A few nights later Maya and Carina stood together in the kitchen cooking dinner, Carina had been reminiscing about when she and Alex first moved to Seattle. The conversation was easy and light, filled with memories and a hint of nostalgia.
"Did I ever tell you about the playgroup Alex and I joined when we first got here?" Carina asked as she chopped vegetables for dinner. Her voice had a soft, thoughtful quality to it.
Maya shook her head, leaning against the counter as she watched Carina work. "No, I don't think you did. How'd you find them?"
Carina smiled, the memory bringing a bit of warmth to her expression. "It was one of the first things I did when we moved here," she explained. "I wanted Alex to meet other kids his age and start building some friendships, and I figured it would be a good way for me to meet other parents too. The group was welcoming right away, and Alex loved it. He made friends quickly, but as you know, we got busier, and we haven't been to the meetups in a while."
Maya nodded, intrigued. "That sounds great for both of you. How often do they meet?"
"Usually once a month," Carina said. "But with my schedule at Grey Sloan and everything going on, we've missed the last few meetups. I actually got a call from the group's coordinator the other day. She mentioned they're meeting this month at Alex's favorite park in West Seattle. The coordinator remembered how much he loved it there and wanted to make sure we knew about it."
Maya's smile widened. "I didn't know Alex had a favorite park. What's so special about this one?"
Carina laughed softly as she rinsed the vegetables. "It has everything a little boy could want—slides, swings, a splash pad, and even a big sandbox. Alex always talks about the climbing structure that looks like a pirate ship. He used to pretend he was the captain, leading his crew on all sorts of adventures. We would go there at least once a week when we first arrived."
Maya chuckled at the thought, picturing Alex playing at the park with his wild imagination. "Sounds like a great spot. Are you thinking of going this time?"
Carina nodded. "I've been thinking about it," she said. "It's been a while, and I know Alex misses some of the friends he made there. Plus, it could be nice to reconnect with the other parents."
Maya's expression softened. "It sounds like a great idea," she said. "You two deserve a fun day at the park, and it'll be good for Alex to see his friends again."
Carina smiled, a little more relaxed now. "I think so too," she said. "I was planning to tell Alex about it tomorrow morning with everything being kind of last minute. I wanted to make sure I was actually off of work and didn't get called in before I got his hopes up. He'll be so excited when he hears we're going back to that park."
As dinner finished cooking, Maya set the table. Soon the three were seated at the table and discussing the day's events. Alex talked non-stop about his new friend Jayden and how Jayden just got a new Batman toy. Maya and Carina exchanged smiles as he continued to talk about his day.
The rest of the evening was their normal routine of Alex choosing to watch TV as Maya and Carina cleaned the kitchen. Alex's bedtime went smoothly with sleep overcoming him before the bedtime story was complete.
As Carina and Maya got in bed for the evening, Carina's mind was thinking about how excited Alex would be the next morning when she told him what the day's events were.
"You must be thinking about me with that smile across your face." Maya chuckled.
"Stupida. Just thinking about how much fun Alex is going to have tomorrow at the park." Carina replied. "But when I think about you I do smile."
Maya rolled over and snuggled up against Carina as they turned the lights out. "Good."
– – –
The next morning as Maya was getting ready for work, Carina was cooking breakfast. All of a sudden she heard cries of joy coming from the kitchen, followed by little footsteps running toward the bedroom.
"Guess what Maya?" Alex was dancing around the bathroom as Maya finished brushing her teeth.
"What?" Maya replied, relishing in the joy on Alex's face. The little boy danced all around Maya as she moved from the bathroom to the bedroom, twirling and jumping with excitement.
"Mamma and I are going to the park today to meet my friends." Alex said as he jumped on their bed.
"That sounds like so much fun. I bet your friends are going to be so excited to see you." Maya smiled as she sat down on the bed and finished putting her shoes on. Alex dropped down on his knees watching Maya tie her shoelaces.
"The park has the bestest playground ever and even has a pirate ship." Alex followed Maya down the hallway, still chatting away.
The three sat down to eat pancakes Carina had prepared for breakfast. Alex was happily munching on his pancakes, chattering away about the park they were going to visit. Every piece of playground equipment was his favorite in his description.
Maya nodded thoughtfully, her eyes flicking toward Alex, who was enthusiastically finishing his breakfast. "That sounds like a great spot. I bet all of your friends are going to be so excited to see you."
Alex piped up from his seat, looking between the two women with wide eyes. "Are we going to see the swings first, Mamma?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement. "I want to go really high today!"
Carina chuckled softly, ruffling Alex's hair. "Yes, tesoro. We can go to the swings first."
Carina started to clean up from breakfast as Maya was getting ready to head out for her shift at the firehouse. Maya grabbed her work bag and turned toward Carina and Alex. Alex was sitting on the sofa completely absorbed in the latest episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Maya knelt down to Alex's level, reaching out to give him a quick hug. "Alright, buddy," she said gently. "Have fun at the park today, okay? Be good for your Mamma."
"Ok." Alex responded as he couldn't tear his eyes away from the tv.
Maya leaned in and kissed Carina on the lips. "Have fun today. I love you"
"Ewwww!" Alex called out from the sofa watching his Mamma and Maya kiss.
"Eww!" Carina said as both her and Maya ran over to the sofa to start kissing him all over. Alex laughed wildly as he rolled between the two as they continued kissing him. His laughter filled the entire room.
After a few minutes, Maya and Carina let up. Carina kissed Maya again telling her "I love you too. Have a good shift."
— — —
As Carina and Alex were about to leave the house to meet, Carina quickly sent a text to Maya.
Carina:
We're about to head out, ️ Hope you have a great shift.
Maya responded almost immediately.
Maya:
Have fun! Text me if you need anything. Love you both! ️
Carina smiled at Maya's message. She grabbed Alex's hand, and they headed to the car. The sun was shining brightly as they set off toward West Seattle, both Carina and Alex were excited to reconnect with some friends.
But as they approached the bridge that would take them into West Seattle, traffic began to slow—then crawl. Carina frowned, glancing nervously at the clock on the dashboard. Alex, seated in the back with his favorite toy dinosaur, was content for the moment, but she could tell the stop-and-go motion of the traffic would wear on him soon.
As the minutes ticked by, the traffic barely budged. Carina realized they were going to be late for the playgroup.
Alex started to squirm in his seat, kicking his legs restlessly. "Mamma, why aren't we moving? Are we almost there?"
Carina glanced back at him through the rearview mirror, trying to keep her tone calm and soothing. "I know it's frustrating, tesoro. There's a lot of traffic, but we'll get there soon, okay? Just hang tight."
Alex huffed, clearly getting impatient, and started tapping his dinosaur against his car seat. "But I wanna play on the swings," he muttered, his little face scrunched up in frustration.
Carina took a deep breath, trying to remain calm despite the anxiety building in her chest about the delay. Carina texted the playgroup coordinator.
Carina: Running late to the playgroup. There is an absurd amount of traffic on the bridge.
After hitting send, Carina put her phone down and focused back on the road. The traffic continued to inch forward, and she did her best to keep Alex entertained, asking him about his day at preschool and making small talk about the dinosaurs he loved so much.
— — —
Vic burst into the rec room at Station 19, her eyes wide with urgency. The crew, who had been lounging and relaxing between calls, immediately straightened up, sensing that something was wrong before she even spoke.
"I was standing by the radio," Vic said breathlessly, "and I heard over dispatch—a ferry just crashed into a bridge. It's bad, really bad."
The room went silent for a split second as everyone processed her words, but before anyone could respond, the alarms blared throughout the firehouse, signaling that all engines and the aid car were being called to the scene. The room erupted into action, the calm moments of relaxation now a distant memory.
Maya was the first to move, leaping from her seat and throwing on her turnout gear with practiced speed. "Let's go, people!" she called out to the rest of the crew. "Everyone to the rigs!"
Travis, Warren, Andy, Vic and Jack quickly followed suit, grabbing their gear and heading toward their assigned vehicles. The mood was electric, charged with adrenaline as they prepared to respond to what could only be a mass casualty situation. The weight of what lay ahead pressed on all of them.
"Ferry into a bridge?" Warren muttered to Travis as they jogged toward the aid car. "This is going to be a disaster."
Travis nodded grimly. "Yeah. Could be a lot of injuries—and worse."
As they boarded their respective engines and aid cars, the station was already buzzing with activity, other crews preparing to head out as well. Maya jumped into the front seat of Engine 19, her jaw set with determination as she quickly mapped out the route in her mind. She glanced back at her crew, who were seated and ready for action.
"Alright, everyone," she said as the engine roared to life, "we don't know exactly what we're walking into, but we know it's going to be bad. Stick together, stay sharp, and be ready for anything. Let's do what we do best—save lives."
The engine tore out of the station, sirens blaring, closely followed by the aid car and the other units from Station 19. The streets blurred past them as they sped toward the scene, the weight of the situation heavy in the air.
No one spoke much during the ride. The tension was palpable, and everyone was mentally preparing for the chaos that was sure to unfold once they arrived. Maya glanced down at her phone briefly, seeing a missed text from Carina. She quickly dismissed the thought and forced herself to focus on the job. There wasn't time for anything else right now.
As the bridge came into view, the scene was far worse than any of them had imagined. The ferry had collided with the structure, its bow crumpled against the metal framework. There were people trapped on the ferry itself, and others on the bridge who had been thrown from their vehicles by the force of the impact. Some cars were half-submerged in the water below, and the sounds of sirens and distant cries for help filled the air.
As the crew of Station 19 arrived on scene, the chaotic mix of sirens, shouting, and the sight of the massive ferry embedded into the bridge was overwhelming. Captain Andy Herrera took the lead, quickly scanning the scene for the commanding officer in charge. With years of experience and the instincts of a strong leader, she knew they needed a coordinated plan to keep everyone safe and ensure an effective rescue operation.
She spotted the captain from another station already working with the engineers and structural specialists who were assessing the damage to the bridge. Andy jogged over, signaling for her crew to hang tight for a moment as she coordinated.
"Captain Herrera, Station 19," Andy introduced herself, pulling on her helmet to adjust it. "What's the status?"
The captain in charge, a man named Captain Rogers, turned toward her, sweat beading on his brow. His expression was a mixture of stress and focus. "Captain," he greeted with a curt nod. "Glad you made it. The ferry's hit the bridge hard. There's structural damage, and we're working with the engineers to figure out if the bridge is stable enough to handle our weight. Meanwhile, we've got people trapped in cars up on the bridge and possibly in vehicles down below. We need evacuation teams on the double."
Andy nodded, quickly processing the situation. "What do you need from us?"
Captain Rogers pointed toward the bridge. "I need your crew focusing on getting people out of those cars on the bridge and helping evacuate. Some of them are pinned between the ferry and the metal wreckage. We'll have engineers double-check the bridge's stability as we work. We can't risk it collapsing any further, but we need to get as many people out as possible before things get worse."
"Understood," Andy replied sharply, her mind already working through the logistics. She turned to her team, who were standing by the engine, waiting for direction.
"Station 19!" Andy called out, her voice firm. "We're on evac. We've got people trapped in vehicles on the bridge. Vic, Travis, and Jack, you're with me—focus on getting people out of the cars safely. Warren, Maya, I want you two to start assessing those who've been evacuated, setting up triage for anyone who's injured. The structural integrity of the bridge is still in question, so we need to be quick but safe. Got it?"
Everyone nodded, their faces set with determination. They had trained for this, and even though the situation was high-stakes and dangerous, they were ready to give it their all.
As they moved toward the bridge, Andy took the lead with Vic, Travis, and Jack close behind. The bridge was littered with debris—twisted metal, broken glass, and crumpled cars that had been pushed together in the chaos of the crash. The water below was choppy, and emergency boats were already deployed to assist with potential water rescues. The scale of the disaster was massive, but Andy kept her focus tight.
"Alright, let's start with the vehicles closest to us," Andy said, her voice calm but commanding. "We'll work our way down to the immediate impact area. Be cautious—the bridge is unstable."
Jack and Vic moved quickly, approaching the first car, which was wedged awkwardly between the wreckage of part of the bridge's rail. The driver was conscious but trapped, the door crumpled inward.
"Ma'am, we're going to get you out," Jack said as Vic assessed the situation.
"Jaws of life," Vic said to Jack, her eyes scanning the vehicle for the safest extraction point.
While they worked on extraction, Andy and Travis moved to the next vehicle, where a family was trapped inside. The mother was crying, her hands pressed against the shattered windshield, trying to reassure her young daughter in the backseat.
"We're here to help," Andy said, her voice calm and steady. "We're going to get you out. Just stay calm."
Travis assessed the damage and glanced at Andy. "The door's jammed, but I think we can pry it open with a crowbar."
Andy nodded, grabbing a crowbar from the nearby engine. They worked together quickly, freeing the door with a loud creak as the metal bent. Once it was open, they carefully pulled the family out, making sure to check them for injuries before moving them to safety.
Meanwhile, Maya and Warren had set up a triage station near the bridge's entrance. Warren was moving from person to person, rapidly assessing injuries and determining who needed immediate care.
"Maya, we've got a broken leg over here!" Warren called out, waving her over as she finished applying a bandage to another evacuee.
Maya moved quickly, kneeling beside a young man whose leg had been crushed during the crash. She glanced up at Warren as she began stabilizing the injury. "How many more?"
"Too many," Warren muttered, shaking his head. "But we'll handle it."
Maya worked efficiently, her mind focused on the task at hand even as she knew Carina and Alex were out there, heading toward West Seattle. The thought of them being caught in traffic or worse made her stomach clench, but she pushed the worry aside. For now, her focus had to be on the people in front of her.
Maya and Warren were working relentlessly in the makeshift triage area near the bridge, helping as many people as they could as victims of the crash were brought to them. It was a constant stream of injuries—broken bones, cuts, concussions—but Maya and Warren moved quickly, their focus entirely on saving lives.
One of the patients was a woman in her mid-thirties, clearly in pain and slipping in and out of consciousness. As they worked on stabilizing her, Maya, Warren, and Vic hovered nearby, ensuring they did everything they could to keep her alive.
The woman's injuries were severe—bruising and lacerations across her torso, a broken arm, and possible internal bleeding. Warren worked diligently, assessing her vitals while Vic applied pressure to the most concerning wounds. Maya kept her focus on the woman's face, watching for signs of consciousness, but something about her fractured speech caught her attention.
Between breaths, the woman mumbled incoherently, her eyes fluttering as she tried to make sense of what was happening. "My daughter…" she whispered, her voice strained and raspy. "I… I was… going to take her… to the park… playgroup…"
Maya's heart twisted at the mention of the playgroup. She leaned in closer, trying to keep the woman focused while Warren worked on stabilizing her condition.
"Hey," Maya said softly but firmly, trying to keep the woman alert. "You're going to be okay. We're taking care of you. Just stay with me."
The woman's eyes rolled back slightly before she fought to regain focus. She blinked, her lips moving slowly. "Playgroup… West Seattle… my daughter loves it there… she… she's waiting… I promised…"
Maya felt her throat tighten. The woman's words struck a chord deep within her—just earlier that morning, Carina had been talking about a playgroup, at the same park. Maya couldn't help but think of Alex, and it became even harder to push down the emotions welling inside her.
"She's going to be okay," Maya said softly, glancing over at Warren and Vic, who exchanged worried looks. "Just focus on getting better right now."
The woman's breathing grew more labored, and she winced in pain. Her gaze unfocused again, her body trembling from the trauma she'd endured. "My… little girl… promised… she was so excited…"
Maya took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She squeezed the woman's hand, giving her a small, reassuring nod. "We'll make sure your daughter knows you're safe," she said gently, her voice carrying a promise she desperately hoped to keep.
Warren looked up from the woman's injuries, his face grim. "We need to get her to the hospital," he said quietly. "She's losing a lot of blood."
Maya nodded quickly, her mind racing. "Let's move her now," she said, urgency filling her voice. "We can't wait any longer."
They carefully lifted the woman onto a stretcher, working together to get her ready for transport. Even as they moved her, the woman kept mumbling about her daughter, her words becoming more incoherent. But the mention of the park, the playgroup, and her little girl echoed in Maya's mind, haunting her with its familiarity.
As they rushed the woman toward the ambulance, Maya's thoughts shifted briefly to Carina and Alex. She prayed they were safe, knowing how quickly life could change in an instant. She held onto the hope that this woman's daughter would be reunited with her mother soon.
The job demanded focus, even when emotions threatened to overwhelm, but Maya knew that every life mattered in this chaos. And she wouldn't let this woman's story end here—not if she could help it.
As Maya emerged from Grey Sloan's emergency room she sent a quick text to Carina.
Maya: Hey, just checking in on you and Alex. There is a nasty ferry boat accident involving a bridge heading to West Seattle so hopefully you're not caught in traffic. I love you
As Maya and Warren quickly headed back to the scene after dropping the patient off at Grey Sloan, the urgency of the situation kept them focused. The chaos of the crash was still in full swing, and they continued moving from patient to patient, helping those in need as quickly as possible.
Maya had just finished bandaging a young boy with a deep laceration on his arm when she stood up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Her mind was still swirling with thoughts about the patient on the way to a playgroup, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. As she surveyed the wreckage around her, something clicked in her mind.
Her heart skipped a beat as she realized that this was the bridge. The bridge that Carina and Alex would have crossed on their way to meet the playgroup at the park. Her stomach dropped, and the blood drained from her face as a wave of dread hit her like a freight train.
Immediately, she reached for her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she unlocked it. She quickly opened her messages, hoping to see something from Carina—some reassurance that they were okay, that they hadn't been caught in the chaos.
But there was nothing. No new messages. No response from Carina.
Maya's breath caught in her throat as panic began to rise within her. The world around her seemed to blur for a moment, the sounds of the disaster fading into the background as her mind raced. She quickly checked the time—Carina should have been on the bridge not long before the crash occurred. They should have crossed it.
What if they were caught in the crash? What if something happened to them?
Maya tried to push the thoughts away, but the fear was overwhelming. She felt a cold sweat break out across her skin as she quickly dialed Carina's number, her fingers trembling as she pressed the phone to her ear.
The phone rang once… twice… three times… but there was no answer.
"Come on, Carina," Maya whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "Pick up, please."
The call went to voicemail, and Maya's chest tightened with fear. She could barely breathe as she tried again, dialing Carina's number with shaking hands.
No answer.
"Maya, you okay?" Warren's voice broke through the haze, pulling her back to the present. He had just finished treating another patient and was now looking at her with concern.
Maya forced herself to nod, but she could feel the panic bubbling just beneath the surface. "I'm fine," she lied, her voice strained. "I just… I need to check on something. Keep going—I'll be right back."
Warren hesitated, sensing something was off, but nodded. "Okay. Let me know if you need anything."
Maya barely heard him as she quickly stepped away from the scene, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the gnawing fear that something had happened to Carina and Alex. The idea of them being in danger—of something terrible happening—was too much to bear.
She dialed Carina's number again, pacing as she waited for an answer. But once again, the call went to voicemail.
Her heart pounded in her chest as the worst-case scenarios began to play out in her mind. Were they trapped somewhere? Were they hurt?
Maya took a deep breath, trying to calm herself enough to think clearly. She knew she couldn't abandon the scene—there were still people who needed her help. But the thought of Carina and Alex being in danger was paralyzing.
She had to keep going. She had to stay focused. But the dread gnawing at her gut wouldn't go away.
Please be okay, she thought desperately as she returned to the triage area. Please, Carina… please be okay.