''Private room, that is some luxury.'' Gabriela dropped the suitcases and bags on the floor, looking through the tiny room. There was a bed, a small nightstand and a closet with a tv on top of it.
''It was n-not like another person would f-fit in here.''
Matt wheeled to the window at the end of the room while Gabriela started to unpack his clothes and laid them in the small closet. It took him some time has his right hand still didn't want to coöperate with him, but at least he could move himself around again. The window was on the east side of the building and he could see the skyline. At least this was closer to Gabby's apartment than the hospital way. Rehabilitation. The word made him shiver as he knew there was still a long road was ahead of them.
''What are you thinking about?'' Gabriela joined him after a few minutes and she laid her hands on his shoulders, massaging them.
''I was thinking how great it is this room has no windows t-towards the hallway and blinds .'' Matt smiled at her.
''But still has a window in the door.''
Matt laughed and she laid her arms on his shoulders and her chin on his head.
''But it will just be weeks.''
''Than we can l-live together.''
''Matthew Casey?'' A nurse came to get him for his conversation with the rehabilitation doctor. Gabriela walked out of the room and walked out of the building as her parents house was just three blocks away from the centre and she walked inside, greeting her mother whom was preparing dinner.
''How did he take it?''
''Better than expected, I think he actually liked to come there since he knows he is out of the hospital, ready to recover. ''
Gabriela started to set the table. Four weeks ago she had been here and was suddenly called away by Severide because Matt was waking up. He was awake now and doing better every day.
''Is Matthew coming over for dinner soon? He is closer to us now.'' Her mother asked as Gabriela walked back to the kitchen to grab the cutlery as the plates were there.
''I think he would like that a lot.'' Gabriela said with a smile.
''Hey.'' Matt slowly walked into the room, looking at Severide whom was laying in the hospital bed.
''Hey, glad you are here. You can put that flowers...somewhere.''
Matt looked at the flowers in his hand as if he had forgotten he had brought them himself.
''Or aren't those for me? There are some hot nurses you might want to share them with.'' Severide chuckled.
''No these are for you because you look so hot in that hospital gown.'' Matt said with a smile, happy to see his friend hadn't lost his humor. Kelly actually looked really good, aside from the large patch covering his neck. Matt had already taken a vase from the dispenser at the hallway and put them next to large bunch on the floor.
''How is life? Must be more interesting than daytime tv.''
''Everything is going as always in 51, nothing special, nothing boring. You are not really missing anything.'' Matt sat down.
''How long is recovery going to be?''
''About three more weeks before I start to annoy you again in 51.''
Matt nodded; ''I am happy to hear that. Shay keeps updating us.''
''I know, I asked her.''
A nurse entered.
''Are you ready for PT?'' She asked him and Kelly looked at Matt.
''Oh shoot, I forgot I had PT, I am sorry!''
''Does't matter, just get better.'' Matt left the room, hoping he would never be in this position, because he felt bad for his friend.
Matt was training on his own in the gym when Severide entered.
''Trying to impress me?''
Matt looked backward and laid the small weight down again he was using for his right arm, that was slowly building power again. Although he could lift the weight and he started to build muscles in the weak limb, he still couldn't really use his hand that well.
''Hey, don't stop because of me. I just wanted to see how you are doing.''
''Na, I've had enough for t-today.'' Matt panted.
''Your arm that weak?'' Severide said worried as his friend was panting.
''Not that my arm is weak, more t-that I am out of shape. My body hasn't been f-functioning for a week.'' Matt mumbled, thinking back about the coma.
''You make such poor excuses.'' Severide joked. ''Let's get something to drink, okay?''
''Are you going t-to lecture me again about my relationship?''
''No, I just like to sit somewhere else than on the ground.'' Severide said, looking around and seeing there was no other chair.
''You are l-lazy.''
''Your eye level lowered.''
''Let's t-turn that around.''
Severide looked surprised as Matt grabbed the crutches standing against the walking bars beside him.
''Need any help?''
''No.'' Matt growled and with a lot of effort he managed to stand up, leaning on the crutches.
''You better s-sit down quick, my record is forty-nine seconds.'' Matt panted but after twenty seconds he sat down again, panting badly and he pulled his right leg on the rest again.
''That was great Matt, glad to see your leg can take a little weight again.''
''The problem is not s-so much my leg, it is m-my back that is the problem.''
''I see. Well, you impressed me enough to buy you a drink.''
''Deal.''
They left to the small cafeteria on the first floor and Matt drank half of the bottle water at once.
''Don't tell Gabby I was training. She d-doesn't want me to without supervision.''
''You were totally watching TV in your room, am I right?''
Matt nodded with a smile. He checked his watch; ''American Idol, if she asks.''
''Is it that late yet?'' Severide said surprised.
''Afternoon rerun. T-tv schedule is tight in my head after all t-these weeks.''
''I can't stay t-that long, I have to shower today.''
''Oh you are going a date with Gabby today?'' Severide said, wiggling his eyebrows.
''T-that wouldn't be so bad. I have to meet her parents.''
''You are afraid they won't like you?''
Matt nodded.
''Well, if it is a comfort, no father likes his daughter's boyfriends.''
His friend started to laugh. ''Oh yeah, that t-totally eases my mind.'' he laughed as he drank the water.
''Nah, they will like you, Matt. There is no such thing as not liking you. I mean, I am an ass. You are mister nice guy. Everybody just kinda likes you.''
''I hope.''
''Hello Matt, I am so glad to finally meet you.''
Gabriela's mom shook his hand. Gabriela resembled her a lot. They had some long dark hair and their eyes were identical. Even though Matt met her parents for the first time he did know what her parents looked like as he had been allowed to spend some time in their cabin and there were pictures there. But her mom still surprised him as they really looked similar. Her dad was a lot taller than both woman and shook his hand as well.
''Matt.''
''Eduard.''
They went to the dinner table and Marlina, Gabriela's mom jumped up as Antonio came running inside towards the kitchen.
''Antonio what are you doing?''
''Laura is out this week for work and I forgot to make dinner for the kids...Let me just taste that... OUCH!''
Maat nearly bursted out in laughter when he heard the slap against Antonio's head and their mom cursing in spanish.
''That is not your paella. It's for Matt and Gabriela.''
Various drawers were pulled open in the kitchen and Antonio came walking out of the kitchen with a Tupperware container in his hands.
''Just put it in the microwave.'' His mom yelled after him.
''Wouldn't even trust that mom, it will probably explode.'' Gabriela chuckled and Antonio imitated her with a funny face.
''Genius detective, can't make a decent spaghetti.'' their mom complained as she topped another container on top of the other.
''Thanks mom. Bye Matt and Gabby!'' Antonio walked out.
''This is usual business. The first time my brother made dinner himself he boiled an egg, decided he didn't want it and decided he wanted it the next day. He put in the microwave.'' Gabriela chuckled.
''And guess who had to clean it up.'' Marlina said as she put the giant batch of paella on the table.
''T-this smells really great.'' Matt said as he looked at the food. He liked the paella Gabriela made for him a few weeks ago, but she had promised the paella her mom made would even be ten times better.
''Thank you, I hope you will like it.''
''I am sure I w-will, it smells and looks really good. Besides, I believe your d-daughter.''
Marlina smiled as he handed her his plate and she served the food out.
''Mmm, this is really really g-good.'' Matt said after a few bites.
''Oh, I don't have to make it for you anymore?'' Gabriela teased him. Gabriela's dad joined them only now, as he ran out after intruducing because he had to handle something at their company.
''Sorry I am late.''
Eduard sat down and started to load his plate and eat.
''So Matt, you are going to guest more often or you don't like this food.''
''It is so g-good, I could eat this every night.'' Matt mumbled and he felt happy. Her parents were so friendly and welcoming he felt bad for being scared for tonight. He wished he had grown up in a family as warm as this.
A few hours later Gabriela and Matt left and he had a great night. They had been talking all night but he was relieved he didn't have to talk about his rehabilitation all night. Everything finally seemed near normalcy again.
''It two weeks is the 4th of July. Do you want to go to the Navy pier?'' Gabriela asked as she pushed wheelchair.
Matt sighed and laid his head in his hand that was on his armrest.
''Hey, something wrong?''
''N-nothing, I just got an headache.''
Right before they crossed the streeet towards the centre Matt suddenly fell forward, shaking on the pavement and Gabriela kneeled down. For a second she didn't know what to do. On her work she could respond within seconds but now it was about Matt she didn't know what to do.
hen the fog in her mind suddenly disappeared and she turned him on his side in the recovery position, as she had done many times but it was different this time. She knew it was a seizure from his epilepsy, but she could only think about the night in the ambulance when he nearly died in her arms, shaking and finally flat lining.
This was taking too long!
''Somebody, help!'' She yelled as she knew this took too long for a small seizure and he had to go to a hospital. She carefully checked for his pockets, looking for his phone but she couldn't find it and she realized she left her own on the charger at her parent's, to retrieve it on her way back home.
''oh no, I am not losing you again! Not like this!''
NOTE: The CF people never learn to take their phones, do they?
Will Matt be okay? Will they still be together on the 4th of July?
I hope you liked this chapter! Misery just never ends for poor Matt...but he at least he has Gabriela caring for him! Thanks for reading and please leave a review before you go!