A/N: This chapter was the hardest to write; I rewrote it multiple times and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it, but it was also the most heartbreaking chapter to write, and I didn't have it in me to scrap it and start from the beginning.
Two days later, Gabby had spiked a fever high enough that the hospice nurse was concerned. She pulled Kelly to the side, out of earshot of Gabby before telling him, "I hate to say this, because I know how much Gabby wants to be at home, but I really think she needs to go to the hospital. I'm concerned about a possible infection, particularly pneumonia given the way she's breathing. I can't treat that here."
Kelly's heart sunk at the nurse's words. Gabby had made it clear to him that she'd prefer to remain at home rather than be in the hospital, and he'd promised her that he'd do whatever he could to keep her at home. "There's no other option?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
The nurse shook her head. "I'm afraid not," she replied. "Her fever is too high, and she needs a chest x-ray and antibiotics."
Kelly nodded. "Okay," he sighed. He glanced over at Gabby before pulling out his phone. He'd taken furlough after New Year's, not wanting to leave Gabby despite having round the clock care for her while they were on shift, but he'd insisted that Stella continue working, promising her that if anything changed, he'd call her. His first call, though, needed to be to Chief Boden. 51 was the closest firehouse to his apartment, so unless Ambulance 61 was out on a call, it was likely that they'd be the ones to respond, and he didn't want Brett and Violet, or the rest of the house, to be caught off guard when they heard his address.
"Chief, it's Gabby," Kelly began as soon as Boden answered. "She has an infection, possibly pneumonia, and the nurse says she needs to go to Med for treatment. She's calling it in now, but since 51 is the closest houseā¦" he trailed off, knowing he didn't need to complete his thought for Boden to understand the reason for his call.
"I'll let everyone know," Boden replied. "Keep us updated, Kelly."
Fifteen minutes later, Kelly was opening the door of his apartment for Brett and Violet. Brett was visibly upset, but Kelly could tell that she was doing everything she could to hold herself together and remain professional.
Violet began to unfold the stair chair as Brett talked to Gabby's nurse, but Kelly stopped her. "I'll carry her," he informed the paramedic.
Violet nodded, standing up and resting a hand on Kelly's arm. "I'm sorry, Kelly. I know how much Gabby means to you, and to everyone at 51," she told him softly.
"Thanks, Violet," Kelly replied, fighting back the tears that were suddenly threatening to fall. He quickly turned around and began making his way over to where Brett stood with Gabby's nurse in an effort to hide his emotions.
"She's ready to go," Brett informed him, having switched Gabby from the large oxygen tank she used at home to a smaller one from the ambo.
Kelly nodded. "Gabby?" he said softly, stroking her hair with his hand. "You have an infection; Brett and Violet are going to take you to Med so you can get treated." Gabby didn't respond; he hadn't expected her to. She'd been sleeping almost constantly since her trip to Molly's, barely even waking up for a few minutes to eat. He scooped Gabby up off of her bed and carried her out the door and down the stairs to the waiting ambo, Brett following close behind carrying Gabby's oxygen tank.
When they reached the ambulance, Kelly gently laid her on the waiting stretcher and helped the two paramedics load Gabby into the ambulance.
"I'll drive," Violet told Brett gently, taking the keys from her. "Kelly, are you riding with us?"
Kelly nodded and hopped into the back of the ambulance after Brett. Violet closed the doors behind them before going around to the driver's side and getting in.
When they arrived at Med, they were met by Will Halstead and Maggie, both of their faces revealing their concern. "Treatment two," Maggie told Will. He nodded and grabbed the end of the gurney, helping the paramedics guide it into the treatment room, Kelly following close behind.
Once they'd transferred Gabby to a bed, Will turned to the nurse. "Get me a CBC, CMP, chest x-ray, and blood gas," he ordered before turning his attention back to Gabby. "Gabby?" he called gently. "You're at Chicago Med. We're going to run some tests to figure out what's going on with you, okay?" Gabby's eyes fluttered open for a few seconds before closing again, and Will turned to Kelly. "How long has she been like this?"
"We noticed the fever yesterday, but by this morning it was up to 104," Kelly informed the doctor. "Two days ago, she was fine; she actually insisted on going to Molly's and seeing everyone. But yesterday and today she's been asleep pretty much all day. Aside from the other day, it's been like that pretty much since New Year's Day."
Will nodded. "And the breathing issues?"
Kelly shook his head. "I didn't notice it until the nurse said something. Her breathing was fine yesterday."
"You're going to need to step outside, Kelly," Will informed the squad lieutenant as the portable x-ray machine was wheeled into the room. "I'll let you know as soon as I know anything. I promise."
Kelly nodded, stepping outside Gabby's treatment room and sagging against the wall. He knew that if Gabby was admitted, the likelihood of her ever going home would be extremely slim. Her body was tired, and he knew she didn't have much fight left in her.
"Kelly."
Kelly looked up at the sound of his name and was relieved to see Stella walking towards him. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Chief gave me permission to come. I couldn't let you deal with this yourself," Stella told him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder. "How is she?"
"They're running tests right now," Kelly responded. "We don't know anything yet."
About fifteen minutes later, Will stepped out of the exam room. "Kelly? You can come back in now."
Kelly nodded, and gripping Stella's hand in his, made his way back into the treatment room. "How is she?" he asked anxiously.
"Well, the good news it's not pneumonia," Will informed the couple. "The x-rays came back clear; Gabby's difficulty breathing is likely due to her fever and the cancer."
"What's the bad news?" Stella asked hesitantly.
"I'm afraid Gabby has sepsis," Will informed them gently. "We're going to admit her and begin treating it with antibiotics."
"She's going to be okay, though, right?" Stella demanded.
Will looked at her sympathetically. "I can't say for certain. Gabby's body is so weak from the cancer that I don't know if it can fight off the infection, even with antibiotics. But we're going to try our hardest, I promise."
Stella began to cry, and Kelly pulled her against him, holding her while she cried against his chest. He met Will's eyes over Stella's head, and Will shook his head slowly, his own eyes full of sadness. It would take a miracle for Gabby to pull through, and Will knew the chances of that miracle happening were extremely slim.
Over the next twenty-four hours, Gabby continued to decline, her body getting weaker and her breathing becoming more ragged. Their 51 family trickled in and out once their shift was over, checking in on not only Gabby, but also Kelly, who refused to leave Gabby's side, and Stella.
Stella had just left for the night and Kelly was trying to get comfortable in the chair next to Gabby's bed when Gabby began to stir. "Kelly?" she murmured weakly; her eyes still closed.
"I'm here, Gabby," Kelly assured her, leaning forward and taking her hand. Gabby's eyes opened, and Kelly could see her pain and exhaustion in them.
"I'm so tired," she whispered. "I don't want to fight anymore."
Kelly fought back the tears that were suddenly filling his eyes. "I know, Gabby," he told her softly, reaching his hand up and stroking her hair. "You've been strong for so long." He swallowed, trying to rid himself of the lump in his throat while blinking back tears.
"Thank you," Gabby said, her voice quiet. "Thank you for being there these past few months. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Of course," Kelly replied as a tear escaped his eye and trailed its way down his cheek.
Gabby reached up and brushed his tear away with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Kelly. I'm sorry I wasn't stronger. I'm sorry I couldn't beat this."
Kelly was shaking his head even before she finished. "No. You don't owe anyone an apology, Gabriella Dawson. You fought as hard as you could. This isn't your fault. None of this is your fault."
"When I lost Antonio, I thought I'd lost my family. But I was wrong. I still had you and the rest of 51. I couldn't have asked for more," Gabby told him breathlessly, closing her eyes and fighting to get her breathing under control.
Kelly leaned over the bed and kissed Gabby's forehead. "You'll always be a part of this family, Gabby. We love you." He stroked her hair with his hand before brushing away the tears that had fallen from her own eyes. "It's okay, Gabby," he murmured. "It's okay to let go." His voice broke on the last word, tears now freely falling down from his eyes. "It's okay."
Gabby opened her eyes, turning her head to look at him, smiling. "I love you," she whispered before closing her eyes again. A minute later, the alarm on her monitor began to sound, and nurses began to rush into Gabby's room.
"Page Dr. Halstead," one of them instructed another nurse.
"I love you, too, Gabby," Kelly whispered, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it. "Give Shay a hug for me."
"Sir, I'm sorry, but we need you to step back," a nurse instructed him as Will rushed into the room.
Kelly complied, stepping back and watching. The flurry of activity sent him back to when Anna had died, and he knew this would end the same way. Just like Anna, Gabby had signed a DNR. There would be no attempts to resuscitate her; Gabby was gone. Unlike Anna, however, Kelly had made his peace with it. He'd had his time to say goodbye to the woman that he loved like a sister, and although he was still heartbroken, he knew that she'd been ready to go.
"Kelly?" a familiar voice asked from the doorway.
Kelly turned to see Matt standing there, watching the monitors and Will with concern and fear in his eyes. Before Kelly had a chance to respond, Will spoke. "Time of death, 21:55," he announced sadly. He stepped back from Gabby's bed as a nurse shut off Gabby's monitors, and turned to Kelly and Matt. "I'm sorry; I'll give you both some time to say goodbye," he informed them before walking out of the room.
Matt slowly made his way into the room. "I tried to get here sooner, but-" Matt broke off, unable to continue due to the tears threatening to fall.
Kelly wrapped his friend in a hug, and the two men held each other as they cried for the woman that they'd lost.
