Gabby held Matt stare for a moment before breaking the silence, stepping forward putting her hand." Gabby Dawson, Sir it's nice to meet you."
Matt looked at her hand for a brief second before placing his hand in hers." Lieutenant is fine,and it's nice to meet you as well."
"Finally, a female in the house who is on cooking duties." Mouch joked." You can cook right?"
"Mouch." Matt turned raising an eyebrow at him." So a little respect."
"Your right." Mouch nods." Welcome to 51 miss Dawson."
"It's all women are good for anyways." Welch says under his breath now, catching a few dirty looks.
Gabby herself acted as if she didn't hear his comment and with that turned to face the guys of 81 held her head high." It's an honor to be part of your team, and I won't let you down. I'm great at what I do."
"Confidence." Hermann stands from his seat first reaching his hand out." I like that in a firefighter, welcome. Call me Hermann." He winks at her, then looks at Matt with a knowing look that he recognized her from the other night. Matt returned the look to Hermann knowing he could trust him with his secret, as Gabby introduced herself to the rest of truck and squad members.
Matt took a step back to Kelly whispering as he watched Gabby move through the room." If you say I told you so, your going to be homeless." He chuckles, then glances over to look at Welch who is watching Gabby as well with a smug look on his face." And tell me you have choirs for that one." Matt nodded his head to Welch so Kelly would turn to see." I really don't want to be the one to wipe that look off his face."
Kelly nods in agreement before turning to face Matt." You are letting me pick the girl when we go out next." He suggests and watches Matt squirm uncomftable rubbing the back of his neck." You are ending it with her right?"
Matt looked at his friend for a second." I guess." He shrugs.
"Matt." Kelly snapped just loud enough for his friend to hear." You are racing headlong towards disaster if you don't end this, and end it now."
"Yeah I know, I know." Matt watched Gabby talking to the guys from 81." Soon." He mutters never looking at Kelly.
"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Kelly shakes his head turning to look at Gabby as well now.
"Maybe I have." Matt takes a step forward his eyes still fixiated on Gabby." But right now I want the truth." He says looking over at Kelly before walking across the room to the crowd standing around the newest addition of truck 81." Dawson." Matt speaks in a soft voice." Let me show you to your locker if you like."
"That would be..."
Gabby was cut off by Cruz jumping in." I got this lieutenant, I'm sure your busy anyway." He says oogling Gabby who still had her eyes on Matt.
Matt felt a surge of jealousy course through him seeing Cruz eye this girl he had just recently claimed his, and can't even admit it now." It's fine Cruz I'm not busy." Matt took his eyes off Gabby now looking at his men." But you guys are busy, don't you need to do restock on 81?" He figured sending them out to the apparatus floor would keep them from nosing around." Go on let's go." He chuckles watching these grown men moan like little girls." I'll send the candidate your way when she's settled." Matt calls out as he and Gabby walk out of the conference room unaware of the already curious eyes of the newest chief Pat Pridgen watching their interaction.
Matt lead Gabby into the locker room neither saying a word till Matt checked the room for any occupants." Matt I can ..." Gabby started to say as Matt rushed back in her direction signaling the coast was clear. But to Gabby's surprised Matt didn't cut her off with words but his lips on hers in a fierce kiss.
When the kiss broke Matt took a step back meeting Gabby's eyes as she slowly opened them." So...care to explain?" Matt dragged out his question." Why you didn't tell me?"
Gabby looked at him with a raised brow." Not the greeting I was expecting." She mummbled under her breath shaking her head about the kiss, before crossing her arms shifting her weight onto one leg." Tell you what?" She spat out at him with her sassy attitude.
"This." Matt raised his hand motioning at her uniform." That your a firefighter, a candidate."
" I didn't lie." Gabby places her hands on her hips." I just didn't tell you." She said in a softer tone looking away.
Matt takes a step closer lifting Gabby's chin to look at him." Are you embarrassed?"
" No." Gabby snapped, but instantly regret her response." I'm sorry." She turns taking a step away from him." When you told me you were a lieutenant, I tried to walk away, but you...your different."
"I'm definantly NOT Tommy Welch, if that's what your referring to."
Gabby looked over at Matt giving him a soft smile." I know." She whispers before moving to take a seat on the wooden bench as Matt moves to lean on the end locker standing diagonal from her." I've been a candidate for over a year now, and I can count on one hand how many times I have seen the inside of a burning building."
Matt gives her a sympathetic look before pushing himself off the locker." Wait." He squints his eyes." How where you not on Welch's truck the day of the accident?"
Gabby chuckles for a second then looks up meeting Matt's curious eyes." I may have mouthed off to Welch that morning." She shrugs her shoulders." So he told me I needed to spend the rest of my shift in the firehouse, cooking and cleaning. What women are meant to do."
"Oh Gabby." Matt knelt down in front of Gabby placing his hands on her thighs." I'm glad you didn't get hurt that day, but you must know things will never be that way don't mind Mouch I will speak to him about his comment."
"No." Gabby stands up brushing by Matt as he stands now too." I don't want any special treatment. I just want to be treated like everyone else, I'm going to make one hell of a firefighter once I get the chance to prove it."
"Gabby it's our honor to have you join 81." Matt places his hand on her shoulder from behind.
Gabby takes his hand in hers as she turns to face him." But then I met you the other night, something I never expected. These past 48 hours have been amazing."
"But, there's a but right." Matt pulls his hand from hers.
"Yeah." Gabby says sadly." Your my boss now Matt, I mean lieutenant."
Matt turns his back to Gabby now letting out a deep sigh before turning back to face her." Did you know? Is that why you didn't tell me?"
"Of course, I didn't know, Matt." Gabby says hurt crossing her arms over her body." I would never deceive you like this. I only found out ths morning, cause Welch's demotion was just determined as well."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"It's fine." Gabby waives him off." I was so greatful to finally be rid of Welch as my lieutenant, but." Gabby let's out a small chuckle." Then I arrive here this morning looking for a new start, and their you were."
"It doesn't have to be this complicated." Matt says taking a seat on the bench now.
"But it is." Gabby sighs." Chief Pridgen, if he knows." She pauses shaking her head moving to sit next to Matt on the bench." If he knew, you and I were or even did have more of a professional relationship he will end both our careers."
"Chief Boden is different."
"I'm sure he is." Gabby leans into Matt's shoulder slightly, still feeling this connection drawing her in." But he's not here now. Trust me Pridgen is trouble, I've seen him ruin other peoples careers just to better his own."
"So where does that leave us." Matt whispers looking over meeting her eyes." I know we only just met but, I'll admit I really like you."
Gabby shakes her head slightly." I, I just don't know, but I, I really like you too."
"So?"
"So?" Gabby looks up again meeting Matt's eyes,but before she can say any more the bell rings.
"Truck 81,squad 3, ambulance 61, battalion 25, apartment fire on third and rush."
"Well candidate Dawson." Matt stands from the bench first." Let's see what you got."
"Really?"
"Really." Matt takes her hand pulling her up from the bench." Things are about to change for you."
"They already have." Gabby gives him a quick smile before they both rush off to truck 81.
