better, that  world would go back to normal.

Dr. Patel continued, “Unfortunately, the damage to your ear drams is permanent. You will need hearing aids. "

The words felt like a punch to Maya’s gut. She squeezed Carina’s hand tighter, but even the comfort of her touch couldn’t chase away the fear that clawed at her chest. “But… if the hearing aids work…?” Maya’s voice cracked, desperation seeping through.

“If the hearing aids improve your hearing enough to meet the department's standards, then you can return to active duty,” Dr. Patel said cautiously, her tone betraying the gravity of the situation. “But there are no guarantees. We’ll need to take it one step at a time.”

Maya took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the weight of the uncertainty was crushing. Carina leaned over and kissed the top of her head, her fingers brushing Maya’s hair as she whispered, “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together.”

But Maya wasn’t sure how much more she could take of this waiting game. She needed answers. She needed to know if she could return to the only thing that had ever felt like home.

“I’m not ready to give up,” Maya said softly, more to herself than anyone else in the room. “I won’t be ready until I’ve tried everything.”

Dr. Patel nodded. " So let's do the feeting for the hearing aids. "

Two weeks later Maya was back to Dr. Patel's office. Carina was with her. As soon as the hearing aids were one she could hear. " I can hear! It worked. "

Dr. Patel looked at her simpateticly. " We still need to run tests to see if you meet the department requirements. Let's get started. "

Maya nodded nervously. 

Maya sat in the soundproof testing booth, her heart pounding as she focused on the faint beeps and tones in her ears. The hearing aids had given her back what she thought she had lost, but the real question remained—was it enough?

Carina stood just outside the booth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, watching through the small window. Maya could see the tension in her posture, the barely restrained worry in her dark eyes.

Dr. Patel's voice came through the small speaker inside the booth. "Okay, Maya, we're going to run through the department's required thresholds now. I need you to press the button every time you hear a sound, no matter how faint."

Maya took a deep breath and nodded, fingers tightening around the small remote in her lap.

The test began.

The minutes dragged on, each tiny beep feeling like a lifeline—one step closer or one step further from the life she knew. Some tones were clear, crisp, easy to pick up. Others were softer, on the edge of her perception, and those were the ones that made her sweat. She strained, listening harder than she ever had before.

Dr. Patel looked up from her clip board. " You are doing well so far but now it's the most important part. Test your ability to understand speech. You can't do your job if you can't clearly communicate.

When the test ended, Dr. Patel walked back into the room with a tablet in her hand, reviewing the results. Maya’s entire body tensed as she waited.

Carina stepped closer, resting a hand on Maya’s shoulder.

Dr. Patel exhaled, then smiled. “Maya, your results are within the department's acceptable range. You’re cleared for active duty.”

Maya blinked. “Wait… I passed?”

“You passed,” Dr. Patel confirmed. “Your hearing is still not what it was before the explosion, but with these hearing aids, you meet the standards necessary to safely do your job.”

Maya let out a shaky breath, and suddenly Carina was hugging her, arms wrapped around her tightly. “Oh, bambina,” Carina whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I am so happy for you.”

Maya clung to her, relief crashing over her like a wave.

“I’m still a firefighter,” she murmured against Carina’s shoulder, barely believing it herself.

Carina pulled back slightly, cupping Maya’s face. “You are. But promise me—no more running into fires half-deaf, sì?”

Maya let out a small, teary laugh. “I promise.”

Dr. Patel gave them a moment before adding, “You’ll need regular check-ups, and there will be an adjustment period. You may still struggle in certain environments, especially with background noise. But with practice, your brain will adapt. The department is required to give you a special training. Will take a while but you be back to the field. "

Maya nodded quickly. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Carina kissed her forehead before resting her own against it. “Let’s celebrate bambina. "

Maya and Carina decided to go to the Station to tell the team the news. 

They walked in to find Andy holding Ellis while Zola and Bailey were seating on the engine. " Hi Herrera. I see those kids already have you happed around their finger. "

Andy smiled at her best friend. " You can say that. So any news?"

Maya nodded. " Well I will be back to work soon. I passed the test. "

Andy let out a smile. " That is great news Mai. I really missed having you here. Drinks after shift to celebrate,?"

Maya nodded. " Sure. But now I'm going to celebrate with my beautiful girlfriend. I see you later. "

That night, Maya and Carina sat across from each other at their favorite Italian restaurant, a quiet little spot that had always felt like a piece of home for Carina. The warm glow of the candlelight reflected in Carina’s dark eyes as she lifted her glass of wine.

“To you, bambina,” Carina said, her voice thick with emotion. “To your strength, your stubbornness, and to the fact that I get to keep worrying about you running into burning buildings.”

Maya chuckled softly, clinking her glass of whiskey against Carina’s. “And to you. For always being there. Even when I make incredibly stupid decisions.”

Carina arched an eyebrow. “Oh, you mean like running into a fire while half-deaf?”

Maya groaned. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“Not a chance.” Carina smirked, but then her expression softened. “I love you bambina. I need you to take better care of you yourself. "

Maya reached across the table, taking Carina’s hand in hers. “I love you too. Andy I promise I won't act stupid while on the job.”

Carina’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Good. Because you are stuck with me.”

Maya squeezed her hand. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As the night went on, they talked, laughed, and for the first time in weeks, Maya felt like she could breathe again. The weight of uncertainty had lifted, and in its place was the undeniable truth—she wasn’t facing this alone.

Two weeks later, Maya stood outside Station 19, a familiar nervous excitement coursing through her veins. She had been cleared for modified duty, meaning she wouldn’t be out in the field just yet, but she was back.

Andy was the first to spot her, grinning as she jogged over. “Look who’s finally back,” she teased, pulling Maya into a tight hug. “How does it feel?”

Maya exhaled, taking in the sight of the station—the trucks, the gear, the people she considered family. “Like I can finally breathe again.”

Andy nodded. “We missed you.”

“Missed you too,” Maya said. Then she smirked. “I heard you’ve been busy being Mami to Meredith’s kids.”

Andy rolled her eyes but smiled. “I wouldn't go that far yet but I can help but love them.” She nudged Maya. “Speaking of love, Carina was really awesome trough all of this. . "

Maya chuckled. “Yeah, she is amazing. I'm really lucky to have her. "

Andy snorted. “Yeah, you better keep her. "

Before Maya could reply, the station doors opened, and the rest of the team filtered out, cheering and clapping as they welcomed her back.

Vic grinned. “You ready to deal with us again, Bishop?”

Maya smirked. “ I'm always ready. "

As Maya looked around at her team, at her family, she felt something settle in her chest. She was home. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew she wasn’t facing them alone.

And for now, that was enough.