Gabriella Dawson rolled over in her bed. It had been a week since Matt had disappeared, and she had barely slept the entire time. She glanced at her cell phone. No missed calls. No texts. Sighing, she rolled into a sitting position and rubbed her eyes. Since everything had happened, she'd had a constant headache just behind her eyes that shecouldn't shake. She reached over to the nightstand, to the picture Matt had of him and her...they hadn't even been a couple at the time. She loved that picture.
A soft knock at the door startled her out of her memory, and she glanced up to see Severide peeking his head in the door.
"Almost ready?", he asked. She nodded, and he gave her a questioning look, but she was relieved when he said nothing and shut the door softly. He'd been a great friend to her since all this happened. He'd told her to stay in Casey's room, so that she wouldn't have to be alone, since Sylvie was over at her new boyfriend's home more and more.
Gabby sighed and got dressed. After a while, she padded out into the kitchen and put her boots on for work. Shortly after, she began the walk to Severide's car. It was a cold November day, and today was especially cold. She hopped into Kelly's car and they began the short drive to 51. They didn't talk; he knew she had a lot on her mind, and she didn't sleep well last night so she wasn't really up for conversation.
As they walked into the station, Mouch raised his eyebrows with a hopeful look on his face. Severide slowly shook his head and Mouch frowned and went back to his newspaper. Gabby ignored them all and walked to the lockers. There, Antonio was waiting for her.
She hadn't spoken to Antonio since Matt disappeared. He'd called, but she hadn't answered.
"Gabby."
She ignored him.
"Aw, come on, Gabby...talk to me."
Gabby opened her locker door, blocking out his face.
"Thought you should know...when we do find Matt, he's cleared. Prints on the murder weapon aren't his."
Gabby slammed the door and turned to look at him.
"I knew that would get your attention.", he said. He placed a soft hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
"You know where to find me.", he said, and he left. Just then, the house alarm went off.
Ambulance 61, Squad 3, Truck 81...car accident, 455 and Wabash.
Gabby rushed to the truck and climbed in beside Otis.
"Hey, Dawson, any word on Casey?", Hermann asked as she sat down and buckled up. She shook her head.
"He'll turn up. He's a fighter!", Cruz said from behind the wheel.
As they pulled up to the accident scene, Gabby could see that CPD was there. A squad with flashing lights was at the scene, and Sean Roman and Kim Burgess were on scene.
Truck 81 pulled up, and Hermann walked over to them.
"What do we got?", Hermann asked.
"We were chasing this car, and it slammed into that Escalade there. I haven't assessed this car yet, but the passenger is DOA in the Escalade, and driver's okay. On his way to Chicago Med." Hermann nodded and turned back to his crew.
"Alright, guys! We may have a suspect in this vehicle here; we need to assess this scene and look for any survivors!", he called out. They all began looking to see where they could help. Gabby crouched down to the car and searched inside. She stood up quickly.
"Hey, Kim...can you call Antonio, please?", she asked, trying to stay calm.
"is everything alright?", she asked worriedly.
"That's Jack Nesbitt.", Gabby pointed out.
"We know; he's part of a police investigation!", Kim stated.
"We have to help him! He might know where to find Matt!", Gabby cried out. Severide reached down and felt along Nesbitt's neck for a pulse. He looked up at Chief Boden and shook his head slowly.
"Chief...he's gone.", Severide said slowly.
"No!", Gabby cried out.
"Someone in the trunk!", she heard Cruz yell. Severide ran to the back and tried to wedge the car up onto its side.
"Capp, get the jack! We need to flip this car!", Severide stated. Capp ran to the truck and grabbed the jack. He set it up and then they propped up the car and flipped it right side up.
"The door's jammed!" Capp called out. Severide grabbed a crowbar and pried open the trunk door, and then he dropped the crowbar in surprise. Gabby stood slowly.
"Oh my God. It's Casey!", he yelled. Gabby rushed over to him. Sure enough, there was Matt. He looked bad. His eyes were both black, and he had his hands tied together with zip cord in front of him. Severide reached down and cut the cord from his wrists. Slowly, he reached down and felt along Matt's neck for a pulse.
"He's not breathing. Capp, help me get him out of here!", Severide called out. Gently, they lifted Matt out and placed him on the ground. Gabby covered her mouth as Brett and Chili began doing CPR. They weren't getting a response. After what seemed like hours, Brett looked up.
"Chief...he's been unresponsive for a minute and a half now.", she said sadly. Chief Boden looked at Gabby.
"No!", she cried out. She tore off her gloves and began pushing on Matt's chest, performing CPR.
"Come on, Matt!", she cried out. She breathed breath into his mouth and started again, tears streaming down her face.
"Matt, please! COME ON!", she yelled. Suddenly, she felt a hand on hers, and she looked up at Brett.
"Gabby...", she said softly.
"The defibrillator...", Gabby blurted out.
"But..."
"PLEASE!", Gabby yelled. Brett nodded, and she nodded at Chili. Chili ran to get the EKG machine, and shortly after she ran back, gently setting the machine on the ground.
"Charge to 300.", Brett said. They charged the paddles, and everyone moved back as she shocked Matt's chest. She shook her head, and Gabby's eyes pleaded with her. Sighing, she charged them again.
"Everyone clear!", she called out. She shocked Matt again, and then Chili placed her stethoscope on Matt's chest.
"We have a pulse. It's weak...but it's there.", she said.
Everyone cheered, and Gabby smiled, the tears flowing freely now. Brett squeezed her arm gently. They steered Matt to the back of the ambulance.
"I'm coming.", Gabby stated. Brett looked at Chief Boden, and he nodded. Gabby climbed into the ambulance and they drove off, lights and sirens flashing.
