Hey everyone!
This is a new story that I've been planning for a while now. I hope to update weekly, and I hope you enjoy it.
This story is set just after Casey's and Dawson's argument about Voight in Narzdarovya, after Antonio was shot. It's my take on the events that happened and it follows a different story than the show.
It follows Dawson as she desperately tries to find who shot Antonio while her mental stability and relationships with those at 51 break down. She becomes focused on one thing and one thing only.
It begins with Dawson in her relationship with Mills, but this is a Dawsey story.
I hope you'll all enjoy!
oxoxo
"They tried to kill Antonio, and for all I know, they may still wanna finish the job. Plus all those ..."
"Voight tried to take me out. He's a liar and a crook."
"I know...But sometimes you gotta, you know, dance with the devil."
"Really? Is that the way it works?"
"Casey, I didn't feel like I had any other choice...I'm sorry."
"Hey, just do what you need to do, okay? I hope it works out."
He walks out angrily, slamming the door behind him so forcefully that it shook on it's hinges. I kick the chair in frustration, why couldn't this all go away? I had to choose between finding who did this to Antonio and betraying Casey, someone who I cared for deeply and entrusted with my life. Too late to change anything now, I thought bitterly. Tears stung my eyes and my throat clenched, but I fought them back. I had no right to cry, no right at all.
A few moments later after I compose myself I leave the room in bid to find Shay. I wander into the break room and sit down beside Shay, sighing.
She places her hand on my arm, "What's going on Dawson?"
I exhale forcefully, willing myself not to cry, "I'm just trying to help Antonio and now Casey hates me, and honestly, I can't blame him Shay...Voight tried to kill him."
Shay pulls me into her arms, "It's gonna be okay Dawson...Antonio's strong and he's gonna make it through this." It didn't evade me that she didn't mention Casey.
Then I heard Chief's gruff voice from behind me, "Gabriela," he says after clearing his throat. His voice was undetectable of any emotions.
I stand up, "Chief I'm sorry-" I begin, but I'm cut off by his stoic glum face.
"Chief?" I stammer, an awful feeling of dread building within me.
He steps forward, placing his hands on my arms, "The hospital just called Gabriela..."
"No," I croak shaking my head while I could feel my legs beginning to give way, "Chief, no..."
"Antonio made it out of surgery but he's slipped into a coma..." he says quickly, but I found no solace in his words. Antonio was in a coma.
I feel my body limp and Chief guides me into a chair, but I can't sit for long before I feel my stomach flip and I rush towards the bathroom. I wretch into the toilet bowl, my throat burning and my stomach clenching. I was crying uncontrollably.
It was if my world had done a full 180 and my mind was left spinning with the reality that my brother was very ill, in a coma no less, and the bastards who'd done it were still roaming free. Then the thought of Laura and the kids and our parents entered my mind, and I threw up again. God they must be so scared, so afraid of losing him. He was my brother, my overprotective, hotheaded, brave and wonderful brother, and I wasn't sure I could live without him. We'd always been like chalk and cheese despite the age gap, which I believed only made us stronger. Antonio was a strong foundation of our family and to lose him would be hell. I pull out my phone and call Laura, a part of me hoping that she wouldn't pick up so I wouldn't have to hear the pain in her voice.
She answers, "Gabby, hunny, he's..."
"I know Laura, I know..." I soothe quietly, no matter what I was feeling I had to be strong for her and the kids, they were going to need my help to get through this, "But Antonio's strong, he's still with us. Just think of it as him recharging, it's going to be okay."
My logical, medical self knew this to be utter bullshit, but I knew my brother was a fighter and I knew that I couldn't let Laura give up on him.
Through the phone I hear her sniff and clear her throat, "He's so still Gabby, so still... Can you come to the hospital? I, we, need you."
I focus on the ceiling to try and stop the wail and tears from leaving my body, it works long enough for me to answer and hang up, "Of course, I'll be 20 minutes."
When the line goes dead I lean my head up against the wall and let my mind float away to a few months ago, when Andy was still here, when Shay was happy without Clarice, before Severide got hurt, before Casey and Hallie broke up. It was a time when all was right and we were all happy, safe, content. And for a moment, everything was okay.
Only for a moment.
"Chief...Laura and the kids need me..."
He places a hand on my shoulder, "Go, be with your family Gabriela."
I nod and murmur a silent thank you, before I rush out to my car. How did I manage to disappoint everyone I love in a matter of hours?
They had screamed, cried and begged as I held them in my arms. Eva, Diego and Laura were in pieces when I arrived, crying helplessly as they watched Antonio's pale and limp body lay in the crisp white hospital bed. He looked horribly frail as he was surrounded with wires, tubes and machines monitoring every heartbeat, every minor change in his vitals.
Eva and Diego were eventually taken home by mom and dad, who I could barely look at with their grief written all across their faces. I'd kissed and hugged them and told them he'd be okay, even though my body was filled with dread that he wouldn't be.
Laura sat in the chair beside Antonio's bed, holding his hand tightly while looking shattered. I sat on the bed, careful not to disturb anything, watching for any sign of improvement or deterioration.
"We had a stupid argument this morning before he left for work...I can't even remember what it was about," Laura murmurs, her voice oddly calm as she stared blankly out of the window.
"Don't," I almost hiss.
She looks at me with confusion in her eyes, "Don't talk like he's never waking up Laura. I don't think...I'm sorry but I can't handle that. And I know that's selfish-"
"But he's your brother Gabby," she answers, "It's not selfish. You don't need to be strong for us."
My throat clenched, "He would want me to be there for you all."
She nods and a lock of dark hair falls around her face, but she doesn't brush it away, "And you are, that's all that matters."
We fall into a deep silence until my phone rings. Pete. I excuse myself to the corridor where I answer with a quiet voice, "Pete..." I longed for him to be here, to hold me and comfort me.
"Gabby? I just heard. What were you thinking going to Voight?"
It felt like I'd been stabbed in the chest.
"...I don't know...I wanted to help my brother Pete," I snap harshly. I could understand Casey's anger about me going to Voight, but Pete? He wad supposed to be on my side in this, even though that sounded terribly childish.
I hear him sigh, "How is he?"
"He's out of surgery but he's in a coma. The doctors are unsure about everything else."
"Do you want me to come to the hospital after shift?"
Ironically I didn't want him here anymore, no matter how much I wanted his arms around me. I couldn't bare to see anymore disappointed eyes on my behalf and I was angry with him for being angry with me.
"No, no, it's okay. I'm with Laura. Bye Pete," I hang up before he has time to reply.
When I reenter the room Laura was sobbing softly, rubbing at her eyes roughly, "Who did this Gabriela? Who did this to him?"
I'd disappointed everyone at 51, but I wasn't about to disappoint Antonio in the same way. Nothing mattered more to me in that moment than to find who did this Antonio and I wouldn't stop until I found them. Everything Antonio did, lying to his superiors, withholding evidence, was for a damned good reason and if his superiors weren't bothered about catching them, I was.
I spotted Antonio's personal belongings in a bag on the floor beside his bed. Inside I found his phone, so I rang the only person I knew who could help me right now.
"Hello? Yes, Detective Whilite? This is Gabriela, Antonio's sister...I need your help..."