6x12 Part I
The damp air inside the cave clings to their skin as Station 19 works carefully to extract a hiker trapped below. Andy, harnessed and ready, grips the rope as Maya stands above, belaying her descent. Chief Ross observes from a few feet away, guiding the team through the difficult rescue.
The radio crackles to life, an urgent voice cutting through the tension.
"Dispatch , Aid Car 88 responding to a Hit-and-run outside Grey Sloan Women's Clinic. Two people injured including a doctor and s pregnant patient. "
Maya’s breath catches. Her fingers tighten on the rope. The blood drains from her face.
Andy immediately looks up. “Maya— calm down. You need to breath. "
Maya is frozen, panic flooding her system. Carina had a shift on the clinic that day.
Chief Ross steps forward, noticing the shift. "Bishop, focus. Keep your grip steady."
But Maya’s heart is pounding too loudly. Her vision blurs. She loses control of the belay, and suddenly—
"Whoa—!" Andy cries out as the rope slips. Gravity yanks her down too fast, and she slams hard against the jagged rock wall. Pain explodes in her side.
“Andy!” Maya gasps, hands fumbling with the rope, but Ross is already grabbing it, she manages to slow down but not stop the fall.
Maya looks down in panic to see that Andy is not moving. Vic who was going down besides and hurries to check on her teammate. " She has a pulse but her pulips are sluggish. We need to move her first. "
Maya starts to panic even more hear breathing getting very labored. Theo removed the rescue belt from her putting around his own waist as Jack pulled her at side. " Maya I need to breath with me okay. We are getting Andy out of here and we are getting news on Carina but you need to stay on your feet. "
Ross barked. " Gibson let's work on getting Grey and the victms out! "
Maya leaned against the cave wall trying to gasp for air. Andy was unresponsive on the bottom of a cave. Carina may have been hit by a car. She felt like everything around her was spening. After what Felt like hours the team managed to get Andy up.
Ross looked at Maya. " Go with her on the Aid Car. You too Warren and Hudges. "
For the first time since she heard the radio Maya took back control of her body as she fallowed Ben and Vic who were carrying Andy on a backboard.
Inside Aid Car 19
Vic drove as Ben checked Andy's vitals and Maya stated an IV. " Miranda was there too. I understand you are scared-"
Maya shook her head. " You don't Warren I may have killed my best friend my wife left me and now she may be - you have no Idea what I'm feeling right now so let's focus on keeping Andy alive. "
Ben exhaled through his nose, deciding not to argue. Maya was spiraling, but right now, Andy needed them both focused. He turned his attention back to their unconscious captain, his hands moving with practiced precision as he adjusted the oxygen mask over Andy’s face.
“Her BP is low. She’s lost a lot of blood,” he reported. “Maya, keep that IV steady. Vic, tell Grey Sloan to have trauma standing by. We’re coming in hot.”
Maya nodded, her fingers trembling as she held onto Andy’s arm. “Come on, Andy. Stay with me.” Her voice was hoarse. Her head pounded.
Vic, gripping the wheel so tight her knuckles were white, kept glancing at Maya in the rearview mirror. “We’re almost there. Just hold on.”
Ben pressed on Andy’s sternum. “Andy, if you can hear me, I need you to wake up.”
Nothing.
Maya clenched her jaw so hard it ached. The image of Andy lying broken at the bottom of that cave wouldn’t leave her mind. And now, on top of everything, Carina—God, Carina—
She grabbed her radio. “Dispatch, this is Aid Car 19. We need an update on that hit-and-run outside Grey Sloan Women’s Clinic we have Firegrthes who spouses were at the scene. And we need a trauma team and Neuro ready for us. We have a firefighter injuried. "
A beat of static, then—
“Victims are inbound to Grey Sloan. No word on their condition yet. I'm connecting you to Grey's Sloan. "
Was than that Derek's voice coming through the radio. " Hudges Addison was the doctor that was hit. Carina is operating on the pregnant patient that was hit. Please tell me the Firefighter you have is not Andy. "
Vic bit her lip. " It's Andy and she may have a brain bleed and abdominal bleeding as well. You need get everything ready an you need tell your ex-wife what is going on. "
Derek swore under his breath. “We’ll be ready when you get here. I’ll handle Meredith.”
Maya barely registered the rest of the conversation. Relief that Carina wasn’t the injured doctor mixed with the gut-wrenching reality of Andy’s condition. It didn’t matter that Carina was safe if Andy wasn’t.
She looked down at Andy, whose face was too pale, her breaths too shallow. “Please, Andy,” she whispered. “Stay with me.”
Ben squeezed Maya’s shoulder briefly. “She’s strong. She’s gonna fight.”
The Aid Car screeched to a stop outside Grey Sloan, and the back doors flew open. Meredith was already there, still in her scrubs, her face tight with worry.
“Andy?” She rushed forward as they pulled the stretcher out, her hands immediately finding Andy’s. “Baby, I’m here. I’m here.”
“She’s been unresponsive since the fall,” Ben said quickly. “Possible brain and abdominal trauma. BP is low, O2 is barely holding.”
Derek took over. " Take her to trauma two. We need a ultrasound of the abdomen brain. Meredith let us handle you know you can't treat your wife so I need you to trust me. "
Meredith nodded as she stepped at side. Maya couldn't even look at Meredith right now so she walked inside the hospital and went straight to the bathroom. Vic went after her.
Maya barely made it into the bathroom before her legs gave out. She braced herself against the sink, her whole body trembling as she sucked in sharp, shallow breaths. The fluorescent lights were too bright, the tiled walls felt like they were closing in. Andy was barely hanging on, and for a few terrifying moments, Maya had thought Carina was, too. The weight of it all crushed her.
She gripped the edge of the sink so tightly her knuckles turned white. Vic hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, placing a firm hand on Maya’s back.
“Hey, hey, Bishop, you gotta breathe,” Vic said, her voice steady but urgent. “I know it’s bad, I know. But you can’t fall apart right now.”
Maya let out a choked sound, somewhere between a gasp and a sob. “I let go,” she whispered. “I lost control, and Andy—” Her throat closed up.
Vic squeezed her shoulder. “No, Maya. That radio call? It would’ve rattled anyone. You’re not a machine. "
Maya shook her head. " You don't understand Vic how can I face Meredith or Andy's kids after that? You can't promise me Andy will make it and if she doesn't that is on me. "
Before Vic could say anything Maya cut her off. " You know what is ironic? When I bashed Andy to Sullivan to get my Capitancy I told him that Andy couldn't be capitain because she let her emotions interfere with her job. And now I drop her down a cave because I couldn't control my emotions. "
Maya broke down in sobs. Vic didn't say anything instead she hugged her.
Meanwhile at trauma two.
Derek and Amelia exchange glances. " Amelia she has a Brain bleed. She needs a trepanation. "
Bailey shook her head. " She is bleeding from her liver she needs sergury to repair. "
Derek looked at his sister. " You need to do now. We don't have time for a CT. Take her to the OR and do both procedures. "
Amelia nodded. " Get Meredith's consent and I will do it. "
Derek stepped out of the trauma room, searching the hallway until he found Meredith pacing a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The second she saw him, she rushed forward.
“What’s happening?” she demanded, her voice sharp with fear. “Tell me she’s okay.”
Derek exhaled heavily. “She has a brain bleed, Meredith.” He saw the way her face paled, but he had no time to ease into this. “We need to do a trepanation right now. We don’t have time for a CT scan—Amelia needs to relieve the pressure before it gets worse.”
Meredith blinked rapidly, her breath catching. “No CT?” Her jaw clenched. “You’re saying you want to drill into my wife’s skull without confirming the severity of the bleed?”
“Yes,” Derek said firmly. “Mer, if we wait for imaging, she might not make it to the OR in time. Amelia and I have done this before. We know what we’re looking for.”
Meredith pressed a hand to her forehead, her body vibrating with barely restrained panic. “And the abdominal bleed?”
“Bailey is prepping to repair her liver, but it’s bad. She needs both surgeries, and she needs them now.”
Meredith closed her eyes for a second, forcing herself to think like a doctor and not just Andy’s wife. But the fear—God, the fear—was unbearable. She had nearly lost Andy once before. The idea of losing her now was unthinkable.
She swallowed hard, looking up at Derek with glistening eyes. “You’re sure?”
Derek didn’t hesitate. “Yes. If is anyone who can do this is Amelia. She is better than I ever was.
Meredith nodded, barely above a whisper. " Okay. You have my concent. "
A few ours later.
Carina finally finished her sergury and went to grab some coffee. She ran into Ben. " Ben is something wrong?"
Ben nodded. " Yes. It's Andy. She felt down from a cave and is in surgery right now it's bad. Maya is hiding in the bathroom. When she heard about the incident at the clinic she had a panic attack dropped Andy. I know you guys are separated but Carina Bishop is a mess. "
Carina’s breath hitched. “Che cosa?” she whispered, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. “Andy—Maya—” Her mind reeled, trying to piece it together.
Ben nodded grimly. “Andy’s in surgery now. Brain bleed, liver damage—Derek and Amelia are operating. Maya’s… she’s spiraling, Carina. She thinks this is her fault.”
Carina’s heart clenched. It didn’t matter that she and Maya weren’t together right now. This wasn’t about that. This was about Maya. And Maya needed her.
“Where is she?” Carina asked, already moving.
“Bathroom down the hall,” Ben said. “Vic’s with her.”
Carina didn’t wait for more. She turned on her heel and rushed down the hallway, pushing open the door to the hospital bathroom.
Inside, Maya sat on the floor, knees drawn to her chest, her whole body trembling. Her hands were fisted in her hair, and Vic knelt beside her, murmuring softly.
The second Maya looked up and saw Carina, something in her cracked wide open.
“Car?” Her voice was hoarse, broken.
Vic exhaled in relief and stood. “I’ll give you guys a minute.” She squeezed Carina’s arm as she left.
Carina knelt in front of Maya, eyes scanning her face. Her usually sharp, fierce firefighter looked so small, so lost.
“Amore mio,” Carina murmured, her hands cupping Maya’s tear-streaked face. “Respira per me. Su, respira.” Breathe for me."
Maya choked out a sob. “I dropped her, Carina. I let go, and she—she hit the rocks so hard, and now she’s—” Her breath stuttered. “I should’ve been stronger. I should’ve—”
“Shh,” Carina whispered, pressing their foreheads together. “You are strong, Maya. You are. You had a panic attack, bambina. Your brain heard something terrifying, and your body reacted. That doesn’t mean this is your fault. I had no control over what happened. "
Maya shook her head violently. “But it is. Andy is fighting for her life because I—because I—” Another sob wracked her body.
Carina tightened her hold. “Listen to me,” she said firmly. “ You didn't choose this bambina. Your brain wasn't working properly. "
Maya choke another sob. " When I heard a doctor had been hit- I thought was you- And I panicked - and now - I'm a firefighter Carina I'm not allowed to panic on the middle of a call. "
Carina ran her fingers through Maya's hair. She didn't know what else to say. No words could make Maya feel better. The only thing that could fix this was Andy to be okay. " Bambina let's wait in my office is? "
Maya didn't say anything so Carina helped her up and let Carina guide her to her office.
Hours later.
Maya was leaning against Carina as they sat on the couch the blond was still crying and trembling while Carina ran her fingers through her hair. That was when Bailey walked in. " Andy is going to be fine. Amelia was able to get the pressure on her Bain under control and the bleeding is under control. I managed to repair the bleeding in her liver. She is out of the woods. "
Carina and Maya let out breaths of relief. " Grazie Bailey. "
Bailey nodded. " She has a broken upper arm. Will be a rough recovery but she will be back to running into burning buildings in a few months. "
Meanwhile at the ICU
Andy opened her eyes and saw Meredith holding her hand. " Hi angel. Is Carina okay? Who was hit ?"
Meredith squeezed Andy's hand. " Carina is okay. Addison was hit but nothing major. Is so like you waking up from a major sergury asking about someone else. How are you feeling?"
Andy blinked. " Really grog. "
Meredith let out a small smile. " What happened out there ? "
Andy took a pregnant pause. " Maya had a panic attack when she heard about the hit and run in the radio and let go of the rope. "
Meredith took a moment to process what she had just heard. " That explains why I haven't seen her. I witnessed Cristina have a flashback mid sergury. I know wasn't her fault. She is probably terrying herself apart over you getting hurt. "
Andy nodded. " I bet she is. "
Was than that Maya walked in with Carina praticly dragging her. " Bishop I'm going to be okay and what happened wasn't your fault. I had my share of panic attacks and I know how it is. The first really bad one I had I couldn't even find my way to Meredith's office. "
Maya shook her head. " But you didn't almost killed anyone. "
Andy took a pause. " I was lucky they didn't happen during a call. "
Meredith put her hand on Maya's shoulder. " Maya panick attacks make your brain and your body overwhelmed with all kind of things. Is impossible for someone keeps enough control of their motor function to properly handle a rappel rope. "
Maya didn't say anything. " Once Cristina have a flashback in the middle of a sergury with a patient laying on the table with their chest open. She literally dropped on the ground like she was about to be shoot. So don't think you could have prevented what happened. "
Maya didn't say anything else. No one did. After a while Andy felt at sleep and Carina took Maya to her hotel room. " I'm not ready to get back to the apartment but you can't be alone right now. I don't want to be alone either. "
Maya nodded. " Thank you. For letting me stay. I'm going to take a shower. "
Carina nodded and gave Maya some of her clothes. A pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Was Mays closed the bathroom door Carina laid in bed. Today she had to delivery the babe of a death woman. A woman that had be killed by someone that claimed to be pro life. She had been lucky enough to not be hit.
As the day couldn't get any worse Andy had almost died and now Maya was a wreck. In all their years of relationship she had never seen Maya cry like that. Not when her father had assaulted her, not when she was demoted. Not even when Maya had been put on a 5150.
Carina didn't want to get close to her wife again before she could trust that things were different but she couldn't leave my alone. She couldn't be alone herself.
As soon as Maya walked out of the bathroom Carina opened her arms so the blond could lay in them.
Maya snuggled into her. " I'm sorry. You went through something horrible today and I didn't even ask you how you were feeling. I'm sorry-"
Carina ran her fingers through Maya's hair. " It's okay bambina. You don't have to apologize What I want the most is for you to let me in. You are doing that now and it means a lot. "
Maya gripped the ham of Carina's shit." Wasn't just that. I was so lost on my mess that I stopped paying attention on your feelings on your needs."
Carina kissed Maya's temple. " And you are here worrying about my feeling after you spent hours running on panic. The hit and run it lest for a second. I was able to get of the way. I knew I was safe. I'm not scared for the moment. I'm scared because there are people in this country going after doctors who perform abortions. "
Maya paused for a moment. " So that wasn't a one time thing?"
Carina shook her head no. " There has been treats and protests. Is getting bad. There were bomb attacks in other clinics around the country. "
Maya took a moment to absorve what Carina had just said. "
Maya swallowed hard, her grip on Carina tightening. "I— I didn't know it was this bad," she admitted, her voice small. "I mean, I knew there were threats, but bombings? People actually trying to kill doctors for doing their job?"
Carina sighed, pressing her lips against Maya's temple. "It's been getting worse. The clinic has extra security, but there’s only so much they can do. And today… today just proved that it’s not just empty threats."
Maya's jaw clenched. "Have you told the police? Are they doing anything?"
Carina let out a humorless chuckle. "They took my statement, but unless they catch the driver, there’s not much they can do. Even then, who’s to say it won’t happen again? Who’s to say the next person won’t be faster or more accurate?"
Maya pulled back to look at her, her blue eyes dark with worry. "Then you need to stop going. You can’t keep putting yourself in danger like this."
Carina frowned. "Maya…"
"No, Carina!" Maya sat up, running a hand through her damp hair. "You almost got killed today. I can’t— I can’t lose you." Her voice cracked, and she exhaled shakily, trying to hold herself together.
Carina sat up too, reaching for Maya's hands. "Bambina, I know you’re scared. But this is my job. These women need me. I can’t just walk away. Some of this woman are pregnant with their abusive partner's babe. Some have been raped. There are kids Maya. Kids around Zola's age. You ran into burning buildings for a living. That clinic is my burning building. "
Maya took a pregnant pause. " I'm sorry I have no right to ask you to step out. I just want you to be safe. Running inside burning building is deferent from being attack by violet nazis. "
Carina exhaled softly, squeezing Maya’s hands. “I know, amore. And I know you’re coming from a place of love. But this is what I do. This is who I am.”
Maya swallowed hard, nodding. "I just— I don’t know how to protect you from this." Her voice was raw with frustration and fear. "I don’t know how to live in a world where people think they have the right to hurt you for helping women."
Carina's eyes softened. "You don't have to protect me from everything, Maya. You just have to be here with me." She ran her fingers through Maya’s damp hair, grounding them both. "I know this is terrifying. But if I let fear control me, then they win. And I refuse to let them win."
Maya let out a shaky breath, leaning her forehead against Carina’s. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered.
"You won’t," Carina promised. "But I need you to trust me. To believe in me the way I believe in you when you go into a fire."
Maya a pause than said. " Car you don't have training to fight violet people. I'm not asking you to step down but maybe you could take some safity majors. "
Carina ran her fingers through Maya's. " I promise I will be careful bambina. "