Title: One Month - Chapter Four
Summary: The days following Andy Darden's death and how it was handled. Mostly Kelly Severide, Matthew Casey, but have all.
Disclaimers: The show is property of Dick Wolfe, and NBC. I don't own anything. Just borrowing the characters to practice my writing. Only thing I own is Season 1 DVDs and they are getting well worn. LOL
A/N: Thank you all for enjoying this so far and for the reviews. Do let me know what you think so far. Please. Thank you. Does anyone know about what goes on at a firefighters funeral? Please let me know thanks. Have any thoughts so far?
Scenes in bold and Italic are from the show.
The next day everyone is on shift at the firehouse. Matthew Casey, feels a little better since he is taking his medicine as he walks into the firehouse. His throat is still sore and he coughs every now and again but he is on the road to recovery for now. He is very quiet as he heads into the locker room to change into his uniform. He puts his bag and his clothes into his locker and shuts it and heads into his office not wanting to see anybody as of now. Just wanting to be alone to do his paperwork.
Kelly Severide, is sitting at the squad table. A very dark look on his face. Everyone sees this and stays away knowing it means trouble. They want to help but don't know how. He lets no one in but Leslie Shay and at times he shuts her out as well. She tries her hardest to get past his wall that he has build around himself. Sometimes it works and sometimes it backfires.
Chief Wallace Boden, takes a walk just to check on everyone. It is to quiet in his firehouse. In the common room everyone is sitting and talking and eating breakfast. He sees, Matt in his office doing paperwork trying to look very busy. He goes out to the hanger and he sees, Kelly sitting at the squad table alone. A dark look on his face. He heads back to his office not knowing what to do. Everyone felt the loss of, Andy Darden. It would take awhile to heal.
Around the firehouse Gabby and Leslie were cleaning and stocking up the ambulance making sure it was ready for the next call. Joe Cruz was washing Truck eighty-one outside of the firehouse. He was even waxing it so it would shine on the day of, Andy Darden's funeral. Matthew Casey was doing his check list that needed done and was making sure to do the jobs.
Kelly Severide was in his office doing his paperwork that needed to be done before anything else happened. Things were extremely quiet. Matt and Kelly didn't even set eyes on one another yet since the shift started. Everyone was keeping busy getting things done and not saying how there weren't any calls yet because as soon as someone said something like that than the alarm would go off.
Chief Boden was getting his work done also. He checked things out a few times than he would go back to his office and get back to work. Matt was walking outside to check on Joe Cruz and just looking at how clean the truck was. When he heard a noise. What is that? Where is it coming from? Matt thought, looking around and spotted something behind the bushes in the front. A kitten was meowing, looking all thin and dirty and just needing some tender loving care. "Awe. Where did you come from little one?" Matt asks, reaching his hand out as the kitten came over to him and rubbed its head on his outstretched hand. It meows again as it sits and waves its tail. It is a black kitten with the greenest eyes.
Matt heads inside to the kitchen and grabs a bowl and pours milk for the hungry kitten and heads back out and sit's the bowl on the ground as the kitten comes over sniffing the milk than drinking it. Matt pets the kitten as it purrs. Matt, goes into the firehouse and finds a bucket and fills it with water and some soap to wash the kitten and heads back out to wash the wee kitten. The kitten doesn't seem to mind the water as Matt cleans the animal up. The tiny thing meows once Matt is done and sets the kitten on a towel that he grabbed when he got the bucket and filled it.
He dries the kitten off amazed that the little thing doesn't mind being washed and dried. He picks the cat up and checks if it is a boy or girl. A boy. Now to think of a name. Later for that. Matt, stands up and dumps the water out of the bucket and grabbing the towel and heading back inside with a little shadow following him. He puts the things away in the spot he found them and notices the kitten following him. The kitten meows as it walks around the common room checking things out. It settles on the couch in Mouch's spot.
Matt finds the shopping list and adds kitten food, kitty litter and a litter-box to the already long list. "Well where did you come from?" Mouch asks, seeing the kitten in his spot. The kitten meows. "I found him outside." Matt answers, putting the list back where he found it. "Well you can put him back outside." Mouch says, looking at Matt. "You're just angry because he took your favorite spot." Matt says, with a small smile. He shakes his head in amusement as Mouch sits on the other end of the couch away from the kitten. Matt heads out to the apparatus floor getting a coughing fit as he walks out, making sure he covers his mouth.
He suddenly gets extremely light headed as he feels himself sway as if on a boat. "Hey, Casey I got you." Jose Vargas says, grabbing his lieutenant's arm and sitting him down in a chair at the squad table. Matt is still coughing trying to get it back under control as if he can't get enough air. A water bottle is set in front of him to drink from. He opens it and takes a few sips. Finally he can take a breath. He leans back and closes his eyes and taking in air.
Matt doesn't think he can move for awhile yet so he just stays where he is. His eyes closed and just breathing. Others get back to work but Chief Boden looks at, Matt with concern. Kelly Severide tries not to look like he is concerned but in truth he is. Leslie Shay and Gabriela Dawson share a glance with Chief Boden. He looks over at them and shakes his head. He'd be keeping his eyes, on one, Matthew Casey for the rest of shift.
Everyone looks down as they hear a meow coming closer to them. The kitten hops up onto Matt's lap and settles down for the duration of however long it wants to stay. "Where did that kitten come from?" Chief Boden asks, Looking at Matt. "Outside behind some bushes. I took care of the kitten by giving him a bath and feeding him." Matt says, eyes still closed. The Chief bends down to pet the kitten as the little one purrs.
The alarm tone sounds, as a call is coming in. Ambulance 61...Heart attack victim at…
Leslie and Gabby, get in the Ambulance and rush off. Matt, opens his eyes feeling better. The kitten meows as it hops down to the floor going over to Kelly who was sitting in the other squad chair at the table. The kitten sniffs his feet meowing. Matt, gets up taking the bottled water with him as he heads back to his office.
Matt steps into his office and sits down at his desk looking at his paper work as he flips through it. He puts it back in a neat pile. He folds his arms on his desk and lays his head down and closes his eyes. His breathing turns even as sleep claims him. The kitten follows Matt to where he went and hops onto his bed as if waiting.
Kelly Severide is going to his office as he sees Matt asleep at his desk. He looks around and sees no one around. He goes into Matt's office and turns the covers back. "If you tell anyone I will deny I did this." Kelly says, looking at the kitten who meows at him. He goes over to Matt. "Come on." Kelly whispers, as he helps Matt to his feet and guides him to the bed and helps him down onto the bed. He helps Matt to lay down. He takes Matt's shoes off and covers him up. He looks around and leaves Matt's office and goes to his. Unknown to him, Chief Boden, saw the whole thing. Brothers have their fights but they still care deeply about on another. Chief Boden thought, as he turns to leave going back to his office. The kitten settles down for a little cat nap beside Matt whom burrows deeper into the covers content and resting.
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Later in the shift the team headed back to the firehouse after a call from a five car pile up caused by a drunk driver. The driver escaped unscathed somehow but most everyone was hurt and had to be taken to the hospital. There was two fatalities. One was an adult and one was a small child. Everyone was quiet on the way back. Kelly Severide was getting off of the squad three truck watching Matthew Casey get out of truck eighty-one. Everyone got their gear off and went to the common room to watch TV. To unwind and gather their thoughts. The squad team sat at their table. Chief Boden was watching both Kelly and Matt.
Did I do all I could have? Was there anything at all I could have done differently? So sad when people have to die by the hand of a drunk driver. Matt thought, walking toward the direction of the common room and looking over at Chief Boden. "All the men did all they could have done. Things just happen. You did well today." Chief Boden says, voicing Matt's thoughts.
"Thanks Chief." Matt says, as he sees Kelly heading somewhere and following him. It's time we have a talk. Life is short and things could happen. Matt thought, heading after Kelly. Kelly went to his office and was surprised when he saw Matt. "We need to talk." Matt says, looking at his fellow lieutenant.
Kelly just gave him a look and said, "It's still your fault Andy isn't here. You screwed up and I'll be watching you." Matt takes a step back a dejected look on his face as he turns and leaves and goes to his office. He sinks down to sit on his office chair his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. I've had it with everything! Matt thought, as he stands and heads to where the punching bag is. He may still be getting over his illness but he suddenly just wanted to hit something. Maybe not the best idea but at least it was better than just sitting and thinking. He glares over at Kelly with a dark look as he rushes past.
Matt is lacing up the gloves and putting them on. Once both gloves are on he begins hitting the bag. The squad team just sit and watches' from their table as the truck lieutenant unleashes his fury on the bag.
The death of Andy. The bag is punched. The treatment from Kelly. The bag is punched. The death of two people on shift. The bag is punched. On and on it goes as Matt keeps on hitting the bag. A good workout for him as a fine sheen of sweat covers him and he is breathing heavily. He begins to cough but he just keeps hitting the bag letting the anger out of just everything for the past few days. His control breaking just for a moment. "Matt, enough." Chief Boden says, as Matt keeps hitting the bag not hearing the Chief.
"MATT, ENOUGH!" Chief Boden yells, putting his hand on Matt's shoulder. Matt stops and turns to look at the Chief and is breathing heavily and coughing. He takes the gloves off and throws them down and just walks away. Kelly bumps into Matthew as he comes to see what was going on. Kelly looks at Matt and sees his anguish and his pain. A tormented look on his face. Matt just shoves past him, for the moment not caring. "Hey!" Kelly yells after him. Matt shoots him a look a of warning and Kelly raised his hands up backing off.
Kelly, looks at Chief Boden. "Did you say something again, Severide? Can't you work out your issues whatever they may be?" Chief Boden questioned, looking at his squad lieutenant. Kelly just heads over to the squad table and sits down with his team. Chief Boden just looks at Kelly and shakes his head and leaves for his office. "Anybody up for a game of poker?" Kelly asked, looking around the table. Everyone was up for a game.
Matt heads to the common room and finds a spot and sits down. The kitten heads over to Matt and hops up and settles beside Matt on the couch. Matt is absent-mindedly petting the kitten as he is in deep thought. How can I talk to Kelly when he has a wall up that I can't reach over? What can I do? Leave him alone? Keep trying to reach out? What?! I have no clue what to do. I feel the absents of Andy and so does Kelly and everybody. Just have to figure out how to move on one painful step at a time. It's my fault that Andy died. I have to stay in control and focus on the job so no one else dies at my hand. Matt thought, looking over at the clock on the wall to see the time.
The alarm tone sounds. A call is coming in. Truck 81, Squad 3, Engine 51, Ambulance 61, A Warehouse fire at…Everyone rushes to get their gear on and each head to where they need to be. It is a large fire at a abandoned warehouse where homeless people might use to sleep and maybe live there. "This is not good at all." Herrmann says, seeing the fire from far away.
Chief Boden pulls up to a stop as Matt is giving orders to his men and sending them to where they need to be. Otis and Cruz to vent the sky lights of the warehouse. Herrmann and Vargas are doing search and rescue in the warehouse along with Matt. Kelly and his team are also helping with varies things getting done. "Fire-department call out!" Matt yells, out. It seems that fire is raging all around. Hungry and all consuming. Matt hears someone and reaches them and helps them out.
Slowly people are being lead out of the warehouse and being checked out. Chief Boden gives and order of, "Mayday, Clear out NOW!" Everyone is heading out just as the roof caves in, and Cruz whom was still on the roof falls through. Kelly Severide, Capp, and Hadley head in to save him.
With moments to spare, the squad team and Cruz are coming out of the warehouse as it blows behind them. Engine 51 pours water onto the fire. Joe Cruz, is rushed to the hospital to get checked out. Kelly Severide, is angry at Matt Casey for the call he made at one point. He walks up to him and gives him a shove. Matt catches himself and doesn't fall. He turns away not having the patience for Kelly at the moment. "IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT CRUZ WAS HURT!" Kelly screams, after his fellow lieutenant. Matt stops. Is it my fault? Matt wonders as he turns around and looks at Kelly. "You can't even defend yourself. What does that say in and of yourself?" Kelly questioned, as he sees Matt's defeated expression and the slumping of his shoulders as he walks away.
"KNOCK IT OFF, SEVERIDE! IT WAS MY CALL. REMEMBER EVERYONE GOT OUT ALIVE!" Chief Boden roars out, giving Kelly a scathing look with warning behind it also. Kelly stomps away and heads for the squad truck and makes the mistake of looking over at, Matt whom is sitting sideways in the passenger side of truck eighty-one with the door open, legs bouncing up and down and looking toward the ground. A look of doubt in himself on his face put there by Kelly.
Matt, coughs a little from his cold and partly from smoke. He looks up and sees Kelly glaring at him and he gets a closed off look on his face as he begins to freeze out the other lieutenant. A defensive move on Matt's part, to protect himself from the things Kelly says. The words only said in hurt still cut deep. Matt, hops out of the truck and closes the door. A resigned look appears on Matt's face as he looks at, Kelly. He'd still stand by Kelly no matter the treatment he gave him but he wasn't going to take it laying down either. Andy and Kelly may have been friends the longest but Andy was a friend to both of them. The loss of losing Andy may have been, Kelly's first real loss besides his mother and he was just acting the only way he knew how, by lashing out at the other person closest to him, by deflecting his pain of guilt and blame onto him. When in reality it was no one's fault but Andy who chose not to listen to Matt and not wait and go in anyway. Matt, understood the pain and hurt of losing someone and the dark places one must sometimes go to face it and to accept it. No matter what reality looked like sometimes the people involved still have to place the blame somewhere. If Kelly needed to lash out at him so be it. He'd still be Kelly's little brother but right now the way things stood they would have a long road back to what they had with Andy.
Kelly looks back at Matt with a disgusted look directed at his fellow lieutenant. Matt turns away to go help with clean up. The clean up goes fairly quick as the fire is put out and checked and everything packed up and ready to go. The teams gets into their receptive trucks and heads back to the firehouse. Everyone notices on truck 81 that Casey is coughing a lot more then normal and they keep and eye on him.
Back at the firehouse everyone gets out of their gear and heads into the common room to relax a little before cleaning things up a bit. Otis, goes to make a meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. Matt, is in the hanger where the trucks are and checking things out and doing the jobs that need done. Kelly and his squad team are at their table just hanging out, talking and laughing. Kelly just listens to the laughing and joking going on around him. A dark look on his face again. His right shoulder sending shooting pains up and down his arm and his neck. He was afraid to get it checked out. Deep down he knows it is serious he just doesn't want to be proven right.
He looks over at, Matt as he is holding onto the truck as he is bent over coughing. He looks away as he goes back to listening to the group around him. Trying to ignore his concern for, Matt Casey. The ambulance pulls into the hanger and parks as, Leslie Shay and Gabby Dawson get out. "How is Joe Cruz?" Matt asks, seeing the two women get out. "He is good. Bumps and bruises and some smoke inhalation. The hospital is keeping him overnight." Leslie Shay says, looking at Matt in concern as he is leaning against the truck for support.
"That is wonderful news!" Matt says, as he slides against the truck trying to keep his footing on solid ground. Leslie, passes a look to Gabby as they both stand on either side of, Matt and both take on his weight to help him stand. The two paramedics walk Matt over to a chair at the squad table and sit him down. Matt is coughing into his hand which is covering his mouth as he tries to get a breath. Finally he stops as he can breath without coughing.
Gabby, ran to the ambulance and got a pulse Oximeter and went back over to Matt and put it on his finger. He wasn't getting enough oxygen. From being sick and the smoke at the fire didn't help. Matt, was coughing again and this time he saw black spots dancing in front of his eyes. His head was swimming. Finally! I stopped coughing! I can breath a little. Matt thought, as Gabby was trying to tell him something but it wasn't making any bit of sense. One minute he is looking at Gabby trying to understand what she is saying the next minute he sinks into darkness as he sunk to the floor, from when he stood up from the chair not understanding what was going on.
Gabby and Leslie grab the gurney from the ambulance and push it over to Matt. They put a back board underneath, Matt and pick it up and placed him on the gurney and loaded him into the ambulance. They put a oxygen mask over his mouth making sure he is getting oxygen. They go get Chief Boden. To ask what they should do. The squad team were still at their table when, Leslie and Gabby went to get the Chief. Kelly got up from the table his team wasn't moving since, Matt passed out and collapsed . He got on the ambulance to check on Matt. He was starting to come around. Matt's eyes opened and he saw Kelly. Matt looks at Kelly wondering what is going on.
"With the last call we were on you got a little to much smoke and with whatever you have that made you sick you weren't getting enough oxygen." Kelly replied, As Leslie, Gabby and Chief Boden came out. "Matt, nodded his head and his eyes closed again. Kelly turns and steps out of the ambulance. "He did come around for a minute but he out again." Kelly says, to the group that is in front of him.
Chief Boden, steps into the ambulance and checks on Matt. "Take him to the hospital to get him checked out. Just in case. I want him healthy." Chief Boden says, to the two paramedics. "Okay Chief." both of them say, in unison. Gabriela gets in the front to drive the ambulance and Leslie Shay, gets into the back as Kelly steps back into the ambulance and he shares a glance with the Chief who nods his head yes.
As the ambulance left to head to Lakeshore Hospital, Lieutenant Casey's team comes out to see what is happening. "Hey Chief what happened? What's going on with Casey?" Herrmann asked looking at Wallace Boden. "Lieutenant Casey is having issues with getting enough oxygen into his system. So he is headed to Lakeshore to be checked out." Chief Boden told, Casey's team. "Yeah we noticed him coughing a lot more after the last call. We were keeping our eyes on him." Herrmann says. The Chief just nods his head, as someone shouted out, "Dinner is ready." Everyone headed to the common room to eat.
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Matt Casey's eyes open. He takes in the fact that it is dark and the lights are off in the room that he is occupying for the moment. He looks around and sees Joe Cruz in a bed across from him asleep. He sits up just a little and sees a dark shape sitting in a chair at the foot of his bed. The shape suspiciously looks like Kelly Severide who is asleep, but why would he be here? Matt brings a hand to his face and feels the oxygen mask on his face. He looks toward the hallway as he hears the sounds that go on in a hospital at night.
What happened? The last thing I remember is asking how Cruz was. Matt thought, as he sits up more. He notices an IV in his arm. He brings his legs up to his chest and wraps his arms around them and lays his chin on his knees as he gets lost in thought. A nurse steps into the room to check on her patient. Matt looks up and sees her. "Hello. It's so nice to see you awake. How are you feeling?" the nurse asks, looking at Matt, her nametag ironically reading; Kellie Gordon.
"I'm, fine. Right now anyway." Matt says, looking at the nurse. "I'm going to check you out so please don't worry. I've done it before but you were out." Kellie says, smiling. She takes his blood pressure, temperature, and his pulse rate. "What happened?" Matt asks, looking at his nurse. "You were brought in for low oxygen in your system. You being sick and the last fire call you were on, the smoke got to you more than you thought and you weren't getting enough oxygen." Nurse Kellie Gordon says smiling at Matt to make him more at ease. "How long has he been here?" Matt pointed at the other Kelly in the room. "He has been here since you were brought in. He refused to leave and we let him stay. He seems truly concerned about you." Nurse Kellie explained.
"Am I allowed to get up?" Matt questioned the nurse. Yeah. Just be careful. You seem to be doing a lot better. I'll see you later. If you need anything the call button is hanging on the bed rail." Nurse Kellie says, leaving. Matt slowly gets up and heads to the restroom to use it, bringing the IV along. He finishes and washes his hands and stops as he looks at, Kelly whose sleep is turning nightmare filled.
Matt, leans down and shakes Kelly's shoulder to wake him up from the nightmare. Kelly's eyes snap open and he takes a minute to remember, where he is. Matt steps back wondering what mood, Kelly will be in…Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. In truth Matt understands why but it does get tiresome. He wishes Andy were still with them and that he hadn't died.
"Hey Matt you're awake. That's good." Kelly says, as Matt slowly gets back into bed. "Yeah. The nurse just explained everything to me." Matt says, looking at Kelly. "The last thing I remember is asking how Joe Cruz was and that is it." Matt looked at Kelly wanting him to fill in the missing blanks. "All I saw was that you were coughing a lot and I thought nothing of it since you do have a respiratory illness. Shay and Dawson came back from dropping Cruz off here at the hospital. Shay is the one that noticed something was wrong and She and Gabby took care of you." Kelly says, looking at Matt.
"Lucky for me that Leslie Shay has a sharp eye for taking care of people." Matt says, grateful. "Especially for the ones she truly cares about." Kelly says, thinking of all the times Leslie took care of him and sometimes smothered him. Matt, stares at Kelly thinking of the past and how far they have come from where they first were. If it wasn't for Andy would they have been friends? Kelly looks back at Matt taking in his appearance, thinking that he shouldn't be treating Matt the way he was. His grief was doing crazy things to him.
The two men looked at one another in the eyes. They needed to talk and clear the air. The words wouldn't come as they stared at one another. Grief shadowing both of their faces. Both felt the loss of their friend and fellow brother, Andrew Darden. Kelly looks at the floor blinking his eyes as he tries to hold his tears at bay. Matt takes a deep breath as images of that day flash through his mind of the last haunting image of his friend before the flames engulfed him alive. His shoulders shake from soft sobs as he remembers.
Kelly looks up as he hears Matt softly sobbing. The two lieutenants look at each other. Not ready to face each others grief of losing their friend and brother. So the words that need spoken are going to stay silent until another day. Matt takes a deep breath and looks over toward the one lone window in the room which happens to be on Joe Cruz's side of the room. Giving Kelly a minute to compose himself.
Matt is feeling tired and slides down and rests his head on the pillow. His eyes are heavy with sleep but he doesn't allow them to close as he watches Kelly who still didn't move from the chair. Kelly watches Matt as he tries to fight sleep but is slowly losing the battle. Kelly stands and goes over to the bed and brings the blankets up to cover Matt to make sure he doesn't get a chill from the slightly cool room. Matt feels the blankets as Kelly tucks the covers around him as he drifts off to sleep. Kelly turns as Joe Cruz wakes up looking over at them. "Sorry for waking you." Kelly says, looking over at Cruz. "Not a problem." Joe Cruz says, looking at the two lieutenants as he sits up slowly since he is feeling sore from the scraps and bruises that he got from the last call.
Joe slowly gets out of bed heading for the restroom and closes the door. Kelly moves to the chair and sits down again as Joe comes out of the restroom and heads back to his bed. "You okay Cruz?" Kelly asks, watching as his fellow firefighter moving slowly to his bed. "Yeah. I'm just sore. Oh yeah thanks for saving me from that last fire." Joe says, getting into his bed. "Hey you're welcome." Kelly says, getting comfortable in the chair as he could get.
The room gets quiet as Joe settles down in his bed to get more sleep and Kelly just sits and watches over Joe Cruz and Matt Casey. Sleep catches Kelly by surprise as he wakes a few hours later as he hears Matt tossing and turning in his bed from nightmares that are haunting his restful sleep.
"Darden wait! Darden Back out! Daren! NO!" Matt calls out in his sleep as Kelly gets up from where he was sitting to wake up his fellow lieutenant. The images of that call still haunting Matt as he suddenly wakes from the nightmare and buries his face in his arms as they rest on his raised knees taking in deep breaths trying to forget the images of Andy in his last moments. Tears wet his face as they silently fall down his face unchecked.
Matt feels someone rubbing his back and he looks up to see Kelly. He stops and steps back as the two look at each other and Joe Cruz wakes up and sees the two lieutenants looking at each other wondering what is going on. Kelly goes back to the chair as he sits down. Matt looks over at Cruz and smiles. "I'm glad you're okay." Joe Cruz just looks at Matt and nods his head okay.
"Well good morning all. I'm glad to see that Mr. Casey is awake and appears well." a morning shift nurse says, coming into the room. "Good morning." all three men say in unison as they look back at the perky nurse. "I'm going to check you out, Mr. Casey." The morning nurse says. "Please call me Matt." Matt says, as the nurse closes his curtain around his bed to give him privacy. "Hi, Matt. I'm Jenelle Shepherd." the nurse says, taking his blood pressure, his temperature, and pulse rate.
Jenelle finishes up and looks at Matt and smiles. "You remind me of my Grandson. He is twenty-three and he is in the Marines. I pray for him and his unit everyday." Jenelle says, as she pushes the curtain open and goes over to check on Joe Cruz. The nurse chatting on and on as she works. "Your doctors will be here shortly to check you both out. Have a good day." Nurse Jenelle says, leaving the room.
Kelly looks at his watch and sees that the time is six thirty Am. As breakfast is being served. Joe Cruz sits up as his tray is set in front of him and he digs into his scrambled eggs, wheat toast, and bacon. Matt's tray is set in front of him and he makes a face not really hungry at the moment. Kelly shoots Matt a look that says, eat! Matt just stares back like, really?
Matt looks down at his hard cooked egg, wheat toast, and hash browns. He takes a bite of his hash browns and slowly chews. His oatmeal is lumpy and thick and he won't be eating it. Joe Cruz finishes his breakfast and pushes it away and looks over at Matt who barely began to eat.
Matt finishes his hash browns and pushes the tray back not in the mood to eat anymore. His stomach feeling queasy. His nightmare of Andy still in his mind as he tries to shakes it off but some days it is hard to do. Today is one of those days. "Hey Lieutenant are you okay?" Joe Cruz asks, looking at Matt. Matt just shakes his head no as he looks at Cruz and Severide.
Kelly stands up and stretches a little. "I'm going out to eat. I'll be back in a little while." Kelly says as he leaves the room and heads toward the elevators to head down to the lobby and head for a little out of the way diner that serves good food. The two men watch him go as they wait for the doctors to show which wouldn't be for awhile.
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Around nine O'clock AM. Kelly heads back to the hospital having decided to stop off and pick up some clothes for Joe Cruz and Matt Casey. He also picked up a custard filled donut with chocolate on it for Casey just so he would eat something even if it wasn't the best thing for him.
Kelly steps into the room and hands Joe his clothes and Matt his clothes. "Thank you." both men say at the same time. Kelly hands Matt the bag with the donut in it. Matt looks at him as he takes the bag and opens it to find a donut. Matt smiles as he finds the donut. He takes it out and takes a bite. "Hmm." Matt says, enjoying the custard filled donut.
Matt finished his donut as his and Joe's doctors are coming into the room to check on their patients and to release them to go home. After the doctors finished the two firefighters were released and Kelly Severide drove them both back to the firehouse for their other things and also their vehicles, since their shift has ended. Chief Boden called Kelly into his office not having forgotten about what Kelly did on the last shift toward Matt his counterpart. He also called Matt into the office just to get everyone on the same wavelength of understanding.
After twenty minutes Kelly stormed out of the office not the kind of person to like a reprimand. Matt left the office with a forlorn expression on his face as he gathered his things and headed for his truck to leave. Kelly was long gone from the firehouse. Matt put his things in the truck and got in himself. He started the truck and headed home.
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