Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.

A/N: So I know that I haven't been consistant in the updates I make for my stories but most of the time it's because of lack of time but lately, while I've been working a bit more at the ER and getting more time to myself outside of home, I've been able to really sit down and write some more so here's a third chapter in a short period of time, hope you guys like it.


Gabby was released a couple of days later and Matt helped her inside their empty house. Antonio had taken them to his place while they were both in the hospital.

"So what do we do now?" Gabby whispered as they closed the door.

"We are getting you off of your feet and into bed."

"Matt. The doctor said to take it easy, not stop everything."

"I know but for today I'm not risking anything. Antonio has the kids for the night and it'll allow us to talk a bit more."

"And what about you? You have to rest too"

"And I will, just after I get you and baby Casey in bed and fed." He kissed her forehead as they walked up the stairs. Gabby was more than happy to take a shower when Matt got it running. "I'll let you shower and I'll be back with some food."

"Thanks." Matt was pretty sure that he'd find something edible in the fridge so he went exploring. When he returned to the room with a stray, Gabby was standing in front of her night stand with her towel wrapped around her body.

"How're you feeling?" He set the tray on his dresser and went to wrap his arms around her from behind.

"I'm better but I'm worried about you Matt." She turned in his arms and placed her hands on his chest.

"I'm going to ok Gabby. I promise I'll try to be more patient with the kids until the surgery. I'm sorry I yelled at them."

"It wasn't entirely your fault babe."

"That's not en excuse Gabby." Although the kids had forgiven him, it was hard not being hard on himself. He was supposed to protect the kids, not act like a bad dad.

"We'll get you fixed up and you'll be back to your old self in no time. Did Dr Rhodes give you a timeline for when they'd do the operation?" He helped her into bed and laid down next to her.

"He said it would be in the next week or so." He shrugged. "He said to be ready at any moment though."

"So what do we do now?" She put a piece of chiken in her mouth from the leftover paella Matt had brought her up.

"Maybe we could ask your parents for some help when I'm gone." He suggested.

"And I know Antonio will want to help too."

"That's if he doesn't kill me first." He knew that he wasn't out of the doghouse where Antonio was concerned but he knew he'd be a big help to them.

"He's not mad at you." She tried to reason.

"Is that why he didn't want me in your room after you'd been admitted?"

"Of course he didn't tell me THAT." Gabby was mad at her brother for this but Matt put a hand on her knee.

"It's fine babe, he's just trying to protect you and I was an ass."

"Still, he should really stop that, it's getting old." She huffed, only making Matt laugh.

"Don't be too hard on him Gabby." Matt's thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing on his nightstand. "Matt Casey." He answered, running his hand absentmindly along Gabby's leg. "Yeah, I'll be there tomorrow at seven. Thanks Dr Abrams."

"What was that about?"

"I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning." He didn't think it would be that fast.

"Wow, I didn't think it would be that quickly." She echoed his thoughts.

"I guess we'll have to find a solution faster that we were expecting." He quickly dialed Antonio's number and Laura answered the phone.

"What are you doing?" Gabby hissed Under her breath.

"Hey Laura." He smiled at her. "Yeah she's good, all snuggled up in bed."

"It's totally UNECESSARY." She screamed close to the phone making both Laura and Matt laugh.

"Actually, I need a favour and I know it's short notice so I understand if you can't." Gabby could hear what Laura was saying. "I was just called in for my surgery tomorrow and I need someone to help Gabby with the kids here." Maybe we can keep them here to sleep. "Normally I'd be inclined to say yes but I wanted to spend some time with them tonight before I go in. Alright, thanks Laura." Anytime. Matt hung up and scooted closer to Gabby. "They're bringing them back after Antonio comes back from the park with them."

"Matt, you didn't have to call them for help tomorrow, I would have been perfectly fine." She argued with him.

"Look Gabby. I was an ass to you and the kids and Dr Manning told you that you needed to be monitored and be on bed rest so that's exactly what you're going to do and you are going to let Antonio and Laura help us out."

"I want to be pissed at you for not letting me take care of our kids." She moved the tray aside and laid down next to him. "But I have to admit that it's sexy how well you take care of me, of us." She kissed him.

"For better or for worst, I promised to protect you so that's what I'm doing." He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her again.

"I gotta start believing you, I do." She chuckled as they stayed snuggled up together Under the blankets.

It wasn't too long until their whole brood returned from the park with Tio Antonio and they immediately swarmed their mother who was now sitting on the couch. "One at a time, mom needs her rest." They hugged her in turn and snuggled up to her too.

"We missed you mom." Luis voices first, the other kids agreeing with him.

"Well everything should be ok from now on." She winked at Matt over Valentina who was snuggled deeply in her side.

"We just have one more thing to tell you guys."

"Don't tell me you hurt yourself again daddy." Grace sighed.

"No but I have to go in the hospital tomorrow because Dr Rhodes found out why I screamed at you the way that I did and he and Dr Abrams are going to fix me up so it doesn't happen again."

"Do you have to stay in the hospital for a long time?" Emma questionned her dad.

"I'm not too sure but I'm guessing a few days to make sure that nothing goes wrong."

"Who's going to help mom with us while you're gone?" Luis asked again.

"Tio Antonio and Tia Laura are going to come over tomorrow morning and they are going to stay with us." Gabby explained.

"Can we come see you?" Valentina asked hidden in Gabby's side still.

"I don't think I'll be there long enough for you to do that but we'll see what the doctor says ok?" She nodded and Matt smiled at his wife. "Alright everyone, let's go play outside and let mommy get some rest.

"Oh no you're not. I will go sit on a lounge chair in the yard and watch from there. I'm not staying cooped up." She warned him.

"Wouldn't dream of asking you that." He took Valentina in his arms and the rest of the kids ran towards the yard while Gabby slowly got up and made her way outside, under the sun. She watched from a far while they played tag and football and Gabby couldn't think of a better sight. Of course Matt was taking it easy knowing that his body would be hurting like hell come evening if he didn't watch himself but by dinner time, Matt was exhausted and the kids still had energy to last until morning. They ordered pizza to make life easier for everyone and Matt thought it was a good idea to fill the tub up with lots of bubbles and although they had to take turns in the tub, the kids made a mess of the bathroom and the bubbles but having all five of her kids happy was all she wished for.

"Oh my god, I'm done." Matt let him body fall on the bed from exhaustion.

"How are you feeling?" She walked in their room after tucking the kids in.

"I just hope my limbs don't act up from working them so hard." He didn't want to jeopardize his recovery from the fall but that afternoon had been fun, even for him.

"I suggest you take it easy from now on. I don't need you having a setback.

"I don't think I could survive that." He admitted.

"So, about tomorrow." She trailed. "I was thinking I could go drop you off and I come see you when the surgery is done."

"What if I told you that I asked Kelly to come pick you up already?"

"I'd stay you're trying to prevent me from leaving this house."

"I'd say you were right." He chuckled, kissing her cheek. She grunted in response but still let him kiss her. "Come on, let's get some rest, I have to be up early tomorrow."

"Fine." She conceded, not wanting to get into a scuffle for that. He pulled her to him and she laid her head on his chest, the steady thumping of his heart lulling her to sleep. "Good night baby, I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her forehead and it didn't take too long for him to hear her steady breathing, indicating that she was finally asleep, Matt letting himself do the same.

When his alarm went off, he had a feeling he had just gone to bed but he had a pretty decent night. His body was stiff from all the games he had played with the kids but he pushed through the pain and made his way to the shower where he washed up and quickly got changed into some loose clothes. Gabby mumbled something in her sleep so he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Kelly will call you when I'm out of surgery." He whispered and she simply mumbled in response.

Since he couldn't drink anything, he was ready quickly and Kelly knocked on the door soon after, Antonio right behind him. "Right on time." He let the two of them in. "Thanks a lot for doing this Antonio. I feel better knowing they're in good hands."

"Anything for my sister. You just take care of your health and I'll make sure she's ok."

"We better get going Casey." Kelly looked at his watch. So Matt gave Antonio a nod and they out the door and heading to Med. It didn't take long before Matt had done his admission and was being wheeled into a room for a final check up for the surgery.

"Is there anyone that we need to call if anything happens?" The nurse asked him.

"My wife, Gabrielle Dawson Casey."

"Alright, you're all set. Good luck Mr Casey."

"If anything happens to me in there, I want you to take care of them."

"Nothing is going to happen Casey. I'll wait for you when you get back." They exchanged a handshake before the orderly took him away.

The kids had woken up first and Gabby came down to a quiet kitchen, everyone engrossed in their meal. "Morning sis." Antonio kissed her cheek when she made it to him.

"Morning. You should have woken me up when you got here, I would have helped." Antonio straight out ignored her comment but he was welcomed with a hit against his chest.

"What?" He rubbed the spot where she had hit him.

"Don't start with me Tonio. They said to take it easy, not complete bed rest."

"I'm just following simple instructions." He winked at her and they stayed there in silent as they watched the kids eat. He had let her clear out the table when he started seeing signs of her nerves making it to the surface. "I'm sure he's ok." He came to stand with her at the sink, grabbing a cloth to dry the dishes.

"Kelly texted me two hours ago that he had been wheeled in and nothing since."

"These things take some time." He rubber her shoulder in comfort. "Let's get the kids ready for the day and if you still have no news, we can call him for an update. Making sure the kids dressed properly did nothing to ease her worries and even with the arrival of Laura, still Gabby stressed.

"All this stress isn't good for you ro the baby Gabby." Laura gently told her.

"Thats's it." She ignored Laura. "Can you drive me to Med please? I can't take the wait anymore."

"Fine! But I need you to try to relax while we go there because I do not want you in that hospital again unless it's to give birth to my niece or nephew are we clear?"

"Yes." She didn't have it in her to argue with her brother, she just wanted to make it to Matt. Antonio kissed his wife's cheek before they left and promised he'd give her an update on Matt. They drove in silence, Antonio giving her every chance to relax a little bit amid this stressful period for her. When they got inside, she directly asked Maggie if she could find out anything and when she made it onto the third floor, Matt was being wheeled back into his room. "Matt." She rushed to his side and kissed his cheek as he was settled back in his room. "How are you feeling?" She asked him but looked at Dr Abrams for a report of how the surgery went.

"Textbook surgery Mrs Casey. We're just going to keep him overnight for observation and then he can go back home and finish his recovery."

"Thank you Dr Abrams."

"Good luck to you both." Everyone gave him a nod and they were finally left alone.

"What are you doing here?" He asked grogilly.

"I was worried and I wanted to see you with my own eyes."

"I'm going to be just fine." He gave her a weak smile from all the anesthesia in his body.

"That we will." And so Gabby spent the rest of the day with Matt, the two spending some time alone together while Antonio and Kelly had returned back home.


A/N: Ok so I didn't want to make this chapter another cliffhanger but I did want Gabby to be a bit stressed about the fact that she wasn't there with him and didn't know what was going on. I hope you guys liked it and please take a few seconds to review before you go, I love to read your thoughts - Sarra