#3 Sunshine And Roses

Chapter Seventeen

Matt quickly hopped out of his buggy and placed his helmet on his head, Kelly walking over and adjusted his gear, placing his radio to his mouth. "Darden, bring me the rescue ropes from the 2nd compartment" "Copy that lieutenant," Ben replied as he ran to the compartment, swinging the ropes over his shoulders, grabbing a harness. "Alright Cruz, stabilize this car. If it goes over, it goes caput," Herrmann told him as he used his hand to pretend to slice his neck, Matt catching this out of the corner of his eye. "We don't have time to joke around Herrmann" "Does it look like I was joking Chief?" Herrmann asked as he walked towards the car, seeing a toddler strapped in the back seat. "Hey guys! We have a toddler in the back of this wreckage. He's banged up pretty bad!" Herrmann exclaimed as he looked in the window, the little boy shedding tears. "Mommy! Mommy's gone!" he cried pointing at the windshield, Herrmann looking, his mouth dropping. "Holy cow," Herrmann mumbled as he fixed his helmet, standing back up and gulping. "Ones in the water," he said, Kelly quickly taking action. "Alright, Tony, Mills, get me attached to one of the ropes. On my count lower me down and when I give two tugs, I got the lady," he told them as he quickly changed into his scuba gear, Sylvie walking over and crossing her arms. "Don't get yourself killed you hear me?" Sylvie asked, Kelly smirking. "I can't make any promises but-" Sylvie cut him off as she quickly leaned up and pecked his lips, Kelly smiling. "There's more of that from where that came from," she replied as she walked over to the gurney, Kelly walking to the edge of the bridge, shaking within his gear. "Are you sure you want to do this lieutenant?" Tony asked, Kelly nodding. "Lower me down," he replied taking one last glance at Sylvie, making his way over the edge and plunging into the water 50 feet below him.
Matt walked over to the side of the car dangling over the bridge, the little boy starting to unstrap himself. "Hey whoa little guy. I need you to stay there!" Matt yelled as he quickly threw on a harness and taking off his helmet, setting it on the ground. "I want my mommy!" "We will get her. The guys I work with are great at what they do. What's your name?" Matt asked as Herrmann clipped him up, the little boy turning his body, the car jolting. "My names Tommy!" Tommy cried, Matt nodding his head at Herrmann as he walked by the car, running his hand along the side. "Tommy, I need you to stay still," Matt told him as he carefully climbed through the busted window, the car shifting, threatening to fall into the water below. "Cruz, carefully start up the truck and slowly back it up. I don't like how the car is positioned," Herrmann said as Cruz nodded, hopping into the drivers seat. "Help me!" Tommy cried as Matt reached him, looking into the little boys eyes. "Tommy listen to me, I'm going to bust the back window. Can you cover your eyes for me?" Matt asked, Tommy nodding his head and covering his eyes. Matt took the back of the alligent and smashed it through the back window, glass shattering everywhere. Tommy screamed, sending chills up Matt's spine. "It's okay little guy. Let's get you out of here," Matt told him as he unbuckled Tommy, Tommy swinging his arms around Matt's neck, making Matt uneasy. "Alright we're ready for him out here Chief!" Herrmann exclaimed as Max walked over, handing Matt his bunker jacket. "Tommy, I need to put this over your head so you don't get cut on the glass okay?" "Where are you going?" Tommy asked, Matt smiling. "I'll be right behind you, I promise," Matt told him, Tommy nodding. "Please find my mommy" "We are trying buddy. Don't lose hope," Matt replied as Tommy climbed out the back of the vehicle, Herrmann grabbing him as the car slid, Matt flying backwards and hitting the back of his head on the dashboard, suddenly blacking out. "Chief!" Max yelled as he clipped himself up to a harness, diving into the wreckage and retrieving Matt, pulling him to safety just before the car unclipped, falling straight into the surging water beneath them. 'Damnit Matt not like this! Cmon Matt cmon!'

Kelly swam underneath the water just as he heard a huge splash behind him, something exploding. Kelly turned around and his eyes went wide as he saw the car start to descend, Kelly getting more anxious to find the woman. He forcefully kicked his legs as he came to the top of the water, taking a breath. He then went back under, swimming a bit lower, pulling out his flashlight and shining it, not finding anything. Kelly felt his heart sank as he made the decision to quit the search. The lady must've already ran out of air, laying 800 feet under on the ground. Kelly tugged the rope once, his men from on top pulling him up, Kelly scrambling over the edge and walking over to the squad compartment, grabbing a towel. "Lieutenant?" Tony asked as he walked over, Kelly looking at him, shaking his head. "I'm not in the mood," Kelly told him as he ran his hand through his hair walking past Tony, quickly seeing Matt's helmet laying on the ground. "Hey Max?" Kelly asked, Max walking over, looking around nervously. "What?" "Where's Matt?" Max looked at Kelly and sighed, slowly hanging his head. "Max, what the hell happened?" Kelly asked bending over and picking up Matt's fire helmet, wiping dirt up off his name. "Sylvie and Chili are bringing him to Chicago Med. It looks bad man. I did all I could," Max told him, Kelly sighing. "I asked what happened?!" "He banged the back of his head on the dashboard and blacked out" "Not again," Kelly mumbled as he rubbed his temples. "This isn't the first time this happened?" Max asked, Kelly looking at his brother and nodding his head. "He's fractured the back of his skull before. If it ever got hit in the same spot again, he could be paralyzed, or even worse," Kelly explained, Max gritting his teeth. "Well what're we still doing standing here? Let's head to Chicago Med," Max said as Kelly nodded, Max helping Herrmann pack up the truck. "Lieutenant, do you want to get changed real quick in Squad?" Tony asked as he handed Kelly a pair of pants and a t-shirt, Kelly nodding. "Do you mind standing on guard?" Kelly asked, Tony shaking his head. "No, not at all. Take all the time you need."

Gabby sat back and relaxed on the couch, rubbing her ankles together. They were the size of balloons, making it hard for her to walk. Before she could lean forward to grab the TV remote, there was banging on her door. She lazily got off the couch and walked to the door, swinging it open. Waiting on the other side was Herrmann, his hands in his pockets. "Herrmann, what're you-" "Gabby, I need you to come with me now" "Why, what happened?" "Matt's at Chicago Med. He banged up his head again," Herrmann told her, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes. "How bad is it?" she asked as she grabbed her jacket from off the couch, Herrmann slowly shaking his head back and forth. "I don't know kid. I don't know," Herrmann told her as he led her out of the apartment, entering the elevator and riding it down out to the truck. Herrmann helped her into the truck and closed the door behind her, hopping into the passengers seat. "Step on it Cruz," Herrmann said, Cruz putting the truck into drive, driving away and turning on the lights, speeding through traffic. "How are you?" Max asked as Gabby looked up at him and shrugged, wiping a tear that fell down her face. "I'm scared," she replied, Max standing up and sitting next to her, hugging her in his embrace. "Don't be. Casey is one of the most strongest people I've known. He'll be okay" "How do you know?" Gabby asked, Max shrugging. "To be honest I don't, but you just have to believe everything will be okay." Gabby looked at Max and smirked, Max looking at her confused. "What's so funny?" "I think you've been hanging around Herrmann too much!" "Would that be a bad thing?" Herrmann asked as he turned around in the passenger seat, Gabby shrugging. "I don't know. Sometimes you give wise advice. Other times, you give advice that could get a person killed" "No I don't! When have I ever done that?" "Remember when Matt nearly took my head off swinging that axe as I walked past" "That was an honest mistake," Herrmann mumbled, Cruz laughing. "Not to bust you Herrmann but, she does have a point. Remember when you gave me advice about hanging the shot glasses upside down?" "You know what? I'm human! All humans make mistakes. I'm not the Advice God. That God lives upstairs and I can never replace him. If you need advice, don't hesitate to ask him. Like Gabby and Cruz said, sometimes my advice can be 50/50. Don't always count on me to give good advice because what I basically demonstrated towards both Gabby and Cruz, I'm unreliable," Herrmann told them as he turned around in his seat, Max looking at Gabby and laughing, Mouch rolling his eyes. "You miss this?" Mouch asked Gabby as he placed the newspaper he once was reading on his lap, Gabby shrugging. "I don't think I do. You guys were such a pain," Gabby replied back sarcastically, Mouch chuckling. "So, how's baby boy doing?" Mouch asked trying to keep all their minds off of Matt being in the hospital, possibly fighting for his life. Gabby looked at Mouch and placed a hand on her bulging belly, chuckling while sighing. "The doctor said he should be here by next month. They also said he'll be a big guy," Gabby replied, Mouch smiling. "What're you guys naming him?" Max asked, Gabby looking at everyone in the truck and sighing. "I'll tell you guys, but this doesn't go any further," she said, everyone nodding their heads. "We decided to name him Paul Matthew Casey. Paul is after my father and then Matt's name." Max looked at her and smiled, giving her a hug. "I'm so happy for you guys. Congratulations," Max said, Gabby smiling. "I can say the same thing to you. What're you and Violet naming the twins?" "Dalton and Dallas. Violet picked them out. I have the middle names picked out but I don't think she'll like them," Max replied, Gabby raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The dad does have some right to naming the child" "I know, but I don't want to tell her" "You can tell me," Gabby said, Max shrugging. "You promise on your life you won't tell her?" Max asked, Gabby nodding. "I want Dallas Turner and Dalton Parker," Max replied, Gabby smiling wide. "Those names are the most cutest names I've heard in awhile," Gabby admitted just as they pulled up to Chicago Med, Gabby quickly snapping out of her happy mood and hopping out of the truck, jogging into the ER. "Hi, Matthew Casey please?" Gabby asked as everyone else from truck ran in, Kelly standing up from the chair and walking over to Gabby, placing a hand on her back. "Kelly!" Gabby exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around him, Kelly hugging her back. "Please tell me he's okay?" "He's in surgery now. So far, the only update we've gotten is that he's currently in a coma. It was a risky move for doctors to operate on him while he was in a coma but, it's the only thing they can do to save his life," Kelly explained, Gabby quietly crying into his chest, Sylvie getting up and joining the hug, Gabby's sobs becoming louder.

Matt laid on the operation table, darkness surrounding him. "What's going on?" he asked, not getting an answer. As he struggled to sit up, Olivia walked towards him, placing her hand on his shoulder, staring into his eyes. "Olivia?" Matt questioned, Olivia smiling. "Daddy, I need you. You need to wake up daddy" "Honey, I'm trying but I can't," Matt replied as a tear escaped the corner of his eye, Olivia wiping it away with her thumb. "Daddy, mommy needs you, I need you, Paul needs you."