Tired Matt pulled the sweater over his head as he looked at the alarm. It only a few minutes past seven. This just had to be crime.
''Hey, see you tomorrow.'' Matt kissed Gabriela quickly as his mom was waiting and he sat up again.
''Good luck with PT...and your mom.''
''Good luck with the shift.'' He smiled as he slowly moved to the edge of the bed and Gabriela stood up to help him in the wheelchair.
''I am so happy when I get rid of this...everything.'' He sighed and she nodded, kissing him on the forehead and handed him his bag. He knew it was getting better and that he would most likely recover completely, but it made him hopeless.
Matt wheeled to the bathroom to grab some other things and the doorbell rang. Gabriela came running by over the hallway as she was pulling her sweatpants up and opened the door.
''Hey Nancy.''
Matt stuffed the last stuff in his bag and moved to the living room, greeting his him.
''How are you feeling?'' His mom asked in the car.
''Good, just tired.''
They arrived at the hospital and went inside where he saw Mich, the therapist, for the first time since friday.
''Mom, I forgot my bottle of water in the car, can you get it for me?'' Matt asked as he got the necessary things from his bag and realized he had been dirnking a little of water in the car and she nodded and walked out of the PT room.
''You and your mom don't look alike.'' Mich carefully said as he helped Matt standing up.
''No, I look more like my father did.'' Matt just said as he carefully sat down, Mich holding him.
''I am sorry to hear your father is not alive anymore.''
Matt frowned as he hadn't said the man was dead, but he didn't want to talk about it anymore anyway as his mom entered again and laid the bottle on top of the towel.
''See you back in an hour.''
''Yeah, see ya.'' Matt smiled at her and she left. Mich grabbed his right leg and started stretching it, giving Matt the usual exercises.
''i walked to the kitchen with Gabriela yesterday - that is pretty far in our house.''
''Yes, you are improving really fast. I am glad and proud. Can you push my hand away this time?''
Matt tried to move his foot and slowly but steady he pushed Mich's hand away and proud he looked as Mich laid his leg down.
''See'' Mich said and started working on his other leg. Matt walked between the bars without Mich's help and after that they practiced with forarm crutches.
''I think you will be able to use those soon.''
Matt nodded, exhausted and he drank some water as he sat down, only a few more minutes before his mom would come to pick him up.
His mom was there a few minutes later and they went to the supermarket together.
''What do you want for dinner tonight?'' His mom asked as they walked through the supermarket and Matt knew his mom wasn't very good at cooking. She reached out to get some other groceries and but them in the basket on his lap.
''Maybe...that soup you used to make when I sick?'' Matt asked as he rememberd the mustard soup she used to make when he was sick in bed when he was younger. She pushed the wheelchair to the other isle and she sighed as she picked up a box.
''That was also your dad's favourite dish.''
She said it very neutral but he could see the pain in her face and he realized that even though she caused his death, he should have realized her mom was still mourning after all those years.
''We can also eat something else.''
''No, it's okay. Do you still have milk for breakfast?''
''Coffee.''
''Oh...I didn't know.''
Even in the short period of time they had been living together they never got the know each other as well anymore and he had to admit he knew nothing about his mom either. The last he had had milk for breakfast voluntarily was when he was nineteen and didn't like coffee yet.
They got everything and went home, where he helped his mom cleaning, although she kept telling him to sit down and relax. A little later they both went to the living room and Matt moved himself to the couch. It was kinda awkward, sitting here with his mother and he looked around the living room. It was very sunoke and empty and he was glad that they watched TV moments later so he didn't have to say anything. At least she was living on her own again and managing.
''My parole officer is coming by tonight to check if I am here, just so you know.'' She said then and Matt nodded, focussing back on the TV. They watched a movie together and Matt actually enjoyed being with his mom. They never had been the persons to tell a lot of things that probably didn't interest the other and it was okay like this.
''Do you by the way maybe a have a picture of Gabriela and you together? She is such a sweet girl and I'd like to have a picture of you together.'' She pointed at the small table where there were only two pictures framed. The wedding picture of Christie and Jim he had send her in prison and a picture of his graduation at the academy.
''How are you and Christie now?'' He asked as he looked at the wedding picture.
''Nothing, they won't even let me see Violet.''
She stood up to prepare dinner and Matt looked down. He had really hoped his sister had forgiven their mother. unfortunately, time could not heal all wounds.
Gabriela walked to her bunk and sat down, dialing Matt. Hopefully there would be no call soon and she curled up on the bed, laying her chin on her knees.
''Hey sweety.'' She said as he heard him taking the phone call and he said hey back, a little sleepy.
''Did I call you awake?''
''No, not at all. I dozed off while watching the news, but I have to wake up now anyway.'' He said as he looked at the clock, knowing the parole officer would be here soon to check the house and he would have to wake up anyway.
''How is your shift?'' He asked.
''Just the usual.''
''Tell me some more, or I have to watch teleshopping.''
She chuckled. ''There was a car accident downtown. We went there and your men got the passengers out of the car, we brought them away. They are most likely going to be fine.''
''The car that slipped on the bridge?''
''Yeah.''
''Next time you should wave. I saw it on the news before I dozed off.''
Gabriela laughed and looked up as the phone was suddenly grabbed from her hand and Severide and Clarke were holding it.
''Oooh Matt, smoochie smoochie.'' Clarke started while Severide made smoochie sounds in the back and Gabriel leaned to grab it back but they kept on going.
''Ooh Mattie.'' Severide made a last smoochie sound while Gabby took the phone back.
''Bye sweetie.'' She laughed as she heard him laughing as well.
Matt sat up as the parole officer entered and he greeted the woman, moving to the wheelchair as she needed to check everything and he just looked at his mom,w ho almost looked apologzing.
As the woman left again he got ready for the bed. He looked away as his mom helpe dhim but realized then it as better than when he had to do it himself. She kissed him on his forehead.
''Goodnight Matt.''
''Goodnight...thanks mom.'' He said then as he laid down under the blanket and was asleep very soon.
''Goodmorning.'' He woke up as somebody sat down next to him and kissed him on his temple and he opened his eyes, looking up to Gabriela with a smile.
''Hey.''
He kissed her back as he sat up and she helped him out of bed.
''How was the last part of your shift?''
''Survived it.''
She helped him dress as she knw they would shower at their home and Matt said goodbye to his mom, knowing he would spend the night here again in two days. Honestly, it wasn't that bad because being on his own wouldn't be pleasant either. besides, his mom could use some company as well.
''How late to you have PT?''
''A quarter to three.'' He said in the car and they drove home. ''I't just a month and I will be back with you at 51 again.''
''So it is going well?''
''Yeah.''
''And your check with Mason?''
''Tomorrow afternoon after PT. Mom takes me.'' He said as she had another shift tomorrow.
''Sorry I don't have time.''
''I know, it's okay.''
He laid her hand on her and kissed her in her neck as she parked. She felt guilty as she could never come with him now, but he could do it own as well.
They entered the house again, happy they were home and together again.
NOTE: So is Matt going to be okay with the check up tomorrow?
I hope you liked this chapter although it included a lot of his mom instead of Severide and Gabby.
Thank you for reading and please tell me what you think about it!