Hey everyone and thanks a lot for all of your reviews. Okay I don't write this too often...I don't think that I ever wrote it but I am not quite happy with this chapter.
Hope you will like it more than I do and leave some reviews.
Have fun!
Chapter 4 - Vitals
"Alright." Haley said as Matt's heart rate slowed down to a nearly normal rhythm.
"I'm okay." Matt tried to convince them while Haley replaced the mask from his face.
"I would like to switch to oxygen through a nasal cannula. Do you think it is going to work?" Haley asked while Matt nodded slowly.
"I don't know why it shouldn't work." Matt said while Haley got the oxygen switched and watched as Gabby helped Matt to put it on.
"Okay I see you guys are all good in here. Do you need something else Matt?"
"No thanks."
"Well then try and rest a bit more." Haley said before leaving Matt and Gabriela alone again.
Casey turned his head to look at Dawson who was looking back at him with her big hazel eyes that looked so tired and exhausted.
"Gabby you can go home, get some rest. I am okay."
"No I will not leave you alone. I have a few days off. You don't need to go through this on your own."
"Haley made an appointment with a psychologist for tomorrow."
"Yeah I already thought so. It's normal procedure Matt, she couldn't do anything else."
"I know but I don't need that."
"We can talk about that tomorrow, now you need to rest. You heard what Haley said. You have put your heart through enough today. Just close your eyes and we will figure something out tomorrow." Dawson said but Casey just shock his head.
"I'm not tired." he lied. He couldn't stand the fact that Dawson had seen him at his weakest. All of his team had seen him at his weakest.
"I don't think that matters right now. Just close your eyes and relax a little."
"Gabby I'm sorry."
"Sorry about what?"
"About my….behavior. I should have kept a clear head. I really don't know what happened in there and I am sorry that I have put you through all of this."
"Matt stop talking like that!", Dawson said harshly. "You had a panic attack, even if you didn't get it right now but you nearly died." Dawson continued tears shimmering in her eyes.
"I had some….issues before I became a firefighter. I always thought that I got everything covered but I really don't like the combination of complete darkness with being trapped."
"Matt what happened in this elevator? I always thought that you were completely fearless."
"Yeah I heard people keep saying this but I think nobody is able to be completely fearless."
"You are right we may all have our little demons."
"Yeah."
"Matt if you want to talk about it I just want you to know that I am here."
"I know and I want to thank you for that."
"Have you talked to Severide about it?"
"About what?"
"About what had brought you to this point today."
"No."
"Maybe it's not the worst idea to talk to the psychologist tomorrow. He or she is a person you don't know and you may never see again. Sometimes talking is really helpful and I think you really need to talk to someone about it."
"Yeah maybe."
"Matt you are a hell of a firefighter and the greatest Lieutenant a team can imagine. You will pull through this. I really have no doubt about that but now you need to rest. I know that you want me to believe that you are good but your vitals are telling me something different."
"Damn monitors." Casey replied with a little grin on his face before grabbing Dawson's hand. He didn't miss the surprised look on her face before closing his eyes, keeping her head in his.
Severide didn't get much of sleep during the night. Normally he was perfectly able to leave the events of the day back at the station and head home with his head straight but today he couldn't get a hold of this sick feeling in his gut. The sorrow about Casey not showing up for work. The panic as Dawson shouted that they should hurry because Casey was in a critical condition. The image of him lying there unconscious, the image as they brought him up dangling lifeless in the harness, the way he looked pale and lost in this hospital bed.
"Damn it." Severide cursed while getting out of his bed and heading downstairs to get some breakfast and coffee.
Severide cursed again as he accidentally crashed the coffee cup against the counter, getting it to break into pieces loudly.
"Shit!" Severide growled while he could hear Shay just minutes later.
"Severide? You okay?" she asked while walking down the stairs not looking sleepy on her own. "Yeah. Couldn't sleep."
"Yeah me neither. After cleaning this mess can I get a cup of coffee too but please let my cup live, we don't have that much of them."
"Funny." Severiede answered getting two cups of coffee on the counter before cleaning up.
"Are you worried about Casey?" Shay asked while watching her friend closely.
"Casey is a stubborn coward, he will pull through this easily."
"I am sure he will but that is not what I mean and you know that. It must have been hard for you to see him like that."
"It's always hard to see one of the man like that."
"Especially when it is your best friend hanging lifeless in the harness. I know what is going through your mind Severide. Come on. Let's get dressed and head to the hospital."
"I..." Severide paused before nodding. "That would be great."
Severide spotted Haley while he was on his way to the ICU together with Shay.
"Kelly. Lesley. It's early. What are you doing here? Is everything alright?"
"Depends on what you can tell me about Casey."
"He is stable. Nothing to worry about."
"Can I ask for a favor?"
"Spill it."
"Can I see him, you know sit with him for a while?"
"Gabby is already staying with him. He really needs rest Kelly."
"I know that. He won't recognize me I swear I just...it was hard seeing him like that you know." Haley just nodded while giving Severide access to the ICU.
Severide entered the room quietly finding Casey and Dawson fast asleep. He had to smile a little as he recognized the two of them holding hands. He had always known that they had feelings for each other even if Casey was stubborn and didn't want to admit it.
Severide was relieved to see that Casey was only wearing a nasal cannula by now. It wasn't that scary anymore and he seemed to be alright, sleeping peacefully. Severide got a chair on the other side of Casey's bed trying his best to be completely silent. Casey, however, opened his eyes as soon as he had settled down.
"Severide?" he asked, his voice a little raw.
"Hey. Just relax. I'm just here to give you some company. I promised Haley that I won't disturb your sleep so just go back to it." Severide whispered while Casey watched him with his blue eyes. He hadn't excepted him to show up here after all they had been through.
"Did the others say anything?"
"They are all worried about you."
"I'm okay."
"You are in the ICU so please skip the I am okays."
"Point for you."
"I know. Come on get back to sleep I don't want Haley to kick me out of here because you where to stubborn to sleep." Severide said before leaning back in his chair watching relieved as Matt drifted back to sleep again.
On the next morning Gabriela was surprised to find Severide sitting on Casey's other bedside his eyes never leaving Casey's face.
"Morning." She said softly causing Severide to look at her in surprise.
"Morning."
"Since when are you here?"
"Couple of hours." Severide watched as Gabriela got up stretching herself before looking at the monitors.
"How is he doing?"
"His vitals are pretty much better than yesterday but they are still not back to normal. His body had been through a lot yesterday. I think it will take him one or two days to get back to his normal self." "But he will be alright?"
"Yes he should be perfectly fine."
"Thank god."
"Yeah."
"What happened inside of this elevator? I still can't get all of this together. I mean a panic attack. What is causing things like that?"
"Panic as the word says." Dawson explained dryly. She knew exactly what Severide meant but couldn't give him the answer on her own.
"Haley had set up an appointment with a psychologist for today."
"She did what?"
"It's normal procedure."
"Casey doesn't need a psychologist. That's ridiculous."
"I'm with you in this." Casey said his voice still sleepy.
Four hours later Casey breathed in deeply as the doors opened and a young man walked into his room.
"Lieutenant Casey?" he asked while Casey watched him surprised. The man was nearly his age, looking way to smart for a psychologist.
"Depends on who is asking." Casey replied causing the man to smile.
"Right. Hey. My name is Robert and I am the one who got called to decide if you need to talk and if your mind is still in place. I'm the psychologist." Robert replied with a friendly and warming smile on his face.
"Can't wait for your opinion." Casey said sarcastically smiling on his own. Maybe this wasn't as worse as he first thought.
….to be continued. :o)
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