Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well, and having a great Monday so far. Here's the next chapter for you guys, I hope you all like it!

Before we start, I've gotten a few questions about my other stories, and I do want you to know that I am trying to work on both of them- the next update for If We Never Say Goodbye especially, because I know it's been so long since I've updated that story. But I haven't forgotten about either of them, I promise, I'm just trying to find time to work on them with everything else going on. You all have been so kind and understanding about my lack of updates, and I really do appreciate it. But I do want you to know that I'm trying to get them done.

Well, that's all I have. I hope you all have a great week, and hopefully you enjoy this one. I'm eager to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading! I'll see you next time.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Three

"You still feel okay?"

Gabby looked up from the ground in front of her when she heard her husband's voice, her steps slowing slightly as they moved down the familiar hallway towards her room, a soft smile forming over her face before she nodded.

"Yeah, I'm good." She replied with a gentle nod, Matt's eyes tracing over her face before he returned the gesture. But neither parent had a chance to say much else as the little body in between them spoke up, Caitlyn gripping her mom's hand tighter as they kept moving.

"Mommy, are you sure?" Her tiny voice said, Gabby not missing the hint of disbelief in her tone, which the mother knew to be something she'd picked up from her father, as Caitlyn's big brown eyes looked up at her. Over the last couple weeks, every time Matt would ask her how she was feeling, it was always accompanied by that second question, one Caitlyn clearly had caught on to as now she'd asked her mom that before Matt could.

Looking up from her daughter for a split second, Gabby glanced towards Matt once more, seeing nothing but a proud smirk resting across his face while he held their youngest daughter in his arms.

"Yeah Momma, are you sure?" He repeated Caitlyn's question, the bit of teasing in his words not going unnoticed by Dawson as she shot him a playful glare, before she returned her softened gaze to her five year old.

"I'm sure, baby… I feel okay." She reassured her, Caitlyn pausing for a moment before she responded with a bright grin, the child gripping onto her mom's hand tighter as they continued walking.

"Good! Cause you're walking so good, Mommy." Caitlyn continued on, her supportive words causing both of her parents to smile while the young girl led them slowly down the hallway.

This was something that had become a routine of sorts for the family, ever since Gabby was allowed to be up and around. She would take a lot of walks, as not only did Dr. Jennings want her moving whenever she felt up for it, but she was going stir crazy sitting inside that hospital room. So any opportunity she had, she jumped at the chance. But while at first these walks were something only Matt and Gabby would typically do, soon enough they became a family affair, as Caitlyn wanted to be involved as well.

At the time, neither parent was quite sure why their girl was so adamant about joining them, but whatever the reason, Caitlyn wanted to be involved in Gabby's daily walks. So they'd started making sure to do one whenever the girls would come by after Caity got out of school, as both Matt and Gabby had the feeling that the five year old just wanted to be included as to make sure her mom was okay. So they happily brought her along with them, along with Sofia, as the baby was just content to be wherever her parents were. And with the four of them together, they had definitely made this task all the more enjoyable, especially considering Caitlyn had become her own personal cheerleader.

Just as she had done seconds prior, Caitlyn was always the first one to give Gabby that extra bit of encouragement whenever they'd go on these walks, even if they weren't the most difficult thing in the world. But for Gabby, it meant everything, as it was just another reminder of how sweet and caring her and Matt's eldest daughter could be. Even though the parents knew Caitlyn didn't really understand the importance behind Gabby getting up and moving around as much as she could, that didn't stop Caitlyn from cheering her on. Like Gabby's simple steps were the most impressive thing in the world, as the attentive little girl had picked up on Matt's constant praise of any of Gabby's accomplishments, and started repeating that behavior.

Like with most things, it was something she'd gotten from her dad, as Matt hadn't shied away from giving Gabby constant encouragement this entire time. And Caitlyn was now the exact same way, the small girl just wanting to do anything she could to help. Which, admittedly was working, as the motivation from her family made Gabby all the more determined to get out of this hospital as soon as she could.

"Yeah, you really are, Gabby." Matt echoed his daughter's words, the husband and wife sharing a soft smile before they rounded the corner that led down to Gabby's room. And as they got closer, Dawson was definitely grateful that the end was in sight, as she was feeling this walk a bit more than she had with the others.

Today was the farthest they had gone so far, the family of four venturing all the way to the other end of the floor, before lapping their way back. And while it was good exercise, and Gabby was proud of herself for doing it, her body was definitely feeling it a bit now, as she was suddenly eager to get back to her room and get a little break.

And it was something Matt had certainly noticed, as her steps had slowed down quite a bit. But he didn't comment on it, as he could tell from her body language that she was fine, just tired, and the last thing he wanted was to say or do anything that might second guess her progress. Though, along with that, the other reason he stayed quiet was because of the little person in between them, Matt knowing just how important it was to Gabby that Caitlyn knew she was getting better. And he didn't want to give their daughter any reason to doubt that, either.

So he stayed quiet, Matt keeping a close eye on her knowing he could intervene if needed, if it looked like she was pushing herself too far. But as of now, she was fine, so they continued on towards her room while Caitlyn held onto both their hands.

As they got closer, Matt saw Severide take a few steps out in the hallway from the room, their friend standing there with his arms over his chest as he eyed the family heading his way.

"There you all are, I was about to send out a search party." He spoke once they were close enough to hear them, Matt scoffing lightly before he set his baby down on the ground, Sofia immediately taking off towards her godfather. Her little feet got her there quickly, as they were only a few yards away from one another, Kelly bending down to pick her up just as she finished waddling her way towards him. "Yeah, there's my big girl, hi Sof." He greeted the baby as he settled her on his hip, his hand resting over her stomach as she began grabbing at his face.

Matt and Gabby watched on at the adorable scene in front of them while Caitlyn stayed by their side, the five year old wanting to stay with her mom as they all came to a stop just outside Gabby's door. And while Severide and Sofia together were very cute, after Kelly blew her a few kisses he turned his attention back towards his friends, a smug grin forming over his face as he looked between them.

"...Well, seeing as how you were gone for a while, but I'm pretty sure Sof moves faster than you, Dawson." Kelly continued jokingly, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly before she took a small step through the doorway, Caitlyn never letting go of her hand as they walked into the room.

"You're hilarious, Severide." She called back, Matt staying out in the hallway beside his friend with an equally unimpressed look on his face, the proud gleam in Kelly's eyes not going unnoticed by Casey.

"Sev…"

"What? You gotta admit, it's funny." He defended himself, Matt scoffing lightly before turning to walk into her room, Kelly following close behind as both men saw Gabby slowly sitting down on her bed.

"How'd the walk go, sis?" Antonio asked from his spot across the room, her brother having been there more often than not as of late, as the older Dawson spent as much of his free time as he could here at the hospital with his baby sister. "You all were gone for a long time."

"Yeah, we decided to lap around the floor." She replied after a beat of silence, none of the adults in the room missing how she was certainly a little out of breath. But with the soft grin on her face they could tell she was in good spirits, Matt's eyes moving towards Caitlyn when he saw her trying to pull herself up on the bed, the five year old clearly not content just standing next to Gabby as she wanted to be closer to her.

Knowing Gabby wasn't able to help, as she still had some strict limitations about lifting anything, Casey quickly stepped in and moved the few feet towards the bed, the father gently lifting Caitlyn up onto the bed and helping her get situated beside her mom before returning to his usual seat next to them.

"Wow, the whole floor?" Antonio asked, clearly impressed as he knew how big of an accomplishment that was, Gabby giving him a bright nod before wrapping her arm around Caitlyn's back.

Her movements were slow, Gabby knowing she still had to take it easy as this was the arm where she'd not only seriously hurt her collarbone and shoulder, but where she'd dislocated her elbow. And while those injuries were mostly healed, she still needed to be careful.

But that wasn't going to stop her from holding onto her daughter, as Gabby brought her hand to rest over Caitlyn's hip while the little girl leaned into her side, the child's hand resting gently on her mom's leg as they sat together.

"Yeah, the whole floor… Even walked around the nurses station twice." Gabby replied, Matt nodding in agreement as a proud look shined in his eyes.

"Damn Gabs." The older brother huffed out lightly, Gabby's smile growing just as she met her husband's gaze

"Yeah, she did great." Casey repeated, Antonio nodding while Severide moved to sit in the vacant seat next to him with baby Sofia still in his arms. "Even though Rachel was trying to get her to slow down every time we saw her." He added, Matt speaking of Gabby's nurse as they'd seen the woman a few times during their walk.

"I wasn't going that fast." Gabby defended herself, Matt's smile widening as the two shared a look for a moment, before Casey glanced back at his brother-in-law.

"Rachel seemed to think so." Matt continued to tease, Gabby shooting him a playful glare even though he couldn't see it, while Antonio shook his head in amusement.

"Yeah, that sounds like Gabby… But really, I'm glad you were able to do that. That's definitely the most walking you've done."

"By far." Matt added proudly, his head turning back to Gabby. "But she did great."

"Mommy did great." Caitlyn echoed, the young girl's enthusiastic voice earning a few laughs from around the room as she had clearly been listening to their conversation, Caitlyn picking up on parts of what had been said as Gabby gave her side a gentle squeeze. "She walked so good. I heard Daddy say she needed to do lots of walking, and she did!" She added on happily, Caitlyn encouraging her mom as Gabby leaned down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head.

"Yeah, she did." Antonio replied easily, Caitlyn nodding with a wide grin across her face, before returning to Gabby's side as she rested her head against her mom's chest. "Even though apparently Sofia walks faster than you."

A sheepish grin covered Severide's face as all eyes in the room were suddenly on him, Sofia still sitting comfortably in his lap as she was currently distracted by her godfather's jacket, her one hand pulling on the material while the other was balled up into a fist and shoved into her mouth. But while Sofia was unaware of the attention on her, Kelly surely wasn't as he looked around between his friends.

"...You heard that, huh?"

"Yeah, I did… You probably weren't wrong, though." Antonio added with a smirk, Gabby glaring between her brother, and the man who practically was her brother, as a displeased scoff left her lips.

"You're just as bad as him, Tonio." Gabby replied while Antonio and Kelly shared proud grins, Matt shaking his head as he knew better than to join in on the teasing. Though, while he'd never say it, they both had a point.

"We're just messing around, sis." Antonio replied, though that smile never left his face as Gabby was unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes, Matt's own grin widening as he couldn't help but soak in this moment of normalcy. They were few and far between as of late, as things could only feel so normal while Gabby was practically living in this hospital, so he cherished them whenever he could.

"Mhmm, I'm sure." She replied back lightly, the disbelieving tone in her voice apparent to everyone as she glared at both of the men once more.

But neither of them had a chance to say anything back as there was a sudden knock on the frame of Gabby's door, all eyes moving in that direction to find Dr. Jennings standing in the doorway.

"Hope I'm not interrupting." He spoke, his few words telling Dawson he'd heard at least a bit of their conversation. And by the smile on his face, she was sure he'd found it amusing as well, Gabby and Matt both shaking their heads as the man stepped further into the room.

"No, not at all… Come in." She responded, Dr. Jennings taking the invitation as he walked further into the crowded room. Though, as the doctor knew well, this certainly wasn't as busy as he'd seen Gabby's room before, Dr. Jennings knowing just how many people had been here to support the beloved wife and mother. "I wasn't expecting you to stop by this afternoon." Gabby continued on as he came to a stop by her bed, his visit at this time of day a bit unusual seeing as how he always stopped by in the mornings. And this morning had been no different as Dr. Jennings had been by once already a few hours ago, so seeing him here now was not expected, and Dawson wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Yeah, I know this doesn't really go with our schedule, but I wanted to stop by again, see how you're feeling." He told her, his words not giving much away to why he was truly here, which truthfully made her a little unsure. And it was a nervous energy she knew Matt picked up on, as he reached out to rest his hand over her leg before giving her knee a supportive squeeze. "I heard you took quite the walk this morning."

Gabby nodded slowly, her hand rubbing gently over Caitlyn's side as the little girl had her eyes focused on the doctor she'd seen a lot of recently. "Yeah, I did… Made it all the way around the floor."

"And how do you feel?" He questioned, Gabby giving him another nod before responding.

"I feel good… I'm a little tired, or winded I guess, but overall I feel fine." She told him, the older man taking in his words as he glanced down at her chart.

"Well, that's good to hear, Gabby. A little fatigue is normal, especially with everything your body has gone through, but I'm glad to see you up and moving around as much as you are." Dr. Jennings replied as he placed his tablet down on the end of the bed, before taking a few steps closer to his patient. "But I would like to listen to your heart, and your breathing if that's alright." He added on before grabbing his stethoscope from around his neck.

"Yeah, of course, that's fine. Caity, can you go sit with your dad?" Gabby asked her daughter, as she didn't want her being in the way while Dr. Jennings examined her. But the older man immediately shook his head, it not lost on the doctor just how tightly that little girl was tucked into her mom's side. And after spending the better part of two weeks around this family, he knew how hard this had been on the kids, and with Caitlyn nearly glued to her mom, he didn't want to make her move.

"No, no she's fine." He replied, Gabby raising her eyebrows as she felt Caity relax next to her. "She's not in the way, you can stay right there Caitlyn." He added, the five year old nodding before Dr. Jennings started his exam. "Take a deep breath for me." The man requested, Gabby doing as told before he moved the stethoscope around.

And this was a process that continued for a few minutes, as he listened to her breathing, as well as her heart, Dr. Jennings wanting to make sure there were no issues after the strenuous activity Gabby had just put her body through, as that much movement was a lot to ask of her. But, based on the look on her doctor's face, Gabby saw no reason to be concerned as he rested the stethoscope over her chest while listening to her heart.

"Okay, one last breath for me, Gabby." He instructed, Dawson doing as told as he listened intently.

But while the doctor was doing his job, Gabby couldn't help but notice Caitlyn at her side, the young girl mimicking her actions as she took in a deep breath every time Gabby did, her bright brown eyes focused on her mom the entire time. And if the soft laugh that Dr. Jennings gave was any indication, he noticed what Caity was doing, too, the man taking a slight step back once he finished his exam.

"Well, everything sounds good Gabby. Your lungs are great, and your heart sounds good." He told her, Gabby nodding in response as she felt some of her lingering nerves diminish, before he glanced down towards Caitlyn. "And it looks like you're pretty good at taking deep breaths, too."

The smile on Caitlyn's face grew wide before she nodded enthusiastically, her hand still resting over Gabby's leg as all the adults in the room watched her. "I am!" She replied, clearly loving the attention as her legs swung back and forth off the side of the bed. "Me and Mommy are good at it."

A soft chuckle escaped his lips before he nodded in agreement, the doctor returning the stethoscope around his neck as he focused on little Caitlyn. "You certainly are. You did very well, Caitlyn." He told her, the little girl smiling proudly as she looked up at her mom once more, Gabby giving her an encouraging nod before leaning down to kiss her forehead. "And you did too, Gabby." He added lightly, his words earning a laugh from Casey as Gabby looked back towards him. "But really, everything I'm seeing, and how much you've improved over these last few days, it's all encouraging. You're doing very well."

His words were like an instant relief to her, Gabby releasing a soft breath before she nodded. "Good, that's good."

"It's great." Dr. Jennings corrected her, Gabby giving him another nod before she glanced towards Matt, finding nothing but his warm, supportive gaze waiting for her. "You've done so incredibly well getting back on your feet. I know we've been keeping a close eye on you, but in doing that we've been able to see just how much you're improving… Which is why I think here in a few days, you'll be ready to go home."

Gabby's eyes widened the second she registered his words, realization slowly spreading across her face as she smiled brightly. And it was a look that Matt was wearing as well, along with Antonio and Severide who were staying relatively quiet across the room.

"Really?" She asked in near disbelief, Gabby not at all expecting those words to come from her doctor. At least not right now.

She knew she was getting better, she knew she'd done well in all the exercises and tasks they asked of her. And she knew she was getting stronger every day. But even with that, it hadn't occurred to her that she might actually be getting out of here soon.

Dawson wanted to be home. More than anything, she wanted to be out of this hospital and at home with her babies and her husband, but she didn't actually think that would be happening any time soon. Not with how concerned everyone had seemed to be over the state of her health.

But, unless her doctor was lying, that day had come a lot sooner than she thought, as the nod Dr. Jennings gave her only assured her he was telling the truth.

"Really." He repeated her words, Gabby's eyes falling closed as the weight of what this truly meant started to wash over her, while Matt reached back out towards her to grad her free hand, the husband blinking back the few grateful tears beginning to form in his eyes out of relief. "I've been straight with you this entire time about your recovery, and how things are going… And when I tell you I think you're ready, I mean it. It's been two weeks since your accident, and every day you've gotten better. We've had no issues with your heart ever since you woke up, and all your scans have been clear. Most of what we were concerned about when you first woke up, all of that has resolved itself. And you've done more laps around this place than I think any of our other patients have." He finished with a soft chuckle, Dawson laughing as well as she tightened her hold around Caitlyn's body, though she still made sure to be careful. "So, because of all that, I think after a few more nights here, as long as nothing changes, you should be fine to finish up your recovery at home."

When he said those words again, it was like it hit her all over again,

She was going home. In a couple days, she'd be able to go home and be with her family, instead of being trapped inside this hospital. And that alone was enough to nearly make her start crying.

"You're almost ready to go home, Gabby." Dr. Jennings repeated sincerely when he saw her getting emotional, Dawson blinking back a few of the tears in her eyes before she nodded.

From his seat beside the bed, Matt stood up and moved to her side, the husband quickly wrapping his arm around her and kissing the top of her head while Gabby leaned into him.

"Mommy's going home?" Caitlyn questioned, her little brain needing a few seconds to catch up as Gabby pulled away from Matt to look down at their daughter, no one in the room missing the hopeful tone in her voice.

"In a few days, sweetheart." Dr. Jennings replied, Caitlyn's eyes widening. "Here in a few days, I think your mom will be able to go home."

Gabby and Matt both watched their oldest daughter with bright smiles as Dr. Jennings spoke to her, and they saw the exact moment she truly processed his words, a huge grin forming over her face before she started to squirm around.

"Mommy's coming home." She repeated his words before she turned towards her parents, both of them seeing the pure elation in her eyes as she was nearly shaking with excitement. And seeing her this happy was something that made this all the better for both parents, as their own emotions towards Gabby getting to go home were only more amplified because of Caitlyn's enthusiasm. "Mommy, you're gonna be home!" She said again before leaning forward and holding onto her mom as tightly as she could, her head tucked tightly into her chest.

"I am… Here soon, I'll be home." She murmured against the top of her daughter's head, Gabby rubbing over her back gently while Matt held onto the both of them.

While they had their moment, Severide got up to put Sofia on the bed so she could be with her family, the baby immediately crawling towards them when she saw her parents and her sister all together. And the second she got to them, she grabbed ahold of her mom's shirt to pull herself up, Gabby chuckling softly before she moved back enough to hold onto Sofia as well, the mother not wanting her youngest daughter to be left out of this important moment.

With both girls latched onto their mom, Gabby held onto them for a few extra seconds before Caitlyn began to pull away. But when she did, Gabby and Matt both saw the tears streaming down her face, some of which that left a stain on Gabby's shirt as Caitlyn was emotional enough to the point of tears. And despite the smile still on Caity's face, her tears immediately worried her parents as they wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.

"Oh baby, don't cry. It's okay." Gabby spoke quickly as she wiped away the tears resting on her cheeks, Caitlyn leaning into her touch as Matt reached around to rub his daughter's arm. "You don't need to be sad, everything's alright."

"I'm not sad, I'm happy." Caitlyn replied softly, Gabby releasing a soft breath before she nodded, the mother wiping away a few more of her lingering tears. "I'm happy you're coming home."

A soft smile formed across her face, Gabby giving her a nod before pulling both of her daughter's into her arms, Matt staying close by as the family of four held onto one another.

"Me too, baby… I'm so happy to come home, too."

"Alright Sof, it's almost time for bed." Matt spoke as he sat on the floor in his daughter's room, the father finishing up fastening her fresh diaper before he began to put her pajama pants on, the baby squirming around as she always put up a fight when it was time to get dressed. Especially when she'd just finished up in the bath, as bath time was more play time to her than anything else, and it was always a challenge to get her calmed down and ready for bed. But it was a process the father had mastered long ago, Matt securing her pajamas into place before looking up at his daughter.

"There you go baby, now you're ready to sleep." He told her, Sofia immediately beginning to whine as Matt rubbed his hand over her stomach, a smile soon replacing the frown on her face as she grinned up at her dad. "I know, I know you need your milk first, but after that it's time to go to bed." He told her, Sofia beginning to kick his legs as she continued to squirm around, Matt leaning down to press a few messy kisses to her face before loud squeals of excitement left her lips.

"Dada!" She shrieked happily, ear-piercing giggles escaping her lips as Matt continued giving his daughter kisses. "Dada." She repeated as he pulled back, Casey rubbing over her covered stomach before reaching up to brush her damp hair away from her eyes.

"Yeah, it's Dada." He murmured, Casey patting her stomach as she began to get up, the determined baby rolling over onto her stomach before pushing herself up from the ground. With a soft smirk on his face, Casey got up as well while Sofia padded her way over to her pile of stuffed animals laying on the ground outside her crib. It took her a few seconds to choose, but once she found the one she wanted, she picked it up from the ground and clutched it to her chest, as well as grabbing one of her pacifiers that she'd thrown from the crib before shoving it into her mouth and heading back towards her dad.

A slight scoff escaped Casey's lips, the dad shaking his head before he picked her up and headed out of her bedroom, Matt making sure to turn her light off before stepping into the hallway. But just as he got out of Sofia's room, his steps slowed when he saw Jemma walk out of the girls' bathroom, her shirt still a little wet from all the fun Sofia was having during bath time as she came to a stop when she saw them.

"Hey Jemma." He greeted, his friend shooting him a warm smile before reaching out the rub over Sofia's arm.

"Hey… I got the bathroom all cleaned up." She told him, Matt giving her a grateful look as Sofia looked towards her godmother. "They definitely left a mess behind, but it's all good now." She continued with a soft laugh, Matt and Jemma both knowing that was more than typical during the girls' bath time.

"Thank you." He told her, Jemma waving him off before shaking her head. "And thanks again, for all your help with the girls tonight." He added, even though his thanks weren't necessary.

Tonight was Jemma's turn again to stay here with the girls, so Matt could get back to Gabby once they were asleep. And though Jemma had done this a lot since the accident, he was still beyond thankful for her help. Just as he was for the help from all his friends, as he knew he wouldn't have been able to do any of this on his own.

"Nothing to thank me for." She responded, Casey shooting her a knowing look before she glanced back towards the bedroom on the other side of the bathroom. "I'm gonna head downstairs, Caitlyn's in her room getting dressed."

"Alright." He replied with a nod, his eyes flickering towards Caity's door before he looked down at the baby in his arms. "Do you mind taking Sof downstairs and getting her milk before bed?"

"Of course not." Jemma answered without hesitation, a soft smile covering her lips as she reached out for the one year old. "Come here, Sof… Aunt Jemma is about to be your favorite person in the world." She joked, Matt suppressing a chuckle before shaking his head, the two adults completing the handoff seamlessly before going their separate ways, Casey heading for Caitlyn's room while Jemma went downstairs.

When the father got to her door, his steps slowed as his other daughter came into view, a soft grin forming over his face when he saw her sitting in the middle of the room playing with a few of her dolls. The second he saw her, it was clear that she'd only gotten as far as putting on her shirt and underwear before going to play. And while that wasn't at all surprising, as Matt knew how much she loved to play before bed, there was something a little different this time, as she didn't seem nearly as engaged as she usually would be.

And she'd been acting that way for most of the night.

Casey first noticed it once they left the hospital, as it was nearly impossible to get Caity to leave her mom's side. But once he finally did, Caitlyn had definitely been quiet, her elation from earlier in the day having worn off to some degree as she was much more reserved than normal. And that had continued all through the night, as she'd been quiet throughout the ride home, as well as dinner and bath time. Which, considering how Caitlyn was one of the most talkative and energetic kids he'd ever known, it was clear something was dampening her mood. Matt just hadn't gotten the chance to get to the bottom of it.

"Hey honey." He finally greeted as he stepped into the room, Caitlyn looking up from her toys to see him grab her pajama pants off the bed, before continuing the rest of the way towards her.

"Hi Daddy." She greeted, Matt squatting down on the ground beside her as he looked over the dolls she was playing with, Caitlyn going with the usual suspects as she certainly had her favorite toys.

"Are you having fun playing with your dolls?" He asked, Caitlyn nodding before she relaxed back on her heels, Matt giving her a small smile.

"Mhmm." She hummed in response as Casey reached out to cup the side of her head, the sign of affection earning a smile from his daughter. "They're saving each other." She continued on, Matt nodding as he glanced back down towards her toys.

"That does sound like fun… Do you wanna take some of your dolls downstairs with Sof, or keep playing up here for a bit?" He asked, Caitlyn beginning to chew on her lip before she responded.

"Downstairs." She answered simply, Matt giving her a nod before holding up the rest of her pajamas.

"Alright, well how about we finished getting dressed then we can go down there and be with Sof and Jemma." He suggested, Caitlyn mimicking his nod before she pushed herself up from the ground.

"Okay Daddy." She replied, Matt holding down the clothing in front of her for her to step into, Caitlyn completing the task easily before he helped her get the material in place. And once they'd done that, it didn't take him long to realize Caitlyn had put her shirt on inside out, a soft smile resting on his face before he helped her fix that problem, the five year old soon enough dressed correctly for bed as her damp hair hung past her shoulders.

"Alright, I think we're good to go." He told her, Matt rubbing over her arms as she stared at him.

"Are you leaving now?"

Her sudden words caused his head to tilt to the side, confusion filling his gut as he wasn't sure what had prompted that question. "What baby?"

"Are you going back to Mommy?" She asked again, Matt bringing his hands down to rest over her sides while a soft breath left his lips, the father nodding before he answered her.

"I am… But I'll be here to put you to bed, and read your stories." He reminded her, as this was the routine they'd done every night, Matt making a point to not miss bedtime as he wanted things to be as normal as possible for the girls. "Then I'll be back in the morning."

Caitlyn nodded slowly, her face unable to hide the sadness she was feeling before she looked down towards the ground between them, Matt sensing her obvious uncertainty as he rubbed her side comfortingly. "...I miss Mommy reading stories."

Matt's face fell the moment he heard her words, his eyes closing for a split second as Caitlyn shared her feelings with him, the father knowing just how hard all of this was on his girls.

"I miss Mommy here." She continued on, Caitlyn slowly looking back up towards her dad just as Matt gave her a supportive smile.

"I know you do, baby… I miss her, too." He murmured, Caitlyn sniffling slightly as she took a step towards her dad.

Despite the good news they'd gotten today, Matt knew this whole thing hadn't been easy. That Caitlyn especially was having a hard time adjusting to everything. And as long as Gabby was still in the hospital, that wouldn't change. Until Gabby was home with them, their little girl wouldn't be able to start truly moving past all this, Casey hating to see how badly this whole thing affected her, as this wasn't something a child should ever have to worry about.

But with the news today, he knew they were getting closer to things being a bit better, as he could only hope Caity would be feeling better once her mom was home safe with them.

"But you know she'll be back home soon, yeah?" He asked her, Caitlyn nodding as she sniffled once more, Matt doing all he could to comfort her. "She'll be back home with us, and you won't have to go to the hospital anymore to see her."

"Okay." She replied quietly, Matt knowing his words could only do so much as his sad eyes focused on her for a moment before he gently pulled her in for a hug, Caitlyn immediately curling into him.

"Come here, baby… Your Momma's okay, everything's fine… She'll be home with us soon." He repeated his previous words, Caitlyn nodding against his neck as the comfort from her dad helped her feel better.

They stayed like this for a few moments, Casey slowly pulling back to look at his daughter once more, her body holding a little less heaviness than it had been moments prior. As he sat here with his daughter, a thought suddenly occurred to him as he watched Caitlyn, the five year old seeing the small smile that formed on his face before he spoke up.

"...I know how much you miss your mom, but since she's gonna be home in a few days, what do you say we do something special for your Momma?"

The second those words left his lips, Caitlyn's eyes lit up before she nodded enthusiastically, the five year old already eager for whatever her dad was going to say. And that was when he began to tell her what exactly he had in mind, even though he'd only come up with the idea seconds prior, and it wasn't much. But to Caitlyn, that didn't matter, the little girl becoming more and more excited the more he explained to her what he was wanting to do. And before long, it was like his daughter's spirits had been lifted, Caitlyn all the more excited for her mom to get home.

And it was a feeling Matt completely understood, as he too was ready for Gabby to get out of that hospital and back in the safety and comfort of their home, where they could hopefully start putting that horrific accident behind them.

Gabby stood by her bedside as she zipped up her jacket, the woman glancing around while she got the material into place to make sure she had everything packed and ready to go, as Dawson wanted to make sure she never had a reason to come back to this room once it was time for her to leave. The same room she'd been basically stuck in for the past seventeen days.

But now, that was over.

Because after two and a half weeks, she was finally able to go home. She'd gotten the all-clear this morning, had her last check up with Dr. Jennings an hour ago, and got her discharge paperwork soon after that. And now all that was left was Matt coming back, and they'd be ready to go. Which was a more than welcome feeling for as long as she'd been in here.

Even though she was beyond ready to leave, things hadn't been all bad the last few days, as Gabby's increased mobility made things a bit easier to handle. Getting up and moving around, and going on her walks had definitely helped her feel better about the situation, as Gabby had been spending more and more time outside this room whenever she felt up for it. Whether she was taking longer walks, or going more frequently, being able to get out more had done wonders for her, mentally, especially considering every day she was able to do more than the day before.

And that was no more evident than yesterday when she'd done her longest trip yet, as Gabby had ventured out to go visit Brett for the first time. The walk was long, her partner being on an entirely different floor, and Gabby had to take a few breaks along the way, but still she made it. And she was proud of herself for that, as she knew even a week ago, she never would've been able to make that kind of trip.

But the accomplishment she felt from being able to go that far was probably the high point yesterday, as her and Brett's reunion had been a hard one to get through. With it being the first time they'd not only seen or spoken to each other since the accident, but the first time they'd seen each other since losing Foster, it had been an emotional meeting to say the least. But it was one Gabby felt like they both needed.

Despite how hard it was, she knew it did them both some good, as they were the only two people who truly understood what they'd gone through, even if Gabby still didn't remember it. And getting that time together had helped them both, or it had at least helped her, the two friends spending a good chunk of the morning together as they caught each other up on how their recovery had been going, which is how Gabby found out Brett was in much worse shape than she initially realized.

Though Matt had told her a little, he clearly didn't know the extent of the damage, as Brett had hurt her shoulder pretty bad. From what she could tell, her entire shoulder had nearly been torn to pieces, her friend completely immobile as she had a long, hard, and likely very painful recovery ahead of her. And that had been had for Dawson to find out, considering she had no idea the extent of hurt Brett had suffered.

And, while she felt for her friend, their visit yesterday made Gabby realize even more just how lucky she'd been. Because for as painful and difficult as her recovery had been, her injuries were healing. She was making progress, and here in a few minutes she'd be on her way home, whereas Brett would be spending the foreseeable future here in this hospital. She'd be here recovering, trying to regain at least some mobility in her arm, which is something Gabby had found out later during their visit; that Brett might never completely recover. That the accident had done more damage than any of them initially realized, and she may never regain full function of her arm.

For as hard as that was for Gabby to hear about her friend, she could only imagine how hard that was on Brett, as it was her life that might be changed forever. And that news alone was just another reminder of how much worse things for Gabby could've gone, as it was a miracle she was ultimately walking away with just a few scars.

"Baby?"

Gabby's head snapped up when she heard that familiar voice, her eyes immediately finding her husband standing in the doorway, papers and wheelchair in hand as his eyebrows were raised slightly, the look on his face telling her this wasn't the first time he'd tried to get her attention.

"Hey, sorry I didn't hear you." She told him, Matt shaking his head slightly before pushing the wheelchair into the room.

"It's fine… Are you okay?" He questioned softly, Gabby nodding with a soft smile before grabbing her bag off the bed.

"I'm good, just ready to get out of here." She replied, his words bringing an equally gentle grin to his face as he continued towards her.

"Me too… But stop lifting things, you're gonna hurt yourself." Matt spoke as he reached out to grab her bag, the action earning an unimpressed look from Gabby as he swung her bag over his shoulder.

"Matt, I can carry one bag." She tried, but he immediately shook his head.

"No ma'am, you're not carrying anything. I've already got all our stuff in the truck, all that's left is you and this bag, but I've got both of those things, so sit." He told her, his tone light despite his words as a scoff left her lips, Matt pushing the wheelchair towards her slightly.

Knowing it was hospital policy and she wasn't really able to put up a fight, she gave in and sat down in the wheelchair, Matt handing her the papers before beginning to back her out of the room. Gabby stayed quiet while he completed this task, the wife not wanting to distract him as she didn't want to spend anymore time in here. But once he was out in the hallway and he began pushing her down the hall, she glanced back towards him, seeing his eyes focused forward.

"...You know you're gonna have to let me do things on my own at some point, don't you?"

Gabby saw the smirk that fell over her lips when he heard her question, Matt sparing a quick look down at her before refocusing his attention ahead of them. "Maybe… But today is not that day." He replied, Dawson huffing out a breath before looking forward as well, the nurses station coming into view as he rounded the corner.

"There she is."

Dawson looked over when she heard Rachel's voice, the woman standing behind the counter with a bright grin on her face when she saw her favorite patient.

"You're finally breaking out of here, huh?" The nurse asked as she came around towards them, Matt coming to stop as Gabby gave her a soft smile.

"Yeah, I finally am." She replied, Rachel reaching down to rub her arm gently before glancing between the two of them.

"Well, I have to say that we are gonna miss you around here, and those adorable kids running around." She started, Gabby and Matt both smiling at her before she continued. "But, truthfully, I hope I never have to see you again."

A light chuckle left Casey's lips as Gabby nodded in agreement, the couple knowing exactly what she meant as Rachel leaned down to give her a quick hug goodbye. "Yeah, me too." Gabby replied as she pulled back.

"Yeah, you all are great, but we'd love to never be back here." Matt added on, Rachel nodding in understanding as she took a slight step back. "But thank you… for all you did for all. For everything all of you did for her." He replied, Rachel immediately shaking her head as her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm just glad she's doing better, and that you're well enough to finally go home." She told them, Matt and Gabby both nodding in agreement as the husband got ready to continue towards the elevators. "Now get out of here and go see those babies." She added lightly, her words earning a laugh from Gabby before she nodded. "Just don't pick them up, and remember everything Dr. Jennings told you about not overexerting yourself. No strenuous activity, and he doesn't want you doing anything more than walking until your check up next week."

"She won't, I'll make sure of it." Casey assured her, Rachel nodding with a knowing gleam in her eye as she had seen first hand just how protective Matt could be.

"Yeah, I don't doubt that." Rachel added, Gabby shaking her head lightly before Matt continued forward, the couple exchanging a few last goodbyes with their favorite nurse before making their way to the exit.

The journey was a long one, Gabby not realizing just how far away she'd been from the outside world, but after what had to have been at least ten minutes, they made their way out into the cold March air. Despite the temperature, the fresh air felt amazing on her skin, Gabby breathing it all in as Matt pushed her towards his truck that he'd moved to the front of the building, the woman wanting to soak in as much of this feeling as she possibly could.

But within moments, she was situated in the truck with help from Matt, Gabby waiting for her husband as he'd hurried to return the wheelchair to the hospital, before jogging back towards her. With her bag in her lap, she watched as he climbed into the driver's seat before bringing the truck to life, the two sharing a soft look as Casey reached over to grab a hold of her hand.

"You ready to go home?" He asked, Gabby releasing a soft breath before she nodded, their gazes locked on one another.

"More than ready." She replied, Matt shooting her a knowing smile as he brought her hand up to his lips, the man kissing her hand gently before he pulled away from the hospital and headed towards their home.

The drive was quiet, but that wasn't unwelcome as Gabby took in the city she knew well, one that she hadn't been able to see in quite some time, aside from out her window. But as the light snow fell down around them, winter not having quite left them just yet, she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude about the fact that she was headed home right now. And it wasn't a feeling she wanted to take for granted.

It took a little longer than she remembered, but within half an hour Matt had pulled onto their street, Gabby getting more and more excited the closer they got to home, before Casey came to a stop beside the curb in front of their door.

From first glance, it looked exactly the same as it always did, Gabby's chest filling with warmth as she knew the rest of her family was just behind that door, Matt killing the engine before he unbuckled and got down out of the truck. Before grabbing their bags, he helped Gabby down onto the ground, the man being a little more attentive than he needed to be, but Dawson would let it go for now as she knew he just wanted her to be alright. But soon enough Gabby was standing solidly on the sidewalk, their bags in his hand as he locked up the truck before turning back towards her.

"You feeling okay?" He asked, Gabby immediately nodding as she grabbed hold of his free arm.

"I feel great… I'm ready to see the girls, though." She added, Matt chuckling softly before he nodded.

"I know you are, and they're ready to see you, too." Casey replied before the two began to walk towards their front door, Matt letting Gabby set the pace as he didn't want her doing too much.

When they got to the door, Casey dropped her hand before nodding forward, Gabby raising her eyebrows slightly. "Go ahead." He encouraged, the woman glancing at him one last time before she nodded and reached for the handle, Gabby slowly pushing the door open before walking into their home.

And the sight she was immediately met with nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"Welcome home!"

A chorus of greetings could be heard around the room as Gabby was met by all her closest friends and family, the small group standing in the living room while a large banner was hanging on the wall beside them. One surrounded by balloons as the 'Welcome Home Mommy' sign had Sofia's and Caitlyn's drawings all over it.

"Oh my…" She cut herself off, Gabby needing a second to gather herself as Matt came in behind her and shut the door, Caitlyn and Sofia immediately breaking away from the group and hurrying towards their mom.

"Mommy!" Caitlyn shouted, the girl's enthusiasm making it seem like she hadn't seen her mother in weeks, even though she'd just been at the hospital yesterday, as the five year old quickly got to her mom. But remembering she needed to be careful, she slowed down just before she got there before carefully hugging her.

But Sofia wasn't nearly as gentle, the baby all but crashing into Gabby's legs as she held onto her tightly, Matt keeping a hand on his wife's back to steady her as their babies greeted their mom.

"Hi my girls." She spoke, holding onto both of them as much as she could with them on the ground, Gabby rubbing over Caitlyn's back while her other hand held the back of Sofia's head. "I missed you."

"We missed you, too! We made you a sign!" Caitlyn replied happily, Gabby biting back a laugh before she nodded.

"I know, it's so pretty baby."

"Sofi and I colored on it! We drew you pictures. And Aunt Jemma got balloons, and there's pretty flowers on the counter." Caitlyn continued to run through everything Gabby had missed, the woman listening intently as Sofia pulled back from her mom, before holding her arms up in the air.

It was clear she wanted to be picked up, but seeing as how that wasn't something Gabby was allowed to do, Matt quickly swooped in and held the baby, the father keeping her close to Gabby as he knew she just wanted her mom.

"Hi princess." Gabby murmured as Sofia was now more at her eye level, the mother giving her a kiss before she pulled back and began to look around at who all was in front of her. As if the huge sign, balloons, and her girls wasn't enough, she saw her dad and Antonio, Jemma, and Severide and Kidd all standing in her living room, an immediate warmth rushing through her system as she was surrounded by the people she held closest to her.

"Welcome home, mija," Ramon spoke softly as he came over and gave her a quick hug, his movement spurring on everyone else as they one by one came to greet her, Gabby overwhelmed with gratitude as her family was here with her, and she was able to be with them outside of that hospital.

And she wouldn't want it any other, Gabby more than thankful for their presence as being here at home with them made her feel like things were finally returning to normal. And hopefully, that was a feeling that would continue on in the days to come.