Hello there everything, I hope you all are doing well and having a great start to your week so far. I'm back with the next chapter for you guys, and I'm eager to hear your thoughts on this one. Also, there's something I want to talk to you all about, but it'll be down at the end of the chapter.
I hope you all enjoy this one, and I'm sorry for the wait. Thank you for reading!
Chapter One Hundred and Thirty One
The sound of the rhythmically beeping monitors were the only noise that could be heard in the dim hospital room, Gabby's eyes closed as she rested in the middle of her bed while still surrounded by her family. It had been maybe an hour since her girls first came in here, though even that she wasn't entirely sure of as her mind was still a little spacey, but she knew they'd all been in her for a while. And everyone's presence was more than welcome, Gabby wanting to be around them as much as she could after the events of today.
Though she hadn't looked around in a while, Gabby fighting off her exhaustion as she laid there with her babies, she knew Matt was still in his seat by her bedside, as she could feel his warm hand resting over her arm, his thumb continuously stroking her skin in a gentle, comforting motion. And across the room, she was sure her father and brother were still seated in the same chairs they'd been in for awhile, as Antonio hadn't moved an inch ever since he got here.
Earlier in the evening, as soon as he'd found out that his baby sister had woken up, Antonio had rushed to the hospital as quickly as he could. And when he first got here, it had taken her a second to register who he was, as her brain was a bit fuzzy at best. But after that moment of hesitance, there had been nothing but warm, tear-filled greetings, before Antonio took up the spot next to Ramon on the other side of her bed. And her father had pretty much been in the same place too, except for when he stepped out of the room to call her mom and fill Camila in on the status of their daughter. But aside from that, no one had gone anywhere, except for Kelly and Jemma.
When Antonio arrived, the two godparents had decided to step out into the hallway to give Gabby some space while she rested with her family, but not before both of them spent a little bit of time with their friend as they had been beyond worried about her. But with Severide and Jemma out in the hallway, Gabby was now only left with her immediate family in this room with her, and truthfully she'd want it no other way as she slowly opened her eyes one more.
The lights were still turned down relatively low, just bright enough to help her family get around when needed, which was something she was thankful for as her head was still kind of hurting her. Glancing over to her right, she saw her husband exactly where she knew he'd be, Matt resting back against the chair with his eyes closed, though he clearly wasn't sleeping as he was still rubbing her arm. But she figured with as exhausted and stressed as she was sure he'd been during all of this, a part of him felt like he could finally relax now that she was awake, Gabby taking a moment to admire his beautiful face that she'd missed so much before her eyes moved down to the other two people in the room that hadn't moved for a while.
A soft smile appeared over her face when she was met by the sight of her little girls, the sisters nestled up as close as possible to her while they both slept peacefully against their mother. They had been asleep for a while, ever since they'd been put in this position where they could both be with their mom, Gabby grateful for the occasional sounds of their little snores as it was one of the most heartwarming things in the world to her right now, even if this had taken a bit of maneuvering on Matt's part to figure out how to comfortably, and safely, keep both babies on the bed with her.
It was not an easy task, that's for sure, as Gabby's left side was completely off limits and they still had to be mindful of the cut across the top of her right thigh. But when it became clear to them that Caitlyn or Sofia refused to be away from their mom, they knew they'd need to figure something out. Though that alone made Gabby feel a bit guilty, the mom seeing first hand what her absence had done to her girls as they were nearly in tears when Matt first tried to get them off the bed. Even little Sofia, who didn't understand much of what was happening around her, when Matt had tried to take her away from Gabby, she'd cried until he put her back.
Needless to say, it was obvious they couldn't take those girls away from their mom again. At least not yet, so Matt had quickly devised a plan. One that consisted of Caitlyn laying on her side with her head up by Gabby's shoulder, while Sofia was nestled in between the two of them, the baby's head resting just below Gabby's chest as her little body was secure next to her mom and her older sister. While they laid like this, Gabby made sure to keep her arm around Caitlyn, the mother wanting her oldest child to feel as safe as she could even though she wasn't able to be as close as Sofia was.
And even though it had taken them a few moments to get comfortable, Gabby especially, they'd eventually managed to make it work for them, Sofia falling asleep rather quickly once they were all settled, with Caitlyn not far behind her. And this is how they'd been ever since, Gabby smiling softly as she watched her babies, the feeling of holding onto them as best she could more comforting than she ever realized, the mother knowing just how badly all of them needed this.
And thankfully, by the looks of it, her girls were getting some of the most peaceful rest they'd had in a while. Sofia especially, as the one year old's mouth was wide open while she slept, her pacifier now resting on Gabby's stomach as it had fallen from her mouth a while ago, her little body, and part of Caitlyn's, covered by Sof's favorite blanket to keep her warm. But while Sofia was having maybe the best nap of her short life, Gabby couldn't help but notice how tired and worn down Caitlyn seemed.
It was hard to notice at first, as Gabby was still struggling against her own mind at times, and it took her longer than she supposed it typically would to pick up on things, but after spending time with her daughter, she knew how exhausted she was. And it was more than just a physical tired. She was exhausted in every way one could be, the five year old having dealt with more than she ever should as she'd been so worried about her mom. But at least now Caitlyn seemed to be a bit more relaxed than she was when she first came in here, from what Gabby could tell, and she was sleeping relatively soundly, which was all the mom wanted. It was all she wanted for both her babies.
And truthfully, it was what she wanted for herself too, Gabby unable to describe just how tired she felt right now. But she also didn't want to fall asleep just yet, Dawson wanting to soak in as much of this time as she could now that she was feeling a bit more aware of her surroundings.
"Baby…"
She slowly lifted her head back up when she heard that familiar voice, Gabby looking away from her sleeping babies to find her husband's gentle blue eyes on her, his tired features evident as he looked seconds away from falling asleep as well.
"Hmm?" She hummed as her hand moved gently over Caitlyn's back, Gabby hearing her daughter's soft snores getting a bit louder.
"You okay?" He questioned, her eyebrows raising slightly before she nodded.
"I'm okay…" She repeated his words, Casey smiling softly as he continued to rub her arm. "Tired." Gabby added softly, her eyes falling closed for a moment as he continued to watch her, the woman not noticing the watchful glances coming from her brother and her father on the other side of the room.
"I know you are, it's been a long day." He murmured, Gabby nodding once more as her head lulled to the side before gently resting down against the top of Caitlyn's, the movement causing the five year old to subconsciously nuzzle herself closer to her mom while she continued to rest. Matt stared at the two of them for a second, a rush of warmth flooding his chest as he felt nothing but absolute gratitude when he saw Gabby press a soft kiss to the top of Caitlyn's head, the husband and father just beyond thankful he was able to witness moments like this.
Because for a while, he wasn't sure they'd get this chance again. He had no idea what was going to happen to Gabby, if she'd ever come back to him and their girls. But she did. She was here, with them, giving them what he hoped to be a lifetime left of moments like these. And he never wanted to take that for granted.
But as he kept his watchful eyes on them, he noticed the second the content look on her face morphed into one much less pleasant, Casey seeing her wince as she slightly pulled away from her daughters.
"Are you okay?" He asked quickly, Matt making sure to keep his voice soft, not only for Gabby but for their girls. But it was enough that Ramon and Antonio both picked up on it, the father and brother looking towards Gabby to see the same look on her face that had Casey so concerned. "Gabby, are you in pain?" He questioned again when she had yet to give him an answer, her face softening a bit as she opened her eyes to find the worried gaze of her husband. "...Do I need to get the doctor?"
Gabby shook her head slowly as he began to rub over her arm, that concerned look never leaving his eyes as she cleared her throat before speaking up. "I'm okay." She replied, though her words were less than convincing.
"Are you sure, Gabriela?" Ramon asked from the other side of the room, Gabby nodding once more even though he didn't turn to look at him.
"I'm fine." She repeated hoarsely, seeing the deep frown that seemed to be permanently etched into Matt's face as his thumb gently stroked her arm.
"What's wrong?" He pressed gently, Matt sitting on the edge of his seat as his complete focus was on his girls, his eyes moving between Gabby and his sleeping babies.
Based on the look Gabby was giving him, he could tell she didn't want to answer him, but when that wince soon returned to her features, she knew there was no use in trying to hide it from him anymore. "Just… some pain." She got out between her clenched teeth, Matt's face falling as he immediately reached for the button for the medication she had access to, both of them well aware it was there for moments like this when she needed it.
But ever since the girls came in, she hadn't used it. And Matt wasn't entirely sure why, unless she just didn't want to risk the medicine knocking her out while she was spending time with their daughters. But while he understood her desire to be with their girls, the last thing he wanted was for his wife to be in pain, Matt holding out the small pump in his hand to where she could see it.
"I'm okay." She repeated again, Gabby shaking her head lightly as she paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking up once more. "...I don't need it."
"Baby…"
"It's- just my shoulder." She cut him off, her words a bit choppier than they'd been, as she was starting to sound more like she did when she first woke up, like she was having trouble figuring out what to say. And he couldn't help but think that was coming from her exhaustion; at least he hoped that's all it was. "It hurts, but… I'm fine." She got out, Matt's concerned eyes flashing towards her injured shoulder, the grimace on his face deepening as he saw a bit of the deep bruise over her collarbone that was peeking out from under her hospital gown, the injury from her being crushed by the gurney still not really beginning to fade yet. And while he knew that might've been part of what was hurting her, that wasn't the only injury that side of her body had sustained, as he was sure that the injury to her elbow was causing some pain there as well.
"You should take some medicine, Gabby." He prompted, but she shook her head once more after a moment, his wife not wanting the medication, for whatever reason. Clearly, the medication they'd given her when she first woke up had worn off, or at least wasn't doing as good of a job as it should, and while he knew they were planning to give her something stronger before bed, her getting some relief now with the medication she was allowed wouldn't hurt anything.
"Mija," Ramon spoke softly, Gabby's eyes falling closed for a split second as she swallowed thickly. "It's there for a reason, you don't need to be in pain." He tried, his eyes staying locked on his daughter just as he saw her tighten her grip around her own babies, a soft sigh escaping Ramon's lips before he leaned forward in his seat. "Gabriela, the girls are fine." The older man told her, Matt frowning softly as he placed the medicine pump back down in its place before he reached out to rest his hand gently over the top of her head. "It's okay if you get some rest, they're alright."
"He's right, babe." Casey echoed his sentiments as he rubbed his hand gently over her head, the action causing Gabby to look up at him just before he gave her another smile, his soft eyes focused on her tired ones. "If they're why you're not wanting to sleep, you need to know they're okay… They missed their Momma, of course they did, but they're alright now, because you're alright." He explained to her slowly, Matt knowing it was taking her a little longer to really understand what was being said to her than it normally would. "But part of you being alright is getting some rest, and not being in pain… you can get some sleep. The girls are okay, I'm okay… everyone's okay."
Gabby nodded slowly, his words gradually sinking in as she felt another sharp pain move through her arm up towards her shoulder, the injured woman starting to feel a lot of the pain she was in as she took a few slow, shallow breaths.
"We're all alright, baby… And I'm gonna need to take the girls home soon anyway, it's getting late." Casey continued, Gabby wincing slightly as his words hit her ears. But this time it was for a much different reason, as the thought of being away from her girls after all of this was hard.
She knew there was no other choice, even if her hazy state of mind she knew her girls couldn't stay here much longer, that it was getting late and they needed to sleep at home, in their own beds. But even though the mom in her knew her babies needed to leave soon, that didn't make it any easier to be away from them after she'd spent so many days not being able to be there for them.
And it didn't make it any easier to be away from Matt, either, as she knew that wherever the girls went, that's where he went, too.
"Okay." She whispered out after a moment, Matt giving her a soft smile before he reached for her medication once more, the man holding the button in his hand.
"Can I?" He asked, Gabby nodding slowly as she didn't feel strong enough to put up a fight any longer, the pain becoming a bit too much, even for her.
Once he got the approval he needed, Matt hit the button one time, the husband hoping that would be enough to ease her pain until one of her nurses came back, considering Gabby wasn't wanting him to get her doctor.
"Thank you." She murmured while her head rested back against the pillow, Matt giving her a warm smile as he cradled the side of her head once more. Stroking her cheek lovingly, he kept his eyes on her before slowly pushing himself up from his seat, Casey mindful of his girls while he leaned over them to give his wife a kiss. His movements were gentle, his lips lingering against hers as he relished in the feeling of her warm body close to his.
"You're welcome." He spoke just as softly after pulling back a bit so he could see her face, Matt careful to keep any weight off of her as he knew she was hurting, the two enjoying this moment for a couple seconds until he placed a quick, soft kiss against her cheek before pulling away. "Hopefully you'll start to feel better soon." He added as he moved back towards his seat.
But as he did, his body lightly brushed over Caitlyn's side, the movement causing the five year old to slowly be pulled from her sleep as she instinctively leaned closer to her mother.
"Mommy…" She murmured, her little hand resting over the top of Gabby's chest as she wanted to be as close to her mom as possible.
"Sorry Caity." Matt responded quietly as he rubbed his little girl's back, Gabby keeping her arm around her daughter while Caitlyn slowly looked up towards her.
"Mommy." She repeated tiredly, Gabby smiling weakly as she brought her hand up to cup the back of Caitlyn's head. She couldn't move very quickly, the IV in her hand hindering her movements, but she was able to still comfort her as Caitlyn lifted her hands up to rub her small fists over her eyes.
"It's okay." Gabby told her, Matt continued to rub his daughter's back while his eyes moved towards Sofia, seeing the one year old still fast asleep against her mother's stomach.
"I didn't mean to wake you up, baby." Casey told her again, Caitlyn glancing back towards him before she nodded, a heavy yawn escaping her lips as she turned slightly so she was able to look at both her parents. "I was just speaking to your Momma… but it might actually be time for us to get going." He continued on, Caitlyn's eyebrows furrowing as her tired mind tried to register what was being told to her. But once she did, her face instantly fell, the five year old shaking her head before she clung to her mom.
"No." She nearly whimpered, Matt drawing in a deep breath as he could practically feel the fear now radiating off his daughter. And, even in her current state, he was sure Gabby could too. And her reaction wasn't at all surprising, as Matt knew how deeply affected Caitlyn had been by what happened to her mom.
"Caity-"
"I don't wanna leave Mommy." She elaborated, Ramon and Antonio watching on at the sad scene as Gabby pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her daughter's head.
"It's okay.." Gabby spoke softly, Caitlyn keeping a soft hold on her mom, while also holding onto her sister, Sofia blissfully unaware of what was going on around her as she continued to sleep.
"You and Sof need to go get some sleep, sweetheart." Matt continued, knowing his wife really wasn't in any position to keep consoling their little girl, as it was still hard for her to find the right words. "You'll both be back in the morning to see her, but right now I think it's time to get you and your sister home. Mommy's alright." The father did what he could to assure her, but everyone in the room could tell she was hesitant to leave the hospital.
"We'll come back tomorrow?" She asked, like she needed to hear those words again before even thinking of leaving this room, Matt immediately nodding as Gabby rubbed over her arm.
"You will… You and Sof will both be back here tomorrow. We'll come back once you have breakfast, and you can spend all morning with your Momma, alright?" He compromised, even though Caitlyn didn't have much say in the matter, because for as much as he didn't want to separate Caity and Sof from their mom, he also knew the girls couldn't spend the night here.
And, thankfully, his words seemed to do the trick, Caitlyn pausing for a moment before eventually nodding in agreement. "Okay." She gave in just as another yawn escaped her lips, Matt sure his daughter's exhaustion played a part in why she wasn't putting up as much of a fight as he would've expected. "But pinky promise?" She asked, Casey raising his eyebrows as she held her hand out towards him. "Me and Sof will come back?"
"You will." He repeated just as he locked pinkies with her. "Pinky promise." He reiterated, Caitlyn seemingly content with his response as they both leaned forward to kiss their hands as a way to seal the promise, before Caitlyn carefully adjusted herself on the bed to face Gabby.
"Mommy, Daddy says I have to go home." She spoke softly, Gabby unable to fight off her soft smile as she began rubbing her hand lazily over Caitlyn's back, while Matt started the challenging task of trying to pick up a sleeping Sofia without disturbing her rest.
"I know." Gabby spoke, Caitlyn's eyebrows furrowing as she noticed that her mom's voice didn't really sound like it normally did. But she didn't say anything as she started to pat her mom's stomach gently, both parents knowing she was trying to give Gabby some comfort.
"But I'll be back… Promise." She assured her just as they heard Sofia begin to fuss, the one year old clearly having woken up when Casey picked her up off the bed. But her soft whines soon quieted down once Matt got the pacifier back in place in her mouth, Gabby watching on for a moment as her husband soothed their baby, his hand covering nearly her whole back as he rubbed over the back of her shirt gently.
"Sshh, sshh, it's okay, baby." Matt murmured to his little girl as Sofia cuddled her head into her father's neck. "Antonio, do you mind going to go get Sev and Jemma?" Casey requested while he continued taking care of his youngest daughter, his brother immediately nodding before pushing himself up out of the chair and heading for the door, Matt soon returning his attention to little Sofia. "It's alright, Sof… We're gonna take you home so you can sleep. You're gonna go with Uncle Kelly."
"Mommy." Caitlyn spoke again, Gabby's eyes snapping into focus before she looked away from her husband, the mother getting caught up in everything going on around her as she had forgotten to answer her daughter. "Did you hear me?" She questioned, Dawson forcing a smile before she nodded.
"I did… Sorry Caity." She whispered, the five year old nodding in response.
"It's okay." She answered, the little girl not getting too hung up on it just as Gabby saw her brother come back into two people she recognized, the tired woman seeing her and Matt's best friends follow Antonio into the room. And while she recognized them instantly, just as she had earlier, she couldn't help but shake the feeling that if Matt hadn't just addressed them by name to her brother, it likely would've taken her some time to remember them. But she was choosing not to dwell on it, as she knew she still wasn't completely with it yet, her brain still in a bit of a fog at times.
"Sleep well, Mommy." Caitlyn continued on, her words once again grabbing Gabby's attention just as Matt passed a now-sleeping Sofia off to her godfather, the baby not even registering the movement this time around as she was already deep within her slumber.
"I will, Caity… You too." She spoke simply, Caitlyn flashing her that big, bright smile of hers that Gabby desperately missed, before she leaned forward to give her mom a quick kiss.
"I love you." Caitlyn spoke as she leaned back into her sitting position, Gabby matching her grin as much as she could while lovingly rubbing over her arm.
"I love you, too." She repeated, the little girl smiling softly for a moment before that light in her eyes soon faded, her entire face falling as she looked at her mom. And it was a look Gabby noticed, confusion settling in as Matt walked back over to the bed.
"...Mommy?" She asked as Casey came to a stop beside her, but Caitlyn didn't even register his presence as her eyes stayed focused on her mother, the five year old continuing her thought before Gabby even had a chance to respond to her. "Please wake up."
Casey's eyebrows furrowed immediately in confusion, Gabby wearing a similarly unsure look a few seconds later once she registered their daughter's words, the near pleading look on Caitlyn's face only confusing her further.
"What?" Gabby asked softly, Matt soon reaching out towards his daughter as she was sitting facing her mom.
"What do you mean, baby?" Casey added on for his wife. "Momma's right here." He spoke, but Caitlyn merely shook her head, the little girl knowing her parents weren't understanding her.
"In the morning." She spoke softly, her uncertain eyes moving between both her parents. "When she goes to sleep, I want Mommy to wake up."
Casey's face fell as he slowly started to realize what his daughter was saying, Gabby coming to understand her as well as they knew exactly what Caitlyn was worried about.
The five year old was scared, because the last time Gabby was asleep she hadn't woken up.
And not only had she not woken up, she'd nearly died right in front of them. And that was something Caitlyn clearly hadn't gotten past. But truthfully, it wasn't surprising to Matt, even though he could tell Gabby was a little more unsure, as he'd seen first hand just how Caitlyn had been handling all of this, and how now in Caity's mind, she now associated her mom sleeping with not waking up. Which, even though they understood why, Matt knew that was something they desperately needed to break. And hopefully tomorrow morning could help with that.
"She will, honey." Matt spoke up once he regained himself, Caitlyn's wide eyes looking up at him as he reached out to cradle the back of her head. "Momma's gonna be fine, and she'll be here waiting for you in the morning." He promised, his words combined with the reassuring nod from Gabby enough for her as she smiled softly.
"Okay." She replied quietly, Caitlyn reaching forward to give her mom a hug once their words sunk in, the little girl making sure to be careful as she didn't want to hurt Gabby. "Love you, Mommy." She told her again, Matt seeing the small smile that formed over his wife's face as she brought her free hand up to wrap around her girl.
"I love you, too." She repeated, the mother and daughter staying connected for a few more seconds before Caitlyn eventually pulled back, the little girl giving her mom one last kiss goodbye before Matt helped her down off the bed.
"Alright, go let Aunt Jemma help you get your coat on, and we'll go, okay?" Casey spoke to the five year old once she was planted firmly on the ground, Caitlyn nodding understandingly as she glanced over towards the door to where her Aunt Jemma and Uncle Kelly were standing.
"Okay Daddy… Sweet dreams, Mommy. I'll be back in one sleep." She spoke surely, Caitlyn repeating the sentiment Matt and Gabby would often tell her when they went to work, her words bringing smiles to both their faces.
"One sleep." Gabby echoed, Caitlyn nodding before she hurried across the room, the little girl beginning her goodbyes to her grandfather and Uncle Antonio, before making her way over to Jemma.
Once it was clear she was alright, Matt turned his attention back to his wife, finding her eyes still focused on their babies who were over by the door. Before he said anything, he noticed the almost longing look in her gaze, like she didn't want her girls to leave. And Matt couldn't blame her, as he could only imagine what was going on in her head right now, after finding out how much time she'd spent apart from her family. Because while four days in the grand scheme of things may not be a lot, in terms of what Gabby had gone through, it was like an eternity, and he had a feeling it felt the same for her.
"Baby…" He spoke gently as he reached out to hold onto her arm, his voice gaining her attention as she slowly turned to face him, Gabby finding a warm, loving look waiting for her. And that alone was enough to cause her to smile, Matt's thumb stroking softly over her skin. "I'm gonna go and help Severide and Jemma get the girls home," He started, Gabby nodding slowly as it was beginning to set in that her family was about to leave her for the night. Though his next words made her realize he might not be gone as long as she thought. "I shouldn't be too long, your dad and brother will be here until I get back, though… But once the girls are down, I'll head back over here. But I don't want you waiting up for me, if you're asleep I'll see you in the morning, but I'll be here." He told her, Matt getting a little caught up in everything he wanted to say that he started speaking a little too fast. But luckily, Gabby seemed to understand him after a few moments, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as her gaze flickered back to the girls.
"Matt… You don't- You don't have to." She got out, her throat feeling somewhat dry as his soft eyes stayed locked on her as he knew what she was trying to say to him.
"I know, but I want to."
"The girls-"
"Will be fine without me for the night." He supplemented with a soft smile, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as he spoke. But not as deep as she normally would've taken, as she felt that familiar stinging pain coursing through her body. "They're taken care of. Severide and Jemma are gonna stay the night and watch the girls, so I can come be here with you… We talked about this a little bit ago, do you remember that?" He questioned softly, his tone holding no judgement.
The slight shake of her head only confirmed what he already knew, as Gabby hadn't remembered their conversation earlier after everyone had come in to visit. And though her lack of recall wasn't the most comforting thing in the world right now, he wasn't trying to dwell on it, as he knew she likely just needed time, a weak smile forming over his lips as he continued rubbing her arm.
"That's okay." He assured her, Gabby giving little in response as he knew she was frustrated with her head right now, too. "But we talked about it a little bit ago, and decided I'd go home with them to put the girls to bed, make sure they're alright, and they'd I'd come back here to be with you… You don't need to worry, they'll be okay."
Casey was doing all he could to assure his wife that their babies would be fine, though he'd be lying if he said it hadn't crossed his mind as well, that he should continue with his original plan and stay at home with them. And had you asked him this afternoon, without a doubt would he have gone home and stayed with them. But that was then, and a lot had changed in the last few hours. Everything had changed... Gabby being awake changed things. And now, despite his need to be with his girls, there was something inside him telling him that being with Gabby is where he needed to be. That once he knew Caitlyn and Sofia were alright, he'd make his way right back over to this hospital and stay with Gabby throughout the night.
As a husband, that's what he felt like he needed to do.
And quite frankly, Gabby felt grateful to know he'd be coming back and staying with her, as she selfishly wanted the comfort of her husband in a time like this, the woman still struggling a bit with all that had happened, and grasping the extent of what she'd gone through. Even though she still didn't know much, she knew enough to where this entire thing had shaken her, and she didn't love the idea of Matt not being here with her.
But it was that constant state of tug of war in her head, as a part of her hated the idea of taking Matt away from their girls, Gabby well aware she wasn't the most important thing here. Their girls are what mattered, more than anything, and Gabby couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt at wanting Matt here with her, while their girls would be at home without their dad. But, hearing of who all would be with them, it was clear they'd have enough people there to take care of them, even if those people weren't their parents, which certainly helped her feel a bit better. And then on top of all that, Gabby wasn't sure she'd be able to change his mind even if she tried, the wife too tired to even try and fight it more than she already had.
"Our girls will be fine, and I won't leave until they're asleep… I promise." He reiterated after her prolonged silence, Gabby taking another breath before she nodded. "So I'm gonna go take care of them, then I'll be back as soon as I can… And, like I said, if I don't see you, I'll be here when you wake up." He told her once more, Matt having a pretty good feeling that Gabby wouldn't be up much longer, especially once the nurse came in here to give her that stronger medication to help her sleep.
She'd put up a fight for as long as she could, for the girls' benefit. But now that they were headed home, it was time for Gabby to start getting some more rest. And considering Casey was going to speak with the nurse here in a few moments before he left, and make it known Gabby was ready for bed, he really wasn't anticipating her being up much longer, Matt wanting her to get as much sleep as she possibly could as he knew that was the best thing for her right now.
"But I'll be back in a bit, alright? You just try and get some sleep." He spoke one last time, Gabby taking a few short breaths before she nodded, Matt able to see just how much exhaustion she was holding onto right now.
"Okay." She murmured, Matt smiling softly before he leaned down to kiss her gingerly, Gabby reciprocating as much as she could, even though it wasn't much. "Love you." She added tiredly, Casey grinning against her lips before he kissed her once more, the husband enjoying this tender moment between the two of them before he reluctantly pulled back, Matt admiring her for a moment until he responded.
"I love you, too… Sleep well, baby."
Casey's head lulled to the side as he slept in the uncomfortable hospital chair, the man doing all he could to fall back asleep as he'd soon realized he was awake. He wasn't sure what time it was, or how long he'd been asleep for, but it took only seconds for him to realize it was too early to be up, Matt relaxing back into the reclined seat as he desperately hoped his body would let him get more sleep.
It had been pretty late by the time he got back to the hospital, it taking longer than usual to get both girls down tonight, meaning Matt wasn't able to get over here until much later than planned. And between that, and his lack of sleep overall the last few days, he knew he needed as much rest as possible.
But just as he was about to succumb to his exhaustion, he suddenly heard what he was sure had woken him up the first time, his eyebrows furrowing as he registered the sound of a faint whimper. And it was a sound he recognized instantly, Casey's eyes snapping open and moving towards his wife just as he heard the noise again, a deep frown covering his features as he took in the sight of his clearly distressed Gabby.
It was a little difficult to see her as the only light in the room was coming in through the partially open bathroom door, but he could see her enough to know she was in some serious discomfort. But even with his limited view, he could tell it wasn't a feeling that came from being in pain, at least he didn't think it was… This was something else.
She was having a nightmare.
Once his tired brain finally had a moment to realize what was happening, he quickly put his chair down into its usual position, Matt standing up before it was even locked in place as he needed to help her in any way that he could.
"Gabby." He murmured into the quiet air, another whimper escaping her lips as her head was tilted towards him, Matt very aware of just how careful he needed to be in waking her up.
This wasn't something that happened often, at least it hadn't in a long time, but if his voice wasn't enough to wake her up, usually he'd have to jostle her a little bit to get her out of whatever was going on in her head. But that wasn't so much an option this time, as he refused to do anything that might hurt her, Matt reaching out to cradle the side of her face before she instinctively leaned into his hand.
"Gabby… Gabby, baby, wake up. It's okay." He spoke, his voice groggy as he gently ran his thumb along her skin, Matt seeing her slowly start to be pulled from her restless sleep as a slight grimace set in over her features. "Gabby, it's just me. It's Matt… Can you hear me? You're alright." He continued to soothe her as he stayed hunched over her bed, Matt staying in this position as long as he needed as Gabby was definitely still a little out of it.
But after a few moments, her soft cries started to subsided, Gabby slowly opening her eyes to find her husband standing over her, his warm hand over her cheek comforting as she reached out to place his other hand on top of her stomach.
"Hey…" He said quietly, the soft smile on his lips keeping her calm as she tried to figure out what was real and what was just in her head. But it was then he saw the tears hiding in her eyes, Matt immediately shaking his head as he began to rub his hand comfortingly over her stomach. "It's okay." He murmured, Matt getting as close to her as he could to where she could still see him. "You're okay, I'm here… Everything's alright, it was just a dream."
Matt did his best to assure her without knowing what had actually happened, Gabby nodding slowly as her eyes soon closed once more, the action causing a lone tear to escape down her cheek. But as quickly as it fell, he wiped it away, Gabby's mind trying to process what had just happened, and why she was so frightened.
But she was struggling to do so.
It was about the accident, that much she knew, Gabby having flashes of what she assumed must've happened to her. But it was like she couldn't see any of it, her brain blocking that out as all she remembered from it was the pain. The pain and the fear she felt in that moment, that was all she could feel, and it was unnerving to say the least. Because she still had no idea what happened to her, and the fog her brain was still in wasn't helping matters.
"Everything's okay." Matt spoke once more, his voice causing her to slowly open her eyes to find him exactly in the same place, their eyes locked on one another before she nodded. With his hand still cradling her cheek, Matt gave her as supportive a smile as he could, the man feeling her lean into him as she blinked back a few of her remaining tears. "...What happened?" He finally asked once he felt like she'd have enough time to regain herself, Gabby taking a few shallow breaths as Matt stayed by her side.
"The… the accident." She managed to get out, the frown across his face soon returning as he continued to comfort her.
"You remember it?" He questioned, Gabby swallowing thickly before shaking her head.
"No, I…" She trailed off once more, her dry throat making it even more difficult for her to speak as her brain wasn't cooperating with her.
Seeing this, he reluctantly let go of his wife and reached back to grab her cup and the pitcher of water, Matt filling it up about half way before sliding the straw back in place and holding it out towards her. Without a word, she took a few slow sips, the water helping her aching throat as Matt brought his free hand back up towards her head, the husband keeping the cup of water there until she was done.
Once she finished, he returned the cup to its previous spot, Matt doing his best to keep a hand on her at all times while he waited for her to continue telling him what happened, which she soon did once he was back at her side.
"I… remember- the pain." She spoke, her words choppy as she was trying to work through what was going on in her head. "It hurt, but I… I don't know what happened."
Casey nodded as she spoke, the man offering her a weak smile as he continued to rub his hand over her head. And as he did so, he could tell she wasn't really up for talking about this anymore, at least not tonight, Matt leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss against the side of her head before pulling back.
"It's okay… I'm sorry you remembered that, but you're alright now. Everything's okay." He reassured her, Gabby nodding as she lifted her one good arm up to hold onto his forearm. "Just try and go back to sleep, baby, we can talk more about it in the morning… But right now just get some rest."
Matt began to pull back after giving her one last comforting kiss, but Gabby's hold on him didn't let him go very far, his eyebrows raising slightly as they locked gazes. "...Stay." She nearly whispered, her tone indicating how tired she was as the soft request barely made it to his ears. And he wasn't entirely sure what she meant by it, as they both should've known he wasn't going anywhere, but she spoke up before he could question her.
"Lay with me?"
His face softened as realization washed over him, Matt drawing in a slow, deep breath before he nodded. He knew he needed to be careful, that her body had been through a lot and she couldn't really move on all that much, but he also knew that if she was asking him to stay with her, that meant she needed him. And he'd never not be there for her.
So once he gave her that silent yes, he carefully moved the rail down on the side of the bed, Matt seeing there was enough room for maybe half his body beside his wife. But that was all he needed, Matt carefully sitting down beside her before leaning back into the mattress, his movements slow and gentle as he knew he needed to be mindful of her.
He had to keep his arms out in front of him, Matt knowing he couldn't hold her like he typically would because of the injury to her other side, and he did his best to not make any harsh or sudden movements with his leg that was beside hers, as he didn't want to hurt the healing gash on the top of her thigh. But even with their limitations, they soon found a way to make it work, Matt fitting well enough in the bed with her while his right leg stayed on the ground for balance, Gabby carefully adjusting herself to where her body was resting partially over his chest, her hand placed gently on his thigh as they got as close as they possibly could. And while it wasn't their usual position, it worked well enough for now, Gabby getting the comfort she needed as Matt placed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Get some sleep, Gabby… I love you, I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."
"You sure you don't want anymore?"
Gabby looked up from the tray in front of her towards her husband, Matt currently seated back in his regular chair beside her hospital, which is where he'd been ever since they woke up this morning. But when she saw him, he wasn't looking at her, but instead his eyes were focused on the tray of food next to her, Matt not missing how practically all of her breakfast had been left untouched. In fact all she had eaten was a few bites of the applesauce given to her, along with some juice. But other than that, she hadn't eaten a thing, and it worried him.
"Or do you want something else? I can run down to the cafeteria and get you something." He offered, Gabby shaking her head slightly while pushing the tray away from herself.
"I'm okay… not hungry." She answered him, Casey drawing in a deep breath before he nodded, that soft smile returning to his face before he pushed himself up to move the tray away from the bed.
"Alright, but if that changes, let me know." He told her, Gabby nodding in response as she relaxed back down into the bed, the woman stifling a yawn as she tried to fight off the exhaustion she was still feeling, her mostly restless night of sleep not doing much to help her feel better. And it hadn't helped Matt, either.
Though waking up in the middle of the night definitely hadn't helped things, her nightmare wasn't the only thing keeping her from sleep, as her and Matt both were up more than once throughout the night. She didn't know how long he'd been back at the hospital when she woke up the first time, but what she did know was that once she woke up, neither of them had been able to get much sleep after that, as Gabby was having a hard time getting comfortable, and Matt wasn't able to sleep knowing she couldn't.
It had nothing to do with Matt laying with her, in fact that was one of the only things that helped her get any sleep at all, but rather it had to do with the intense amount of pain she started feeling throughout the night, into the morning. It had happened out of nowhere, her medication seemingly wearing off all at once, Gabby able to feel everything her body had gone through. Which had certainly led to more than her fair share of tears, the woman unable to hide the pain she was in from her husband as he did everything he could to help. It even got to the point where he'd gone to get one of the night nurses, as the medication in her pump by the bed wasn't doing nearly enough for her.
But even with the stronger medication, the pain never entirely went away, and it had led to a rough night all around, neither of them getting enough sleep as Matt was entirely focused on making sure his wife was okay. Even though she clearly wasn't.
"I will." Gabby replied after a moment, Matt giving her a soft smile as he returned to his seat, his hand immediately going to hers as her eyes fell closed.
From first glance alone, he wasn't sure if she was trying to get some more sleep or not, Matt choosing to stay quiet so as to not risk disturbing her, as he knew how badly she needed rest. And while there was a little voice in the back of his head telling him that he did too, he didn't so much care about that, as Gabby was his main priority right now, Matt hoping she'd finally be able to get some more sleep now that most of her pain had subsided.
But when he saw her open her eyes once more, he realized sleep wasn't something she'd be getting right now, at least not yet as he saw the questioning look that covered her face.
"What time is it?" She asked, her quiet voice not going far past his ears, Matt unable to stop the smile that formed over his face when he heard her voice.
It might not have been much, but she was certainly able to communicate a little better this morning than she had last night. There were still moments she hesitated, or wasn't entirely sure what to say, but her sentences weren't as choppy as they'd been even just hours ago. And, to him, it was a vast improvement from where she'd been when she first woke up.
He didn't want to make a big deal out of it, at least not to her, as he wasn't even sure if she remembered how hard it had been for her to talk yesterday. But he could see and hear the slight improvements in her speech and recall already, even if it wasn't perfect, and that was what mattered to him.
"It's a little after 7:30." He answered after checking the clock, Gabby clearing her throat as she nodded.
"...The girls?" She asked, Matt's eyebrows raising slightly as he waited for her to elaborate, the husband unsure of what she meant. "Do you need… to get the girls?"
His face softened once he registered her words, Matt shaking his head as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "No, I'm staying right here." He replied, not missing the unsure look that soon covered her face.
"Matt…"
"I'm not leaving, babe." He replied, his words just as strong as they'd been the first time. "I want to be here when your doctor comes. And I talked to Jemma and Kelly about it last night, they're bringing the girls here first thing once they wake up and have breakfast… They're taken care of, you don't need to worry." He promised her, Gabby taking another breath before she nodded.
"What about… school?" She asked, a slight wince covering her face as she felt that all too familiar feeling a headache starting to form behind her eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Caity, is she-" She cut herself off, Gabby needing a minute to gather her thoughts, even though Matt soon realized what she was trying to say. A weak smile covered his face, his palm rubbing softly over her hand as he knew she was trying her best. "Is she going to school?" She finally got out, Matt's smile staying on his face when he met Gabby's eyes, the man hoping he could keep her calm as he didn't want her getting frustrated with herself.
"Not right now, no… She hasn't been going since you got hurt." He answered honestly, Gabby pausing for a moment before she nodded. "With everything going on, I didn't want to take her… It would've been too much for her." He continued to explain as he didn't want Gabby to be in the dark about decisions he'd made for their kids. "Her teacher has been great though, really understanding of everything. They've sent her some work home, and I've been going over it with her when she feels up for it… But we were kind of just taking things a day at a time."
Gabby kept her eyes on him as he spoke, her mind taking a few seconds to take in some of the things she'd missed since the accident, before she slowly nodded once more, her response earning a small smile from him.
"So, yeah, she hasn't been to school in a bit, but hopefully now we'll be able to get her back here soon. But for today, I think Caity just wants to be here with you." He added, his words causing Gabby to grin as well as he began to rub her arm. "And Sof, too… They just want to be with their Momma, so they'll be here in a bit."
Gabby didn't have a chance to respond as just when Matt finished speaking there was a knock on the door, the husband looking over as Dr. Jennings appeared in the doorway, the man taking a few steps inside while a nurse followed in behind him. And while Gabby herself couldn't place his name, she remembered his face from yesterday, Dawson knowing without needing to be told that he was her doctor.
"Good morning Gabby, Matt… I'm glad to see you're up." He spoke, his words directed towards his patient as Gabby gave him a nod, Matt sitting up a little straighter in his chair as the man came over towards the bed. "How are you feeling, Gabby? I heard you had a little bit of a rough night." He said, a sympathetic look covering his face as she nodded slowly.
"Yeah, it… was a lot." She breathed out, Matt holding onto her forearm while he let her speak to the doctor. "But I'm okay… feeling better." She told him as clearly as she could, Dr. Jennings nodding with a soft smile.
"That's great to hear. I'm sorry last night was hard on you, but here in a bit we're gonna take you for some more tests and scans, and then once we do that we can talk about putting you on some different pain medication, and get you to where hopefully something like last night won't happen again." He told her, Gabby nodding gratefully as Matt matched her response.
"We'd really appreciate that, thank you." Casey spoke, the man offering them both a soft smile before glancing down to the tablet in his hands.
"You're welcome… Now, Gabby, before we get started, yesterday we talked a little bit about what had happened, do you remember any of that?" He started carefully, the doctor wanting to get a feel for how much she knew of the day before, as well as if any new memories had resurfaced.
"Some." She answered quietly, earning a nod from her doctor. "I was… asleep, for four days." She continued on, both men staying quiet as they wanted to hear what all she had to say. "I remember that, but… everything else. It's... fuzzy." She spoke as clearly as she could, an understanding look covering her doctor's face.
"Yeah, that's to be expected. Yesterday was a lot to process, it might take you some time." He assured her, Gabby nodding as she spared a quick glance towards her husband. "But we spoke about how today I'd go over a little more of the accident with you, and what all happened once you got here, do you remember any of that conversation?" He pushed carefully, Gabby's eyes falling closed as she thought it might help her more to think.
But she was coming up empty, Gabby shaking her head after a few long moments as she looked back to her doctor.
"No… sorry."
"Alright, that's okay. You don't need to apologize. Yesterday, you were also having a little bit of trouble remembering some names, do you remember that?" He continued on, Gabby taking another breath before she slowly nodded. "Okay, good. Now can you tell me who that is?" He pressed, the doctor gesturing over towards her husband.
"Matt." She answered without any hesitation, Casey's smile widening proudly even though he knew she was well aware of who he was.
"That's right, and can you tell me the name of your kids?"
"Sofia and Caitlyn." Gabby replied, Matt rubbing her arm as he gave her another warm, joy-filled smile before he continued on.
But as they kept on with those types of questions, the more spotty her memory became. She remembered her dad, and Antonio, but it took her a few seconds to recall Jemma and Kelly's names, even though her and Matt had just spoken about them. And she struggled with a few other things as well, her memory definitely still not completely all there. But still, she was better than she had been before, and Matt was still proud of her, his feelings towards her progress not changing as he knew how hard she was trying.
And he could tell Dr. Jennings knew that, too.
"Alright Gabby, I know this is still a lot to process. But, even from yesterday, you are getting better. So I imagine that'll only continue." He spoke confidently, Matt nodding in agreement as he saw Gabby's uncertain eyes moving back and forth between them. "You just might need some more time."
"But it won't… I'll remember everything?" She asked, this question clearly having been on her mind as it only took her mere seconds to ask it, Dr. Jennings pursing his lips together as she looked at him. "It won't be like this forever?"
"I don't think so, no." He answered as honestly as he could, Gabby beginning to gnaw on her bottom lip as Matt continued to hold onto her arm. "I told your husband this yesterday, but with injuries like this, everything you went through, which we'll get into here in a moment, sometimes it just takes the body a while to heal, even after you've woken up… I know it's hard, and it might not be the most reassuring feeling in the world, but these things just take time, Gabby. This happens to patients a lot more than people think, but a lot of the time it isn't permanent… So hopefully here soon, things will get back to normal for you, and you'll start to remember some of what you're missing."
His words were a lot for her to process, Gabby still not quite used to getting so much information at once, but eventually she was able to digest what he'd said, the man right as he definitely hadn't given her as much reassurance as she would've liked. But she also didn't want to be lied to, Gabby refocusing her attention on him just before he continued.
"But we'll be keeping a close eye on you, and once you've had a few more days to heal, I imagine you'll start to see some improvements. But we've just got to take things slow." He said, Gabby releasing a soft sigh before she nodded. "Alright, and now, if you're up for it, I'd like to talk to you a little about what happened… if you think that's something you can handle." He told her, clearly giving her the out if she wasn't ready for whatever was needing to be said.
But she didn't want to wait anymore, as Gabby would rather just know now as she nodded. "It's fine." She replied, Matt and the doctor sharing a look before the older man spoke up.
"Alright, well Gabby, when you were brought in after the accident, you had some pretty extensive injuries, and we had to take you to surgery." He started, Gabby nodding slowly as she waited for him to continue. "I can't speak for what exactly happened during the crash, but when you got here, you were kind of in rough shape."
While her doctor began to explain everything that happened, Gabby did her best to follow along; from the head trauma they were concerned about due to her being thrown around the ambulance, to the injuries to her neck and leg from being pinned underneath the gurney, to her dislocated elbow, along with the internal bleeding that needed to be fixed once she got here. She did her best to take in all of it, though it was a lot to hear this early in the morning. And, considering Matt already knew all of this, while she wanted to know what had happened, she knew here in a little bit she might not remember everything being said to her right now. So, if needed, her husband could certainly help clear some things up for her once this conversation was over.
"And, one more thing I do want you to know Gabby," He continued on, those words causing her ears to perk up as she wasn't sure what to expect from him, "multiple times throughout your surgery, as well as once in the ambulance on the way here, and then again yesterday… your heart stopped."
Gabby's chest felt heavy when she heard those words, Dr. Jennings giving her a sympathetic smile as Matt kept a comforting grip on her arm, the woman looking towards him to find a nearly devastated look in his eyes. And it was like in that moment all she could think about is what that had done to Matt, and their girls.
It was scary for her, there was no denying it, especially because she didn't remember anything from when she was unconscious, but Matt was here. He had lived it, and every time that had happened, she could only imagine what he'd felt during that, and it broke her heart. Because the last thing she ever wanted to do was be the thing that caused him pain, that caused him and their little girls pain.
"Obviously we were able to get things under control, but it happened pretty frequently throughout your surgery, enough that we were concerned about it. And with it happening those two other times, it's certainly a cause for concern now, because we just want to make sure you're healthy… which is why there's a few extra wires on you." He explained slowly, giving her a moment to take all of this in. "We're keeping a close eye on your heart, just to be sure. But so far, aside from those moments, there hasn't been anything else to give us cause for concern with your heart, but it's something we want to watch." He told her, Gabby taking another breath before she nodded. "We want to keep an eye on that, and all of your progress, for a little bit, just to make sure nothing comes up." The man finished as simply as he could.
There was a little more to it than that, and he knew Matt was aware of it, that because of how many times her heart had stopped, that's why they were so concerned about her brain function once that she finally woke up. Which, in turn, is why Casey was a bit on edge about it now when it came to her memory and her speech. But Dr. Jennings wasn't lying when he said this happened to a lot of his patients, that it sometimes happened in people recovering from trauma, and until he had a reason to believe otherwise, he didn't want to worry Gabby unnecessarily and say the two were connected; that the problems with her heart is what was causing her memory issues now. He didn't want to tell her that until he had a better understanding of what was going on, and before he could have some more time to see if she improved. Which, from where he stood, she was.
So for now, he decided it was in the best interest of his patient to not get much further into that topic before he knew if there was even anything more to tell. And based on the quick look he got from Matt, her husband felt the same way.
"So, what I'm saying is that you will be in the hospital for a little bit, at least a few more days, if not more… Just to be sure." He told her, Gabby biting down roughly on the inside of her cheek before she reluctantly nodded. "It's in your best interest to stay here for a couple days, after everything you've gone through… Your body has experienced a great deal of trauma, you've gone through a lot, but after everything, it's amazing you've come as far as you have." He told her, Gabby sniffling slightly as a lot of this felt like a shock to the system. "Things could've been a lot worse, but you've gotten through the worst of this, from what I can tell. But with that, you'll still need to be careful, take things slow, and I'd rather you do that here where we can watch you than at home."
"Alright." She answered softly after a beat of silence, Matt nodding in agreement before he spoke up.
"Yeah, whatever you think is best, we'll do it." The man echoed, Dr. Jennings giving them both a small smile. "And we'll stay however long you need us to, as long as you think is best. All that matters is she's alright."
Dr. Jennings gave him a strong nod, the man opening his mouth to respond, but he never got the chance as the door suddenly swung open, the sound of little footsteps hitting the linoleum floor filling their ears as Caitlyn hurried into the room. The five year old was followed by her baby sister, Sofia waddling quickly in the same direction as well, as Jemma and Kelly came in behind them.
"Mommy!" Caitlyn all but screeched, her excitement flooding the room as she hurried to her mom's side. "You're awake!" She spoke happily, her brown eyes shining as an immediate smile formed over Gabby's face while Sofia came up beside her sister. Though all Gabby could really see of the baby was her curly hair as she was too short to see over the bed. "Uncle Kelly! Mommy's awake, like you said!"
"She is, sweetheart." Severide responded, Casey shooting his friend a grateful smile before refocusing his attention on his family.
"Mommy, I missed you." Caitlyn continued on once she turned her attention back to her mom, Gabby reaching out for her hand as she pushed all thoughts of her doctor's words aside, the woman only wanting to focus on her girls right now.
"Hi baby, I missed you, too."
"Mama.. Mama!" Sofia spoke beside her, her chubby little arms reaching up as she wanted to be with her mom.
"And you, Sof, I missed you, too."
"Mommy, I drew you a picture!" Caity spoke once her mom finished, Gabby raising her eyebrows as Matt began the process of getting the girls on the bed, but not before giving them a quick reminder to be careful.
"You did?" Gabby asked as Caitlyn was placed down by her hip, the five year old soon reaching out to touch her side as she just wanted to be as close to her as possible.
"Yeah! Aunt Jemma has it." She responded brightly as Matt picked up the one year old and carefully placed her back up by Gabby's shoulder, Sofia squealing with glee when she got a better look at her mom.
"Hi sweet girl." Gabby murmured as Sofia latched onto her, Matt having to step in a few times while they all got situated so the baby didn't risk hurting her mom. And though Sofia definitely didn't appreciate it, eventually he was able to get them all together in a way that was comfortable for Gabby.
Taking a slight step back away from the bed, Matt vaguely heard Caitlyn begin to tell Gabby about the picture she'd drawn for her mom, his wife engaging as much as she could while Casey let his girls have this time with Gabby. And while he did, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, seeing Dr. Jennings take a few steps away from the bed.
"I… I'm sorry about this." Matt spoke as he walked over towards him, Severide and Jemma moving in to go take Casey's spot by the bed. "I know you want to talk to Gabby, but the girls…"
"They've missed their mom, it's fine." He answered knowingly, Matt giving him a grateful nod as both men watched Gabby with the two young girls. "I had said pretty much all I needed to, there was nothing else really that she needed to know, at least not now. Nothing that can't be discussed later… Just what I was talking about, that we'll be keeping an eye on her for a few days while she heals."
"Okay, that's fine." Matt reiterated, the doctor giving him a nod.
"And, as I said when I first came in here, we'll get her taken for some updated scans soon. Just to make sure everything's still the same, but she should have some time to visit with your girls before they need to take her."
"Alright… Thank you, doctor. For everything" Casey spoke, Dr. Jennings giving him one last nod before he left the room, the doctor wanting to give them space to visit with each other.
As the doctor left, Casey stayed over by the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving his three girls as they sat together on the bed. Caitlyn was still in the middle of talking with her mom, the child now showing Gabby the drawing she'd likely made for her this morning, while Sofia was gripping onto the top of her mom's hospital gown, clearly just wanting to be with her. And as he watched them, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of contentment in this moment, as he knew his entire world was safely together inside this room.
And it was a feeling he wished to hold onto for as long as he could.
And there we have it, there's another chapter for you all. It's a bit of a longer one, so hopefully that makes up a little bit for me missing last week. Which, is part of what I want to talk to you all about, like I mentioned up above.
A few days ago, on Friday, I found out that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer, and it's been a lot to deal with. It wasn't completely out of the blue, we had known for a few weeks that something was wrong with her (which is partially why my updates have been so sporadic), we just didn't know what was wrong. But then we found out what it was, and… yeah.
But the reason I'm telling you this is because I can't say for sure that I'm gonna be able to continue updating every week. I want to, and I'm gonna try my hardest to, but sometimes I might not be able to, depending on what all's going on. And I wanted to let you all know that now, as well as thank you in advance for understanding. All of this, it's a lot, and I might not always be able to sit down and write, but I'm going to try.
I'm certainly not quitting my stories, or writing, or anything like that, I just can't promise I'll have updates every week. But I'll be doing my absolute best for you all, because I know some of you look forward to these updates.
So yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you all about. Thanks again, for understanding.
And thank you for reading this one, I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you all have a good week.
I'll see you next time.