Captain Ichimaru and Lieutenant Izuru, squad 3.

I just could not draw Kira idk

After the fall

Summary: When Matt Casey is struck by a drunk driver during a rescue call, he suffers a head injury that leads to a seizure. As they navigate the uncertainty of his recovery, they must face the possibility of ongoing health issues. With the support of their family and Connor’s guidance, they learn to cope with the unexpected and protect each other through the challenges ahead.

The call came in unexpectedly—a multi-car accident on the highway, caused by a drunk driver. Matt Casey and Kelly Severide were the first responders, racing to the scene in their respective teams of squad 3 and truck 81. When they arrived, the wreckage was worse than they had anticipated. Smoke billowed from one of the vehicles, and people were trapped inside.

Matt worked quickly, his focus solely on the trapped driver. He pried open the door with the jaws of life, determined to get the person out before the fire could spread any further. As he worked, he heard a screech of tires and, before he could turn around, the sound of metal crunching.

A drunk driver, speeding past the scene, slammed into the side of Matt. He didn’t have time to react as the impact sent him flying into the air. He hit the pavement with a sickening thud, his head taking the brunt of the blow.

Kelly heard the crash and immediately ran toward Matt. His heart stopped when he saw him lying motionless on the ground, blood slowly pooling around his head.

“Matt!” Kelly screamed as he knelt beside him, frantically checking for a pulse. His heart pounded in his chest as Matt’s shallow breathing was the only sign of life. But then, just as Kelly tried to lift him, Matt’s body suddenly stiffened.

“Matt?” Kelly whispered, panic surging. He had seen seizures before, but nothing like this. Matt’s muscles spasmed uncontrollably, and his eyes rolled back in his head. It was the most terrifying moment Kelly had ever witnessed.

He immediately shouted for help, his voice barely able to hold steady. “We need a medic here, now!”

It felt like hours before help arrived, but it was only a few minutes. Gabby and Shay quickly assessed Matt’s condition and rushed him to the hospital, Kelly never leaving his side. Connor was already waiting for them when they arrived at the ER.

“What happened?” Connor asked, already pulling up Matt’s chart.

“He got hit by a car, Connor,” Kelly replied, his voice trembling with concern. “And then he… he had a seizure.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed as he took in the situation. He examined Matt thoroughly, noting the head injury and the way Matt’s body was still responding in subtle ways. “It’s likely a result of the concussion,” he said. “Seizures can happen in cases like this, but I want to run some tests to rule out anything more serious.”

Kelly stood close by, holding Matt’s hand as they ran a battery of tests. After hours of observation, the results came in. Connor pulled Kelly aside, his expression serious.

“Matt’s condition is concerning,” Connor began. “The seizure was caused by the head injury, but we need to monitor him closely. Sometimes these kinds of seizures are temporary, especially after a traumatic injury, but there’s a risk they could become a lasting issue. We’ll need to adjust his treatment based on how he recovers.”

Kelly’s heart sank. He had seen Matt go through a lot over the years—close calls, dangerous situations—but the thought that his husband might have to deal with seizures long-term made his stomach churn.

“How long?” Kelly asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It could be temporary, Kelly,” Connor reassured him. “But it’s too early to say. We’ll keep monitoring him for the next few weeks. If the seizures persist, we might need to adjust his medication or explore other treatments. But for now, we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Kelly nodded, but his worry didn’t fade. Matt’s resilience had always been one of the things he admired most about him. But seeing him vulnerable, unable to control something as uncontrollable as a seizure, left him with a gnawing fear he couldn’t shake.

When Matt finally woke up, he was groggy, his head throbbing with pain. He looked around and saw Kelly sitting next to him, his eyes filled with exhaustion and concern.

“Hey,” Matt mumbled, his voice hoarse. “What happened?”

“You had a seizure,” Kelly replied, his hand brushing through Matt’s hair. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.”

Matt frowned, trying to process everything. “Seizure? I don’t remember…”

“That’s okay,” Kelly said, trying to soothe him. “We’re going to figure this out, alright? Just rest for now.”

In the days that followed, Matt was kept under observation. The seizures didn’t happen again right away, but Kelly couldn’t shake the worry. He had seen Matt face danger time and time again, but this felt different. This wasn’t something he could fix or fight off.

Connor kept him updated, reassuring him that it could just be a temporary reaction to the head injury, but Kelly couldn’t help but brace for the worst. They kept the house quiet, trying to make things as normal as possible for Matt while keeping an eye on his condition. Kelly took over some of the chores and responsibilities, not wanting Matt to push himself too hard.

Weeks passed, and thankfully, the seizures did not return. Matt slowly regained his strength, but Kelly kept a close watch, always waiting for that familiar feeling of panic to rise up in his chest. They continued with follow-up appointments, and Connor confirmed that Matt’s brain had healed remarkably well.

“You’re lucky, Casey,” Connor said one day, after reviewing the latest scans. “Everything looks good now. The seizures were most likely a temporary result of the trauma. But I’d recommend keeping an eye out for any further symptoms, just in case.”

Matt nodded, grateful but cautious. “I’ll take it. Just glad I’m okay.”

Kelly, ever the protector, let out a sigh of relief. The worst had passed—at least for now. He pulled Matt into a tight embrace. “You scared me, Matt. But I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Yeah, me too,” Matt said softly, holding Kelly close. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

Kelly smiled gently, his fingers tracing Matt’s cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here.”

And for now, at least, the seizures were behind them, a memory of a dangerous call that had shaken them both. They knew they’d face whatever came next, together.

https://x.com/chicago_fires/status/1841540458557952201?s=19

One Chicago Wednesday!