''Have you heard anything yet?'' Severide looked up as Gabriela entered the waiting area again and all the other firemen looked up as well, begging for her to say something, but unfortunately there was nothing to say. She knew as much as they did about him. Dawson shook her head as she sat down on the empty chair next to Severide again, looking through the room. Looking at Matthews battered body and wounds had made her even more afraid to lose him. Fear had taken over her body and everything she did seemed to go automatic, but not because she thought she needed to. The only thing she wanted to do now was close her eyes and open them when everything would be normal again. But thinking about what the doctor had told her, nothing would be normal again. His back was fractured and they were worried there was damage done there.
''You know, my parents called me if I wanted to come over for dinner next week. Maybe you should come with me. Meet them.''
Matthew nodded; ''Yes, I'd love to meet your parents.'' He grabbed her hand as they were walking to the station together.
''I think you should go now, I will be there shortly after you.'' Gabriela said, letting go of his hand and she leaned on her toes, kissing him.
''You know, we could also say we just walked together.''
''But it is not fun walking next to you and not being able to hold your hand.'' She teased as she poked him in his side and without a lot of effort he lifted her up, walking down the block with her in his arms.
''Tell me, is this more fun that holding hands?'' He chuckled and they kissed and he put her down on the ground again.
''I am going first.'' Gabriela sighed then and she walked away. Matt looked as she walked down the block and smiled. After a few minutes he also continuead his way.
''Gabby.''
Severide woke her up and she looked up at the doctor, waiting for her. A doctor she had seen before at work.
''Can you walk with me?'' The numb feeling still hadn't passed as she walked down the hallway, as if she was walking through a nightmare and she was only minutes away from waking up, but she didn't wake up. She was still here, waiting for bad or good news. The doctor stopped and Gabriela leaned against the wall.
''Just tell me.'' She mumbled as the doctor sighed.
''There were some complications during surgery.''
There it was, her worst nightmare.
''He didn't make it?'' Gabriela asked with a trembling voice.
''He did, but we need to know if his sister or mom know something about his intent. We have no can't reach anybody. Do you know anything about him having a medical intent?''
''Why do you need to know?''
''He suffered a massive stroke and-''
''And you need to know if something about that is in his intent.''
The doctor nodded. If they asked about his medical declaration of intent, it had to be really bad. What if he was in a coma?
''Is he in a coma, what happened?'' Gabriela asked as she grabbed the railing in the hallway, shaking by what she just heard. If they were asking for his medical declaration of intent, this couldn't be good.
''Yes, he is in a coma and we are not sure if he will ever fully recover.''
Tears started to burn in her eyes, but she kept looking at the doctor, waiting for explanation.
''There were fractures in his back we were fixing by surgery and it threw a cloth and the cloth entered his brain, we didn't know.''
Gabriela brought her shaking hand to her mouth and she could no longer keep the tears from flowing. It could be they would never be together again, that he would never wake up again or recover. She looked back at the fire fighters looking at her at the end of the hallway and Severide emerged towards her, grabbing her before she could fall and holding her in his arms again as she started to cry. She felt embarrassed as she was crying in his arms again but she couldn't help herself. She wished Shay was here but Shay wasn't coming back for this one shift. Vaguely she heard the doctor telling the same to Kelly as he just told Gabriela and the warning that Matt wasn't out of the woods, that he still could pass away the next 24 hours. She heard Severide asking about his back and the doctor assured him his back was fine, that they were pretty sure there was no permanent damage done there, but there was in his head and Gabriela buried her head deeper in Severide's shirt.
''You are pretty sure?'' Severide said on a annoyed tone.
''We can't be sure of course but-''
''But what!? You know nothing for sure. You don't even know if he will live!'' Severide blamed him, nearly screaming and multiple footsteps walked down the hallway and took Severide and her away.
Gabriela sat on her bed at the station as she looked Severide and Matt talking in Matt's office and her finger hovered above the call button on her phone undecided. Suddenly she pressed it and listened to the tone as the phone was trying to reach his mother's.
Finally she heard her mom pick up the phone.
''Gabby!''
''Hey mom, just short, is it okay if I take my boyfriend for dinner?'' From the corner of her eyes she looked at her boyfriend, talking to his fellow lieutenant with a broad smile on his face. He was so handsome when he was smiling.
''You have a boyfriend?'' Her mother said surprised.
''Don't sound so surprised. Yeah, I do.''
''Tell me everything.'' Her mom giggled and Gabriela moved a bit with a big smile.
''He works at fifty-one as well.''
''You mean THAT blonde lieutenant that is hanging on the chalkboard in your kitchen?''
''Yeah.'' She answered and she felt how her face became red and she was blushing.
''See you next week, sweetie. Don't forget to take him. He looks nice.''
''I will, see you next week.''
She hung up the phone and walked away, one last glance at her smiling boyfriend.
She woke up again as Severide moved and her head dropped from his shoulder. She sat up, opening her eyes a little sleepy and confused.
''The doctor is here, Gabby. Matt made it.''
''Don't cheer to early. He is not out of critical stage yet.'' The doctor said to Severide and the fellow lieutenant raised his eyebrows. Gabriela nodded and stood up, following the doctor.
''Is he awake?'' she asked hopefully, knowing she didn't need to ask but there was still a sparkle of hope somewhere inside her.
The doctor shook his head; ''We managed to save him from not dying on the operating table, but he is in a coma.''
''I know.'' Gabriela said then.
They entered the ICU and the doctor lead her to a private room and before she entered the room she was already frightened when she looked through the windows. Matt looked vulnerable in the bed. His head was wrapped in a thick layer of bandage.
She entered his room and the doctor followed her.
''We have no idea what damage the stroke has done, but tomorrow we will MRI him again and we will know more.''
The doctor looked as she sat down.
''To prepare you for the worst, there is a chance he might never wake up.''
Gabriela grabbed his hand on the blanket and tried not to cry as the doctor walked out.
The door opened again and Gabriela turned around, to see Severide standing in the doorway.
''Matt.'' He sighed as he looked at his fellow lieutenant, whom was kept alive by machines.
''Matt.'' He sighed again. He laid his hand on Gabriela's shoulders.
''You promised to never leave me after Andy and you are not going to leave her!'' He finally said.
...
NOTE: Are Matt and Gabby ever going to be together again?
I am so glad you liked the first chapter, thank you very much! I feel kinda bad for writing this today because it is a holiday here you spend with the family and I kinda feel down now, but I hope you liked this chapter! Thank you for reading and please leave a review! I'd love to hear what you think about the storyline up till now!
