She realizes just after Thanksgiving that she is going to have to shop for Matt's Christmas present. She's never actually gotten him a Christmas present. She's not sure anyone in the house has ever gotten him any kind of present, unless you counted that time Gabby got him a hockey stick. You totally couldn't count the stuff Cindy bought after the fire last year, passing the boot was not the same thing as getting him a thoughtful gift for an occasion. She hadn't gotten him anything for his birthday, only because he had not told her his birthday until the night of his birthday and he'd insisted he didn't want anything. More annoyingly, as she thought about what to get him for Christmas, he actually meant that he didn't want anything. Plus, she was going to have to tell her mom something to get him, and Mom would not take 'he doesn't need anything' as a good answer. She has a little time to think about it, at least.

He assured her that he'd enjoyed meeting her parents and was looking forward to Christmas. He promised he had not been supposed to spend it with his own mother and/or Christie and Violet. She teased him about the fact that he refused to give her ideas for gifts by saying that if he wasn't careful he'd end up getting underwear for Christmas. He had shrugged, said it was useful at least, but then gave her the dirtiest grin and said she could buy him lingerie for Christmas. She'd swatted him, sure, but it had also led to a nice little quickie that morning, so probably not the best deterrent of his idea. Basically, though, she had nothing to explain why he was quiet, moody, and withdrawn in the first week of December. Matt was always moody, as Kelly had reminded her when she'd asked him if he knew what was wrong: actually, he'd said "Casey's always been moody and too quiet – could be anything from his mom screwing with him to not liking being at 29 to the Blackhawks' season being a disaster already." She didn't think that last was actually a viable reason for Matt to be so quiet, though. He wasn't unhappy with their relationship, though, that much was clear – he was cuddlier and clingier than he'd been before, and while she worried about his mood and what it meant, she reveled in his open and free affection. She'd noticed it when he was with Gabby, of course, and it wasn't like she hadn't had affectionate boyfriends before, but maybe because Matt was so often serious and solemn and yes, a bit distant, the warmth from his affection was somehow greater.

Life at 51 continued, of course, even with Matt up at 29. Dvorak was still competent. He also still heard 'Casey would'or 'Casey says' at least once a shift. She was pretty sure Dvorak had to hate Matt Casey by this point. He was just too bland to show it. He was competent but not in the same way Matt was, maybe because she'd never known Matt when he was a new lieutenant, so he was 'good enough' sort of competent not like the 'trust him to figure out pretty much any situation' sort of competent. Still, she felt a little bad for him just because he knew he was only temporarily at 51: once Captain Polanshek was fit, he'd take his spot back at 29 and Matt would be back at 51. It was probably why he was bland and pleasant enough but not friendly, not really trying to settle in at 51. At least he was married, seemingly happily, so he had something more stable in his life than floating in the CFD. Sylvie had spent most of last night unable to sleep, worrying about what was bothering Matt. He always just said shift was 'fine' or 'typical' but she knew he didn't want to worry her. Which actually made her worry more than if he'd just tell her whatever the calls were about. She was just staring blankly into the kitchen area, not at all watching Ritter cleaning up as the end of shift approached, and contemplating how happy she would be to get Matt back at 51 where she could keep an eye on him and know what calls might have upset him, cause these moods of his, when Chief came into the room, looking serious.

"Anyone seen Severide?"
"I think he's having a cigar break outside, Chief." Cruz replied readily.

"Tell him I need him in my office. Brett, you too."
"Yes, sir." She followed him into his office, uncertain what the meeting could be about without Herrmann and Dvorak. Officers' meetings weren't all that unusual, but half of the officers weren't here. She waited a little impatiently the couple of minutes it took for Severide to join them. Chief took a deep breath, and then addressed them both.

"I just got a call from District Chief Walker. Truck 103 was at the scene of a multiple-vehicle accident at California and Belmont, when Captain Casey was somehow struck by another vehicle. He's bruised up, had to have his knee checked out," Chief held up a hand to quiet her, and maybe Kelly too, "but the larger concern is that he lost consciousness on scene and upon regaining consciousness has been disoriented. He's been admitted to Med for observation."

"Did they say what's-" Sylvie asked quickly.
"He's having testing completed, but that's all Chief Walker knew."

"They know about his old injury, right?" Severide asked.
"I'm sure they have a complete medical history. I wanted to tell you both so you could go check on him yourself as soon as shift is over."
"That's in like 15 minutes. We can just-"
"No one goes anywhere until third watch is on duty." Chief insisted. "Neighboring houses are tied up at scenes, we cannot take 51 out of service to have our PIC and our Squad lieutenant at Med. There's no indication that he is at any immediate risk. Go after shift."

"Shouldn't we tell everyone?" Sylvie asked, wondering why only she and Kelly had been informed of Matt's injury.
"I didn't think Casey would want everyone there for something that's a precaution." Chief replied. "It sounds like they're just being careful because of his history, it's probably just a concussion. He's out a couple of shifts and then it's back to normal."

She, Stella, and Kelly all headed to Med the minute shift was over. Maggie quickly directed them up to Neurology on the fourth floor, saying he was in room 4118 and had been admitted at his neurologist's order for 24 hours of observation and testing. Kelly got held up by a telephone call as they made it up to the room, so Stella and Sylvie went into his room. A woman was standing next to the far side of Matt's bed, looming more like, and Sylvie didn't miss the fact that she'd either been holding Matt's hand or fiddling with something near his hand, as the thin cover over Matt's legs and torso was just being flipped back when they entered. Sylvie thought it was odd either way. Matt wasn't even awake, as became clear when she moved to the nearest side of Matt's bed.

"Who are you?" The woman, dark-haired and if Sylvie had to guess about 50 years of age, was wearing a CFD t-shirt. She must be from 29.

"Stella Kidd, I'm on Truck 81 at House 51, and Sylvie Brett, she's our PIC."
"What're you doing here?"
"Checking on my captain." Stella replied, just about a match for the woman's aggressive tone.

"You must be from House 29." Sylvie tried a slightly gentler approach.

"Battalion Chief Janet Gayan." The woman replied evenly, still looking at them suspiciously.

"Matt's spoken of you." Sylvie smiled, though she carefully left out that much of what Matt had said was not inherently complimentary. He hadn't said a lot, but it was clear he didn't like how Gayan ran things, thought she was way too slack about drills and way too harsh about hierarchy. He hadn't said it, but Sylvie had read between the lines, that he thought Gayan demanded respect without earning it, or giving much.

"Matt?" The woman raised her eyebrows, as if there was something inherently suspicious in referring to her colleague by his first name.

"Have you heard anything?" Stella asked.
"His medical information is private." Chief Gayan replied sort of sharply.

"Is he unconscious or-"
"Jus' 'sleep." Matt's soft voice cut her off. " 'til you started shouting."

"No one is shouting, Captain." Stella corrected lightly. "You're just tired, probably got a killer headache."
"I'm fine, Sylvie." His blue eyes fully opened and he turned his attention straight to her. "Just got my bell rung pretty good."

"You've been admitted to the Neurology department; that is not 'fine'."

"He awake?" Severide asked as he strode into the room. He did an obvious double-take at seeing Chief Gayan in the room. He must've decided to ignore it for a second, though, and turned his attention to Matt. He looked relieved and had that crazy adorable little-boy smile on when he made eye contact with Matt. "Damn, man, you scared the crap out of us. Again. You alright?"
"I'm fine, they're just being cautious."
"Your skull was permanently compromised, dumbass, doctors worry about that stuff. Everyone but you worries about that stuff." Kelly pointed out.

"And you are?" Chief Gayan asked sharply.

"Kelly Severide, I'm Casey's emergency contact, we work together at 51. You are?"
"Battalion Chief Janet Gayan, Captain Casey's boss." She must've recognized Kelly's name somewhat, she at least stuck out her hand in a respectful greeting unlike she'd given to Stella and Sylvie. Sylvie also wondered why Severide had left out that they were roommate's and he was Matt's legal proxy, he was the one person who actually had the full right to know Matt's medical information if Matt was altered or generally unable to make his own decisions.

"Have we heard anything from the doctors, man?" Kelly turned back to Matt.

"I got some cognitive and neuropsycho-whatever testing today, and a CT scan this morning. It's a precaution, guys, I'm fine."
"You have a bruise covering a third of your face." Sylvie pointed out. It was pretty massive, though she might be exaggerating slightly. "What happened?"
"I don't really know. Got called to a wreck, four cars, had a pin-in we had to clear, next thing I remember, I'm in the ambo. Memory's a bit fuzzy for part of last night."
"Yeah, like it came and went last time?" Kelly sounded highly suspicious and if she didn't mistake him completely, a bit scared.

"No, just bits are gone and some are…fuzzy." Matt assured him. He turned, looking a little surprised or no, not surprised, uncomfortable, to realize Gayan was there. How he hadn't noticed earlier, Sylvie couldn't figure, or maybe he'd just forgotten, but no, if he was that absent-minded surely the tests would've been completed already. That he wasn't bumped in line was a good sign. "Chief Gayan, I didn't expect you to be here this morning."
"I didn't think you should be alone, Matthew. I'll leave you in the capable hands of your friends from 51, now, though. The nurses said you'll need some new clothes to go home in tomorrow, by the way, apparently yours weren't fit for much by the time you got here."

"Okay, thanks, Chief."

"I'll see you soon, Matthew." She left, looking at Stella and Sylvie oddly as if she was trying to place them or something. Something about the look just bothered Sylvie. That, and the fact that the woman had called him 'Matthew'. No one who knew Matt very well or for very long, like more than a couple minutes, called him Matthew. He always corrected people to use 'Matt'. Plus, at work, he always used Casey. Everyone in the department pretty much used last names or nicknames, not a lot of calling each other by their first name's – Tony was pretty much the only person at 51 who went by his actual first name.

"That's your new chief?" Kelly asked a few moments after she'd left.

"Yep."
"She's…not what I pictured."

"What'd you picture? A battle-axe or something?" Matt scoffed.

"Yeah, sorta." Kelly admitted.

"Not all female firefighters are bad-looking, Sev. You should know."
"She used to be hot, I'd bet."

"You lookin?" Stella asked, eyebrows arched.

"Not at all. Just…surprised to see her here. Didn't think you'd hit it off with anyone up there, man."
"He hasn't." Sylvie almost smiled, just because she was happy to know she knew him well enough to make this call, "she called him 'Matthew' – no way he likes her and he hasn't gotten her to call him Matt or Casey in the six weeks he's been up there. You didn't expect her to be here either, did you?"
"Hoping she wasn't." Matt muttered.

"You really don't like her." Kelly remarked, looking a little surprised.

"Can't stand her." Matt admitted. "Grissom was right, and yes, I've filed reports with him, and no, I'm not telling you anything else. Except that it looks like Polanshek's knee will be good in about 5 weeks. So mid-January I should be back at 51."

"That's good news. It could've gone longer." Stella pointed out.

"You sure you're okay up there?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, I just…makes me appreciate 51 and Chief a lot more. At least I might make a decent firefighter out of a couple of the crew up there, though. Can't figure out what Polanshek's been doing."
"Pretty high turnover up there." Kelly pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. Probably it." Matt nodded. "Hey, uh, Kidd, can you go see if my nurse has a minute? I got a question."

"Sure." Stella left, probably well aware that she was being gotten rid of, but Sylvie couldn't guess why. Matt waited just a moment for her to be out, and then reached for Sylvie's hand.

"I'm fine, babe, I promise. I just wanted to ask you something kinda awkward with Kidd in the room."
"Hey, man, if I need to step out" Severide chuckled and motioned that he'd head for the door, too.

"Nah, kinda have to ask both of you anyway. I'm hoping you can do me a favor."
"It must not be too dirty if you're asking both of us, so no problem." Severide teased again.

"Can you bring me some of my stuff? Clothes for tomorrow or tonight when they let me go, whichever that is, and uh, bring it back as quick as you can?"

"You planning a prison break?" Severide asked. "I'm hungry, if you're okay, I'm gonna get some lunch, come back when you're ready for visitors, man – after your tests."
"Can you just bring me back some clothes? I'm not wearing anything under this and it's making me nuts."
"Are you even allowed anything?"
"I don't think nudity is required for a CT scan, so yeah. Speak of the devil."
"I haven't even been devilish, yet, Mr. Casey. Your friend said you had a question?" The nurse arrived, moving briskly but not like she was in a rush, just like she was efficient and busy.

"Can my friends bring me some stuff from home?"
"No food – not until we're sure your stomach has fully settled with the lighter options we'll provide. But there's no reason you can't have some pants, if that's what you're asking."
"It is, thank you."

"You're seriously not…what happened to what you were wearing on the scene?" Sylvie asked.

"I think I pretty spectacularly puked all over."
"His other clothes are in a bag in the bottom drawer, but yes, he's going to want to clean them thoroughly." The nurse filled them in helpfully. "Is that all, Mr. Casey?"
"Yeah, thanks – I'm good."
"No video games, either." The nurse said, mostly looking at Severide. "Nothing likely to strain his eyes or cause any sort of reaction in a concussed brain. Just clothes."
"You seriously sent me out of the room to ask these two to bring you underwear?" Stella laughed lightly. "I'm aware you have them, Captain. I've seen you in them."
"What? When was this?" Sylvie asked, shocked to hear that, though not at all threatened by it.

"I didn't realize she'd stayed over, I was getting my first coffee of the morning." Matt admitted, shaking his head. "Now I make sure I'm fully dressed before I leave my room every morning."

"You got nothing to blush about, Captain. Sylvie's right, your butt is very cute."
"Hey."
"Not as cute as Kelly's, but cute."
"Better." Kelly chuckled. "How 'bout Stella and I get your stuff, and Sylvie stays with you. No books, no tv, no games, you're gonna be bored in five minutes or less, man."
"Keep your girlfriend out of my underwear drawer, man. It's awkward."
"No one is going to be shocked by your underwear, Case. It's always black, always boxer-briefs, and always the same brand."
"It's not always black." Matt sort of pouted, and it was adorable. "Sometimes it's gray."
"Oh, the variety." Sylvie teased him, but she kissed him softly. "I'd like to stay, if you're okay with them getting your stuff."
"It's fine. Thanks, guys."

She settled in to sit with him as Stella and Severide left. He looked at her strangely as she moved towards the chair that she figured Chief Gayan had been sitting in before.

"Sylvie, just sit with me."
"That's what I'm doing."
"No, with me." He patted the bed beside him.

"Matt, hospital beds were not built for two, and you are not a small man."
"I think we've established I'm not small, yes." He teased, a rather dirty glint in his eyes for a man with a serious concussion.

"Don't even think about anything like that, Matt Casey."

"Like what?"
"I recognize that dirty in your eyes."
"Normally you like the dirty in my eyes."
"Normally is not you in a hospital bed."
"Fair enough." He admitted. "I mean it, though, come over here with me. You were on shift, you can nap, I'm supposed to rest, too – we both sleep better together anyway."
"You make a good argument. But, you better keep your hands to yourself, mister." She caved in to the big blue eyes and the logical argument and how adorable he looked with mussed hair and an uncharacteristic five o'clock shadow. Plus, she liked the idea of being able to cuddle in with him. He'd scared her with this injury. Even the thought of Matt having another serious head injury scared the crap out of her. She was probably going to have nightmares about it now. Maybe that would be better if she could smell him while she slept. She settled carefully into his side, the opposite one from where it was obvious he'd taken the brunt of his injuries. She felt his arm come around her, and a kiss on the top of her head as she settled against his shoulder.

"I love you, Sylvie." Okay, there was the big moment. It wasn't said casually, there was a strength and emphasis and surety to it. She teared up, and turned her head up to meet his gaze.

"I love you, too, Matt." She kissed him gently. She had no doubt how much she meant those words, either. She'd loved him as a friend for years, and falling into this newer, deeper, form of love had been so easy. He was an easy man to love.