The conversation fell silent for a second when Kelly came walking inside. None of them had really seen him since he walked out of Molly's. All he wanted was this shift to be over with. He didn't want to talk about what happened and he didn't want to be faced by what had happened. The firehouse seemed empty and weird now four of their own were missing and replaced by people they didn't know.
Walking past everybody he got changed and ready for shift. He was tired, worn out from going out again last night. He wondered if the girl he had taken home was still in his bed. She was going to let herself out, at least she had promised and he hoped that that would be the last he would see of her.
''Hey, Matt was wondering when you would come by again. He should be moved to regular care soon, probably dying to see somebody else than me.'' Gabby said as she was pushing her stuff away in the locker.
''When he gets moved there, so I don't have to beg the nurses again.'' Kelly smirked and he walked away then. Being alone in the locker room, she looked at the locker Matt had hid her in during the shooting that she was safe. Looking at the floor she saw all of his blood that had been spreading and flowing on there were gone now.
After all arrived and got ready for their shift they sat down in the briefing room.
A relief chief walked to the front.
''My name is chief Jordan and I will be replacing chief b- Bo-''
''Boden.'' Kelly mumbled upset.
''Right, chief Boden, until he is back. As you can see there are more relief firefighters to help out until everybody of this shift is back, we have a relief truck lieutenant and two more firefighters, please make them feel welcome. One of your EMT's called in sick, a relief is on the way for him as well.'' Chief Jordan sighed. ''Awesome start of the day.''
Everybody looked around and at Brett then.
''I am here, I didn't call in sick and I only have 1 partner.''
''Jimmy.'' Cruz nodded then, as if they needed that information to be told.
''What about the others?'' Capp asked then.
''Herrmann is off for another 2 weeks. Boden for another 3 weeks, Otis is not sure yet and same goes for Casey.'' Cruz summed it up.
''Any update on how long he will have to stay in the hospital?'' Capp asked then.
Gabby felt a bit awkward as they all looked at her but also knew she was the only one with the answer.
''At least a week, his heart is still unpredictable and he still gets arrhythmic episodes.'' Gabby explained.
''How is he doing in there? Still positive.''
''Yeah, it was rough on him for a while but he hopes he is getting moved to regular care soon.''
They all nodded, hoped the same for the truck lieutenant.
''Okay, so enough talking about old -'' Chief Jordan said.
''Hey, we almost lost 4 of our own, can we get a moment to ask how they all are? It's been a bit hard on us, okay?'' Brett said suddenly and the chief looked disapproving for a second.
''Fine.'' He said then. ''As long as you do your job I guess.''
''We did and we got shot at.'' Cruz said dryly.
The room filled with an uncomfortable silence.
They all got up then and walked to the common room. None of them dared to say anything, or talk about what had happened here just a week before. None of them wanted to be reminded but it felt unnatural not to talk about it.
The relief firefighters seemed to feel so uncomfortable and the relief lieutenant sneaked off to the office without saying anything.
Most of the shift seemed to pass by without something happening and the boredness was killing them. mostly because they had more time to think about what had happened. Neither of them dared to say anything.
Kelly sneaked off to his office, really not sure what to say or do around them. He felt bad because everybody seemed to know that he was not okay, but nobody wanted to ask him, worried after what happened at Molly's.
Some of the neighbors that they knew because they came by more often walked in carrying lots of pots and pans and Cruz looked surprised.
''We thought you could use some good dinner for you first shift back on work.'' One of the women smiled.
''That is so nice.'' Gabby said as she dashed forward to take one of the big have trays from somebody.
Even though there were a few small calls, including a kitchen fire and a small call for ambulance, but not much had happened and they wondered if calls were still being redirected from them as a start and honestly, they were not sure if it was good, because now they had more time to think about what had happened and it only made the shift more awkward.
Immediately after shift, Gabby left to the hospital. When she sat down in her car, she saw in a text from Matt that he was moved from Cardiac intensive care to regular care and she was even more excited to see him now.
Parking the car she walked inside, so happy to see him again after this long shift.
Instead of going to the cardiac unit she walked to the
Walking onto the hallway she was surprised to see him waiting in the doorway.
''Hey you.'' He smiled then, holding himself up by the doorway and kissing her then, so happy to see her then.
After sharing a passionate kiss they went back inside the room, Matt sitting down on his bed and taking her hand then.
''How was the shift?'' He asked then.
''It was okay, not easy, but I think it is good we are all back for work now, before it comes this big thing that will make it even harder.''
Matt nodded understanding and she pinched his hand.
''Well how about you, you are the one moved to regular care.''
''Oh it was super hard, I mean I finished my meals...didn't get any weird heart rhythms and walked.'' He joked and she smiled.
''Still it is good, feels like I will finally have you home with me soon.''
''Oh, you need somebody to blame for all the disappearing food again?''
''Yeah.'' She smiled then and he laid down on his side for a second.
''So uh...I actually didn't watch our show so we can watch it together.'' He said then and moved aside.
''Matt.'' She smiled but he pulled her arm then to lay down beside him and he took the tablet she had taken for him and started it from the channel website.
''Don't fall asleep now.'' She teased him as he always seemed to fall asleep.
''Can't promise anything. '' He said as she moved onto the bed beside him and he laid his arm around her. As they laid together, watching she was careful with laying against him and was paying more attention to him than to the TV show. She wanted to smell his smell, the smell she loved so much but after a week here in the hospital there was not much left of it.
Suddenly the tablet fell down on the blanket and she looked as he was asleep again.
Smirking softly she laid the tablet aside and climbed from his bed, laying the blanket over him again and kissing him on his forehead then. She just hoped everything would be easier soon, somehow.
NOTE: Even though their first shift went without trouble, none of them is talking and that doesn't seem good, does it?
Thank you so much for reading this chapter and please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Really wondering if I am updating to fast cause the response still is very low. So please do let me know. Please please really do!
