Here is the third chapter and I hope you like it! There is a lot more coming up but first of lal thank you for reading the first chapters and all your reviews, it means a lot! Thanks again and please enjoy this chapter.
It had been ten days since the fateful call.
Every morning she went to see him, and tonight she was also excited to see him. Even though it was hard for them, she was glad that he was talking to her, and it gave her hope that they could get through this.
Yesterday the doctor had met with them and they had talked about the plan now for his recovery. With the latest MRI it showed that the swelling was going down, and even though there was damage, not his whole spinal cord was severed and it gave hope for the future.
Matt was pushing himself with hope that he was going to make a full recovery, and Gabby hoped the same, but she was a bit more realistic, and for now she hoped that he would be able to use his hands again and be independent again.
Gabby went to his room and saw he was already ready for the day. Even though he could not leave the bed, she knew it made him feel good when he wasn't in bed in the same clothes all day. By the time she got there he had already had a session of therapy as well and even though he was still somber about his outlooks, she knew that there was improvement. Yesterday when she was holding his hand he had felt something on his thumb, and the doctors said that the swelling was going down.
He managed to move his arms just a bit. Nothing groundbreaking, but she knew it was the beginning. The therapists were working hard with him, and she knew he was impatient, but then she was also sure that he was going to improve more than he was thinking about now.
Just a week ago there had been nothing, and now it was slowly getting a bit better with his shoulders and he could slightly extend his elbows again when he wasn't too tired. She knew that he was expecting miracles, but for her she knew that he was improving, and that was all that mattered.
''How are you feeling today?'' Gabby asked as they shared a kiss.
''Bit drugged, but decent.'' Matt smiled just a bit. Even though he did not feel great, he tried to make a joke, tried to keep it light where he could.
''Is it okay if I take your hand?'' Gabby asked. ''I don't want to take it when you don't wa-
''It is not because I don't want you to hold my hand, it freaks me out I can barely feel it.'' He finally admitted. Gabby took his hand now and held it tight.
''It will get better.''
He felt it, just a little bit of pressure, but it was something, and gave her a small smile.
''Kelly will come by tonight.''
''That is great, it is good you are allowing us all near you again.'' Gabby said. She knew it was not going to be good for a long time, but it was a start.
''he told me the CFD wanted to fire me, but Boden stepped up.''
Gabby listened, even though he was speaking very slowly and was struggling, she was glad that he was talking to his friend again.
''I mean, eventually they will.'' Matt said, looking down. ''There is no way I am coming back and once they get the medical bills...''
''You can't think like that. The doctors said you might recover well, and you could come back.''
''They don't want me back, remember how I messed up the radio and the orders.''
She was still holding his hand, caressing over it. She knew he could barely feel it, but she also believed it could still be okay.
''But are we going to be good?'' He asked worried.
''I mean, yeah. I think so.''
''But you are not sure.''
''I am not going anywhere, if that is what you mean.'' She promised him then. There was a lot more they had to talk about but then she also wanted didn't want to ruin it now.
''Neither am I.'' He said with a very wry smile.
Gabby tried to smile about his joke, but tears filled her eyes.
''I didn't want to make you cry.''
''Sorry.'' Gabby said. She did not want to cry, but him saying again how he could not to anything but lay in bed made her feel horrible.
''No I am sorry.'' He said as he didn't want to make her cry.
There was a knock on the doorpost as Ashlynn, his physical therapist came in.
''Ready for a second round?'' She asked as she had seen him earlier this morning and Gabby got up.
''I will leave you be, okay?'' She said as she left, leaving him with the therapist.
The days passed by slowly. She spend most mornings with him and then came back in the evening. Slowly he was opening up a bit more to her, but even though they had talked about the day itself, they barely dared to talk about the future.
Even though Matt was getting frustrated, she felt he was improving, now the swelling from the surgeries was going down.
As Matt had physical therapy, she left the hospital and drove to her mom's place. After her parents had split, her mom had moved here.
Camilla was waiting by the door as she parked her car and got out.
''Come on, let's get some coffee.'' Her mom invited her and they walked to a little deli near the park, walking in the park with their coffees.
''So did you go and see him this morning.''
''Every morning. He was going decent.'' Gabby said. She really wanted to spend as much time with him as she could and be the best the wife for him.
''Do you think he would appreciate me coming by soon?'' Camilla asked as she saw her daughter was struggling and wanted to be there for her and her husband.
''He doesn't really want to see anybody, mom.''
''That is fine-''
''Don't worry, it is not you, he doesn't want to see anybody.'' Gabby said as they sat down on a bench.
''It is not nothing that happened to him. I know it is hard, but he probably needs some time.'' Her mom said understanding.
''I am scared it is not getting any better, and not for me, but for Matt. He seems to scared it is going to be this way and you know him mom, he is not going to take it well if there is nothing he can do anymore.'' Gabby said worried. ''Yesterday we had a talk with the doctor and all he was talking about was how he doesn't want things to stay this way.''
Camilla nodded understanding.
''I am really proud of you, how you are supporting him.'' Her mom said then, and it meant a lot to Gabby.
''Thank you too...for being here for me and Matt.''
''I love you Gabby...and know that I will always be here for you, just like Antonio. He keeps asking about you and Matt.'' Camilla said and Gabby felt a bit bad about not talking to her brother yet. The last week had been really stressful, and dealing with Matt had been hard enough alone. Dealing with other's people sympathy was even harder now, even from her own brother.
Kelly was walking into the hospital.
Well, he had already been here for almost half an hour, but had struggled finding something for Matt in the souvenir shop. He had really wanted to get his friend something, but he had no idea what to take. He had wanted to take a book or a magazine, but knew that Matt couldn't even hold it now, and now he went up empty handed.
Going up to the room, he was getting more and more nervous. He took a moment to regain his composure, but walked in now.
Matt was up against a large stash of pillows, his hands supported with pillows as wel land his neck in a brace, but he looked really happy to his friend.
''Hey man.'' Kelly said.
''Hey, good to see you again.'' Matt smiled and Kelly looked around. The room was a lot more decorated than the night after the call. Gabby had put some pictures out and he had his own pillow here now.
''Gabby has started an IKEA in here.'' Matt smiled just a bit. It had been almost 2 weeks now since the accident and she had started to clutter his room with all sorts of stuff. But at least it gave him something to look at now that he didn't have anything to do.
Even Kelly didn't know what to say anymore and Matt felt bad everybody was so uncomfortable around him.
''How is the firehouse?''
''Everybody is still….everybody is still shocked about what happened, and honestly nobody knows what to do. ''
''Right.'' Matt said a bit hurt. It was not just that he was ruining it for Gabby, but he was making it hard for the firehouse too.
''But there have been some good calls too.'' Kelly said, not wanting his friend to feel bad. He told a bit about the calls and was glad to see his friend was enjoying listening to the stories.
''Heard from Gabby you have a bit of movement coming back?'' Kelly ask. He had wanted to ask earlier but had been a bit worried he would upset Matt.
''Not much but yeah, with some help I can move my elbow and right shoulder a bit.'' Matt said and he tried, but not much moved.
''Ah you will get there.'' Kelly tried to support his friend, but Matt looked disappointed.
Gabby came walking in as well, glad to see Kelly was here too.
''Alright, I should leave you too be, I will be back soon.'' Kelly promised, laying his hand on Matt's shoulder for a second.
''You know how to leave this maze?'' Gabby asked.
''Right, right?'' Kelly said unsure and Gabby got up to walk wit him. On the hallway, away from Matt's room he stopped.
''I don't want to stress you out, but me and Boden are still fighting to keep Matt in the CFD. You might want to look at private insurance, because if he loses the job, he loses the insurance.'' Kelly said as he sat down across from here.
''But they can't fire him because he got hurt at the job-'' Gabby frowned.
'' He got reprimanded that morning, there were already talks in the CFD to have him transferred, or demoted. You know he has quite the record there now-''
''Good things too!''
''Gabby, I am putting my everything in, together with Boden. I just wanted to warn you.''
''Kelly, if he loses that job, he is done for, he will not try to improve anymore, and we won't have the money for the bills.'' Gabby said worried
''Me and Boden are really trying, and I still believe that it will end up well.'' Kelly promised her and she nodded.
''Please don't talk about it with him, he is going through enough now.'' Gabby said, even though she felt bad about leaving him out of this.
''No, we just need him to recover.''
They nodded, and she looked as Kelly left, walking back to Matt's room.
''How are you feeling?'' Gabby asked a bit worried as he looked really tired.
''I am fine, can you just get me some water?'' He answered, and she nodded.
''I didn't really want to get help drinking while Kelly was around.'' He explained while she got a cup of water for him and grabbed a straw, held it out for him. Even though she knew that Matt did not like it when she had to do that, it made her feel better that he did allow it now.
''Therapist said that I might try to sit up next week. Depends on how my back looks.'' He said as Gabby put the blanket up and took his hands in hers.
''I heard they want to move you to a rehabilitation center as well. That would be nice, would mean you are closer to me and the firehouse too.''
''I would like that.'' Matt smiled as Gabby was still trying to make him feel comfortable. Even though he did not feel most of it, he was glad she was by his side and trying to help it as much as possible. It was hard to accept, but he knew that it was reality now. At least for now.
The MRI was looking good and the doctors had also said that even though there was damage, they believed that he could get the feeling and use of his arms back and he was holding on to that now.
Looking at Gabby, as she was folding one of the blankets and putting some of his stuff way, he did feel bad for her. She deserved better than this.
''You are cramping up again.'' Gabby said a bit concerned as looked at his knees shaking under the blanket.
''Means the muscles are starting to work again.'' Matt said. Even though it wasn't comfortable cause it also hit his neck, and he hoped it would stop soon, the doctor said it might also mean that his muscles were slowly becoming active again, and even though he couldn't move or feel it, he hoped it was a good sign for the future.
''I don't really want to go home.'' Gabby admitted as she sat down again and Matt felt horrible as there was nothing he could do to comfort her.
''What is wrong?'' He asked concerned.
''The house is a mess and I wish you could come home with me, I really miss you.'' She said as it had been almost two weeks ago since they had last been together at home.
''I am so sorry Gabby.''
''There is nothing you can do abou-''
''I wish I could. I wish there was something I could do to make it easier for you, but I can't.'' Matt said, getting upset as well; Not because himself now but because she was upset, and he hated seeing his wife upset.
''All I need you, is for you to be okay…and with that I don't mean running marathon, but home with me, feeling good.'' Gabby assured him and kissed him.
''Oh, my mom gave me this for you.'' She said as she opened her bag and showed him the card her mom had given her and let him read it, putting it on the wall with all the other cards he had gotten.
''Can you thank her from me – I don't really want to see anybody ye-''
''I know, take your time.'' She said and even though she wished he would see more people, she knew he was trying.
''Not going anywhere soon.'' He sighed as he looked down at his hands. He had been working so hard with his therapist, but except for a bit of spasms, he wasn't able to do anything.
''I love you.'' Gabby said then, kissing him. Even though it would net get easier any time soon, she missed him at home with her, and she loved him so much. They would get through this like husband and wife, she was sure he would be okay.
Thank you so much for reading the third chapter, I hope you liked it and please let me know what you thought! next chapter will hopefully be up either sunday or monday! Hopefully till then!