One Chicago: Health First Part 4

Chapter 1288

Matt's POV: After making my way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, I smiled as I set my phone down on the counter since I planned to listen to some music while cooking. Turning the Bluetooth speaker we had in the kitchen on, I then connected it to my phone and opened Spotify. But, before I could press play...Severide just so happened to call me. "Dude, talk about timing. I was about to start some music while I was cooking." Severide laughed when I said that. "Hey so listen, since we are both here...what do you say we have dinner?"

I then sighed when he said that. "Actually, we had to leave. Complicated story that I would rather not talk about." Severide then got concerned when I said that. "Dude, it's me. What's wrong. Let me be one of your support systems. You guys have been through hell recently. I don't give a damn whether you say 'oh, it's between me and Gabby'. Well you know what, your shit is affecting the firehouse now! You are ruining the vibe we have by taking all this time off!" After hearing that, I was about to take a few deep breaths when I just exploded.

"Well, I am sorry if I needed to take time off because my uncle died of COVID and my surrogate has just tested positive for COVID or did you forget about that?" Severide then sighed. "Dude, that's not what I mean. Of course you need to take time off. What I am trying to say is that you are hiding stuff from us and we are all getting worried about you guys. C'mon man, let me be one of your support systems. You and Gabby told us about her OCD and meds so that me and Stella can be your support systems...."

Severide then quickly took a breath before continuing. "...And I am your best friend Matt. So you know what, you can't always do this alone. You've had so much on your shoulders the past few months...you need to let some of your friends help you man! If not, it's going to just boil over and you are going to have even more problems at home. And remember who's saying this. Dude, my parents divorced because they didn't talk to people and kept it all boiled in. So Matt, I don't care if you say it's between you and Gabby. Talk to me or else I will come there!"

I then sighed and understood what he meant. It was definitely true that our problems affected the house. It threw stuff out of wack because people could feel when there's tension between me and Gabby. And most of the time, people didn't want to bother us because they didn't want to create more problems between us. And we appreciated that. But, maybe we are wrong in how we are approaching this. Instead of hiding our problems from our best friends and co-workers (some of them who have been married for a while and could definitely help us)...we should rely on them and their third-person perspective of our problems. Someone who isn't invested.

I then decided to walk to him. "Sorry, it's just hard. I get you are my best friend and I appreciate you want to help but, I just don't want to make you pick sides. Sure, you said you would be on Matteo's side but...I would rather not put you in an awkward position where you know stuff that Stella might not know. You know what I mean?" Severide then sighed and started to understand why I didn't tell him much. It was to protect his relationship with Stella. She was one of the people who Gabby confided in and I didn't want them to have to take opposite sides of our arguments or problems. That wasn't fair to them as an engaged couple who are expecting.

"Can you at least tell me if it's health related? Are you guys all safe and healthy? What about your surrogate...right, you just said that." I then sighed. "Dude, we are just both really scared right now. We can't loose another child. You remember how hard it was on us a few years ago. And we also just got a call from the hospital today asking us whether they should prioritize the baby or our surrogate." Severide then got nervous. "What did you guys say?" I then sighed when he asked that and just leaned against the counter. "We said save our surrogate first."

After I said that, you could hear a pin drop. It was that shocking. Severide didn't seem to know what to say but he tried his best. "So, are you guys okay with that?" I shook my head. "Dude, of course we aren't okay with that! We basically just told the doctors that if don't think they can save our baby...they have our permission to let the baby die and concentrate on our surrogate. I mean, as parents...that is so wrong in our heads! What type of people and parents are we?" Severide sighed again. "People who care more about other people's health and well-being than your emotional well-being. Listen Matt, you can't keep this all in. Let me help you through this."

I sighed and agreed with him. "What I think I really need tonight is a beer. However, we have Matteo and I am not going anywhere." Severide then laughed. "Tomorrow, you are coming here to mine and Stella's place. She can go there. We can drink and you can get away for a bit." I sighed and shook my head. "As much as I would love that, I can't. Not when Gabby needs me. Plus, Stella needs you since she's pregnant. Maybe in a few days after shift someday." Severide agreed with that suggestion. "I'm holding you to that. But listen, you need to talk to someone other than Gabby...call me day or night. I'm going to help you guys through this if I can." 

I smiled when Kelly said that. "Thanks Kelly, you don't know how much that means to me. I am really going to need my friends to support us through this. I just basically alienated my sister again because of this stupid thing she did. You remember Gabby's dad?" Severide laughed. "You mean the guy that overstayed his welcome at your place last time you were married. Oh, and then later assaulted Gabby in the Target parking lot?" I sighed and agreed. "Yeah. Well, apparently he got paroled somehow. First thing he does, he comes here to see his grandson."

Severide seemed shocked when he said that. "Wait, what? How did you guys react?" I then sighed. "Well, we were still at the hotel but rushed over here when my sister texted us claiming that Antonio came our to see Matteo. However, what she didn't know was the we were talking to Antonio while walking in Millennium Park near the cloud gate while she was telling us that." Severide then sighed. "Of course, the place you are doing your vow renewal." I agreed and sighed. "Yeah. We were touring it to figure out how we can set it up. Okay, but back to the story...I asked her the name and she said Ramon. I was pissed. I mean, the nerve of that guy."

Severide agreed with me. "Definitely. I swear, it's like that guy lives to be a thorn in your side!" I laughed and agreed. "Now, he's in jail again. He got his parole revoked and got charged with breech of a restraining order. That is an automatic jail sentence. And since it happened while he was on parole, he's back in jail for a while." Severide was glad about that. "Good!" I laughed when he said that before smiling. "That it is. Now listen, I have to make some pancakes for Gabby. I promised to treat her as if she was the one that was pregnant. So right now, she's craving pancakes. That means she gets pancakes for dinner."

Severide laughed when I said that. "Well, don't let me hold you up. We both know how cranky Gabby gets when she has to eat." I laughed a bit when he said that until I heard Gabby come outside. "Do you boys want to sleep on the couch tonight?" I then turned around to look at Gabby. "Love you." Gabby then glared at me. "I love you too. Now, make the pancakes. And Severide, watch out. I was just on the phone with Stella and she heard what you said." That's when Severide gulped. I then heard Stella yell. "Kelly!" I then laughed. "Talk later Severide." I then went to hang up before looking at Gabby.

Walking over to me, Gabby sighed as she came to wrap her arms around me. "Don't make fun of me, my cravings or the fact that I am cranky. Or else, I will remember it next time my time of the month comes around. You know the time of the month where I want my husband a lot more than normal?" I then gulped and nodded. "Promise." I then went to kiss Gabby and smiled at her. "Love you." Gabby then smiled at me. "Love you too. Now, make food and make sure it's warm when I'm back. Also, listen for Matteo. He's on the bed." I nodded and agreed as I went back to cooking while Gabby went to the washroom.