Wow. Can you guys believe we've hit 70 chapters already? That's crazy to me. I'm so glad you all have stuck around with me for this long. When I first started this story back in February, I never expected it to still be going for this long, and I definitely never expected the incredible response that I've gotten from you all. It means everything to me.
Thank you for taking this ride with me. I hope you all like this one.
Happy reading.
Chapter Seventy
Gabby released a heavy sigh as she put the lunch meat and condiments back into the fridge, her intoxicated husband having made more of a mess than he probably realized as she cleaned up after him. She had already gotten his unfinished sandwich in the trash, the plate put into the dishwasher, and the bread put away. Now all she had left to do was wipe down the counter, then she'd be able to try and get back to bed, although she had a feeling sleep wouldn't be coming so easy to her tonight.
As she finished up and began heading for the bedroom, it crossed her mind that in his current state, Matt might've not remembered to lock the door, Gabby turning on her heels, moving to check both the front door and the back door, unsure of which one he'd entered through. And her suspicions were proven correct when she got to the back door, finding it unlocked, as well as Matt having turned the porch light on by accident, Gabby shaking her head before turning it off then securing the deadbolt.
Once they were locked into their home, Gabby continued her original path to the bedroom, flipping the switch to turn the light off before she stepped into the room, coming to a stop when she saw Matt standing over Sofia's bassinet. Her baby and her husband were across the bed, Gabby taking a step forward, seeing Matt clutching the edge of her bed tightly, Sofia continuing to sleep peacefully, unaware of her dad's presence.
"Matt…" She whispered, a deep frown settling over her face when he lifted his head, his teary eyes shining back at her. "Come on." She prompted, nodding towards the bathroom, not wanting to risk waking their baby while she helped him get ready for bed.
Reluctantly, he nodded, Matt glancing down quickly to his baby, releasing a shaky breath before slowly walking away from her bed, following Gabby into the bathroom. Turning the light on, Gabby waited until he had come through the door before she slowly closed it, leaving it ajar against the doorframe so they could hear Sofia. Matt padded his way towards the toilet, putting the lid down before nearly collapsing down onto the seat, barely registering his own movements as he sat down.
Gabby followed his path, coming to a stop in front of him, standing in between his legs as she brought her hand up to his face, gently brushing her hand across his cheek. Matt let his eyes fall closed, focusing on the movement as her presence comforted him, Matt leaning into her touch, her warmth providing him with a sense of safety.
"Can I?" She asked softly, Matt opening his eyes to see her gaze focused on the sling, giving her a slow nod. Once she had the confirmation she needed, Gabby leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead while she kept rubbing her hand over his cheek, continuing the comforting action for a few more seconds before she pulled back, her hands moving towards the sling. Matt missed her touch instantly, watching as she carefully removed the object, the inebriated man letting her do all the work. Once his arm was free, Gabby slowly let it move down to his lap before she placed the sling on the counter, moving her attention to his shirt.
He wasn't wearing his usual white Captain's shirt, in fact he was wearing a long sleeve CFD paramedic's shirt, one like the kind Gabby knew most ambulances kept in the back of their rig, in case of emergencies. Which told Gabby that whatever had happened to his arm had him needing a new shirt, which was something that made her stomach turn. Had the other one been cut off of him? Had it been covered in his blood? She had no idea what his injuries were or how they occurred, and that didn't sit well with her… But as she looked back up at the closed gash on the side of his head, she couldn't help but think these injuries weren't caused in a fire, his skin red and angry around the cut, while the side of his head had started to swell slightly. It almost looked like he'd smacked into something, or that he got hit by something, and she wasn't sure which option scared her more.
"I'm gonna get this shirt off, alright?" She warned him, Matt giving her a slow nod, letting her work as she began the process of removing the clothing, saving his injured arm, or shoulder, for last. "Does it hurt?" She questioned, unable to miss how this entire time, he hadn't shown her any signs of being in pain, which she wasn't sure if that was just him, or if the alcohol had played a part in dulling whatever pain he might be in.
"Nothing too bad." He responded softly, meeting her eyes in time to see her nod, Gabby flashing him a warm smile before going back to work. When she removed the shirt, she tossed it on the ground, her eyes immediately moving to the white bandage wrapped around his bicep, her eyebrows furrowing as her gaze moved up to his shoulder, trying to tell exactly what damage had been done. With the bandage, she assumed he'd been cut, maybe gotten a few stitches, but a cut wouldn't have warranted a sling, so she couldn't help but think there was another injury she couldn't see.
"Is it just your arm? Or you're shoulder?" She asked softly, meeting his eyes.
"Just my arm." He responded, Gabby pursing her lips together as she glanced back to the injury.
"Did you get cut?" She questioned, Matt's gaze moving down in between them, focusing on the large shirt that covered her body, refusing to meet her gaze.
"...It's just some stitches." He responded, Gabby's head tilting to the side. He hadn't answered her question, and they both knew it. His answer alone would've been enough to tip her off, but his hesitation just solidified what she already knew; this wasn't just a cut.
"Matt…" She spoke lightly, Matt lifting his head to look at her, watching as her frown deepened, his teary eyes shining back at her. "We don't have to get into all of it right now, but can you at least tell me what happened to your arm… Please, baby."
He took a deep breath, Gabby bringing her hand back up to his head, gently running her fingers through his short hair, giving him that silent reassurance she was sure he needed. "I, uh.. Please, don't freak out, because I'm okay," He prefaced, her eyebrows furrowing as her entire body tensed, Gabby feeling her heartbeat quicken in her chest, unsure of what to expect. But, whatever it was, she knew it wasn't good. "But, I uh-... I got shot."
Her entire body froze, Gabby's breath catching in her throat as her eyes flashed back to his arm, tears filling her eyes as he saw her begin to panic, her chest rising and falling quickly as her breaths became more and more shallow. "Hey hey hey, baby I'm okay." He spoke instantly, her clear concern breaking the haze his mind was in. Despite everything going through his head, his focus shifted to his wife, knowing he needed to all he could to keep her calm. "I'm fine, I'm alright." He kept repeating, Gabby blinking back the tears in her eyes as she met his gaze, Matt lifting his right hand up to her waist, squeezing it reassuringly. "It just grazed me, I'm okay."
Gabby bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her emotions in check as she traced over his face, trying to see if there were any signs of deception, that he was keeping something from her as to not worry her, but with the haze her mind was in, she couldn't tell.
"I promise, I'm alright." He spoke again, like he knew exactly what was going on in her head, Gabby forcing herself to hold back her tears. "It's just a flesh wound that needed some stitches… It'll probably leave an ugly scar, but it didn't even go through any muscle. I'm fine."
He hoped if he said it enough that she would start to believe him, but based on the look covering her face, he was sure she hadn't moved much past him telling her he'd been shot, which is exactly why he didn't want her being told over the phone. No matter how many times Severide, or Boden, or anyone, reassured her and told her that he was fine, he knew she wouldn't believe them. Because even though he was sitting here with her right now, clearly alright, she still didn't believe him.
"You're sure? You're alright, there's no other damage?" Her voice was thick, emotion laced in her words as Matt gripped her waist tighter, pulling her closer to him.
"I'm fine." He spoke firmly, needing her to believe what he was saying. "I promise you, I'm alright. I wouldn't tell you I was if I wasn't. The bullet went through and through, I only needed stitches. I'm okay."
Gabby nodded slowly, gnawing on her bottom lip as her eyes darted around, Matt rubbing along her side. He could tell he'd freaked her out, rightfully so; if she'd come stumbling home in the middle of the night when she wasn't supposed to be here, telling him she'd been shot, he knew he'd be handling it worse than she was right now.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently, Gabby's eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze focused in on him.
"Me? I'm not the one who got shot." She responded, frustration evident in her voice, and he couldn't say he was surprised to hear it.
"Baby-"
"Why didn't anyone call me?" She questioned, her tone showing her anger, mixed with confusion and a little hurt.
"I asked them not to." He replied, her face hardening as she tried to take a step back, but he wouldn't let her, although she didn't fight him very hard. "Gabby, I'm sorry, but I didn't want to worry you, not when I knew I was fine." He tried, but he could tell she was upset. And she had every reason to be.
"It doesn't matter, you can't do that, Matt." She spoke, her voice unsteady. "You can't get shot and then not tell me."
"I didn't want you to drag Sofia all the way to the hospital for no reason-"
"No reason?!"
"Baby, baby, please just listen." He spoke, Gabby taking a deep breath before meeting his eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "I knew I wasn't going to be there for very long, and I knew you didn't have anyone to help you with the baby… I was going to tell you, I just wanted to tell you in person."
Gabby swallowed thickly, her throat feeling dry as her head moved down, her eyes finding the space in between them as she took a deep breath. She was angry; angry at him for not telling her, and angry at everyone at 51 for listening to him, but she knew now wasn't the time to continue fighting it. Despite him trying to reassure her, and the shock she felt go through her system at finding out her husband had gotten shot, she could tell he was barely holding himself together. He was still shaken over whatever happened, and with it being the middle of the night, the last thing she wanted was to fight with him about this.
"...Okay." She responded, pursing her lips together, meeting his tired eyes, seeing a wave of relief wash through them, Matt taking a slow breath as he nodded. "Just please, if you get hurt again, tell me." She told him, Matt giving her another slow nod. "I don't care if you think you're fine. If you have to go to the hospital, or, you know, you get shot, please... call me." She finished sternly, Matt sighing softly.
"I will. I promise." He assured her, Gabby nodding slowly, sighing softly before she stepped closer to him, Matt sliding his hand around to her back, watching her eyes trace over his face before she landed on the cut on his temple.
With her gaze focused on his head, she brought her hand up, gently stroking her fingers on the skin right beneath the injury. The longer she stared, the deeper her frown became, Matt swallowing the lump in his throat as she traced his skin.
"How'd this happen?" She asked quietly, Matt clenching his eyes shut as his hand slid down off her of her, coming back to rest in his lap as he dropped his head down. Tearing her eyes from the harsh gash along the side of his head, she took a deep breath when she noticed the immediate shift in his demeanor, Matt returning to the state he'd been in when she first found him in the kitchen, just a little more aware. "Matt…"
Clearing his throat, Matt slowly lifted his head, Gabby seeing fresh tears had formed in his eyes as she slid her hand down to his neck, rubbing her thumb along his skin comfortingly. "Uh, it, uh- I was hit, with the gun." He admitted, her eyebrows furrowing in worry, seeing his jaw begin to tremble as they locked eyes.
"Baby, you gotta tell me what happened…" She murmured, tears filling her own eyes as she saw her usually strong husband now broken, his eyes glassy as his throat bobbed up and down. The last thing she wanted to do right now was make him talk, but she couldn't leave things like this, not with him this upset. The more she heard about what Matt had gone through, the more concerned she became, Gabby blinking back her tears as she stroked his neck.
Whatever had happened on shift, whatever he had gone through, she knew it had to have been terrible. She didn't know much, in fact she knew next to nothing, but she wasn't sure she'd ever seen Matt like this before. Knowing some of the terrible things he'd gone through in his life, either with her or on his own, the fact that she couldn't recall ever seeing him this distraught was alarming.
"Whatever happened, let me help you…" She nearly whispered, Matt's breath catching in his throat as he felt his guard falling down, a lone tear escaping down his cheek. "I'm right here, you don't need to deal with this on your own." She murmured, using the pad of her thumb to wipe the water from his skin, her heart shattering in her chest at seeing him so broken, Matt sniffling as he nodded.
"I, uh- We got called to a house fire-" He started, clearing the emotion from his voice as his eyes stayed locked on her, Gabby giving him a supportive nod, continually stroking his skin for comfort. "It was just us and squad, so uh, I stayed outside." He told her, Gabby letting him go as slow as he needed to get the words out. "Everything was fine, no one was in the house… But when the guys were finishing their sweep, I heard screaming…" A grimace covered his face at the memory, Matt bringing his hand back up to her waist, pulling her closer towards him, needing to feel her near him. Gabby slid her hand around to the back of his neck, running her fingers through the small hairs there, knowing that action always calmed him in the past. "I didn't know what it was, but I could tell they were outside, and I- I went over there and…" He trailed off, shaking his head quickly as fresh tears filled his eyes, a few escaping down his skin.
"It's okay, baby." She murmured, placing her other hand on his cheek.
"He just- He was holding Micah and wouldn't let him go-" Matt choked out, her eyebrows furrowing as he began rambling, Gabby having a hard time following him. "He was threatening to kill him, and he shot her and then Micah. I tried to help him, but I couldn't and- God, I don't even know if he's okay." He cried, his head falling forward as furious tears fell down his cheeks, his shoulders shaking as his emotions took control, Matt's head falling into her chest.
Her eyes fell closed as she listened to her husband's soft cries, Gabby pulling him into her body, Matt wrapping his arms around her waist as he clung to her. She still wasn't sure what happened, Matt's words frantic and hard to follow, but she knew she couldn't ask him any more right now, her focus shifting towards holding onto him while he cried against her. "It's okay… it's alright." She whispered, cradling his head with her hand, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to his hair. "It's okay."
Gabby kept her lips against the top of his head, rubbing her thumb through his hair while her other hand rubbed over his back, Matt keeping a firm grip around her waist. A few tears escaped from her own eyes as she did what she could to comfort him, her heart dropping into her stomach as he continued shaking.
She had no idea who Micah was, or the woman he talked about, but right now, Matt was her only concern, and seeing him like this was one of the worst feelings in the world, Gabby doing what she could to keep it together for him. But she was having a hard time.
Not knowing what was going on was bad enough, but seeing him like this was worse, her usually strong and stoic husband crumbling right in front of her.
The sound of Sofia's cries filtered into the bathroom, Matt immediately pulling back from Gabby, panic covering his face as he heard her crying. "The baby." He breathed out frantically, pushing himself up and hurrying out of the room, confusion and worry filling Gabby's body as she followed after him.
"Matt, she's fine." Gabby told him, getting into the room just as he got to her bassinet, quickly picking Sofia up and cradling him against her. As she got closer, she could see how tense Matt was, like he was terrified at the fact that Sofia had been crying. "She's probably just hungry, babe." Gabby murmured, placing her hand on his back, Matt glancing towards her. In the dim room, she couldn't see much, but with the light flooding in from the bathroom, she could see the tear stains down his cheeks, his eyes red and puffy. "Let me see her." Gabby spoke, holding out her arms, her eyebrows furrowing when she saw the flash of hesitance in his gaze, Matt clearly nervous to let Sofia out of his grip. "It's okay." She assured him, Matt nodding slowly before handing a crying Sofia over to her mom.
"Yeah, you're just hungry, aren't you baby?" She murmured, cradling the little girl in her arms as she moved towards the glider in the corner, Sofia pushing her mouth against her chest, feeling Matt's eyes on them as she moved.
She didn't know what was causing Matt's odd behavior, how he seemed so panicked over every little thing with Sofia. He'd gotten nervous about Sofia when he first got home, and then this… She didn't know what was causing him to be so worried, but as she sat down and saw him sit down on the foot rest directly in front of her, she knew he didn't even want to let their baby out of his sight.
"You're sure she's okay?" Matt asked as he wiped under his eyes, Sofia still fussing as Gabby nodded, lifting her shirt and getting Sofia situated, the young girl eagerly latching onto her mom as soon as she could.
"Yeah… see? She's fine, just hungry." Gabby responded softly, knowing better than to try and question why he was so panicked right now. After what happened in the bathroom a few moments prior, she knew he was struggling, and she didn't want to make him feel any worse. If what he needed right now was to be close to her and their daughter, she wouldn't question it.
Matt gave her a slight nod, keeping his eyes on Sofia while she ate, the girl clutching onto her mom.
The family of three sat mostly in silence for the nearly forty minutes Sofia spent nursing, Matt's eyes either being focused on Sofia or Gabby the entire time, but he never said a word. He seemed a little more calm than he was when Sofia first started nursing, but he was still on edge, and Gabby wished she knew how to make him feel better.
Knowing they were in for a long rest of the night, she was hoping once Sofia got back to sleep, they'd have a chance to be able to talk again. And she hoped that Matt would actually be able to get the words out this time.
"She's almost asleep." Gabby murmured, breaking their silence as Matt looked back up to her. "Do you wanna change her, then maybe we can go out in the living room and talk?" She offered, Matt sucking in a deep breath before nodding, Gabby carefully pulling a tired Sofia away from her chest, Matt gently bringing her into his arms before carrying her over to the dresser.
Once she'd fixed her clothes, Gabby stood up from the chair, walking over towards him, standing beside him as he worked on changing Sofia's diaper, Matt focusing on his task as Gabby ran her hand up and down his back. Sofia had fallen asleep by the time she'd been placed down on the changing mat, and hadn't stirred a bit while her dad changed her diaper, Matt working quietly.
When he'd finished buttoning the last button on her onesie, Matt looked towards Gabby, his wife placing a soft kiss against the outside of his arm, her hand moving lightly across his lower back.
"Do you wanna finish changing?" Gabby asked, Matt glancing down to see he was still in his blue shift pants, giving her a slight nod before he began working on his belt, Gabby pulling out a pair of pajama pants for him from the dresser. After quickly getting changed, Matt carefully picked a sleeping Sofia up from her changing mat, the little girl settling into her dad's arms easily, nuzzling herself into the warmth his bare chest provided. "You ready to talk?" Gabby questioned softly, Matt looking up from his little girl, finding the compassionate eyes of his wife staring back at him, Matt giving her a soft nod. "Alright, I can grab the monitor if you wanna put her in her bed."
"Uh, actually-" His words stopped her movement towards the nightstand, Gabby glancing at him with raised eyebrows. "I'm gonna hold her for awhile, if that's alright."
"Of course, yeah." Gabby responded without hesitation. "That's a good idea." Matt nodded with a soft smile, the father turning towards the bedroom door, beginning the walk out to the living room, Gabby following close behind him. "I'm gonna make some tea, do you want some?" She asked, Matt giving her a soft nod before continuing towards the couch, Gabby walking into the kitchen.
When she came into the living room a few minutes later with two cups of tea in her hands, she saw Matt sitting on the couch, his body facing the middle as he cradled their sleeping baby against his chest, his focus on Sofia. Gabby quietly walked to the couch, sitting herself down beside him, her leg resting against his as he looked up at the movement. Silently, she held out the mug, Matt keeping Sofia secured to him with one arm, his other taking the drink from her.
"Thanks, baby."
"Mhmm." She hummed, Matt taking a long sip before placing it behind him on the end table, the hot liquid soothing his throat.
Gabby sat quietly, deciding to let Matt take the lead, knowing better than to try and push him. Trying to pry information out of him would get them nowhere fast, Gabby knowing it best to just let him open up when he was ready.
"Micah… He's a little boy." Matt finally spoke up after nearly ten minutes of silence, Gabby keeping her eyes on her husband while he focused on their daughter. "He was at that house with his mom, the guy with the gun- I don't even know his name, but when I got around to the side of the house, he was standing there, pointing the gun at them. Then when he saw me, he grabbed Micah and held the gun to his head…" A deep frown etched into her skin, Gabby taking a slow drink as she placed a comforting hand on his thigh. "Micah, he- he couldn't have been older than six. He's just a kid, he never should've been there." He breathed out in frustration, stroking his thumb across Sofia's cheek. Gabby could tell as they were sitting here that having Sofia in his arms was calming him, making it easier for him to relive the events of yesterday, Gabby trying to prepare herself for the worst. "You know...ever since Louie, and now with Sofia… I always try not to judge other parents' decisions. I know how hard raising a kid is… but this woman brought her son to buy drugs." He spoke roughly, Gabby shaking her head sadly. "She brought her son to a damn crack house, she had to have known how dangerous it was, yet she willingly took him there. And him being there-" Matt cut himself off, shaking his head angrily. "He ended up having to watch his mother die, and then he got shot."
Gabby's eyes fell closed, her heart tightening in her chest as she got a clearer understanding of what all Matt had witnessed yesterday, and it absolutely broke her heart.
"He killed Micah's mom?" Gabby asked softly, Matt looking up from Sofia for the first time, giving her a slow nod.
"I was trying to talk to this man, to get him to let Micah go… and it's like she panicked. She took off down the alley, and the guy just turned around and shot her in the back of the head like it was nothing." Gabby grimaced, her tongue poking out between her teeth as Matt looked back to Sofia. "She was just gonna leave her son there… She had no idea what her running meant for her son, that guy could've just immediately killed Micah instead, she had no way to know, yet she just took off… I mean, obviously taking your kid to a crack house isn't really gonna win you any parent of the year awards, and I could tell the second I saw her she was strung out, but that's her kid… That was her kid and she just left him there." Gabby let him get this all off his chest, knowing that best thing she could do for right now was just let him talk. "And then once he shot her, that's when he really turned on Micah… And that boy, he was so scared, Gabby. He had no idea what was going on, he just knew something bad was happening. And I was trying to get him to focus on me, I really was, but that was just pissing the guy off and Micah was getting more and more scared, so I went back to trying to get him to let him go. And, at first, I thought it worked…" Matt spoke softly, shaking his head as the flashes of Micah getting shot played in his mind. "The guy let him go…" Gabby's eyebrows raised as those words left his lips, her immediate reaction being one of relief, until she remembered that Micah had been shot, and that there was still more to this horrifying story. "But he had no intention of actually letting him go, he only did it to shoot him." He spoke, shaking his head as he clenched his eyes shut, fresh tears filling Gabby's eyes. "He let go of him just to shoot him in the back… Micah was almost to me, then that guy just raised his gun and shot him."
"Oh my God…" Gabby breathed out, blinking quickly to try and keep her tears from falling.
"As soon as he shot him, I tried to help him, that's how I got shot." Matt told her, Gabby's breath catching her throat, those words never getting any easier to hear. "He was mad that I wasn't listening, and that I was trying to help Micah, and he was trying to get me off of him, I don't think he actually meant to shoot me then, but he did. And then, uh…" He trailed off, Gabby's head tilting to the side as Matt hesitated. "He… He kept talking about how he was going to kill me." Gabby's entire body went rigid, her ears ringing as she tried to keep listening to him, but the intense pressure rising within her chest made it difficult. "He had the gun to my forehead, and I was trying to get him to stop, I told him not to kill me, to not do that to you guys, and he just- he started saying all these things about you and about Sofia and I just- I got so angry… told him I'd kill him if he ever did anything to you all, but that just pissed him off even more…"
"Matt…" She spoke, shaking her head as she tried to digest everything she'd just been told, Matt looking up to find her eyes shining back at him, fresh tears just waiting to fall.
"I know it was stupid… Me going over there without police backup at all was stupid, threatening his was stupid, but I just- I saw that kid, and all I could think about what if this had been Sofia." He spoke, Gabby's jaw trembling as she pressed her lips together. "I'd want whoever was in my position to try and do whatever they could to help her, and that's all I could think about when I saw Micah… He was just a kid who needed someone to protect him, and I tried. I didn't know what else to do but I tried to help him, and I couldn't."
"...Do you know how he's doing?" She asked hesitantly, Matt looking up to her for a second. "Micah?" He shook his head, refocusing his attention on Sofia.
"No, I don't. I kept trying to get an update yesterday, but no one could tell me anything… or they wouldn't tell me anything. All I know is he got shot in the back, and that he was alive when the paramedics took him to the hospital, but I don't know what happened after that, I don't know if he made it." He replied defeatedly. "I know there's no way to know what would've happened had I just stayed back, but I can't help but feel like I made everything worse…"
"You just did what you thought was best, baby." Gabby murmured, wiping the tears from under her eyes. "Honestly, I probably would've done the same thing… After Louie, calls with kids were always different.. I saw him in each kid we helped, and I know it'll be the same thing with Sofia now. You were just doing what you thought was best, you're not stupid for that."
"But I should've thought of Sofia, and you… I never should've gone near him when I saw that gun. I know our jobs, I know the risk, but that? That wasn't a fire, that was a man holding a weapon and I just willingly put myself in danger-"
"You were trying to help a family." She cut in, Matt taking a deep breath. "Do I love that you jumped in before really thinking it through, no. As your wife, I don't… But I know you were just trying to get that mom and her son out of there. You were thinking as a father, and I can't say I blame you, because I would've done the same thing." She spoke as firmly as she could, squeezing his leg softly. "All that matters is that you got out of there. You tried to help, and I'm so sorry you had to witness that, I am… But you're still alive, and as your wife and the mother of your child, I'm telling you, you've gotta hold onto that."
"But I shouldn't be alive." He replied as soon as she finished, her entire body tensing, Gabby immediately shaking her head.
"Don't say that." She responded quickly, her voice unsteady as she blinked furiously.
"No, no, that's not what I meant." He spoke, his eyes falling closed as Gabby kept her teary gaze on him. "I just mean-" He swallowed the lump in his throat as he opened his eyes, being met by the sight of his daughter still fast asleep in his arms, her cheek pressed into his chest, her arms curled against him. "...He was going to kill me. He tried to kill me." The words left his lips softly, Gabby's bottom lip quivering as tears slid down her cheeks. "He told me he was going to kill me while he had the gun pressed against my head, and then he pulled the trigger." Gabby's eyes fell closed, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she willed herself to stay calm. "The gun jammed, and that's the only reason I'm not dead right now."
Matt lifted his head up, a frown forming over his face when he saw Gabby's hands shaking slightly, her hand cradling the side of her head as she looked down at her lap. "Gabby…"
She slowly lifted her head up, Matt's frown deepening when he saw the fresh tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"No, no, don't apologize." She cut him off, sniffling as she wiped away her tears, shaking her head slightly. "I want you to talk to me, it's alright." She assured him, placing her hand back on his leg, squeezing it gently. "...So, um, what happened after that." She encouraged him, Matt pursing his lips together, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"The police showed up, he panicked and hit me in the head with the gun, then he, uh… he-"
"He what?" Gabby questioned, sliding her hand up and down his thigh, Matt running his teeth over his bottom lip, unsure of whether he should tell her about how the man had threatened him right before he ran. He didn't want to lie to her, but with how upset she already was about everything, he wasn't sure if it was something he should tell her right now.
As he met her eyes, and he saw the fresh tears sitting in them, he knew the answer.
He'd tell her.
But not right now.
"He, uh, he ran. The police went after him." He spoke, Gabby nodding slowly.
"Did they catch him?" She asked, Matt blowing out a breath before shaking his head.
"Last I heard, he'd gotten away."
Gabby shook her head, rubbing her hand across her forehead as she took a few deep breaths. "I'm gonna call Antonio in the morning, let him know what's going on." She murmured.
"If you want to, but I'm not sure if there's anything he can do." Matt responded softly, returning his gaze to Sofia when he felt his nerves begin to rise again.
"I at least want him to know… You said he threatened to do something to me and Sofia," She spoke, swallowing the lump in her throat as Matt tensed up. "It would at least make me feel better if he knew…"
"Then you should call him." Matt responded softly, leaning down to press a kiss to Sofia's forehead, Gabby watching him closely. "Let him know what's going on."
Her eyebrows furrowed as his voice sounded a little shaky, Gabby trying to steady herself as she kept her eyes on her husband, seeing him keeping his head close to Sofia, the little girl sleeping through her father's actions.
"Baby…" Gabby spoke carefully, Matt blinking tightly, clearing his throat as he slowly lifted his head. "What's going on in there?" She asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.
For as shocked and upset as she was right now, she knew she had to push that aside. She had to be strong for Matt, he needed her to be here for him. After everything he went through, she could deal with her own feelings about it later, right now she just needed to help him through it, as much as she could.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just-" He choked out a breath, shaking his head, "sitting here with her, with you... I keep thinking about how I almost lost this." His words were short and choppy, Gabby blinking quickly as Matt looked back to Sofia. "I almost lost my family… I thought I was gonna die. I should have died, but I didn't, and I don't-" He was having a hard time finishing any of his thoughts, Matt biting down on the inside of his cheek as his jaw trembled, Gabby reaching out to place both of her hands on his leg. "When I was sitting there on the ground with that gun to my head, I thought… I kept thinking about our phone call, just before I got called out. I kept thinking about how that was gonna be the last time I ever saw you, and Sofia…" A few stray tears escaped down his cheeks, Gabby unable to stop hers as well as Matt shook his head. "I thought I was never gonna see my family again… that I was gonna leave you two behind, and that made me so angry." He admitted, Gabby's tears falling freely as Matt stroked Sofia's arm. "And I was so scared… I was scared to die."
"That's okay, baby." She murmured, Matt shaking his head.
"I wasn't scared of dying… I was scared of dying because I didn't want to leave you and Sofia." He explained, Gabby's breath catching her in her throat. "All I could think about was how I wouldn't be here to see Sofia grow up, and how I'd be leaving you to raise her alone… That made me so angry, and it terrified me... And I'd never felt that way when I've had close calls before, I've never felt scared like that and it just- I'm not used to this, I don't know how to handle it." He breathed out vulnerably, blinking furiously as he continued on, his thoughts all over the place. "When I thought I was dying in that warehouse fire a few years ago, I wasn't scared," He spoke, Gabby's body tensing at the memory, her body's involuntary response still surprising her even after all this time, "I was devastated at the thought of leaving you, but I wasn't scared. I had my chance to say goodbye, and as awful as that entire thing was, I knew I'd told you everything you needed to hear, and I knew you'd be okay." He choked out, Gabby's eyes falling closed. "But this… It was like one moment everything was fine, and then the next I had a gun to my head and I was about to die. I'd be leaving you and Sofia, and I didn't want to… I just wanted one more moment with my family, but I thought I'd never get that again."
"But you will." She replied shakily, Matt looking up at her. "You are right now, and we'll have a million more moments together, all three of us." He nodded slowly, Gabby lifting her hand up to cradle the side of his face, stroking her thumb along his cheek, their teary eyes locking on one another. "I can't even begin to imagine how terrifying that was, but it's okay that you were scared, you had every reason to be… But you're alive, baby."
"But I don't know why." He cut in quickly, choking on his own breath as fresh tears flooded her eyes. "I shouldn't be alive right now, I don't understand why I am."
"But you are." She replied forcefully, Matt sniffling softly. "I don't know what happened, I don't know what caused the gun to jam in the moment and why you're sitting here with me and Sof right now, but I don't care." She spoke roughly, shaking her head. "I don't care what caused it, because it's the only reason you're here with us right now. And that's more than enough for me." She said, Matt letting her words sink in as he took a slow, deep breath. "You'll probably never know what happened or why it happened, but baby all that matters is that you're alright. You came home to me, and to Sofia. Whatever happened, I'll thank God for it every day because it means you're still here." Her tears continued to flow freely down her cheeks, Matt nodding as he focused on the feeling of her thumb moving over his skin, his heart pounding in his chest as hundreds of different thoughts swarmed his mind.
"I know you're right, I do, I just… I don't know how to get past this, Gabby." He admitted, his voice showing how lost he felt. "I don't know what to do."
"I know, but it's gonna be okay, alright? We're gonna get you through this, baby. I promise. You and me." He nodded against her hand, leaning into her touch as the couple sat on the couch, quiet tears still running down their cheeks as they fell into a heavy silence, both of them knowing just how close they came to losing each other.
To losing everything.
Gabby stepped out of the shower, releasing a heavy sigh as she reached for her towel, slowly beginning the process of drying herself off before she wrapped the material around her body, tying it against her chest. It felt like she was moving on autopilot, Gabby stretching out her tired limbs as she walked towards the counter, beginning her process of getting ready for the day.
It had been a long night in the Casey household, and Gabby was definitely feeling the effects of it. After their talk last night, it ended up being almost four in the morning before her and Matt got into bed, Sofia haven woken up crying while they were still in the living room, delaying their sleep. They weren't sure what had caused Sofia to wake up; she wasn't hungry, and she didn't need to be changed, but she had been inconsolable for nearly half an hour, something that hadn't helped Matt's current mental state. His worry was already on overdrive, but with Sofia crying for no apparent reason, that had nearly pushed him over the edge, Matt refusing to let go of her until she calmed down.
Luckily, after almost an hour, Sofia was lulled back asleep, Gabby having to start the process of trying to get Matt to bed. He didn't want to sleep, he just wanted to keep holding onto Sofia while she slept, claiming how he 'needed to keep her safe'. She knew what had happened with Micah is what caused his overbearing state, and left him with a sense of helplessness that he was projecting on Sofia.
And she knew it would be hard for him to let go of that.
But eventually, she'd managed to coax him to bed, Gabby having moved Sofia's bassinet to Matt's side of the bed, knowing he'd feel better being closer to her. By the time she finally got him into bed, it was practically morning, but she needed him to get as much sleep as he could, if possible. She'd turned off all their alarms, made sure all the blinds were closed, and silenced their phones, not wanting to risk anything disturbing their rest once they finally fell asleep.
But, regardless of her efforts, their sleep didn't last very long at all.
Gabby had waited until he fell asleep to let herself succumb to her exhaustion, but it felt like she'd only been asleep for five minutes when she was woken up by Matt nearly shaking beside her. The second she woke up, she knew he was having a nightmare, Gabby quickly waking him up to pull him from whatever was terrorizing his mind.
When he finally woke up, he had nearly jumped out of bed, his entire body trembling as he immediately went searching for Sofia, Matt asking for her frantically, unable to calm himself back down until he laid eyes on his baby.
The entire thing was alarming, to both Matt and Gabby, and, in that moment, she knew they wouldn't be getting much rest the remainder of the night.
Matt tried, as did Gabby, but he was shaken, and every time he would fall asleep, it wouldn't take long for him to wake back up. He would hold onto her with a near death grip, Gabby doing what she could to comfort him and assure him they were all fine, but she knew she wasn't helping much. Because each time she'd managed to get him to sleep, he'd wake back up within minutes, unable to keep his eyes closed for very long. And every time he woke up, so did Gabby.
And it hadn't helped that Sofia was having a rough night, as well.
Gabby wasn't sure if Sofia could sense the anxiety in the home, but their baby had one of the hardest nights she'd had in a long time, the girl practically awake from five in the morning, until now. If Gabby didn't know any better, she'd say her daughter was having nightmares, Sofia's actions almost mimicking her father's as both of them struggled to fall asleep, and then stay asleep.
It had been a long night and early morning for all three of them, and when it finally hit eight, Gabby gave up on trying to get any rest. Matt had moved to the glider in the corner with Sofia after the baby woke up again screaming, and he had been in the position for over an hour by the time Gabby got out of bed. While Sofia had been in her husband's care, Gabby had tried to get some more rest, but it proved useless, the mom unable to sleep knowing both Matt and their baby were having a hard time.
After dragging her exhausted body from bed, Gabby saw Matt still sitting in the glider, his eyes locked on Sofia while their baby, finally, seemed to be getting some sleep. He hadn't even registered her movements, not until Gabby had gotten closer, checking on both of them before she decided to go take a shower, hoping it would wake her up a little.
But it hadn't done nearly as much as she was hoping for, and she knew it was going to be a long day. One that would be hard for all three of them to get through.
With her towel wrapped around her, Gabby exited the bathroom, finding Matt exactly where she'd left him and Sofia, seeing him still wide awake while Sofia seemingly slept peacefully, Gabby thankful that at least one of them was getting some rest.
"Hi." She murmured, Matt's head snapping up towards his wife, her husband's tired eyes shining back at her.
"Hey." He responded, giving her a weak smile before looking back to Sofia.
"How is she?" Gabby asked, taking closer steps towards her family.
"Better, I think. She hasn't woken up again." He told her, stroking his thumb gently over Sofia's cheek, the baby cuddled into his warm chest.
"Well, she just needed her Daddy." Gabby spoke softly, her words bringing a soft grin to his face, Matt slowly rocking the baby back and forth. "...And how are you?"
"I-" He cut himself off, trying to think of how to answer her, Matt knowing it was useless to lie. "I don't know... I'm trying."
"I know you are." She murmured, stroking her fingers through his hair, feeling him lean into her.
"I'm sorry I kept you up all night… I should've taken Sof out into the living room."
"No." She replied, getting him to look up at her. "I told you, I'm here to help you through this, whatever that means. It's fine… It'll be okay. You'll be okay." She assured him, leaning down to press a gentle, lingering kiss to his forehead. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He replied, Gabby pressing another kiss against his skin before she pulled back.
"Do you want some coffee? I can make you some…" She offered, Matt giving her a slow nod. "Alright, I'll be back in a few minutes." She told him, stroking along his cheek before dropping her hand, making sure the towel was secure to her body before she moved towards the door, stopping by the nightstand to grab her phone before leaving the room.
As she got his coffee started, she was lost deep in thought, Gabby racking her brain, trying to come up with anything she could do to try and help him. But she wasn't sure how. She knew this was something that only time could help him get past, but she couldn't help but feel helpless, wishing there was at least something she could do to help her struggling husband.
But as she stood in the kitchen scrolling through her phone, a sudden thought occurred to her, Gabby going to her contacts as she searched for one name in particular. When she found it, she immediately clicked on the name, stepping away from the counter and moving towards the living room, not stopping until she got to the entryway of their apartment, not wanting Matt to possibly overhear her.
"Dawson?"
"Hi Maggie, I'm sorry to bother you, are you at work?" She asked, crossing her arm over her chest, pacing back and forth by their front door.
"Yeah, I am. How's Casey doing? He seemed kind of out of it yesterday." Gabby could hear the worry in the woman's voice, Dawson taking a deep breath before responding.
"He's uh-... he's having a hard time." She spoke, hearing Maggie sigh softly.
"Yeah, I was afraid of that… When I heard about what happened, I was shocked. It's awful, what he went through."
"Yeah, it was… That's kind of why I'm calling, actually." Gabby prefaced, wetting her lips before continuing. "I was wondering if you had any update on the boy, Micah? Matt's really worried, and I was hoping you'd have some good news I could give him…"
"Normally, I'm not supposed to share patient information, you know that… But let me pull up his chart, see what's going on."
"You're an angel, Maggie."
"Spread that around, would ya?" She spoke lightly, Gabby chuckling softly as she waited for Maggie to continue. "Alright, Micah Williams… looks like he's stable. He had surgery to remove the bullet, it just missed his spine, but he's been doing alright, considering."
"That's great." Gabby breathed out, a smile forming over her face. "Does he… Does he have any family?"
"His father, he got in late last night… Him and his mom had split, and his mom only had partial custody, although I'm not sure how with her drug problem, but he'll be going home with his dad once he recovers… He seems like a good man."
"Good, that's good." She murmured, pursing her lips together. "Would we- would it be possible for Matt and I to come visit? I think it would help Matt, to see that he's okay."
"I have no problem with it… As long his dad doesn't mind, but Micah has been asking about Matt, so I don't see it being an issue."
"Alright. Thank you Maggie."
"Of course. Bye Dawson."
After a quick goodbye, Gabby hung up the phone, releasing a soft breath as she began walking back through the apartment, catching a glimpse of Matt and Sofia still sitting in the chair, her husband completely unaware of anything other than their baby. Continuing into the kitchen, Gabby fixed him a cup of coffee, preparing it exactly how he liked it before padding her way back into the bedroom, Matt looking up when he noticed her presence.
"Thank you." He murmured, Gabby nodding as she handed the mug over, sitting down on the footrest in front of the chair, Matt taking a sip before sitting it down on the table, moving slow as to not jostle Sofia awake. "Who were you on the phone with?" He asked, Gabby raising her eyebrows. "I heard you talking." He explained, Gabby nodding slowly as she ran her hands over her bare arms.
"...I was talking to Maggie." She told him, Matt lifting his head sharply, Gabby seeing a look of hopefulness mixed with worry shining back at her. "I called to see about Micah."
Matt nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat before he spoke up. "Is he-... Is he alright?"
"He's fine." Gabby saw the immediate relief that flooded his body, Matt releasing a heavy breath as he looked back down at Sofia, grabbing a hold of her hand with his index finger and his thumb. "He's stable, he's awake. Maggie said the bullet missed his spine, and he should fully recover. Said his dad's been with him."
"Thank God." Matt breathed out, leaning down to rest his cheek against Sofia's forehead, needing to feel close to his daughter.
"...I thought about maybe us going to visit him," Matt's ears perked up, Gabby watching her husband lift up his head, his eyes wide. "She said Micah's been asking about you, too." A soft smile formed across his face, Gabby matching his look. "Would you wanna go see him?" She couldn't even finish her sentence before Matt started nodding, wiping under his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I do." He replied eagerly, Gabby resting her hand on his leg.
"Alright, well once Sof wakes up, we'll head over there, that sound okay?" He nodded quickly again, Gabby rubbing along his thigh.
"Thank you." He murmured, Gabby smiling softly before leaning forward, placing a gentle kiss against his lips. "I appreciate you calling.
"Anything for you, baby." She whispered, kissing him again before pulling back, Gabby getting up to get ready for their day.
Matt and Gabby stepped out of the elevator, walking hand in hand as Matt held onto Sofia's car seat with his other, their baby girl looking around the unfamiliar environment with wide eyes. After her restless night of sleep, they were a little surprised she'd survived the car ride without falling asleep, but they knew she probably wouldn't last much longer.
"What room is it again?" Matt asked, his grip on her hand tightening as they moved down the hallway.
"1409." Gabby responded, earning a nod from her husband as they followed the signs towards Micah's room. "Maggie spoke with his dad, he said it was fine if we just came in."
"Alright." He replied, his steps slowing down when they got closer to the room, Gabby matching his pace. They were only a few more steps away from the room, Gabby glancing from Matt to the door, seeing the small boy resting in his bed, talking with who she assumed to be his dad.
"You okay?" Gabby asked when he'd stopped completely, turning to see Matt staring at the young boy, his face blank.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." He assured her, giving her hand another tight squeeze before dropping it, Matt moving to his door.
When he slowly slid it open, the noise caught both Micah's and his father's attention, the little boy's eyes widening excitedly when he saw who entered his room.
"Matt!" He spoke with a wide smile, Matt grinning softly as he stepped further into the room, Gabby coming in behind him, sliding the door closed. Even from behind him, she could tell Matt was already in better spirits just from seeing the young boy.
"Hey buddy." He replied, coming towards the end of his bed, placing Sofia's car seat on the ground. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay." He responded, his happy eyes bouncing between Matt and Gabby. "I was scared yesterday, but Daddy's here now and I'm okay!" He spoke innocently, Gabby smiling softly as she placed her hand on Matt's lower back over his jacket, rubbing her palm in comforting movements.
"That's great, little man. I'm so glad you're okay." He spoke, blinking back the tears sitting in his eyes, feeling himself relax more and more when he saw Micah was truly alright.
Micah's dad pushed himself up from his chair, walking towards the couple as he stopped by Gabby's side.
"Who's this?" Micah asked loudly, looking between him and Gabby.
"This is my wife, Gabby. And we brought our little girl, Sofia."
"Hi Gabby!" He replied, Gabby's smile widening.
"Hi Micah, it's nice to meet you." She spoke warmly, the little boy blushing as he moved his attention back to Matt, Casey having crouched down to remove Sofia from her carseat. "You wanna meet Sofia?" Gabby asked, the little boy nodding excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah I know you were comfortable." Matt murmured as he worked on unbuckling the baby, Sofia fussing at being moved. "You're okay, we've got someone I want you to meet."
"I'm uh- My name's Josh, I'm Micah's dad." The man finally greeted when there was a break in the conversation, Gabby glancing towards him with a soft smile.
"It's nice to meet you." She replied, rubbing her hand along Matt's shoulder before he stood up, holding Sofia in his arms.
"She's so little…" Micah spoke, almost amazed by the sight of such a small person as Matt walked around beside him, sitting down on the edge of his bed, Gabby and Josh watching on.
"Yeah, she is… You wanna hold her?" Matt offered, Micah's eyes widening excitedly before he began nodding.
"Yeah, yeah. Can I Daddy?" He asked, Josh glancing to Gabby, who gave him a nod.
"Of course, buddy, just be careful and listen to Matt, alright?" Micah nodded in agreement before returning his attention to the baby, Matt showing him how to place his arms on the bed before he put Sofia down in his lap. He wasn't really holding her so much as it was Sofia resting on the bed while Matt kept her head supported, but Micah was completely thrilled to be holding the baby, Sofia waving her arms around.
"She's so cute." He spoke lightly, Matt grinning as he watched Micah and his daughter.
"Thank you guys, for coming to see him." Josh said softly, his words gaining Gabby's attention as she peeled her eyes from the adorable sight in front of her. "Micah kept talking about Matt, but I didn't know what to tell him… Then when Maggie came and said you all were wanting to come visit, he was so excited."
"Oh, we're happy to. Honestly, Matt needed to see him, to see that he was okay." She spoke quietly, Josh nodding sadly.
"Yeah, the police told me what all happened… I still can't believe this happened, I don't know what my ex was thinking taking him there, I just-" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I'm just glad he's okay. I don't know what I would've done had something happened to him." He finished, Gabby nodding sympathetically.
"I am, too… When Matt told me what happened, I almost couldn't believe it. I am sorry for what happened to his mother, but at least Micah will be okay." She told him, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
"He's okay because of your husband." Josh breathed out, Gabby's hand falling back down to her side as she glanced to Matt, seeing him and Micah talking while Sofia played with the young boy's hand. "Micah's just kept saying how 'firefighter Matt' saved him, and I… I can never thank him enough for that. Your husband… he's the reason my son is alive, and I don't even know what to say to tell you all how thankful I am for that."
"You don't need to say anything." Gabby spoke softly, smiling as she saw the grin across Matt's face. "Matt would do it again if he needed to, you don't need to thank him. All that matters is that your son will be fine."
"And that your husband is alright." Josh added, Gabby glancing towards him. "I overheard the nurses, they said he got shot."
"...He did." Gabby responded, pursing his lips together. "He was trying to help Micah and the guy shot him, but he's alright. It could've been a lot worse."
"Luckily, they both will be fine… I had no idea he had a daughter, or that he was married when I first heard about the guy who saved my son… Honestly, I still can't believe he did what he did at all, jumping in like that to try and save my son, but now knowing that he had a little girl at home, and you… I don't know how he did that."
"That's just who Matt is." Gabby spoke softly, her tongue running over his bottom lip.
"Well, your husband is an amazing man."
"Yeah… he really is." She spoke with a soft smile, her eyes moving back towards her husband, feeling her chest fill with warmth as she watched him laugh with the young boy.
She wasn't sure how much longer they should stay, or how much longer Sofia would be able to stay awake, but for right now, she just wanted this moment to last as long as it possibly could. Matt needed this, he needed this time with Micah to see that the little boy was fine, and that he'd stay that way. And, from what she could tell, Micah needed this, too.
And she had no problems with staying as long as her husband wanted to, Matt's relaxed demeanor giving her hope and a belief that he'd be okay. That, with time, they would all be okay, and be able to move on from this horrific thing they'd gone through.
And there's another one. Matt opened up to Gabby about what happened, but he did leave out a little tiny detail about the man who tried to kill him, so… we'll see if anything happens there. Luckily, little Micah is okay and him and Matt got to spend some time together, which they both needed. Hopefully, this help Matt start to feel a little better and try and move past what happened.
I hope you all enjoyed this one. I'm sorry for the delay with this chapter, I didn't mean for it to take this long to get it posted, but I hope it was worth the wait. Thank you all so much for reading, I can't wait to hear what you think.
Until next time.