Hi Readers: And welcome to your daily update of the Caseys for June 15th. But first, I want to apologize for having posted yesterday's update so late at night. But I completely forgot to update it and was almost not going to update. But fear not, as today I am updating this story first; just like I should do, as this is the story that I have been writing for the longest. In fact, tomorrow marks five months since I started writing this series. And I am thrilled to say that I am not done writing this series, even though I have started another story which I enjoy. But right now, I am not going to waste time when you want to get this update out to you. Hope you guys enjoy it.
Quick Note: For the purpose of this story, we are going to follow the real-life timeline of how things are going with the case of The State of Idaho v. Lori Vallow Daybell. That means that, unlike in the real world; Lori is still deemed innocent until proven guilty.
Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy-Three
Noah: He'll Be Okay
"She's guilty."
Those were the thoughts that came into Gabby's head, and the first words that came out of her mouth after spending the past little while listening to the Dateline episode that was narrated by the great Keith Morrison. But still Matt, couldn't help but wonder just how in the world Gabby already concluded based on the evidence that they just heard; heck, last time he checked…the children are still considered missing. "Okay, how in the world can you figure that our Gabby?" Turning her head as she looked at Matt, Gabby was a bit shocked that Matt didn't feel that way. "How can you not think that? I mean…" Matt sighed. "No bodies, no crime. Technically, the kids are still missing. Heck, they could just be off with her friends somewhere like she says." Gabby agreed with Matt, as that could be true.
"You're right, you're right. But c'mon, she's in a cult."
Matt laughed, agreeing with his wife. "And you haven't come across people who are in a cult?" Gabby sighed. "Baby, it's a statistic. If you're in a cult, you are more likely to be guilty. I mean, look at Charles Manson and his cult! Oh, and the Duggar Family!" Matt agreed with his wife as she said that, as that most definitely is the case. "Okay, I can't even believe this; but how in the world have we never spoken about that, and what he did?" Gabby laughed as she heard Matt say that, before just looking at the man she loves. "The truth is, I thought it might hit too close to home." Matt shook his head. "No, because he did it to his sisters; and he wasn't a father at the time." Gabby agreed with her loving husband as he said that, before going to take out her AirPods; after all, she can't loose them.
"Here, can you put these on your side table? I don't want to loose them."
Seeing Gabby place her AirPods into it's case, Matt smiled as he could most definitely do that for her; especially since he's the one that's still reaching for things, which are located on his side table, on her behalf. And while yes, she can do so on her own; Gabby doesn't want to at the moment, based on how comfortable she is in her husband's arms. "Let me guess, you'd rather keep things on my side of the bed? That way, I have to reach for things; while you stay nice and comfortable in my arms, and just cuddle up to me during our entire stay here in the hospital?" Looking up at her husband as he asked her that, Gabby smirked as that was exactly what she wanted to do; she wanted to stay in his arms and cuddle up to his sexy (muscular) shirtless chest…like she is right now.
"I mean, are you really going to complain if I do? I am braless after all."
Snickering a bit as he heard Gabby say that, Matt nodded as that most definitely was the case; she was currently braless, and he loves it when his wife is braless. "You know, since you're braless; you can do something else." Gabby looked up at Matt as he said that. "And what's that?" Matt smiled as he heard Gabby ask him that, before staring into her eyes. "I wonder if the hospital would let you pump some milk for the girls that they can feed them?" Gabby thought about it, and smiled as that most certainly was something that she was interested in doing; pumping some milk for the girls, which the hospital can feed them through the IV that they have in their stomachs. "I think that I would really enjoy that. Can you call for the doctor, and see whether we can get a pump?" Matt agreed.
It didn't take the hospital long to provide exactly what Gabby wanted, a nice breast pump; that way, she can give the girls something that they're missing at the moment. And that would be a piece of her. More specifically, they were missing the chance to get her breastmilk in them as their feedings, which is something that they deserve to have, as it's what their brothers reserved…even while they were in the hospital (in the same NICU). Heck, Gabby can't help but wonder whether this is the same NICU room; as it looks eerily familiar to her previous one, which is something that she truly is grateful for. Another thing that she's grateful for? The moment of silence that she was getting, as Matt was currently in the midst of taking Andy out to the bathroom as he was getting restless.
Or so she thought, as that quiet was soon destroyed by somebody. "I knew it, I knew that you'd get it eventually."
Opening her eyes to the sound of someone else's voice, Gabby just took a breath as she didn't want to make her new guests feel unwelcome; especially since one of them is a close friend to her husband, but she still really liked the sound of the piece and quiet that she was getting as she pumped some milk for the girls. Now, time to put on a brave face and a fake act for Natalie…the woman who just disturbed her temporary moment of silence. "Hi Natalie, hi Will." And it was in that moment that Will just knew that this was not what Gabby wanted right now; she didn't want to be disturbed, nor did she really want some company now. And he knew this based on how things were previously, when his brother and Alex were in the hospital; as Alex was the same way, wanting time alone.
"I can only assume that we're interrupting you guys?" Turning her head, Gabby sighed as she tried to sit up some more.
However, as a doctor, Natalie knew full well that was not the best idea; which was the entire reason why she went ahead and stopped the new mother as she pumped some milk for her daughters. "Hey, take it easy Gabby and just relax." Agreeing with the doctor as she said that, Gabby nodded and took a breath as she looked at Natalie; after which, she sighed and just went ahead and greeted them with open arms. "So, what brings you guys here to the hospital today?" Taking a breath, Will made his way over to Natalie to try and give her the message that she (obviously) wasn't getting in the moment; and that was that they shouldn't be here. "Natalie, I think this was a bad move." However, Gabby just looked at Will. "Will, shut up and just leave us alone. And get me the nurse. Pain meds."
"Of course, Gabby." Will then proceeded to walk away, not wanting to make the new mother too mad at the moment.
And that was especially the case when her husband is his boss, not that he would really yell at him in front of his wife; but regardless, he is her boss. And that was something that Natalie was finally starting to realize, that just because she's friends with Matt; she may have overstepped when it came to the both of them coming. "I shouldn't have come, should I?" Gabby sighed as Natalie asked her that, as she didn't want to sound too rude. But the truth was, she was enjoying the quiet time that she was getting without Matt and Andy being here to bother her. "As much as I want to say yes, I was enjoying the sound of a bit of quiet here in the hospital room." Natalie agreed with Gabby as she said that, before taking a breath. "Listen, you're right…I should've called…"
"Natalie, if you say that one more time; then I am going to make sure that you work from home on your maternity leave."
Agreeing with the deputy CEO as she said that, Natalie proceeded to walk over to the sink; smiling the entire time, she then went ahead and proceeded to wash her hands. "So, how are you feeling right now?" Gabby smiled as Natalie asked her that. "As good as I can be, based on the situation that I find myself in. How are you feeling? I can only assume that you guys are here for an OB/GYN appointment?" Natalie agreed with Gabby as she asked him if they were here to see their OB/GYN, which they were and that was why she thought about visiting. "Yeah, we were. And that's why I wanted to visit, because I can stay longer on my days off than I can on my workdays." Gabby agreed with Natalie as she said that, as that made sense. "Well, that makes sense. Just take it easy." Natalie agreed.
"You sound like my husband when you say that."
Gabby laughed as she heard Natalie say that, as she was well aware of the fact that she was probably saying something that Will would say to her in this situation. "Let me guess, you just wanted to get out of the house; and get away from being alone with the red head? Trust me, if I could send the husband home…I would. But he would just worry here too much." Natalie agreed with Gabby as she said that. "Trust me, I have already spoken to Matt about those multiple times; and he says that he is not going home, other than for short stints, and only if the boys really need him…" And right now, would be one of those times according to her husband, and Will who just came in to convey the message. "Hey Gabby, quick message that I need to share with you." Gabby agreed with Will, nodding.
"Listen, Matt is going to be longer than expected, as Noah just came into the hospital…."
Downstairs in the Emergency Department, Casey Treatment Room:
It took him one minute to rush to his son's side, which is exactly where Matt Casey needed to be at the moment; as it was where a father should be when his son is in the ER, which was something that he just learned when he saw his brother-in-law down there. In fact, he was currently on his phone and trying to call him right now to tell him. "God, Matt is going to kill me when he learns that I only called him when we were at the hospital." That's when Matt walked up to Antonio and put his hand on his back. "Antonio, hey; what the hell happened?" Turning his head as he saw his brother-in-law there, Antonio couldn't help but freeze for a moment; after all, he didn't expect to see him down here yet. He thought he had a moment. "Matt, I…" Matt just looked at his brother-in-law.
"Matt, I don't know what happened. I promise. He was taking a nap, and…he just wasn't breathing."
And it was just like that that the father's heart crashed. "What? Wait, when?" Antonio then looked at him. "Hey, take a breath. We got him here and brought him straight here. It was like 20 minutes ago at the most, and they got hi…" But Matt didn't need to hear this from a non-doctor. He needed to hear this from a pediatric doctor, which is why he came into the suite; but information, the nurse tried to push him away. "Sir, please. You need to stay out of this suite, you…" Matt just looked at her. "That's my son. I have two daughters in the NICU, and I already lost this month as he died in the womb. So, lady, unless you want to get on my bad side; then move out of the way!" That's when the doctor turned his head. "Mallory. That's his father. Please, let him in."
God, just hearing that voice gave Matt a bunch of reassurances that everything would be okay, because it was Clarke's.
"Oh, my apologies sir." Matt agreed with the nurse as she said that. "I want another nurse on my son's case. Understood?" The nurse agreed with the father as he said that, well aware that was the case; after which, Matt went ahead and proceeded to walk over to Noah. But first, he turned to look at Antonio. "Antonio, here…" Matt then went to throw Andy's leach at him. "Take him out, and just let him relax. I don't need him here right now." Antonio agreed with his brother-in-law as he said that. "Actually Antonio, do me another favor?" Antonio agreed with his brother-in-law. "Go home and get Noah some clothes. I know he's not leaving today, so he's going to stay here with me and Gabby." Antonio agreed, before going to do as he was asked. Meanwhile, Matt smiled at Noah.
Walking up to him as Clarke checked him out, Matt took a breath. "Is he going to be okay?" Turning his head, Clarke nodded.
"I'm still trying to figure that out if we're being completely honest. I am going to want to do a chest X-Ray. He's wheezing." Matt agreed with the doctor as he said that, well aware that was not something that was good; and if he felt like he needed to do a chest X-Ray, then he should do just that. "Right, of course." Clarke agreed. "Listen, you need to back up." Matt agreed with his friend as he said that. "Listen, I'll be right outside the room. I'm going to go call Gabby, and I'll tell her what's going out; let her know that I'm with him, and that he'll be okay. Right? I can tell her that he'll be okay. Because…" Turning his head, Clarke agreed with Matt as he said that. "Matt, he got here in plenty of time; we'll get a diagnosis, and we'll make sure he's okay. I promise you that." Matt agreed.
Taking a breath as he stood right outside his son's treatment room, Matt sighed as he spoke to his wife over the phone; the wife he was trying to make sure breathed and just relaxed right now, as he could tell that she was worried. "Yeah, Clarke's in there with him right now. We can trust him. And they're just doing some scans, they'll get a diagnosis; and then we'll take it from there." Gabby agreed with Matt as he said that, breathing. "I'm just glad that you went down when you did, because I want you there with him." Matt agreed. "Yeah. And I promise that I'm not leaving his side, which means I may be a while." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that. "Baby, take all the time you need down there. Don't worry about that, because Noah needs his dad here with him."
Matt agreed with his wife as she said that, as he was well aware that was the truth; and he also knew that she wanted and needed.
"Uhm, Antonio was the one that brought him in." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that. "I'm glad." Matt agreed. "I already spoke to him. He said that he wanted to call, but he just had to get him here first. And I said that was okay, I just hope I made the right decision." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that. "No, that was the right call. The first priority was to get to the hospital with Noah, and then he could've called us. I'm just glad that you're there. Just breathe baby." Matt agreed. "You had no idea just how scared I was, because I was just worried to moment I saw him. I thought that…" Gabby already knew, as she could hear it in his voice. "Hey, you don't have to explain it to me Matt. I can hear it in your voice, the worry that you're dealing with right now." Matt agreed.
"Okay, so I also made another decision…that I think you are going to support, even though it goes against another one."
Gabby was a bit confused as she heard her husband say that, as she had no idea what he was talking about. "Listen, I love you Matt. And you know that I always get what you're saying, but this is not one of the times so…" Matt sighed. "I already sent your brother home." Gabby was confused. "What? But he needs…" Matt then went to finish. "I sent him home so that he could go get Noah some clothes, and some of his stuffed animals. I know, I'm probably overreacting at the moment; but I just think…I think it'd be best if we have him here, with us as he deals with this; rather than have our family deal with it, as I am not…" Gabby already understood what her husband was trying to tell her, and most definitely did agree with the decision that he made with regards to their son.
"Hey, no. Baby, don't even second guess that decision you made. Of course, Noah is going to stay here with us now."
Matt agreed with his wife as she said that. "Good, because there's nowhere else I'd rather have him. I already spoke to the nurses here, and they are talking to the NICU; so, I just wanted to call you ahead of time so that you aren't startled when they bring in another crib. Just one though." Gabby agreed. "Just Noah for now." Matt agreed. "I made sure to tell them to put it in our room though, and they aren't to put it next to the girls. I want him in our room, so that he can't give it to the girls who are already in enough trouble as it is…" Matt then realized what he just said and couldn't help but hate that he just said that. "God, I hate that I even said that; those were the wrong words to use, please forgive me baby." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that.
"Hey, of course I forgive you Matt. And I know what you're trying to tell me, because I want that too. It's right."
Matt agreed as he went ahead and sat down on the chair that was located outside of Noah's room, trying to breathe. "Just trying to make the best decisions for all three of our kids right now." Gabby agreed. "And we're in a hard place right now. I know that. But you made the right choice for us, because this is where we need to have Noah right now; he needs to be with us, so that we can take care of him and make sure that he's okay." Matt agreed with his wife as she said that, while also hearing something in the background. "What's that in the background baby? I hear a noise." Gabby snickered. "It's the breast pump that I'm using for the girls. We can use some for Noah too, for his bottles. Maybe you can buy some in the gift shop? You know it makes him feel better." Matt agreed.
"I think that Noah would love to have some of his mommy's breastmilk to make him feel better."
Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that, as that most definitely will be the truth; Noah having some of her breastmilk will make him feel much better, and it will speed up his recovery. "I may try and keep him for a while, even when he feels better." Matt laughed. "I know. But I think this is how it's supposed to happen. I already said that we aren't getting Matteo yet, as I want to do it slowly. I want to go from just us and the girls, to us and one of the boys; get you used to having one of the boys there, with the extra energy. I will probably play and read with him in the living room and have him in the play pen out there as you take care of the girls." Gabby agreed with Matt as he said that, as that sounds like a great idea; one of many that her husband always thinks of.
"Baby, I think that's a great idea; and a great way to do it, and it will be good for you and Noah to get time together."
Matt agreed. "I promise too, that this will not affect my back to work plans; I am still going to take time after the girls are released, so that we can spend time as a family of six. Something that I am very happy about." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that, because she's really happy that they are now a family of six as well. "Good. But listen, I am going to take it easy and just relax for now. Try and not worry about Noah, as I know that he's in good hands. You just concentrate on him, and I'll see you both when you come up here. Send Noah my love." Matt agreed with Gabby as she said that. "I promise, I will." Hanging up, Matt took a breath as he went ahead and put his phone in his pocket; after which, he returned to the treatment room to check on Noah.
"How's Noah doing?"
Turning his head as he heard the father walk back into the room, Dr. Jeff Clarke smiled. "He's doing much better, and I am just glad that he's here. We're going to have to put him on medication though, and we need to really just monitor him for a while." Clarke then took a breath. "I was thinking of admitting him to the PICU." Matt bit his lip. "Is there any way that you can make that the NICU, and just have PICU doctors come check on him there?" Clarke then realized why that was the case. "Right, you guys are already there with the girls. How are they doing anyways?" Matt smiled. "Better each and every day. But is it possible to do that? Have Noah admitted to the PICU, but treat him in the NICU? I would rather not have to be away from the girls, just so that Noah can have someone with him."
Matt then took a breath, as he knew that he did need to be accommodating to the hospital. "I mean, unless it's what we need to do; then I will be with Noah of course." Clarke shook his head. "No, I will talk to the staff here; and I think we will be accommodating, especially when you have PTSD Matt. I promise, we will figure it out; and I promise to try my best to get Noah into the NICU with you and Gabby, where he can be treated for this. I am not sure what it is yet, but I think it could either be bronchitis, or it may even be something else. But I just want to caution you that he may have got something while in the NICU, and there may be things that we need to test for." Matt agreed with Clarke as he said that. "Right now?" Clarke shook his head. "No, go be with your son Matt."
Matt agreed with Clarke as he said that, before going to walk into the room; that was, until he remembered something. "Oh, can I request that you and Natalie be put on his service? I want to have doctors I know…." Clarke agreed. "I will put in that request, and I promise that I will try my best. Now, breathe and just relax." Matt agreed with Clarke as he said that, before going into the room to take care of Noah; and god, is he glad that he came when he was first admitted…he can only imagine just how scared he must be right now.