Chapter Text
Grey Sloan Memorial’s OB floor was bustling still for 1 in the morning. Carina Deluca was sat behind her desk in her office, flittering between her most recent research and a mile-high pile of paperwork for recent patients, not really paying much attention to any of it. After having just finished a C-section and a few more deliveries across her would be 12- hour shift-suddenly 19- hour shift, she was exhausted. God, it had been a long one. Well, it had been a few long months at that. Carina loves her job, bringing babies into this crazy world, helping women on their first acts as mammas, fills her with a sense of pride and passion that nothing compares.
But as much as she loves her job, Carina couldn’t help but think she was in some desperate need of some relaxation time. Between taking on more responsibilities as Head of OB and helping Bailey’s clinic get off the ground, she was starting forget what the inside of her home looked like. Carina huffed, throwing down her pen and closing her eyes at the thought. She had no plans to look forward to, per say, but she was just like to look forward to some much needed and deserved time off, away from the stresses of her responsibilities. Just as she was about to get lost with her thoughts of herself sipping on a freshly made drink under the Sicilian sun, a loud bang came from her office door swinging open, hitting the wall behind it, startling her back to reality. Amelia Shepard, expert in everything brain related strutted in, still dressed for her lab coat and scrubs, in true Amelia fashion.
“I would like for just one day to get out of here at a reasonable time. We were both meant to leave hours ago” Amelia announced, plopping down on the couch Carina has in the corner of her office, laying amongst the many pillows.
“Tell me about it. But bambinos and brain injuries wait for no one.” Carina stated, leaning back on her chair. “Mio Dio, we need some time off.”
“Exactly that, my sweet Dr Orgasm. We have some serious hours of retail therapy and alcohol poisoning calling our names.” Amelia rambled absentmindedly.
“Stupida.” Carina replied, rolled her eyes at the ending comment, slight smirk gracing her lips. She wasn’t wrong to be honest.
“Oh, don’t give me that, you know I’m not wrong. We’ve hardly even had a girl’s night with all the fine ladies of this prison in months!” Amelia scolded.
Again, she wasn’t wrong. The infamous girl’s nights between the women have been few and far between, what with the endless patients of the hospital for all doctors and Bailey’s clinic, proving to get in the way of spending even a night to themselves. When Carina first came to Seattle, she was invited along to the girl’s nights whenever they came to be, with the hopes of getting her acquainted with the rest of her ‘cell mates’- how Amelia likes to call them. They were a way for all the women to just let loose without having to be in doctor or, for some, parent mode. Where they can gossip about in hospital scandals, drink until their more than buzzed and revel over past and present love situations. Amelia’s favourite topic of conversation. Well, more of Carina’s love life, or the lack of, being the favourite. The last decent relationship, if you would call it that, was with the Arizona. The fling turned relationship was the most excitement Carina had for a long while that didn’t involve her job. That definitely didn’t end well, what with Arizona leaving her to go be with her ex and daughter in New York.
Carina cringed at the thought. After almost 5 months, she found herself not sad about what had happened, more upset that she had wasted a whole year of her life on a woman she deep down knew never could love her. With continued badgering from all the girls, she has been on a few dates and a string of one-night stands since, but her disinterest was clearly evident. She just had no time for that stuff, not at the moment anyway. She had not long just been promoted and the constant running between the hospital and clinic, she barely had time for herself or her brother, let alone a relationship. Putting effort into a relationship for the time being seemed improbable and would eventually get herself hurt or others.
“Earth to Carina?”
Carina seemed to re-enter the land of the living, swinging her head in the direction of the woman still in her office. “Mi dispiace, Amelia, what was you saying?”
“It’s unimportant now. I’m more interested where that pretty brain of yours went to just then.” Amelia shifted slightly on the sofa, raising into a sitting position and folding her leg over the other, resembling a psychiatrist at work. She noticed the Italian’s more vacant looks recently, especially during their quick catch ups in the staffroom or lunch breaks in either of their offices. Amelia knew they were partly due to the overthinking nature of the woman, constantly worrying about every situation in her life, past and present, with the more recent topic being the situation with Arizona.
“Nothing that interesting, just how much I’ve missed hanging out with you.” Carina smiled sweetly. She knew it wasn’t the full truth, Amelia’s face giving away that she saw right through her, but she was too exhausted to go into detail for Nancy Drew sitting in front of her.
“Hmm, well, freedom and long-awaited fun will soon be upon us! We need to start our planning right away!”
“What’s this about freedom and fun?” Jo, the other allied OB, poked her head round the corner of the doorframe, a cheeky smile on her face even though she looked as exhausted as the rest of them.
Amelia shifted yet again, softening her scrutinising glance over to the young woman. “Oh girl, you look tired. What you still doing here?”
Jo took a seat on one of the little chairs opposite Carina’s desk, “I helped out with Carina’s last C-section and stayed back to help with aftercare. I guess time got away with me. Still didn’t answer my question on what’s happening about freedom and fun?”
“I’m determined to get fun back into our lives. Just you wait my lovelies, we all need this!” Amelia huffed, jutting her chin out in utter fortitude.
Just as the women were about to go on, a fourth voice come from the open door, 6 pairs of eyes following the sound. Miranda Bailey stood in the doorway clearing her throat to get their attention, “I was hoping to catch you all. I did try your office Amelia, but figured you’d be up here bugging Carina.”
At the Chief’s unexpected visit, Jo stood from the extra desk chair, adjusting her white lab coat. Carina remained seated at her desk, stifling a laugh as she watched Amelia trying to manoeuvre herself out of the chair after getting way too comfortable amongst the pillows again and back into a more professional stance, with much difficulty she might add. Oh, if only she had a camera. While Carina had to advert her eyes from the hilarious scene before her, she noticed the woman’s hint of a smile as she notices the neurosurgeon’s struggles, “what can we do for you Doctor Bailey?” Carina was hoping it wasn’t some extra work she would lumber onto them.
“Relax all of you, I’m not going to make your night any worse. You all know Ben, my husband and former surgeon here, right?”
She was met with 3 sets of nods of acknowledgement.
“Well, it’s our wedding anniversary coming up in a few weeks and we’re thinking of having a little get together of everyone at our place next Saturday. I would like to extend the invite to you all, if you can all make it. Ben’s inviting people from Station 19 as well and I need the girls with me to get through the night with the firefighters.” Miranda chuckled, smiling at the thought of all the firefighters under one roof with copious amounts of alcohol.
“Finally, something to look forward to!” Amelia screeched, throwing her arms wildly in the air. “Count me in Bailey! Plus there’s going to be 19’s lot there, can’t turn that down! What about you two?” as she gestured to the other women in the room.
“Oh, hell yeah! Definitely will be there!”
Carina couldn’t help but smile at them all. “That would be great, I’ll be there.”
“Right. I’ll send you all the details as soon as. Please get yourselves home and rest as soon as you’re done here.” With that, they watched her walk back out the office and into the bustle of the hospital.
The giddy, excited feeling of happiness descended on the trio. Carina couldn’t help the smile spreading wider across her face. Yep, this was definitely something to look forward to!