''Gabby!''
Gabriele woke up and looked up, rubbing with the palms of her hands through her eyes. It was dark in the room and she hit the light switch with her hands as her eyes were adjusting to the sudden light. Usually she went home in the evening, but she must have fallen asleep. The book that was on her lap slid down and fell on the floor with a loud smack.
''Are you trying to wake him up?'' Antonio hissed and she rolled her eyes, standing up and she walked out of the room with him.
''What are you doing here?''
''Mom said you didn't come over for dinner tonight. She was worried about you so I drove down here. How is he?''
Gabriela looked into the room where she could see Matt looking back at her. He was there again, sort of. Mentally he was there for the past days.
''It is getting better every day. We had a conversation with the doctor this morning whom was very pleased about the results on the MRI.''
''So he is going to recover?''
Gabriela looked to the ground. ''He is going to get better, but they suspect he will never fully recover.''
Mentally, he was there with them but the stroke had done a lot of neurological damage. As the stroke happened in the left side of his brain, his speech seemed to be impaired and the right side of his body was weaker as it was. It would get better, but the doctor couldn't tell how much it would improve.
Antonio rubbed over her shoulder.
''I will tell mom you are okay. Stay safe.'' Her brother smiled at her, nodded and he walked away. Gabriela walked back into the room.
''Anton-nio?'' Matt asked with a lot of effort. but Gabriela was happy he was finally talking for the first time today after he had spoken with the doctor.
''Yes, I had to say hi to you from him. He wanted to ask how you were but he didn't have time to come in. You know who is coming by tomorrow?''
''Herm-man?'' He asked, again with a lot of effort and Gabby felt bad for asking to question, because she knew he had trouble talking as the stroke happened in the left side of his brains but she also know it was better to keep him talking.
''Yes, together with Kelly.''
Matt smiled for a second.
''Do you still want me to come by in the evening after going out with my mom? I know you are tired so it's okay if you want to sleep.''
''P-please do c-come by.'' His left hand rubbed over her hand on the blanket.
''It's l-late.'' He stated, looking at the clock.
''Do you want me to go now so you can sleep?''
''N-not really. ''
She moved the chair closer to the bad, afraid to wake other people as it scrapped over the floor and she sat down, laying her head against his shoulder. Her ear was uncomfortable against his shoulder bones as he lost a lot of weight in the past three weeks but for now it was enough to be together with him. His head also fell sideways against her head and she felt the rough skin on the left side of his face, where most of the skin was healed. When she heard his calm breathing she finally fell asleep as well.
''Hey Matt.'' Kelly entered first, smiling as his friend was sitting up in sweatpants and T-shirt and finally had a little color back in his face.
''Hey K-kelly. I am g-glad you are here.''
''How is your back?''
''G-good. It doesn't h-hurt anymore.''
Kelly walked out of the room for a second as he had to pick up Hermann at the entrance and Matt grabbed his phone for a second. texting Gabriela to have a good day with her mom. It took some time with only one hand but he wanted to be there for her as well while she was really supporting him.
The men returned and he greeted Hermann.
''You know, that McLeod lady decided that station 51 would re-open after a lot of protest by the neighborhood. Most of us are coming back to the firehouse.''
'' I am going to lieutenant, I nailed the exam.'' Hermann said proud.
''C-congratulations.''
''You have some old competition for the job.'' Severide chuckled at Matt.
''Who do you call old!? Nah man, I am just saving your spot until you get back.''
''Y-you better k-keep the place for me.''
Hermann left not so much later as he had to get back to his family, but Kelly stayed a little longer.
''Aren't you mad? I mean, maybe the doctors could have seen the cloth coming? It will take a while for you to get back, right?''
''It is n-not their f-fault. I am n-not coming b-back.'' Matt mumbled, looking away from Severide.
''You shouldn't give up hope! You can still recover and come back.''
'' I am n-not going to be h-hopeful about something that is n-not going to happen.''
''I am sorry Matt.'' Kelly laid his hand on his shoulder.
''Don't b-be sorry.'' Matt shook his head, if there was one person to blame it was himself, for running back into that building. He wanted to push Severide's hand away, but his right hand refused to do anything. How could they even think about him coming back?
Severide saw his friend struggling and removed his hand.
''Just know I am right here for you, if you need somebody.'' He nodded.
''Guys, we can't do this.'' Severide rolled his eyes as the guy behind the wheel of the truck already wanted to drive away, while he kept looking out of the window. Matthew was still picking up the stuff they left upstairs on purpose. The guy behind the wheel shifted the gear and Kelly jumped out as the car was slowly rolling away. The guys behind him yelled but he ran into the building, up the stairs.
Matthew was walking downstairs with the gear in his hands.
''Whoah, hand me some.''
''Why? It is not so far down, why were you waiting for me again?'' Although what he said sounded pretty sarcastic, Kelly could see in his face he appreciated it and he handed him some of the heavy gear.
They walked down the stairs, to see the truck missing.
''Shit, I had hoped they would wait because I jumped out.''
''Guess we will be walking.''
The two young firemen started walking back the few blocks to the station.
''Where they this awful to you as well?''
''Not really, but I stood up against them, you are too nice for that.'' Kelly said, honest.
''I don't care if I am too nice. I prefer getting respect because people like me than getting respect because I frighten them.''
''Oh, you are having big plans?'' Kelly smiled.
''I want to be a lieutenant.''
''Your dad was a firefighter?'' Kelly asked, as he seemed so determined.
''No, my dad was an ass.'' Before Kelly could say anything, Matt walked away from him.
Gabriela walked into the hospital again, the way to his room which was almost automatism after walking it for so many times. She held the bag of chocolates in his hand which she had bought with her mom as she knew how much he liked chocolate. Maybe it would make him feel better. Surprised she saw that the blinds of his room closed and slowly she peeked inside, wondering if he was asleep. He did close the blinds sometimes, so he wouldn't get awoken by people walking by.
''Hey, what is wrong?'' Gabriela said worried as she saw Matt laying on his left side, staring at the wall and his eyes and cheeks red. Just as broken as when she found him in his house after Hallie's death.
She walked to his bed, slowly and sat down on the edge next to his legs.
''You shouldn't be laying on your side.''
''I s-shouldn't be in h-here.''
''You are right about that. You shouldn't be in here.''
Gabriela rubbed over his shoulder with her hand, not knowing what to say. She had hoped he wouldn't break down, but she would only expect he would.
But his broken side was just there for a few seconds after that and his no-bullshit attitude returned immediately. He tried to turn back on his back and Gabriela tried to help him, without saying anything.
''Don't give up. Okay.'' Gabriela finally said, sitting on his bedside a little longer. Her hand caressed the side of his face again.
''I w-won't. Just r-remind me sometimes.'' Matt raised his left hand, also caressing her face and smiled at her.
He wasn't alone in this and that was what would have to be his motivation to pull through.
NOTE: Will Casey recover enough to go back to 51?
Well, I hope you liked this chapter and that it didn't disappoint you! I am really blown away by the amount of followers, wow! Just wow! I am really surprised because I think it will be so different from the series itself! It makes me kinda nervous, because so many people follow it and that I will disappoint you, so I really hope you like it!
Thank you reading and please post a review!