A few days later
Walked into the center, she was excited to see Matt. He had been working extra hard since the weekend, determined to get out of here as soon as possible.
His room was empty and she saw Tom down the hallway. Quickly she followed him, catching up with him.
''Hey, where is Matt?'' She asked a bit confused.
''I think he is in the gym.'' Tom smiled at her and Gabby followed the signs there. Looking through the window beside the door, she saw that he was alone in there. Struggling but trying his best, he was holding a ball between his hands, tossing it at the wall and trying to catch it again. It slipped between his hands and bounced on the ground. She walked inside, almost silent as he was trying to pick it up.
His hands didn't have the power to pick it up and he was leaning even more forward. She heard him cursing softly and she grabbed his shoulders just in time before he could fall over.
''Are you okay?'' She asked as she pulled him back and picked up the ball for him.
''Core muscles are still a mess.'' He panted as he sat back again. Slowly he made his way to the rack where the balls were stored and she waited for him by the door.
''Didn't know you were allowed to train on your own.''
''Only Tom is in on it.'' Matt admitted. He put the ball away and made his way towards her.
They shared a kiss and she pushed his chair back to his room. She was glad that he was improving, but she didn't want him to tire himself out too much tonight. He did not know yet, but she really wanted to take him out tonight. It was a Saturday night, and she and the others had something prepared for him. Well, the others had mostly. It had been a surprise for her too until yesterday.
In his room he moved back to the bed, laying down tired. Even though he had only been doing the exercise with the ball for half an hour, he was exhausted. It was especially because trying to pick up the ball every time that had made him so tired. His legs not working upset him, but not being bale to use his core muscles and his hands properly infuriated him.
Lunch was brought in and he looked at the food on the tray. He wasn't hungry, but it was mostly that eating was still hard, and it took him so long he often didn't feel like finishing it. Luckily Gabby had been patient with him about it and motivated him a lot.
''I took some too. We can even swap.'' She offered and he laughed.
''Thanks, but I think I will eat what they want me too.'' He smiled, glad to have her here so that they could have lunch together.
She walked to the table and got the splints he used for eating, carefully putting them around his hands.
''I think I will get to the table for eating.'' He admitted and as she put the food on the table, He managed to get himself in his chair, a bit annoyed as he pulled his legs down from the bed,
Sitting the table, they had lunch together.
''Oh…by the way…I need you to take it easy this afternoon.'' Gabby smiled.
''I wasn't planning on doing something excited, but why?'' He asked curious.
''We are going out tonight.'' She told him, smiling as she was glad that he was laying down now.
''Really? Not dinner, right?'' He asked a bit concerned.
''No, not dinner, don't worry.'' She said, not sure why he was so against it. They had always looked going out for dinner together.
''That sounds good.'' Matt smiled, he was glad that Gabby tried to take him out, He wasn't very comfortable in his body now, but at least she made him feel that he was not trapped in this building, while he was trapped in his body.
''I am not really hungry anymore.'' He admitted, his plate still half full.
''You need to Matt, especially after training.''
A bit upset he looked down. He wanted to finish it, but it took long, and it upset him.
''Fine.'' He mumbled, finishing the plate as Gabby was putting in effort to make things better for him by taking him out as much as possible, and he also had to put in the work himself.
After lunch, she helped him get back in bed.
''How about I leave you be for a bit? I will be here at seven.'' She promised him, saw how tired he was. Honestly, she was worried he was not going to make it tonight, but he seemed really determined.
''That sounds good, I could really use a nap.'' He admitted. She got the blanket from the chair and put it over him. Leaving him be, she got to her car. She really hoped that he felt up for going tonight and he wasn't too tired by the work he had put in this morning. Even though it worried her a bit he was doing that, she knew Tom was keeping an eye on him, but was also proud at him for trying to hard.
She drove to Molly's, where she was taking Matt tonight. Some of the others were already there. She parked her car nearby and walked inside.
''hey, anything you still need for tonight? I think it is really great you are going this…I mean you don't have to-''
''No Gabby, you and Matt deserve to stay in that house, and if we can help, then that is all I need you to do is getting Matt there tonight.'' Kelly smiled.
''Thanks, this really means a lot to me, and I am sure it will to Matt too.'' Gabby smiled.
''We are grateful we can do this for you.'' Hermann assured her.
''You know, Matt has done what Matt is good at, being stubborn.'' Gabby chuckled for a second. ''Found him in the gym this morning, apparently, he has this plot together with one of the staff members, so he can train on the weekends.''
Kelly laughed, Otis had Herrmann nodding in approval. It was nice to hear this, since it was exactly what Matt was like and it showed he was ready to defy all odds.
Just before seven, she walked into his room at the center. He was dressed and ready to go but sitting by the table with his head on his arms.
''hey, what is wrong?'' She asked worried.
''Just sore from training.'' He admitted as she rubbed his shoulders.
''Do you still want to go?''
''Yeah, I just – I haven't had a lot of bad days, and this is the first really bad one, just on a night I am going to see everybody.'' He admitted as he looked up.
''They are very excited to see you, but I think they will understand.''
''no, no I want to go.'' Matt said and they made their way to her car. Tom had offered to drive them but he wanted to practice getting in and out of her car.
At the car, she supported him as he slid into her car. Sighing deep as his back hurt, he leaned against the side, sitting sideways. He looked as she walked to the back. Taking a deep breath, he turned and pulled his legs inside the car.
''You okay?'' Gabby asked concerned as she sat down at the driver's side.
''Used to be a lot easier.'' He sighed as they drove off.
They drove to Molly's. He was a bit nervous to go here, but after months it was also nice that they could finally feel like their old life again for a night.
She was also very excited to find out what he would say about the surprise that they had planned for him. Somewhere in her mind she also knew it could be he didn't like it at all, but she tried not to think about that.
At Molly's, she parked as close as possible, getting his chair from the back and he had opened the door. Although he had slept this afternoon, his back as far as he could feel it had started to hurt.
''Are you okay?''
''My back is really bad.'' He admitted, Gabby wanting to support him get in his chair, but was he wanted to swing his legs out of the car, his back started to hurt even worse.
''Matt?'' She asked worried, saw him struggling.
''Can you get Kelly for a second?'' Matt asked and she nodded. Sitting in the passenger seat, he felt defeated. He had been practicing get out of the car, but he felt to tired, and everything hurt. Kelly came walking his way with Gabby and he felt a bit embarrassed as Kelly lifted him out of the car and into the chair. That Kelly was his friend made it a tiny bit easier, but he couldn't look at Gabby, worried that she would see he wanted to go home.
''We are going in by the back.'' Kelly explained and Matt sighed a bit relieved. There were steps at the back as well, and he would need help there as well, but it was better than having everybody look at him at the main entrance.
''Figured you didn't want to put on a show.'' Kelly said and Matt nodded.
''Just get it over with quick.'' Matt admitted, and Kelly nodded. He laid his arms around Kelly's neck and Kelly lifted him up quickly. Gabby carried his chair up the stairs and Kelly put him back down. Matt looked away, not sure where to look or what to say. He hated how he needed help getting into his favorite bar now. But even though he was upset about it, and he wanted to get upset about it, he knew now was not the time. He was here now and should just have a nice time now he could.
''All good?'' Kelly asked concerned.
''Yeah, all good. Just have a lot of muscle ache so you might need to give me a push.'' Matt admitted. Gabby looked, glad that Kelly was so patient with his friend, and that Matt felt comfortable around him.
Through the kitchen they made it into the bar, Kelly opening the door and letting Matt go on his own now.
Surprised he looked as most of Molly's was full, but there were also some pictures with his picture on it. It said fundraiser, but even now it did not sink in what they were doing until later.
''What is this?'' Matt asked laughing, not sure what was happening.
''We are gathering money, so we can remodel some things in your house…us all, and you don't have to move, or hire a contractor.'' Kelly explained; ''We know that you don't want another contractor doing it, but we hope you don't mind it when it is us…and you will have to give us directions.''
''Thanks guys, this really means a lot to me.'' Matt said and tears filled his eyes. Even though he had expected he and Gabby would have to move, this changed it all and it meant a lot for them. It meant a lot because he did not really want to leave his house, and now they did not have to.
Hermann handed him a glass of water as he wiped his tears away. His hand was shaking so bad Gabby took the glass from him, but glad that the gesture had moved him so much, and that he was happy with it. On shift, they had talked about their house. It had bothered Gabby they had to move and mentioning it on shift made them all want to help them. She had been really nervous about how he would react to this, but now she was glad that he was happy about it.
''I really appreciate it a lot. So much has changed the last few months, and I am getting used to it, but you can't imagine how much it means to me that we don't have to leave our house.'' Matt said, addressing them all and Kelly and Herrmann both laid their hands on his shoulder.
''It means the world to me.'' Matt said, tears streaming down his cheeks now. He tried to stop them, but the gesture really moved him.
They went to the back of Molly's, where there was a lower table and got settled by it. Matt still had the glass of water in front of him, not sure if he could pick it up, but luckily Kelly saw him struggle and walked to the bar, coming back with a straw. None of the other said anything, and Matt didn't want to say anything about it too.
''Heard you are sneaking out of your room to do extra training. That is really good.'' Herrmann said and Matt nodded.
''I try, to makes me feel good.'' Matt admitted and
''Matt, have you given some thought on the tag along we showed you?'' Cruz asked, Otis looking at him as well, curious what he was going to say.
Matt couldn't help but laugh a bit.
''Not really, but I might need to get one so I don't fall over anymore from this chair.'' Matt joked back and carefully some others laughed as well.
They chatted about more about sports and the firehouse, not really wanting to keep talking about Matt's injury anymore. They supported him, but also knew he did not want to keep talking about it anymore.
After a while, she saw Matt was getting tired and they called it a night soon. Kelly helped Matt on the way out again and he was already struggling staying away in the car.
At the center she was glad Tom was still there and helped them out. She was glad to see that the staff really cared about him.
Soon Matt on the bed and she decided to stay until he fell asleep. Matt's lip started to shake and worried she took his hand.
''I am so glad we don't have to move.'' Matt broke down, so grateful for what they had done for him. Although he did not want to hire a contractor to do it, it was different when it were his own friends. Tears streamed down his face, upset about the pain, and his body, but also so grateful for everybody around him.
Carefully she climbed onto the bed next to him, her head on his chest, holding him close. She was so glad to have him and was so glad that they could say in the home that was theirs.
Holding him close, letting him let his emotions out, she just loved him, holding him close. Loving him so much, she just hoped to see him comfortable and happy again soon. She couldn't help but starting to cry as well. Holding each other close, they held onto each other, like they had been for the last few months.
Aaaand another chapter! I hope you liked this chapter, thanks so much for reading. Please leave a review and hopefully till next chapter!