"Gabriella Dawson. You are the strongest, most single minded person I know. I'm a lucky man to have you in my life. I want to make sure we are together forever... Will you marry me?"

Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Engine 51, Squad 3, Building fire 4244 West Hancock

"Real world never waits, does it?"

"Husband and a hero, best wedding story ever."

"Hey, I'm sorry."

"I love you, you know."

"I love you too."

"We'll figure this out."

"Yeah always"

"Men huh."

"Casey asked me to marry him."

"And?"

"Duty calls."

"You guys are going to be great together."

"Severide, Rescue Squad report back, we can't hear you out here."

"Truck 81. Casey, what do you see?"

"House 51 anyone report!"

"Oh God. REPORT! SEVERIDE REPORT! CASEY REPORT! TRUCK 81 SQUAD 3 REPORT! PATALIAN 25 TO MAIN MADA EMERGENCY! MADA EMERGENCY!"

"ANYONE FROM HOUSE 51 REPORT! REPORT..."

1 Month Later:

"First day back. How you feeling?" Shay asked as she walked down the stairs to find Kelly getting his bag ready.

"Just ready to get back to work." He said simply.

Shay just nodded and grabbed a cup of coffee.

"Have you heard anything from Casey?" Shay questioned.

Kelly shook his head sullenly.

Shay let out a puff of air and looked at her phone to the timer she had set. "27 hours, 3 minutes." She stated sadly. Kelly looked at her questioningly. She lifted her phone to show him the timer. "Until she wakes up."

"Shay, we don't know that she..."

"She's going to wake up Kelly." She stated with finality. "She's going to." She repeated, and he can only nod, knowing he would lose this argument. It was an argument he was okay with losing, as long as it actually did happen.

...

"Hey Matt."

"Antonio, hey." He pulled him in to a short hug then parted as they walked down the hall.

"How you doing?" Antonio asked the younger man.

"Holding in there." He stated.

Antonio nodded sadly. At this rate everyone was just holding in there. There wasn't much more than that that they could do.

"We have a day Matt, until..." He stopped himself not being able to say the words. "She's going to wake up. She is a fighter, she is going to make it through this. We all just need to believe that. Believe in her to fight this." He stated.

Matt could only nod as he patted Antonio on the back and said his goodbyes as he made his way to the room he was beginning to consider his home more than the apartment he lived in.

He went straight to his chair after pressing a soft lingering kiss to the occupants head. "Morning baby." He whispered.

He grasped her hand in his and sat down in his chair beside her. He looked to her left hand that was held in his and sighed. If things were different there would be a ring on her finger and she would be laughing and smiling talking about plans for their up and coming wedding.

But things weren't different, and that day a month ago had happened. It almost claimed all of their lives, and they were all damn lucky to be alive. It injured all of them in some way, some minor, some major. But they had all mostly recovered, everyone was back at firehouse 51 with the exception of Dawson, and Casey, who was capable of working, but had only been back for less than half of his shifts not being able to leave Dawson's side.

It had been one month to the day. And a week since the doctors had brought up taking Gabby off life support. Casey had told them no, that she just needed time and he wasn't willing to give up on her yet, but Gabby's parents had stated that they couldn't stand seeing her like this, that if she hadn't woken up within the next week they had no other choice, that Gabby wouldn't want this to be her life.

Matt was still coming to terms with it. Every morning he was here, and most nights he stayed the night, sleeping better on the small hospital cot next to her bed that they had set up for him than in his king sized bed at home.

Matt frustratingly ran his hand through his hair. He squeezed her hand in his. "Gabby, baby. I... I can't lose you." He felt the tears sting his eyes as he spoke, but didn't care." You've got to wake up for me baby, you've got to open up those beautiful eyes for me. I don't know what I'd do without you baby, but its, nothings worth it without you here. Gabby, I love you. We, we're supposed to get married, and grow old together. You never got to answer me, I need you to wake up and answer me Gabby. I, I want to marry you Gabby, I want you to be my wife." Matt could feel the tears running down his face but didn't have the energy to wipe them away as he held her hand and begged her to stay with him.

It wasn't anything new for them to be in this position him praying for a miracle, but today it felt different, and he knew that today it was different. If she didn't wake up within the next day than that was it. She was gone, and he was left here to pick up the pieces and to try and move on. And every time he thought of the situation he was placed in he knew, there was no moving on from her.

...

The firefighters and paramedics sat in the conference room of firehouse 51 waiting for their briefing to begin the shift. Everyone quieted down as the chief entered the room and came to the head to address everyone.

He cleared his throat as he began. "I'd like to start off by welcoming Lt. Severide back to 51, we've all missed having you running squad." Everyone clapped and welcomed Kelly back happily. "On that same note, today marks one month since the West Hancock call." Everyone became silent thinking about that day and the days to follow it. "I know that today will be just as tough as that day a month ago. So if anyone needs to talk, talk, do not keep anything bottled up. We were all affected by that day, no matter how major. And I am so proud of how everyone in this house has rallied around each other and taken care of one another." He cleared his throat and looked around the room, knowing that two major people in this house were missing and felt a tug at his heart with the thought. "I know everyone is aware of Dawson's situation, and I wish there were a way to be with her, Lt. Casey, and her family right now instead of here, I'm sure you all feel the same. Although we are all hoping that it does not come to it, the time to," He found himself clearing his throat again, not believing the words that were about to come from his mouth could be true. "To a, turn off life support is not until 2 hours after shift ends I know you will all be tired, but I am hoping to see all of you there, whether we are celebrating her waking up, or mourning. I expect to see you all there for her, for Lt. Casey, and for her family."

"She's going to wake up guys." Shay said with finality to everyone in the room whose head were hung low thinking about a life without Dawson in it. "We all know Dawson and she is just being stubborn and trying to scare us all. She is going to wake up."

Everyone nodded slowly, wanting to believe it as well.

Chief Boden nodded his head and gave Shay a small smile. "I know that today will be hard, but I need everyone to keep focused on the job as well. And in your mean time I want every thought, every prayer to be directed to that hospital room." Everyone nodded their head, all of their thoughts and prayers had been directed to the hospital room for the past month, and would only be doubled today.

"Lt. Casey will not be with us today as I'm sure you can all understand. So Lt. Hermman will be taking over for Truck 81 today. Let's all just make it through this day people so we can go see our girl. Dismissed."

Everyone filled out of the room and made their way into the commons area to get some breakfast.

"What's for breakfast Peter Mills?" Mouch asked as he got in line.

"French toast... it's Dawson's favorite." He said quietly.

Mouch smiled at him and Hermann laughed beside Mouch as he said. "Dawson's going to wake up just to come kick your ass for finally making her favorite without her here." This earned a few laughs from everyone in the room.

"I remember her first day here." Severide said thoughtfully, thinking of their first meeting.

"Shay introduced her like she was some gift sent from the paramedic God's." Hermann smiled as he thought about the picture he had taken of Shay and Dawson on her first day Shay's hand outstretched showing Dawson off to all the guys.

"Hey, my girl is a paramedic God, you've seen her on calls, she is a bad ass PIC." Shay laughed.

Rafferty laughed at Shay's comment and thought of some of her first meetings with Dawson and how she had been so jealous of her. She was wrong when she had said that Pouch was the only thing loved more than Dawson in this house. She had been here the past month taking over Dawson's spot and the one thing she had learned over everything was that Dawson was number one in this house. The men and women at firehouse 51 loved Dawson with everything they had. And she wasn't jealous of that like she had been before. She was happy to get to be a part of it. To be able to know such an amazing person who had so clearly affected so many lives.

"She would've made one hell of a firefighter." Hermann commented.

"She will make one hell of a firefighter." Shay corrected him right away. "Quit talking about her in past tense she's not dead."

"Shay I didn't mean..."

"No, I know... I'm sorry. I just, she is going to live guys. If we all stop believing that then, she has no reason to believe it either."

The guys all nodded as the alarm sounded.

Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Engine 51, Squad 3, Battalion 25 Warehouse fire 3452 Southwest 22nd Street

Shay and Rafferty were just finishing up paperwork from the patient they had brought in with 2nd degree burns from the fire. "Hey uh, I'm going to go check in on Casey and Dawson quick. You mind finishing this up?" Shay questioned.

Rafferty nodded her head in the direction of the elevator. "Go ahead, I'll finish up down here and meet you in the ambo in 15?"

Shay nodded back and raced off to her best friend's room.

"Damn it Gabs stay with me! You're not doing this to me, you're not doing this to Casey, Dawson. Stay with me!" Shay pleaded as she felt the brunette's pulse weaken under her touch and could feel her hear breaths becoming shallower.

She raced to grab things out of the bag while trying to hold her hand over the gash in Dawson's leg that was losing blood quickly. She put the monitors on trying to get a better reading as to what was going on with her friend. She watched in horror as the monitor showed her heart going into v-fib and placed the pads on her chest after starting a line in her wrist she charged the petals and shocked her. "Damn it!" She yelled in frustration and charged the paddles again. After the shock she breathed a sigh of relief when the monitor went back to a normal rhythm. She wrapped her leg quickly trying to keep her from losing any more blood, and then moved to the large gash on her head where a beam of wood had fallen and hit her.

She began to access the rest of her injuries just then noticing the large sheet of concrete that was resting on her other leg and winced knowing that she wouldn't be able to move that herself. She than unbuttoned Dawson's jacket and pulled up her shirt and felt herself sicken at the sight of the bruising showing up on her abdomen that was a sure sign of internal bleeding.

She began to frantically search for the radio that Dawson had strapped to her hoping it was still intact unlike hers that had been demolished in the explosion. She pulled her radio from Dawson's jacket and yelled into it.

"Casey, Severide, Chief, Anyone you there?" She said hopefully.

There was long pause. "House 51! Anyone copy?!"

There was another pause where Shay really thought she was going to have to find a way to get them out of here on their own.

"Shay?! That you? Where are you?"

Casey? Oh thank God. "Casey! We're on the first floor still I think. It's too dark I can't see much. Casey, its Dawson. It's bad, it's really bad. We need to get her out of here. Now!"

Casey felt his heart jump and his blood run cold. No. This couldn't be happening. "I'm coming for you guys! How is she?"

"Large head laceration, possible head trauma, laceration to the left thigh she's a breath away from hitting a major artery, her right leg is pinned under concrete, she has internal bleeding. I had to bag her Casey, and she went into v-fib, but I got her back, if it happens again in here I don't know if I'll be able to get her out again. She's a mess Casey, we need to get her out of here."

Casey felt his body lunge and bile rise from his stomach as it emptied its contents. He couldn't believe this was happening. He needed to get to them now. He need to see his girl and make sure she was alive.

"I'm coming to you Shay. Tell her to hold on for me. I'm coming!"

"Casey?"

Casey jumped at the sound of his name and his eyes scanned Gabby's face wishing that the sound had come from her. He sighed to find her sleeping as she had been since that day.

"Any news yet?" She questioned as she came into the room and took Gabby's hand.

"Not yet." He said as he stood up and stretched his arms above his head. "What are you doing here?" He questioned curiously.

"Had a call, warehouse fire, had a victim with second degree burns come in." Casey nodded in understanding and looked back to Gabby's sleeping form.

"How are you holding up?" Shay asked in concern.

He let out a puff of air. "I'm..." Fine. He thought about lying, but knew Shay would call him out for it. "I'm a mess Shay. This isn't how it's supposed to be. You know, I asked her to marry me right before that call and then told her not to answer after the alarm because I wanted to give her a better proposal than that. And here we are. This just isn't right." He stated desperately. "She worked her ass off to become a firefighter and if she dies she won't ever get to prove that she can do it. That she is going to be one kick ass firefighter... I just..." He lost his words after that. All the frustration he felt taking over and the tears daring to fall from his eyes as he choked up.

"I don't think I can live in a world that she is not in Shay." He said in desperation as the tears spilt down his cheeks.

Shay felt the tears spill down her cheeks as she finally let her mind drift to the thought of a world without Dawson in it. She walked over to Casey and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug both of them clinging to each other for support.

...

When the end of shift finally arrived everyone quickly made their way to the hospital, not wanting to miss a minute of getting to be with Dawson or Casey. House 51 all filed into the waiting room one by one hoping to hear good news by the end of the morning.

Matthew Casey was feeling overwhelmed. He had spent the majority of the day with Gabby alone. There was an hour until the scheduled time to turn off the ventilators and what Matt assumed was her whole family was here. He hadn't left his seat since they all arrived. He kept a firm grasp on Gabby's hand and silently begged her to wake up for him.

"Casey?" He jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder and his name being called.

"Yeah?" He questioned as he looked up at Antonio.

"There is something you need to see." Casey looked at him and then back at Gabby, not wanting to leave, but got up anyways following Antonio down the hallway to the waiting room where he found all of 51 and a few people from the 21st district of CPD and a few other paramedics and firefighters that Gabby had worked with over the years waiting. He stopped in his tracks as they all stood to great him and felt tears prick his eyes.

He felt Antonio pat him on the back before walking over to talk to a few of the people.

"You guys..." He started but stopped when he started to choke up.

Chief Boden made his way over to Casey and pulled him into a hug, "We are all here for you Casey. Anything you, Gabby, or the Dawson's need. We are here." He stated.

Everyone took turns hugging Casey and giving their condolences and Matt couldn't shake the feeling that this felt too much like a goodbye to Dawson, not a waiting for her to wake up, and it was the first time that day that he let his mind drift to thoughts of having to actually say goodbye to her. But there was only an hour left, and if she didn't wake up soon he would most definitely be saying goodbye, and that thought he still couldn't bear.

"Come on guys, you should all come see her." He lead house 51 down the hall to Gabby's room where her family filed out to allow room for her second family to make their way in.

As everyone took their turn talking to Gabby, some telling her to fight like hell this last hour, and others opting to not say anything at all.

After everyone had gotten to talk to her Shay, Severide, and the Chief stayed while everyone else went back to the waiting room. With 20 minutes left Gabby's parents, and Antonio and Laura came into the room deciding only a few people needed to be there when the machines were turned off. Matt resumed his position by her side in his chair his hand not leaving hers. Everyone in the room was silent holding their breaths and praying for a miracle.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but is it alright if I get a couple minutes alone real quick?" Matt questioned pleadingly. They all nodded and went out to the hall to give them some privacy.

He sighed and could feel his lips quiver and tears well in his eyes before he could even start speaking. "Hi baby." He croaked out as the tears spilt over. "I guess this is it. You fought so hard baby, I'm so proud of you. I know you did everything you could to come back to me, to all of us. Nothing will ever be the same without you. You are my world, you're a lot of people's world Gabby, and I don't think you realized just how many people's lives you've touched, how many people love you unconditionally." He took a deep breathe. "I'm so sorry I wasted so much time not being with you. When I think back on all the time I wasted not with you when I could have been I think that will forever be my biggest regret, not making you mine sooner. I am so completely in love with you Gabriela Dawson. I'm so sorry I didn't save you in time..." Matt rest his head on their joined hands as he cried silent tears.

"Matt, it's time." He hears her mother's tearful voice say. Everyone filled into the room as well as the doctor and a nurse as they explained the procedure of shutting off the machines and Matt never took his eyes off of her. Praying that some miracle would occur, that she would just open her eyes before they could get started.

The doctor finished explaining the procedure and began to shut off the machines and silent tears flooded his cheeks. Come on Gabby, come on baby you can do this. He pleaded.

The last machine was shut off and silence filled the room. He could hear everyone crying and consoling each other, but he was stuck to his spot staring at her peaceful face clutching her hand.

And that's when he felt it. Her fingers fluttered in his hand lightly. The first time he'd felt any movement in her for over a month now. And then he felt it again. Stronger this time. That's it baby. No one else was paying attention all to consumed in their grief. And he felt it again, this time her fingers squeezed around his and he watched in awe as he could see her chest still lightly moving in perfect beats.

Her grip loosened then tightened again and he was rooted to his spot silently watching her, not wanting to ruin this moment or jinx it away. Come on baby, open your eyes.

He watched her take a deep breathe this time and then his dreams came true as her eyes slowly fluttered open. He slowly stood up over her. Watching her in awe as she came too. Slamming her eyes back closed from the harsh light and then fluttering them open again slowly. He ran his hand along her cheek and could feel his tears soaking his face.

"Baby?" He whispered quietly so only she could hear him. And that she did. Blue met brown and he watched as recognition flooded her features and tears welled in her eyes. "Matt." She whispered quietly as a tear fell from her eye. She used there entwined hands to pull him to her.

His heart burst with joy as he let out a strangled laugh and sob, she was alive. He engulfed her in a hug.

"Casey?" He heard Shay whisper from behind him, finally catching on to all the movement coming from the bed.

He pulled back and rested his hand on her cheek again lovingly.

"She's alive." He stated softly, afraid to speak any louder, like talking loud would wake him from this amazing dream.

"Did you all think you could get rid of me that easily?" Gabby said hoarsely and everyone in the room rushed to her side the doctors began hooking her monitors back up quickly, while the rest of them hugged her and cried tears of joy. Matt wouldn't let her hand go for everyone to get a complete hug from her, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Welcome back Miss Dawson." The doctor said relieved.

She smiled shyly and averted her eyes back to her boyfriend who was staring at her with so much love in his eyes.

The doctors did a quick exam and then left Gabby to be with her family, telling her not to overdo it and get plenty of rest.

Everyone in the room took their time hugging and talking to her, telling her if she ever did anything like that again they would kick her ass. And she promised to them that they were allowed to just kill her off if she ever put them in this situation again.

After hearing an all clear from the doctor that she was doing good her brother and parents decided to go home for some much needed rest. Shay decided to stay with Dawson while Casey went to the waiting room with Chief and Severide to tell everyone the news.

He walked in and could see tear stains on everyone's cheeks and watched as they all stood up when they saw him.

Tears welled up in a few of their eyes when they saw the Lt.'s and Chief's puffy eyes.

"She's alive." Casey said as a big smile filled his features.

Everyone in the waiting room heaved a large sigh of relief and began to cheer. Hermann ran up to Casey giving him a big hug. Mills followed behind hugging both men. The rest of 51 followed all wrapping each other up in hugs as tears of relief feel from their eyes.

Lindsay walked up to Severide and pulled him into a hug as he let the tears fall as well. Letting all of the heartache he'd felt the past month out.

"How? What happened? How is she?" Hermann asked Casey and all the men quieted to hear his answer.

Casey retold his story from when the doctors came in. Explaining how they had turned off the machines and then how he had watched her, not willing to believe she was gone, and how she had finally woken up.

"So is she okay? I mean do the doctors expect a full recovery?"

"They haven't said too much. Told her to take it easy and to relax. They want to take her for an MRI later today, but so far it is looking good." Casey said happily. "Come on guys, she'll be happy to see you all."

Casey led the group of men down the hall to where they had left only a couple hours before all thinking that would be the last time they seen Dawson.

...

Shay walked up to Gabby's bed, happy for the short amount of time alone with her friend.

"Hey buddy." She said lightly as she grabbed her hand. Gabby smiled at her softly and squeezed her hand.

"You gave us all a real scare you know that." Shay's voice cracked. "I'm so happy you're okay. I don't know what I would've done without my girl."

Gabby felt tears well up in her eyes as well. While everyone had a month to come to terms with losing her, Gabby had only had less than an hour to think about the idea of leaving all of those that she loved.

"Well we don't have to worry about that now. I promise."

"We better not, or I'm so going to kick your ass Dawson." Shay said and pulled her in for a tight hug.

"She pulls anything like this again and you're going to have to beat me to her to kick her ass." They both pulled apart and stared at the door where the men of 51 stood with smiles on their faces.

"Oh Hermann you underestimate me." Leslie said jokingly.

The men all filled into the room hugging Dawson close and giving her hell like they usually do and she was grateful for each and every one of them. Matt came to stand by her side once again, never wanting to be far away from her again.

He sat back and watched as she interacted with the guys and Shay. It was like being back at the firehouse, like nothing was different than a normal shift of them all just sitting around in the commons room giving each other hell as usual.

Matt watched Gabby yawn for the umpteenth time, but found himself not being able to scold her for staying up if she was tired because seconds later a large smile was back on her face and she was laughing that beautiful laugh that he had missed so much.

Eventually all the guys left and Matt and Gabby were left alone again. Gabby laid down and yawned once again and Matt gave her a look of concern. "You should get some sleep. You've had one hell of a day."

She nodded, but wouldn't meet his eyes. "What's wrong baby?" He questioned her.

"I... I'm afraid."

"Of what Gabby?"

"Of falling asleep. Matt the last time I fell asleep I almost died, I almost didn't wake up. I... I can't do that again." She said with thick emotion.

"Oh baby." Matt whispered pulling her into his strong arms. "It's all going to be okay, I'll be by your side all night long baby."

Matt carefully crawled into her bed, careful of all the wires and IV's she was still hooked up too. He laid himself down next to her and pulled her close wrapping his arms around her.

He planted a soft kiss to the top of her head. "You're not going anywhere Gabby. And I am going to lay here all night long to make sure of it if that is what it takes. Because baby, this is our time now, and I am not letting anything or anyone cut that short."

He felt Gabby's breathes even out as she snuggled into his chest and he pulled her closer, happy to have his girl back in his arms. They may be in a hospital bed that is far too small for the both of them, but that didn't matter now. The only thing that mattered was that his girl was alive, she had beat the odds and she was with them.

It was their time now, and he never wanted to take that for granted again.