''Are you okay?'' Carefully, he pressed a tissue against Dawson's eyebrow.

''Yeah, I think so.'' She said, nodding. She looked at him, gave him a small smile.

''What happened in the alley?'' Matthew said, really worried.

''I – nothing. I was trying to help Antonio without his consent and the drug dealer he was after went after me. I was able to run away fast enough and luckily you were there.''

''Don't do that again, next time you might not be so lucky. Do you want me to call somebody?'' To be honest, he had no idea what to do. She said she was fine and he didn't want to keep asking, because he hated himself that people kept asking until he said he was awful.

''I will call a taxi.''

He frowned. ''I will bring you home. ''

''You would have to drive around, I live on the other side than where you need to go.''

''I know, but I want you to come home safe. Really, it is no problem.''

Dawson nodded. ''Thank you.'' She looked at his face, frowned. ''There is something on your forehead. I am afraid it might be my blood.''

He chuckled. ''No, it is my mom's lipstick.'' As fast as he could he grabbed a tissue from his big in the middle and wiped the lipstick away. Dawson laughed. Matthew started to car again.

''Do you remember where I life?''

He nodded. ''I think so.'' She smiled and looking out of the window again. ''Your legs are shaking. Are you having spasms a lot?'' She asked, looking at his legs.

''Usually, in the evening.'' He shrugged, not looking away from the road.

''Don't you have medication for the spams?'' She asked.

''I have, but they make me feel weak and awful. The spasms are a little uncomfortable at the times, but I prefer feeling a little uncomfortable than taking the medication.''

She nodded; ''Well, if you ever need anything, just tell me, I am sure I can arrange something. The lest I can do after tonight.''

Now he did look back at her, just for a second. ''Don't worry, it is fine. I am glad you are okay. Just, don't…ever do that again, okay? I am sure Antonio can handle himself and I am afraid nobody will be around next time. I was even doubting if I should stop or not.'''

''Did you hear my call for help, is that why you stopped?''

He nodded. ''Yes, but I was doubting for a second, knowing I am not really able to defend myself. When you called for help, were you running away?''

''Yes, but nothing happened in the end. Thank you.''

He smiled, parked the car in front of her apartment building.

''Do you want something to drink, before you drive home? Least thing I could do.'' She stepped out of the car and he hesitated if he should get out, looking around.

At first he wanted to accept her offer, but his eyes met the four steps he would have had to take on the stairs by the entrance.

''Afraid I can't accept.'' He said, nodding his head in the direction of the stairs.

''Sorry.'' She said, looking actually sorry.

''You didn't build those stairs. I will save it for Molly's.''

She nodded, walked to the entrance of the building. ''Thank you again, Matt!'' She waved one more time and walked inside of the building. He closed the car window again and drove back to Molly's to park his car, while the events of tonight were still replaying in his head.

''I wonder how Matthew is dealing with his break up with Hallie. At least, Kelly said they broke up.'' Shay sighed, behind the wheel of the ambulance.

Dawson swallowed the sandwich she had been chewing and looked up to Shay. ''He seemed okay yesterday. I had expected him to look worse after all.''

Shay looked aside, surprised. ''Did you see him yesterday?''

Dawson had just taken another bite of her sandwich so she nodded to answer and opened her mouth when it was empty. ''I ran into him and he brought me home.''

''How romantic.'' Shay said in a funny way.

''Shut up, you know I don't have feelings for him anymore. '' Dawson looked out of the window, only to hide from Shay that she was blushing. To be honest, she wasn't sure if what she felt was real love. But she had always been attracted to him and that feeling had taken over again yesterday. She had loved Mills for sure, but every time she had seen Casey, even when she was in a relationship, she felt attracted to him. Not just his looks, but also his kindness.

''He is free, you are free. This is your chance.''

''Oh shut up Shay. One more thing about it and I will call Debbie and give her your new number.''

Shay sighed. ''Good old Debbie. The only ex that even got me to chance my number.''

Dawson chuckled.

''But serious, I think you and Matthew would be a cute couple.''

''I am calling Debbie.''

Shay looked aside, annoyed. ''You should talk to Matt the next time he is at molly's, instead of staring at him for the whole evening.''

''I am going to call her right now.''

''Go ahead, who says that you have my correct number?'' Shay said with a wink.

With a deep sigh, Matthew gave up on putting his shoes on. He had hoped that he could clothe himself completely. He had been able to, but his shoes just wouldn't get on, while he had done it exactly as he had practiced. Clothing, moving to his chair, putting his foot on his other knee, loosening the shoelaces, pulling the shoe over his foot and knotting the laces, doing the same with the other shoe. Every time he tried to pull his shoe over his foot, his foot fell of his knee. His legs didn't do what he wanted and he got even more upset when he realized it didn't even feel like his own foot, but as if he was trying to put the shoe on somebody else's foot. Mad he pulled his left leg up again, putting the foot on his right knee and trying again. He just had to, he wanted to go home.

''What are you doing?'' Tamara, one of the woman from the staff was watching him in the doorpost.

''Playing basketball.'' He said, sarcastic. ''Sorry, didn't mean to take my anger out on you.'' He added when she frowned.

''It is fine, do you want me to help you, or do you want to keep trying?''

''Keep trying.'' He said, looking up confused when she sat down on the chair in the corner of his room.

''Well, go ahead.'' He tried again, cursing out loud.

''May I give you a hint?''

''No, I can do this.'' He grumbled.

Except for his cursing, the room was silent for a few minutes,

''Fine.'' He mumbled then. Tamara stood up, kneeled down in front of him. ''Put your leg on your knee again.'' He did so, looking at her. ''This is what I have been trying multiple times.

''Just try to hold your foot on your knee with one hand and put your shoe on with your other hand. I promise that will be easier.''

He followed her advise and a few minutes later he looked down on his neatly knotted shoes.

''See?''

''I am so dumb that I hadn't thought about that.'' He complained, picking the fabric of his pants with his fingers, not looking at Tamara.

''You were just upset, tomorrow is another day and you will be able to do it.''

He hit his knee with his fist. ''But I want to go home! I can care for myself and what are shoes when I can't even walk?''

''I know it might seem hopeless now, but Rome also wasn't build in one day and I am sure you will be able to go home soon.'''

He nodded, knowing that he could do nothing else than just agreeing.

''but Rome wasn't destroyed in a matter of seconds.''

''But Rome also got rebuild and I am sure you can rebuild yourself, too. Have you ever been to Rome?''

He nodded. ''A long time ago, I was still in school.''

''Well, then you know how beautiful Rome now is.'' She said, walking out with a smile.

….

''Here you go.'' Dawson put the beer in front of him.

''Thank you.'' He laughed, to be honest he hadn't expected her to still remember the promised beverage.

''Sorry, I have to stand behind the bar today, I will talk to you later.'' He nodded at Dawson, looked as she walked back to the bar.

He balanced the glass on his leg again and wheeled to the table he was usually sitting with Severide and Shay. ''Matt, good to see you here.''

''I have been here for nearly half an hour already, you must have been busy talking about something very importa-''

''We are having a baby.'' Shay interrupted him. For a moment he had to think; ''So, Kelly is going to be your donor?'' He asked.

Severide seemed to hide himself behind his glass, trying not to get eye contact with Matt.

''Yes.''

''Well, congratulations!'' He said with a big smile, happy to hear some positive news.

Dawson sat down on the other side of the table.

''So, what are you talking about. I suddenly remembered it was actually Otis day to stand behind the bar.''

Shay looked aside, rolled her eyes. Otis was standing cleaning some glasses, shaking his head in a very dry way, 20 dollar sticking out of his pocket.

''We were talking about the baby.'' She answered Dawson then. Dawson nodded. ''I wish you all the best.''

They took a few sips of their drinks.

''I might have found an apartment by the way.'' Matthew smiled. Today he had spend the day looking for apartments after his conversation with Tamara yesterday. She had been right that he was also responsible for the rebuilding.

''That is great, when are you moving in?'' Shay said.

''It needs some adjusting if I want to move in there, so until it is ready I will stay at the centre. I am also not completely ready to life on my own.'' He admitted.

''Well, it is sure getting closer now.''

He drank his beer, getting tired after the long search today. ''I am going back to the centre, I am getting pretty tired. Only drank one beer, so I should be able to take the car with me. Finally got my own parking space there.''

''Be careful though.'' He nodded. ''Somebody else wants to get home?''

''We are fine.'' Shay said, also pointing the empty seat Severide had been sitting, who had just gone to bathroom for a minute.

''I am actually really tired too.'' Dawson said, Shay winking at her without Matthew seeing it.

''I know where you life, you can drive along when you want.''

She nodded; ''I will owe you another beer.''

The drive to her apartment was less awkward than it had been last time and they were chatting for a few minutes after he had already parked the car on the parking lot in front of her apartment.

''Well, thank you for bringing me home again.''

He nodded. ''My pleasure, happy to see you get home safe, instead of running through alleys. Luckily the wound on your eyebrow was just a scratch.'' He said, pointing at it.

''Yeah, it was not that bad at all, could have been worse.'' She smiled at him.

She bow forward, lifting a little from her seat to avoid bumping into the wheelchair. Without losing eye contact she bow her head sideways and for a second she expected him to back off or kiss her on the cheek again, instead she suddenly met his lips and he kissed her back. A small, tender kiss. Not knowing how to react that he had returned her kiss, she grabbed her back and jumped out of the car, thanking him and slamming the door shut. Matthew would have jumped out of the car and ran behind her if he could, instead he looked how she disappeared in the building, still looking back to him a few times.

The last three minutes already blurred in his mind. He sighed and closed his eyes, laying back against the headrest. What if he would open his eyes and wake up in his bed?

Opening his eyes he still was in the car.

He had actually kissed Dawson.

….

Severide was running through the flaming building, somehow the address seemed so familiar and he was sure he had heard it before, but this was not the time to think about the address. From what he knew, there were still people inside. The flames were getting bigger and he knew that he had to get out soon, then he saw the silhouette laying on the floor behind the iron fencing. He had a hard time knocking it down, not even sure if the person on the other side was still alive. He kneeled down at the person, rolling her over carefully his breath seemed to get stuck in his throat.

….

''Matthew?''

Matt was struggling to sit up in the middle of night, phone in his hand.

''Yeah, I am here. Why are you calling so late?''

Kelly's breathing was hoarse and he was silent for a few seconds.

''There was a fire at Hallie's clinic. ''

A small sob sounded and Matthew didn't want to think about the news that was going to come right now.

NOTE: I didn't melt (yet)! Work nearly killed me but I just can't leave the story for one day…I am addicted to writing I guess! My way of surviving the heat – and eating. Eating a lot!- but it is a little bit cooler inside. But there is still the old crappy laptop I had to borrow since my computer is being repaired and it gives more warmth than the sun outside, but that is where my writing addiction pops up again – I am sweating just from breathing, so the extra heath doesn't matter.

so I hope you like it! I dozed off a few times while writing, hence the small scenes. But I couldn't fall completely asleep since it is too hot. Hope you also like that (the small scenes).

So, what did you think about the part of Casey and his shoes? Tamara is not a recurring character, but I needed somebody he could talk with for now. Try to keep this story as much OC-free as I can, although Danny might be recurring.

So, again, please review! J I am going to answer the previous ones now!

Hope you are looking forward to the next part!

X