Hello there everyone! I'm here with the next chapter for you all, where we're gonna see more of Gabby's recovery and how Matt's doing, as well as check in with another character. So I hope you all enjoy it!
Thanks for reading everyone, I'll see you next time!
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE
"There's three… Four… Five. You're doing great, Gabby."
Casey watched on with a hesitant, yet pleased smile as he sat in the chair by the hospital bed, his gaze focused on his wife while she stood across the room. She was dressed in one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants- which was her usual attire as of late here at the hospital, while she held her injured arm up to the level of her chest before slowly dropping it back down to her side. With each movement she made, Matt could notice the determined look in her eyes as she continued working with Amy, the physical therapist Lakeshore had assigned to her.
"Six… That's it, you're doing really well." Amy continued to encourage, prompting a proud gleam to appear in Gabby's eyes. Even if just for a moment, before she refocused herself on the slow movement of her arm rising and falling by her side.
But while Gabby wasn't interested in focusing too much on her accomplishments, Matt sure as hell was going to, as all that pride and admiration he'd felt for his wife only increased in the days they'd spent here at the hospital.
Ten days had passed since the shooting, and every second since then had shown him more and more of how resilient she was, as Gabby fought each day to try and get better.
Time seemed to go a bit slower in here, and if you were to ask her things weren't going as quickly as she'd like. But she was doing well all things considered. With every day that went by, he could see more and more improvements in his wife. From her physical health, as well as her mental wellbeing, she was in good spirits after what happened to her. And that was all he could ask for.
Especially with her barely being a week and half post-op, every aspect of her recovery had gone smoothly so far, though up until today that mostly just included getting rest. But it was all just part of the process, and according to her doctors' things were going as expected; better than expected, honestly. On more than one occasion, Dr. Lewis and her nurses had told Gabby how she was recovering faster than any of them anticipated, after the trauma her body had sustained. And Matt could see it. In her body language, and the way she acted, he knew she was feeling better than she had been when she first woke up.
But today was her first true test of just how well her recovery was actually going. This exercise right now, working with Amy to regain some of her mobility for the first time since the shooting, this was the most she'd done since surgery. By far. Before today, all she'd been permitted to do was stay in bed and rest.
And from what Matt could tell, she was handling it well.
"And ten." Amy finished as Gabby lifted her arm one last time, the satisfied smile on her face not going unnoticed by Matt as his gaze shifted back into focus. "That was great, Gabby. You should be proud of yourself." She continued to encourage, while helping to slowly guide Dawson's arm back down to her side. "How do you feel?"
Gabby paused thoughtfully for a moment, giving herself the chance to really focus on how her shoulder was feeling.
There was some pain, there was no denying that, the dull ache deep in her muscles not going unnoticed by her while she let her eyes close. It wasn't anything unbearable, nothing she couldn't handle, but it was there. Though the longer she felt it, the more she realized it was a good hurt. The type of pain that came with progress, that proved she was getting better.
It was a feeling she found herself craving, Gabby drawing in a slow breath before ultimately opening her eyes.
"I feel good." She settled on, sensing her husband's eyes on her while she spoke. Though she kept her attention on Amy. "There's a little soreness, maybe some pain. Deeper in my shoulder, I think. It feels fine, though… It felt good to move again." She told her, watching Amy nod with a gentle smile.
"I'm sure it did, after not being able to for a while." She responded with a sympathetic look. "I know things probably felt a little tight today, and it was hard to move your arm at first, but that'll get better with time… I'll be back again tomorrow so we can do this again."
"I can do more now." Dawson blurted out just as she finished speaking, Matt immediately shaking his head even though he wasn't a part of the conversation. "I feel good, and I can tell that the more I move my shoulder the easier it gets… We could go ahead and do more right now." She tried, with that sweet smile on her face. The same smile that could get Casey to do just about anything given the circumstances.
But thankfully, it didn't have the same effect on Amy.
"We shouldn't push it." She replied, her voice stern yet soft as Matt silently thanked the physical therapist for agreeing with him. Even if she didn't realize she was.
Gabby, on the other hand, wasn't feeling nearly as much appreciation as a small frown began to tug on her lips.
"This is only your second day out of the sling, and the first day you've done any movement." Amy continued on supportively, sensing that her patient wasn't exactly thrilled with her limitations. "And while you've done well, we haven't tested your mobility much. You're still healing, and rushing your recovery will only hurt you in the long run…" She reasoned, Gabby knowing her words were right even if she didn't necessarily want to hear them. "This is as far as Dr. Lewis wanted you to go today, so I think we should stick to that."
"Alright." Gabby conceded before finally looking over towards her husband, just to find a supportive look resting on his face. "We'll do more tomorrow."
"We will." Amy assured her, while taking a slight step back. "I'm gonna head out. Try to find Dr. Lewis and let her know how you did today, do you need anything before I leave? Are you alright to get back to bed?" She asked her, Gabby giving her a soft nod before watching her physical therapist take another step backwards.
"I'm okay, thank you."
"Yeah, I've got her if she needs anything." Matt spoke up for the first time since Amy arrived. "Thanks for your help with Gabby today." He added on, while slowly pushing himself up from his seat, Casey getting his legs underneath him before he began to walk over towards the two women in the room.
"Of course, Mr. Casey… But you should make sure to take it easy, as well." Amy spoke, eyeing the leg that Matt was hesitantly putting weight on when he walked. While she hadn't spent too much time with the couple until today, news of what happened to them had spread through the hospital like wildfire, so Amy knew a lot about them before ever stepping foot into this room. Which meant she knew of Casey's leg injury, how he'd gotten shot the same day Gabby had, and he didn't need to be pushing himself too much. "You don't want to overexert yourself, either."
Now it was Gabby's time to smirk as she listened to Amy chastise her husband, Dawson giving him a knowing look while lifting her uninjured arm up a bit to place her hand over her hip. "You hear that?" She asked rhetorically before he scoffed. "You need to be careful."
Casey waved her off as he came to stop beside her, resting the majority of his weight on his healthy leg. "I'm fine, babe." He promised, reaching out to give her arm a squeeze while Amy watched the couple with an amused gleam in her eye. "And I'm not the one we need to worry about right now." He told her, effectively ending this conversation for at least the next few moments as he turned back to Amy. "So you're sure she's doing alright?"
"I am." Amy responded, looking between the two of them. "She's making great progress, and hopefully she'll make even more tomorrow. But we're just taking this a day at a time." She explained, earning a nod from Matt before Gabby soon followed.
"Alright… Well thank you, again. For all your help." He said with a soft smile. "I guess we'll see you tomorrow."
"I'll see you all then." She said while walking back towards the door. "Dr. Lewis will probably stop by at some point today, just to check in." Amy reminded them, Gabby nodding once more before she slipped out of the room.
Dawson's eyes stayed on the door until it fell back into place, her breaths staying slow and steady as the two of them were now alone for the first time since earlier this morning.
"How's the arm doing?" Matt talked first, shifting his body to stand in front of her while her eyes moved away from the exit back towards him.
Before she answered her head cocked to the side, her eyebrows raising a bit as that smug grin never left his face.
"What?"
"You heard what I said to Amy." She responded, Casey biting back a chuckle while his head shook from side to side.
"I did, but I also know you." He said easily. "You weren't gonna tell her everything, you tend to hold back. Especially when you want to go home." Matt added on, Gabby not even surprised at the transparency between them as he'd always been able to read her better than anyone else. "So really, do you feel okay?"
His words were gentle, holding nothing but concern for the woman he loved more than anything as she gave him a small, yet assuring smile.
"I do. I feel alright." She spoke softly, his hand continuing to run along the side of her arm while his worried eyes moved down towards her shoulder.
It was hard to see much given the large t-shirt of his that was swallowing her frame, but he could see bits of the bandage poking out underneath the material. The one they changed daily, that covered her incision from surgery as he drew in a deep breath.
"Baby." She said after a moment, effectively gaining his attention. "I promise, I feel okay… It hurts a little bit, but that's to be expected after not moving my arm for over a week." Gabby continued to explain, that look of uncertainty never leaving his face despite him nodding. "I'd tell you if it was too much."
"Okay." He said after a moment, Matt then moving to press a soft kiss to her lips before reaching down to grab ahold of her hand that he couldn't hurt. "I could tell it was hurting you when you were working with Amy, but as long as you can handle it…" He trailed off, as Gabby nodded. "Though I still might talk to Dr. Lewis about giving you a different pain medication. To help you sleep better tonight."
She thought over his statement for a second before she nodded, silently telling him she was okay with that before he leaned in to steal another kiss.
"Alright, well let's get you back into bed." He told her, Matt well aware of how this was the longest Gabby had been on her feet since the shooting. And while she seemed to be hanging in there, he didn't want her to push herself too hard.
Feeling some of that ever present exhaustion creeping into her system, Gabby merely nodded before she let her husband lead her back towards the hospital bed she'd been living in for the last week and a half, her eyes staying locked on him while they moved. He was stepping slowly and favoring his injured leg quite a bit, just like he had been ever since he got off the crutches, the sight making her frown as they eventually got back over to the bed.
"...Amy was right, you know." Gabby said while slowly sitting down on the edge of the mattress, Matt doing all he could to help her move comfortably as his eyebrows knitted together.
"Hmm?" He hummed in response while helping her slide back into place, his hand resting against her back to aid her movements and keep any pressure off her shoulder, before he reached down to help lift her legs onto the bed.
"You need to take it easy, too." Dawson elaborated, using all the strength she had to help him.
"Gabby…"
"I'm serious, Matt." She said quickly, her tone holding no room for argument as he paused to take a deep breath, before he pulled the blanket at the end of the bed up over her legs, wanting her to be as comfortable as she possibly could. "You've killed yourself to take care of me, when you were hurt too."
Letting out a soft sigh, Matt shifted her legs over a bit before placing himself down on the edge of her bed, his movements still slow given his leg as Gabby kept her eyes glued on him. "Baby, I'm alright." He tried once more, resting his palm over her thigh while giving her a gentle smile. "It was a rough few days, but you know I got the all clear a few days ago.. You were there."
Her lips pursed together as he spoke, Gabby mulling over his words while she debated how to continue on with this conversation.
He was right, at least partially. The day before yesterday Matt had gotten to go ahead from his doctor that he was alright to get off the crutches, and start using his leg again. That everything was healing as well as it was going to, and apart from a pretty nasty scar going up his leg he was alright, Casey thankfully avoiding a long recovery.
But just because his doctor said he didn't need the crutches anymore, that wasn't going to stop her from worrying. Because she knew it wouldn't for him if the roles were reversed. And, despite what he said, she also could tell that his leg was still bothering him. That he felt more discomfort than he wanted to let on. And that concerned her.
"I know that, but you were still shot Matt." She pushed on, while he gave her leg another squeeze. "We were both hurt, and yeah.. Your doctor said you were okay to start getting off the crutches. But he also said you needed to be careful. Your leg isn't one hundred percent yet, and I don't want you doing too much.. Not when you've done enough already."
He was shaking his head before she had even finished, Gabby pushing down the breath in her throat while she waited for him to speak up. "Gabby, I promise you I'm not overdoing it." He assured, knowing that she needed to hear it. "I'm being careful. But just because I'm hurt, that doesn't mean I won't take care of you… It was kind of in the vows, you know." He teased her, Gabby breaking out a small smile as he gently tapped his finger against the wedding band resting on her hand. The same one he'd given back to her when she woke up. "I'm not gonna push myself, but I also won't just sit here when you need help." He finished, seeing her let out a soft sigh before she nodded.
"...I know. And I love you for it." She started, earning a genuine smile from her husband. "But I'm just worried. I always worry. And I think a part of me feels bad, because you've had to recover here and not at home."
His face softened at her words, Matt drawing in a slow breath as an easy silence fell between them.
He understood why she felt this way, after he'd spent nearly his entire recovery sitting right here inside this hospital room with her, when she'd tried to get him to go home. On more than one occasion, she'd done her best to get him to go and spend some time away from here for a while, but each time he refused.
With everyone else, Gabby had managed to convince them to come and go. Her parents, Antonio, their friends from the firehouse- they all would visit, but they weren't living here the way Matt was, because Gabby didn't want them to. She didn't want everyone wasting their days sitting around with her, just because she was stuck inside this hospital. And, to her credit, she'd managed to convince everyone to listen to her.
Except for Matt.
Throughout this entire ordeal, Matt had been the one constant here with her. From the moment she arrived at Lakeshore, he'd hardly left her side. He had gone home once for a couple hours when Gabby was sleeping, just to take a shower and get himself some clothes. But other than that, he hadn't gone anywhere. He'd showered here, slept here in the cot beside her bed, Matt basically gluing himself to her bedside over the last ten days. Even while he was recovering himself.
And clearly, Gabby was feeling guilty about that. Though she had no reason to be.
"I know it's not comfortable for you to be here, even if you won't admit it… That cot and the chair have to be hurting your leg."
"Babe, I'm fine… I'd take a little discomfort if it means getting to be here with you." He said while rubbing her thigh, seeing the edges of her lips slowly start to curl up into a soft smile. "And regardless of me, I wasn't going to be anywhere else. Not when you were hurt… I'm your husband, which means if you're here, I'm here."
It was impossible to hide her gentle grin by the time he finished, the pure appreciation and love shining in her eyes evident while she reached her healthy arm around to grab ahold of his hand. "You're too good to me."
Matt shook his head, holding onto her leg a little tighter before he leaned forward to place a light kiss to her lips. "That's where you're wrong." He murmured, feeling her smile against him before kissing her once more. "And, again, as your husband, I usually know better than to ever say that.. But this time is an exception." He joked, Gabby laughing lightly as she gave his hand a squeeze.
"You're so dumb." She replied, the smile of her face telling him she didn't at all mean what she was saying as he pressed his lips to hers again.
"I know. But I love you." Casey told her, Gabby tightening her grip on him before giving him one last loving, tender kiss.
"I love you, too."
Casey's eyes were focused on the television across the room while he fought to stay awake, his chin propped up in his palm as he sat in his usual place by Gabby's bedside. It was getting pretty late in the afternoon, the room around them quiet except for the show playing above their heads while Gabby was in the middle of taking a nap.
She'd been asleep for a few hours now, ever since Dr. Lewis had come by to check on her and update them on what was going on, a conversation that went just about as expected; that Gabby was healing well, but her doctor wanted her to stay a few more days into her rehab just to be safe. Which was something Gabby wasn't thrilled about, but she understood.
Then after that check up, it didn't take long for Gabby to succumb to her exhaustion, the couple having been left alone ever since as his wife got some more rest that she desperately needed.
And he wasn't too far behind her, Matt tempted on more than one occasion to get up and head over to the cot placed against the wall to try and get a little bit of sleep. Even if it was for just a moment or two.
But before he could make the decision on whether or not to get some extra rest, he was snapped from his thoughts when he heard the door open. He sat up a little straighter in his seat when they stepped inside, Matt figuring it to be one of Gabby's nurses, or her parents, as Camila and Ramon said they'd be stopping by sometime today. But when he finally looked up, he was surprised to see it wasn't any of those people, as Shay was now standing just inside the door with a weak smile on her face.
"Hey Casey." She greeted, Matt matching her look before he slowly began to push himself up from his seat, his body still moving rather slowly to not only adjust for his healing leg, but as well as the tiredness he felt coursing through his muscles. "I'm sorry, I should've called.. I didn't realize she was asleep."
"It's alright." He told her easily, Shay noticing how he was evidently favoring one leg over the other while he walked. "I'm glad you stopped by, it's good to see you." He said before giving her a quick hug, one she reciprocated.
This wasn't Shay's first time at the hospital since the day of the shooting, as she had come a few more times since then to check in on Gabby, and Matt. But during all those other visits she had always been with someone. Whether it was Severide, or a group from the firehouse, or Boden, she hadn't come alone until today.
"I'm not sure if Gabby will wake up anytime soon though, her doctor gave her a stronger pain medication today and it made her a little more tired." He continued, while he nodded back towards his sleeping wife in the bed.
"Is she alright?" Shay was quick to ask, her brows furrowed deeply as she glanced Gabby's way.
"She is, she's fine." He promised. "It was her first day of physical therapy, so she was a little sore. It kind of took it out of her."
Shay nodded, her eyes lingering on Dawson for another moment before returning her gaze to Casey. "How'd all of that go?"
"Pretty well, I think." He responded, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know how she is, she just wants to jump head first into everything and do more." Matt began to explain, earning a soft, knowing laugh from his friend. "But she handled her limitations well, and there were no major problems.. It's just a lot, trying to use her arm again."
"Yeah, I get that. I'm glad today went well, though." Shay replied, pausing for a moment before she continued on. "What about you? How's the leg?"
"It's alright, could've been worse." He said with a simple shrug, Shay merely nodding once she got the sense he wasn't going to elaborate further.
"Well, I'm glad you're doing better.. That you both are." She told him. "And I just wanted to stop by for a minute, and see you guys. Make sure you're doing alright, and that you don't need anything."
"I appreciate that, but we don't. We're okay for now… And with any luck we'll be getting out of here in a few days." He replied, while Shay nodded with a small smile.
"Yeah, I hope you can. I'm sure it's been good to be here, where Gabby can get the help she needs. But I know it'll be nice once you all get home."
"It will be, yeah." He agreed, drawing in a deep breath before he continued. "So, what about you?" Matt asked softly, gaining her attention. "How have you been doing?" He pushed, seeing her face fall a little bit before taking a slow breath of her own.
The question wasn't an easy one for Shay to answer, and Casey knew it, as even though his main focus this past week and a half had been on his wife, he'd also talked to Severide enough times to know that Shay was having a few struggles with what all happened. That while she may have not had any physical scars from the shooting, she had her fair share of emotional ones. Understandably so, as she had nearly watched her best friend and partner die in front of her.
What they witnessed in that janitors closet that day, it wasn't an easy thing to get past. Matt knew that better than anyone. And it was something they'd all have to carry with them, something that no one but the three of them in this room could ever understand, all of that sure to have taken its toll on her.
To the point where, as far as Matt knew, she hadn't gone back to work yet. He'd heard rumblings from Boden and Severide that the department had given Shay the option to have some time off, and she'd taken it. For how long, he wasn't sure, but he knew some distance from the job was likely good for her.
Just like it would be good for him and Gabby, too.
"I'm… hanging in there." Shay finally settled on, pulling Casey from his thoughts as he met her gaze. "Just taking it one day at a time, you know?"
He offered her a sympathetic smile, Matt nodding seconds later as he reached out to clasp her over the shoulder.
"It's easier now, knowing that she'll be alright. But it's hard to think about it, what happened to her. To all of us. And some days are just…" Shay trailed off, shaking her head a bit before Casey spoke up.
"I get it. Believe me, I do." He responded quietly. "This whole thing has been a nightmare. But like you said, it's best to just focus on the fact that she's alright. That's what I've been holding onto." He told her, both their gazes moving on towards Gabby, who was still sound asleep. "
"We got her out of there, and now she's doing fine. After everything that's happened, that's what's important."
Shay took a steadying breath before she nodded, never looking away from her friend while she tried to do what Casey was saying, and focus on the positives.
"Although, you know I never got the chance to actually thank you for that. At least not the way I should've." He started once more, that statement enough to pull her eyes away from Dawson, only to find Casey still watching her. "Everything you did for her, getting her into that closet and keeping her alive until I could get there… We all know had you not gotten the bleeding under control, she could've died. She did almost die, but we got her out of there. And a lot of that is because of you."
"Matt…"
"You helped save her, Shay." He spoke firmly, as tears began to form in the paramedic's eyes. "And I, uh.. I know you sometimes tend to blame yourself, when something happens to Gabby…" He continued on, the way she averted her gaze all but proving him right. "But without you, she would've died. So please, try and hold onto that. I know it's not easy to let go of the what-ifs, believe me. That's all I do some days, is think of what could've happened. And all of this is gonna stick with us for a while, but she's okay. You helped save her life, that's what matters."
She gave herself a moment to let his words truly sink in before she slowly started to nod, Matt offering her a warm, yet small smile as he brought her in for another hug. And Shay more than welcomed it, as after the last ten days of worrying and panicking about her friend, wondering if she could've done anything else differently, Matt's statement had hit closer to home than she realized.
Because it was something she needed to hear. After almost watching Gabby die right in front of her, and spending the last ten days second guessing herself for Dawson getting hurt, being here helped. To see that her friend truly was alright, that she'd done all she could. And that at some point, this was something they'd be able to get past.
It wouldn't happen all at once, and there were bound to be hard days ahead for all of them. But Gabby was okay.
And like Matt said, that was all that mattered.
A deep groan left Dawson's lips as her head was tilted back up towards the ceiling, the impatient sound prompting a chuckle from Casey while he sat next to her on the edge of the bed, doing his best to ignore her obvious pleads for attention while she continued to voice her displeasure for her surroundings. Mostly because they were the same surroundings she'd been in for the last two weeks.
They were starting day fourteen of being stuck in this hospital, and Gabby was close to losing her mind. And she made sure to let everyone know it.
The first week or so of her stay had been easier, at least mentally, as her lack of mobility was proof of how she needed to still be here. That it wasn't safe, or smart, for her to try and go home yet. But ever since she'd started getting up and moving around, especially in the few days that had passed since starting her therapy, she was becoming more and more impatient with being here. It was like the more mobile she became, the more exasperated she was at being cooped up in the hospital.
And while Matt couldn't blame her, he also knew it wasn't their choice. It was all up to Dr. Lewis. And, despite her theatrics, Gabby knew it, too.
"We need to get out of here." She finally spoke up when her husband wasn't giving her the reaction she was looking for, Matt biting back a grin before he turned his head to look at her. "I'm going crazy."
"You don't say?" He teased, Gabby sending a glare his way before reaching her uninjured arm out to smack his leg. "Ow!"
"That didn't hurt." She challenged, prompting Matt's smile to grow before he finally let the laugh escape. "And I'm serious, I want to get out of here. This place is driving me insane."
"Babe…"
"I've been able to do all my exercises, my shoulder's held up well. It's not hurting nearly as much as it was, and I can feel myself getting stronger." She continued to ramble, Matt closing his mouth as he knew it was just best to let her get this all out. "I know I won't be back to one hundred percent for a while, but I don't need to stay here until I am. Not to mention, we can't really afford for me to be here any longer."
His eyebrows knitted together tightly at those last words, Matt unable to stop himself from interjecting as he got her to look at him. "Baby, we're fine. That's not anything I want you to worry about." He told her, earning nothing but an unsure look from her in response. "I'm serious, you don't need to focus on that right now."
"Okay, but I can't just not think about it… Hospital stays are expensive, and after our wedding and the honeymoon, paying thousands of dollars here wasn't part of the plan."
"I know it wasn't, but it's okay." He assured her, watching as she took a slow breath before pursing her lips together. "I promise, it's alright. We'll figure it out if we need to, but we're fine. We'll be fine… What's important here is you getting better. The money doesn't matter."
"Matt-"
"It doesn't." He repeated himself, seeing her slowly starting to give in. "And I swear to you, it's not something you need to be worrying about right now. We'll wait for the bill, and then go from there.. But right now, the focus is on you and your health. When it's time, we'll figure out the money and save up where we can." He reminded her, watching her nod before he continued. "And even though it's been a while, I can always try and pick up some construction jobs for extra cash if needed. But like I said, that's not important right now."
He watched as she nodded once more, though this time the movement was accompanied by a slight smirk that began to form across her lips, Matt unsure of what was causing that type of reaction given how worried she'd been moments prior.
"...What?" He pressed lightly, Gabby's smile growing a bit before she shrugged.
"Nothing, it's just… I was trying to think if you've even done any construction jobs since I met you." She teased, Matt letting out a soft scoff as her laughs started to get louder.
He knew she was just messing around with him, how it had been a long time since he'd really done much of anything related to the construction field. But he didn't mind the teasing, as long as it kept that smile on her face.
"I've done a few." He played along, Gabby grinning once more before she started laughing to herself. To the point where he could tell there was another thought roaming around in her mind. "...What's so funny now?" He asked her, holding back his own laughter as she gave him a shrug.
"I was just thinking about something." She replied slyly.
"Care to share?" He said back while adjusting the blanket over her legs, Gabby chuckling once more before speaking up.
"It's nothing really, it just got me thinking back to when we met." She started, Matt's eyebrows raising as he caught her gaze. "How that night at the bar, after we got back to your place I thought all you did was work in construction… Little did I know." She said lightly, Casey smiling at the memory before letting out that laugh caught in his throat.
"Ah yeah, I remember that night well. You throwing yourself at me in the parking lot, and against my truck." He joked, Gabby rolling her eyes despite the wide grin staying on her face.
"Yeah, and you're lucky I did." She shot back easily.
"Damn right I am." Matt said without missing a beat, earning a few more laughs from Gabby. "Cause if you hadn't, you might not be my wife right now. And I would've been miserable and alone this entire time." He told her, his words holding a lot of truth despite their light and playful tone.
"Well, then thank God you met me." She added on with a bright grin, Matt feeling an intense warmth rush through his chest while he watched her, his entire body overwhelmed by the amount of love he felt for the woman next to him as he gradually matched the look on her face.
"I do every day." He said, winking at her before he leaned in to capture her lips in his, the quick movement catching her off guard at first until she was able to reciprocate his actions, his hand coming up to rest over her hip while they sat together in the hospital bed that had become like a second home to them as of late.
It wasn't until the door opened that they separated, Matt and Gabby turning to see Dr. Lewis walk in with one of the nurses behind her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." She spoke with a knowing look, Gabby feeling heat rise to her cheeks as Matt merely sat there with a proud smile on his face.
"It's okay, we were just talking… I take it you're here for Gabby's daily visit?" Casey asked, clearing his throat a bit before slowly moving to stand up from the bed, knowing the doctor would need room to examine Gabby.
"I am, I just wanted to stop by for a quick moment here and look her over, if you have the time."
"We do."
"Yeah, it's not really like I have anywhere else to be." Gabby joked, Matt chuckling softly while Dr. Lewis offered her an understanding smile.
"I know, it's no fun to be cooped up in here… Which is why depending on how today goes, I think we might be ready to get you home."
Gabby's ears perked up at her words, Matt's soon following as the couple both looked at her. "What?" Dawson asked first.
"Gabby can go home?"
"I'm thinking so." She replied, handing off her tablet to the nurse before stepping closer to Gabby's bedside, Dawson's grin widening as she looked over to her husband. "Her numbers have been great the entire time, no other issues have come up since your surgery. And you're doing incredibly well with your rehab.. We would still need you to come by a couple times a week, just to work with Amy and check your progress. But all your exercises you're able to do at home, we'd just send you with the band and anything else you'd need… As long as you feel up for it."
"I do." Gabby all but cut her off, as Dr. Lewis laughed. "I'm ready to go home."
"I figured as much." She told her. "So I think as long as things go well today, that your numbers stay where they are and then your next session with Amy goes alright, I think we can get you out of here tomorrow." Dr. Lewis told her, relief swelling through Gabby's body before she nodded. "From what I'm seeing, you're ready to get out of here."
"I am, thank you Dr. Lewis." Dawson rushed out, the woman smiling softly before she nodded.
"Yeah, really. Thank you… For everything." Casey echoed, as she looked between them.
"I appreciate that, but no thanks are necessary. You did the hard part, Gabby. I'm just glad you're doing better, and we can hopefully get you home here soon." She replied, earning nods from both Matt and Gabby before they shared a quick smile.
"Now, let me take one last look at that shoulder."
"I never thought I'd be so happy to see our front door."
Casey let out a soft laugh as he stood beside his wife on the sidewalk in front of their home, his arm wrapped gently around her lower back while Camila and Ramon got their bags from the trunk.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Matt replied, Gabby looking up towards him with a soft smile written across her features, before he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Are you ready to head in?"
"Absolutely." She responded, the couple then waiting for her parents before they began to make their way inside.
Their steps were a little slow, for Matt especially, but after a minute or two they were able to get inside their apartment, Gabby stopping to appreciate the homely smell before she continued inside.
"God, I missed this." She breathed out, their familiar apartment so much more welcoming than the stale hospital room they'd been living in for two weeks. "I'm so glad to be home."
"Me too, baby." Matt told her, the two helping one another to the couch before Casey carefully sat down.
"Do you and Mama need any help, Papa?" Gabby asked before she joined him, Ramon immediately shaking his head while placing her bag down on the ground beside the counter.
"No, no you sit mija. We're fine." He assured her. "Your Mama is just bringing in some last minute groceries we picked up."
"You all didn't have to do that." Gabby reminded him, though Ramon merely waved her off. "Or any of this, really it's too much." She tried, but he was having none of it.
Along with taking care of every need she and Matt had while they were at the hospital, her parents had also done just as much from them outside of it. They'd kept their home clean, and restocked their fridge, Camila getting them things from the grocery store as well as preparing a few simple freezer meals for them to heat up. She'd even gone as far as to wash all their sheets and towels, as well as do any laundry that had been left behind, Gabby's mother not wanting them to have anything to worry about once they finally did come home.
And it was more than appreciated, by both of them. But still, Gabby and Matt couldn't help but feel bad that they'd done so much for them.
"Nonsense Gabriela." Camila spoke up as she walked in from the hallway, her hands full of a few more bags while she moved into the kitchen. "We're happy to help you two in any way that we can, you know that." She reminded her, Gabby conceding with a soft 'thank you' before she sat down next to her husband. "Oh, and Matthew before I forget, I've been talking with your mom. She wants to come by and see you both." Camila explained while she put some of the food away. "But she doesn't want to overcrowd you all, so she said she'd call and try and find a time that worked. She just wanted to wait until you got settled."
"Alright, yeah I'll talk to her.. Thanks, Camila."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." She spoke with a warm smile, before continuing on with her tasks.
Over the next half hour or so, Ramon and Camila moved easily around the Casey's apartment, helping them in any ways that they could to get them settled in, the parents putting away some of their things as well as making some food for them. And Gabby and Matt both enjoyed the company now that they were in the comfort of their own home.
But as the evening grew closer, they found themselves getting a little tired. And Ramon and Camila could sense it.
"Well, Ramon, I think it might be time for us to head out of here." Camila spoke softly after placing the last dish on the drying rack, her husband nodding before he got up from his spot in the chair.
"I think so, too… As long as you two are okay?" He checked one last time, glancing down towards Matt and Gabby who were curled up on the couch.
"We're fine, Papa."
"Yeah, I think we're good Ramon." Casey added on. "Thanks again, for all your help over these past couple weeks."
"Of course, son. Anything you two need." He said softly, while Camila came to his side.
"We'll let you two get some rest. I put your medications on the nightstand, so you'll have them before bed. And there's some french toast in the fridge for breakfast in the morning." Camila told them, Matt grinning up at her with a thankful look in his eyes.
"Mama, you didn't have to do all that." Gabby tried one last time.
"I know I didn't, mija. But I wanted to, now hush." She chastised gently, Casey holding back his laughter while Gabby shook her head.
"Well, thank you. Both of you."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Ramon said first, leaning down to give her a hug and a kiss, before clasping Matt on the shoulder. "We'll see ourselves out, you two get some rest." He spoke while Camila gave them similar goodbyes, Gabby and Matt both smiling before they stepped away. "We love you. Both of you."
"We love you, too." Gabby responded, Matt nodding in agreement before Ramon and Camila left their apartment, locking the door behind them.
Blowing a heavy sigh, Casey let himself relax further into their couch, the silence around them comforting as Gabby fell deeper into his side, her injured shoulder on the other side of him as to not hurt herself.
"How are you feeling?" Matt asked after a moment, letting his hand come to rest over her hip as she pressed a kiss against his chest.
"Pretty good, considering." She murmured. "Glad to be home."
"Me too." He answered her, as his head fell down against hers. "...You need anything?"
"I don't think so… Well, maybe a bath." She spoke with a laugh, Casey smiling as well while giving her body a light squeeze.
"I think we can arrange that, just tell me when."
"I will." She replied, falling deeper into him before letting her eyes close, her husband's presence as relaxing as anything as she was happy to just sit here and let him hold her.
And Matt was more than willing to stay here as well, his hand rubbing mindless patterns on her side while an easy quiet continued to surround them. Until Casey spoke up once more.
"...Are you sure you're okay?" He questioned, noticing her prolonged silence as she drew in a deep breath before lifting her head up to rest on his shoulder.
"I am.. I'm just thinking. About all of this." She told him, her honest words earning a nod from him. "And how I still can't believe we started off being newlyweds by getting shot."
He shook his head a bit, Gabby letting out a soft scoff as while there was nothing amusing about what happened to them, it was crazy to think about what they'd gone through since getting married.
"I mean, of all the ways to start our marriage, I can't believe that happened." She added on lightly with a dry chuckle, Matt releasing a heavy breath of his own while a small, weak smile tugged on his lips.
"Yeah, that one definitely wasn't on my list… I didn't think we'd be in the hospital right after our honeymoon." He told her, before placing a kiss on her head. "But if it was gonna happen, at least we're okay." Matt reminded her, Gabby copying the smile on his face while she nodded against him, before letting her head fall back into its place on his chest.
"Yeah, we're okay." She repeated, letting her eyes fall closed as she relished in the feeling of finally being back home with her husband, a day that for a while she wasn't sure would ever come. "...We always will be."