CHAPTER 1

This is my first Chicago Fire let alone (PD or Med) Fic, so I am excited and I hope you like it. I've been looking for good Casey and Dawson fics and haven't found any that have been my cup of tea, yet. If any of you know of a really good one DM me, I'd love to read it.

It was a Tuesday, a regular Tuesday on shift for the fire fighters and paramedics of Chicago. There was a call in at the station for all Truck, Squad and Ambo to head toward a structure fire on the edge of town. It was the middle of shift, the day still had hours of light left as everyone pulled out of the fire house.

Gabby leaned back as Shay followed the directions toward the fire, Dawson and Shay usually drove behind the boys but they had gotten a head start on them. The girls had just come back from a run from Chicago med and were stalking up supply's back at the fire house when the call came in.

Truck pulled in from the left and Squad from the right, the Smoke was a dark grey, any fire fighter worth his salt knew it'd be black in a matter of minutes. Once it went black, Chief would call for everyone to get out.

Making eye contact, Casey and Severide nodded before Casey made the order, Stay low and move quick. The siren from the ambo could be heard fast approaching as the men slipped on their masks and walked into the building.

"Fire department call out!" Everyone yelled as they moved through the first floor.

Severide spoke threw his radio to the other lieutenant, "Casey, squad is going to start on the second floor."

"Alright! Truck check the last of the rooms."

"No one is down here lieutenant!" Cruz yelled as he and Mouch cleared the last room on the first floor.

"3 Minutes!" They all heard chief Boden order through the radios.

"No need Chief." Severide's voice cracked through the radio. "There is so one here."

Truck and squad filed out of the building, the lieutenants head toward their chief, while the rest of the guys prepare the hoses to put out the fire.

Severide took the lead, "No one inside, the fire was man made. There were mattresses in 3 of the rooms upstairs, you could choke on the amount of gasoline that was used chief."

"They were intentionally set." Casey agreed, the fire was all contained on the upper level. The bottom was just flooded with smoke.

""Who ever our fire bug was, didn't stick around to watch the show."

"Good work." Boden nodded, "Pack up and I'll see you back at the house."

"Hey chief, where's the ambo?" Casey asked, he'd looked for Dawson when first exiting the building but couldn't see her or shay.

"They got called out to another fire, after Severide confirmed there was no one inside I told them to take it." Casey nodded, he'd see Gabby back at the house later.

.

"I'm telling you we basically get paid to drive around and watch men run into burning buildings." Shay joked as they drove back to the house.

They;d been called to a car fire, a 17 year old boy had fallen asleep at the wheel after working all night to support his family. It was cases like this that made Gabby grateful for the life she'd been given and her family. They might not be perfect, Antonio and his ex wife were proof of that, but they were still better than most.

"I wish we could help more."

Shay took her eyes from the road to take a glance at her partner, her face was stern as she look out the window.

"We do what we can, we can't save everyone Dawson. Remember last year when... When Darrel called us."

Darrel had been a regular for the two women, he'd been lonely and needed a friend and in the end shot himself. That was a rough day for both of them.

"How could I forget."

"He needed someone and we were always there, we help him by showing up when he called."

Gabby looked at her partner in shock, "He took his own life!"

"But for months before that we were there for him, gave him someone to talk to." Gabby shook her head. "Alright fine, how about this. Do you remember that little girl who's mom was in a coma at Chicago med? When ever we stopped by we took her down to the cafeteria and ate lunch with her."

"Maria." That was the little girls name.

Shay smiled, "It's the small things Dawson, that's what counts."

"You know you're pretty wise."

Shay laughed and sat up in her seat, "Yeah well I am a lesbian, we have to be to survive double PMS."

Dawson laughed shaking her head, her best friend was amazing.

"Ambo 61?"

Dawson picked up the radio, "Go for 61."

"Bridge connecting city and walbash, a kids just fell into the water."

Shay looked the their GPS, "We're 4 minutes out."

"We'll take it." Dawson told dispatch as she flicked on their sirens.

"Busy day."

The Latina smiled, "Time to make a difference."

.

"Mouch would you please remove your stuff from the dryer." Cruz complained walking into the main room, wet laundry in his hands.

"Not mine." Mouch muttered not taking his eyes from the book he was reading.

"Then who's is it?"

New house guiltily raised his hand about to admit to forgetting he was doing a load when the bell went off.

"Squad 3, water rescue."

"Who's swimming in the fall?" Capp asked.

Kelly walked past him toward the floor. "I don't think it was intentional."

The system cracked again but instead of the automated voice coming through their speakers, it was Shay's voice coming through on the house radio. Their personal radios were always waiting for them when they geared up, but the house had it's own radio that was always on channel 3 so squad, truck or ambo could have a direct connection to the station.

"We're going to need a second ambo rolled to our location, Dawson's in the water."

Severide turned to look back at Casey who was now on his feet, "Ride with us. Let's go!"

"Casey!" Chief Boden called, "You'll ride with me. Herrmann you're acting lieutenant."

The rest of truck stayed behind hoping for the best.

.

As the park beside the bridge came into view, Dawson started unbuckling as Shay pulled up behind a group of kids.

"What happened?" Dawson asked them, her eyes scanning the water.

These kids couldn't have been older than 10, but the boy in the red sweater seemed to be the most calm so Gabby spoke directly to him.

"Did you see what happened here?"

He nodded, "We were playing on the bridge, we always walk home together. Zac thought it would be funny to walk along the outside of the railing. You know like you do going up the stairs at your house? But when he climbed over he slipped and fell."

Gabby nodded, "Shay! The kid fell from the bridge."

"Damn." The blonde muttered under her breath. "Dispatch said squad was called, but the fire house is at least 10 minutes out."

Gabby moved away from the kids, pulling her partner with her, "He'll drown in 10 minutes, if the fall didn't kill him."

"What do you want to do, we can't go in there." The blonde saw the look her in friends eyes. "Dawson!"

"He's just a little boy Shay, we're supposed to make a difference remember."

"By handing out blankets in the homeless when it's cold and water bottles when it's hot. Not jumping into water when it's so cold there are thin layers of ice close to shore!"

"We've already been here for two minutes and I haven't see or head anyone surface." Dawson started to remove her fall windbreaker and radio, it didn't matter how cold the water was going to make her, if she was to heavy to swim she wouldn't get far.

"He fell over there." One of the little girls pointed toward the other side of the river.

Moving quickly Dawson stood on the edge of the water, taking a deep breath she jumped in, the water swallowing her up. The water was definitely colder than it should be for early September, but the current flowing into the river came from the ocean making the temperature lower.

"Coming back to the surface Dawson mentally thanked her parents for the years of swimming competitions and lessons that forced her to become a strong swimmer. The water was murky, when Dawson got to the other side of the river she started diving like she'd seen squad do during water rescues.

The water was deep but Dawson held her breath, made harder by the cold water that surrounded her, as she searched for Zac.

.

Matt's hands were clenched in his lap as he road in the chiefs SUV behind squad. How the hell had Gabby ended up in the water, did she fall? Was she pushed? Did she get hurt. There were a lot of rocks at that river, maybe she hit her head off of one of those.

Matt and Gabby had their ups and downs in the past but they were strong now, almost 2 years together was a long time and Matt was worried to lose her. Anytime they'd go out on a call, even if truck was there he had a job to do, he couldn't watch her 24/7.

"She'll be okay Casey, Shay's there."

Matt nodded, but couldn't find it in him to vocalize a response. His mind was stuck in the past, remembering the day when Gabby's voice came through the house radio after the ambo had been hit.

"You cheat." Severide called out Capp as they played cards in the main room.

"Do not, you just don't like to lose."

"Yeah, to a cheater."

Matt shook his head from down the table. "You both cheat and you know it."

Kelly looked at him, "Hey now, I don't cheat."

"You count the cards!" Matt exclaimed.

Capp threw down his cards in mock anger and stood up, "I knew it!"

The static on the radio became louder and everyone quieted to hear the message coming through.

"We-Ambo 61 has been hit- Fenbar and Lake shore. Immediate assistance." Everyone froze, their paramedic sounded out of breath and confused as she spoke to them.

Casey stood up and jogged toward the radio, but Herman beat him there.

"Gabby what's going on?" When the question didn't get a response Herman asked again. "Ambo 61 do you copy? Shay? Dawson?"

"Why aren't we being called, she said they were hit right?" Cruz asked.

Severide shook his head, "They're from our house, they won't send us if another truck is available."

"Gabby?" Matt tried to speak to her through the radio but like Herrmann got no response.

Mouch tried to comfort Matt. "They're probably already in another ambulance heading to Chicago med. They'll call us when they can."

Everything had turned out okay in the end, Gabby had a couple bumps and bruises, Shay was the one who really took the hit. It still didn't stop him from thinking about her on the job. He may be a fire fighter but he was also her boyfriend, both roles were important to him.

Gabby was panting when she finally found Zac at the bottom of the river, he wasn't breathing and she still had a 2 minute swim back to Shay and the waiting kids. Her legs, arms and lungs burning from the amount of energy it took to keep swimming in the cold water.

"Come on Dawson!" Shay yelled from the shore.

Looking up Gabby saw blankets and equipment waiting for them.

"Back up kids, give them some room." Gabby heard Shay tell the kids as she made it to the shore.

Gabby lifted the young boys body to Shay so she could get out of the water herself, her body now telling her it was okay to rest. But Gabby wouldn't rest, not when Zac was back on dry land.

Shay started CPR, while Gabby worked to slowly warm his limbs, rubbing his legs and arms to start circulation.

"That was really dumb Dawson."

Gabby didn't respond, she did the right thing. Their job is saving lives, they couldn't save Zac's life when he was laying at the bottom of the river.

Sirens sounded and a couple moments later squad and the chief pulled up to the park, an ambo following behind them.

"Gabby!" She couldn't see him, but she knew her boy friends voice anywhere.

"We need to get him to med or he's not going to make it. Switch with me." Gabby waited till Shay's hands came off the boys chest before she took over compression.

Grabbing the back board Shay caught eyes of the firemen she worked with, there eyes fixed on the wet paramedic trying eagerly to save the young boys life.

"Severide, I'm going to need you to take over for Dawson on the way to the hospital."

The firefighter nodded and followed the blonde to the scene.

"Shay I got it." Dawson was the PIC she didn't need Shay benching her.

"You're shaking, you need to get checked out. Severide's got it."

"I'm fine!" She insisted

Serveride's hands pushed her's out of the way as he and Shay moved the young boy onto the gurney and quickly continued to the ambo. Leaving Gabby kneeling on the ground beside the group of kids.

As she looked around she saw the Chief, her boyfriend and the rest of the squad guys eyeing her. Her job wasn't done yet though, as ambo 61 took off Gabby turned to the kids.

"There is a police man over there waiting to take you guys all home okay."

A squad car had shown up only a couple minutes ago, the officer offered warm blankets and had gotten in contact with Zac's mother.

"Is he going to die?" The boy in the red sweater asked.

Gabby bit her lip and rubbed her cold hand up and down his arm, "I don't know hun."

"Dawson." Chief Boden called to her, his voice demanding attention. "This Officer has it from here, go get checked out."

Gabby allowed the cop to lead the kids back to his cruiser, "All due respect sir but I just need a warm shower and change of clothes."

"I cannot allow you to remain on duty if you do not get checked out."

The paramedic ran her tongue over her teeth before silently walking past the men toward the back door of the ambo. The presence of Matt trailing behind her remained unnoticed by her, until Gabby noticed the paramedics looking over her shoulder.

"Matt I'm fine."

"There is no harm in getting checked out." The warmth that usually accompanied his voice was gone, he was mad despite his efforts to remain calm.

So she did, Gabby answered all the questions she was asked. Did you hit your head? Did you swallow any of the lake water? How long were you submerged in the water? When they were finally all done they started to leave but Gabby had other plans.

"Hey, actually would you mind giving me a life to med? I want to check on that little boy."

Matt grabbed her arm, "Shay will tell you everything when she gets back. You need to take care of yourself."

Gabby spoke quietly so only Matt could hear her, "Baby I'm okay."

He gave her a look that said she souldn't be disagreeing with him right now.

"It's no problem, we were going there to stalk up when we go the call."

Gabby nodded slipping out of Matt's hold and climbing into the back of the ambo. "My pair of extra work clothes is in the front of ambo 61, the sooner I get to the hospital the sooner I get warm." She assured him.

Matt worked his jaw, silently closing the back doors of the ambulance, giving them a tap to let the paramedics know they were all clear to take off. Watching the ambulance drive away, his girlfriend inside Matt shook his head. He needed to get moving so everyone could get back to work.

Squad had already left while Boden waited for Casey. Matt could tell his chief wanted to give him some words of reassurance but held back, for which he was grateful.

.

"Shay!" Gabby called out when she found her other half standing by the information desk at the hospital.

The blonde shook her head sadly seeing her friends hopeful face. When she didn't get the reaction she wanted from Shay, Gabby looked at Severide in hopes he'd give her the answer she'd wanted.

"I'm sorry Gabby." He said, his hand making contact with her wet shoulder.

Shay held out the keys to ambo 61, "Get changed, you can't stay in those wet clothes, you're going to get sick." Without a word Gabby excused herself leaving the other two alone to continue their conversation.

"I don't know what's going on with her lately, before we were called to the park she was talking about needed to make a difference and wishing she could do more."

"What you guys do everyday is amazing, but it can also take a tole on you. Anyone in our lines of work has days they wish they could have done more. Today Gabby did more, it was a risk but she did what she thought she had to."

"It was reckless, you could have been fishing two bodies out of that water."

Severide shook his head, as a firefighter he understood weighting risks in tricky situations. If he'd been there in plan cloths he would have went in as well, he wasn't the best person for Shay to be seeking as an ally.

"Dawson should be changed by now, we should get back before another call comes in."

Shay grabbed her ambo's gurney and followed Kelly out of the hospital, still reeling from the events of their last call.

Pulling back into the fire house everyone was quiet, there hadn't been any calls in the time it took the ambulance to get from Chicago med to 51. Gabby hopped out of the back without a word and made her way into the fire house, she may be in warm clothes but her prickled skin could sure use a warm shower.

"Hey, there she is." Herrmann said when she entered the common area.

She looked up not expecting all of Truck and Squad to be staring back at her. Boden had gotten a call from Chicago med a couple moments before and had prepared the house that Severide and Shay had lost the kid on the ride into the hospital.

"Sometimes these things, they just happen." Herrmann gave her a hug. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just going to take a shower." Gabby's voice sounding void compared to her usually happy personality.

"These flowers were delivered while you were out." Mills pointed to the dinning, "The cards addressed to you."

Gabby nodded, "Pretty."

Stepping back from Herrmann's grasp Gabby continued on past the firefighters and toward the showers. She just needed some time by herself to process the day, there was only a couple hours left on shift and if they got another call she'd need to be able to handle it.

I really like protective Matt, we don't get to see him a lot in the show. When I write him on here, he might be a little OOC because of the situations he's reacting to.