HI, Thanks so much for all your support and kind words. I wrote chapter 4 a few days ago, but I struggled writingchapter 3. I hope you like it, but please come back tomorrow for chapter 4! I'm really excited about that one. I have several ideas about how this will also play out! ENJOY!
Gabby exited Severide's room, and headed back to the ICU to get the latest update on her husband as well as the details of his transfer to Chicago University. She stopped off at the bathroom to finally freshen up like everyone had been trying to get her to do. Whatever that meant, she splashed a handful of cold water on her face and toweled it off catching a glance of herself in the mirror. She was almost unrecognizable, hideous if you asked her. Dark circles framed her swollen eyes. She was pale, and looked both exhausted and without hope. The whole day had been filled with waiting. Waiting for news, and updates that went in one ear and out the other. She felt like every time someone spoke to her about him, the words were superficial or medical jargon she did not understand. She just longed to see him, and it did not matter how many updates she got stating he was "in stable but critical condition", she would not hear a word until he was either dead, or could see him with her own eyes.
After what seemed like 20 minutes of staring into the mirror, Gabby headed back to the ICU. What Gabby hadn't expected to see was Sylvie Brett, in the waiting room seemingly sleeping in the chair. She was startled by Gabby's presence in front of her. "Oh. Hey," she said straightening herself and offering a compassionate smile. " You can go home Sylvie, I appreciate it, but they are about to Medivac Matt to Chicago University and I'm okay." Gabby said. Sylvie knew what she was about to respond with would elicit push back from Gabby but frankly she didn't care. "I can take you to the Hospital if you want." she nudged hoping Gabby would take the hint. Unsurprisingly so Gabby was less than fond of the Idea. She didn't feel like talking to anyone and she certainly did not feel like arguing with Sylvie Brett about it. "Sylvie, I appreciate it but…" she was cut off. "Gabby I know. I know you might want to be alone, but the truth of the matter is we are partners and friends. And your husband had a terrible accident today and as much as you try to pretend that you are okay, I would be a terrible friend to let you get behind the wheel of a car in this state. I would be an even worse friend if I let you go through this alone. So please don't argue with me because I'm not asking you." she stated strongly. Softer she added "we don't even have to talk on the way there…I promise" Sylvie trailed off. She may not always be the most outgoing person, but when she needs to be she can be a real hard ass. "Okay," Gabby reluctantly replied, annoyed that she clearly was not going to win that argument. "I need to stop home first, I have a few things I need to take care of," Gabby said in a way that raised a suspicious flag in Brett's head. Something about the way she said "take care of a few things" made her sound like she was hiding something. She decided against questioning her further and instead agreed to take her home on their way to the next hospital.
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Chicago University Hospital's Burn Center was a scary place. As Gabby walked past the glass paned rooms, she saw people wrapped like mummies. She saw ventilators, people who she presumed were in Comas like Matt, and she heard the screams and cries of patients in excruciating pain. She hadn't seen her Husband since she kissed him goodbye as he was rolled into the ER. She was desperate to see him or get more news she would only half understand, but as she walked down the hall to the nurses station her nerves only intensified. Was this really her future with Matt? Mummified bodies? Skin grafts, and excruciating pain? How long would it be before he was to wake up? Will he even wake up? Suddenly the questions she had kept from her brain creeped their way in. It was in that moment she was thankful that Sylvie had refused to leave her side. Gabby stopped her walk down the hallway and was overcomb with sudden nausea, her nerves getting the best of her. Brett reached down and instinctively grabbed Gabbys hand but said nothing. The pair exchanged no words but the gesture was definitely a comfort for Gabby. She took a deep breath to help fight back her urge to vomit up her fears, looked at Brett with grateful eyes and they proceeded down the hall.
When they finally reached the nurses stand they were told Matt had arrived safely, but that the doctors were evaluating him. She was asked to sit in the waiting room until Matt's new doctor had an update. She sat in the waiting room with her head again in her lap. She was exhausted but sleep was the furthest from her mind. After another hour of waiting, Gabby stood up. She walked quickly over to the nurses station and demanded information. "Hi, I'm sorry but I have been here for 2 hours waiting for an update and I need to know what's going on." She started. "I'm sorry miss but until the doctor comes, I'm afraid I don't have any information for you," the nurse responded in a polite attempt to diffuse the situation. Gabby turned to walk away, but her patients flead hours ago. "No. She turned back around to face the nurse. " My husband was severely burned during hour 11 of our 24 hour shift while trying to save people. He's a firefighter. We rushed him to Chicago Med where I personally placed a crike in my husbands neck. We spent 22 hours at Chicago Med, where he fought for his life, and I have been here now for 2 hours waiting to find out if he is even still alive...I need to talk to someone..Now!" she all but screamed, tears threatening to spill over. The nurse was clearly overwhelmed by the way Gabby verbally attacked her, but she held her composure, nodded, and walked away. Gabby instantly regretted speaking to her that way, but she had been awake and without real information for close to 48 hours, and he patients and sanity were long gone.
Not 2 minutes later did the nurse return with the doctor. A short, middle aged man with an expressionless face. Hie unreadable demeanor scared Gabby but she and Sylvie walked to meet him. "Mrs Casey?" He questioned her. "It's Dawson, but I'm Matt Casey's wife." she corrected shaking the man's hand. "Doctor Lawler," he said as her returned the handshake. "I have been in contact with Will Halstead over at Med since late yesterday afternoon and I also performed an extensive exam of you husband since he's been with us. Your husband is stable, but he's not out of the woods and won't be for quite some time. He was given thiopental, while at Med and we are going to continue that drug protocol here to keep your husband sedated. I'm sure you know some of this already but going forward we need to be concerned about infection which could lead to sepsis, as well as metabolic acidosis, and respiratory alkalosis. Basically it means that burn victims experience a decrease in cellular energy which alters the balance of ions like sodium, calcium,and potassium which are needed for everyday bodily functions. Other things we need to be cautious of are a decrease in cardiac output which could lead to stroke... Mrs Dawson? Mrs Dawson?" the doctor began calling her name when he noticed she was completely spaced out. As much as Gabby wanted the update, the words he was saying weren't giving her any amount of information. Instead they all just blended together into one long strand of medical jargon. "Mrs Dawson, I know this is a lot to take in, but your husband is incredibly lucky that his burns were not more extensive. His turnout gear really did it's job here, It's the only reason he's still alive." Once again Sylvie reached for Gabby's hand, likely recognizing her sudden change in demeanor. Mrs. Dawson, this will be a tough road, but I promise we will do everything in our power to see him through this." The doctor smiled offering Gabby a sliver of hope that Matt may actually make it through this. "Can I see him?" She finally begged when she regained her composure. "Yes, Ma'am." That word the best news Gabby had heard all day.
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After much convincing Gabby finally convinced Sylvie she was okay to leave. And without a car, there was no risk of her driving while so sleep deprived and emotional. Finally she was on her way to see the love of her life after almost 2 days of wondering where and how he was. This time while walking down the hallway Gabby was able to zone out all of the moans and mummies. This time at the end of the hallway was her man. She finally reached room 311, she took another one of those deep breaths, reassuring her that she had the courage to face what ever was behind those matter how bad it was, it was Matt and he needed her just as much as she needed him.
Finally Gabby slid the door open, and walked over to her husband's bed. Relieved to see his sweet face, this time without fire smut all over it. She took him in. He was shirtless and had some kind of mesh wrapped around him from under his left arm, across his left chest and around his neck. He was on a ventilator, but he looked peaceful, like he was sleeping. She leaned in on his right side and placed a soft kiss on the top of his head where she had hours before. She ran her hand through his messy hair and then down the stubble on his cheek. Finally after 2 days the real tears finally came in full force. All the tears she held back from Sylvie, and Severide, and her brothers at 51 came in floods. This ride was just beginning, but for now her Matt was alive and she could hold his hand and kiss his head and that would be enough for her to finally fall fast asleep in chair by the bed.
