A/N: Thank you all for the reviews. It definitely keeps me motivated. Sorry it took so long for the update compared to the quickness of the others. I slammed out a chapter for later on in the story that I'm really excited to get to! Hope you all enjoy, and thank you again.

Gabby walked out of the hospital the next day, Shay still in the medically induced coma with Kelly by her side. She stopped in before leaving, holding her partner's hand and telling her words of encouragement - hoping she could hear them. Kelly didn't say anything, giving Gabby a look of sorrow as if Shay had died.

She took a cab home, the wind too icy and the air too cold for her to walk - not to mention the many miles between the two destinations. She didn't have the courage to tell Casey she was out yet, didn't want to bother him with whatever he was doing. Instead, she got home and took a long, warm shower to clear the thoughts and the worries from her mind and body. When she was done, she laid on the couch and refastened the brace on her arm. Her leg didn't give her any problems, so she left that brace in the corner hoping to not have to use it.

The doctor had told her she'd be out for three weeks on paid medical leave until the bone was stable enough to work with again. He prescribed a minor pain killer since being in a car wreck can cause pain to last for several weeks as the body healed. Even with Casey's offer, she really didn't want to leave the house, and with that she hoped he wouldn't call. It was easier for him to forget than for her to tell him 'not today' even though she knew he'd understand given what she'd gone through.

She didn't know how long she'd slept for, but woke to a knocking at the door. Outside, she could see the sun barely setting over the horizon. She got up, walking over and opening the door to see him standing there with take-out in tow.

"Figured you might be hungry," Matt said, stepping in and sliding out of his shoes and jacket. She nodded before sitting back down and propping her feet up on the table. He quickly followed, sitting beside her and laying the spread out around her. "You feelin' okay?" he then asked.

"Yeah, just tired. Sore. Worried," she said almost absentmindedly as she picked up a piece of pizza from the box.

"To be expected," he reminded her. As they ate, they really didn't talk much. It was more of taking it all in, readjusting to being around each other. It wasn't nearly as easy as she hoped it would be, prayed it would be. She was stuck in the mindset that things hadn't changed, that they never could have changed. At one time, talking to each other was the easiest thing to do and she wasn't ready to let go of that memory. And it seemed like Casey didn't either, just by being there meaning that he didn't - at least to Gabby. She glanced over at him, leaning back with his eyes half-closed, and she couldn't help but smile at how relaxed he was.

She woke up the next morning curled into him on the couch. "Good morning," he told her, smiling. She groaned, not ready to be awake, and still sore from the accident. He held her close, letting her take it all in for a little bit longer. She felt like if she let go, he would disappear, like it was all a dream.

"Let's go see Shay," she told him, finally sitting up. He nodded, standing and helping her up. "I have cereal if you want some," she added before walking to her bedroom and changing into a new pair of sweats and an old army hoodie she'd gotten right after joining. When she walked back out, he was sitting on the couch again with his head in his hands. She walked over, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"You okay?" she asked. He laughed slightly, like he used to when he was nervous or scared. After a moment, he looked up at her, eyes rimmed red.

"You scared me the other day," he told her. "It could have been you in Shay's spot right now." She nodded, knowing that very well. "It could have been you in my spot in that convoy." Again, she knew that very well could have happened. "And I got a glimpse of how you felt that day when I heard that call over the radio." She sat next to him, embracing him in a hug to let him know that she was here and that she was fine.

"Let's go," she said after a couple minutes, standing and taking his hand once he stood. They walked out, Gabby locking the door behind them. His truck was parked across the street from her building. It was warm, a refuge from freezing winds and creepy cab drivers. He started it up, and they drove in silence, Gabby holding his hand on the way. She still didn't like cars very much, even though she was in an ambulance every time she went to work, and now she definitely didn't like cars after her last shift.

They pulled up to Lakeshore, parking in the lot across the street. It took her a minute to build the courage to get out of the car, to go in and see her best friend in a death-like state. When she did, Casey wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they walked in together. She realized that since things were better between them, that they were talking again and being around each other, she didn't have to go through rough patches alone. She had Shay, she had Casey, she had an entire family at 51.

When they got up to Shay's room, they saw Severide first. He was still sitting in the chair next to her bed, like he hadn't moved in the past two days. And for all she knew, he hadn't. He would be going home to an empty apartment, going home to ghosts of memories rather than going home with his best friend. However, after stepping into the room, they saw Shay - awake.

"Hey," she said to them, turning her torso rather than her head to look at them. "How y'all doin'?" Gabby smiled, looking at Kelly who had a grin on his face.

"How long you been awake?" she asked the other woman. Shay shrugged, and Gabby laughed. "That long, huh?"

"I'll give you two some time to talk," Kelly said, pulling Matt out of the room. Gabby walked over and took the seat he had been in, taking Shay's hand in hers.

"You scared me," Gabby admitted. "I thought I was going to lose my best friend."

"You can't get rid of me that easily," Shay reminded her, and Gabby nodded knowing it was true. You can't get rid of friends that easily. Shay was alive after a horrific accident both were lucky to survive. Casey was alive after almost being blown up. Both were still there for her, both were still alive and well. And so was Gabby, and they wouldn't get rid of her either.