"Mads, are you ready to go?" Maya called out through the apartment.
"No!" Maddie shouted back. Maya furrowed her brow in confusion. "I need your help, Mom!" She continued to shout frantically.
Maya ran into Maddie's bedroom to find clothes on the floor in a pile, "Woah, okay, what happened in here? It looks like a Tornado's hit your bedroom." She said shocked.
Maddie turned around to look at her Mom in absolute despair, "I can't find it!" She exclaimed annoyed.
"Okay, what can't you find?" Maya questioned confused.
"My phone charger!" Maddie exclaimed as she turned back to route through her closet as she continued to throw more clothes out.
Maya can't help but chuckle, "Maddie, why an earth would your phone charger be in your closet?" She asked amused.
"I don't know," Maddie said as she shrugged her shoulders. "I can't find it anywhere and I wanted to Facetime Mama before we went to the station," she said frustrated.
"Maybe if you tidied up your room once in a while then you might be able to find it," Maya said, motioning to the general untidiness of her daughter's bedroom.
Maddie rolled her eyes at her mom's words, "Mom it's my bedroom. I don't see what the problem is," She stated simply.
"You don't see what the problem is?" Maya questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You can barely even see the floor in your bedroom since it's just covered by clothes." She stated.
"Well, I like the mess." Maddie mumbled.
"You might like the mess but I don't, so you really need to clean it up soon please," Maya said as she looked around at the pile of clothes shoved on the floor. "Come on, we need to leave now otherwise I will be late, again." She added.
It had only been two days since Carina had left for Italy, Maddie was beginning to miss her, and she had attempted to push Maya's buttons.
"Coming now," Maddie said as she picked up her backpack and followed her mom out to her car. "I'm going to try and Facetime Mama now on the way," she said.
"Okay, but she might not be able to answer if she is busy at work," Maya said as she concentrated out on the road in front of her. "Give it a try and see what happens," she said.
Maddie nodded and quickly found her Mama's number in her phone as she rang her on Facetime, surprisingly she picked up after a couple of rings. "Hi Mama!" She said excitedly.
"Hello there, Bambina." Carina answered the call on the other end. It looked like she had ducked away into a quiet room as she took off her PPE. "Ciao, Bella." She smiled when Maddie turned the camera in Maya's direction.
"Hey, beautiful." Maya smiled in return at her fiancé.
"I miss you Mama," Maddie told the Italian women.
Carina smiled sadly at the teenage girl who looked disheartened, "I miss you too, Bambina but it won't be long until I am back with you both." She stated. "Only a month." She added.
"Can't wait for that day," Maya called from over the side of the phone.
"Me neither, Bella." Carina said with a smile on her face.
"A month needs to hurry up," Maddie grumbled.
"It'll go quick Piccola, I promise!" Carina insisted. "Meanwhile, I hope you're behaving for your mom." She spoke with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course, I am," Maddie grinned.
"Okay," Carina chuckled, knowing exactly what the teenage girl was like.
"Carina, you're needed in- Oh sorry, I didn't realise that you were on the phone," Gabriella said as she burst through the door.
"Si. I'm just speaking to my Fidanzata and our Bambina," Carina said from the other side of the phone.
"Hi Gabriella," Maya said briefly turning her attention to the phone for a second before looking back at the road.
"Ah, Ciao!" Gabriella waved slightly. Maddie still wasn't the greatest fan of the women, but she did promise to make some type of effort after all.
"Hi Gabriella," Maddie politely said.
"I hate to pull your Mama away, but you're really needed Carina," Gabriella said apologetically looking at Carina.
Carina let out a small sigh and nodded. "Si. Ah, I need to go but I will call you in a bit when I finish at the hospital." She spoke.
"Okay. Bye Mama," Maddie said with a sigh.
"Bye, beautiful!" Maya waved.
Maddie was sad when Carina had to end the call. "I wish that Mama was still here in Seattle with us, instead of in Italy, with She-Devil," She mumbled.
"Mads," Maya chuckled. "Come on, we've discussed this, and you need be nicer." She stated.
"I didn't promise anything about when I wasn't speaking directly to her," Maddie mumbled to herself as she stared out of the window.
"Where is everyone?" Maddie wondered as both blonde's walked into the reception.
"I have no idea. Possibly upstairs," Maya said as they walked into her office. "You want to wait for me and then head upstairs? I won't be long; I just need to change into my uniform." She said.
"Eh, sure why not." Maddie shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay," Maya said as she headed into the bunk area to quickly change into her uniform while Maddie sat down in her chair. ""So, do you want me to drop you off at Sarah's tomorrow after the protest?" she asked.
"Sure," Maddie said in agreement. "I think that Sarah is going to join us at the protest as well." She added.
"Okay, that's fine, you know she is always welcome." Maya said. "It's the first time that you're meeting Sarah's mom, are you nervous about it?" Maya wondered as she quickly put her station 19 shirt on.
"A little, yeah." Maddie confessed. "I just want to make a good impression. Like, what if she doesn't like me?" She asked nervously.
"Just be yourself, Mads." Maya told her daughter and then chuckled. "Well, maybe not so much attitude but you have a kind heart, I'm sure that she will like you." She spoke.
"Only time will tell I guess," Maddie mumbled as she spun around in the chair.
"Okay, I'm ready. Let's head upstairs," Maya said as she walked out of the bunk area.
"That was quick," Maddie pointed out.
Maya chuckled and shook her head. "That's because I have had years practice now," She winked.
"I guess that's true," Maddie agreed as the two of them headed upstairs into the beanery. "Hey, guys!" She called out to the firefighters in the Beanery.
"Ay, Mad-Dog!" Jack exclaimed.
"Hi, Mija!" Andy smiled to the teenage girl.
"Hi shorty," Dean waved from the table where they were sorting the bags out.
"Hey, Mini-Bishop!" Travis exclaimed.
"Hey kid," Vic said sadly, not having the usual energy. Maddie frowned, her aunt didn't see too happy but didn't want to bother her too much.
"Seriously guys, I am here too you know?" Maya said playfully rolling her eyes.
Andy couldn't help but laugh at her best friend. "Sorry. Hi Cap,"
"I honestly think you guys prefer my daughter to me sometimes." Maya couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, there is some truth behind that comment," Jack said smirking at his Captain.
Maya rolled her eyes and caught site of the shirts they was all wearing, "Nice shirts." She stated.
"Yep. Got one for you, too, Captain." Dean said as he threw a shirt in Maya's direction.
"Thanks," Maya accepted gratefully as she looked at the shirt. "But we will have to wear them underneath our SFD shirts tomorrow." She informed them all getting a look from Dean. "We are running this medic tent in an official capacity,"
"Providing medical care isn't sanctioned by SFD?" Travis questioned.
"We just have to figure out how to navigate this with the PD." Maya explained as Maddie moved to walk over and hug her aunts and uncles. "I've been listening to the scanner. Things are escalating. But that doesn't mean that we should back down. I do think we should make our position known. I'm just trying to figure out how to do that in a way that they will hear it." She continued to explain.
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Vic asked seriously.
"Yeah." Maya agreed.
"Are we just not gonna talk about the fact that you're engaged?" Vic questioned. Maya blushed and smiled at the thought of Carina as the team immediately started to celebrate.
"Wahoo!" Maddie joined in with the firefighters, throwing her hands in the air while she looked over at her mom.
Travis ran over and excitedly wrapped took a hold of Maya. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" He exclaimed. There was a lot of hollering and banging on the table from the rest of the firefighters in excitement.
"Thanks, thanks." Maya said, chuckling. "Nothing like getting engaged and then sending your fiancé into the COVID hot spot two days later." She added.
"Wait, she still has to go?" Andy questioned confused.
"Yeah, but only for, uh, a month now, just until the marriage visa comes through." Maya briefly explained.
"Congrats, Cap." Travis stated.
"Thanks." Maya said quietly.
"Sorry we missed it." Travis added.
"Thank you." Maya said as she looked down at the shirt in her hand before she went to walk towards the door.
"Hey, firehouse wedding, right?" Vic questioned as Maya turned her attention back to the firefighter. "Please say... Please. Come on. Please say we're doing a lesbian firehouse wedding?" She asked throwing her hands up in the air. "We can't not." She added.
"I could barely get Carina to agree to marriage. I doubt there will be a wedding," Maya explained to the team. "But there will definitely be a registry." She spoke, not saying anything else as she walked back out of the Beanery.
"Of course, there will be." Vic mumbled
Maddie laughed, "Don't worry. I'm sure my mom will change her mind with enough persuasion," She giggled.
"I doubt that. Your moms are both pretty stubborn," Andy chuckled. "I'll go check in and see how she's doing." She said.
"Good luck. Mom's been upset since Mama left," Maddie called out the brunette as she headed out of the Beanery.
Andy ran down the steps to follow her best friend, she walked towards Maya's office and knocked on the door. "Hey, Captain." She said as she dipped her Veg in a dip and ate it.
"Hey." Maya said as she turned her attention back to the door.
"Just checking in. How you holding up?" Andy asked as she continued to dip.
Maya turned back to her desk to use the hand sanitiser, "If by 'holding up,' you mean stuffing my face with cookies every chance I get to avoid thinking about the fact that Carina is heading into the belly of the COVID beast and that the immigration system is as broken as the justice system, then I am holding up incredibly well." She said as she turned back around to face her best friend.
"Mm. What kind of cookies?" Andy questioned playfully as she continued to crunch on the celery.
Maya chuckled and shook her head, "Get outta here." She said as she moved to shut the door and head back over to her desk to attempt the paperwork.
"Uncle Dean, he's lifting things again!" Maddie told the firefighter from who turned and looked at Ben.
"Seriously, kid?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ben, stop lifting things." Dean repeated, walking next to Ben who carried boxes with kits in.
"Oh, come on. These weigh basically nothing." Ben insisted as he carried the boxes. "Hey, I thought you was on my side, kid." He added.
"I'm on nobody's side, although if my mom was to see you lifting things herself then she wouldn't be happy. I'm just trying to save you from that wrath." Maddie said as she held her hands up in defence.
"You can start lifting things whenever Cap takes you off of desk duty." Dean stated.
"See? I told you so." Maddie couldn't help but smirk.
Ben scoffed and placed the boxes down, "This is ridiculous." He stated.
"No, it's not." Dean disagreed as the two guys headed out of the Beanery. Ben looked at Travis and Vic who didn't say anything.
"Do you think they're all gonna be mad because we got mussels instead of stuff for lasagne?" Vic questioned as opened the refrigerator to grab the mussels out.
Maddie sat in the Beanery as she scrolled through her Instagram page while she heard the two firefighters talk about their choice of dinner for tonight.
"How could you be mad about moules-frites?" Travis asked. Vic gave him a stunned look. "International Trav," He told her.
"Oh." Vic stated as she moved over to put the mussels in the sink.
"Yeah." Travis agreed.
Maddie come across her latest photo on Instagram which was of the three of them after Carina asked Maya to marry her. Smiling sadly at the photo, she suddenly had an idea that she wanted to speak to Maya about.
"How long you think we soak these for?" Vic questioned.
Travis paused to look at his best friend, "Wait, what?" He asked.
Vic turned back around to look at her him. "Huh?"
"I thought," Travis started and then paused. "You said that you've made these before." He stated confused.
"No, I said I always wanted to make these before." Vic said equally confused.
"No, that's not..." Travis started as Vic was quick to cut him off.
"Yeah, I did." The female firefighter insisted.
"Vic!" Travis exclaimed, which made Maddie turn her attention to the two firefighters. "These aren't chicken nuggets!" He added.
"Okay, come on. How hard can it be? Huh?" Vic asked.
"Alright, that's my cue to leave." Maddie said, quickly excusing herself to run down to the office where she caught her mom typing away on her laptop.
"Andy I told you- Oh hey, kiddo. Sorry I thought it was your Tia checking in on me again," Maya looked up at her daughter who was walking into her office.
"Nope. It's just me. Things were getting pretty heated in the Beanery between uncle Travis and Auntie Vic, so I decided to duck out of the way in here." Maddie said, walking over to her mom and plonking herself down on her lap.
"Well I don't have a problem with that." Maya smiled softly, running her hands through her daughters hair. "Anything that you want to talk about, kiddo?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Maddie asked.
Maya let out a light laugh as she continued to run her hands through her daughters hair. "Well, usually you only come and sit on my lap when you're either upset or you want something. So, which one is it?" She asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine," Maddie answered quickly.
Maya furrowed her eyebrow. "Okay, well the fact that you answered so quickly leads me to think that there is something wrong." She said and she was confirmed more when Maddie let out a sigh. "Okay kiddo, come on, out with it." She said.
"I saw a photo of us all on the day you got engaged to Mama and it just made me miss her more," Maddie mumbled.
Maya smiled sympathetically and squeezed her daughters gently. "I know you miss Mama. I miss her a lot too," She told her daughter.
"I just wish that this month would go quick so we can finally be a family again." Maddie stated.
"You and me both, kiddo." Maya softly said. "But it won't be forever and then when Mama is back, we will get married and we can be a proper family." She added.
Maddie nodded and chewed on her lip anxiously, "I had an idea for a wedding present, well actually it would just be for Mama really." She hesitated to say.
"Okay... What's the idea then kiddo?" Maya asked curiously.
"Well, when you and Mama get married, you will both take each other's last names won't you?" Maddie questioned.
Maya nodded briefly. "Yeah, that's right. Why kiddo?" She asked.
"I want to be adopted by Mama, officially. I had the idea to give her the papers at you guys' wedding so that if anything happens to you, or if my biological Dad happens to turn up then I would be safe." Maddie explained.
"Mads," Maya said as she felt herself get overwhelmed. "First of all, I think that it's a great idea and Mama will really love it." She smiled. "And second of all, nothing is going to happen to me, and even if it did- and that's a far chance off, you will always be safe no matter what." She continued to say.
"But what if Jake does turn up with papers to sue for custody?" Maddie questioned.
"Mads, you don't need to worry about stuff like that." Maya said as she sighed. "You're a kid, you don't need to think about any of this. You just need to let us handle it all. Okay?" She asked.
"Okay," Maddie said in agreement as she nodded slightly. "I want to have both Mama and yours' last name. I want to be a Bishop and a DeLuca too."
Maya smiled widely, "I'm sure that your Mama would love that. I think that it's a great gift to give her and we can sort that out, absolutely." The older blonde reassured her. "I love you so much, kiddo." She added.
"I love you too, Mom!" Maddie said as she hugged her mom tightly until she heard the sound of the klaxon go off. "Well, that's your cue to leave." She said.
"Yeah," Maya said while her daughter climbed off her lap. "I will try not too be too long," She added.
"Okay. I'm just going to hang out with Ben until you're back. Although, I don't think he's so happy with me right now." Maddie said.
"What did you do?" Maya asked while she raised her eyebrow.
"What, why do you immediately think that I did something?" Maddie asked.
"Mads, come on." Maya said, giving her daughter a look.
"Alright, fine... Maybe there was something that I did." Maddie mumbled, cracking under the pressure. "I just told Dean that he was lifting again. Told him that I said it so it would stop you from your wrath." She said quickly.
"Maddie," Maya said looking at her daughter seriously.
Maddie frowned wondering what her Mom was going to say. "Mom, I'm so-"
"You're so cheeky." Maya cut her off as she smiled and ruffled her hair. Maddie couldn't help but grin in return. "Okay kiddo. See you when I'm back." She said, quickly kissing the top of her head. "Try not to get into any trouble while I'm gone," She added before she ran out of her office. Maddie sighed and walked through to the reception where Ben was on desk duty.
"Hey, Ben." Maddie smiled at the older firefighter.
"Hi munchkin," Ben looked up from the desk.
"Do you think they will be dealing with the fire for long?" Maddie questioned as she sat out on reception beside Ben who was beyond bored himself as he sharpened a pencil.
"I don't know, I mean fires are well, there's no time limit on them." Ben told the teenage girl. "So, how do you feel about your Mama being back in Italy?" He asked.
"I really miss her a lot already," Maddie mumbled sadly. "I know it's only a month and I'm happy that there engaged but I wish she could come back sooner." She said.
Ben smiled sympathetically at the teenage girl, "Well, she will be back before you know it!" He said while he tried to attempt to cheer the girl up.
"I guess so." Maddie said in agreement.
"What are you so happy about?" Andy questioned her best friend as they sat in the truck on the way to the call-out with Andy, Robert and Dean.
"Yeah. I've never seen you so happy Cap," Dean joked as he drove the truck.
"Thanks Miller." Maya chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Maddie wants Carina to adopt her officially." She explained.
"Woah!" Robert exclaimed.
"No way, that's awesome!" Andy grinned.
Maya nodded and continued to smile, "Yeah, she's got the idea to give them to Carina as a wedding gift." She said.
"Carina's going to love that," Andy smiled.
"I know. I guess that it will make us a proper family officially," Maya said. "I mean I know we're already a family but it still makes it more special." She said.
"I'm happy for you Captain," Dean said turning to look at Maya.
"Thank you." Maya grinned, while Andy and Robert had their own private conversation. Maya couldn't help but smile as they arrived at the scene. Maya jumped out of the truck and adjusts her helmet as Vic runs past her in a rush. "Hughes! Stand down!" She yelled out the firefighter who didn't listen. "Hughes!" She yelled again.
Travis fastened his gear on as he called over to Maya, "Vic thinks her parents are still inside." He explained.
Maya let out a sigh. "Herrera, Gibson, recon the building. The gas line is in the back. Montgomery, go help Hughes. Wiggins, Sullivan, cut all the other utilities. Miller, you're Med Group." She gave her orders.
It wasn't long before Vic emerged outside again with her parents by her side. Maya let a small breath of relief, not only had she ignored the command and gone against her orders but she had done it without barely any protective gear.
Ben looked at the time on his watch and put his duster down from where he decided to polish the shelf outside the Captain's office, "Right, I don't know about you but I am hungry. What do you say we go and find something to eat upstairs?" He asked.
"That sounds good. Auntie Vic and Uncle Travis were meant to make dinner but then they got called out." Maddie said with a pout.
"Well, it's lucky for you that I'm a good cook." Ben grinned as he motioned for the teenager to follow him upstairs. "Now, I'm not as good as your Mama but I do make a good pasta dish." He added.
"Can we not just order a takeaway?" Maddie asked while she smirked.
Ben chuckled and shook his head. "I swear that you kids are all the same. My boys would literally live off McDonalds if we allowed them too." He said.
"That's a no then?" Maddie questioned.
"Yeah, no. I don't think your Mom would appreciate me allowing you to eat that stuff," Ben pointed out. "It won't take me that long and you can help me with it." He offered.
"Eh. Sure," Maddie said. "You know, we could attempt to do that dance for TikTok still." She suggested with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, no. Absolutely not. I'm not making a fool of myself for everyone to see on the internet. Maybe you could ask Dean or Travis to do it instead," Ben said.
Maddie nodded in agreement, "I'll try and ask them." She giggled.
Maya was watching the scene in front of her, giving out orders as Vic ran up behind her, "Hey, my parents are secure in the aid car. Where do you want me?" She questioned.
"Nowhere." Maya stated simply as she continued to watch her team take control of the flames.
"Seriously?" Vic asked disheartened.
Maya whipped her body around to look at Vic, "You ran into a burning building after I told you to stand down. I get it-" she said.
"Cap-" Vic said as Maya cut her off.
"It's your parents." Maya said. "That's why I want you to focus on them. Let us focus on the fire, okay?" She asked while Vic nodded and headed back over to her parents. Turning her attention back to the fire, she heard the wail of police sirens and she sighed. "Just what we need." She muttered and then the glass shatters.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God." Maya heard Vic's mom cry out in horror. "Do something!" She continued to yell.
"Wiggins, Sullivan, you are on fire attack. Get a line in that restaurant and get some water up on that attic. Herrera, Gibson, how's it looking in the back?" Maya ordered through the radio.
"There are no exposures on the D side. Heading toward the rear now. Do we need access from the rear?" Andy responded through the radio.
"Yes. Make access, but we are attacking the fire from the A side." Maya ordered her lieutenant. "Hughes, we've got this." She said to the firefighter when she approached her.
"That was good pasta. Almost as good as my Mama's," Maddie said as she stood up and placed her plate in the sink.
"I'll take that compliment at least." Ben couldn't help but chuckle. "See, healthier than a takeaway at least." He said.
"If you say so uncle Ben," Maddie giggled.
"Okay. I'm gonna clear up in here and then head back downstairs to reception, incase there's any late night callers." Ben stated.
"I'll help you clear up," Maddie offered the firefighter.
"Thanks, munchkin." Ben smiled as the two of them cleared up the kitchen.
Maya continued to stand outside as she gave out the orders to the firefighters inside the building. Checking the time on her watch, it didn't look like she would be back before Maddie went to Sarah's. "Herrera and Gibson, what's the status on the civilians?" She questioned through the radio.
"Civilians made it out safely, but one ran away before we could assess them and Gibson got the other one out." Andy responded back through the radio.
"You gotta be kidding me," Maya mumbled and then continued to speak through the radio. "I need you both in front of the restaurant with another hose line," She paused. "Montgomery, Wiggins, Cutler and Sullivan need support inside. Herrera you are now interior division." She spoke through the radio.
"Copy, Captain." Andy agreed through the radio. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a news reporter heading her way. "This is a closed scene." She stated bluntly.
"I just have some questions-" The news reporter was cut off by Maya.
"Fire." Maya responded.
"What?" The news reporter asked in confusion.
"Whatever your question is, the answer is fire, and we are working to put it out." Maya stated, she wasn't in the mood for this news reporter. "Buh-bye." She said sarcastically, leaving room for no more comments from the news reporter who was left baffled.
Maddie decided to join Ben back downstairs in reception. It was late into the night and Ben was surprised that Maddie hadn't complained about being tired yet, however, she was struggling to keep her eyes open and Ben had noticed that.
"Wow, it's pretty late. I didn't realize the time." Ben said, glancing at the time on his watch.
"I know." Maddie mumbled as she propped herself up on the desk with her elbow, her eyes were slowly drooping as it shown how tired the teenager truly was.
"You look tired." Ben pointed out.
"I'm okay," Maddie said, trying to hide the yawn that escaped her mouth.
Ben couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head, "Uh-huh. See, I might believe that if you could keep your eyes open." He said.
"I want to wait up for my mom to get back before I go to bed." Maddie insisted as a another yawn escaped her mouth.
"I don't think they will be back for a while yet, Maddie." Ben said.
"Oh." Maddie mumbled tiredly.
"Yeah. Look, why don't you try and sleep? I'm sure your mom wouldn't want you to wait up for her anyways if she knew how tired you was." Ben said.
Maddie nodded tiredly, "You're right. Okay, I will try and sleep..." She stood up and moved to walk towards the office. "Goodnight uncle Ben." She said.
"Night munchkin." Ben responded as he watched the teenager tiredly walk into Maya's office.
Back at the scene of the fire, things had escalated and the team were still working on putting out the flames. Maya spotted the tension between Dean and PD out the corner of her eye and groaned. This was the last thing that was needed right now.
"There he is, right there." One of the officers pointed out Dean.
"Shouldn't you be on crowd control or something, man? " Dean questioned.
"Thought SFD could handle that on their own now, 'cause you apparently don't need us anymore." The PD officer fired back.
"You really... You really doing that right now? When people's lives are on fire?" Dean asked irritated.
"Yeah? Well, why aren't you putting it out, then? Did you start it?" The officer questioned. It wasn't doing anything other than winding Dean up further.
"What you say to me, man?" Dean questioned stepping forward.
Maya knew she needed to intervene before it got worse, "Miller, I need you over here." She said through the radio.
"Captain?" Dean responded back through the radio.
"We need more bodies on the fire," Maya told him through the radio and she headed over in his direction. "I'll deal with PD." She said as she passed him while another female PD officer headed over to the male officer.
"Anderson, get your ass to the car now." The female officer ordered him. "Go." She continued to order
Maya looked at the officer who gave her a nod of understanding before she turned back to her team. "Come on, 19. This one's for Hughes. Put your backs into it." She radioed through to her team.
Maddie lay in the bunk area of the office but she was unable to sleep. For a while she scrolled through her phone and then decided to attempt to message Carina to see if she would answer. Surprisingly, Carina rang her via FaceTime straight away.
"Hi Mama," Maddie said as she answered the call.
"Hey, Bambina. It's late in Seattle. How come you are still up?" Carina questioned concerned, by the looks of it she was sat on the couch in the rental with a usual cup of espresso next to her.
"I couldn't sleep much. I have tried to but I am not having much luck at all." Maddie confessed, turning over on her side as she propped herself up with the pillows.
"Ah, I see. Where's mom, is she out on call?" Carina wondered.
"Out on a call currently. Ben's on desk duty so he's outside pretty much." Maddie explained.
"Okay, I am sure that your mom will be back shortly," Carina smiled. "You look very tired Bambina. You need to try and sleep. Close your eyes, Piccola." She said.
"But I want to talk to you," Maddie pouted.
"I know, but you can talk to me tomorrow. You need to sleep," Carina repeated softly.
"Okay." Maddie said with a sigh.
"Close your eyes, Piccola." Carina repeated quietly.
Maddie held the phone in front of her face as she closed her eyes, listening to Carina's soothing voice, she managed to fall asleep.
"Buonanotte Bambina, ti amo!" Carina said once she noticed Maddie had fallen asleep, ending the call so hopefully the teenage girl could get some sleep.
It was a couple of hours later and Maddie woke up again after a nightmare. It was around 3 am in the morning and she panicked when she realized that her Mom still wasn't back.
"Woah, Maddie. I thought you was asleep." Ben said alarmed when the teenage girl ran out in a panic. "What's the matter, munchkin?" He asked. Maddie looked worried as Ben motioned her to sit down on the chair in reception.
"I'm fine," Maddie said as she tried to calm herself down. "I had a nightmare." She confessed.
"Oh. Do you want to talk about it?" Ben questioned concerned.
Maddie shook her head frantically, "I just want to stay awake until my mom comes back. I don't want to loose her." She mumbled.
Ben realized that some of the dream must have been about something happening to Maya and he frowned, "Maddie, you won't lose your mom." He said softly.
"You don't know that," Maddie mumbled.
"Okay, you're right, I don't know that for sure." Ben said with a sigh. "However, your mom's one of the best firefighters and she will make sure that she comes home to you. After all, she has you and your mama to think about as well as a wedding to plan as well." He added, trying to make the younger girl smile.
"Okay." Maddie said, feeling calmer now as she wrapped her hands around her knees.
"So, you want to try and sleep?" Ben asked.
"No. I want to wait for my mom." Maddie said stubbornly.
"Okay, fair enough, well, do you want to help me clean?" Ben asked.
"Sure, why not." Maddie agreed as she didn't want to fall asleep again and have another nightmare.
"Finally, you're back!" Maddie exclaimed as she walked over to them in the barn, spotting her mom and the rest of the team jump out of the truck apart from Vic and Travis.
Maya briefly looked at her watch and she noted it was 3 am now, "What are you doing up, kiddo?" She questioned surprised that her daughter was still awake.
Maddie shrugged her shoulders loosely, "I had a nightmare. I couldn't sleep, not until you was back at least." She told her.
"I'm okay. I'm fine, see." Maya said as she wrapped her arms around her daughter to try and reassure her.
Ben walked over to the firefighters, "Where's the engine?" He wondered.
"It was Hughes' family restaurant. They stayed back for overhaul." Maya explained. Maddie's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, no." Maddie mumbled.
"Oh, hell. W-Were you able to save it?" Ben asked shocked.
"Some. Not much." Maya told him.
"Ugh. I'm starving. As soon as we're done cleaning up, I'm gonna make a massive pot of chicken tikka masala." Andy insisted.
"Gross." Maddie screwed her face up in disgust.
"You know it's 3:30 in the morning, right?" Robert pointed out.
"And since when do you cook Indian food?" Maya piped in as she began to take her turnouts off.
"And is curry really what anyone wants at 3:30 in the morning?" Ben questioned.
"Okay, A... it was Hughes' and Montgomery's night for dinner. B... it's a jarred sauce you just pour over the chicken, like pasta sauce. And C... who cares what time it is when you're so hungry your stomach growls are drowning out the sirens?" Andy questioned all three of them.
"She isn't lying. I could hear it." Maya said amused.
Andy pointed her finger at her best friend. "Okay, you were sitting so far away." She said.
"Your stomach growls louder than Carina's, which I didn't think was possible." Maya teased her best friend.
"Well, I need a shower and some sleep." Robert stated.
"Cool. I want that for you." Andy said to her husband. "I want chicken tikka masala, and then maybe a shower and then sleep," She continued to say.
"Ooh, I could eat." Jack said as him and Andy high-fived in agreement.
"Oh, here you go. You found a buddy for your food adventure." Robert said as he chuckled. "I'm going to bed." He told her.
"Get out of here," Andy told him playfully.
"Yeah. Speaking of the sleep, come on Mads, time for bed." Maya motioned for daughter to follow her into the office.
"Do I have too?" Maddie groaned.
Maya chuckled and nodded her head, "Yes, I'm back now and you need to sleep!" She insisted.
"But-" Maddie started.
"No buts, come on, time for bed," Maya said softly.
"No fair. I want to hear about the call!" Maddie insisted, trying to put off going to bed. The last thing she wanted was another nightmare.
"And you will, tomorrow. Right now, it's time for bed." Maya repeated, she was slightly worried her daughter had a nightmare and made a mental note to talk to her about it. "Come on kiddo, I know you're tired, you need to sleep." She said, when she noticed Maddie yawn again and rub her eyes.
"I'm not tired." Maddie pouted.
Maya pursed her lips and nodded. "Of course you're not, that's why you are rubbing your eyes." She said.
"Am not." Maddie mumbled.
"Mhmm," Maya said as she nodded. "Come on Mads, time for bed." She repeated.
"Okay, fine." Maddie said defeated, moving to head back to the office.
"Night Maddie!" All the firefighters called out in a chorus.
"Night, guys!" Maddie responded with a grumble.
"I'll be in soon kiddo." Maya told her daughter.
Maddie tiredly nodded, "Yeah, okay." She mumbled as she slumped off back to the bunk area of the office.
Maya couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's determination to not go to bed but she knew she would be tired if she didn't. Pulling out her phone, she frowned. "No. No." She mumbled.
"What? What's up?" Ben questioned as he walked beside Maya.
"The city e-mailed me earlier. They are pulling our permit for the medical tent." Maya explained as she read the email.
"They can do that?" Dean said annoyed.
"They just did. Apparently, tensions are too high and the city wants to present a united front. They don't want SFD to appear to be on a different side than PD," Maya read the email out to them.
"The side of helping people?" Dean continued to ask.
"That's bull." Andy muttered to herself. "We should go anyway." She stated.
"We can't." Maya said in disagreement.
"Can't or won't?" Dean questioned.
"Can't." Maya repeated, she winced when Dean slammed the door of the aid car shut.
"I'll be in the kitchen." Andy muttered, walking past her to leave Maya to think of her own deep thoughts.
"Alright kiddo. Move up." Maya said, walking into the bunk to spot her daughter lay on the bed wrapped up in her station 19 hoody that she kept here.
"I thought you would be longer," Maddie said as she shuffled over on the bed.
"Well, I wanted to come and tuck you in." Maya said as she took the space next to her daughter to lie down. "Besides, I myself am incredibly tired and I could do with some sleep as well." She said.
"I don't need you to tuck me in, I'm not a baby." Maddie mumbled tiredly.
"Well, no, true but you will always be my baby." Maya insisted, wrapping her arm around her daughter.
"Mom, that's so cringy!" Maddie groaned.
Maya can't help but chuckle. "That's me all over. So, do you want to talk about your nightmare at all?" She questioned.
"Uh, I had a nightmare that you got injured in a fire." Maddie mumbled as tears began to appear in her eyes. "I was so scared when I woke up and you still wasn't back." She said.
"Oh Mads, I'm not going anywhere, princess. I promise you that." Maya told her daughter softly. "Okay, time to sleep." She said as Maddie found her way to lie on her mom as she buried her face in her mothers chest. "Night sweetheart. I love you," She said as she ran her hand through Maddie's hair.
"Night mom. Love you!" Maddie said through yawns as she curled up into her mom more.
•
Another update!
Still in the process of moving house but wanted to make time to update.
Let me know your thoughts and any ideas you may have!
Thank you for all the support on this book so far, each vote & comment means a lot!