Hey everyone! Thank you again for all the reviews. What happened to the chapter? I hope you all where able to read it. For me it's displaying just fine?! Mh...

As I wrote before...all the reviews are making my fingers go faster :o) I love it how long your reviews are so thanks to all of you so so much!

Here is the new chapter already. I hope you will like it!

Ah just one more thing...you really want to get more Casey whump...?! I can manage that if you want to...

Chapter 7 - Pain

Casey awoke to soft hands on his neck checking his pulse. He blinked and was immediately surprised to see Dawson this close.

"Where am I?" He asked puzzled.

"Good morning to you too." Dawson said before sitting down right next to Casey on the couch.

"You are at my home. Severide brought you here. You remember anything?" She continued.

"No. We left the hospital, after that it's a big blur."

"You collapsed as Haley had told you."

"What? Oh no. Gabby I don't want to cause you any trouble. I'm sorry."

"You can be sorry for being so damn stubborn to leave the hospital even if your doctor told you that it was absolutely necessary to stay there."

"Look I really haven't thought that it would be that bad. I'm sorry. I didn't want to be such a big burden. I'm just going home and then…."

"And then what?" Gabby interrupted him while pressing his body back on the couch.

"Stop acting like that Matt. You need to accept that your body needs some time to rest and you will damn sure stay here - no space for any discussions."

"But…"

"As I said no space for ANY discussions. How do you feel?"

"Miserable."

"Yeah I thought so. I made some soup."

"I'm not hungry."

"I know but you are absolutely going to eat."

"I need to use your bathroom. Urgent.", Casey pointed out as he felt the great pressure on his bladder.

"Get up slowly." Gabby said helping Matt to get into a sitting position his vision stating to blur immediately.

"It's your blood pressure. Just keep sitting it will get better." Gabby explained while Matt tried to focus.

"I'm good." He said after another minute before getting up to his feat with Gabriela's help.

Matt nearly tripped on his shaky legs while Gabriela helped him to the bathroom.

"I will wait outside. No stunts. Just call me when you are done." She said and was surprised as Casey really called out for her after flushing the toilet.

Casey was beyond glad as he returned to the couch safely accepting the soup Gabriela had made for him.

"It's fabulous."

"My grandma used to make it when I was ill."

"Fantastic."

"I am going to call Severide and tell him that you are back in the land of the living again. He was really worried."

"Severide?"

"Of course. I called Shay to give him a ride home in the middle of the night."

"He had to be on shift early."

"I know. I promised him to call as soon as anything changes."

"Dawson? How is he holding up?" Severide asked as soon as he answered the call.

"Alive awake and eating."

"Good to hear. Listen we are just heading to a call. I will stop by after shift. See you."

"Be careful!"
"Always am."

As Severide entered Dawson's house in the evening he was beyond tired and exhausted but he wanted to see Casey on his own.
"Hey stubborn fool!" Severide said with a smile on his lips as he found Casey sitting on the couch looking much better than all the days before.

"Skip the lecture I already got one." Casey responded looking at Dawson.

"Come on it was a soft one."

"How was shift?"

"Busy. Warehouse fire had a lot to do covering your spot as well."

"Everyone okay?"

"Of course. I should say hello from the whole team. Chief is asking when you two will be back at work."
"We just talked about that. Matt will rest and then get back on shift in two days."

"Isn't that to early?" Severide asked watching his friend closely.

"I am okay. Really."

"Heard that a couple of times and I am still not believing anything of it."

"He should really be okay to come back." Gabriela agreed.

"I don't want to sound like a softy here but damn it Casey I don't ever want to hold your lifeless body in my arms again. I know I told you so in the hospital and I really mean it. I was worried sick."

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are. Just….rest until you are really ready to get back okay?"

"I will."

"Do you want some soup?" , Dawson asked to light up the mood.

"You should try it. It's delicious and I am pretty sure Dawson made enough to feed the whole firehouse." "I…yes…I would love to." Severide answered and Casey had to smile a little. It felt like old times.

Severide left late in the evening convinced enough that Casey was alright and he didn't need to worry anymore. He couldn't have been more wrong.

"You tired?" Dawson asked watching Casey closely after returning to the living room.

"No I'm fine."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How was your appointment with the psychologist?"

"Not that bad. He was really nice but nonetheless he was a psychologist."

"You got cleared for duty?"

"Yes I did. Look Gabby I knew what happened in this elevator and I told the psychologist everything."

"If you want to talk about it I am here for you."

"I know but it's difficult."

"You don't need to tell me."

"You have the right to know why I passed out on you like that in the elevator." Matt said before taking a deep breath telling Dawson his story.

Matt stopped as he could see tears shining in Dawson's eyes. She was bravely fighting to hold them back so he continued telling her everything that happened that night, everything that he remembered while being stuck inside of the elevator.

"Matt…I'm…I don't know what to say…I'm…" Dawson tried to find words for her emotions as Casey had finished talking while she ended up in his arms crying.

"Thank you for telling me." Dawson said after a while lifting her head from Casey's chest.

"I am glad you listened."

"I will always listen to you."

"I know." Casey said while brushing some hair out of Dawson's face. She was still that close he could fell her breath on his nose. There they where. Her big hazel eyes he had imagined in the bright darkness of the elevator. Without thinking any further Casey leaned forward to kiss Dawson who bagged away immediately leaving Matt looking back at her with his eyes full of hurt.

"I'm sorry."

"No! I...I am sorry...you know there is...I am seeing someone else." Dawson said watching the pain in Matt's wonderful blue eyes.
"I shouldn't have done that. I will leave now. Just..." Matt mumbled getting up.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I am going home."

"You are in no condition to go home."

"Thank you for taking care of me." Casey said getting his shoes on.

"You can't just leave now."

"What is your boyfriend thinking about the time you spent with me in the hospital or about the fact that I crashed at your home? I haven't known that there was someone else and I am sorry for not even thinking about it. I will call a cab and head home. See you in two days."

"Stop it Matt!" Dawson tried to interrupt once more but all she got was Casey shutting the door behind him.

"Shit!" Gabby cursed while heading for her mobile.

"Dawson?"

"Casey just left."

"What? What the hell happened? I just left an hour ago."

"He tried to kiss me."

"Finally."

"No not finally. I am seeing someone else Severide."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Casey packed his things. He's heading home."

"I get it."

Casey slammed the door shut as he got inside his dark cold and silent house. He switched on the lights immediately before turning the TV on as usual. He couldn't stand the silence.
How could he be so plain stupid? What was he thinking? He had pushed her away on that Christmas party. Afraid of his feelings. She was a beautiful woman. She deserved someone better than him. Someone without so many issues. He should be happy for her. She deserved someone to love her.

Casey inhaled deeply as he could feel the tears burning inside of his eyes. He wasn't the type for crying. He wouldn't cry. It was his own fault. He brushed the tears away angrily before smashing the now empty beer bottle to the opposite wall.

At the sound of the door bell Casey looked up shocked. He hadn't recognized that he had slipped down the wall and was now sitting on his living room floor. Tears still streaming down his face. He couldn't even tell how long he had remained in this position.

"Casey open up. It's Severide. I now you are there."

Casey tried to ignore the ringing and knocking.

"I swear I will break this door if you won't open! Come on man. Casey!" Severide continued shouting while Matt got up slowly.

"Coming." He yelled before wiping away the remaining tears and heading for his front door.
"One minute longer and I would have smacked it!"

"What do you want?"

"I can remember us talking a few hours ago."

"Yeah I am good as you can see." Severide took in the image of his friend. His eyes where bloodshot. He had obviously been crying. Even after the breakup with Haley he hadn't seen him in such a bad shape.
"You need a drink?" Severide asked even if he knew that from the medical site Casey would need to rest. "Wouldn't be the worst idea."

"Get dressed I will drive." Severide offered.

"No thanks. Don't feel like going out right now."

"Can I come in or what?"

"I am tired."

"And I am worried."

"What the hell is going on with you? You didn't give a shit on me for month so why are you going all mother hen now?"

"You really need me to answer this?"

"Obviously yes."

"We lost Darden. We both did. And two days ago I was pretty damn sure that I was going to lose you too."

"Yeah but you didn't."

"I am worried Casey. I care about you."

"I am fine."

"No you are not. You are far away from being fine. You have been crying."

"Severide I am tired. I will see you at work in two days." Severide just nodded while Casey closed the door in front of him.

….to be continued!

Hope to get a lot more of your great reviews. Thanks to all of you!