Gabriela couldn't leave him alone, but she had to call for help. Matt was still shaking after four minutes and she knew this was bad. Two minutes, maybe three were the norm but this took too long.

For a second she looked around although she couldn't figure out what to do.

''Hey! Kid, come here!'' The young boy slowly turned his BMX their way and approached them. Gabriela bit her lip as Matt was still convulsing.

''Give me your phone, I need to call 911.''

Gabriela grabbed the phone the boy was holding out to her while the boy kneeled down next to Matthew and grabbed his cramped wrists.

''Don't, you might break his wrists.'' She warned as she called the number. The boy looked a kinda terrified at the convulsing man and he looked at Gabriela. She sat down next to him. Battery was gone and she handed the phone back.

''Do you see the rehabilitation centre there? Run there and get help!''

The boy jumped up and sprinted away.

''Matt, please.'' Gabriela was glad to so his convulsions finally lessened and moments later he laid there, released. His breathing returned to normal and she was glad the seizure seemed to be over. Staff from the centre came their way and laid him on a gurney.

''The doctor is going to check on him, just to be sure.'' A nurse said as the made their way to the centre and Gabriela was relieved as she knew she left Matt in good hands.

About an hour later she walked into his room and was glad to see he was already moved to his own bed. She kissed him on his temple and he opened his eyes.

''Hey sweetie, you had another attack.'' Gabriela caressed his hand as Matt was looking at her, confused. He grabbed his hand from hers and wiped the dirt from the side of his face, confused. She laid his arm back and wiped his head clean. He tried to get up but laid back immediately.

''Ooh, my h-head.'' He finally mumbled, hoarse.

''I know. Just lay back and rest.'' Matt grabbed her hands and closed his eyes. She wanted to get up and switch off the lights so he could sleep but his eyes suddenly fluttered open again.

''Second at-tack.''

''I know. Just go to sleep, you will better tomorrow.''

He tried to turn on his back but he couldn't and Gabriela helped him, covering him under the thin blanket en tucking him in.

''Second at-tack. You know what t-that means.'' Matt said as his eyes started to tear.

''I know. But there is medication that prevent these attacks...'' The realisation suddenly hit her and she looked as he gritted his teeth before he said it.

''It means I am n-not going to be a f-firefighter again.''

Bitter Matt looked at the parade that was coming through their street. The only reason he was walking here was because he didn't want to be in the house. All the people around him were cheering and waving with flags. When he looked backward he saw his mom running outside with Christie and they stood behind the long line of spectators. He walked back to them, they couldn't help what his dad said to him. That he was a loser, tha the would never do something with his life as a constructor. That he had to go in the army, but he didn't want to. He wasn't sure what he really wanted to do but he would never join the army. It was not that he had something against it but he didn't want to do it as his dad wanted him to. He hated his dad for all the misery he brought to his mother. All the misery they brought to Christie with their fighting. Days like these were the worst since they both had no school. Matt was in his final year of highschool and the only reason he was there was because he didn't want to be at home. But not because he wanted to study, all he wanted was to start his own contracting company.

''Mommy, I can't see anything.''

Matthew put his hands on his sisters sides and lifted her up, putting the younger girl on his neck.

''You can see anything now?''

''Thank you.'' Her hands grabbed his hair and he was afraid she would pull it out if she leaned backward but he could only think about her being happy for now. Their mom looked sideways and nodded at him, grateful what he did for his sister.

CPD were passing and Christie started to cheer. Ever since the police had been in their home after the break-in two years ago she loved the police, as they had helped them.

His shoulder started to hurt and he was afraid he would drop his sister so he decided it was safer to get her safely on the ground again.

''Sorry Christie, I can't hold you much longer.''

His sister pouted and he looked as Alan Casey suddenly stood behind them, acting for the rest of the neighborhood that he was a perfect family man.

Alan lifted Casey up and put on his neck and she kept on cheering.

''Maybe if you would join the military, you would be strong enough to hold a ten-year old girl.'' He mumbled in Matthew's ear.

''Alan.'' Nancy sighed as she heard what her husband said.

Matthew gritted his teeth as he looked back to the parade.

Useless.

Loser.

Worthless.

He had heard his dad say it all. The neighbours next to them started cheering as the CFD was approaching. When they had a fire in their kitchen a few weeks ago, the CFD had responded so fast it saved their house.

Squinting against the sun Matt looked at the hero's standing and waving on the trucks that passed by.

''I am going to be a firefighter.'' He heard himself saying before he even realized what he was saying.

His mother looked surprised.

''But I thought you wanted to start your own company.''

Even more surprised than his mom was his dad as he looked at Matt, perplexed.

''In a few years, you will be standing here and waving and cheering at me!'' Matt yelled to his father. The spectators around him looked at them but Matt looked as the trucks disappeared out of the sight. Tomorrow he was going to sign himself in at the academy.

He would no longer be worthless, a loser or useless.

''Hey, didn't you have PT this morning?''

Gabriela walked in with a Tupperware container and handed it to him. Matt was laying in his bed as he was watching tv. He put the tv off and moved to the side bed a little so she could sit next to him.

''With love from my mom. She hopes you will like it.''

Matt opened it, to see a lot of fresh-baked cupcakes.

''T-that is really sweet. Please t-thank your mom.''

Gabriela sat down next to him on the bed.

''Why didn't you go to PT, I know you had PT this morning.''

He laid the box and remote on the nightstand. When he didn't answer she looked aside and he looked sad.

''Let's outside, okay.''

Matt didn't really respond but she got his wheelchair and placed it next to the bed. Matt sat up and tried to stand up to get in, but sat back down.

''Talk to me, what is wrong?'' Gabriela sat down next to him.

''It's nothing, I just f-feel tired. Worn out.''

''It is not just that, I can see you are depressed. I know you are upset about what happened yesterday, but you can't give up, remember?''

Matt looked at her and gave her a small smile. ''I know.''

''You know, my parents invited it us to come to the cabin for the fourth of July. We could go there the third and stay there till the fifth.''

''I like t-that.''

''I know you would.'' Gabriela said with a smile as she caressed his hand. They were silent for some moments, listening to each others breathing. She felt bad because she knew he was extremely unhappy. What made her even more worried was that she knew nobody could change it.

''There is an elephant in the room.''

Matthew looked around.

''That is a s-small elephant, I don't s-see it.''

Gabby tilted her head.

''Maybe it is so big you don't notice it. Matt, I understand you are upset but skipping PT isn't going to bring you back to 51 and neither is skipping breakfast.''

''Skipping breakfast?''

''The tray is under your bed. I saw it when I walked in.''

''Oh.'' Was all the Matt said and he looked down, at their hands.

''You are not just hurting yourself, you are also hurting me and I don't understand why. I mean, I do understand why you are sad and upset but why are you giving up?''

''I am not g-giving up.''

''Seems like it. I know you are upset and you have the right to be but if you are giving up I can't help but give up as well.'' Gabriela shook her head.

''Let's go outside, leave the elephant here.'' She finally said as she knew that it didn't help to force him. She helped him in the wheelchair and they went outside, to the park nearby.

''T-thank you.''

''For what?''

''For giving me the k-kick under my butt I needed. Everybody just s-stays nice and compassionate while all I need is h-honesty.''

Gabriela smiled and sat down on the bench they reached while Matt turned the wheelchair so they could look each other in the eyes.

''You know, you already did the impossible, you made my dad like you.''

Matt started to laugh. ''Your dad didn't like M-mills?''

''I never introduced Peter to them.''

Matt nodded. ''So we are t-that serious?'' He said with a broad smile.

''Are you still doubting about that?''

''No.'' He mumbled with a cheeky smile as she kissed him.

Maybe it seemed like all was gone, but he still had her.

That evening he looked around his room. When he was alone it seemed all so hopeless, as if truth stared him in the face even worse. That everything had pulled him through the situation of his family was gone now.

''What do you think you are doing?''

Alan Casey walked down the stairs when Matthew just wanted to walk outside.

''I am going to sign in at the academy.''

Matthew wanted to walk through the door but his dad pulled him back and threw Matt back inside.

''You are not going to sign anywhere if it is not the army!'' Alan grabbed the back that was on the floor that Matt wanted to take and his dad picked it up, throwing it against Matthew and Matthew fell forward, against the stairs. Mad he jumped up, wiping the blood from his lip. Stumbling he grabbed the bag and he pushed his dad aside, running outside as he swayed the bag over his shoulder and sprinted away.

''What did you say about not making the tests?'' His dad ran outside but Matthew ran away, faster than his father. A few blocks further he stopped, panting to see his dad hadn't followed him and continued his way.

He was going to do it and nobody was going to stop him.

Except he would do that himself twenty years later.

NOTE: Is this the end of Matt's career in 51? Can he overcome this setback?

I hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reading and leave a review before you go please! Following the story doesn't give me an indication of what you think about the chapters, reviewing does :D