Here's another one for you guys...
Casey and Dawson followed nurse Anderson down the corridor. She'd come to get them not long after the update from Dr Baton, the nurse initially confused as to where the parents were when she first entered the waiting area. Kelly had been quick to point her in the right direction and although he didn't know exactly where they were he knew they weren't far.
For the most part Gabby had sat in quietness listening while the Chaplin and Matt conversed together. The two men speaking of nothing really meaningful while they waited. And although it had helped to keep her mind off the waiting for a short period, she could feel the tension returning to her body now they were walking towards the intensive care unit their daughter was recovering in.
"You'll both need to gown and mask up before entering the ward" nurse Anderson spoke gently while they waited for the elevator to arrive. "It's just protocol, the children in this ward have various different illnesses and we have to take extra precautions."
"That's fine" Matt assured her. He didn't care that he needed to wear special clothing to visit Madeline, all he cared about was seeing his little girl for himself and making sure she was okay.
"Once she's been monitored for a little while we should be able to get her back in with Sebastian. In a way having her in the NICU is a good thing because it means she won't have to stay here in intensive care."
"Will she still be watched carefully?" Gabby asked.
"She will, the NICU will have a nurse in the twins room at all times. She will be watched the same way as she would be here but she'll be able to do it from the comfort of her own room and alongside her brother."
Both the Casey's gave her a short nod in understanding, silence falling over the three of them once more as the travelled down a few floors to the intensive care unit.
Gabby stopped short of the door, her face telling Matt that she was trying to prepare herself.
"You okay baby?"
She nodded, although it wasn't convincing. He could almost feel the nerves coming off her. "She.. Maddie. Will her chest be open?" She asked timidly.
She knew the answer, both Matt and Gabby had been told that their babies chest would be left open but covered for the first forty eight hours. The process being performed to help with swelling, as well as allowing the doctors quick access if anything went wrong. Gabby knew that but she still needed the confirmation before seeing it.
"She will" Anderson told them, "she'll have chest drains in and be on a ventilator. It's all precautionary and can look a bit scary at first but I promise you she is okay. She's doing amazingly."
"You ready?" Matt asked placing his hand on his wife's shoulder, the weight of his hand against her helping ground her, the action calming her slightly as she gave a slow nod.
The ward itself was similar to that of the NICU, the only difference being that each patient had their own sectioned off area. Rooms with glass frontiers lined the hallway, Gabby's eyes darting up and down the room for any hint of where her baby was. Both parents washed their hands and dressed in the gowns give to them by the nurses, the couple helping each other to secure the items into place before moving further down the room towards Anderson. The nurse waiting just off to the side of the nurses station.
Slowly they moved to the far end of the ward before stopping at the last but one bay. "Madeline is just in there" Anderson told them nodding her head towards the room. "This here is Nurse Bedding, she is going to be Madeline's nurse this evening and hopefully we'll have her moved back with her brother by the morning."
"Can I hold her hand?" Gabby asked timidly, she knew she couldn't physically pick her daughter up. That for a little while she was going to have to refrain from holding her but she wasn't sure if she was allowed to have contact in other ways.
"Of course." Nurse Bedding said taking over from Anderson. Matt giving a quick thanks as he watched the nurse they'd dealt with most of the afternoon disappear back down the corridor. "You can hold her hand and speak with her, the only thing we ask is that you don't pick her up. She's sedated at the moment but we know that even in their sedated form babies can sense their parents presence and it really helps with their recovery to have as much contact as possible with you."
"Thank you" Matt spoke turning his attention back towards his wife and the new nurse.
"You're welcome, go on in. You can have as much time as you need with her, just let me know if you need anything I'll be right at this desk here." She said pointing towards the small station directly outside of the door.
Gabby was the first to get to her daughters bedside, her brown eyes filling with tears as she took in her little body. Madeline covered almost completely by wires and tubes, all of them doing different jobs of helping her recovery. "Oh baby girl" she spoke, holding back the sob desperate to escape. "Oh baby, you did so well. Mummy's here, and daddy. We're both here baby girl and we are so proud of you."
"She looks so tiny" Matt mused moving to the other side of her incubator, the father putting his hand inside the little hole separating him from his daughter.
"She is tiny" Gabby scoffed.
"Well I know that, but all this.. it makes her look even tinier."
"She's no smaller than this morning" Dawson replied frustratedly, she didn't really understand what Matt was angling at. They knew their daughter was tiny, she always had been, it made no difference in this moment.
"I know that" he tried to explain, "I just.. it doesn't matter."
Gabby knew she'd cut him off, that she'd knocked his opinion down without any real cause. That her husband was just trying to express his own feelings and emotions and she'd shut him down, she knew what she'd done and she didn't like that she had done it. "I'm sorry" she whispered, "I know what you were trying to say. I shouldn't have cut you down like that."
"It's okay baby, I know this is a lot."
"It's not okay" she sighed, "why do you let me keep talking to you like I have been?"
It was Matt's turn to release a sigh, it wasn't the time to be having this conversation. Not while they were stood next to their daughter recovering, now wasn't the time to get into how he felt about everything right now. It was a conversation they needed to have, he knew that but right here, right now, it wasn't the time. "It is okay Gabby. Everything going on here is more important."
"What?"
"We'll talk about it later, now isn't the time baby" his voice was soft and tender, there was no sign of anger or dissent. She didn't get it, she'd been speaking to him horribly for days, for weeks and he was choosing to ignore it. She knew he had done, that on more than one occasion she had been spared discipline but she hadn't really thought much about it not until now. But he was right, talking about it here wasn't the answer, it wasn't the right place and it definitely wasn't the time to talk about it.
"Okay" she replied simply turning her attention back towards her daughter.
It was late by the time Gabby and Matt arrived home. Casey having to once again practically drag his wife from the hospital, it had been the same everyday since she had been discharged. Gabby never willingly wanting to leave the hospital and today had been no different. Matt had extended their time there several times over the past two hours, but when he watched her snapped her eyes open again half an hour ago he'd put his foot down.
It was nearing eleven at night and they had spent the past fifteen hours sat between the NICU, waiting area and Maddie's bedside. They were exhausted and neither of them had gotten any decent rest or food all day. Something that Matt was determined to rectify before they went any further into the evening.
"Sandwich or salad?" He asked opening the front door up and holding it open for Gabby to walk through.
"I'm not hung..." she began to say, Matt's hand coming up stopping her as her mouth clamped shut.
"Sandwich or salad?" He repeated turning the lock before facing her again.
"Salad please" she replied quietly, moving to the couch. "I need to pump" she told him pulling out the equipment from her bag.
He gave her a nod, "okay, I'll get working on that salad while you do that." Matt placed a gentle kiss to her head before moving towards the kitchen, Gabby hearing him opening up the fridge as she worked to get the breast pump set up. The woman settling back into the cushions with the TV remote in her hand.
Mindlessly she flicked through the channels searching for anything to drown out the noise of the machine currently extracting her milk. It wasn't as unpleasant as she thought it would be, the machine feeling strangely like Sebastian feeding despite the lack of contact or warmth she would have from him during this process she knew it was important for her to pump regularly. Sebastian was already feeding directly from the source as often as possible but he was getting many top ups through his tube still, and Maddie was completely dependant on the milk provided by her mother pumping.
Gabby's thoughts flicked back to the hospital, the mother feeling a overwhelming feeling of sadness. Neither of her children had anyone with them at the moment, the babies being separated over night for the first time ever, and while they were apart from each other they were apart from their parents too. Their little miracles were all alone and the thought broke her heart.
She hadn't wanted to leave them alone, she'd begged her husband to allow her to spend the night with at least one of them but he'd refused.
"Gabby you've not eaten or rested at all today" Matt said firmly.
"But baby.. please. I don't want to leave her by herself, I don't want them spending that night alone. Just this once please."
"Gabby I said no."
"But..."
"NO." He told her more firmly, "you are still recovering from major surgery and the birth. I will not allow you to sleep in a chair all night, we are going home and we are going to sleep in our bed. We can come back in the morning but you are NOT sleeping here."
And she'd tried to argue it further, the conversation going back and forth for almost half an hour before she gave in. Well she didn't so much as give in as she did stop because she could see she was pushing her husband past the limit of his patience.
After their conversation earlier on in the evening, she'd noticed more and more that Matt allowed things to slide more than usual. Gabby's emotions, tiredness and lack of food causing her to snap at people quite a lot as the evening wore on. First of all it was the nurse that came in to do Sebastian's feed, the new member of the NICU team completely unaware to the arrangement the Casey's had regarding Sebastian's feeding. Gabby however hadn't even given the poor girl chance to explain herself before she'd taken her head off, the Dawson temper flaring quickly when the couple had arrived to do their sons feed to find him already being fed via his tube.
"Did you not look at his chart" Gabby asked angrily practically snatching the tube out of the nurses hand.
Matt who had been a few steps behind his wife after stopping at the nurses station on their way in, heard her raised voice from his position across the ward, the man quickly making his apologies before heading straight for the little room off to the side.
"What's going on?" He asked walking into the room, his eyes landing on the two woman stood matching each others stance beside his sons bed, neither of them making any attempt to explain. His gaze moved to his wife after a few moments of silence, "Gabriela?" he said firmly.
"She was feeding Sebastian by the NG" she defended sensing her husbands annoyance at hearing her yelling at someone.
"Okay, well that's not the end of the world, and it certainly doesn't warrant being yelled at like that."
"But everyone knows he feeds from me if we are here." She tried again.
"But we weren't in here Gabriela, now apoligise to the nurse and then it's done with" he chastised gently.
Gabby turned to the nurse, her cheeks flushing red at having this new person witness her telling off. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just been a rough day, I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"That's okay Mrs Casey" the nurse spoke softly, "I'm new here and I wasn't aware Sebastian had started to feed yet. I'm sorry for any confusion, it won't happen again." she smiled, moving towards the door. "I'll leave you to it."
"Thank you" Gabby replied. "And sorry again."
"Don't mention it" the unnamed nurse said leaving them alone in the room.
She had been sure she was going to hear about it once the nurse had left but Matt had just kissed her on the head and moved to the other side of Sebastian's incubator. She couldn't understand what was going on and it was frustrating her, it had been bothering her all day. And with each outburst she'd gotten more and more confused as to what it was stopping him. Never in their history together had she gotten away with speaking to people like she had done today or with the attitude she'd had with him these past few weeks. And not having that consistency right now was unnerving her slightly.
She knew she needed to bring it up again, that they needed to discuss what was going on with them. But she didn't have it in her to have that discussion tonight, her body fighting against every instinct to fall asleep.
"Gabby" Matt's voice came from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Salad's ready."
"Can you bring it in here please? I'm not done yet." She called back, Matt giving nothing in response. She was just about to shout again, when he appeared at her side, a thankful smile spreading across her face. "Hi."
"Hi" he whispered back, pushing the plate towards her. "Eat, please."
"Thanks" she murmured, taking her fork and stabbing it into her food.
"Matt come on" Gabby whinged her hand already on the front door.
"I'm coming" he shouted from upstairs, her husband coming into view just as she rolled her eyes at his response. He'd been saying the same thing for the past hour, Gabby having been trying to get him out the front door and to the hospital from the minute she'd woken up.
"Hey" he spoke sharply, his voice laced with annoyance, "watch that attitude." He chastised.
"Sorry."
"Yeah you will be if it continues. I expect you to be more respectful to the nurses today Gabriela." He told her, the couple moving out onto their front porch as Matt locked up. "If we have a repeat of yesterday there's going to be an issue. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Good because I don't want to be having a conversation with you about this tonight."
"No sir."
"You ready?" He asked taking her hand and leading her down the steps.
"More than, Jose said they are moving Maddie from intensive care to the NICU within the hour." She told him with a smile. Gabby had been on the phone for a short while this morning, the woman ringing the two separate wards to check in on their babies before she'd even consider getting ready for the day.
Both of them had, had decent nights. Sebastian had slept most of the night and had even taken a bottle once. Something that Gabby was more than happy to hear he'd done, the little boy was a pro at feeding from her but he really didn't like the bottle. He'd been fussy and difficult each time they had tried him with one previously, so hearing he'd happily taken it last night had made her very proud. It meant they were making progress, and it meant he was closer to having the NG tube completely removed, although she knew it would be a long while until that happened, it was a step in the right direction.
Madeline however had, had a bit more of an eventful night. The little girl crying a lot once the sedation had worn off, her nurse had told Gabby that they had had to administer a stronger dose of pain relief for her before they could get her to settle. Due to the surgery she hadn't been given much of a feed but the little bits she'd managed she had apparently tolerated well.
Overall both babies had, had a good night and with that in mind Gabby had been more than happy to get up and get ready for the day ahead. But after her breakfast she'd been almost jumping at the door to get going, her frustration rising when Matt declared he needed to sort some paperwork out for a construction job before they left.
She knew that it was important he kept working, the two of them knowing he wouldn't be returning to the firehouse for a little while longer. Between his injury just before the babies, Gabby's surgery, and Maddie's surgery, as well as the early arrival of them both, they had decided he would stay home for as long as possible but not too long as to not be able to have time once they were all home. His injury giving him at least another two weeks before he was due to have his fitness test to see if he was cleared to return.
All in all they knew he probably would be, that here soon he'd be returning to work and Gabby would have to make do without him for twenty four hours at a time. But as that wasn't here yet, he was doing small construction jobs to keep them a float. The man conscious of the hospital costs on top of all the other bills.
And although Gabby understood this, she had struggled to hide her disgruntlement at having to wait this morning. Something she'd be chastised about a few times already.
"That's good news" Matt responded opening the door for her. "Did she say when?"
"No just sometime this morning. That's why I wanted to have gone by now."
Matt sighed "I know but I really needed to finish that quote for the Smiths. And besides we were at the hospital a long time yesterday, some time at home wasn't going to kill you."
"That's what you think" Gabby whispered under her breath, the added eye roll almost pushing her husband completely over the edge. Crouching down in the passenger door, Matt cupped her chin holding her head so he had her complete attention.
"Gabriela!" He growled, "I am going to say this one time and one time only. Lose the attitude NOW."
"Yes sir" she murmured, a remorseful look crossing her face.
"I mean it. I don't care for your attitude and I certainly am not putting up with it any longer."
"Well you seem to have been making a good show of putting up with it." She snapped, her mouth running away from her before she had time to think on it.
Matt sighed once more "yeah well that ends now. I'm not going to let you get away with it anymore. Yes I've been lenient recently but that's because you've been through a lot. Apparently my leniency has been mistaken for the rules being void. That is not the case and if I have to take you back inside to show you that I will. Now it's your choice, either drop the attitude or we go inside. What's it going to be?"
"I'll behave sir."
Releasing her chin he nodded "yeah I thought that may be the case."
"I'm sorry." Gabby replied.
"You will be if I hear you do it again. And that includes to the nurses." He told her standing up straight and closing her door. The man checking the street before jogging round to the drivers seat.
The Casey's walked hand in hand down the corridor towards the NICU, the couple deciding on heading there first just in case Maddie had already been moved back over.
"You say they did well over night?" Matt asked pressing the intercom button.
"Yeah" Gabby smiled, "from the sounds of things everything went great over night. Sebastian even took the bottle with no problems. I think Jose said he had about an ounce."
"That's good news" Matt confirmed, "I know you prefer to breastfed but it will be helpful if we can switch it up sometimes. Especially once they are home."
"Yeah maybe" she replied. In all honesty Gabby wasn't too keen on continuing the bottle once the babies were home, she knew while they were in the NICU it was a necessity because of her not always being there to feed them, but once they got home that wasn't going to be an issue.
"Hello" came the voice across the intercom.
"Hi, it's Mr and Mrs Casey. Maddie and Sebastian's parents." Matt said.
"Ah yes come in. Madeline has just rejoined us." They heard the nurse say as the buzzer went off to indicate the door was open.
Matt pulled it open letting Gabby walk through in front of him, both parents heading straight to the sinks to wash their hands before moving further into the ward and down towards their babies room. Maddie as the nurse had said was just being settled back into the room, the little girl fast asleep as her incubator was locked into place beside her brother.
Gabby went straight to her side, while Matt went to Sebastian. "Hey little man" she heard him speak, her eyes flicking up to see the goofy grin spreading across her husbands face.
"Yeah daddy's here. Did you miss me?" Matt continued, the man oblivious to his wife's stare as he worked on getting the side open so he could get his son out. "Yeah you did, didn't you?" Sebastian's arms were waving around madly at the sound of his fathers voice, the little boy more than happy to be picked up and cuddled into his chest. His little fist beating against Matt's chest, while they moved.
"Hows she doing?" Gabby asked the Jose.
"She looks good, I'm staying in with her today and then I think it's Mary for these evening. We wanted it to be nurses you knew."
"I would prefer that."
"Yes. We thought you might after yesterdays incident."
Gabby flushed bright red at the knowledge that everyone had heard about her out burst. "Oh!"
"Don't worry about it Mrs Casey, we all understand how stressful these past few days have been for you. Melissa is new but she should have read Sebastian's chart before going ahead with his feed."
"No it was my fault, I over reacted. Please give her my apologises again when you see her."
"There really isn't any need."
Gabby glanced at Matt, the man stood watching the interaction between Jose and his wife while simultaneously entertaining their son. "There is" Gabby said, "I have been snappy quite a bit lately and she didn't deserve me going off on her."
"I will pass on your apologises" Jose replied with a smile, the nurse moving over to a small desk area set up in the room and sitting down.
With a short nod Gabby turned her attention back towards the little girl lying quietly in her incubator. She was a little brighter this morning, the sedation having completely been withdrawn and it became apparent to her mother just how well her little girl was feeling when her arms and legs started kicking excitedly when she heard her mother's voice.
"Hey baby girl" she spoke quietly, her gentle voice barely reaching Matt's ears as he watched her from across the room. "Yeah you're feeling a bit better today aren't you. I'm so glad, mummy and daddy were so worried about you. Mummy got a bit snippy yesterday because she was worried but don't worry she's feeling a lot better now she can see you are."
Maddie's little hand wrapped around Gabby's finger, the little girl holding on tightly as she pulled her mothers hand towards her face. "Are you hungry little girl? I bet you are" she laughed gently, her hand being pulled further towards her mouth. "How about mummy sees if we can get you some milk hey? That'll be a lot tastier than my hand. Yeah it will. You're such a good girl."
"Jose?"
"Yeah Mrs Casey."
"Please Jose, call me Gabby." she responded with a smile. "Could you get some milk for Mads please? She's a bit hungry."
"Of course Gabby" Jose replied heading towards the doorway.
"Not long baby girl" she told the little girl turning her attention straight back to her daughter and placing a pacifier into her mouth. "Yeah that's it, in a few moments we'll get you your milk. And then you'll feel much better won't you?"
"Babe?" Matt said, his voice intruppting the sweet moment she was having with her daughter.
"Hmmm" Gabby said her eyes never leaving Maddie's.
"I think Seb's hungry to" he chuckled, his wife looking up to find her son nuzzling against his fathers chest. "You won't get anything from in there baby boy" Matt told him amusingly.
"Come here little man" Gabby said her arms outstretched ready to receive her son already. "Mummy's got you."
Sitting down in the upright armchair in the corner Gabby got herself situated, Sebastian starting to whinge slightly as it took a few moments to get her clothing out of the way. "Sssh little boy, here we are. Yeah you're alright. You're just hungry, mummy's got you."
Matt watched on in silence, a proud look on his face as he stood there. It didn't matter how many times he saw Gabby feed their son, each time amazed him. She amazed him. He had always known she was going to be a fabulous mother, watching her in their work had already confirmed that for him. She had always been amazing with the children they had dealt with, the woman knowing exactly what to do and say to keep them calm in an otherwise crazy situation. She was his go to on a scene that involved kids, in fact she was the go to for everyone at fifty one when kids were involved.
He wasn't sure what it was about her that calmed the younger generation but it was something he'd never tire of seeing especially with their own two little miracles. The way she had just settled into motherhood was nothing short of amazing. Sure she had, had her moments of doubt, her up and down moments but overall she had slipped into the roll perfectly. Gabby knew exactly what to do the moment both her babies would give her the slightest sign, the woman having been able to read them almost from day one.
Matt however he hadn't and he couldn't help but feel he was not going to be a good father. The man loved his kids, he really did. But he didn't feel like he was doing as good a job as his wife. He didn't know what their cries meant, and he couldn't feed them like Gabby could. For all intents and purposes at the moment his role in this situation was nothing more than a support unit, and although he wouldn't change that for the world, he'd always sit by her side and help her through the long feeds and difficult moments but despite all of that he couldn't feel a little useless.
"Matt" Gabby spoke, the tone to her voice telling him this wasn't the first time she'd tried to get his attention.
"Yeah"
"You're staring at me? Is everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect baby, I'm just watching my amazing wife with our son and thinking how everything is just perfect."
"Such a sweet talker" she smiled widely.
"Well that was how I won you over" he teased leaning down a placing a gentle kiss to her lips before placing one on his sons head.
"It was" she questioned her eyebrow raising, "and here was me thinking it was your amazing body and the way you turned up on my doorstep that night before pinning me..."
"Okay okay, not in front of the children" Matt cut her off, his face flushing red at the memory of their first night together.
Gabby laughed softly, her little chuckle music to his ears after the past twenty four hours. Watching her here in this moment, both their children in the same room, both of them doing well had really helped turn her mood around this morning and he just hoped that it continued on.
Gabby stirred the pot of sauce, her phone tucked under her shoulder pinning it to her ear as she listened to Shay complain about the busy shift she'd just finished.
"... and it turned out that they didn't even need ambo in the end anyway. So me and Brett were both starving and stood around waiting." She finished up, the blonde paramedic having been on a rant about how they had missed breakfast and lunch due to call outs. "I mean I know it's not dispatches fault but when its an abandoned building there is no way of knowing if there are any squatters or anything, but we hadn't been back to the house all day. It was literally back to back calls. I was ready to murder someone myself if the radio went of once more."
"Did you managed to eat in the end?" Gabby asked, rolling her eyes at her best friends words.
"Yeah we did, I introduced Brett to that bakery we like. She's fairly new to the area and she definitely needs our help with the best places to eat. Do you know she's been getting her Thai from, Opart?"
"I did not, remember I haven't really spent that much time with her." Gabby responded bringing the serving spoon up to her lips to taste her cooking. Satisfied it tasted okay she moved the pot of the stove and moved to prepping the veggies.
"Oh yeah sorry, I keep forgetting. Maybe we should rectify that, maybe have a girls night soon?"
"Hmmm maybe, I don't know."
"Oh come on Gabs!" Shay exclaimed, "we can do it at yours and with Maddie and Sebastian still in the hospital for a little while longer it's not like you have to worry about disturbing them."
"Maybe, I don't know. It's only been two weeks since Maddie's surgery Shay, I'm trying to spend as much time with them as possible."
"But they are still doing well yeah?"
"They are. Dr Petal reckons I can attempt feeding her today." Gabby informed her friend, the brunettes face holding the same wide smile it had last night when the twins paediatrician had spoken with them last night, the man having come to introduce himself officially to the couple. Dr Manning had suggested him, the doctor telling them couple how he had plenty of experience with premmie babies and children with conditions such as Madeline's. Gabby had spoken with him over the phone, but neither parent had met him before last night.
The meeting had gone well, both Matt and Gabby equally happy about their choice in him, and after watching him with both babies they could see why Dr Manning had suggested him. Dr Petal hadn't stayed long but it had been reassuring to hear him tell Gabby how well she was doing with feeding Sebastian and that she could attempt to feed Madeline from today.
She'd been itching to have that contact with her daughter, the mother missing the connection she'd already established with their son. She just hoped that Maddie would be as natural at it as her brother had been. Sebastian now being almost fully breastfed at nearly four weeks old. Gabby couldn't believe they were that old already, the past month having gone by in such a whirlwind that she wasn't sure which way was up and which way was down. But despite the heticiveness of it all, she wouldn't change the time they had all spent together. The family having settled into a pleasant routine and pace together.
"Wow! That's amazing. And how is she healing up?"
"Really well, the scar is a little red still and her chest has a fair amount of bruising to it still but its nothing out of the normal. I can't explain how well she is doing though. And both of them are getting so big."
"I bet" Shay replied, "Do you know when they'll be aloud other visitors again?"
"I'm not sure, Maddie's chest has been closed a while now and the risk of infection gets less each day but nobody has told us that we can have more people visit just yet."
It had been difficult for everyone involved, the new parents being the only people allowed to visit the babies since just before Madeline's surgery and Gabby knew her friends and family were desperate to be allowed in again. Her mum had asked her the same question repeatedly over the past week, ever since Maddie's chest had been reclosed, she'd been questioned about if Camile and Ramon could come visit again.
The grandparents missed their grandchildren, Gabby and Matt continually sending updates and photos to them but it wasn't enough. Gabby knew it wasn't. But there wasn't anything they could do about it until they got given the green light.
"Well once they do let me know. I miss my niece and nephew, they'll be walking before I see them again at this rate."
"It's been two weeks Shay, they haven't made any major leaps just yet." Gabby cut back, the underlining teasing between the two bringing a smile to Matt's face as he entered the kitchen. The man taking over the preparation of their lunch, signalling Gabby to go get ready. His wife still walking around in his shirt and her sleep shorts.
Placing a grateful kiss to his cheek, Gabby exited the kitchen. The woman making her way towards the bathroom as Shay continued their previous conversation.
"Sooo... as I was saying earlier we need to have a girls night. Me, you, Stella and Brett. Officially welcome her to the group and house."
"I'll talk to Matt about it and see what he says okay?"
"That's all I'm asking" Shay said triumphantly.
"I've got to go but I'll let you know okay?"
"Brilliant thank you. Give my babies a kiss for me."
"I will Shay, take care." She said moving the phone away from her head. "Oh Shay before you go" she spoke quickly. "When do you propose this girls night?"
"This weekend maybe? We're on shift Friday but not back on till Monday. So Saturday?"
"Isn't that Stella's shift at Molly's?"
"It is but Otis owes her one."
"Why?" Gabby asked intrigued.
"I'll let her tell you at girls night."
"No fair" she pouted.
"Best your getting" Shay laughed "bye Dawson. Speak later."
"Bye Shay" Gabby said hanging up.
A girls night? She wasn't sure, she wouldn't be drinking that was a given anyway not with breastfeeding. But her track record of girls nights were pretty rough in the past year or so. She wasn't sure Matt would even go for it after what happened last time. It would be nice to get to know Brett, Gabby not really having much interaction with the younger blonde paramedic since she'd been the stand in for her.
She'd speak with Matt and get his thoughts. Who knows he may even think it was a good idea, she had been cooped up a lot lately what between the hospitalisation, giving birth, and everything that had happened in the past four weeks. Maybe he'd think a night with the girls was what she needed. But she couldn't think of it much now, right now what needed was to get in the shower and get dressed so she could get to the hospital and be with her babies.
"You got everything?" Matt asked checking one more time.
"I think so, pump, food, water, charger." Gabby said looking through her bag as she ticked off the mental list. "Yup it's all here."
"Great, lets do this then."
Matt ushered her out the front door, the man only stopping to lock up. He hadn't come right out and said it but he was as excited as Gabby was for today. Although he knew he wouldn't have much input into the milestone being met today by his daughter, he knew how big a step it was. Today would mark the biggest step in getting her home. And would also mark the end to their worries of her not being well enough.
He knew it had been two weeks, but it had been the most nerve racking and long two weeks of his life. Every time a doctor had come to check in on Madeline he'd hold his breath waiting for them to say something was wrong, that something with her corrective surgery had failed and she was going to have to go back under.
But each time the news had been good and he had been practically buzzing since hearing that Gabby could attempt to feed her today.
"You excited?" He asked holding the car door open for her to climb inside.
"I am. I've loved feeding Sebastian but getting to feed Maddie as well... it feels like we are finally getting to do the normal things. And be a normal family."
"I know what you mean" he smiled, kissing her check before closing the door. "So what did Shay want?" He asked climbing into the drivers seat and starting the engine.
"Just a chat really, she had a busy one yesterday. Barely stopped so she was all joyful." Gabby told him sarcastically.
"Oh I bet. Shay with little or no sleep, plus I'm guessing she missed a few meals."
"Oh yes! She was just delightful this morning. But she settled down once we started talking about the babies."
"They seem to have that effect on everyone." Matt said, Gabby nodding her head in agreement.
"They do. But actually she did ask me something."
Matt raised an eyebrow at the nervous tone coming from his wife "okay?"
"She wanted to know if I'd be up for a girls night on Saturday." She spoke quickly, her head ducking downwards in avoidance of his reaction.
"What like actually go out somewhere?"
"No her, Stella and Brett coming over to ours. I wouldn't be drinking because of my breastfeeding anyway." Gabby told him, "I don't know if you'll go for it or not. But maybe spending some time with them will do me good. Maybe you could go to Molly's with the lads?"
"I'll think about it." Matt responded after a few minutes.
"But.."
"I'll think about it. It will depend on your attitude and behaviour Gabriela." He spoke firmly, glancing towards her as they rolled to a stop. "You know as well as I do that you've been snippy recently. If you can behave for the next few days then maybe."
"But..."
"Don't push it!" He warned.
"Okay." She knew better than to argue with that, she had gotten away with far more than she ever would've these past few weeks. Matt not physically punishing her at all since he found out about the hiding of the credit card bill.
She'd had a few time outs, the brunette having had to stand in the corner on more than one occasion but past that she hadn't been 'dealt' with.
"Good girl" he praised, pulling away from the light and driving the last bit of distance to the hospital. The two of them remaining in a peaceful quiet until they got to the parking lot.
Gabby sat quietly in the upright armchair in the twins room, the mother having not long finished feeding her son, who was now being burped by his father. The parents waiting patiently for a nurse to come in an assist with getting Maddie in a comfortable position.
When they'd arrived only an hour ago they'd been informed that a cardiac feeding nurse was going to come and help when it was time for Maddie to attempt going to the breast. At first Gabby had wanted to argue, the mother asking why it was necessary when she was already feeding Sebastian. But after it had been explained to her that measures needed to be put in place because of the little girls scar tissue, she was quick to agree.
Although she knew why she was getting this extra help learning to feed her daughter, it wasn't helping her patience. The woman having moaned about waiting a few times since Matt had gone to inform the nurses of Maddie's wants and needs.
"I know baby. I know" Gabby soothed bouncing her little girl in her arms. "Hopefully not much longer baby." Her eyes flickered up to her husband. "Could you go see where they are please."
"Babe it's only been five minutes since I last asked."
"I know but she's really hungry Matt." Gabby almost whinged.
"Okay, I'll go ask once more" he agreed, settling a sleeping Sebastian into his incubator and heading towards the door. His movements stopping as the door swung open. A short dumpy woman stepping inside, the blonde bob cut on her head shaping her plump face perfectly. If Matt had to guess he'd say she was in her late forties, early fifties and probably had many years of experience under her belt.
"I'm so sorry I've kept you wait. I'm Hilary, I'm the cardiac feeding nurse. And who do we have here." She said spotting the fussy baby in her mother's arms.
"This is Madeline" Matt said stepping out of the way, "I'm Matt and this is my wife Gabby. And this in here is Sebastian, Maddie's twin brother."
"Oh they are both beautiful." The older woman exclaimed, "I'm sure you've heard this plenty of times but congratulations. Parenthood is a beautiful thing, and to be blessed with twins."
"We are very lucky." Gabby agreed, her words almost being drowned out as Madeline let out a loud cry. "Oh baby girl, we're getting there I promise. Sorry" she continued looking back up to the nurse. "She's really hungry, and we've been waiting a little while."
"I know, I'm sorry. I was helping another mum and she was struggling a little. But I'm here now. Shall we get her comfortable?"
"That would be great" Gabby agreed. Moving to lose her shirt and unclasp her nursing bra. It had become a normal thing for her these days, the mum finding it much easier to feed when topless than having to fight with the shirt falling on her babies head. She was also sure that Hilary was going to need a unobstructed view to help with this first feed.
"Now I'm guessing you're feeding her brother?"
"I am" Gabby confirmed.
"Okay, well I'll let you try the position you use when feeding him and we'll see how we get on."
"Okay."
Gabby moved in silence, positioning Maddie in the same across the body hold as she used for Sebastian, the little girls cried stopping completely as she finally latched onto her mother. "That's better isn't it baby girl. Yeah you're feeling better now aren't you."
It came as no surprise to Matt that his wife feel right into feeding their daughter as easily as she had their son. The man staying back beside his sleeping son while Gabby and Hilary concentrated on his daughter. In all honesty Hilary didn't really need to do much, the woman offering a few words of advice but overall leaving Dawson to do her thing.
So there we have it. Maddie's doing well. Gabby and Matt are seemingly settling into parenthood and everything seems to be going well for them.
Please do let me know what you think please. I haven't had that many comments from you guys in a while it would be really lovely to hear from you all again :)
Stay safe, stay kind. Until next time :)