There is a distinct lack of good Dawson/Casey fic so I decided to write my own. Set after the end to Episode 9 'It Ain't Easy'. This chapter is tame, but chapter 2 will contain some M rated fun so you have been warned! ;) Reviews make the world go round... And please, be honest! If you hate it I'd love to know why! I rushed this and haven't had a chance to proof read it so if you find any typos give me a heads up. Anyway, enjoy! Cassie x
Mulling over the events of the evening Gabriella decided it could have been worse. She wasn't sure how, but hey - she had a new picture for her wall at least right? She also had a lot of questions. Had her and Casey almost kissed? It felt like they had. But then his phone had buzzed and he'd gotten all weird and left? They had definitely been flirting with each other. She didn't understand it! All he'd said was "Vargas" and left her hanging - frustrated and with a home-cooked meal she'd slaved over going to waste.
At least her window was fixed...
Jeez! She downed the last of her beer, put the leftovers in the fridge and padded down the hall to the bathroom. A cold shower was what she needed, so with a sigh she stripped off her clothes and stepped under the cool water. It felt good, pounding on her skin, easing the tension and clearing her mind.
Maybe it was better that Casey had left. She liked him, that was for sure. Hell, she wasn't above using that other four letter 'l' word where he was concerned. But that didn't mean it was a good idea. He'd only just split with his fiancée and did she really want to be his rebound? Then there was the fact that they worked together...
Relationships amongst colleagues in the fire house were not allowed and did she really want either of them to leave 51? No. Would she leave the job she loved for him?
The most honest answer she could give for that was 'maybe' and the fact that it wasn't an outright 'no' worried her. Was she being stupid? Potentially jeopardizing everything she'd achieved - for the sake of a guy? She chewed her bottom lip and pressed her palms flat against the tiled wall, focussing her attention on the bubbles swirling down the plughole as she let the water pound the overwrought muscles in her back.
She pounded the wall in frustration and let out a strangled scream. This was so stupid! SHE was so stupid! Casey probably didn't even like her like that. He was just helping a friend out, right? She was reading too much into nothing. She had to get him out of her head for the sake of her sanity.
With a frustrated sigh Dawson climbed out of the shower and wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel. Grabbing a second towel from the rail she twisted her long dark hair up and set about her moisturising routine. She carefully began massaging cocoa butter into her tan skin, starting at her ankles and slowly and methodically working her way up. When she'd finished she set about untangling her hair and braiding it. By the time she was done she felt a lot better, relaxed and more clear headed than she had in days.
A good nights sleep was what she needed so pulling on some black panties and a tank top she slid between the cool cotton sheets on her bed and let sleep take her far more easily than she had any right to hope it would. She wasn't sure how long she dozed for but it didn't feel like long before she was awoken by a tapping at the door.
She toyed with the idea of ignoring it but it was a persistent 'tap, tap, tap' and she couldn't let it carry on for too long. She rolled out of bed and drowsily made her way down the hall, leaning on the wall to guide her way as she blinked from the sudden bright light. Standing on tiptoes she peered through the door viewer and then quickly opened the door, shocked to find Casey there. Her sleep fogged brain just had time to mumble out 'Matt?' before she realised she hadn't even put on a robe. Embarrassed, she crossed her arms over her chest in a vain attempt at retaining some modesty but Casey had already given her the once over; taken in her skimpy outfit and dishevelled hair. Had she imagined that sharp intake of breath as his eyes raked over her body? Surely she had?
"I'm sorry," he murmured, having the good grace to look a little embarrassed himself. As he spoke he broke her train of thought and she shook her head quickly to try and regain it. "You were sleeping. I should've called... Should've waited..." His voice trailed off and he stood there, his feet shuffling restlessly as he tried to figure out what he wanted to say.
"I-" Gabby didn't know what to say, why he was here. She wondered briefly if this was a dream but then he stepped forward and placed his hand on her arm, a soft, gentle touch that made her skin tingle and her heart race, and she knew she wasn't dreaming.
"I felt awful rushing off earlier but Vargas needed my help, he-he's struggling and I don't blame him. He was going to do something stupid and I had to help him - I couldn't just..." He trailed off again, struggling to find the words.
"You're a good friend," Gabby managed, hoping he would see the duality in her words. She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, still very aware of her state of undress, of how close he was standing. She could smell his aftershave, feel the heat his body exuded as his callused but beautiful fingertips rubbed the top of her arm. She glanced at the floor then back up at his face and noticed for the first time how tired he looked, how conflicted. His lovely blonde hair was dishevelled as though he'd been frantically running his hands through it.
"This is all so confusing. I-I just split with Hallie, I'm rebounding or whatever the hell you call it. I know. But I also know that I nearly kissed you earlier. That all evening you are all I've been able to think about and that kissing you is something I've wanted to do for a good long while. I kept deluding myself, pushing it aside, but I like you. A lot."
Gabby let out a strangled, disbelieving laugh but was spared having to think of something to say by his lips crushing hers, his body bearing down on her, pushing her gently back against the wall as his foot closed the apartment door behind them. This was crazy, but crazy sure felt good so she decided in that instant not to over-think it - just to see where they ended up...