A\N: This is Milady29's chapter; I only edited and changed a few very small things.

Disclaimer: Neither of us own anything.

Warnings: None

Spoilers: None

Chapter 21

One day later

Matt had no idea what to expect when he arrived at physical therapy. The therapist didn't really say much and when he did it was mostly snarling unfriendly in half German.

After some exercise on the floor to work on his core strength he still didn't feel better. He knew he wasn't going to magically recover but it felt like he could do nothing. He couldn't sit up unaided and when the therapist tried to help him stand up between the bars, he couldn't stand up without holding himself up because it was like his whole balance was still gone.

Gabby was waiting for him in his room as he was brought back.

''How was physical therapy?'' She asked wondering and he just grumbled.

''Hey, cheer up, grumpy! It's the last day of 2003!'' She smiled as it was New Years today and she would be here with him at midnight to celebrate the beginning of 2004

''What didn't go well?'' She asked concerned then.

''Nothing went well!'' He said as he laid back in bed, the dizziness finally gone a bit.

''Tell me about it.''

''It's one big blur in my head!'' He said, looking a bit angry.

''Well...you really don't remember it it's fine but if you are just saying this to get out of talking about it -''

''No! I have a head injury and my head is one big blur and everything went terrible.'' He said stubborn.

''I am sure something went well.'' She said, caressing his hand and feeling sad because he had come back from therapy so late and she had to leave soon.

''Gabby, I feel horrible and worthless!'' He said upset and even though he had been grumpy before, she never had seen him upset like this.

''You aren't. You are going to get back on your feet soon and even go back to Iraq.'' She tried to calm him down.

''I can't even sit up properly.'' Matt said upset and she kissed him on his forehead.

''I am going now cause visiting hour is over but when I get back here you better be in a better mood.''

He mumbled something under his breath, still upset and she just walked out then, waving at him and hoping he would feel better later, but then she came up with a plan to make him feel better.

Hours later she walked in again and was glad to see Matt awake.

''I am sorry about earlier.''

''It is okay to be upset sometimes but I got a surprise for you to make you feel better now.'' She smiled.

''What are you going to do?'' Matt asked as she started putting the bed up a bit, stuffing pillows in his back.

''I have a surprised for you...put you need to set up for that.'' She smiled and even though he struggled a bit, he leaned back in the pillows and she pulled out a laptop from her bag. It had been such a hassle to get a laptop but somebody in the house she stayed had borrowed it to her and she had arranged webcam from somebody else.

''What are you going to do?'' He asked wondering but she put the table by his bed then, put the laptop on and started connecting the webcam.

''We are going to video call with Chicago.'' She smiled triumphantly. If something was going to make him feel better, she was sure it was seeing his family.

She sat down on the edge of his bed and was setting up the whole call while his hand was on her back.

''I hope it will work.'' He smiled then and she nodded, started up Skype. The whole program was brand new and she had only used it to chat with friends and she thought it was so excited they got to do a real video call. One of the nurses helped with getting a cable in the room to get internet on the laptop.

As they were almost ready she just got up, looking at him.

''Oh yeah, I better look pretty.'' He smiled as she was combing his hair with her fingers and brushing it to one side. She was wiping that hair over the scar on his head of where Clarke had drilled a hole in his head and she didn't want the kids to see it.

''I can't change anything to your ugly face.'' She teased him as helped him move on the bed a bit so she could sit down beside him and finally she started the call, her heart raising as she was hoping it would work.

''Oh uncle Matt!'' Eva screamed immediately.

''What about me.'' Gabby teased her niece and Eva just laughed. The connection wasn't amazing and the video was grainy and it was hard to see all the people trying to sit behind the camera but it was still so much fun.

Violet tried to push herself into the view as well, Eva pushing her aside again as she was so excited to see her aunt and Matt and Violet tried to push her back.

''Hey Matt! I love the letters you send me!'' Eva smiled and even though she was breaking up a bit for Gabby and Matt, he smiled.

''I am glad they arrived.''

''I am going really well in school!'' She said excited as Diego was poking his finger at the camera.

''Eva he is my uncle-'' Violet tried to push herself into view again.

''That is great Eva.'' Matt said then.

''Eeheeva!'' Violet whined, ''I want to talk to uncle Matt too!''

''Alright, too many people here. Diego, Eva, we will talk to them later, give Christie and Violet some time now.'' Antonio said and Matt looked as the two kids moved out of the way and Christie and Violet moved closer.

''Hi uncle Matt! Can you hear me?'' Violet asked excited.

It took a few seconds with the delay but he smiled then.

''Yes!'' He smiled, ''Hey Violet! How are you doing?''

''I am good uncle Matt! My teacher says I'm a really good artist! Mommy framed one of my pictures the picture! I'll show it to you when I get home.'' Violet said then, ''Mommy says you are coming back after the hospital.''

Matt looked aside.

''I don't know yet, I might go back to Iraq if I get better soon.'' Matt said then and Violet pouted.

''But you might get hurt again!'' She whined, "No!"

''No, I won't get hurt again.'' He promised. The connection was breaking up again and Gabby wasn't sure how longer they would keep connection.

The rest joined again and they tried to chat a bit more.

''There are some letters and gifts on the way from Germany.'' Gabby told them that and the kids cheered excited.

They talked a bit more when Gabby saw Matt was struggling a bit.

''I think uncle Matt needs to sleep soon.'' Gabby said then as she saw Matt was dozing off beside her. Even though he had a big smile on his face and liked seeing all the kids again, he was struggling to keep his eyes open, the whole exciting Skype call taking its toll on him as his head was still recovering.

''Take care.'' Antonio said understanding and the kids waved.

''Bye Uncle Matt! Be better soon!'' Diego smiled then and Violet blew a kiss towards the camera and Gabby stopped the call then, grabbing all the stuff together while Matt was already asleep again.

He woke up for a second when she grabbed his hand.

''I will be back in a few hours for New Years.'' She promised him then and he smiled.

''Yeah''

''See you then.'' She smiled as they kissed.

A few hours later she returned to his room and as it was New Years Eve, they had allowed the families to come tonight as well and stay for a bit.

''Hey, how are you feeling now?'' She asked then and he smiled.

''So great after the call, thank you so much.''

''You are welcome, I am glad it cheered you up.''

''I am even more determined to get back on my feet now, I know they are all supporting me and will kick me if I don't.''

''They sure will.'' Gabby smirked. She sat with him for a bit.

''This is the first New Years Eve we get to spend together.'' She smiled then.

''I have to admit I had imagined it a bit different...but at least we are together now.'' He smiled and she nodded.

''True.'' She smiled and checked her watch.

''It's 5 minutes before midnight...''

''Oh, do you have any plans?'' He asked jokingly but she smiled.

''I want to get you to the window so we can watch the fireworks together.''

''I guess I could try.'' He smiled and she got one of the wheelchairs, a nurse helping her get him in and even though he struggling and dizzy, as soon as she pulled a chair closer after pushing the wheelchair to the window, he tried to sit back and just feel comfortable.

The fireworks suddenly started and she kissed him.

''Happy new year!''

''Happy new year to you too!'' He smiled, looking deep in her eyes and wiping a strain of hair behind her ear, kissing her again.

After that they watched the fireworks together, holding to each other and wondering what the new year would bring them.

TBC

A\N: Please leave a review and let us know what you thought.

Up Next: The presents from Germany arrive in Chicago, meanwhile Matt's recovery gets a little better.