Hey guys and girls! I'm glad to update this story right now after more than two weeks after the last chapter. I'm glad you liked and reviewed so it helped me to write this one.
So enjoy and let me a lot of review pleaaaase !
CHAPTER 5: Holding up, no matter what
Kelly watched how Matt was so peaceful, lying and sleeping in this bed, with this damn breathing tube in his mouth, partially bandaged or casted. His left side was full of creme and gauze because he had no skin anymore, his right arm was plastered and some pins were out of the cast because it was broken in three parts. His basin was in a special brace and he had a C-collar. His legs was aslo casted because of the fractured bones. And his head was wrapped in a white sterile bandage. Fortunately, there was no fracture in his neck and back, but there was a swelling near his C3 vertebra. For Kelly, Matt was lucky. Dr. Riley had followed him from the waiting room to Matt's room in ICU.
"He was placed in a medical induced coma, so his body can take the time needed to heal properly. That's also why he... The breathing tube is down his throat".
Kelly nodded. He knew perfectly why the breathing tube was here.
"It will stay how long?"
"A few days, maybe more. It depends on him".
"And uh... If he had been brought there sooner? He will be in the same shape?"
"Probably yes. It would have been not that bad I think, but he would have been in an induced coma, whatever his condition".
Kelly thought about what happened on scene. If Hermann hadn't discussed his orders, Matt would have been in a better shape.
"Why isn't he breathing on his own?"
"In a medical induced coma, it's standard procedure. We sort of... Cut the breathing function, to allow his body to just focus on healing. And with the operation he had, it will help his breathing. The ventilator will stay a week, so his aorta can heal without any major problems".
Kelly passed a hand through his hair.
"You seemed tired Mr. Severide. You should go home and rest".
Kelly shook his head.
"I... I can't. His... Girlfriend was also hit and uh... She was taken to Lakeshore".
The doctor turned to Kelly.
"How is she?"
"Uh... Her right vestibular system is destroyed, punctured lung, spleen exploded and she has swelling in her temporal lobe near her inner ear".
The doctor looked down.
"I'm sorry. She is one of yours?"
"PIC of ambulance 61 in our firehouse yeah. She wanted to become a firefighter. And she can't anymore".
Her dream couldn't come true anymore. Kelly felt bad for her because he saw her train very hard for that, harder than the others. And he thought she will become a hell of a fireghter, she was the best rookie he had.
"You know, there's still hope. She can realize her dream".
"Her doctor said 'out of question' because of her balance".
"Not wrong, but not right either. With therapy and a proper rehab, she can become a firefighter. Look at me: I'm a neurosurgeon and my left auditory system, meaning vestibular system and inner ear, is out. I can't use it anymore".
Kelly was surprised, speechless.
"So... She has a chance?"
"If she starts the therapy soon, then yes".
Kelly sighed, closing his eyes.
"She's also in a coma".
"MIC?"
"Yeah. They want to keep her in a coma for at least two days because of the swelling".
The doctor put a hand slightly on Kelly's shoulder.
"Keep hope alright? For both of them. But right now, you really need to sleep".
Kelly closed his eyes for some seconds.
"You're right. Promise me to keep an eye on him".
"It's my job. We have to monitor him very closely, just in case".
"Thank you. Keep my brother alive".
Kelly left the room and went home. Shay wasn't there, she wanted to stay at Lakeshore with Antonio. She didn't want to let him like this. He couldn't do anything more. He had so much trouble with Matt, and seeing Gabby like this... He couldn't do it. In less than a day, two of them were hit by two different cars, same place same hour, badly injured, put in an induced coma. Sleeping was out of question. Because when he closed his eyes, he was seeing Matt under this car, he was seeing Matt in this video, on the hood and then dragged to the ground, he was seeing Matt with all this blood on his face and on the ground. He was lucky to be alive. So instead of sleeping, we began to cry. Even with Andy's death he hadn't cry. But today was a horror story.
At Lakeshore, Antonio was clsoe to Gabby, so was Shay. She was almost in the same condition as Casey, and this broke their heart. Antonio's eyes were red because of the tears that couldn't stop running down his cheeks, and he was so tired.
"You need to sleep Antonio. You have to keep your strengh for her. For them".
He couldn't fight her. He knew he would lose. So he nodded.
"I need to stay here with her. I won't let my sister alone".
"She's not alone. I'm here. I'll call you if anything happen. I promise".
Shay gave him a nice and warm smile.
"Thank you Shay. Keep me updated okay?"
"No problem. I will call Kelly to have news of Matt. Do you want to know?"
He nodded and sat again, holding the left hand of his litle sister. Shay grabbed her phone and dialed the number of Kelly.
Hey Shay.
"Hey. How are you holding up?"
There was a blank before an answer.
You know... I want to say 'i'm hanging in there', but it would be a lie.
Shay inhaled deeply, like Antonio.
How is Dawon?
"No change. And Casey?"
Severide took a deep breath.
His doctor said he is fine for a polytrauma. And uh... If the swelling doesn't go down soon, he will need surgery again to relieve the pressure exerted on his brain.
"You're close to him?"
Uh... No, I came home. His doctor said he'll keep an eye on him for me. But I can't sleep. I... I just can't.
Shay heard Kelly cry through the phone. This broke her heart. She had never heard or saw Kelly like this. She looked Antonio and he gave her a nod and a slight smile.
"Kelly, I'm at home in five minutes okay?"
Okay.
She hung up and turned to Antonio.
"I'm sorry Antonio. I..."
"Don't worry", he said, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. "I will be fine. I can sleep here, and you can come later. Stay with Severide. He needs you now".
She nodded and left, looking Gabby one last time.
At home, Severide was still crying on the couch. He hadn't turned on the television, he hadn't grabbed a beer. He just stayed here, smotionless but crying. His head was pounding, he was having flashbacks. About Matt trapped under this car, about Matt is this bed, covered with gauze, bandage and plaster, with multiple IVs and a breathing tube down his throat. He wasn't in this condition even after the beam fell on him couple month ago. Suddenly, he heard the door open. Soon after, he saw Shay run to the couch and hug him. She was also crying. They hugged each other and stayed like this for a few minutes.
"I need a big dose of tequila. I really need it".
"Yeah... I think it's a good idea".
She grabbed two bottles and put them on the table near the couch. They began to drink and talk.
"How is he really doing?"
Seveirde took another sip and exhaled deeply.
"The doctor told me about... An induced coma for a few days, maybe more. Uh, he has a breathing tube down his throat, a big swelling in his occi... Opi..."
"Occipital lobe?" Shay continued when she saw that Kelly didn't find the word.
"Yeah. And he also has a bleeding. Uh... If the swelling doesn't go down, he will probably have damage".
"What kind?"
Kelly took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Uh... Blindness or visual defficiences, difficulties controlling his feelings, maybe memory loss, I don't know. I'm totally lost right now".
Shay grabbed a bottle and handed it to Kelly who took it and swallowed a large sip of tequila. After an hour, they were completely drunk. Suddenly, the phone of Kelly rang. It was hard to find it, and when he did, he picked up.
"This is Kelly Severide".
"Hello this is Dr. Riley".
His expression changed in a second. Shay did the same when she saw Kelly with a dark face.
"What is it doc?"
"Your brother... Your brother coded Kelly".
He put a hand to his mouth and gasped.
"We revived him, and checked if everything was okay, but it wasn't the case".
Even if kelly was drunk, we knew perfectly what was happening. He could feel the tears flow again on his cheeks.
"He was taken to surgery again. The swelling went worse and the bleeding has returned. We need to drain the fluid out of his brain. Maybe... Maybe it's better for you to come".
"I'll be right there in ten minutes".
"I'll be waiting in the same waiting room".
He hung up and looked at Shay. They dropped their bottles, and went to the hospital as quickly as possible with tears in their eyes.
