Chapter Two

Severide's eyelids fluttered opened as he glanced around the now brightly lit space. He shifted slightly, his attention going to the blonde with her head in his lap. He rocked his neck from side to side, stretching it out. His hand came to rest on top of Shay's blonde hair. His other hand reached for his cell phone sitting on the arm of the couch.

He had five new messages. He browsed through them. Nothing from Dawson.

"Kelly" her tired voice came

He glanced down at her as she turned her head to look up at him "Huh?"

"Any news?" she breathed

He caressed her soft blonde locks in his hand "No"

She sighed and pushed herself up off of him. She stood up and stretched.

"Maybe we should go check on her" Shay suggested

"I think so too" Kelly agreed as he stood up and tucked his cell phone in his pants pocket "But first let's find you a rest room, you look like hell"

He started to turn away from her and she kicked her leg up, catching him in the back of the thigh with her foot "Ass"

He glanced back over his shoulder "I didn't say you didn't look beautiful still"

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him "Your still an ass"

"Yeah" he sighed "But I'm a damn pretty ass"

She shook her head "You can go"

He reached his hand out to her "Come on robin, let's go jump in the bat mobile and ride off to save the day"

She smirked "Fine, but your robin. My ass is batman"

She took his hand and pulled him along after her as he chuckled.

"Miss" the hushed voice came

Gabby's head snapped up off the bed, her eyes adjusting the light and the short, older woman before her "Is it Matt?"

She turned from the woman to look up at him. He hadn't moved. He looked the exact same, maybe a little paler in the bright lights of the day. She looked back to the woman.

"I'm sorry to bother you" she whispered "I'm Matthew's nurse, Karen. We came in to get another round of blood, unfortunately the IV in his other hand isn't drawing. So we're going to have to try his other hand. I'm sorry to wake you. I know it's been a long night"

Gabby cleared her throat and pushed herself out of the chair. She pushed it backwards somewhat "That's okay, I'll step out and maybe grab a cup of coffee"

Karen smiled softly "There's a little pantry right next to the nurses station, it has coffee, tea, soft drinks, and even some graham crackers, granola bars, etc. Please help yourself dear"

Gabby offered a light smile "Thank you"

She turned back to Matt and leaned in, kissing his forehead softly "I'll be right back baby"

She turned back to the nurse, nodding slowly before making her exit from the room. She headed down the hallway, eyeing the nurses station as she came to a stop in front of a small, narrow room. She stepped inside and walked up to the counter. She grabbed a small cup and then the coffee pot and filled the small cup with the hot liquid. She put the coffee pot back and took a sip of her coffee. She eyed the assortment of crackers, granola bars, and even mini-muffins.

"Gab" Shay's voice caught her attention

Dawson turned to find Shay and Severide in the doorway. She smiled "You guys are back already?"

"We kinda never left" Severide confessed

Dawson took a few steps towards them and they backed up so she could exit the small room, back into the quiet and empty hallway.

"Seriously?" she wondered

Shay shrugged her shoulders "Just in case you needed us, we wanted to be here"

Severide nodded "Matt's my best friend even though we don't act like it"

Gabby smiled softly "I know"

Severide took a deep breath "Things haven't really been the same for us since Andy died. It's like we lost our Curly and then Mo and Larry were gone too"

Shay laughed "Which ones Mo and which ones Larry?"

Severide grinned "As soon as he wakes up, I'm going to make it all up to him. Life's too short to spend it without your best friend by your side"

Gabby's eyes filled with tears as she looked to Shay "I agree"

Shay returned Gabby's knowing smile "So anything new?"

Gabby sighed "No. The nurse came in and had to draw blood from his other hand because the IV in his right hand stopped drawing"

Shay nodded "I would assume a doctor or something would be in at some point with an update"

"They made it seem last night like it was just a waiting game" Gabby responded

"I suck at waiting" Severide chimed in

"Don't we all" Shay agreed

"Are you hungry Dawson? Do you maybe want to go down to the cafeteria and get some breakfast?" Severide suggested

She shook her head and took another sip of her coffee "I don't want to leave him. I was just giving the nurse a few minutes with him. Besides I don't think I could keep anything down"

Shay chewed on her bottom lip "Casey wouldn't want you to make yourself sick, he's going to be fine"

Gabby nodded slowly "Tell you what, I'm going to head back. You guys go get some breakfast and bring me back something. I promise I'll eat a few bites"

"Gabby" Shay groaned

"Shay" Severide breathed "This is Dawson we're talking about when she offers a compromise, we have to take it. Her stubborn butt isn't going to give in anymore"

This forced a laugh from Gabby "He's right"

Shay smiled "Okay, we'll be back"

Shay closed the difference between them and gave her a hug. She pulled back and held her forearms. "Call us if anything comes up"

Gabby nodded "I will"

Shay stepped back and Severide reached his hand up, rubbing Gabby's shoulder.

"I promise" she reiterated

The two turned and disappeared down the hallway. Gabby watched them go before turning around and heading back towards Matt's room. She came to a stop in the doorway. The nurse was now gone and Matt was still laying on his side. She walked further into the room and over to the side of his bed. She pulled the chair up close again and sat down. She finished the last of her coffee and tossed it in the trash can behind her.

She leaned forward, her fingertips brushing across the blonde hair on his hair line. She eyed the gauze bandages just above his ear and covering towards the back of his skull.

Her fingertips traced down his forehead and across his closed eyes lid before settling downward and cupping his cheek in her hand. She leaned in further, resting her forehead against his, her eyelids fluttering shut. She took a deep breath even with everything he'd been through he still smelled like Matt.

"I had this dream" she breathed "And everything was perfect again"

Her eyelids fluttered open and she pulled back slightly "I don't want to ever argue again or disagree"

She licked her lips "I know that's pretty unrealistic, but I just hate seeing anything but that perfect smirk on your lips"

"Gabriella" the doctor interrupted

Gabby turned her attention to the smiling doctor in the doorway as she stepped into the room.

"Hi" Gabby breathed

"Did you get some rest?" she inquired

Gabby nodded "A little"

"Good" she responded

Gabby took a deep breath "How is he?"

She smiled "His vitals are excellent and the frequency test we did this morning…"

"Frequency test?" Gabby interrupted

The doctor smiled "You were sleeping and it's very short and quiet, we didn't want to disturb you"

"Oh" Gabby answered

"His test results show a lot of activity. He's healing Gabriella. We assume he'll be waking up soon and then we'll run some more tests; check the swelling, etc" she explained

"But everything looks good?" Gabby questioned

"So far, so good" she smiled

Gabby let out a long sigh "Thank you so much doctor"

"Hang in their honey, your doing good" she offered before making her exit

Gabby turned her attention back to Matt, a bright smile displayed across her lips.

She shook her head slowly "What I wouldn't give to see those beautiful blues eyes of yours Matt Casey"

She crossed her hands and rested her head on them as her eyelids shut and she continued to pray.

A few minutes passed and the motion on the bed stirred her from her deep thoughts. She looked up, her mouth agape as she watched his furrowed brow as he stirred.

His eyes were still shut, but he was waking up. She couldn't stop the bright smile as it spread across her face.

"Matt" she breathed

She inhaled sharply as his eyelids fluttered open, his crystal blues eyes meeting her dark chocolate brown eyes.

"Yeah" he whispered, his voice cracked and tired

"Matt" she shuttered, her eyes filling with tears.

His eyes settled more intently on her as he studied her, he cleared his throat "Do I know you?"

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Thanks for reading!

- Britt