Otis looked through the apartment. Cruz had gone to teach zumba class again and had left him alone for the time being.
Even though Otis had before liked to be alone in the apartment, he hated being alone now, it was like he had more time to think about what had happened and as he was still going to be off the job for a couple of weeks and Cruz was going back to work in two weeks, he knew that was going to happen a lot more the upcoming time.
Even Cruz teasing him about Brett was more comfortable now, although that was just as awkward.
He just wished that everything would return like it was before. All they were doing now was for some of them healing, for some of them walking away from their problems - at least that seemed what Jimmy and Severide were doing - and some of them were ready to go back to shift. All of them were waiting for news, on how the others were doing, recovering and about the investigation at the firehouse and the prosecution of the gang members.
It was like a giant rollercoaster that seemed to keep on going and none of them was able t get out of, like a horrible nightmare.
Cindy Herrmann was cleaning the kitchen, wishing that everything was back as how it was before the big shooting. But with the shooting having happened and the damage it had done the house and everybody's life, she wondered if it would ever be like it was before the shooting had taken place.
She prayed every night for everything to turn out okay, for them all to recover and for all the boys of the shooting being prosecuted. But as long as she never seemed to get through to her own husband, she was worried about how it was going to end up.
Christopher was on the phone with somebody in the living room and even though she didn't want to eavesdrop, she heard him say that he would go talk to him - even though she had no idea who - she guessed maybe Jimmy, but then he hung up and walked past her, trying to get the jacket on with one arm.
''Going to try to see Jimmy again?'' She asked concerned as she draped the jacket over his shoulder.
''No, Boden. Donna says he wants to quit the job, asked me to talk some sense into him.''
''Oh poor Wallace.'' Cindy said.
''Yeah, same as with Jimmy it seems.''
''honey, it is all going to be okay. I am sure of that.'' She said as she smiled at him and kissed him on his forehead.
''Looks like I am the one here to fix everybody's trouble.'' Herrmann said then as he was grabbing his stuff together.
''Chris, if you don't feel like that, please tell people.''
''I am fine Cindy, really.'' He said as he pushed past his wife. Cindy looked worried as he walked away, hoping that she finally could get through to him soon. It seemed like he wanted to keep assuring her that he was okay, but as long as he didn't seem like himself, she didn't trust it, but she also knew there was not much she could do but just calmly wait for him to open up to her.
Gabby left to the hospital a bit early this time. She knew that he was not allowed food from outside the hospital but she was also worried about him because he wasn't eating and she drove past his favorite restaurant to take some for him and she knew she smelled like his favorite pasta when she walked into his room.
He was awake, watching some toffee and she walked up to him and kissed him.
''How are you feeling?''
''Bit sore from yesterday.''
''I got you some pasta for Julia's.'' She said softly as she opened her bag.
''Gabby there is no food allowed in here.'' He said but she held up the container she had picked up from the restaurant, still hot and she hoped he would finally eat something as he was losing weight fast.
''And he is totally right about that.'' A nurse said as she walked in to check on Matt and bring him his dinner and with a defeated face Dawson handed the take away box to her.
''Busted.'' She smirked. ''I know you are trying to take care of him, but we have him on a strict diet here.''
''I am sorry, I just want him to eat.''
''Well, I got the food that he has to eat right here.'' The nurse said as she put the plate down on the table on his bed.
He started eating, slowly and looking disgusted.
''Don't look so upset about food.'' She teased him, nudging him against his arm.
''Try it.'' He smirked and carefully she took the fork from him, worried to let something drop down and she took the bite.
''It's really tasteless.'' She admitted.
''Well, didn't I say so.'' He mumbled as he took the fork back from her again.
''Well, you still have to eat and if it is so tasteless that should be easy.''
''Touche.''
She looked as he was finally eating and finishing his plate.
''Done, proud now?''
''Very proud.'' She smiled as she kissed him.
There was another knock on the door and Matt looked surprised as Severide and Violet walked inside.
''Hey Violet!'' Matt said surprised.
''I wanted to see you uncle Matt!'' She said then as she walked his way.
''Sorry, no hug.'' Matt joked as he pointed at his chest and she smiled, kissing him on his cheek.
''It is great to see you. I saw on the television what happened and I was so glad to see you.'' She smiled as Gabby moved a chair closer to she could sit down.
''Show the drawing you made for your uncle!'' Kelly teased her.
''I am too old to make drawings.'' She smirked but opened her bag then. ''I brought you some magazines. I wanted to bring you flowers but the nurse said that you can't have any.''
''No, but thank you so much for the magazines. Will help go through the boring days.'' Matt smiled as Gabby put them on his nightstand.
''And you can always text me!'' Violet smiled. ''I have a phone now!''
''I know, your mom send me your number, we need to text more often.'' Matt smiles and they sat together with the four of them.
Violet wanted to ask her uncle about what had happened in the shooting, but figuring that all of them were so close to it all that she didn't really dare to ask, so instead she just went on in all the discussion and talking there were doing.
Suddenly, after a while, they saw it was getting to much on Matt again and they said their byes and walked out then, Matt dozing off immediately. They stood on the hallway for a second.
''So how did you get them to allow you to come inside with the two of you?''
As they had been pretty strict on only allowing two people with Matt each time.
''I asked the nurse and she said it was fine, because Matt is a bit down now it seems to be talking so long to recover.'' Kelly explained and Gabby smiled.
''That is nice of them. I think Matt really needed this.'' Gabby smiled as she promised to bring Violet home and they left, hoping to see Matt soon in regular care.
Kelly walked to his own car then, glad Dawson had not heard anything about what had happened in Molly's.
In two days their first shift would be since the first time everything had happened. It would barely be their shift like old times. Boden, Casey, Herrmann and Otis were all still off work.
Looking at his friend getting tired after just a short visit, he wondered how long Matt would be off work.
Maybe it would be good to start shift again and to go back into normalcy.
For the last few days he had still been feeling so weird. he wanted to forget about what happened, but it kept haunting through his mind. The problem was that he didn't want to talk about it, worried that all the sadness would come out and that he would end up in the despair again that he was in after Shay had passed. Because of that, he had just no idea how to deal with this all.
NOTE: Aaand another chapter! Hope you liked this one! More thoughts and emotions this chapter but I hope that is okay with you.
Thank you so much for reading this chapter and please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Really want to know what you think. If there is a storyline you really want to see next chapter, please let me know! Don't leave that review box empty please!
