Clearing his throat, Matt answered his Chief's call. "Hey, Chief," he greeted. Worry lines started to form on his forehead as he replied, "Tell her I'll be right there."
Matt never moved as fast as he did as he raced to his truck and drove to the CFD HQ as fast as he legally could. With his heart pounding in his ears, his eyes kept averting to his phone which he had threw over on the passenger seat expecting the screen to light up with the Chief's name on it. As much as he wanted to think positively, his brain could not stop thinking of the worst thing that could happen. Worry and panic coursed through his body as he drove to his destination in an auto-mode.
The lights from an ambo parked in front of the CFD HQ informed him that Chief had probably called for an ambulance. Matt sprinted from his truck as he saw a stretcher coming out from the CFD's front door with Gabby lying on top of it. He saw an IV already running through her arms and an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. His breath was caught in his throat when he realised that she was unconscious. Sweat started to form on his forehead as panic swelled up in his body.
"Gabby! Gabby!," Matt called out as he tried to reach out to hold her hand. "No, no, no. She's going to be fine. They're going to take her to the hospital and they're both going to be fine," he thought to himself.
"Sir, are you the husband?" Matt heard one of the paramedics asked.
"Yes, yes I am," he reflexively replied, not concerned that he is not married to Gabby. In fact, they have yet to even sort out the status of their relationship since getting back together. His head was so wrapped up in the investigation on Katya's murder that they have yet to settle down and talk about their relationship. Physically, they're back to sleeping together on the same bed, their bed, and living in the same apartment, their apartment, most of the time anyway. She still has her stuff at Brett's and spend the night there whenever they have a ladies night out. But he had yet to return the ring that was currently nestled in the drawer of his dressing table to its rightful owner. In fact, he was still getting used to the idea of being a father in a few months time. Hopefully, that might still happen.
"We're heading to Chicago Med. We'll meet you there," the paramedic replied.
Matt watched as the paramedic and his partner wheeled Gabby into the back of the ambulance and drove off with the sirens blaring.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder from behind and turned around to see Chief Boden staring back at him with concerned eyes that reflected his. "Let's go, Casey. I'll drive us there," he said.
As Gabby was being wheeled down the hallway of the Chicago Med emergency hall, Matt followed from behind. The medical terms being used back and forth between the doctors were lost on him. He only had his focus on the unconscious Gabby in front of him as his eyes followed the movement of the hands on deck transferring the mother of his child to the hospital bed. His eyes willed for Gabby to open her eyes and say that she's fine. It's all a false alarm. That this is some sort of a joke or a test! Anything but reality.
As if his prayers were answered, Gabby slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes opened slowly and he saw pain and panic filling them. Her eyes were frantically searching around her at what was happening. He rushed forward towards her bed and grabbed her hand. He squeezed it in silent encouragement and a promise that she is not alone.
"Gabby, it's Will Halstead. You collapsed on scene from severe abdominal pains. Your vitals are currently stable but we need to conduct an ultrasound to find out what's causing the pain. You'll feel a little cold when we place some gel on your stomach," Dr Halstead, the resident doctor said.
The team of medical professionals proceeded to conduct the ultrasound. Matt held Gabby's hand throughout the ordeal. Her hands were cold and clammy and he slowly rubbed his thumb over her knuckles trying to soothe her nerves. It's not the 12th yet but they're going to be hearing their baby's heartbeat for the first time now. He still could not believe that they had created a human being between them but refused to believe that he was going to lose the one thing that he had already fallen in love with before he even set eyes on it. But the niggling feeling that this would be the only time he would ever feel the presence of their creation refused to go away.
Thump thump. Thump thump.
It felt like the whole hospital fell silent as the soon to be parents heard the sound of their child for the first time. Their hearts swelled with love as they heard the rhythmic beating of their child's heartbeat.
But their hearts were soon to be shattered when Dr Halstead spoke up.
"This is your baby right here," he said, pointing to the screen. "But it is not the only thing that is currently growing in your uterus. This bigger image that is shaped like a stone is what we call fibroids. Judging from its size and the position that it's lying, this is likely to be the cause of the pain you're suffering from. The way the placenta is implanted very closely to the fibroid is causing the bleeding. The fibroid is huge enough to compress and distort the intrauterine cavity. This will ultimately restrict the growth of the growth of the foetus and lead to fetal deformities. We will need to conduct an emergency surgery called antepartum myomectomy to remove the fibroid and stop the bleeding. There is a high risk that the placenta might get detached during or after the surgery."
Like a million glasses piercing through her heart, Gabby felt a stab a pain in her heart. She had just heard the baby's heartbeat. How could it be possible not to believe that the baby is developing normally and healthily. She felt a tight squeeze in her chest as tears started pouring down her cheeks. How will her baby survive the ordeal?
Matt tightened his hold on Gabby's clammy hands. He could not believe the news he just heard. The practical part of him is screaming for the doctor to do whatever it takes to save his girl. They can still try for another baby in the future right? Probably after he and Gabby got married and settle down, they can start to actively plan for a family. But a part of him felt guilty and selfish. What about his developing son? Or daughter? Shouldn't he give him or her a chance to grow and fight it through?
"Hey, I'm not even worried," Matt said as he moved closer to Gabby, trying to stay calm. He could see that she was thinking of the worst that could happen and feeling scared at the same time.
Stroking her hair, he said, "You'll do great."
"We don't even get to find out if it's a boy or a girl," Gabby replied in a trembling voice that sliced through his heart.
"You're the strongest person I know. You're going to be fine. Both of you," Matt said trying to be positive for both Gabby's and his sake.
Looking through Matt's eyes, Gabby said, "I love you." Her heart whispering to him, "And I'm sorry. I really am."
"I love you too," Matt replied. Tears started to form in his eyes and his lips quivered as he saw the guilt in Gabby's eyes. He closed his eyes and placed an loving kiss on her forehead. "Please survive this, baby. I can't live without you," he silently prayed.
"It's time."