Arriving at the CFD headquarters, he was let in by the receptionist. It wasn't the first time he arrived at this office, but it still felt foreign. Usually it was meetings with the other captains, or trainings. Now he knew it would be his place of work for the next few months.
He wanted to think about his new job, but what had happened with Gabby last night was still on his mind. He knew it wasn't her fault, the fact his body was failing him frustrated him.
Gabby had dropped him off at the office just now and the CFD had arranged a ride back for him, so he wouldn't have to struggle with taking the L back home.
The ride here had been mostly quiet, Matt not sure what to say after what happened last night. He knew he could need to bring it up with his surgeon, but it only worried him more.
''Matt, the elevator is to the right,'' the receptionist woke him up from his thoughts.
Looking up, he recognized her from some of the meetings he had had here and nodded gratefully, so deep in thought he had made his way to the stairs instead. Moving into the elevator, it was strange being here like this, knowing he was going to be here for a while, while he recovered.
At the same time, besides the worries he had about the talk with the surgeon later this week, he did feel good getting back to work, even if it was only for three days a week.
He got shown to his desk and knew he would most likely be stuck to making reports, as he wasn't in any shape to go to any of the scenes for investigation. But he hoped he would at least be able to do that soon, as he knew it would be months before he could go back on active duty at the firehouse, given the hardware in his femur and around his pelvis would need to be taken out first.
For now he was just glad to finally have something to take his mind off everything.
He was welcomed by the chief of arson, shown around and for a moment, he felt happy, knowing that he felt he had a purpose beside his recovery.
After lunch, he sat at his desk, reading over and finalizing one of the reports of a recent fire. Printing out the final form so it could to go to storage, he pulled himself up by the desk.
Walking to the printer, he held the desk as he got up. Careful he made step after step. He knew he had promised Gabby not to walk unaided here, as she was worried he was going to fall. But the last thing he wanted was to feel even more helpless as he waited to see his doctor tomorrow.
Grabbing the papers from the printer, pain shot through his hip and pelvis as he was nearly at his desk.
Just in time he grabbed one of the cabinets along the way before he could fall. The papers fell to the floor, picked up by one of the people walking by.
''Captain Casey,'' he greeted Matt, handing him the papers.
Matt just nodded slightly, feeling even more helpless now.
Sitting in the nurses station Gabby stared at the wall. Although she had her lunch in front of her, she was not able to eat, thinking about everything that was going on with Matt. Although she had been so sure it would be fine for Matt, she knew that he struggled with what happened last night.
It had been on her mind before, knowing that this was a possible outcome from nerve damage, done by his pelvis being in pieces. Although she knew there could be damage, the fact he seemed to have very little nerve pain besides the expected pain, she had hoped that there hadn't been any damage. They would know soon, as they would meet with his surgeon in two days after the scans he had had. Before she hadn't been worried about any damage, but now she worried there could be nerve damage.
''What's wrong?'' One of her colleagues asked concerned as she sat down beside Gabby.
''Nothing, just some stuff going on at home,'' Gabby admitted, putting her lunch back in her bag.
''Want to talk about it?''
''My husband is a firefighter and he had a big accident on the job. It's just – it's been hard,'' Gabby admitted, already feeling relieved to even get it off her chest.
''I am really sorry to hear that, you been together long?''
''We have been married for two years now, we spend some time apart and I came back to Chicago because of his accident, there is just a lot of uncertainty for the future now.''
She was surprised how good it felt to spill some of her worries out as well. Although she didn't want to tell much more, it was nice she didn't feel she was alone in this.
Before they could talk any longer, her pager went off and she ran towards the indicated room.
A few hours later, she drove home, driving downtown towards their condo which was about a fifteen minute drive out. Driving through this city, she was flooded with memories of so many things. Calls they had had, nights out with Shay, date night with Matt.
As much as she had been thinking about going back to Puerto Rico eventually, she wasn't so sure anymore.
At home, she started making dinner, exciting to see how his day was. She hoped that being back at work would keep his mind after what happened last night. She knew that if it was possible outcome of his injury, but she hadn't wanted to think about it before.
She heard the front door open and Matt making his way inside. Looking as he walked towards the table, greeting her and sitting down before he could fall, she could tell something was off about him.
''How was your first day?'' she smiled as she sat down with him.
''It was really nice.'' He smiled as he tried to be positive, not wanting to let on how much he had been in his head today.
''You don't seem too happy,'' she said concerned as he moved the food around on his plate.
''Just – last night has been bothering me.''
''It was the first time after a really traumatic injury Ma-''
''What if we are not going to be able to have a baby because of me?'' Matt blurted out the thought that had been bothering him
''I am sure you doctor will know, it's just a few more days before we know.'' She said as she laid her hand on his, worried about him.
''Gabby, what if the news is bad and we can't proceed with the surrogacy?'' He said, not being able to get it off his mind what had happened the night before.
''Then we will figure it out too,'' she said, trying to remain positive. She knew it might be consequence of his injury, but somehow she had never worried about it, not with everything he had been up against.
''Will – will I be enough if we can't have baby?'' Matt asked concerned, tears in his eyes. It broke Gabby's heart. On top of worrying about tomorrow, he now seemed to worry once again about her leaving him.
''Matt,'' she sighed, holding his hand.
''I can understand if-''
''You will always be enough.''
He wanted to protest, point out that she had left him before. But as her hand laid on his hand and she caressed it, he thought back about how she had been by his side all this time. Those weeks they had been apart seemed nothing compared to how she had been there for him these last weeks.
''You are going to be fine, we are going to be fine.'' She promised him.
After another 2 long, mostly sleepless nights, she parked the car by the hospital. She had wanted to drop of Matt at the entrance, but he insisted that he could make it from the car.
''Do I need to get your wheelchair?''
''No, I can make it with crutches'' he insisted.
''It's a far walk,'' Gabby said concerned.
''It's fine,'' Matt assured her as he got out of the car, leaning on his crutch, his hip still playing up from time to time and not being able to walk far unaided. Making their way inside the hospital, Gabby was glad they were walking inside of here, compared to how things had been two months ago.
She laid her hand on his back as they made their inside. It had been hard to see how nervous Matt had been this morning. She was just as nervous as he was, scared that their hope for a family would be dashed once again. It seemed they had had no luck lately.
They were lead into the doctor's office soon.
''It's good to see you back on your feet,' The doctor smiled as Matt sat down.
''Not running marathons any time soon, but walking is getting easier,'' Matt nodded.
''Have you been walking unaided at all?'', the doctor asked, pointing at the crutches.
''Just around the house and the office, still worried about falling.''
''You are back at work?''
''Parttime, just in the office,'' he nodded.
Gabby looked aside at him, wanting to be angry for the fact that he did walk around unaided in the office, even though he had told her he wouldn't. But on the other hand, it also didn't surprise her and she was grateful Matt was so resilient. Even if it meant going against doctors' orders.
''How has the pain been?''
''Manageable.'' Matt said, he wanted to say he was fine, but he knew that was a lie.
''As I predicted and looking at the scans, that should get better too. There is very little sign of nerve damage.''
''Is there any nerve damage around – around my, you know,'' Matt said, scratching his neck as he looked at the scan.
''Has there been any reason to believe so?''
''Yeah,'' Matt admitted, Gabby laid her hand on his, gently, seeing how much he hated talking about this. ''I am haven't been able to get – to –''
''It is very common after the injuries you sustained, but don't worry, there is no damage to the nerves, but it may take some time for all function to return.''
Matt nodded, although he was concerned, knowing it might take a long time before it would be resolved, he was just glad to hear that his worst fear was not coming true.
''For now I will describe medication that should sort it out until all function returns, but please don't worry about it yet.''
Matt nodded, relieved the news wasn't as bad as he had made it out in his head.
As they arrived home from the hospital, Matt went to take a shower, sweaty and sore from walking the whole distance from the car, it was the furthest he had walked and he was glad Gabby was there to have seen it. As he heard Gabby in the bedroom, singing along with the radio as she was folding the laundry, he grabbed his phone. Calling one of their restaurants and ordering an uber, he was so relieved by the good news he had just received in the hospital. Even though it wasn't great to know he had to use the pills for now, it didn't matter, knowing that it would all be okay.
Taking the array of medication that was sorted out on the sink, he made his way to the bedroom.
''I'm taking you out to for dinner, that Italian restaurant at the pier.''
Gabby looked surprised, but smiled.
''How late do you want to leave?''
''I ordered an uber, figure you have been driving me around enough these last few weeks.''
She smiled, surprised by his surprise.
''Figured we could share that red wine you really like over dinner,'' he said as he took her hand.
''Wow – who are you and what have you done to my husband while he was in the shower?'', Gabby smiled
''That guy once again realized how lucky he is to have you,'' Matt smiled as he pulled her down on his lap.
''Are you sure you wanna go, I know you are tired and so-''
''I am excited to go – we gotta to live a little while we are young, right?'' He calmed her worries.
''I love you – but you are not young,'' she teased him.
''You are never going to let those four years go huh?'' he laughed.
Laughing and sharing another kiss, they got ready for dinner.
Smitten as she was wearing a gorgeous dress they got into the uber, making their way to the pier. Holding his hand, she was so grateful that he had done this. He didn't owe her anything, yet it was so sweet when he did these sweet gestures, showing how much he appreciated her.
It means even more knowing that he was from a broken home and hadn't been set an example by his parents, she knew it really came from himself.
At the restaurant, they got a table by the window, Matt glad they had made it.
They ordered dinner, as well as the table wine he knew Gabby really liked as they looked at lake Michigan, enjoying the sights and each other's company.
After the last few months of separation, coming together and his accident, such a happy date night was a relief for the both of them.
Instead of immediately ordering an uber, they made their way over the boardwalk, enjoying the view of the skyline.
Between their work, the hospital appointment and all the uncertainty, this date night had been very welcome.
It was cold night, but with their jackets on they just wanted to enjoy the view a little longer. As Gabby sat down on one of the many benches, he moved his wheelchair right beside her.
''This city never stops to amaze me,'' he smiled as he looked at the skyline, Gabby trying to heat up her hands with her breath. Gently he took her hands, her small hands between his.
''Lot different from Puerto Rico though,'' she smiled as he warmed up her hands.
''I am so happy I went to Puerto Rico to see you. No matter here or there, I am just so happy to have you,'' he said as he caressed her hands, trying to warm them up between his.
''I know it's not Puerto Rico, but I hope Chicago and me are enough for now.''
''You and me will always be enough.''
Sitting side by side, they laid their heads together as they looked at the skyline, so happy to have each other, no matter what.
''I wanna stay here, with you, in Chicago.'' Gabby suddenly broke the silence.
Surprised, Matt looked aside, her face only dimly lit by the streetlights.
''Are you sure?''
''With your recovery, the surrogacy and my job – I am sure I wanna stay here. Just like we fell in love again, I fell in love with the city again.''
Half an hour later, they fell into bed, caressing each other and kissing.
She was careful as her hands traced his body, knew to be gentle as she didn't want to hurt him. Matt on the other hand barely registered any complaints from his body as he nearly ripped her bra of her body.
Her hands caressing the scars on his lower body, she carefully took his penis in her hand. Gently she moved her hand, kissing him once more as his nails dug into her back.
He groaned with relief, pleasure shooting through his body as opposed to the last time they had made out, it was just like old times. Very gently, they made love, Gabby worried about hurting him, but finding so much pleasure in being intimate again after such a long time.
Very gently, she climbed on top of him, rocking forward softly as Matt groaned. It hurt, but at the same time it gave him so much pleasure. His hands on her body, it didn't take long for him to climax after the long time they had not been intimate.
Panting, she climbed off Matt, kissing him as she cuddled up with him. He was groaning, his body hurting but he had enjoy it, so glad to finally make love with her again. Wrapping his arms around her, he felt like the happiest man alive, knowing that no matter had happened, and would happen, they wouldn't be apart again.
Sorry again for the infrequent updates. Real life is making it hard to update consistently, but the next chapter is nearly done and should be up soon. I hope you are still enjoying this story and I hope you will return for next chapter too. Thank you so much for reading!