A few weeks later
Gabby drove her car to the rehabilitation center. Matt was already waiting outside with a staff member of the center and she was glad to see he looked very excited.
''Excited to go?'' She smiled as she got from the car, kissing him.
''Yeah. I think that is great to finally get out of here for a bit – no offense Tom.'' Matt smiled at the staff member that was helping him in the and he nodded.
''No offense taken, have a good weekend.'' The staff member said after helping Matt in the car.
''Thanks.'' Matt smiled as Tom showed Gabby one more time how to collapse the wheelchair.
''Need a hand?'' Gabby asked Matt then.
''Got it.'' He assured her, pulling his legs into the car and sitting back. She put his stuff in the trunk of the car and walked around it then, sitting down behind the wheel.
Finally, they were alone, for the first time in a long time. Even though the doctor hadn't advised Matt to leave the center, they were going to for a few days. Matt had said he really needed some time out of here, and some time with her. She had arranged with her mom that they could go to her parents Cabin and spend time there together.
Gabby was just happy they would finally spend some time together, and even though she knew they both still had a long way too go, they needed this.
In the car, she made sure he was comfortable before they drove off. Her parents cabin was a three-hour drive away but they were actually excited for it. It was three hours they could finally talk without people constantly interrupting them. Today also marked 3 months since the accident on the job.
''I am going to get some coffee; do you want anything too?'' She asked as she got off the highway at a rest stop.
''Yeah. I would like some too.'' Matt nodded.
''I will get your chair-''
''No, uhm, I will wait in the car, too much of a hassle.'' He said as he knew it would be a big hassle to get in and out of the car. Looking as she walked inside he hated he could not just easily come with her.
She came walking back with two cups of coffee.
''Thanks.'' He smiled as she put it in the cup holder as he was worried to spill it over himself while it was still hot.
''Matt- you are not a hassle.''
''I know, I just didn't feel up to the effort.'' He said, looking out of the window. He felt Gabby's hand on his hand that was on his lap.
Looking her way he smiled, knew that he was not a hassle for her.
Just before noon they arrived at the cabin. She helped him out of the car and into the chair and he put his bag on his lap. Gabby pushed his chair up the slope and opened the door, Matt rolling inside.
''It is still a gorgeous cabin.'' He smiled. He was so glad to be here with her. Lately it had been hard to keep going with his recovery. He had to, and he knew he had to, but it was hard to keep going constantly while he was missing Gabby and home.
They put their stuff away and while Matt laid down for a minute, his back hurting from the bumpy car ride. He was on the couch, looking as Gabby was making them lunch.
''Let me know when you need a hand.''
''No, I will be fine, but thanks.'' She smiled back at him. As lunch was simmering, she walked his way and sat down on the armrest of the couch.
''I was thinking we could do some fondue tonight, like we sometimes did at home. I even took the pan.''
''I like that.'' He smiled and she sat down on the couch, careful not to sit on his arm.
''Your back okay?''
''Yes, just not used to long car rides, but it is fine.'' He assured her and she caressed his chest. Her hand traced down and he took her arm then.
''I don't really want to feel your hand….and then not feel it.''
''Okay.'' She said, caressing through his hair.
''I think you need to get going before dinner gets burned.'' He said as he saw a lot of steam and she jumped up. As she was finishing dinner, he tried to pull his chair closer. He had practiced this the last few weeks, but he was still worried that he was going to fall.
It was hard to hold onto anything with his hands, even with the splints and it made lifting himself back in the chair even harder, now that he could barely hold it.
Gabby saw him struggle and wanted to walk his way.
''Don't Gabby – I need to do this myself.'' He panted, struggling. Finally, he managed, putting his feet down on the rest and putting his hands back on the wheels, making it to the table.
Gabby put the food at the table and stacked up some food on his plate. Even though it was still hard on him, she tried not to help him too much anymore. The last thing she wanted was for him to get upset again.
With the splint he managed to eat with his right hand, dropping a little every now and then, but at least he felt they were having lunch together now, instead of him having to be fed again. After dinner he put his plate on his lap and made his way to the kitchen, putting it away as Gabby stood behind him.
''Thanks.''
''I am not useless.''
''I never said that.'' Gabby smiled and they shared a kiss. As Gabby was finishing up the dishes, Matt was making his way to the porch. With the splints around his hands it was a little bit easier to move his chair, so he managed to get himself around for small stretches now. Gabby looked as he struggled and walked his way.
''Need a push?''
''Yeah, gonna need one.'' He admitted, and she pushed the wheelchair to the porch. Sitting down on his lap, she kissed him. Looking over the view by the lake, Matt wished that they would never have to leave here. He felt a lot better than he had the last few months and seeing Gabby happy made him happy too.
''How about we got fondue going later so that we can enjoy it and cuddle up by the fire?'' She offered and he nodded.
''Yeah, I like that idea.'' He smiled at her. It was pretty cold outside, but they held each other close.
''We should go to the shopping soon.'' He said and she nodded. It got dark early here and the last thing he wanted was for her to have to drive through the woods late at night. They had gone for some late-night shopping last time, but now it didn't seem like a good idea to him. It made him feel bad he could not do that for her anymore, but didn't want to think about too long now they were on holiday.
''Come on, let's go.'' She smiled and she helped him in the car. Even though she had offered he could stay here, he seemed a bit scared to stay alone, so they decided to go together.
At the shop he struggled getting from the car back in the chair, but with some help from Gabby he managed. Some people stared at them. Matt tried not to mind him, but it did bother him.
He had the basket on his lap and as they made their way through the shop, Gabby let him pick out most of the stuff. It took him some effort to get it off the shelves, but she was glad to see he was trying it. The splints he had now made it easier to grab things, and soon they had gotten everything. Back in the car, they drove home, putting the groceries away and making a tea, taking it out to the porch.
She pulled a chair closer and sat down beside him.
''I am really happy to be here, I really am.'' He smiled as they looked out over the water.
''Me too, it is nice to finally really be together without the staff constantly barging in.'' She smiled and kissed him on his cheek, looking out over the water as well then. She was holding his hands in hers.
''What are you thinking about?'' She asked as she caressed over his cheek as he was still staring over the water.
''Just, about us.'' He sighed, and she laid her arm around him, kissing him on his cheek.
''What about us?''
''That I am really glad to have you.'' He said as he looked at her. She laid her hand on his cheek and they shared a kiss.
Sitting outside for a bit longer, they got dinner ready then and got settled on the couch by the fire. Even though it was not really cold, it was nice to get cozy here by the fire.
Gabby pulled the table closer as they sat on the couch, She leaned against Matt as they started eating, enjoying the fondue. Since he only had to put something on the fork and dip it in, it was easy for him to eat as well. The last weeks she had ate with him at his room every evening she could. He hadn't been home for three months now, and it was hard to keep going this way. She hoped that he could finally come home in a few months. She knew they were aiming that he could come home in 3 months, but they knew that it might take him even longer.
She laid against him as they were having dinner, cozy by the fireplace.
''Best thing I have eaten in a while.'' Matt smiled. He also liked that it was easy to eat, and he didn't feel like it was hard to eat.
''And no nurses interrupting.'' She smiled. After a while, they had had enough and they had another plan for the evening.
''Let's go in the hot tub, it will be good for you.'' She said as she knew it was good for his muscles.
''Yeah, think I can use a little hot tub for my back.'' He said as his muscles were tight from the busy day. As nice as it was, it was very different form his useful day, and he could feel the muscles in his back tensing up.
''Need a hand?'' She asked as she helped him in his wheelchair.
''I can manage myself.'' He assured her and she let the tub fill up. She as really glad that Matt enjoyed being here, and they managed together. She had been a bit nervous about it, not sure if she could handle the care for him, but he managed to more and more himself, and it was nice to see him exciting to do things himself.
She followed him, getting changed in the bedroom herself. She heard Matt in the bathroom, getting ready for the hot tub as well. She wanted to knock on the door and ask if he was okay but knew that he could manage himself. She also did not want to give him the feeling that she was doubting him now.
Waiting back in the kitchen, she made some drinks for them to take with them to the hot tub.
Matt came her way, ready to get in the tub. There was only a towel over his lap and he moved the chair to her side.
''Can I help?'' He asked as he made his way closer.
''No thanks, I have everything ready.'' Gabby smiled, kissing him on his head. They went out to the deck and she put the drinks on the edge of the tub, Matt following her closely.
''Come, I'll help you in.'' She said as they were ready to go in.
He laid his arms around her neck and she lifted him up, helping him sit on the edge and holding him as she lifted his legs over the edge.
''Can you feel any of it?'' She asked as she helped him into the tub and his legs hit the water.
''Can feel it a little bit, just on my one hip and thigh, but something.'' He smiled, holding her close. She was so glad that they finally got to spend some time together again. It had been a rough few months since the accident, and that was understatement. He looked down at his legs in the water and she helped him sit down then, scared he was going to fall of the edge.
Undressing herself next to the tub, she got in then as well, sitting close to him.
''This is good.'' He sighed, the water and bubbles relaxing his muscles. She laid her hands on his shoulder, kissing him on his neck then. She felt the scar under her lips, holding him close.
They cuddled, feeling close and glad they were finally together again. She held his body, get familiar with it again while he felt hers again, as much as he could.
Kissing, he laid back a bit, his arms wrapped around her, a bit worried he as he felt he couldn't swim anymore, but Gabby held him close. Letting go after the kiss, his head knocked the glasses off the edge.
''Sorry! Always wrecking stuff.'' He smiled.
''I will get us some new drinks.'' She said as she got up, walking to the kitchen. Walking back the drinks, Matt was laid back now, looking relaxed.
''We need to talk about something, Matt.'' She said as she sat close to him.
''Yeah, yeah of course.'' He said as he wrapped his arm around her, struggling a bit, but glad that he could do it again.
''I know it is still a few months away; but the lease of our apartment is almost done. We need to decide if we are moving or extending.'' Gabby said. It was not something she wanted to decide in one night, but now that he was out of the center she hoped that he could make up his mind a bit easier.
''I want to stay. That is our house we moved into together and got married.'' He said, not even thinking about it.
Gabby nodded, got what he was saying, but she was a bit concerned because it was not a very accessible house.
''I know we probably have to move.'' He admitted, ''I want to stay, but I know it probably is not an option.''
''We could do some remodeling in the house, make it more accessible.''
''And have another contractor do the work I should be doing?'' Matt looked down, ''that actually would hurt me more than moving.''
''Moving it is then.'' She said, biting her lip. She wished that he would just allow people to help him but she also knew that it was hard on him, and she could understand why. He had always been doing everything himself, and he could imagine that it was hard to see somebody else do it instead.
In the dim light she saw tears filling his eyes.
''I know this is not easy Matt, you don't have to decide now.'' She assured him.
''I mean, we have to move, we can't stay there, not with me now…. '' He mumbled softly. ''We got married, and we lived there so happily, and I feel bad that you have too leave too, because of me.''
She held him close.
''You don't have to feel bad about that, we can make a home somewhere else.'' She assured him.
''Yeah.'' He nodded then, trying to smile.
After a while, they got tired and got out of the tub. Matt lifted himself onto the edge of the tub, Gabby holding him close, worried he was going to fall of the edge as his core muscles still were weak.
''Do you want to do anything else before bed ?'' She asked wrapping a towel around him, Matt trying to get back in his chair, Gabby just grabbing him in time before he could fall.
''I am honestly really tired…maybe we can call it a day?'' he admitted.
''Ofcourse.'' She said, kissing him o his cheek. It had been a long day and she figured that he was also up a lot later than he had been recently.
''Come on, let's head to bed.'' She said and struggling he got on the bed. Even though he was a lot lighter than before the accident, he only barely managed to get himself on the bed, glad it was low so gravity helped along.
''How are we going to do this tomorrow?'' Matt asked a bit worried as he pulled his legs onto the bed.
''We will work it out.'' She assured him, getting his shoes off. He smiled though, glad to be out of the rehabilitation center for a few days and finally with his wife again.
She helped him with the shirt, but he shook his head.
''I need to do it myself, Gabby.'' He said and as she got ready for bit, he did so as well. It took him a lot longer than before, but he was proud that he finally managed to get himself undressed and Gabby came walking his way.
She sat down next to him as he looked down at his legs. They had gotten very thin now that he couldn't use them anymore.
''Not much left.'' He smiled, a bit sad.
''I don't care, you look perfect to me.'' Gabby just said and he laid his hands on her shoulders. She laid against him as he rubbed her shoulders. He didn't have a lot of power in his hands, but she loved he was trying it for her, and it felt nice.
They laid cuddling on the bed, glad to finally be close again. It had bene three months since they had been this close. Laying close with her face to his, their noses against each other.
Kissing again, they laid in each other's arms, just glad to still have each other.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you like this long chapter! Please let me know what you thought and hopefully till next chapter!