Matt finally seemed more lucid a few days after the second surgery.

Gabby was with him every hour of every day, even sleeping in a chair beside his bed. He had barely been awake and when he had been, it had only been for a few minutes before he would fall asleep again.

She was dozing off, only looking up as a nurse walked in to check his vitals, carrying a newspaper.

''He made the newspaper, I thought you might want to read it,'' the nurse told Gabby as she handed her the paper.

''Thank you.'' She said as she looked at the newspaper.

Reading the article on Matt, her heart swelled with pride. Smiling after the article, she couldn't wait to show it to Matt. Dozing off in the chair, she still had her hand in his on the bed.

She woke up as the doctor that had done his initial emergency surgery came in.

''Just here to check his incisions.''

Nodding, she moved away from the bed, only for Matt to look at her questioning as they swarmed around his bed.

''They're just checking the incisions.'' She said softly as Matt looked confused. Looking as they removed the blanket, she realized how the lucky stars had aligned that he had gotten through this. His whole pelvis was full of incisions, patches covering some of them, while nothing could distract from all the bruising covering him from his knees all the way to his chest, where the concrete had pinned him down.

Matt wailed softly as the doctor and nurses turned him on his side just slightly. Gabby could barely reach her arm in, but held his hand, trying to give some comfort.

''I am sorry this is so painful Matt – just have to make sure all the incisions are healing well.''

Matt tried to nod through the pain, but a wave of pain and nausea washed over him, squeezing Gabby's hand.

A few minutes later, they gentle laid him back on the bed, a pillow under his hip as Matt softly wailed, Gabby trying to comfort him.

''We are going to do a CT scan to get a better look at any possible damage to your lower body and take you for an x-ray later today. Hopefully we can remove the chest tubes tomorrow if it comes back clear.''

Matt didn't say anything, still clearly in pain. As the staff left the room, promising he would get something for the pain, Gabby felt so helpless.

''You are okay, you are okay,'' she said as he caressed his upper arms, kissing him on top of his head as he was still heaving slightly.

''…moon.'' He muttered, barely more than a whisper.

''Yeah, and back.'' She said as she kissed him. As he fell back asleep, she walked out of the room for a second, hurting by simply by seeing him hurting so much as she tried not to cry.

The following day, 5 days after the accident, the chest tubes got removed, as his x-ray had showed there was no more air and fluid in his chest. Gabby had been hopeful, as his breathing seemed to be a lot easier over the last two days. The oxygen mask het been changed to a nasal cannula and he had since talked a little more.

She was concerned as he had been in so much discomfort yesterday.

''Can't you put him under?''

''We need him to breathe out to remove them, so we can't,'' the doctor explained.

''Can I at least stay in the room?''

''There is a risk of infection, so –''

''I can wear protective clothing, I just wanna comfort him.''

Finally she got a nod and walked with a nurse to get changed. Matt awake, looking worried as she walked towards him again.

''Lookin' sexy,'' he whispered, causing Gabby to laugh.

''Well, I got a very cute patient in front of me,'' Gabby joked, not minding all the other people in the room. All she needed was for Matt to be comfortable.

''Bit bigger than your usual patients.''

''Equally adorable,'' she smiled as she took his hand.

As worried as he was after the pain yesterday, he knew he would be okay with Gabby his side.

Six days after the accident, he was finally moved from his room in the ICU to a room in general care. Gabby walked back into the room, dinner having been brought in for Matt. He hadn't ate anything yet since the accident and he was asleep yet again.

Walking over to his bed, she smiled as he was still asleep, seemingly content. She pulled the blanket up a little, kissing him on top of his head as she look at the untouched dinner. The last few days she had been living on food from the vending machine, barely having left his side. Quickly grabbing one of the potatoes, she put it in her mouth.

''I saw that.''

Turning around, she swallowed the potato, smiling as Matt was awake.

''Do you mind?''

''No,'' he smiled.

''You should eat, they put it here for a reason.''

Matt simply shook his head, his eyes drooping down again.

There was a comfy chair in the corner she got settled in, pulling the blanket over herself. Even though is was only early evening, she felt tired. Although she had slept here in the chair, it was a long time ago she had any decent quality of sleep.

Falling asleep as well, she hoped things would soon get better.

Gabby woke up as she heard Matt coughing. Concerned she got up from the chair, walking to the bed.

''Can't sleep?'', she asked concerned as she switched one of the smaller lights on.

''No,'' Matt groaned.

''Need more painkillers or do you want some water?''

''No…just, can't sleep.''

As he was reaching out his hand, she sat down on the chair beside the bed and took it. So many times she had wanted to climb onto the bed to lay close to him, holding him with all her being. But with all the pain he was in with the multiple fractures, she knew it wasn't a good idea.

''I am a little hungry, I might eat breakfast tomorrow,'' Matt admitted.

''That's a good sign.''

''Won't be as good as your blueberry pancakes.''

''I will go and ask if there is something to eat for you, in case you sleep through breakfast.''

''You don't need to do that.''

''But I want to.''

He smiled at her, so grateful to have her.

''Can you stay a little longer - in case I fall asleep again…just really wanna talk to you.''

''About time you joined us at a decent hour – well, 4 am.''

Matt smiled just a second, grimacing as he tried and move a little.

''How long have I been –''

''7 days, but you've been out for most of it.''

''Did the baby make it?'', he asked concerned.

''Yeah, she went home with her parents three days ago,'' Gabby said as she got up to get some water for him. She thought it was so painting of his personality that he asked about the baby, before even asking about his own wellbeing.

''When are you going back to Puerto Rico?''

''I don't know yet, we gotta get you better first,'' She answered him as she held out some water for him with a straw.

''I will come to Puerto Rico with you,'' Matt said, concerned that he was going to lose her once more.

''I know, but we can see about that when you are out of here and healed up,''

'' Not letting you go alone this time.''

''I don't think we should be worrying about that any time soon,'' she told him, though she did appreciate it.

''Really done myself in huh,'' Matt said, Gabby moving closer as she leaned against the bed. Taking his hand she caressed over it, her fingers intertwining with his.

''Matt, I need you to listen to me when I say I am not going anywhere, not anywhere until you are better and after that we will work it out.''

Smiling at her, his fingers squeezed her hand, just so grateful to have her here and be alive.

''Gonna be a long recovery, but I am going to be here with you every step of the way,'' she promised him as she moved closer to him and they looked into each other eyes.

''Thank you,''

Sharing a kiss, she stood up.

''I will see if I can get you something to eat.''

''It's nice to finally feel a little human after being out of it for a week.'' He said as he rubbed through his eyes. He still felt hazy, but for the first time the world around him seemed to make sense.

''I would really love to hug you right now.''

''I am not that fragile.''

''Not so sure about that,'' Gabby said as she stood up, kissing him once more, ''But you better believe I am going to hug you till you get sick of it once you come home.''

''Was that an offer or a threat? Cause I am fine with it either way,'' he smiled and she smiled back as she stood by the door.

''Alright, I am going to try and get you something to eat,'' she promised as she left the room. Her heart fluttered as she was so glad to finally have talked to him.

Walking over the hallway, she walked to the nurses station. Knocking on the door, she smiled alt the nurse that was sitting there.

''Hey, I am Matt Casey's wife, he is hungry, I know it's almost breakfast but he is pretty tired, would it be possible to get something?''

''I will ask for something to be send up to him. What does he like?''

''Usually something sweet, maybe just some yoghurt, thanks a lot,'' Gabby smiled grateful.

Walking back to his room, a tray with yoghurt and some fruit was soon brought over.

Matt wanted to protest as Gabby started to feed him. However, he was too tired and in too much pain to do anything himself.

''Probably didn't sign on for this when you married me.''

''Kidding me, I would do anything for you,'' she smiled. She was so glad he was finally eating, he finished the yoghurt and fruit in no time.

''It's not a beach in Puerto Rico,'' Matt said, referencing the sunrise that had just started.

''But I am with you, and that is all that matters,'' She smiled as she lifted the tray away and sat down with him again.

''I might just sleep through the day, you should go home, take some time for yourself,'' he said concerned as he caressed her hand. Although he had been out of it mostly the last few days, she had been here every time he had opened his eyes.

''I might – just gotta make sure you are okay.''

''I am going to be, you need to take care of yourself as well,'' he said concerned.

''I am''

''You seem tired and you are voluntarily eating hospital food.''

''Alright,'' Gabby laughed, ''I will go home, take a shower, sleep in a proper bed. Might even take you some food.''

''Thank you, I am not sure what I did to deserve you.''

''I love you.''

''I love you too.''

Sharing another kiss, Matt was soon back asleep, Gabby leaving his side for the first time in days, but only more assured that things would be okay between them.

Thank you so much for still following this story. I hope you still enjoy it! Please let me know what you thought! The next chapter will probably be next weekend. Thanks again!