Ten days after the fateful call, Matt got to sit up with the help of a physical therapist. Gabby stood beside him, holding his arm as he gritted his teeth. As easy as it had been to sit up before the accident, it hurt him so much now.

It was the second time he saw the physical therapist. His scans where looking good and he was cleared for physical therapy. Yesterday had only been stretching his sore leg and hip. It had already caused him so much pain, he had been scared how sitting up was going to go. It turned out to be even more painful than he had ever could have thought.

''Take it easy, don't push yourself farther than you can.''

Caressing his arm, she hated seeing him in pain. She knew it was going to be hard as he not only had to recover from multiple fractures in his pelvis, but had to deal with his hip and femur as well.

Matt panted as he laid down on the pillows again, his whole pelvis hurting.

''I think we need to call it a day here Matt, tomorrow is another day,'' the physical therapist looking concerned as Matt was in so much pain.

Gabby went to grab some coffee as Matt went through the last exercises with the physical therapist. It was hard to see him in so much pain. Walking back in, Matt was done for today.

''How many weeks before I am back on my feet?'', Matt finally managed to mumble as through the pants.

''We are not talking weeks here Matt, we are talking months.''

Nodding just a bit, Matt didn't say anything as he looked out of the window, disappointed. Gabby hated to see him this disappointed. As the physical therapist walked to the bed, she was not sure what to say. The long road he still had to go weighted heavy on her as well and she knew there was nothing she could say to make it better for him.

''Come on, let's get you changed,'' Gabby said as she grabbed a clean shirt and socks. Helping him take his shirt off, he leaned against her, his pelvis hurting and feeling bad as he could smell himself.

''I need a shower, I am sorry you gotta deal with this,'' Matt said as he leaned against Gabby, trying to ignore the pain in his pelvis.

''Not any worse than after that fishing weekend with Kelly.''

''God, I still can't believe he rented a cabin without a shower.''

They laughed, Matt so grateful to have her by his side.

''For better and for worse, I think that includes taking care of your stinking husband,'' she teased him as she pulled a fresh shirt over his head and switching his socks. It was a small gesture but she knew it made Matt feel a lot better.

Gabby laid a pillow under his right knee as he laid back, his femur and hip throbbing.

''How is the pain?''

''Bad.'' He admitted.

''You've been on maximum through night right?'', she asked concerned. Because of multiple fractures, she knew pain was to be expected but she didn't want him to be in pain. Walking to the pump that was supplying him with painkillers, she saw it was still on maximum. Grabbing the chart from the back of his bed, she read some of the notes.

''You been reading my charts?''

''Yeah,'' She admitted, it was one of the few things where she actually felt there was something she could do. She knew that her nearly memorizing all of his charts wasn't really helping him, but at least it gave him the idea that there was something she could do.

''Interesting read? Must be quite long now.''

''Your blood is looking good and you kidney values are good, it looks like there is no lasting damage to any of your organs. Ofcourse we will need to keep monitoring that closely,'' Gabby fell into an almost professional tone.

''We? Do I need to remind you you don't actually need to work here,'' Matt teased her a bit. He was so grateful that she was looking after him. It was more than anything he could have every expected and hoped for from her. As their marriage had been in rough water the last months, he appreciated her giving her up her life to look after him even more. He couldn't wait to make up for it.

''I worry about you,'' Gabby admitted as she put the chart back.

''I know, I am sorry you have to,'' he said and he meant it. They should have been talking about their living situation and surrogacy now, but instead he was stuck in here and she worried and cared for him constantly.

There was short knock on the door, Kelly's head peeping around the door.

''Can I come in?''

''Yeah, ofcourse!'', Matt said excited. He had not had many visitors the last few days, Gabby being upfront about him being tired and in pain when people asked. Only Boden had come by for a very short visit two days ago.

''How are you feeling?'' Kelly asked as he saw down by the bed, so glad to finally see his friend. The last time he had seen Matt was when he was still unconscious after the second surgery, only for a few minutes.

''Could be better, but happy to be alive,'' Matt admitted. He wanted to lie about how he was fine, but he was far from fine.

''A lot of mail came for you at the firehouse. '' Kelly said as he took the whole pile from his bag. He had taken some presents as well, mostly candy and books to help him pass the time.

They chatted for a while, Gabby glad as well to talk about something else than all the talks she had had with Matt's doctors. It was nice to be distracted from the whole situation by some great stories from the firehouse.

Kelly saw it was taking a toll on his friend and left soon, not wanting to impede too much. Gabby sat with him, opening all the mail.

Going through the big stack of cards, one in particular pulled his heart strings.

It was card from the family whose house burned down, whose baby he had held in his arms during the accident. It was such a kind card to thank him. Tears filled his eyes as he thought back about the accident itself. He was just so grateful that he had managed to save the baby.

''That's so kind of them,'' Gabby smiled, her hand on his shoulder. Looking at the card as well, she realized no matter how hard things were for them. All of it was because Matt had done amazing work and had saved a life.

A few days later, Gabby arrived in the hospital a little after lunch. Walking into his room she was surprised as Matt sat in a wheelchair by the window. She had taken some time for herself again and to arrange some things for her life in Puerto Rico. It was hard, as she didn't know when she would be back. But nothing inside of her wanted to go there over being with Matt now.

''Look at you sitting up,'' she said as she walked up behind him, snaking her arms around him and kissing him on top of his head.

''About 5 minutes, but it looks impressive right?'', Matt smiled as he turned the wheelchair.

''Anything is impressive.'' She assured him. Kissing him once again, she started unpacking the stuff she had taken. As much as Matt wanted to come home, she knew that he still had to stay a while.

''I took your toiletries,'' She said excited, waving the bag in her hand.

''Does that mean I get to take a shower?''

''If you can sit up long enough, yes. Talked to the head nurse and you can shower tonight.''

''That's amazing,'' Matt sighed relieved. This morning he had tried to take a few steps with the physical therapist. He hadn't made it a single step, but felt even more sweaty and disgusting now.

After dinner he was unhooked from the IV and helped into a wheelchair he could use for showering. In the bathroom, Gabby helped him undress. As she carefully pulled his boxers down, extra careful because of the catheter, she was shocked against seeing all of the scars from the surgeries.

''You've tore those boxers of me with a different energy before,'' He teased her a bit, it distracting from the pain in his body.

''I don't think you'd be in any shape for anything but a shower,'' she winked at him.

''The spirit is willing, my body is a different story however,'' he admitted.

Looking in the mirror, he was in awe at the beard that had grown in only two weeks.

''Probably should shave.''

''It looks good on you,'' Gabby admitted, as he was usually clean shaven, but she thought it looked good on him.

''Gonna leave it then,'' he smiled, ''let's see how much of a beard I can cultivate.''

Carefully taking the socks of his feet, he struggled sitting up but looked forward to the shower. The warm water hitting his back immediately soothed some of the ache. Groaning as Gabby's hands traced his body, washed his hair and massaged his tender joints. He appreciated so much that she was doing this for him. If he had to be washed by a stranger, he would have felt a lot worse.

When he was back in bed, in clean clothes and finally feeling fresh for the first time in two weeks he couldn't stop smiling at Gabby, so grateful she had done this for him.

Handing him his hairbrush and tucking him into bed, she couldn't stop smiling back at him. Taking the hairbrush back as he was done, she was glad how happy and good he looked.

''God, I wanna hold you.''

''So come here,'' he invited her onto the bed. She doubted for a second, but knew that he was a lot less fragile than in the beginning here in the hospital.

Sliding the rail down, she sat down on his bed, laying down beside him, careful with his bruised and sore body.

''You smell so good,'' she smiled, pressing up against him.

''Thank you so much,'' he whispered, so tired after the shower.

Holding him close, she listened as he fell asleep, worn out by something as simple as a shower. Laying against him was such a welcome change to sleeping at home alone or in the chair. Not wanting to move either, she soon fell asleep against him.

It was dark in the room when she woke up, awoken by Matt's whimpering. Concerned, Gabby reached for the light, scared as she heard him crying.

''Sorry, sorry, I just had a nightmare.'' He admitted as soon as the light switched on. He tried to hide his tears, but it was already too late.

''Are you okay?'' She asked concerned, worried as she still laid by him.

''Just had a nightmare about being in the collapsed basement,'' he admitted, tears streaming over his cheeks as he thought back about the few lucid moments he had had down there.

''I was so scared when I was down there in the basement. Not for myself, but I was so scared I would never see you again.'' Matt admitted, dried his tears.

''Oh Matt-''

''There are so many dreams I have for you and me. Maybe it was selfish, but I was so scared about never seeing you again.''

''You are still here and so am I. I love you.'' She said as she held his hand, She couldn't imagine how scared he must have been down there. He was still crying, emotions overwhelming him. Sitting down on the edge of his bed, she caressed the tears away with her thumbs, hating to see him upset like this. It was hard to see him in pain, but even more so to see him emotionally break.

''Talk to me about those dreams for us together…much better than the nightmare.''

''I know…ehm, I want to live with you again…and still hope that we can have a family someday.'', he smiled, grateful that Gabby had taken his mind of the nightmare.

''Me too.' She said, laying her head against his. Laying together, they knew there was long way to go for them, but at least they were on the same wavelength for the first time in a long time.

Thank you so much for still reading the story! I hope you are still interested as there is a lot more plannet for story. Please let me know what you thought and hopefully till next chapter!