This Is It

Chapter 34 "I'm not going down without a fight"

"So, are you going to tell us what the hell is going on?" Maya asked Andy impatiently trying to keep herself calm.

"Yes... Yesterday morning Chief Dixon called the station announcing that a new Captain would come over next week to oversee the work we have been doing in your absence. He said that this was due to an internal restructuring at the department and it is going to happen every time a Captain is on leave." Andy sighed.

Maya gasped. "What do you mean, I am coming back next week! There's no need for..." Maya froze when she started to realise what Andy was talking about.

"Exactly! That's what I said to the chief but he dismissed me and simply said it was protocol." Andy replied looking straight into Maya's eyes.

Maya could not believe what she had heard.

A feeling of anger rushed through her body as her mind started to fill with so many questions and scenarios.

She took a deep breath trying to ground herself before turning to look at Carina.

Carina looked at Maya who seemed to be completely lost in thought.

Carina bit her lower lip nervously, hoping that all of this wouldn't mean what they were all thinking it meant.

"Maya... what are you thinking?" Andy asked softly.

Maya turned around suddenly and glared at her.

"They want to replace me because I was sick..." Maya mumbled looking at Carina with such a mixture of pain and resentment in her eyes that felt like someone had slapped her in the face.

Carina immediately tried to comfort her by putting her hand on Maya's arm but she shook her head trying to hide the tears which were already beginning to well up in her eyes.

"Bambina... I refuse to believe that. They can't simply replace you because you were on sick leave. That's crazy and immoral not to mention illegal!" Carina tried to ease Maya's fears by speaking with conviction.

But Maya did not seem convinced.

"Why would they send someone now that I'm coming back... It doesn't make any sense! I have to go and talk to the chief. Right now!" Maya stated starting to get up from her seat but she couldn't even move a muscle as she was frozen by fear.

Maya stood there motionless staring at them unable to process everything she had just been told.

She needed more information, she needed answers and the best way to get them was flying back and confronting the chief.

"Hey Maya! We'll get to the bottom of this together, ok? Let's calm down and don't jump the gun here." Carina urged gently.

Carina could see how worried Maya was and she wanted nothing more than to protect her from whatever was happening.

However, she knew she couldn't do anything right now since they didn't know what was going on exactly.

"We will catch an early flight and head straight back. Together we will figure out what is going on. And whatever happens... I know that there's nobody in the world that will fight harder and stronger for their team than you do. We got this Maya. No matter what." Carina stated sincerely holding onto Maya's hands tightly trying to reassure her.

Maya smiled at her briefly trying to push away all her negative thoughts.

"Alright... Let's do this then. When can we leave?" Maya finally managed to speak after a long moment of silence.

"As soon as possible!" Carina answered determinedly squeezing Maya's hands reassuringly.

Maya breathed deeply trying to take control of her emotions and looked at them and nodded.