Slowly Gabriela sat down next to Matt's bed.
''So, this is it.'' Matt said as he rubbed his hand over hers and she looked as he was ready for surgery. Gabby sighed as she entwined her fingers with his and looked at him. They had both promised to stay positive before the surgery, but now the moment they had to say goodbye was really hard.
''Good luck.'' He said then and Gabby looked up, surprised.
''Why? You are the one going into surgery.''
''I just have to countdown from ten and I am asleep. You are going to be waiting for hours...and you will have to be sweet to me for a few days.'' He said with a small smile as he played with the ring around her finger, which she had gotten from her mom and always wore when she was not on shift.
''I am going to see you again a few hours.''
''If everything goes right.'' Matt said scared.
''It will and I will bring you clothes so you get rid of this dress.''
Matt smiled and he looked at the clock as he knew they would come to get him any minute now. He would finally get rid of the headache, still the surgery frightened him big time.
''It 'll take about four hours, are you going to wait for me here?'' He asked worried, hoping she wouldn't be that long on her own. He knew she was worried and hope she wouldn't be alone for so long.
''No, it could still be hours before you wake up after that, I am going to my mom so I am still close...''
''In case something happens.'' He nodded understanding and she kissed him as she saw the staff walking to his room.
''Matt, you are going to be okay, I just know that! See you later.'' She smiled. He looked at her a little bit more worried now and she kissed him again while the door to his room opened and the surgical staff entered and she walked beside the bed, holding his hand to give him a few final seconds of support. As they approached the OR they exchanged one last look and Gabby nodded while Matt looked even more scared now.
Finally she let his hand go and looked as they took him to the OR. Gabby stood there for a few seconds, knowing that the next few hours would be long, very long and only now she realized she was shaking, nervous for what was coming. She had tried to stay strong for Matt but she also knew how dangerous this surgery was. It was necessary, but what if it did go wrong? She didn't even want to think about and slowly she walked back to his room to grab her bag and car key.
A strange feeling was rumbling through her stomach as she parked the car on her parents driveway and she entered the house.
''Mom, I am here.''
''How did it go with Matt?'' Her mom said worried as she pulled her daughter in her arms, giving her a comforting hug. She knew how much Gabby had averted this goodbye.
'''He is going to be okay.''
''I know, but he looked so scared when they brought him away.''
She and her mother sat down at the kitchen table and her mother made them some tea while Gabby just kept checking her phone ever ten seconds, as if some message was going to appear within that time.
''Relax sweetie. Matt is going to be fine.''
''I know, I am just worried. It is a dangerous surgery.''
They sat in silence for a few minutes as Gabriela laid her hands around the glass and stared outside. For days, all Matt had been talking about was the scenarios if something went wrong during the surgery and although she didn't want to, she almost started to believe it. She tried to get the thoughts out of her head and stay positive, knowing he was going to make it through. He just had to.
Her phone rang and worried she grabbed the phone, her heart immediately racing.
''Gabby.'' She said as her mom laid her hand on hers.
''It's me, Kelly.''
Gabriela sighed relived and her mom let go of her hand and walked out of the living/dining room for give her some privacy while on the phone.
''Are you maybe at the hospital? I am here but Matt is already in surgery and I can't find you. I was wondering if you were okay and I think we could both use some company right now.''
''I am at...home.'' She just answered. ''Will be there in half an hour.''
She loved her mom, honestly. But right now, she and Kelly could really use each other as they were both in the same boat. Her mom entered again, with a worried face:
''Something wrong with Matt?''
''No, his best friend is at the hospital, he wants to wait untill Matt comes out of surgery together.'' Gabby drank her tea and kissed her om her cheek.
''Thank you. I am sorry I am leaving again.''
''It's okay, I understand. Message me when Matt is out of surgery, okay?'' Her mom smiled, rubbing over her cheek. She was very proud her daughter was so supportive, but also worried.
Gabby hugged her mom one more time before she walked out of the house, to her car and back to the hospital. Walking inside she walked to his room and found Kelly there.
''Hey.'' She greeted him and he hugged her.
''Forty-five minutes and already the longer forty-five of my life.'' Kelly sighed and Dawson nodded as she sat down in one of the chairs of his room. A nurse walked by and opened the door.
''Excuse me, it is not really okay for visitors to-''
''They can sit here as long as they want.''
Behind the nurse dr. Mason popped up and walked into the room.
''How are you doing?'' She asked them.
''Okay, I guess. It has to happen.'' Gabriela sighed and Mason nodded.
''Well, the best surgeons in this hospital are with him right now. I am sure he will get through this and he will be saving people again within a month.''
Gabriela nodded and Mason left the room again. Kelly looked at her: ''Did you get any sleep last night.''
''Not really. I was alone in our apartment as he was already here because there were some things that had to happen before the surgery. I didn't sleep.''
''Neither did I. Bad things just keep haunting through your mind when you think of it. What if he still has pain when he wakes up? Or he wakes up with brain damage.''
''Or he doesn't wake up at all.'' Gabriela added and they were silent for a minute. ALthough they knew they had to stay positive, they also knew they were going through the same and while Matt was in surgery, they could support each other.
Kelly sat down next to Gabby and laid her against his shoulder; ''just sleep, I will wake you up when I hear something.''
Gabriela wanted to object but realized she was so tired she could use some sleep and she closed her eyes.
When she woke up again she was relieved to see almost two hours had passed and Severide looked at her: ''Let's walk for a bit.''
They walked a few rounds over the hallway to keep moving and walked back to his room. Kelly had put on the tv and they just stared at it, waiting for an update.
''Why is it taking so long?'' Gabby frowned as they stood up to walk another round. They had been told that four hours would be the time they should account for the surgery to take, but as it was almost six hours now, Gabriela started to get worried.
Severide looked aside before she stood up; ''We are thinking the same right?''
''It's taking too long.''
They both stood up and a nasty feeling was spreading through Gabriela's stomach as they were walking to the OR and walked to a nurse there.
''Could you give us any update on Matthew Casey? His surgery is taking was longer than expected.'' Severide immediately asked and the nurse walked through the swing doors. Gabriela grabbed Severide's hand, worried a she returned after a few minutes.
''He is still in surgery...there were some complications...''
NOTE: Here is my love for cliffhangers again...
I hope you liked this chapter though! Thank you for reading and please tell me what you think! WIll Matt be okay? What did you think about this chapter?''