Thank you for reading the first chapters and all your reviews, it means a lot! Thanks again and please enjoy this chapter.
Gabby was packing up her stuff as the shift was almost over. There was only a few more minutes on the clock and even though she liked her work, she wanted to leave as soon as she could. She wanted to see Matt really bad and hoped that he had a better day today than the past week. He had had a lot of trouble with the pain in his neck and she was worried that it was going to push him back. Plus with the pain in his neck he still didn't want to see anybody. Antonio had seen him for a few minutes this week, walking in after he had been working on a case and questioning somebody in the hospital, but even now he still did not want to see anybody else.
Today, later on after shift, many of the people firehouse would come by in the hopes that Matt would finally see them. They wanted to support him, and it was sad that Matt did not take the support of the people that wanted to offer it.
She was glad when shift was over, and drove straight to the hospital.
Matt was awake and dressed, and laid in bed, his phone and his hand and although he was struggling, she was glad to see he was still trying.
''I've been trying to call you for 2 hours to ask if you could bring headphones, but it didn't work.'' He said as he looked down at his hands.
''You will get there…and I will bring them tonight.''
''Thanks.'' He smiled and they kissed.
Gabby took the phone from his hands and put it on the charger. He had been struggling with it for so long the battery was almost drained.
''How was your shift?'' He asked then as she took his hands in hers. His thumbs were still trembling a bit, but it made her happy, knowing that it was a big improvement for now. He was putting a lot of work in it, and he finally got some control of his thumb. His index and middle finger were also getting a bit better as well. Although his ring and pinky did not seem to regain feeling for now, he was hopefully that he would be able to manage doing some stuff himself soon.
''Oh you know, same old same old, there was naked lady being carried out of the building by Otis, same old same old.''
Matt started to laugh.
''You need to tell me about that.''
''Well, if it's okay with you I want to take you downstairs for a bit, so they can all see you – and Otis can tell him yourself then.''
''Are they all here?'' He said, the smile disappearing from his face.
''Yeah, we will just go down for a quick drink if that is okay with you.''
''No, I don't want them see me like this.'' Matt said then, looking away.
''Matt, they care about you.''
''I don't want them to see me, Gabby.'' Matt mumbled upset. ''What? You are excited to show them I can now drink coffee from a straw? I know they care about me, but I am not ready for them to see me.''
''I am sorry, I thought you might like it.'' Gabby said, feeling bad he did not like the surprise.
''I appreciate the gesture, but now is not a good day, Gabby.'' He admitted, and she nodded.
''I will go tell them.'' She said, feeling bad as she left the room. Even though he had already been in here for almost five weeks, he had still not wanted to see anybody except for her and Kelly.
Gabby came downstairs, saw the whole group of firefighters.
''Hey, Matt isn't feeling well…and thinks another time might be better.'' Gabby said a bit sad, wishing that he would finally allow people near him, but today was not the day. She talked a bit longer, feeling sorry they came all the way here, but they understood it was not good for Matt now.
She went back to his room, saw him looking upset.
''Well, Boden came in.'' Matt said a bit annoyed.
''I am sorry, he was already on the way up when I was at the others.'' Gabby said as she sat down.
''I know, he said he is trying his best for my job. Gabby, we have to start worrying about those medical bills.'' Matt said concerned.
''He was not supposed to tell you about that. Boden and Kelly are trying to their hardest.'' Gabby said as she laid her hand on his shoulder. He tried to move his arm to lay his hand on hers, but didn't get far.
''I do worry about that though.'' Matt admitted. ''And don't say we will work it out, this could cost millions of dollars.''
''I am sure Kelly and Boden can work it out.'' Gabby said as she got some water in the cup next to his bed. She grabbed a straw and held it out to him but he frowned at her.
''I don't want it Gabby.''
''Sorry I ju-''
''I don't want to hear it.'' He said mad.
''Matt, I can't help it you are cranky but-''
''But what Gabby, I know you can't help me, I can't help me, nobody can help me, but I am mad because I can't do anything for myself and now I might even lose my insurance!'' He said angry. ''All you want is for me to act like everything is fine and I am so happy to see everybody, but I don't want anyone to see me because I don't want to see myself like this!''
They were silent for a minute, Gabby trying to find the words to say while Matt was still panting from his outburst.
''You are going to work tomorrow, and I am going to be stuck here. There is nobody that can change that, but it makes me angry.''
''You could have allowed me to get up those stairs and help you out of that building!'' Gabby said, angry he was making her feel bad for going back to work.
''Yeah and have you in there with me when everything collapsed?!'' Matt said even more angry now. He had only wanted to protect Gabby, and now she was throwing it right back in his face.
''I could have helped you.''
''You couldn't. You could have died too, and I love you too much to have that happen!'' Matt started to yell now.
''Matt-''
''Get out already!'' He said mad, mad he couldn't go away and there was nothing he could do to let her go away.
''Whatever you want!'' She said even angrier and snatching her bag from beside the bed she walked out of the room.
His hands were shaking, that was how mad he was and he wanted to throw something, but there was nothing he could do to lose his angry in.
There was a knock on the door and he looked up.
''I said get out!''
''It's me.'' Kelly said, ''I ran into Gabby on the hallway.''
''Good, then you know what way to go to get out.'' Matt was fuming, and he hated people kept being around him when he wanted them to leave. He couldn't move and he started to feel like nobody cared anymore how he felt about all of it.
''I am not leaving Matt, you are my friend and I want you to know you can tell me everything you need.'' Kelly said and he sat down next to the bed.
Matt started to sob then, harder than his friend had ever seen him sob and Kelly sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to comfort his friend as much as he could. Matt wasn't saying anything anymore, he was just sobbing now and even though Kelly hated seeing him like this, he knew it was good his friend was finally letting some anger out. After a few minutes, Matt calmed down a bit.
''Come on, let's go outside for a bit.'' Kelly said then.
Matt didn't really say anything but with some help from the staff they got him in the wheelchair. Even though Matt did not really say anything Kelly hoped it would make him feel a little bit better.
Matt was silent as Kelly pushed the wheelchair down to the lobby. He wanted to object, still angry at Gabby and angry his friend would not leave him alone. His friend had no message to his objection though.
He was still angry as Kelly made their way to the cafeteria. Getting a coffee for himself and a coke for Matt he sat down with him again.
''Talk to me, what happened between you and Gabby.''
''I don't want to talk about it.'' Matt said angry. Looking down at his hands on his lap, he didn't want to talk to his friend anymore. It made him even more angry that Kelly seemed to know what was better for him than he did.
Leaning with his arms on the table now, Matt was struggling sitting up as the muscles in his chest and stomach didn't work anymore.
''Anything I can do to make you feel a bit better?'' Kelly asked concerned as he saw his friend looking more and more upset. Even though Matt had already been upset when he had walked in, he had hoped to make his friend feel a little bit better.
''No, no.'' Matt shook his head. ''But thanks for being here.''
''I am sorry that you and Gabby are hitting a rough patch, you were doing so well.''
''I know, she is trying to hard and I just…I just got so mad. She doesn't deserve that.'' Matt said sad.
''I know you don't mean it that way…I am sure she understands that.''
''I hope so.'' Matt said as Kelly held out the cup of coke for him so he could drink it. Even though he had not wanted his friend here earlier, he felt grateful he had Kelly now, and it was nice to get this of his chest.
Gabby came walking by then, on his way to his room and Kelly jumped up to stop her.
''Gabby, gabby!'' Kelly said as he got up, running after Gabby. He stopped her and she walked along with him to the table.
''Hey.'' Matt just said, not sure what to say. He was glad to see his wife but was not sure what to say after the fight from earlier.
''I will leave you two be.'' Kelly said and he left, Gabby still sitting next to Matt, silent.
''Can we go back to my room soon? My neck is starting to hurt.'' Matt said, upset he had to ask this to Gabby now. All he wanted was to talk out their fight from this morning, but his neck was starting to kill him and it became harder to sit up. Gabby nodded, and they made their way back to his room.
''Do you want me to get a nurse or?''
''You are my wife…but you are mad with me.''
''I am not really mad with you.'' Gabby sighed. ''I mean we are both under a lot of pressure, and we both said things we regret.''
He nodded but was also glad she wanted to help him. Even though he hated that she needed help, it was nice that Gabby helped him, his wife, instead of the nurses. She tried to help him on the bed.
Putting his arms on the edge of the bed, he tried to help as much as he could. She held him close and helped him lay down.
Grabbing the pillow for his neck, she made sure he was comfortable. Even though she had been really angry with him, now she just wanted to make him feel better, hoping that it would finally help him feel a tiny bit better. Even though they had their problems and still had a long way to go, she knew they needed each other more than ever, and shouldn't fight.
''Are you comfortable?'' She asked concerned.
''I don't know Gabby. I just feel so mad, and sad and I feel happy I still have you, but then I feel bad about pushing you away. I am sorry I am doing this to you.'' He admitted as she sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing his hand in hers.
''I married you because I love you for who you are. You are so strong, and I know you can get through this, no matter how things will end up.'' Gabby promised him again.
''We will have to rebuild so much.'' Matt said sad. ''It will be months before I can go home…and with the insura-''
''I don't want you to worry. Really, I know everything is going to be okay.'' Gabby promised him and she laid down against him, still holding his hand and just glad they had made up. She knew it was not going to get any easier son, but with everything going on was the last thing she wanted was fight with him.
''All I need you to focus on is recovering as much as you can and being happy with me again.'' Gabby said as she caressed him through his hair, careful and he smiled. They shared a kiss and she hoped that he would listen to the words he said and follow her advice.
She got off the bed then, still afraid to hurt his neck and sat down next to the bed.
''Want to play some cards? It's been a while.''
''Ehm, sure.'' Matt said then, glad they had made up.
She grabbed the little tray table that they kept close to the bed in case he needed it and she started to get the game ready. Handing the cards to Matt, she looked as he tried his best to hold them.
''You got the worst person to play with.'' Matt said as he struggled holding the cards, as well as picking up new cards. But patiently she looked, just wanting him to try and glad that he was trying. She was sure it was good for his fine motor skills and he didn't seem to get too upset with himself.
''Still kicking your ass.'' Matt joked, dropping the cards then and with a smile she covered her eyes with her hand.
''Come on, I don't want to see your cards.''
''It's safe.'' He told her a minute later as he was holding the cards again, this time with two hands.
Handing him his cards, it made her happy they were playing cards again like they did a lot of evenings at their home. He kept smiling at her, and she was glad to see him so excited and happy.
''Your turn to grab a new card.'' She told him and he nodded.
He wanted to try himself again, but he knocked over the tray table instead as he tried so and Gabby just managed to move out of the way as the table and cards fell to the ground.
''now you are just cheating.'' She laughed, and he laughed along.
''You know it; guess I won.'' He laughed as she was picking up the cards. She was glad that he could have a laugh about it and didn't get upset.
''I am really sorry about our fight today.'' Matt said then, still feeling bad about earlier.
''I know, me too….and I don't want to keep dwelling on what could have happened. This happened, and its horrible, but we can't change it. We can just make the best of it.'' She said and he smiled.
''Yeah you are right with that…and I will do my best to recover…fast.''
They shared a kiss, not sure what the future would bring, but even though it had been hard, they would face it together.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked it and please let me know what you thought!