A/N: contains unrequited Gabriela Dawson/Leslie Shay with eventual Leslie Shay/Allison Rafferty.


Gabriela was the first person who didn t see it as anything other than something Leslie could do that most people couldn t, like watching someone lick their elbow. When they were on call and the guys were hogging the television they d sit in the back of the truck and Leslie would grow a large nose and beady eyes or sing their praises while wearing the face of the inspector who had it in for their firehouse. She could only sustain the morph for a few minutes, but that was usually long enough for them to dissolve into laughter and ride the train of conversation to other topics while she became herself again.

Clarice was the only other person who knew Leslie for what she was and she'd seen it as a chance to be with her and everyone else at the same time. She could make love to anyone she wanted without having to close her eyes and she could ask Leslie to morph before saying all the things she couldn't to her real face. She'd shut the door and without turning around whisper, "Change" because even though Leslie knew what was coming she always did it. Even in the beginning, when things were good, Clairice was never accustomed to it in the same way as Gabriela.

"Can you be Casey for a second?"

It was half muscle control half muscle memory and it felt like every part of her face was being moved into place with tweezers, thin metal prods manipulating her skin and bone structure while she clenched her teeth and endured the silent torture so that could Gabriela could practice her 'I'm in love with you' speech to Matthew's face.

"I can't stop thinking about you. I'm your friend, but sometimes you don't look at me like I'm just your friend and I need to know if it's all in my head. Is it?"

Leslie was only human, she knew that Gabriela wasn't saying those things to her, but technically she was and technically Gabriela had told Leslie she was in love with her and it wasn't as if Leslie was looking into a mirror while Gabriela said those things and was able to separate reality from fantasy. The morph faded painlessly so she only knew her face had changed when Gabriela's face would change. The light would blink out of her eyes as Matthew became Leslie and as she fell deeper in love with him Leslie fell harder and harder for her.

Bushier eyebrows, bigger cheeks, red eyes no purple no yellow bright yellow and frizzy white hair.

"Nothing? Damn, you really are bummed."

Gabriela had passed her fire fighter's test with the highest marks and been approached by a lieutenant in Springfield. She hadn't been seriously considering the move until she told Matthew who had flat out stated he'd never consider leaving which lead to an argument about the fact that the firehouses in their district were notoriously sexist against female candidates.

Leslie rolled her eyes and pulled forward for another sit up. Gabriela's arm was wrapped around her legs to keep them in position, but she could've been across the room for all the miles away she looked to be.

"Morph?"

"Please."

She did, adopting Matthew's tone of voice when she growled, "I thought you were serious about us."

"I am, you're the one who acted like I was giving you an ultimatum. I don't even know if I want to move."

"Well how do you expect me to know what you want when you don't know what you want?"

"I want you, all I've ever wanted was a job that I love and someone to spend the rest of my life with."

"You have that now, here, just because the road's a little tougher doesn't mean we're not worth fighting for."

"All I want is to know you'd sacrifice the same things I would to make this work. I'd marry you today if-"

"You'd marry me?"

Gabriela's hold on her legs eased. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

"I love you."

"That's not an answer."

Leslie licked her (Matthew's) lips. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me."

Gabriela kissed Matthew, but when her lips parted it was Leslie's tongue against hers as stubble faded and inches were lost between their noses. Because she was Gabriela she didn't pull away with revulsion, but laughed as if it were a prank, sitting down on the yoga mat and thanking Leslie for helping her put things in perspective. Matthew wanted to be with her, live with her, and make a life together but Gabriela wasn't always as blunt with her feelings. If she came down hard on the side of moving to Springfield he'd follow her, but he wasn't the type to commit to a 'maybe'.

"Thanks, girlfriend, you give good Casey."

Leslie ached everywhere, from the top of her head to the pits of her heart, but she nodded like the words weren't her own and it was all an act.