Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all, I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for the feedback you gave me on the last one, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one, too.

I hope you all are doing well, and staying safe. I'll see you again next week.

Happy reading!


EIGHTY THREE


Matt took slow, shallow breaths as he sat leaned back in the hospital bed, his eyes focused on the woman sitting beside him while she spoke with her parents, Gabby's body slightly in front of his as her hip was resting up against his thigh. They'd been in this position for the last hour or so, pretty much ever since Gabby's parents arrived and they'd all settled after Ramon and Camila's initial shock from seeing them for the first time wore off, the four of them now all sitting comfortably while they waited for the nurses to come and take Matt for his scans.

When the doctor first left his room, he knew it might take some time for him to get his scans done, but he hadn't anticipated it taking this long, as they'd pretty much been left on their own since the nurse who cleaned up the cut on his face was last in here. Aside from her, no one else had come in, and now they were all just waiting. And the longer they waited, the more Matt was able to feel just how much pain he was in.

His body took a severe beating, he knew that. He knew as it was happening that Walker had gotten some shots in, and he paid the price for it. But the longer he sat here, especially as the pain medication they'd given him was starting to wear off, the more he was feeling it. And it wasn't the most pleasant feeling in the world, but he was willing to tough it out.

He knew he could get a nurse in here to get him something to help take the edge off, but considering he could feel just how tense Gabby was as she sat beside him, he worried doing that would only stress her out more. She already felt guilty for what happened, she was already concerned enough about him, and just by looking at her he could tell she was barely holding herself together, he didn't want to make that worse. His pain wasn't anything unbearable, it was just a bit more constant than he'd like, the dull pain noticeable with each breath he took. But he was fine, at least for the time being, so he decided to just leave it alone, Matt figuring he could ask for some more pain meds whenever he got taken for his scans.

Though when he first started noticing the pain, he hadn't anticipated it taking this long.

"Mama, you really don't have to."

Casey's mind snapped into focus when he heard Gabby's voice, his hand still moving gently along her back as a slight wince covered his face when he breathed in a bit too harshly. And though he quickly tried to mask it, when he glanced over beside him at Ramon, the man was watching him closely, clearly seeing the obvious discomfort he was in. But he didn't get a chance to say anything before Camila spoke up again, the soft smile on her face a welcome change from the look of absolute devastation that she wore when she first arrived.

"Oh nonsense, Gabriela. Your father and I don't mind to go and get your things from the firehouse. You don't need to worry about it." Camila told her once more, Matt relaxing his head back as he looked over towards where the woman was sitting. "Poor Matthew here, there's no telling how long he'll be off shift, and you shouldn't be working anytime soon, either."

"Mama-"

"So your things don't need to be there." She continued on without missing a beat, Gabby biting her tongue as she knew there was no reason to fight her mother on this.

She knew this is what her mother did; in situations she couldn't control, she looked for things she could. She always had, ever since Gabby was little. And the daughter knew that's what she was doing now, as Camila had been a wreck ever since they got here, Gabby well aware she was just looking for anything to focus her energy on.

"And your truck is there, isn't it, Matt?" Ramon added, the firefighter glancing back towards the older man, Casey not missing the knowing look in his eye before he nodded.

"It is, yeah." He answered, his voice a bit hoarse from lack of use as the oldest member of the Dawson family nodded with a small smile.

"See, that's just another reason to go and get your things." Camila spoke as she looked between the two of them, the woman desperately trying not to linger on their injuries, but it was impossible not to. "So aside from your truck, and your bags from your locker, is there anything else you need us to get from the firehouse?"

Matt and Gabby thought over her words for a moment, the two pausing to see if they could think of anything else they needed. Despite Gabby's protests, Camila was clearly set on doing this for them, so the least they could do was make sure they didn't forget anything.

"I think that's it." She eventually spoke up, Matt nodding in agreement as she felt Gabby lean back into his hand slightly.

"Yeah, that should be all… We'll have to get our things from my mom's place at some point, but that's all we need from the firehouse." He elaborated, Camila nodding slowly as her lips pursed together, her eyes tracing over Matt's beaten face before she spoke up.

"Antonio said he was going to call her, is she coming by?" Camila said, Matt raising his eyebrows slightly out of instinct, but quickly relaxed when he felt a stinging pain coming from the cut on his face as his skin pulled uncomfortably.

"Oh, uh… Yeah, she's not, I don't think." He answered softly, his swollen eyes bouncing back and forth between Gabby's parents. "I haven't had a chance to speak to her, but I know she's working." He continued on, earning nods from both of them as she took another slow, shallow breath.

In truth, he wasn't entirely sure what his mom's plans were in all this. He knew as much as Ramon and Camila did, and that was that Antonio had called her. But past that, he didn't know anything, though considering the amount of time that had passed since they got here, he could only assume she wasn't coming to the hospital. He wasn't sure if that was by choice, or if Antonio had something to do with it, but regardless, he found himself feeling a bit relieved by it.

It had nothing to do with her, and honestly Matt wouldn't have minded his mom being here with them right now, but he knew she was busy. And past that, he couldn't help but feel like it's what was best for Gabby. He didn't want to overcrowd her, not when he wasn't entirely sure on where her head was at. So a limited number of people in the room was preferable right now, Casey already planning to fill his mom in on everything later.

"I'll call her here in a bit, probably when we get home… Maybe have her come by the apartment." He spoke after a beat of silence, Gabby glancing back towards him with a soft smile on her face. "I know everything is kind of hectic right now, but once it calms down and we get out of here, I'll talk to her."

"That'll be good." Camila murmured in response, Matt giving her an agreeing nod as the dull pain in his side only continued to become more and more noticeable. But he did his best to ignore it. "Would you like us to stop by her apartment at some point to get your alls things, as well?" She offered, Matt immediately shaking his head.

"Oh, you don't have to do that."

"We don't mind." She was quick to answer, Ramon nodding as well once Camila glanced towards him.

"Of course not." He added as Gabby looked at her father as well. "We don't care to stop by, you all don't need to worry about getting your things. It's like Camila said, you all need to focus on resting. We can get in touch with your mom, see when it would be good to go by there." Ramon finished with a small smile, Casey matching his look before he nodded.

"Okay, yeah… That would be great. As long as you're sure it's not too much trouble."

"Nonsense." Camila waved him off. "You two are never any trouble. Like Ramon said, we'll call your mom, or maybe talk to her if we see her later today, and figure out a time that works best to go and get your things."

"Thank you, Camila." Casey replied, Gabby soon echoing his words.

"Thanks Mama… And thank you, for getting our stuff from the firehouse, too."

"Of course, dear. You don't need to thank me or your father for anything. Though we're not leaving just yet." She added, Gabby's head tilting to the side as her and Matt both watched Camila. "We're not going anywhere until you get done with your scans." She told them, Ramon nodding in agreement as her words brought a bright, genuine smile to his face. Or as much of one as he could muster with his injuries. "We want to make sure you're alright before we do anything."

"Are you sure?" He asked, Camila immediately nodding as Gabby was unable to fight off her grin as well. "I know you've already been here awhile, and I'm not sure how much longer it'll take for-"

"Matthew." She cut him off gently, the firefighter immediately stopping as he looked to her. "You're family… As long as you're here, we're here."

Warmth immediately spread through his chest once she spoke, her words hitting him harder than he anticipated as his smile only grew wider, the feeling of complete contentment outweighing the pain he was feeling for a few seconds as he stroked his thumb over Gabby's lower back, Casey nodding before glancing between both Ramon and Camila.

"Thank you." He replied, his voice getting caught in his throat, Camila giving him a warm smile while Ramon reached out to gently grab his arm, the father giving him a supportive squeeze.

"You're welcome, dear. Though you really do not need to keep saying thank you so much." Camila responded lightly, her words diffusing some of the heaviness in the air around them as Matt released a watery chuckle.

But the second he did, he regretted it, his laughs turning into a sharp gasp of pain as his hand dropped from Gabby's back to immediately go to his side, all eyes in the room on him as he did what he could to mask his pain.

"Baby…" Gabby murmured, her worried eyes focused on his side as she was now standing beside his bed, Matt shaking his head lightly as Camila too had gotten up from her seat.

"Matthew, do you want me to get the nurse?"

"No, no I'm fine." He replied through his tightened jaw, the pain in his abdomen lingering longer than normal as he did what he could to get his breathing under control. Though considering he was only able to take very shallow breaths, that wasn't the easiest task in the world.

"Matt." Gabby spoke again, Casey looking up to meet her eyes before shaking his head once more, the boyfriend plastering a smile on his face as he reached out towards her with his free hand.

"I'm alright, babe." He told her as easily as he could, Gabby's skepticism still evident as her eyes flashed over his beaten form. "I'm just still sore, and I probably will be for a while. But everything's fine."

"Are you sure? Because I can go talk to someone, at least make them tell me what's taking so long for these scans."

"Gabby-"

"You're in pain, you shouldn't have to sit around here waiting while they're supposed to be helping you."

"Baby, I'm alright." He tried once more, the paramedic releasing a slow breath as Matt gave her uninjured hand a firm squeeze, the action forcing her to slow down for a second as she looked at him. "I promise."

While Matt did his best to assure Gabby that he was alright, Ramon and Camila shared a knowing look, the two having a silent, yet quick conversation between the two of them before returning their attention to their daughter and her boyfriend. From first glance alone, it was clear Gabby was still worried, and with the state Matt was in they couldn't blame her. Which only further solidified the fact that what they were about to say was a conversation they needed to have.

"Gabriela… Matthew," Camila started, her voice gaining their attention as they both turned towards her, the clear look of concern never leaving her daughter's eyes. "Your father and I were talking before we got here, and I'm not sure if this is something you all would want, but how would you feel about him and I staying with you all tonight, at your apartment?" She asked, her question taking them a bit by surprise as it was obvious neither of them had expected it. Though based on their reactions, they didn't seem to hate the idea. "And maybe stay for a few days… Just to help you all out a little bit, where we can. Because Matthew, it does seem like you might need a little bit of help getting around, and I know today, and the last few weeks… It's all been a lot, on the both of you. So if you're okay with it, your father and I would like to-"

"Yes." Gabby replied softly, her voice breaking through Camila's as the older Dawson stopped, her daughter immediately nodding when they locked gazes. "I'd, uh… I'd like that, you all be there." She told her, Camila's heart nearly breaking at the sight of how small she looked in this moment.

Casey gave her hand a supportive squeeze, Gabby immediately turning to look at him once it dawned on her that this wasn't just her decision. But the look waiting for her from her boyfriend told her all she needed to know, Dawson releasing another slow breath as she still needed actual confirmation from him.

"Is that…"

"Of course, it's fine." He answered before she could even finish her question, Matt seeing her visibly relax before a soft, quiet breath escaped through her lips. And in this moment Casey was seeing just how much Gabby needed this, to have her parents around with them after everything that happened today, after not being able to see them since this all started. She wanted them there, and he would never even think of denying her that, Matt squeezing her hand once more before turning back to Ramon and Camila. "We'd really appreciate that, thank you."

Just as the words left his lips, the door to Matt's room opened, everyone turning to look as the same nurse from earlier walked back in, those Casey's movements took a few seconds longer than everyone else.

"Sorry to interrupt, I just came to check in on Mr. Casey here." She spoke as she stepped towards the bed, all eyes moving to Matt as he forced a weak smile.

"I'm alright, just a little sore."

"His ribs are really bothering him." Gabby chimed in before he could even finish his sentence, the near desperation in her voice causing Casey to run his thumb along the back of her hand, as he didn't want her getting herself worked up because of him. With raised brows, the nurse glanced back towards him, Matt swallowing thickly before he answered.

"They're just sore, but I'm fine." He repeated, the woman's eyes moving over him before she nodded. "But, uh… I'd really love to get those scans done sooner rather than later, if at all possible." He added lightly, the nurse's face softening as he took a step closer to the bed.

"I know, and I'm sorry about the wait. We've been absolutely slammed today, but they should be here to get you in a few minutes." She explained with a sympathetic smile. "I just called down there again, there's still a couple people ahead of you, but they should be here any minute to get you… I know you want to get out of here." She told him, Matt nodding slightly in response before giving her a weak grin of his own.

"Alright, thank you." He replied, the woman nodding as his eyes moved to Gabby.

"You're welcome, Mr. Casey… Though this wasn't the only reason I came here. Miss Dawson?" She asked, both Gabby and Camila lifting their heads as the nurse focused in on the paramedic. "I'm sorry for making you wait as well, but we finally have a doctor available to take a look at that hand, if you want to come with me?" She offered, Gabby's body immediately tensing out of instinct at the thought of leaving Matt. And even though it was a reaction Casey and her parents certainly noticed, the nurse didn't seem to. "I do apologize for making you wait as well, like I said we've just been so busy today. And we'd originally called for another doctor come take a look at you when Dr. Abrams had to go, but she, uh… she got pulled to another case." She explained with a soft smile, her words earning a nod from both Camila and Ramon. "But we're ready now if you want to go ahead and come with me." She finished, Dawson pursing her lips together before drawing in a deep breath.

"I, uh… I'm fine, really. My hand's okay." Gabby responded, the understanding look in the woman's eyes never faltering as she looked between Dawson and Casey.

"I'm sure it is, but still, we'd like to take a look just to be safe." She pushed gently, Gabby taking another unsure breath before she looked back towards Matt, his gaze already on her as she instantly relaxed once they locked eyes.

"You go, I'm fine." He assured her, as Matt was desperate for her to get herself checked out. He knew she was fine, that if there was something physically wrong she would've been showing signs of pain, but still, for his peace of mind he wanted her to get looked at. And he'd hated that it had taken them this long already.

"It shouldn't take too long, Gabby." The nurse tried again, as she began to pick up on her hesitance to leave him. "And, uh… I believe the cops are here to talk to you, to talk to you both, once we get you all squared away." She continued on, her cautious words getting all four of them to look at her. "But we need to get you checked out first."

"Cops?" Casey asked, confusion laced in his words as the woman nodded.

"Yeah, there's a detective out there, I believe." She told him, all of the relaxing slightly when they realized who she was talking about. "I saw him speaking with your partner, Miss Dawson. And I know he'll need to talk to you all as well…"

"Antonio must be here." Camila spoke up as her eyes moved out towards the window, trying to locate her son. But she couldn't see anyone aside from hospital staff running around.

"He's my brother." Gabby added when she saw the uncertain look that was covering the nurse's face, realization soon settling in before she gave a small nod.

"Oh… I'm sorry I didn't send him in sooner, I didn't know you were related."

"It's alright… I know he needed to talk to Shay anyway." She responded, the nurse nodding once more before looking between the couple.

"So are you ready to go, Miss Dawson?" She prompted, Gabby pursing her lips together before looking back at her boyfriend, Casey immediately nodding as he managed to force a small smile yet again.

"You go, I'm good here." He promised her once more as Gabby began to gnaw on her bottom lip, it being quite clear to everyone that she was still a bit hesitant to leave him. And while he understood it, Matt not necessarily loving the idea of not staying with her right now after everything that had happened today, he knew it was necessary, the man glancing back behind her before speaking up once more. "Camila, will you go with her while she gets checked out?"

"Of course." She answered without a thought, Gabby breathing in deeply once more as Matt looked towards her, a look of defeat forming over her face before she nodded.

"Alright… but I'll be back." She told him, Matt giving her another small smile as he squeezed her hand.

"I can't wait." He told her, the light tone in his voice causing a grin to break through the worry written across her face before she nodded, Gabby gripping his hand tightly as well before she leaned down to give him a quick, yet loving kiss.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." She whispered, Matt nodding before kissing her gently once more, the couple very much aware of where they were as Gabby pulled back after a second.

"I won't." He assured her, the two dropping hands as Gabby took a slight step away from the bed, while the nurse was already headed for the door, Dawson tearing her eyes away from Matt to look at her dad.

"Papa, if I'm not back before they take him for his scans, will you go with him?" She requested, Ramon's face softening instantly before nodding.

"Of course, mija. I've got him." He promised, Gabby giving them both a small, grateful smile before she continued towards the door, Camila hanging back for a second while Casey watched his girlfriend leave.

"Matt…" Camila spoke up quietly, Gabby pausing in the doorway once she noticed her mom hadn't been following her, while Casey glanced back towards the older woman, her face unreadable before she smiled weakly. "I didn't get a chance to say it yet, but...thank you." She murmured, Matt's face falling slightly as he heard the pain in her soft words. "Thank you for getting her out of there."

The air around them became heavy, Casey merely nodding as Camila squeezed his leg comfortingly before she followed after her daughter, Gabby clearly having heard her as well as the look on her face gave her away.

This was the first time any of them had addressed it since her parents got here, since their initial apologies and concern for both Gabby and Matt, they hadn't spoken of it. But clearly Camila had been wanting to, Matt well aware this wasn't the last they'd all speak of it either as he gave Gabby a small nod, silently telling her it was okay to go, before she and Camila disappeared through the doorway.

And once she was out of sight, a sharp breath of air immediately left his lips, Matt leaning his head back against the pillow as he closed his eyes, the firefighter forcing himself to take steadying breaths as he did what he could to not focus on the pain he was feeling. But it was completely written across his face, Casey unable to mask it even if he wanted to as the worry that Ramon had been feeling this entire time came back with a vengeance.

"Son…"

"I'm okay." He spoke through gritted teeth as he rested his hand over his side, the older man shaking his head defiantly.

"Casey, let me go get a doctor-"

"Really, I'm fine." He cut him off once more. "When they come to get me for the scan, I'll ask for some more pain medication, but I'm okay, I'm just…" He trailed off, Ramon not missing the grimace covering Matt's face as he took shallow breaths through the pain. The pain he'd been in for a while.

Ramon knew Casey was hurting, he'd seen it throughout the last hour or so, when he'd move too quickly or breathe too deeply. He'd seen him wince more than once, his ribs clearly giving him trouble as the medication they'd given him was either wearing off, or they hadn't given him something strong enough. But regardless, it didn't make it any easier for Ramon to see him like this, Matt no longer trying to hide how uncomfortable he was now that there were no longer other people in the room.

And it was in that moment that a thought hit him, Ramon sighing softly as he never took his eyes off Casey.

"You didn't want her to see, did you?" The man murmured, Matt slowly opening his eyes as he turned his head towards him.

"What?" He questioned back, Ramon shaking his head lightly as he spared a quick glance back towards the door.

"Gabriela... You didn't want her to see how much you're hurting." He spoke just as quietly as before, Casey taking another shallow breath as he continued to cradle his side.

"It'll just worry her, more than she already is… And I'm alright." He replied quickly, Ramon nodding understandingly as he looked over the man lying in the hospital bed, his demeanor alone showing just how untrue his words were. But Casey kept going before he could dispute it. "I got the shit beat out of me, and I definitely am feeling it, but I'm okay."

Ramon thought over his words for a moment before he nodded, the man not wanting to press the issue much further right now. He was concerned, but unless it became unbearable for the firefighter, Ramon didn't feel like it was his place to berate him about it, so he decided to leave it alone for now, the older leaning back into his chair as he began to think over a few of the words Casey had just said.

He wasn't kidding about how violent the beating he'd taken was, the severity of his injuries something that couldn't be hidden as it was very obvious he'd gotten into a fight. But what Ramon couldn't help but wonder is if it had been a fair one, the next words coming out of his mouth before he could stop them.

"...Did Bryan get hurt too?" He questioned, Matt unable to hide the initial look of surprise that covered his bruised and swollen face before it quickly disappeared, Ramon shaking his head lightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to… I just wasn't sure exactly what all happened in there." He continued on, Matt nodding as he easily adjusted his position in the bed, though he wasn't able to move much at all. "Antonio told us the basics, at least parts of it, over the phone, but we haven't really gotten the full story… But he did tell us what you did." He spoke softly, Matt unsure of exactly what he was talking about as Ramon continued. "He told us how you went in there to get her… That's why Camila was thanking you."

"Yeah, I did." Matt answered with a slight wince, Ramon unsure of it was from the memory or from the pain he was in. "Everyone was just standing around, and I know they were trying to do their jobs, but I couldn't do that anymore. She was in there… with him, and I just… I had to get her out of there." He breathed out, his words hanging in the air around them. "And… I know it was stupid, that I could've gotten Gabby hurt more than she already was, but I couldn't stay out there anymore and do nothing. I shouldn't have gone in, but-"

"No." Ramon cut him off, Matt looking towards him as the man leaned forward to sit on the edge of his chair. "It wasn't stupid, you did the right thing." He told him strongly, Casey staying quiet as he waited for Ramon to continue. "I… I wasn't there, so I'm not sure why it took so long for them to go in. And I know it was killing you, and it would've been killing Antonio too, but you going in there to get her, that's not stupid… That monster was already with my baby girl for long enough, and if he had more time alone with her, who knows what he would've done."

Matt nodded slowly, the firefighter feeling the exact same way as Ramon clenched his hands together in front of himself, his forearms resting over his knees as Casey watched him.

"So just… thank you. Thank you for saving her… For always saving her." He spoke, his words a bit unsteady as Casey's lips turned down into a frown. "You… you've always protected her, you've always done everything you've had to to keep her safe, without thinking of what might happen to you in the process," He said, Ramon only pausing for a moment to take a breath. "And I wish you never got hurt, I wish today had never happened, but it did… and the only reason Gabby's okay right now is because of you."

Casey took a few slow, shallow breaths as Ramon's words sunk in, the man overwhelmed with gratitude as he spoke to his daughter's boyfriend, Matt not entirely sure of what to say back. He appreciated the sentiment, of course he did, but he didn't feel like he needed to be thanked for it. Though apparently Ramon felt differently.

"I can never say it enough, thank you for what you did today, Matthew." He finished, Casey swallowing thickly before he nodded, his next words coming out after a few long seconds.

"I… I just wanted her to be okay. I needed her to be okay." He murmured, Ramon watching him intently. "Her being in there with him, I just knew I needed to get her out… Whatever happened to me, it didn't matter, I needed to get her away from him." His voice was quiet, Matt's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he spoke. "That's why I went in there, why I couldn't wait any longer. And I… I didn't mean for all of this to happen the way it did, I didn't mean for Gabby to get hurt, but… I lost it." He admitted, Casey meeting his gaze as Ramon stayed quiet. "I saw him standing there, holding onto her face, and I lost it."

Ramon grimaced at the new information, the father hating to hear about what Walker had been doing to his daughter when Casey got there. But even through his anger, it only further solidified the fact that he was beyond grateful Matt had gone in when he did.

"I saw him, and he was holding onto her so tight, I couldn't stop myself… So I went after him." Matt said softly, the older man getting the feeling he needed to get all of this off his chest "I didn't even think I just… hit him. And he hit back. A lot." He continued, the sorrowful look never leaving Ramon's face. "It… it hurt like hell, but I wasn't even thinking about that. Especially when he knocked Gabby back, I don't even remember what happened after that, all I know is I managed to get on top of him and from there on, I just… hit him. I kept hitting him."

"Matt…"

"I wanted to kill him."

The older man stopped the second Casey said those words, neither of them breaking eye contact with one another as it was apparent just how serious Matt was.

"I… I'm not proud of it, and I hate that I felt that way, but I did. For a moment, just a split second, a part of me wanted him dead." He kept going, Ramon staying quiet as Casey shook his head roughly. "All I could think about was everything he'd put Gabby through, all the pain and the hurt that he's caused her. How he would hurt her just because he could, how he'd been terrorizing her… and it was like I couldn't think about anything else. I couldn't stop… So I kept hitting him, until they pulled me off."

The room turned quiet when Casey stopped talking, neither man exactly sure what to say as the weight of his words hung around them, Ramon's expression unreadable to him as Matt took another breath, the man wincing slightly as his body moved.

"...I know that's probably not something you want to hear coming from your daughter's boyfriend, and I know I'm a terrible person for it, but I-"

"I would've done the same thing." Ramon finally spoke up, his words cutting Casey off as the older man nodded. "If I were in your position, I would've done the same thing… And I think I would've felt the same way. Hell, I do feel the same way. And I'm sure Antonio does, too." He said, his word so low Matt could barely hear him. "And maybe it's not right, maybe we should be the bigger people here, but after what he did to Gabriela… I hope, even just for a minute, that he felt at least a fraction of the pain he put my little girl through." Ramon breathed out, Matt blinking quickly before he nodded in agreement.

"He was worse off than I was." Casey finally answered his original question, Ramon raising his eyebrows slightly. "I… He did some damage to me, but the last I saw him, he's gonna be feeling it for a while."

"Good." Ramon replied quickly, the two men sharing a knowing look just as the door opened once more and a few nurses came in, their presence telling Casey it was time for his scans, effectively putting an end to their conversation as the focus in the room shifted back to Matt, and making sure he was alright.


"Alright easy big guy, don't move too fast, you'll pop a rib."

Casey fought off an eye roll as Antonio helped him towards the couch in their living room, the firefighter not entirely thrilled by the fact that he'd needed assistance all the way inside. But he was choosing to look past that, as even he knew his movements were severely limited on his own, Gabby all but forcing her brother to help him the second they pulled up to their home. Throughout the day, he'd definitely noticed himself feeling worse and worse, but with his scans being completely clear, there was nothing for him to do except get some rest. And regardless of his inability to get around, he found himself not even caring about that right now, as he was just glad to finally be home.

They had been in that hospital forever, between having to wait for all the tests and scans, and then Antonio having to take their statements, it seemed like they were never going to get to leave. But finally, they did, and now that they were home, Matt couldn't be more grateful.

"Antonio." Camila warned from behind them, the woman shaking her head as she stood back with her daughter beside the kitchen island, while Ramon was just now coming inside, the man locking up behind him before joining his family in the apartment. "Leave Matthew alone."

"Sorry Mama." He called back, Casey snickering beside him just as they finally got the couch, Antonio doing what he could to help him down as Matt was desperate to not move his upper body too much, any movement at all still pretty painful despite the meds they'd pumped him full of before leaving the hospital. "Alright, you good? Here, let me get you this." Antonio spoke as he grabbed a pillow from the end of the couch and placed it gently up against Casey's side for extra support, the man wincing slightly before he settled.

"Yeah, yeah that's good, thanks man." He responded, Antonio giving him a nod as he clasped his shoulder gently, before stepping back a bit to give Gabby room to come and sit beside him, his sister wasting no time in taking up her spot on the couch next to Casey.

"You need some water, or anything Matthew?" Ramon asked as he walked towards them, Camila following as well as Casey shook his head. "Are either of you hungry? You should eat something."

"I'm not, no."

"Me neither." Gabby echoed quietly, Camila pursing her lips together in worry before she nodded.

"Well, I think while your father and I are out, we'll get some sandwiches anyway… Just to have here, in case." She told them, earning a nod from her daughter. "Which, as long as you two are okay, I do think Ramon and I will go ahead and go get your all's things, and stop at home to get some stuff for us. And I want to pick up Matthew's prescription while we're out, too." She rattled off her list, Gabby nodding once more.

"That's fine, Mama." Gabby replied, Camila sharing a look with her husband. "We're good here, I think we're just gonna try and get some rest."

"Yeah, I'm pretty exhausted."

"Of course, of course, you've both had a long day. We just wanted to be sure you're alright if we leave for a bit."

"We'll be fine."

"And plus I'll be here." Antonio chirped, Gabby glancing over towards him just as he nodded.

"You don't need to get back to work?"

"They'll be fine without me for a little bit," He replied, Antonio meeting his sister's gaze before smiling softly. "I want to be here right now."

A small grin appeared over Gabby's face before she nodded, the woman admittedly feeling a bit better about the fact that her brother would be here while her parents were gone. It wasn't that she was scared necessarily, there was no reason for her to be, but after everything today, she wanted people here… She wanted her family here.

"Thank you, Tonio." She murmured, the older brother nodding before Camila spoke up once more.

"Alright, then your father and I are gonna head out and get those things done, we'll be back in a little bit with some food for you all." She spoke, her firm tone telling them there was no room to argue with her as Matt and Gabby both simply nodded. "Try and get some sleep, the both of you."

She moved towards them as she spoke, Camila placing a kiss on the tops of both their heads before saying her last goodbyes, Ramon saying goodbye as well before Antonio walked them out, leaving the couple seated on the couch for a few moments.

As they sat there, Gabby took the moment to really look him over once more, the discoloration all over his skin only getting worse as the day went on. But even aside from that, she could tell he was looking a lot more relaxed than he did at the hospital, Gabby sure it was a combination of finally being back in their home, along with the drugs they'd given him.

"Hey."

Matt's voice snapped her out of her trance, Gabby realizing her stares had been caught as she looked up towards him to meet his eyes.

"You okay?" He asked, Gabby pausing for a moment before she nodded.

"I'm alright." She answered simply, Casey breathing in slowly before nodding as well, his swollen eye making it a little hard for him to see her, though still he did his best to get a read on her while they had a moment to themselves. "Glad to be home."

Matt nodded in agreement before leaning back slightly into the couch, the man wincing slightly as he adjusted his body, Gabby noticing his pain with every movement he made.

"Yeah, me too." He agreed, Casey faintly hearing the sound of Antonio still talking with his parents at their door before he closed it, both of them waiting for him to appear back around the corner. Which he soon did, the older brother shrugging off his jacket as he came into view.

"So you guys don't need anything?" He asked as he placed his jacket over the back of the chair, Gabby and Matt both shaking their heads.

"No, I think we're fine… Though I might need your help getting up off the couch." Casey added with a soft chuckle, Antonio giving him a soft smile before he walked over to them.

"Yeah, you probably shouldn't do that on your own right now. Are you wanting to go lay down?"

"I think so, yeah." He responded, Gabby nodding in agreement as Antonio walked the rest of the way to them.

With some maneuvering, they were able to get Casey up off the couch with minimal incident, the man still definitely sore and in pain, but all he could do was let everything heal on his own. And once he was up on his own two feet, he felt a bit more sturdy, Casey and Antonio exchanging some pleasantries before Gabby began to walk with him back to their bedroom, the detective making himself comfortable in the living room knowing he'd be out here by himself for a while.

"Antonio's right babe, you should slow down." Gabby spoke softly as they neared their bedroom door, Matt huffing out a few words she couldn't entirely make out as he shook his head, before stepping into their room for the first time in weeks. And everything was exactly the same as they'd remembered, both feeling a sense of security being in here as they slowly made their way to the bed.

"I'm good, I'm good." He promised her, Gabby giving him a nod before she helped him sit down on the edge of the mattress.

Over the next ten minutes, Gabby did what she could to help him, while also letting him do as much as he could on his own, as they got him changed into much comfier clothes, Matt in a fresh pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt before he laid down in their bed.

It took him some time to get comfortable, his ribs definitely making everything a bit more challenging, but eventually he managed to find a position that worked well for him, and he was beyond ready to get some rest. And by the looks of it, Gabby was too.

He could tell from her demeanor alone as she moved around the room, she was exhausted. Physically and mentally. And the best thing for both of them to do right now was get some sleep, Matt just hoping now that they were no longer having to look over their shoulders, that rest would come a little easier to them.

Soon enough, Gabby had managed to get changed into some comfy clothes of her own, as her only limitations were a sore elbow and her bandaged hand, the woman going into the bathroom for a few minutes before she finally came back and climbed into bed. The second she was beside him, Gabby keeping her distance so as to not hurt him, he reached out for her hand, the girlfriend giving it willingly as she turned to lay on her side to see him better.

Neither of them said a word for a few minutes, the faint sounds of Antonio watching the TV out in the living room the only thing that could be heard as they watched one another, the two needing this moment for one another more than they realized after the day they'd had. And though Gabby was perfectly content to stay in the peaceful quiet they'd found, Matt was the one who spoke up first, as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"...How are you feeling?"

It was a loaded question, he knew it the second he asked it, Gabby's eyes flickering down away from his as she thought over how best to answer him. She didn't want to lie, and she wouldn't, but she wasn't sure what to say, and Gabby herself hadn't even taken the time to really understand how she was processing this. If she was even processing it at all.

"I… I don't want to focus on me right now." She breathed out, Matt's face faltering as he rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. But he nodded nonetheless.

"Okay." He replied softly, the tone in his voice bringing a few stray tears to her eyes, as Gabby felt a rush of conflicting emotions hit her all at once, her reaction only reinforcing the fact that she wasn't okay.

"I just- I don't really know how I'm feeling, and I…" She trailed off, Gabby shaking her head before drawing in another shaky breath. "I just don't know."

"That's okay, baby." He assured her as confidently as he could, Gabby finally meeting his eyes again as she found nothing but a soft smile waiting for her. Matt knew better than to push her right now, as he'd learned the hard way that all that would accomplish was making her shut down, and that was the last thing he wanted. "Whatever you're feeling, even if you don't understand it, it's okay… But you know I'm here for you, right?" He reminded her, though he was sure he didn't need to. "Whenever you're ready, I'm right here."

"I know." She murmured, the sincerity of his words bringing fresh tears to her eyes before she lifted herself up to press a slow, easy kiss against his lips, once he reciprocated as he kissed her back with all he had. "...And I love you for that." She breathed out once they separated, Matt's smile returning to his face before he nodded.

"I love you, too." He whispered, Matt giving her another kiss as they focused on each other for a few more moments.

It took Gabby pulling back for them to finally separate, Matt opening his eyes to find her still leaned close to him, an almost pensive look suddenly covering her face as she was clearly deep in thought about something. He just wasn't sure what it was.

"...Can I ask you something?" She finally spoke up, Matt immediately nodding as he angled his head towards her.

"Of course, what is it?" He questioned back, Gabby drawing in another breath before she responded.

"What did you mean earlier? When you said you're the one who should be sorry?"

Casey's face fell slightly when the words left her lips, the unsure look on her face never leaving as he thought over her words.

"I've just been thinking about it since you said it, and I wasn't sure what you meant…" She continued when he had yet to answer, Matt nodding slowly as he blew out a soft breath. "Because you have nothing to be sorry for, you-"

"I do, though." He cut her off, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she waited for him to elaborate. "What I did to Walker, I'm sorry you had to see me like that." He told her, her eyes falling closed as she began to understand exactly what he was talking about. "Me hitting him like that...I don't regret what I did, not really, not after how much he hurt you, but I wish you didn't have to see it happen… You shouldn't have seen it." He continued on quietly while Gabby let him talk. "And I knew as it was happening that it shouldn't have been, but there was a moment where it was like I couldn't help it, where I just wanted him to be gone. So he couldn't hurt you anymore…" He trailed off, the room quiet between them for a moment before he continued.

"That's all I was thinking about. Knowing what he did to you, how badly he hurt you, I wasn't able to stop… But I don't want to be that guy." He spoke quietly, Matt shaking his head almost like he was angry with himself. And that broke Gabby's heart. "The guy that hurts people… especially not after everything Walker's done, and what my dad did." He admitted, his words slicing through her as she knew just how deep this went for him. "One of my worst fears is turning into someone like that, of being someone you're scared of, and I don't-"

Gabby cut him off by pressing her lips against his, the action taking him by surprise but calming him down nonetheless as he relaxed back into the bed, their gentle movements more than welcome. And she let him be the one to pull back first this time, Gabby staying as close as she could without putting any pressure on his body, her hand coming up to cradle the side of his tender face.

"I'm not scared of you." She told him, her words strong as she needed him to believe her. With everything else going on, this wasn't something she wanted him to worry about. She didn't want him to ever worry about this. "I promise, I'm not. I could never be scared of you… I know why you did what you did, that doesn't mean you're like him… You're not Bryan, and you're not your dad." She assured him, Matt nodding once more as he felt a few tears welling in his eyes as well. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Just as she finished speaking, Matt carefully lifted his arm and slowly pulled her down towards him, the man ignoring the pain in his side as he was desperate to be close to her, Casey wrapping her up in as much of a hug as he could manage, while Gabby did all she could to comfort him while also keeping most of her weight off him. And though it wasn't the most comfortable position, she didn't care, Gabby more than willing to stay here as long as he needed while she focused her energy on him. Because even if she couldn't help herself right now, she sure as hell could help him.

"I love you." He whispered, Gabby nodding gently against him before pressing a soft kiss against his skin, Matt closing his eyes as his arm stayed firmly around her.

"I love you, too."


And there's another one. Dawsey are back home and taking care of each other, and they can finally start putting all this Walker stuff behind them. Which, we are moving out of that part of the story and hopefully into happier times for them. Plus we got a nice Ramon and Casey scene, and I know some of you really enjoy the dynamic between him and her parents, so I hope you all liked that.

Thank you all so much for reading, I'm sorry this one was a little late today. But I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless.

I'll see you all next time.