Jen sat in her room, wrapping Christmas presents on her bed with her windows opened for the cool breeze blowing in. Finals were done and soon she'd be trading California sunshine for New York cold for a few weeks but the thought of spending all that time with Matt after four months apart made the New York cold worth it.
As she was wrapping Matt's gift, her phone rang and Matt's name came on the screen with one of her pictures from their day at the beach as his icon. "Hey Handsome! I was just thinking about you and wondering when I would hear from you. How were your finals?" Jen gushed happily.
"Jen, it's Foggy."
Jen's heart froze in her chest. First, why was Foggy calling from Matt's phone. Second, there was nothing but seriousness in his tone. "Foggy, what's wrong?"
Foggy sighed. "Matt's in the hospital. He has pneumonia."
"When did this happen?"
"The ER admitted him three days ago."
That statement hit Jen like a ball from left field. "Three days! He's been in the hospital for three days and no one told me! Franklin Nelson, you had better start talking."
"I'm so sorry about that, Jen. I really am," Foggy said apologetically. "His mom and I have been switching out with each other so someone is with him 24/7. Even Fogwell has stayed with him for a few hours."
Jen opened her laptop and started looking to see if she could move her flight. "Foggy, please tell me everything. Start at the beginning."
"Matt started getting sick during finals," Foggy started and he sounded so tired. "We all know how shitty that is. We thought he just had a cold. He tried to rest more and stay hydrated but you know full well how finals and sleep don't really fit in the same sentence. He kept pushing himself and he wasn't getting any better. He was getting worse. Matt took his last final with a 104 fever."
Jen's eyes started to fill with tears as she listened to this.
"After he finished his final, I took him right to urgent care. They took one look at him and listened to his lungs and then sent him by ambulance to the ER where they admitted him. Matt had left his phone in the dorm during his exam and I was scrambling to call his mom to let her know and then I had to pack both of our crap in the dorm before I went to see him."
"What happened at the hospital?" Jen asked.
"They got him on IV fluids, antibiotics and supplemental oxygen. His fever was brought down with meds but hasn't broken yet. It's been hovering around 101."
Jen felt that there was more that Foggy hadn't shared yet. "Keep going, Foggy. I know there's more."
"Damn, you're like he is. Do you pick up heartbeats too?" Foggy commented with only the slightest amount of humor before getting serious again. "Matt was not handling the hospital well," Foggy started. "All the smells and sounds put him into a sensory overload on top of being really sick. That then sent him into a near PTSD level panic attack because it all reminded him of when he was in the hospital after the accident that took his sight. His mom and I managed to calm him down but they kicked us out when visiting hours were up. He had a difficult time sleeping and he couldn't block out everything like he normally does and he started screaming during the night so they partially sedated him. When Maggie and I showed up the next morning, Matt was just coming out of it and he was incredibly confused and loopy. Maggie was livid. Her fired up Irish temper exploded and she lost her shit on them that they sedated him without his consent or hers on his behalf. That's why we've been there all the time. They also tried to get really nice after that because they're afraid of a lawsuit."
"My God, Foggy. I really wish someone had told me this sooner. I should be with him. I'm trying to change my flight now but it's pretty damn impossible here. How's Matt doing now?"
"I really feel awful about this and I can't express how sorry I am that it took this long, Jen," Foggy apologized again. "Once I charged his phone and saw all your messages, I called. After the first day, things still sucked but they sucked less. Matt has something to focus on when someone is with him to try to block out the rest but he's not sleeping for shit. The longest he has slept was about three or four hours while Fogwell was there. These nurses have really shitty timing when they give him these nebulizer treatments. They always do it right after he eats. This crap makes him cough up the shit in his lungs but it makes him cough so hard that he throws up. Maggie had it out with them on that too. The one nurse with a brain and the only one we like, Claire, makes sure he gets it before his meals when she's on duty."
"When does he get to come home?" Jen asked.
"He's gotta be fever free without meds for over twenty-four hours and his lungs have to be clear."
"Can I talk to him?" Jen asked, almost pleading.
"I'm bringing his phone to him when I go back later. He's exhausted and not always with it but I'll read the messages to him. Do you have my number? I'll gladly give him the phone if he's awake. Hearing from you may help his mood a bit. He's miserable and starting to get a bit depressed."
Jen wanted to cry. "Foggy, please keep me updated, even the little things, and tell him I love him."
"I will," Foggy assured her. "When are you coming?"
"Right now, I'm on a red eye out of LAX on the twenty-sixth. I'm supposed to land at JFK around noon."
"Let me know if anything changes and I'll keep you better informed now," Foggy said, trying to be reassuring. "Let me go. I need to catch a nap before the night shift tonight. Feel free to send anything distracting for him. There are only so many times he can do the crossword puzzles with Fogwell."
"I'll see what I can find. Thanks Foggy," Jen said as she hung up and headed downstairs to ask her parents how she can get to New York faster.
Two days later, Jen received another text from Foggy - His fever broke overnight and they took him off supplemental O2 this AM. He even managed 5 hrs of sleep. He sends his deepest apologies for not getting your messages and promises to make it up to you.
A huge weight was lifted off of Jen's shoulders when she read Matt's fever broke and he was off oxygen. He was one step closer to going home.
Don't let him feel bad about those messages. He just needs to get better.
On Christmas eve, Jen got an early gift.
He's being sent home today. Don't know when yet or with what restrictions.
It doesn't matter. He's going home. Should I hold off on calling?
He's pretty wiped. Text would be good. You'll be here soon enough
By the time Jen landed in New York on the twenty-sixth, she had been up for nearly thirty hours apart for a nap after her family's Christmas festivities before she headed to the airport and a bit of the flight. She was tired, hungry, freezing and really wanted to get to see Matt. Jen collected her bag from baggage claim, hailed a cab and called Foggy for an update.
"Hey Jen! Where are you?" Foggy answered quickly, sounding a bit more like his usual self than a few days ago.
"I'm at JFK and getting in a cab now. Fill me in, please."
Foggy took a deep breath. "So, I gather you haven't called him. Probably a good thing," Foggy started as he tried to gather his thoughts. "It was late afternoon when we got him home on Christmas eve. Everyone kind of agreed that Matt would be better off at home rather than any more time in the hospital after he was off most of the meds. He is on bedrest for a few more days before he can build back up to regular activity. Might put a little damper on New Years Eve."
"Not the point, Foggy," Jen reminded him.
"Anyway. Once we got him home, Matt stubbornly insisted that he was going to take a shower first because they wouldn't let him in the hospital, just sponge baths which were just downright humiliating for him. Once he was done, he got into his pjs, crawled into his bed and slept for something like eighteen hours. He was still out when I stopped over yesterday. My mom made up trays of food for Matt and Maggie since they couldn't come for Christmas. She sent some of everything- turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, ziti, soup, and desserts. She just wanted to make sure that Maggie had one less thing to worry about."
"How's he doing, Foggy?" Jen asked with concern.
"Better than he was but still pretty down," Foggy admitted. "I stayed with Matt and Maggie and had Christmas dinner with them instead of going home. He feels a little like he's ruined everyone's holiday when that can't be further from the truth. They hadn't even opened their gifts yet."
"So, you're telling me we need to do a Christmas do-over?" Jen asked.
"Is it really a do-over if it hasn't been done the first time yet?" Foggy countered. "Wait until you see what he got you. He's had it for over a month."
"Foggy, Matt didn't need to get me anything. He's my gift," Jen said sincerely.
"You can tell him that after you open it and he hears your reaction," Foggy told her.
Maggie sat in the silent apartment, unsure of what to do with herself. She had turned on the lights of the small Christmas tree she and Matt had decorated after Thanksgiving to try to feel festive. Their gifts still sat under the tree waiting to be unwrapped when Matt felt up to it. A week in the hospital had taken so much out of him and the fight on his path to recovery was still ongoing. She tried to be as quiet as possible while he was sleeping. Maggie had watched her son struggle to shut out everything going on around him just to rest for an hour or two, almost as badly as he did when he was nine. Maggie's heart broke when she sat with Jack while Matty cried in agony back then. There were a quite a few times over the past week she wished Jack was still next to her, lending her strength when she needed it for Matt.
A knock at the door broke Maggie from her thoughts. Maggie quickly wiped her eyes and pulled herself together before she looked through the peep hole. "Jen, welcome back, dear," Maggie said warmly as she hugged Jen when she opened the door. "Come in, dear. Let me get this," Maggie said as she helped Jen with her bag.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner to help," Jen said as she returned the hug.
"I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner," Maggie apologized as she shut the door.
"It's okay. I understand. Foggy told me everything," Jen reassured her.
"Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?" Maggie offered.
"I am hungry but I'd really like to see Matt first," Jen admitted.
Maggie smiled. "He's in his room. He was asleep last time I checked in on him. You get Matt and I'll get something going for lunch."
Jen pushed Matt's door open enough to let a little light into the room. Matt was sleeping buried up to his ears under his blankets. Jen crossed the room and sat down on the edge of his bed, rubbing his back gently. His left hand was covering part of his face and it had a large black bruise where the IV had to have been. Jen brushed the hair away from Matt's face. His beard was quite scruffy since he probably hadn't shaved in more than two weeks. Jen kissed the bruise on his hand and next to his eye and then his cheek.
Matt slowly started to stir under the gentle kisses. He rolled over on his back, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Jen?"
"Hey Handsome," Jen whispered as she finally got to kiss him properly. "I missed you."
Matt slowly pushed himself up into a semi-seated position. "I missed you too," Matt said as he started to get choked up. "I was going to meet you at the airport. I had it all planned out."
Jen moved forward and gathered Matt to her and hugged him tightly. "Matt, it's okay. You didn't have to do anything special."
"But I wanted to," Matt sniffed before he started coughing.
Jen rubbed Matt's back through the coughing fit, wincing when she heard him trying to catch his breath after the coughing subsided.
Matt sagged against Jen for a moment, resting his head on her shoulder as he caught his breath. Once he was breathing a bit easier, Matt stubbornly pushed himself to fully sitting up and pushed his blankets aside. "Can you grab me the hoodie off the chair over there?"
"Which one? The Columbia one or the Fogwell's one?" Jen asked.
"Columbia," Matt said, thanking Jen as he pulled it over his head. "Help me up?" he asked as he held out his arm.
Jen slid Matt's arm around her shoulders and helped him to stand. "Your mom's making lunch. Are you hungry?" she asked as she took a few tentative steps with him.
"Starving," Matt admitted. "Foggy brought over a ton of food yesterday from his mom. She made enough to feed an army or a house full of Nelsons. Still wish we could've gone."
Jen caught that hint of sadness in Matt's voice and she was having none of that. "We're having our own little celebration. What do you say to Santa hats, reindeer antlers and light up necklaces?"
"I say that's more a you thing than me," Matt laughed. "I'm not opposed to mistletoe."
"Like you need a reason to kiss me," Jen replied as they sat down. "This smells amazing."
After lunch, Matt and Jen snuggled up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket with hot chocolate and Christmas cookies to watch Scrooged. With a full belly and finally being able to relax after traveling, Jen fell asleep on Matt's shoulder about forty-five minutes into the movie. Matt only lasted about twenty minutes longer before he nodded off as well. Maggie turned off the TV and grabbed the quilt off the back of the couch, draping it over Matt and Jen as they slept. Maggie placed a kiss on Matt's forehead first and then Jen's before settling in a chair with a book of word searches and crossword puzzles.
A few hours later, Jen was the first to wake up. Blinking a few times to get her bearings, Jen smiled at seeing Matt still sleeping beside her. Trying not to disturb him, Jen carefully slipped out from the blanket and tucked it around Matt to keep him warm.
"Feeling better, dear?" Maggie asked softly from the kitchen.
"Yeah. I was up for something like thirty hours with Christmas and travel so it finally caught up with me," Jen admitted as she took a seat at the table and looked back over at Matt. "Is he okay? I still feel like I'm not getting the whole story."
"Physically, he's getting better just not as fast as he wants. Right now, he's really just exhausted. He didn't sleep much at the hospital, only an hour or two at a time and most of that was horrible. Trying to fight off illness without rest takes a toll on the body," Maggie explained as she took a sip from her tea. "The emotional toll hit a little harder with missing some of our Christmas traditions. Matty's had some rough holidays in the past but he looks forward to them and he was pretty passed out most of Christmas eve and Christmas day."
Jen looked over to the small glowing tree in the corner with the small pile of still wrapped gifts and started to think of a way to put a spin on this. "Can you tell me what you normally do?"
"On Christmas eve, we normally attend Midnight Mass. Before we go, we get Chinese food for dinner. I know how untraditional that sounds for a Catholic family, especially when I used to be a nun, but it was something that started when he came to live with me again and it just stuck. On Christmas morning, we would make breakfast together, usually something bigger that we didn't have time to do on normal mornings. We would open our gifts and before we went to the Nelsons' for larger festivities, Matt and I would visit the children at St. Agnes to help hand out their gifts. The kids would all have him examine their gifts by shaking it to see if they got what they asked for. After the Nelsons', we would come home and watch Christmas movies with hot chocolate and cookies. Matt has done that since he was a little boy with his Dad. Between school finishing up, his finals and then getting sick, I think he feels like he missed most of the holiday season."
Jen had an idea. "I know there's a ton of leftovers from what Foggy brought over but how about changing it up a bit. Maybe Chinese food for dinner and then gifts with hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas movies and breakfast in the morning? I know it's not everything but it may be enough to give him an upswing."
"I think you may be right," Maggie agreed as she handed Jen the menu from their favorite Chinese place. "I'll order it there to see if we can surprise him."
Matt started to stir on the couch a little while after Maggie left. Jen looked up from her phone and thought he was just changing positions to get more comfortable and fall back to sleep. Then she watched him scan the room. It was a small movement that you would have missed if you weren't paying attention. Just a slight tilt of the head in each direction and Jen could pinpoint the moment when he found her in the chair next to the couch.
"Jen?" Matt called out, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Hey Handsome," Jen said sweetly. "How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good. I didn't mean to fall asleep for that long," Matt admitted as he pushed himself upright with a groan.
Jen switched from the chair to next to Matt on the couch, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close so his head rests on her shoulder. "You're still catching up on all that you missed. I don't think you have much say in that matter," Jen said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "How about a long, hot bath before bed tonight? Help soothe some of those sore muscles."
"Together?" Matt asked as he snuggled against her.
Jen laughed. Matt was cute being all snuggly. "I think we can figure that out. But...what about your mom? I think I recall you wanting to avoid a scathing lecture."
"I've waited four months to be able to hold you again. At this point, I'd rather ask for forgiveness rather than permission and beg mercy for wanting to be intimate with my girlfriend." Before Matt could make good on his request, he caught the sound of Maggie's footsteps heading towards the door and his stomach suddenly and very audibly growled at what he smelled. Matt knew the smell of their traditional Christmas eve order well and the subtle differences had to be Jen's addition. He was smiling as tears were also welling in his eyes as he lifted his head, looking to Jen for an explanation.
Jen kissed Matt gently, holding his face as she wiped the tears away with her thumbs. "We needed a Christmas do-over so your mom and I agreed we had to do it right."
Matt's resolve crumbled and he buried his face in Jen's shoulder. "You didn't need to do all of this because of me," he whispered.
Jen hugged Matt tight as she felt him crying, rubbing his back. "Yes we did because we love you and you've had a horrible two weeks. Now, I get to share it with you."
Maggie walked in as Jen was comforting Matt and questioned if they were doing the right thing. She set the bags down in the kitchen and crossed into the living room. "Matty?"
Matt turned his head towards his mother's voice. Jen let him go as he pushed himself off the couch to go to hug his mom, whispering his thanks to her.
"I know it's not everything," Maggie started to say but Matt cut her off.
"Just the thought that you want to make it up to me is enough," Matt said as he wiped his face. "Can we eat? I'm starving."
After dinner, Jen and Maggie ganged up on Matt and bundled him up on the couch with two fluffy blankets and a mug of hot tea while they opened presents.
"Mom, you can go first," Matt said as he tried to get up to help but was quickly stopped.
Maggie pulled a large, sturdy quilted bag out from under the tree. "This is from Foggy and his family," Maggie started as she looked inside the bag. "This bag is great for work. My other one just broke. Inside, there's a booklight that attaches to the book, a new planner, a gift card for new books and a new mixing bowl set. This is too much."
"Mom, no it's not. It's also all things you needed."
Maggie never asked for much and still only bought things for herself when they were absolutely necessary. She reached for Matt's gift next. His wrapping job had gotten better but it was still messy. She opened the box to reveal new yarn and embroidery string, several new needles, a book of knitting and crochet patterns and several needlepoint projects. "Matty, this is too much. You went overboard."
"Mom, you enjoy it and it relaxes you. I should have gotten more."
"This one is from my parents," Jen said as she pushed a box forward. "And before you say they didn't need to, they wanted to. They said the same thing when they opened their gifts."
Maggie looked up at Matt who was purposely trying to hide behind his tea as she opened the gift. "Matthew? What did you do?"
"Followed Jen's suggestions and used Foggy as my partner in crime, I thought it would be nice to send them something from us."
"I hope you didn't go overboard," Maggie said as she pushed the paper aside. "A window box herb garden. Jen, I love this. Thank you."
"I know how you both like fresh things and it will fit nicely on the fire escape without Matt kicking it. It can also be brought inside during winter," Jen explained as she pushed one more bag over. "This is from me. Matt told me how you like creating things."
"Jen, you really didn't need to do so much," Maggie exclaimed as she pulled the gift out. "A small pottery wheel and clay. Thank you. I can't wait to see what happens when Matt gets his hands on this."
"I'm great with my hands. Dad was very appreciative of the bowl I made him. It was an excellent key holder until he knocked it off the table," Matt defended. "Jen gets to go next. Mom, grab the big one first."
Jen took the box from Maggie and smiled. The paper was inside out and all crooked. The gift tag was a mess. But none of that mattered. Jen opened the box to find a matching hat, mittens and scarf, the softest pjs and fuzzy socks that she ever felt and a warm coat. "Matt, this must have cost you a fortune. This is a lot."
"I didn't want you to freeze while you're here. I know New York is a lot colder than California," Matt said softly. "That box isn't just from me. My mom actually made the scarf, hat and mittens."
Jen's mouth fell open a bit before she hugged Maggie to thank her and then moved to the couch to give Matt a kiss.
Matt asked for the smaller bag. "This one is from me." Matt was actually nervous as he handed Jen the bag.
Jen moved the tissue paper and smiled at the stuffed lion wearing a Columbia University shirt and then she noticed the small box in its paws. Her heart started racing as she opened it. Inside was a gold locket with a claddagh on the front. "Matt, this is beautiful."
"I'll let you pick the pictures to go in it," Matt said as he put the necklace around Jen's neck and kissed her again.
"I know exactly what goes in here. Thank you. Now, it's your turn," Jen said as Maggie passed up the first gift since neither one was going to let Matt get off the couch.
"It's from Fogwell," Maggie said as she passed up the large, flat box.
Matt felt around the box and handed the card to Jen. Before he unwrapped the box, he could smell leather. Matt opened the box and felt buckles and a carrying strap before he found a card printed in Braille. - A lawyer needs a proper bag for carrying everything
Matt lifted the messenger bag out of the box to show it off.
"That bag is beautiful," Maggie commented.
"And really well made. This is Italian leather," Jen added as she handed Matt the card.
Matt opened the card and handed the gift card to Jen as he read the message. - Lawyers need to look good too.
"How much is the card for?" Matt asked.
Jen flipped the card over and her breath caught for a moment. "This is for a thousand dollars. You realize how much you can buy with this?"
"Jen, my clothes used to come from donation bins so I am very aware," Matt admitted. "Can you put that in my wallet?" he asked Jen as his mom passed over the next gift.
"This is from Foggy," Maggie said as she handed a large bag over.
"This feels about as heavy as the one I gave him," Matt commented as he started to open the bag. The first thing he pulled out was a stuffed avocado with sunglasses on and Matt started laughing. "I got him the same thing." Next came a bottle of Macallan. Matt had given Foggy a bottle of Jameson. Last was a tabletop pinball machine which Matt burst into laughter while cursing Foggy under his breath.
As much as Jen enjoyed Matt's laughter, she felt a little confused by the joke. "Care to let the rest of us in?"
Matt tried to rein in the laughter which turned to a coughing fit. Maggie handed him his tea. "The avocado comes from a long joke Foggy and I have. We were very drunk and he asked me how to say lawyers in Spanish. He tried saying abogados but it came out avocados and it just stuck. The pinball machine is an answer to what I got him. I got him a small putting green and a tabletop pool table for him to 'practice' on so he can beat me. The pinball machine is because of the song 'Pinball Wizard' but I'm only blind not blind AND deaf."
Maggie and Jen looked at each other on which gift to give Matt next. Maggie urged Jen to give hers next.
"This one's from me," Jen explained as she handed Matt the bag.
"It's unusually heavy for its size," Matt said as he moved the tissue paper. Matt pulled out something fuzzy first. It was soft and had ears and a snout. "Is this a teddy bear?"
"It's a UCLA bruin to be exact. The counterpart to your Columbia lion," Jen replied. "He's holding some stuff."
Matt found that the bear was holding two things. The first was a flash drive attached to a gift card. "What's on this?"
"I remembered how much you liked when I read Harry Potter to you on the beach so the flash drive has all the audiobooks of them for when I'm not around."
"I like hearing you read to me," Matt admitted quietly.
"The gift card is to get ones you don't already have or Braille ones."
The second item was a glasses case. He opened it at Jen's encouragement. The two pairs of glasses inside had smaller lenses than his current ones, sleeker and made of metal with rounder lenses.
"One pair has black lenses like you're used to. The other I couldn't resist when I saw them. The other pair has deep red lenses."
Matt picked up one pair, the red ones, and slipped them on. "How do they look?"
"They suit you," Maggie said first.
Matt caught Jen's heartrate start to pick up. "Jen? What do you think?"
"I think I'm going to be beating other girls off of you with a stick."
Matt smiled as he put the glasses back in the case. "As interesting as that may be, you know you have no competition for my affection. My heart belongs to you and you alone."
"I know that and it's the same for me. I guess Bruce isn't the only one in my family with a green monster lurking below the surface," Jen tried to joke as she handed Matt his last gift from her. "You may want two hands for this one. This is why the bag was heavy."
Matt was confused as he took the box from her. It was the size of a picture frame but far heavier. Matt opened the lid of the box and caught an earthy smell mixed with something else...ocean water maybe. The outside texture was rough like sand and it felt like shells at the corners. Matt ran his fingers over the middle where he felt two people. As he ran his fingers over the two people, the realization of what it was written all over Matt's face. "This is one of the pictures you took when we went to Coney Island."
"I found an artist in LA that could make a 3D cast of a photo out of clay," Jen explained. "I gave him the shells I collected on Coney Island for the frame. He mixed in California beach sand into the clay for the frame and there's Pacific Ocean water in the glaze. I asked him to make two so I have one as well."
Matt was speechless as he ran his fingers over the photo. He pulled Jen in to kiss her, hoping she understood how grateful he was. "Don't lose that guy's number. We may need him again."
The last gifts were from Maggie. The gift card for music downloads paled in comparison to her second gift.
"Is there a theme this year of large boxes that smell like leather?" Matt asked as he opened the box. He lifted out a leather jacket. As he tried it on, Matt caught a different scent, one he hasn't been around in fifteen years. He looked directly at his mother with tears in his eyes.
"I've been airing it out for weeks after being in that storage unit for so long. It was hard to hide it from you. I had to keep moving it. He would have wanted you to have it and I knew it would fit you since his other stuff does."
Matt closed his eyes and pulled the collar up to his nose to fully take in the scent that was associated with the memory of his father.
After a spirited debate of what actually defines a Christmas movie where Matt and Jen were on opposing sides on the point of having a movie take place during Christmas doesn't necessarily make it a Christmas movie, the decision on what to watch was left up to Maggie. Matt begged and pleaded for no rom-coms or something excessively sappy but was out-voted two to one for Love Actually.
Maggie and Jen set up a little buffet of popcorn, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate on the end table between the chair and the couch while Matt stretched out on the couch under a blanket with his head on a pillow in Jen's lap. As the movie started, Jen started running her fingers through Matt's hair and Matt's eyes were closed more than they were open. The two women may not have noticed when Matt fell asleep but they knew he was definitely out by the end of the movie by the soft snores.
Jen was left to the challenge of getting Matt up enough to move to his room while Maggie turned off the movie and cleaned up their treats. Jen started to rub his cheek gently. "It's time for bed, Matty," she said sweetly.
Matt mumbled something a kin to 'I'm comfy here' and rolled over so he was facing Jen.
"You'll be comfier in your bed," Jen tried as she nudged his shoulder a bit. "Come on, Matty. My legs are falling asleep."
Jen saw Matt's eyes trying to blink open as she gently helped him to sit up. It was very obvious that he was only half awake but it was enough to get him moving. Jen changed into the new pjs she had received while Matt was in the bathroom getting ready for bed.
When Jen had come back from her turn in the bathroom, Matt was already buried under his blankets again. His hoodie and t-shirt were on the edge of his hamper, like Matt had chucked them across the room and misjudged the distance. Jen slipped under the warm blankets and tucked them around both herself and Matt.
Matt shifted when Jen joined him, moving so his head rested on her chest as he settled back to sleep.
Over the next few days with the constant love and attention from Jen, Foggy and Maggie, Matt began to come back to his old self. His sleep schedule normalized, he was eating better and his energy was coming back. With his energy coming back up, Matt was becoming increasingly bored being stuck in the apartment and that wasn't doing anything for his mood.
Jen saw the bag at the bottom of Matt's closet and she had an idea. Time to 'ring' in the New Year.
Maggie had gone to church to help with the set up for the first night services on the morning of New Years Eve, leaving Jen and Matt on their own. Usually, this was an open invitation to spend the day in bed together but Jen had another plan.
Matt was finishing his breakfast and checking the news on his laptop when Jen came out of his bedroom in one of his Fogwell's gym t-shirts and leggings, carrying his gym bag.
"Get dressed," Jen ordered. "I'd recommend t-shirt and shorts."
Matt was confused. "It's kind of cold out."
"Oh, you won't be cold where we're going."
"Where are we going?"
Jen tugged Matt out of his chair and pushed him towards his room to change. "You'll see."
"No, I won't," Matt called back from his room.
"Smart ass."
Matt laughed. "I thought you liked my ass."
"Will you just get changed already?" Jen sighed. "Or do I need to help you?"
"Jen, I can guarantee that more clothes would be coming off rather than going on if you help me," Matt called back as he stepped into his door frame, in a t-shirt and shorts as requested. "You know, that does sound like a really good idea."
Jen came over and kissed Matt deeply. "Consider that your reward later for being a good boy," Jen teased as she grabbed his hand.
"Where are we going?" Matt asked again as he reached back to close the apartment door.
Jen took Matt downstairs through the laundry room to the back entrance of the gym where Fogwell was waiting for them.
"Com'ere Matty. How you doin', kid?" Fogwell said as he pulled Matt into a hug.
"A little confused," Matt said as he returned the hug.
"Time to knock off the rust and get back in the ring," Jen explained before handing his bag to Fogwell.
"Time to go to work, Matty," Fogwell chimed in. "How far we goin', Jenny?" he called back as he started to wrap Matt's hands.
Jen sat down at the table that Matt used to do his homework at when he was a kid, right in sight of the poster from Battlin' Jack's last fight, and set herself up with water, a towel, ice packs and Matt's phone attached to a speaker. "Until he stops," she said as she hit play on the music and sent a text to Foggy explaining her plan and asking him to come.
Fogwell started Matt slowly with push-ups, sit ups, pull ups and then the medicine ball and jump rope. Once Matt was warmed up, Fogwell set him on the mounted speed bag.
When Matt would start to run out of gas, Fogwell sent him to his 'corner.' To Jen. She would get him a drink, wipe the sweat from his face, give him a hug and kiss and whisper to him, "One round at a time." The fire was stoked in Matt's belly and he was back in.
Every round, Fogwell would add another element, bungee mounted striking bag, heavy bag, sparring mitts. Every round, Fogwell is encouraging Matt to dig deeper, to bring the devil out.
Foggy slipped inside the gym while Matt was attacking the speed bag. He watched on in awe as Matt almost effortlessly switched hands and didn't miss a beat. "I came as soon as I could," Foggy apologized. "Jesus, I can't do that on a normal day and he's doing it after recovering from pneumonia. Why is he frowning?"
"He's concentrating," Jen replied. "He was downright snarling at the heavy bag. In between, he's all smiles."
"How long has he been at it?" Foggy asked.
"A little while...since this morning when I texted you. This is at least his fifth time going through the cycle," Jen said. "He's going to be sore and tired but excessively happy."
It eventually came time for actual sparring partners and Fogwell wasn't taking any chances with Matt. Over the last few hours, he'd tapped deep into that fire that burned within and that could make Matt dangerous. "Alright Matty, you have two-minute rounds, five rounds per match."
Matt was fidgeting as Fogwell put the head gear on him. "You know I hate this. It blocks some of my input."
"And it also blocks damage to that expensive brain of yours if you take a dinger to the head," Fogwell insisted. "I care too much about you to see you get hurt."
Matt had the good sense to stop arguing.
"Now, listen to me, kiddo," Fogwell continued as he lifted Matt's chin so he was looking right at him. "I know you got a charge of gunpowder that needs to go off but be smart about it. Use all those fancy tricks you got to keep yourself in one piece. I ain't got no interest in dealing with your mother or your lady if you get banged up. Hell, if I let anything happen to Battlin' Jack's baby boy, your father...God rest his soul...may come back from beyond the grave to try to beat my ass himself."
Matt nodded as Fogwell put the mouth guard in. "Who's first?"
"Dumb Ass Dugario."
Maggie was making a quick stop at home to change, grab something to eat and check on Matt before heading back to the church to help with the evening services. Matt was right, she didn't know how to take a break. As she approached Fogwell's, something in her gut told her to go inside, almost the same way it did when she walked into that boxing match and Jack pulled her into his corner. But this wasn't rebellious curiosity, this was sickening worry. She reached for the rosary in her pocket for a quick prayer to give her strength and remembered what Paul had said to her all those years ago - sometimes she was praying to the wrong person- and her hand flew to the wedding ring at her neck.
Maggie slipped inside the door of Fogwell's and stayed to the side and looked up to the ring. It was always hard for Maggie to watch Matt box but it hit differently this time. This wasn't a thirteen-year-old boy hitting sparring pads and he wasn't like Jack either. Jack went stone cold when he unleashed on someone, fearlessly approaching them before he unloaded on them and demolished them. Matt taunted his opponent. He gave them that dark, devilish grin as he teased and played with them, luring them in. He would duck, block and tease until his opponent made a mistake and then Matt unleashed hell on them. Jack was a sledgehammer, he pounded you into the floor as he took you down. Matt was like being stuck in a circle of Thompson submachine guns with all of them firing at once, you didn't know which lighting fast hit would take you out.
Three opponents later and one more waiting in the wings, Rocco, Fogwell called time and Matt relaxed. There was a huge smile on his face as he went over to where Jen and Foggy were seated and grabbed his water bottle before resting his head on Jen's shoulder. He was totally spent and the Devil was at peace. Maggie let out the breath she was holding as she moved closer. Matt would know she was there.
"Whaddya think, Matty? Got enough for one more?" Fogwell joked as he looked at the wet noodle that was Matt.
Matt sluggishly lifted his head as he groped for his towel on the bench. "Hey Mom. Foggy, give me that," Matt replied as Foggy gave him the towel. "I think I'm gonna quit while I'm 3-0," Matt laughed as he chucked the towel in the ring. "I know damn well I'm not beating Rocco when my arms feel like two tons of lead."
Fogwell came over and kissed the top of Matt's head. "Good boy. That's why you use your head instead of your fists. I'm glad to see you smiling again." Fogwell looked up at Jen and made a glance at Maggie as well. "You're gonna want to wrap his ribs and ice his hands after he soaks in a hot shower for a bit."
"My ribs aren't broken," Matt protested as he flexed the fingers in his hands a few times, not outwardly agreeing that he did need to ice them.
"But they are pretty bruised up," Fogwell countered. "If you want to be able to move at all for the next few days, you'll listen."
"He'll listen," Maggie chimed in with a warning under her tone.
"Or we'll remind him how much it sucks to be bedridden when he doesn't want to be," Foggy added.
"And how much he misses out on," Jen added as she moved closer so only Matt would hear her. "Like the hot shower together," she whispered in his ear.
Matt's eyes went wide, making sure his brain registered that right, before his growling stomach interrupted.
"Get him upstairs and get him something to eat. He burned off a lot of calories and he ain't getting a second wind for later without food," Fogwell joked as he shooed them out of the gym.