Ten hours later, she sat in an uber on her way to Lakeshore. Running inside the emergency department, she was relieved as spotted Kelly. Running his way, she was just so glad to finally be here.
She didn't even mind the nurse calling after her as she rushed in, walking straight to Kelly.
''Gabby,'' he sighed relieved, sharing a short hug.
As soon as she saw Kelly, Gabby started to cry. Shivering, she started to feel worse and worse as all the panic she had felt upon the flights was pouring out now.
Sitting her down on a chair, he told her he would be back inn just a second. Gabby's eyes followed him as he walked to the vending machine, Boden sitting close to her and handing her a tissue paper.
''They said that they trusted expect him to come out of surgery any moment now,'' Boden said gently as he was concerned about Gabby as well. He could only imagine how worried she had been after hours of traveling.
Gabby just nodded, not sure what to say as she was still shaking and shivering.
''I am so happy you are here Gabby,'' Kelly told her as he handed her a bottle of water.
''They didn't tell me much as both his lungs collapsed and they rushed him into surgery, as well that there was damage to his pelvis – he ehm, he had a baby in his arms when he fell. The baby is stable,'' Kelly said, all the information that he had been told just rushing through his head. It was all a blur, from the moment the house collapsed all the way to Gabby finally arriving here.
''I am going to ask for an update and let them you know you are here,'' Boden said warmly as he laid his hand on Gabby's shoulder for a second.
Trying to calm down, all the nervous from the past few hours were pouring out now. Looking at the ground, she was shivering. She had barely hung on the journey here, but now what she was back with her firehouse family and in the hospital she broke down.
''He is tough, he is going to be okay.'' Boden tried to tell her. She didn't say anything, trying to compose herself until she finally heard the words she needed.
''Any direct relatives of Matthew Casey please.''
Gabby nodded, Kelly walking with her.
''Have you had any update since he came in,'' the doctor asked. Matt had been in surgery so long that another shift had already taken over.
''No.'' Kelly shook his head, ''they wanted to wait till his wife was here, she is here, please.''
Nervous, Gabby stood against Kelly, scared for what was going to come.
''He just got out of surgery, he is in critical condition, but stable.''
Gabby sighed relieved, as much as it was still not very positive, she was just so grateful that he was stable. It all they could hope for right now.
''We managed to reinflate his lungs and there were multiple fractures in his pelvis from where the concrete pinned him down.''
Gabby nodded, Kelly standing to close her, wanting to comfort him.
''We managed to fix the fractures in his pelvis, luckily the bones didn't cause any damage as far as we could see. We are going to need to do another surgery tomorrow to repair damage to his femur and hip. But this first night is critical,'' the doctor warned.
''Is there any damage to his organs?'' Gabby asked concerned, as she knew it might well be a complication.
''So far things are looking good, there is no damage to his kidneys, which is something common with these type of crush injuries. Other than that, it is going to be touch and go,'' the doctor admitted.
''Is he going to make a full recovery?''
Kelly finally dared to ask what had been on Gabby's mind, but she had been too afraid to ask.
''It is going to be a long road and I cant make any promises. But I am hopeful. He is strong and fit.''
Gabby nodded as she knew it was the best answer she was going to get. Kelly's hands were still on her shoulder as he finally let go.
''Come on, you should go and see him, let me know if you need a ride home,'' Kelly told her. Gabby shook her head, not even thinking about leaving him while Matt was still in critical condition.
Kelly soon walked back to the firehouse family to give them an update as Gabby followed the doctor to the ICU.
She was let inside the ICU, walking to the single occupied bed at the end.
''Tomorrow, after the surgery we will move him to a private room if he remains stable.''
She heard the words behind her, but they went over her head as she was only focused on her husband in the bed.
It was odd to see him so frail. He had always been a strong man, often working out outside of work and she hadn't known him as anything but strong.
Even though that was exactly the man he had been only a few weeks, probably even a few hours ago, she thought he looked so weak and frail out of nowhere.
All of the fights they had had. Everything they still would have to resolve, it all fell into nothing. All she felt was love and gratefulness as she sat down by his beside. She knew he wouldn't wake any time soon. Yet as she took his hand that was on the bed, it almost seemed like a lifeline for her.
Kissing his hand, tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him. It hurt to see him so injured, but she knew she had to be grateful was well that he was still alive.
He looked so frail she didn't even dare to kiss him on his forehead, most of his face covered with an oxygen mask. Instead she sat down by his hand, only reaching out her hand to lay her hand on his for just a second.
Tired after the long day of traveling and worries, she fell asleep, her head on her arms on the rail of his bed. None of the monitors disturbed her. All of it didn't matter as she knew how close of a call it had been. All that mattered was that she still had him.
She woke up as the sun was rising, groaning as she sat up. Her back hurt from sleeping hunched over against his bed. Standing up and walking around the bed for a second, she stopped on the other side of the bed. He didn't look any better, but this time she did carefully lay her hands on the rail of the bed and bent forward to kiss him on top of his head.
Holding his hand, she couldn't stop looking at him. She loved everything about him, but knowing how close she had been to losing him only had made her love even stronger.
She looked up, worried as two nurses came walking in.
''We are going to take him into surgery.''
Nodding, Gabby felt a panic in her chest, not wanting to let him go again.
Letting of his hand, she was afraid. She knew that another surgery was not without risks and although she knew it was for the best, it still scared her.
Upset she looked as they took his bed to get him prepped for the surgery. Not only was he not out of harm's way, she hadn't even had the chance to talk to him yet.
An hour later, turning her key in the lock, she opened the door to their condo.
It was odd being back, as she had left here with the all her stuff, not knowing if she was every coming back. Now she was back here without the only stable factor that seemed to be in this house, Matt.
Walking around, she was glad to see how tidy it was. She didn't care if it wouldn't have been, but it was always a sign of how Matt was feeling mentally.
Taking it all in, she did miss this home. Not the house, but she did miss her life here with Matt.
Packing a bag with some clothes for him to wear, she sat down on the edge of the bed. Being back in the house where they had shared so many moments together made all the memories.
More and more she started to realize that as much as she didn't want to leave Puerto Rico and she hoped they could work it out, it didn't matter. All that matter was that they were together.
She sat with him through the evening in the night as he was brought to the private room. A nurse had told her that the anesthesia should be wearing off soon and she was determined to be here for him when he would wake up.
However, after the hectic last forty-eight hours, she fell asleep against the side of his bed again, her hand over his.
Waking up as she felt somebody holding her hand now, she looked up, Matt looking at her, still looking dazed.
''Gabby?'' he said, barely more than a whisper.
''Matt,'' She sighed relieved, caressing his hand as she moved a bit closer. He closed his eyes for a second, clearly in pain. Her heart fluttered, just so glad to finally see him awake again. She jumped up as she was so happy he was finally awake, dragging the chair closer to sit even closer to him.
Seeing his eyes open, she wanted to tell him a million things and ask him a million questions.
It was hard to hear him, the oxygen mask and he was barely audible.
''Don't speak, you are going to alright – I am right here with you,'' She spoke gently, not wanting to upset him, nor wanting him to strain himself.
''Gabby?'' He finally managed to mutter, although Gabby barely managed to hear him from under the oxygen mask. He still looked at her a bit unsure.
''I am really here,'' She smiled, leaning against the side of his bed and laying her hands on his arm. Caressing over his arm, she just smiled at him, so grateful that he was awake and with her. For a second he just looked at here, his brain finally seeming to process that she was really here.
''It's okay, you can go back to sleep, I am going to stay right here by your side,'' She said softly as she stood up. Gently she moved the covers up a little and leaning on the rails of the bed, she bent over and kissed him on his forehead.
''I love you,'' she said softly as she got up again, sitting down as she looked at him. After everything seemed to have changed between them in only a few months, she was so happy to still have him here with her. No matter what had happened between them and would happen between them, she just love him so much. Everything that happened between them fell into nothing as she felt the love, looking at the love her life right in front of her.
Her heart fluttered as he squeezed her hand slightly, giving her the faintest smile. As dazed as he had been, she was glad to see that he recognized her now, realizing that she was here.
''I love you to the moon and back,'' she told him, caressing his hand and kissing it. Matt didn't manage to keep his eyes open any longer, falling asleep. But this time with a smile on his face.
Thank you so much for reading. I had a bit of time the last few days and a lot of inspiration so I decided to get an extra chapter out. I hope to update again this weekend! I hope you are still enjoying this story. Please let me know what you thought of this story!