Matthew Casey slowly sat up, rubbing the palms of his hands through his eyes. Waking up was the only way to make the nightmares for away. Ever since he had visited Heather, Andy kept haunting his dreams. Every time Andy disappeared in the flames he woke up and the dreams started to make less sense as they progressed. Slowly he sat on the edge of his bed and with a lot of effort he swayed his left leg out of bed. Even after a week of therapy he could hardly stand on it. His right leg was still in the cast and the doctor had told him it could take a while, that they should have used surgery for that leg but that they had been so worried about is head they hadn't done it.

''Matt!''

Casey sighed, grabbed a shirt from under his pillow and put it on and grabbed the crutches next to his bed. When he leaned on his left leg he groaned, slowly making his way to the door.

''Matt!?''

When he opened the door from his bedroom he felt it bump against something and his mom came from behind the door, rubbing her shoulder.

''Sorry.'' He apologized with a small excusing smile.

''It is okay, go back to bed, I can go to the boys.''

''No, they called for me.''

Gritting his teeth he made his way to the boys bedroom and he opened the door.

''Guys, what is wrong?''

Ben looked over the edge of the blanket; ''I had a nightmare.''

''Move your feet or I will sit down on them.'' Matt panted as he could finally sit down and let go of the crutches.

''Do you want some water?'' He asked to Ben, worried. The boy nodded and he nodded at Griffin, whom walked away.

''Do you want to talk about it?''

''I - I dreamed that you would go away, just like dad.''

''I am not going anywhere, remember?'' Matt smiled at Ben, pulling the blanket a little higher over him. The boy grabbed the action figure a little tighter in his arms. G.I. Joe was staring at Matt and Matt blinked his eyes a few times, remembering the last birthday Ben had had with his dad there and when Andy had given him the action figure as an extra because they were later from shift. At first Heather had been so mad with Andy, but Ben had been so happy with Joe he had forgiven his dad instantly.

Griffin entered with the water and after talking with the boys a few more minutes he closed the door again, softly and his mom was waiting for him on the hallway.

''Are they asleep again?'' she whispered and Matthew nodded.

''How about you, have you been sleeping?''

He nodded, hardly noticeable on the dark hallway but his mom frowned.

''Doesn't seem like you did.''

''I am just constantly tired from physical therapy, that is all. Goodnight.''

Slowly he made his way back to the room he was staying in, his mom following him and he gritted his teeth when he couldn't move any faster.

Tomorrow he was going to firehouse for the first time in eight weeks and he had tried to sleep the whole night, not to look awful but the words of his mom made it clear to him he still looked awful.

...

''Are you sure you want to go today? You look so tired.''

''I am fine mom.''

Matthew pressed his head against the cold window. Was there really no mute button for his moms worries? It was like a never ending stream of worries.

''Are you sure you aren't going to be cold?''

''Mom, I am twenty-nine years old, not nine.''

''I know, I know. I am just worried about you that is all. I don't want to lose you. You are the last person I have.'' Nancy Casey looked aside at her son who was getting ready to get out of the car.

''I know. Thank you.'' He said with a brief smile and he approached the boys who were waiting for him outside of the firehouse.

''You could have gone inside, it is cold outside.''

Griffin shook his head: ''Ben was afraid they didn't know we were coming.''

''They know who you are.'' Casey smiled back and they went inside.

More than two months had passed so fast since he had been here, sixty-seven days to be exact since the storm happened but it was just like old times when he walked in if it wasn't for the crutches.

''Casey!'' Hermann spotted him first and everybody circled around him and the boys.

''How are you?'' Severide smiled first.

''I am good. Casey nodded. ''You will be stuck with me again in a few weeks.''

At least, that was what he hoped. But he was doing everything he could to be back as soon as possible.

Boden joined them as well, nodding at Matt; ''Glad to see you here.''

''Glad to be here chief.''

Casey nodded towards the common room; ''Could we go there?''

Together with the rest they went to the kitchen, sitting down with a deep sigh as his arms had become very tired and his muscles were burning.

''Hey Pouch.'' He looked down for a second, greeting the dog and when he looked up again a few other people had walked into the kitchen. The family from the collapsed house were standing in the common room.

''I am sorry we only came this late, but they only said to us you would come here today.'' The mother smiled at him.

''That is okay. Glad to see you are all safe and sound.'' Matt smiled back and he meant it. After he woke up nobody had been telling him what happened to the family and if all the boys came out alive. To be even more honest, he hadn't asked for it either.

''We want to thank you...'' One of the teenagers started.

The alarm went and the fellow firemen ran off, but the family sat down at the table next to Casey.

''We want to thank you for saving us.'' The teenager started again and Casey nodded; ''No need to thank me, I am glad you all came out safe.''

The teenager opened his mouth but was silent for a few seconds; ''But you nearly died in there.''

''Well, I came out alive and so did you. It was we do at CFD. Thank you for coming, I appreciate it a lot though. I am also sorry about your house.''

''We all came out safe, that is what matters.'' The dad nodded at him.

The mom stood up and handed him a big box. Casey opened it and jumped up; ''Chocolate cake!''

They laughed at the boys sudden outburst and the mom looked at him again.

''Your sons?'' She smiled.

''Kind off, hum?'' He looked at the boys and they nodded.

A little later the family left and Casey got up again, knowing his mom would be here soon again with the car. Right before they left Shay and Dawson came walking in. Shay just walked past him, only giving him a brief smile.

''Hey.'' Matt and Gabby said at the same time and they burst out laughing.

''Gabby! We got chocolate cake!'' Ben jumped around her.

''I got chocolate cake, maybe I will eat it on my own.'' Matthew teased Ben and Gabriela laughed.

''Do you have shift later tonight? You deserve chocolate cake too.'' He smiled at Gabriela after loud protest of Ben and she nodded; ''Can't reject chocolate cake.''

...

''Chocolate cake!'' Ben ran away from the table with his empty food plate and returned with the dessert plates.

Gabriela stood up as well, carrying the cake to the table and Matt cut it.

''Can G. I. Joe also have a piece of cake?'' Ben said, looking with big eyes as Matt laid a piece of cake on his plate.

''You just want two pieces!'' Griffin blamed him and Ben mimicked him, laying the action figure on the table next to him.

Matt laughed, laying another tiny piece next to Bens piece on his plate and they ate the cake in silence, enjoying it.

''You should get stuck in a basement more often.'' Gabriela mumbled while eating.

Matt looked up at her, confused.

''Kidding, I was just referring to the cake being really good.''

Casey smiled back, knowing she hadn't been serious and Nancy came home, bringing boys to bed while Gabriela and Matt remained in the kitchen, chatting.

''So, how is love?''

For minutes she had building up the courage to ask this. After all, she wanted to know where they were.

''I want to start a relationship with somebody.'' He said, smiling at the glass of in his hand and Dawson because red as his mom busted in.

''I am going to bed soon, can you manage on your own?''

Matt's head became red but finally he nodded.

''Mommy tucks me in again.'' he said, a little red in the face.

''No shame in that. Besides, I am a medic, remember?''

Casey smiled.

''Don't worry, I can manage on my own.''

He got up, holding the table and leaned forward to grab the crutches standing against the table but when he moved his left leg it slipped and bumped into the table.

Gabby jumped grabbing his arm and help him sit down at the table before he could fall since his right leg was still not able for support.

Casey was panting, rubbing over his leg and Gabby bow down, picking something up;

''I think you should have given Joe a bigger piece of cake.''

Matt laughed for a second between the pants as she held up the action figure and Gabriela rubbed his shoulder.

''Are you okay?''

''Leg is still sore, that is all.''

But she hadn't forgotten his words that he wanted to start a relationship and slowly she closed her eyes and moved his way. Maybe she could kiss his pain away but her lips found his jar as he had turned his head away.

''Gabby...I...''

''You don't love me. Do you?''

He looked away; ''I love you, but not in this kind of way. I am sorry.''

''You didn't mean me when you said you wanted to start a relationship.'' Gabby bit her lip and let go of Matthew. She said it more to herself than to him and she looked up.

''Sorry.'' He said again.

''Who is the lucky woman?'' She managed to ask.

''Heather.''

She shook her head as she handed him his crutches.

''Andy was your friend.''

''I know.'' Matthew looked to the floor with a guilty expression.

''You should honor your friend, not hook up with his widow.''

Matt just looked to the ground, leaning against the crutches.

''I think I have lost enough people to love somebody again.'' He frowned then, looking up.

''Hallie is not an excuse.'' Dawson nearly yelled as she nearly crushed the action figure in her hand.

''I thought that you, out of all my friends would understand and support me!''

''That is all I ever been to you, right? A friend?'' She yelled. ''I was good enough to care for your new sons while you were out. I risked my life saving you. All I am is a friend?''

''That is more than you are to Shay now.'' He yelled back.

She turned around, walking away while G. I. Joe hit the floor and Casey looked at his head rolling over the kitchen floor, realizing his relationship with Dawson was in the same state. Broken. Probably beyond repair.

...

NOTE:

Sorry for the Dawsey fans but this story was never intended to be Dawsey story like I said before in one of the notes. I hope you keep reading and enjoying the story though. There is a Dawsey story coming up though!

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! I thought G. I. Joe also deserved a little more love after being beheaded, or at least should take some revenge on Casey. Result is the same though.

Thank you for reading and please don't forget to leave a review! Keeps me writing andum...otherwise G. I. Joe might also come after you!