Gabriela rubbed her hand over Matt's hand. Her eyes looked at the drawing on the wall behind him. For five days she had been silence except for the monitor's beeps now and then. Yesterday his mom had been here and had asked Gabriela to leave and she did, at least she felt like she could do something useful.

The only thing that changed the long days was when somebody else walked in. Usually it was a nurse to check his IV's or a PT. Sometimes it was Kelly or his mom. When Kelly was there, she didn't feel so alone when he was there. Kelly hadn't only been a good friend for Matt as he was here nearly every day but also for her. Neither of them wanted Matt to be alone and so he was there when she was too tired or too hungry.

The door opened behind and she looked back. Nancy Casey entered the room and Gabriela stood up, so she could sit down. It was not that she couldn't get along with his mom, but Nancy made her nervous. She kept talking and reading to him but never talked to her. She understood Nancy was upset but Gabriela guessed it was also better for her to alone with her son.

''Hey Matt, I am here.'' She whispered and Gabriela walked out of the room to eat something as he hadn't eaten anything since morning.

In the hallway she looked surprised as Shay was walking down the hallway.

''How are you?'' She asked worried as she hugged Gabriela.

''He is okay.'' She answered, automatically. To be honest she had no idea how he was.''

Shay let go of her, looking at her with a worried face.

''I asked about you, not him. ''

Gabriela shook her head; ''Right, sorry. I am okay as well.''

''Can I see Matt?''

''His mom is in there, probably reading to him. ''

Shay nodded; ''Let's get something to eat and drink. You look like you could use that.''

Dawson felt a little bitter as she was sitting in the cafeteria with her friend. Finally she had somebody to talk about normalcy.

''Have you been transferred to another firehouse yet?''

Shay shook her head; ''I am waiting for a spot for two to get open somewhere. I am not going to get transferred without you.''

''You don't have to wait for me. Just transfer when you want, it can be weeks, months before I get back to work.''

''I know, but I will wait. Like I said, you helped me through everything and got me back. Now I am not going to get transferred without you.''

''I appreciate that, but the doctors said it might take months before Matt has recovered if everything goes in the most positive way. I know we haven't been together for so long, but I will care for him if he wants that.''

Shay nodded. ''I understand.''

''Thank you.'' Gabriela said, tears filling her eyes as she was moved about Shay's friendship and loyalty.

Gabriela Dawson walked the up the steps of her parents house. At first she had doubted if she really had to go here but Severide had nearly forced her to after being nearly day and night with Matthew in the hospital. In the conversation they had had the morning before the fateful call, he had told her he was going to meet her parents in eight days and Severide told her to go to her parents, to finally get out. To be honest, she didn't know how to tell her parents that Matt wasn't here.

''Gabby!'' Her mom embraced her.

''Where is the boy?'' She said, looking confused then. Gabriela swallowed. She didn't want to tell everything.

''There was emergency downtown Chicago, he offered to help so I had to thank you from him he was welcome, but next time he will be here.'' She lied.

Her mom nodded; ''That is what you get if your boyfriend is an hero.''

Gabriela nodded as she walked in. He really was a hero, but why did he deserve this then? He saved a baby, risked his life and this is what he got.

She sat down in front of her dad at the table but stood up to bring the plate and glass beside her back to the kitchen, she couldn't stand the empty spot beside her. Her mom also entered the kitchen.

''I am so happy for you.'' Her mom smiled as she looked in the casserole in the oven, looking back to Gabriela to smile at her. Gabby blushed although she felt guilty about not telling her parents about the current situation. Although she couldn't get it off her mind, she just wanted an evening of normalcy.

Walking back to the table she looked as her mom brought the large portion of casserole to the table.

''How is Shay?'' Her dad started off as they sat down to have dinner.

''She is fine.'' Gabriela said, putting a the food on her plate. Her parents knew Shay very well from her birthdays and from the things she told.

''You know Gabby, I am worried you are dating a firefighter. You know you could lose him, right?''

As if her dad knew. She swallowed her food as her mom fell out against her dad.

''I know, but I can lose everyone, I know that well enough as a paramedic.'' She said.

Her phone rang and her mom looked up, annoyed that their dinner was interrupted by her phone.

''Sorry, I will put it in silent mode.'' Gabby apologized. Looking whom was calling her she doubted for a second to jump up and take the call.

''Do you need to take it?'' Her father asked. She nodded slowly, nodding with an apologizing face and she walked out of the room.

''Kelly?''

Nervous she walked into the firehouse, looking as the firemen looked at her. She walked to the ambulance.

''You must be Dawson.'' A blonde walked towards her and shook her hand.

''You must be Shay.'' Dawson smiled at her.

''Come, let's get you introduced.'' The blonde walked with her to the common room.

''GUYS!'' She yelled to get the boys in the common room and Gabriela looked around. A guy looked at her from the couch, looking back the television within a few seconds. The others dropped their magazines and looked at her.

''This is Dawson, she will be working with us. With me, actually. '' A lieutenant with darker hair started to chuckle; ''You are going to be working on her or with her.''

Shay shook her head and so did the lieutenant sitting next to the lieutenant with the darker her. He stood up, walking towards her; ''Casey.''

He seemed really friendly, not only his mouth smiled but so did his eyes.

''Can I get my hand back?''

Casey finally let go of her hand, blushing.

Dawson ran though the corridor in the hospital, nearly pushing a nurse aside and she only slowed down as she finally reached his room. Her parents seemed really shocked when she had told them what was going on, but if comforted her they promised to come by tomorrow. She opened the door, looking as Severide was still sitting there.

''Matt.'' She smiled as she grabbed his hand, sitting down on her usual stool next to the bed and she was glad to see his eyes were open.

''He is non-responsive, but the doctor said that it is a good sign he is opening his eyes.''

''I know, it can take a while.''

''I will leave you alone with him.''

''You don't have to go.'' Gabriela said, afraid he felt required to leave.

''I know, but I think it is better for him if it is just you here, otherwise it might get overwhelming.''

Severide stood up, hugging her and he walked out. Gabriela stood up, carefully sitting down on his bed next to his body. Her hand caressed the left side of his face, the non burned side and he was looking up to her, although he did not respond to her and he seemed absent, she hoped he realized she was there.

''Hey baby, I am so glad to have you back here. Just hang in there, everything will be alright. '' Finally she bend forward, kissing him on his mouth and when she stood up from his bed she was pretty sure she spotted a smile, although it was only there for a split second and Matt closed his eyes as Gabby sat down in the chair next to his bed. It was going to be a long road, but they were together in this.

NOTE: How will Matt come out of the coma and will he be able to recover? Will the love between Gabby and Matt last? I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you so much for your reviews and other support! It means a lot to me that you like it so much! Thank you for reading and please leave a review before you go, it really means a lot to me and I really like to you know what you think about the storyline of this story!