Maya POV
It's more than half the shift before I can find the time to stop and look at the phone. No text... it's not like you, but maybe your morning was as hectic as mine. I can finally do my workout, and that lifts me up. When I'm done, it's almost time to go home, which means it won't be long before I see you.
I've always loved my job, but the combination of our jobs isn't exactly ideal for a relationship. It kind of weighs on me that most of the time we spend together is in bed. And I don't mean time spent doing healthy bedtime exercise, no… we spend it sleeping.
- It's been a hell of a morning, but finally I can train. How are you? -
I'm writing to you as I get on the exercise bike and start pedaling like I'm on a mountain stage of the Tour de France. Just as I'm about to stick my earbuds in my ears, Vic walks in, sets her stuff down by the bench and loads a few weight plates onto the barbell.
The guys of shift B must have used it, because we don't use so light weight if not for warm-up... maybe if we take two minutes to sit on the bench to spend time waiting for a call, dressed in uniform. And you know, uniforms don't have to be stitched.
"Hey, you had the same idea as me, apparently"... she asks me.
"Yeah... I couldn't stand listening to Gibson complain about not knowing whether to make a move on Inara or not", I replied. I realize I still have enough breath left, so I decide to speed up the pace a little more.
"Well, sure, I get it... I mean, after what happened between you and Jack..." she comments. I love Vic, seriously, but I don't think there's a more talkative person in the station. And her statement couldn't be more wrong!
"That's not what I meant," I reply annoyed. I get off the exercise bike, it's time to exercise my arms. God, I love that you're crazy about my muscular arms... and if I want them to continue to have that effect on you, I need to train them properly. I grab a pair of dumbbells and sit on the free bench.
"Oh yeah that's right, sorry...how's it going with you and the sexy Italian doc? I saw her this morning...' Well curious, by now my colleagues seem to see you more than I do. I'd have to pick up a few extra ambulance shifts. It often happens that we have to stop at the hospital after transporting a patient. Wait. Vic wasn't on ambulance duty this morning. "Did you see her? Where?" I ask her.
"Yes, after I went to pick up the car from the mechanic, I picked up breakfast for the team and stopped at the café in front of the hospital. Travis talked my ear off about their donuts! I don't think Carina saw me, she was sitting with a chick, she seemed very caught up in the conversation" she tells me.
Wait... what?
"Who? Who was she with?" I urge her with my question. I try to focus on the weights instead of thinking about you, or I'm thinking about you, but I hope to God Vic doesn't tell me it was about...
"A blonde..."
It could be Teddy.
"Hair a little shaky... I can't tell you who she was, I don't know her. Hey, you're not telling me you're jealous, are you?"
Her tone becomes mischievous, defiant, and right now that's the last thing I need. I try to stay calm. The old Maya would have kicked the punching bag's ass by now, but the new me, the 2.0 version of Maya, really hopes with all her heart that it was Teddy, and even if it wasn't, I trust you.
Alarm sounds, call comes in.
"EMT 19, LADDER 19 - RESCUE CALL TO 802 BARRETT STREET"
Vic rushed out of the gym in no time, and I felt like the end of class bell just rang. I've decided that just in case, maybe I'd better go take a shower and get me ready to intervene. You learn early when you enter the fire department that the only shower you can enjoy is the one you take at home or the one after the end of your shift.
I change and hole up inside my office. I wish I was behind on paperwork, but I'm a perfectionist, and I'm also a little control freak, so no piles of run sheets on my desk.
I read through the reports of this morning's calls, and a little later I hear the vehicles come back in. "How did the intervention go, team?" I ask Travis, visibly amused by something that must have happened while they were out.
"Oh Captain, you should have been there! A guy went to see his girlfriend and when her father came back, he thought he'd go out the window and… sorry it makes me laugh too much," and burst into thunderous laughter.
"He hid in the tree just outside the window and then… ahahahah… he couldn't get down anymore," Vic continued.
"Can you believe it? There he was, with his pants in his hand, terrified like a poor kitten ahahahah! Best end-of-shift call we could have had," Travis commented.
I instinctively look at my watch... the shift is over. It's back home... but I'm not sure I'm looking forward to it as much as I was a few hours ago.
As soon as I get home, I feel tiredness sweeping me like a wave. I leave my bag with my stuff on the floor and decide to relax on the couch for a couple of minutes, enjoying the peace that reigns in this house, before starting to prepare dinner. I'm lying here, staring at the ceiling, wondering if that woman you had breakfast with this morning was Arizona. I've got this idea stuck in my head. It's not just an idea, I'd call it a feeling. For God's sake, there's nothing wrong with it, and I know I have to keep my jealousy in check, but I just can't do it right now.
I feel my eyes getting heavier as I try to get my body to get up and get busy, but it doesn't seem to respond. I decide to give in, and in a moment I fall asleep.
Carina POV
I open the front door and hear a strange silence. I see your sack in the lobby and I realize you're back, you're here somewhere. Suddenly I hear some light noises from the living room, so I walk over and see that you're lying on the couch, asleep. I understand it must have been a hard shift, as I rarely get to see you take a nap. I rest my hands on the backrest and reach out to you, leaving a light kiss on your forehead, before heading to the kitchen and starting to prepare dinner.
The smell of pizza in the oven invades the kitchen, announcing that it's almost ready, while you're still lying there, sound asleep. I turn off the oven and leave it there for a few more minutes so I can come and wake you up. I bend over my knees, sitting down on the carpet, right in front of you. With my hand I slightly move a lock of hair that covers your face. With my fingertips I gently trace your profile… your cheek, your chin, your cheekbones, your lips, everything about you is so perfect.
An uncontrollable instinct urges me to place my lips on yours… just for a moment, or so I thought. I can't tear myself away from you anymore. My light kisses follow one another, until they become more intense each time I touch your lips. Your body moves slowly, but it's when I hear you finally kiss me back that I realize you're waking up.
"Hey sleepyhead, dinner's almost ready," I whisper to you.
"But... how? When did you get here? I closed my eyes for a moment..." you reply.
"Let's make it a full hour," I object, teasing.
"Okay, okay, I'm getting up!" you reply, before stretching and joining me at the table. Your eyes are still sleepy, but when you see what I have prepared for you, which is your favorite food, a smile immediately appears on your face.
"So? How did it come out, good?" I ask you. His response is an eloquent bellow of approval. I laugh satisfied, knowing how much my cooking skills are always and however appreciated by you. In this case, though, the result surprised even me.
Dinner goes smoothly, you tell me about your day and I'll do the same with mine. I realize I deliberately avoid even mentioning breakfast with Arizona. I know I shouldn't, because there's no reason to keep this from you, but I'm already worried about having to tell you she's staying in town.
Until suddenly a strange silence descends upon us. And I realize that maybe if I don't tell you now, I'll just put it off until who knows when. And you should know that.
"Maya... there's something I need to tell you..." I begin. Your face gets curious as you take a sip of beer.
"Arizona comes back to live in Seattle..."
