It was just before lunch as Tom dropped him off at home. Gabby wasn't waiting outside yet, and he took the moment to take a breath and work on his composure before he could go inside.
It took him a minute before he felt okay going inside. It was months ago since he had been here, in the apartment that he and Gabby had always called home. It was strange how things had changed. He noticed the ramp either Gabby or Kelly had put at the entrance, and as he was looking the door opened, Gabby walking outside, smiling as she saw him.
''Need a hand?'' She asked worried, not sure if he was able to get up the ramp himself.
''Yeah, yeah, I just needed a minute.'' He said and Gabby walked his way, helping him up the ramp.
It was weird to be home again. It was almost four months since he had been here. Especially in the beginning, he had not been able to do anything, and now he was at least in his own home again, even if it was only for a day.
''Hey Matt!'' He heard behind them and it was one of the neighbors. Gabby and him knew her from the annual neighbor barbeque. She and her husband lived in the apartment beside them.
''Oh, hey.'' Matt said, not really wanting to talk to the lady. She was nice, and he was sure that she had heard about what happened, but he did not really want to talk about it.
''Does this mean you are coming home?'' Miss Johnson asked as she smiled at him and Gabby.
''Not yes unfortunately. '' Matt sighed.
''Is it going to take much longer?'' She asked concerned.
''Before Christmas hopefully.''
''Alright, I will let you get going. Good luck with the rest of your recovery.'' Miss Johnson told him.
''Thanks.'' Matt smiled. Gabby pushed the chair to their door and opened the door for him.
''Everything is still the same.'' He smiled. It was a lot cleaner than he was around, and he knew it was because Gabby di don't have to pick up all his mess after him all day now.
''I need you to screw in a light bulb, let alone I am changing the whole house.'' She joked and they laughed. She started to get lunch ready and he set the table, except for the plates.
''You either have to hand me the plates, and we need to move them, or I need to learn how to fly.'' Matt said as she pointed at the cabinet where they were, high up.
''We will have to move it. And we will.'' She promised as she grabbed the plates and put them on the table. As she wasn't done with lunch yet, Matt carefully made his way around the house.
The house seemed a lot narrower now that he had to get around in a wheelchair.
A bit annoyed he picked up a bag with clothes Gabby had left on the floor and tossed it aside.
''Are you okay?'' Gabby yelled worried, hearing the noise.
''Yeah, just had to get something out of the way.'' He yelled back, looking around the house.
He got to their bedroom and looked around for a few minutes. It was long ago since he had woken up here together with Gabby. It was long ago, but emotionally it seemed even longer ago.
He made his way to the dresser in the back of the room. There was a picture of their wedding and he picked it up. Holding it in his hands, he thought back about the day. He wished he could go back that day, it been the happiest day of his life. His hands were shaking, and he tried to keep holding the picture. The frame slipped from his hands and knocking off his knee, it fell on the floor, shattering.
''Shit!'' He hissed, moving back before the shards would cause a problem and moving back, he got stuck on the carpet under their bed.
Trying to get off, he couldn't find the power in his hands to get off and he sighed deep.
''Gabby?'' He yelled and she came walking his way.
''I am stuck.'' He sighed a bit annoyed and she pulled his chair back. She wanted to push it back to the kitchen, but he moved his hands on the wheels so hers slipped of the handles and he moved into the hallway.
''What is wrong?''
''I am just annoyed.'' He admitted. ''I am annoyed I can't make my way through my own house.''
''We will get rid of the rug.''
''it is not the rug, it's that I can't seem to do anything like I used to and I already dropped that too.'' He said, pointing at the picture on the floor. Gabby walked to pick up the frame and the broken glass, but she stopped.
''We can still move.'' She offered.
''no, that is not the point, I am just annoyed I can't do it.'' He said and looked down at his hands. Even though he was able to do a lot more than just after the injury, it annoyed him that there was so much that he could not do.
She pushed his chair back to the table so that they could have lunch.
They had lunch in silence and she was just putting away the dishes after, Matt in the bathroom. She knew that the men of the firehouse would come over soon.
Soon they did, and Matt felt useless as they started. He really wanted to help but knew there was not a lot he could do.
Gabby, Otis and Herrmann started to work on the sink. Matt looked, knew they meant well and he tried to explain a bit, but he got a bit annoyed with how clumsy it was going.
''Let me help.'' Matt said as he moved a bit closer, trying to grab the wrench, but he dropped it again, not having the coordination and power in his hand to hold it.
Gabby looked concerned as he moved back, getting out of the way. Even though she saw he was
He looked as he as they started to remove the current sink and counter to make place for one that wasn't too deep, and Matt could use with his chair as well.
Cruz was helping Kidd out with removing the rug under the bed and in the living room and he wanted to help but knew there was not anything he could do. A bit upset, he moved to the hallway.
''hey, can you help out for a second?'' Kelly came walking his way and he followed his friend. Kelly and Capp were working on a stone bench they were making in the shower, so that Matt could sit in the shower.
''What do you need me to do? Wouldn't trust me holding stones.'' Matt asked.
''We wanted to make sure that it is high enough.'' Kelly said and together with Matt they worked it out. Matt still felt bad he could not help them, but it was better than having some other contractor do it.
Going back to the hallway, worried he was in the way, he looked around. Everybody was doing something, but there wasn't a lot he could do. He tried not to get upset because he really did not want to feel this way.
''Think it is time to order pizzas?'' Gabby asked as she saw him looking a bit lost.
''Finally, something I can do!'' Matt sighed, and he made a round around the house, asking everybody what they wanted and ordered the pizzas. After that he moved to the backyard. They had made a ramp for it as well. Even though they did not have a big garden, it was nice to be here again.
Gabby walked behind him, wrapping her arms around him.
''it is nice we can stay here.'' He said and she kissed him on top of his head.
In the back of the garden they would also make a gate to the back alley soon, because Matt did not want the ramp to stay at the entry. The last thing he wanted was the neighbors getting involved with his injury. Gabby had told him it should be fine, but it was his call and he had opted to enter their house at the back. She did not like it, but she knew it was his choice and the last thing she wanted was to upset him.
A little later, the pizzas arrived, and they called it a day.
''I am really proud of all the work you did.'' Matt said and he meant it. Even though it was not done yet, it meant so much for her that the guys were putting all of this work in for him, on their day off. Although he was giving some comments helping out a little bit, they really had done a lot of research on how to do it.
''We were glad to help!''
They had another drink together, and the people of the firehouse left soon to leave Matt and Gabby alone for a bit. They figured the couple wanted to spend some time together too now that Matt was home for a few more hours.
Matt was still looking around the house, so happy they could stay.
''how are you feeling?'' Gabby asked concerned. She knew it had been a long day for him, walking to the couch, wanting to give him a hand as he wanted to transfer to the couch, but he shook his head, doing it on his own.
''Tired.'' Matt admitted as he moved onto the couch. Gabby took his legs, making sure he was comfortable and sitting down between his legs, laying down against him.
She was holding his hands. After the long day and not wearing his splints now, his fingers were curled up and she was holding them, carefully caressing them. Moving over his pinkie, she kissed his hands.
''Can you feel that?''
''Mostly, pinkie not so good, but a little.''
She kissed his hands again and kissed him on his mouth.
''I am glad to have you here with me, even just a for a bit.''
''And I am glad to be here.'' He smiled. Wrapping his arms around her, he pushed his face into her hair, so glad to be at home again with his wife close to him.
''Let me know when you want me to drive you back.'' Gabby said softly, not sure how tired he was.
''I don't want to get back yet.'' Matt admitted, and she laid down again. Caressing her hand over his chest, she kissed him again.
''I am grateful you stayed with me all this time.'' He said as she kissed his cheek.
''Of course, why wouldn't I?'' She asked a bit worried.
''A lot has changed this last few months. I can't blame you for however you feel about it.'' He said as he tried to sit up a bit more, Gabby helping him sit up.
''Well, I love you. And whatever comes our way, we can get through.'' She promised him again, leaning against him. It was not easy, but she loved him more than anything. Even though their lives had changed so much.
''It is crazy to think that the last time I was here, I walked out of this house and hours later…I broke my neck.'' Matt admitted as he looked around.
''I thought about that as well.'' She said as she was turning his ring.
''When I woke up and they told me I was paralyzed, I was really worried about what was going to happen to us.'' Matt mumbled. ''It was the first thing I thought about.''
''Oh Matt.'' She said, sad to hear he had been worried about that.
They shared another kiss and lay close to each other. Laying close, they were so glad to have each other. Softly talking, loving to be home together again for now, the hours seemed to go by very small.
''Alright, I think it is time for me to go back.'' Matt said sad. Even though it had been hard this morning, it had been nice to be home again.
Gabby pushed his chair closer to the couch and helped him get back in. She could not wait for him to come home indefinitely. Especially now their house was adjusted for a large part. She knew there was some more to be done, but she was glad that this was a new beginning for her and Matt, but in their old house.
''Wish I could stay here tonight.'' Matt admitted.
''Me too, but hopefully in a few more weeks.'' She said as she rubbed over his shoulders. He nodded and they made their way to her car.
Going back to the center, he wished he could stay at home tonight. Being home and spending time with Gabby there, he wished that could be their life again.
As she left to go home again as Matt was ready for bed, she felt bad going home without him as well. She saw he was struggling with it as well. Feeling so horrible about it, she tried tot think of a way to cheer him up.
Here is chapter 10 already! I hope you liked this chapter, thanks so much for reading. Please leave a review and hopefully till next chapter!