Chapter XI

The Chief and Severide were sitting in the waiting area while Casey was up in Radiology. Dr Choi had come by and informed them about Matthews whereabouts.

He didn't share any details because he had to obligate doctor-patient-confidentiality.

Boden asked him if his Captain would have to take a leave of absence. The Doctor told him the same as he had told his patient, that he had to wait for all the results to come in.

"Chief, I think I should take some time off if Casey really has to go on medical leave," Kelly suddenly told Boden.

He studied his Lieutenant and finally said, "I guess it would be good to have someone watch over him, while he's at home. I am sure you've built up enough overtime."

Kelly smiled relieved, "I thought I could talk him into going on a fishing trip with me. Maybe it's good for him to leave town for a couple of days."

Boden nodded and sighed, "It will do us all good, I guess."

Kelly raised his eyebrow at the Chief's comment.

"Don't believe, I haven't noticed the tension building up in my firehouse?" Boden clarified his thinking. "Hermann is feeling uncomfortable about being in charge, while Casey's still on truck. Mouch can't shut up and drops a brick every time he opens his mouth. Brett's still angry about having lost her partner and doesn't accept any new paramedic I offer her." The Chief seemingly was upset about all this, "I've tried to hire five EMTs, these past few months. Brett didn't approve any one of them. It's a disaster, Kelly! I don't like floaters in my house!" Boden shook his head and rambled on, "And my Captain, who's supposed to be my right hand, turns out to be the worst out of them." Boden took a breath and pleaded, "So, hell yeah! Take some time off, Severide, and try talking some sense into Casey. This house needs a sane Captain. … I need a sane Captain!"

"Whoa! Chief, just relax!" Kelly said, "I'm sure it's going to be okay. Hermann is a good leader. And he knows Casey for a long time. He'll know how to handle him. Besides Casey will get his act together, eventually." He took a swig of his coffee, he was nurturing. "Regarding the floaters, no one likes having them, but it's only temporary. You'll see Chief as soon as Dawson comes back, everything will turn out alright."

"Except she's not," Boden said.

Kelly looked up at his boss and asked puzzled, "Excuse me, what?"

"She's not coming back, Kelly." Boden stated, "I thought you knew."

"Whoa! What? … You're serious?" Kelly was shocked, to say the least. "Dawson's not coming back to 51?"

"She's not coming back to Chicago," Boden told his Lieutenant.

"Why? How? When ... I mean since when do you know this? Does Casey know?" Kelly was at a loss, "What the hell's going on? I thought this was a temporary assignment."

Boden sighed and tried to answer Kelly's questions, "Turns out, they offered her a permanent position, and she took it. I don't know any details. She didn't reach out to me. I was informed by the headquarters last week. I thought you knew."

Kelly tried to wrap his head around this new information, "How should I have known? Why didn't you tell everyone at one of the morning-briefings?"

Boden just shrugged, "Casey asked me to wait. He wants to tell the news on his behalf. I thought that's the minimum, that I can do to show him my respect. I know it hit him hard."

"So, Casey does know about it?" Kelly asked again, even if he already had heard the answer. „Why didn't he tell me?" Severide was in a way hurt and disappointed.

"I can't give you an answer to that," Boden said.

"That changes everything," Kelly mused out loud. "I mean this is bad ...really, really bad. Matt loves Gabby. How could she do this to him?"

Boden shook his head, he didn't have an answer to that question either.

"Should I bring it up, the next time we talk?" Kelly was still in shock over the news, "Or do I ignore it and wait till he brings it up? Chief I can't believe this!"

"I know Kelly. I was surprised as well. But it is how it is. Dawson's not coming back. I don't know if she left Casey or if they're still together. I couldn't ask him. He behaves distant towards me since the day she left. I don't know."

"He's distant to all of us, Chief. It's not just you." Kelly sighed, "But now I know why, at least."

Boden looked up from where he was sitting and spotted Dr Choi entering the examination room in which Matt had been before.

"I guess we're going to get at least one answer today. In a few minutes, we'll know if you're going on a fishing trip or not."

Casey felt nervous, even if he already knew what his doctor was going to tell him in a few seconds. He didn't have much hope that he would get cleared for duty. He played with his i.v. line, which provided him with fluids and pain medication. He actually didn't mind the treatment because to be fair he was in a lot of pain after that kid hit him in his guts. His shoulder bugged him since the day before and now he felt his body relaxing for the first time in weeks.

"Okay, Matthew! I've got the results of your x-ray and your ultrasound," Ethan informed his patient. "You'll be happy to hear that your rib isn't fractured, but it is heavily bruised. That's the cause of your severe pain. Sometimes bruising can be more painful than a fracture itself. The ultrasound turned out to be clear as well. There are no internal bleedings."

Matt let out a big breath, "That means I'm cleared for duty, right? Thanks, doc. This is great!"

Dr Choi shook his head, "Not so fast, Matt. I've looked at your bloodwork and your CRP levels are too high. I guess your shoulder wound is the reason for that," he shattered Matt's short luck.

"We need to get it cleaned and drained. And I'm putting you on antibiotics, right away. The first dosage will be administered through the i.v. line. That way it will start quicker attacking the infection. You can go home after it is done, and I'll give you a prescription for the pills. You have to take them regularly, every six hours, for ten days, at least."

Matt felt terrible hearing this. "How long do I have to be off shift?"

"Depends on the severity of the infection. I tell you what, let's get through the first round of antibiotics and then we do a blood test again. If the numbers are down by then you're able to return to work."

"That's what? Ten days?" Matt asked, and Ethan nodded "... three shifts," Matt muttered.

"I guess, there isn't another option?" Matt tried.

"I'm afraid, there isn't," Dr Choi informed him.

Matt let the doctor clean out the wound, while he tried to wrap his head around the fact, that he had ten days off. His first thought was to get on a plane and fly to Puerto Rico.

But he knew he couldn't muster the strength to step in front of Gabby. The person who did break his heart into million pieces. He knew the moment he would see her, he would crumble and never get back up.

"Look, Matthew," Dr Choi interrupted his musings, "I don't know what's going on in your life right now, but I urge you to take better care of yourself. Your bloodwork didn't just tell me about your infection, it also shows signs of malnutrition and vitamins deficiency."

Matt just stared at Ethan and after a few seconds, he just stated, "Believe me I'm fine. I'm in the middle of a new training routine and maybe I've lost track of my calorie input, that's all" he lied. He didn't want to make a big fuss about the fact, that his appetite was off since again a person, he loved dearly, left him. After his father's passing, he had exactly the same problem. He wasn't even able to get down some soup. He was sure it would get better over the time.

"I don't want to sound like a health maniac. Believe me, I know how hard it is to follow a healthy lifestyle with crazy work hours. But I'll tell you, this wound will heal better and quicker if you'll take care of things like nutrition and sleep."

"Thanks, Doc, I'll keep that in mind." Matt smiled at Choi. "Am I good to go now? Or do you need anything more from me?"

"No. You can head home. Take your prescription on your way out and I'll see you in ten days."

Matt took his bloody jacket he still had with him and headed in the direction of the exit. He stopped and turned back, as he recognized he forget his pills and the fact, that he was brought here by someone.

He collected his prescription from nurse Maggie and asked her if she knew where Kelly and Boden were hiding. She pointed him in the direction. He found the two in the hallway standing next to Dr Choi.

"So, I guess, you two already know, that I am benched for the next ten days." Casey sounded casual, which felt weird, given the fact how he had behaved before.

"I'm so sorry Matt", Kelly honestly said. He had to suppress the urge to hug his friend. Not only because he learned that his nightmare of medical leave had become true, he wanted to console him because now he knew about Dawson.

"It's for the best," Boden made a point, "It is better to get this fixed now than to wait until it gets really bad. And these infections never get better without treatment. Am I right Dr Choi?"

"You're absolutely right Chief. They never do."

"Guys, don't worry. I get it. You can drop the educational-film routine." Matt smirked and rolled his eyes. "I just want to head home and sleep for the next three days."

"You've earned it," Chief Boden said to him and clapped him fatherly on his back as Matt made his way to the exit. Severide looked dumbfounded at the Chief and mouthed, "What is happening?"

The Chief, who was just as stunned as his Lieutenant whispered, "I have no idea, but I'm glad he's not fighting with us. Maybe we were right. Maybe time off is what he needs."