A\N: Hi all, thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed the fist chapter, it means so much to both of us. I wrote most of this chapter but Milady29 added in some more detail to the chapter.

Disclaimer: Neither of us own Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, NBC or Global.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None


Chapter 2

"Gabriela," Esmeralda walked into the kitchen, Antonio behind her, "Your brother's here to see you."

"Ugh," She groaned, still hung over from the previous night, "What is it Antonio?"

He snuffled on his feet; looking around the kitchen, anywhere but her, "Mind if we talk alone?"

Now their mother was worried, "Antonio-" Even though her daughter was twenty-one she would always be her baby.

"It's nothing bad ma," He assured her.

"Okay," She trusted her son to take care of his sister, "I'll be upstairs."

They walked through the house of their parents. Antonio remembered growing up here and his old room was still there upstairs, although it was now used as the room Eva and Diego slept in when they stayed here. They walked into the room beside it, Gabby's bedroom. Antonio took a look around, not having been here in a while and only now he realized that most of the boy band posters were gone. Maybe she was really growing up.

"Okay Antonio," Gabby stood up, looking at him her arms crossed, "I know what you're going to say. Don't even say it," She shook her head, "It's Saturday, all I want to do today is take an Advil for my headache and sleep all day."

"This is important Gabby," He insisted, "I need to talk to you about Matt."

For a second it was completely silent until Gabby finally moved.

She narrowing her eyes and took a deep breath in order to keep her composure, "I told you not to say it!"

"I'm just trying to protect you! He's going overseas Gabby! You remember how worried Laura was about me?" He said, trying to talk some reason into his sister.

"Yeah," She swallowed an Advil with a glass of water.

"Well we knew each other for years. It was hard; I know you know how hard it is. There's a possibility Matt could get badly hurt or…"

"Don't say it!" She warned tears threatening to fall out of her eyes.

"But is true Gabby! I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into! You won't be able to see him for six months! And half the time you wont even know where he is or if he's okay! Do you really want that?"

"I can deal with my own love life Antonio!" She glared at him; "I'm not a baby anymore! I thought you stopped worrying about everything I did when you had kids?"

"I worry about all of you. Come on Gabby," He looked at her, "Think about this before jumping in with two feet!"

"I like him! You can't tell me you don't like him, He called you Sir! He's a marine and a former fire fighter, He'll have Jeff to watch over him."

"That doesn't matter Gabby! You know that!"

"Stop it Antonio!" She was really angry now, "Just stay out of my love life and go away!"

"Gabby I'm just worried about you!"

"Well I don't want you to be! I should be old enough to choose my own boyfriend's now. I don't need you to come and scare him away!"

"Boyfriend are you-"

"JUST GO!"

"Okay, okay," He threw his hands up in the air and left.

Upset Gabby sat down on the bed and grabbed her phone from her nightstand and opened the flip phone; her heart almost skipped a beat when she saw she had a text from Matt. He wanted to meet up and as she hadn't been able to think about anything else than him this morning – besides the headache – she smiled and replied she would be there.

Gabby walked into the dinner nervously. She was wearing jean shorts and a nicely fitted top. She'd been nervous about what to wear. Matt had called her shortly after noon and asked if she wanted to meet for a late lunch, she accepted and they agreed to meet at a diner not far to where both of them lived. She wasn't sure if it was a date or not so she dressed in clothes that she hoped went for either.

Matt was sitting at a table near the window and she went over to him, "Hey," She grinned.

"Hey," He grinned back "You look-" She was beautiful; he'd never been so nervous around a woman as he was around her.

"Thanks," She blushed, "I'm glad you texted."

"Yeah… uh- I hope I didn't' wake you up."

"No, no I was up," She picked up the menu and looked at the choices of what she could order. She decided on a simple sandwich. The waitress came and took their orders and left. Then there was an awkward silence between them, neither one knowing quit what to say.

"So uh-" Gabby couldn't stop looking at his eyes. They were the most beautiful shade of blue she'd ever seen. She also loved the way his shirt fitted him just so she could see the outline of his chest. Her mind was wondering with things she shouldn't be thinking about; especially considering they had just met.

"So tell me more about your classes," Matt broke the silence.

"Oh they're alright, I'm going into my second year in the program in September," She explained, "I'm really hoping to either get a job right away or maybe go to med school. I'm not sure what I want to do yet. What about you are you nervous going to Iraq? Do you know what you'll be doing?"

"I am nervous," He admitted, "And for now I'm just a marine although I would like to get involved in more rescue missions behind enemy lines."

"That sounds dangerous."

"It is but with my fire fighter training I think I'd be good at it; like you I'm not sure though," He stopped talking as there food came. They fell back into silence as they ate. After they finished they were again silent until Gabby spoke up, "Want to go for a walk?"

"Sure," He nodded and got out his wallet to pay.

"Oh no," She insisted, "You don't have to pay."

"I want to," He put down the money and stood up.

"Thank you," She smiled gratefully. "I want to show you where Laura, my sister in-law wants her bakery to be," She told him as they walked into the summer air, "It's just a few blocks away. It's this little cute shop; it's been on the market for awhile and she has a good chance of getting it if Antonio can get that promotion at work."

"Ah," He enjoyed hearing about her family; he just hoped she didn't ask him about his. "You see your family a lot?"

"All the time. Antonio and I are ten years apart but we're really close and I love Laura like a sister, my parents are great too. I still live at home with them but I'm hoping to move out soon."

The arrived at the store and Matt smiled. It was a small building in the middle of a quiet street just off a main road. "It seems perfect."

"It is; she loves it and I know she'll be disappointed if she doesn't get it," She explained and then shook her head, "I don't know why I'm telling you all this."

"I like to hear it. Also, I love doing constructing work. I want to offer my help, but since I will be gone in 11 weeks I might not be much of a help.''

''I am sure she could use your help though. Every time Antonio hits a hammer on a nail an accident happens.''

''Your brother seems like a good guy though.'' Matt said then and Gabby rolled her eyes.

''He is annoying. He also thinks he knows best.''

''Older brother's usually do.'' Matt said, teasing her and she frowned at him and it made him chuckle. She was such a little hot head but it looked so cute.

''I am just kidding. How about we have drinks at Molly's tonight?" He laughed then.

"Uh… sue sounds good. Around nine thirty?" She said, finally smiling again.

"Sounds good. I'll walk you back to your car," He told her.

At ten thirty Matt and Gabby had been talking for over an hour had a few drinks to many, they weren't drunk but they were getting there, especially Matt who Gabby noticed kept glancing over to where a bunch of guys sat; his eyes seemingly scanning for someone.

"Your friends?" Gabby asked,

"No, no…" He trailed off, just then the door to the bar opened and a man with black hair walked in. He went to make his way over to the men but stopped when he saw Matt, a fiery gaze of rage coming over him. He ran towards Matt.

"GET OUT OF HERE! HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE AFTER YOU KILLED ANDY! YOU KILLED MY BEST FRIEND!" He punched him in the jaw sending Matt off his chair.

"I DIDN'T KILL HIM! MAYBE IF YOU HAD DONE YOUR JOB AND-" Matt got up and began punching him as well, soon both men were throwing punches, it got out of hand so fast Gabby didn't even have time to react. Men from the back of the room broke up the fight and she observed they seemed to know Matt as well. Kelly went back with them when Antonio and Jay walked into the bar in uniform, the police had been called; Gabby's heart sank.

"Gabriela?" Antonio ran to his sister, as soon as he saw her, "Are you okay?" He asked frantically.

"Yeah I'm fine," She huffed. Why are all of the police officers here?"

"Good. Go over there!" He pointed, "I need to talk to Matt."

"He didn't start it," She told him seeing Jay talk to the other man, "The other guy did."

"Just go Gabby," Antonio told her.

"Alright Matt," Antonio took out his notebook and pen, "Tell me everything that happened leading up to the fight."

"Gabby and I were talking and this guy…. My old friend… best friend actually started yelling and punching me."

"For no reason?" He seemed skeptical

"Our other best friend…. He died in a fire a few months back and he blames me and I blame him. That's why I left the department."

"So you came to a bar that fire fighters come to?" Antonio asked, raising one eyebrow. Matt didn't seem like a stupid guy but this was a bit dumb and he just shook his head.

"I didn't come here my choice! Gabby likes it here." Matt said in his defence.

"Well you should have thought of that before you put my baby sister in danger! Now go home!"

Matt stormed out of the bar angrily.

"Antonio!" Gabby was finished giving her statement to Jay, "What did you say to him?" She attempted go after him.

"Stay away from him Gabby," Antonio looked at her, "I don't want you seeing him again! He's bad news alright?''

"No he's not!" She angrily spat, "He didn't start that fight! And he'd never hurt me!"

"Gabby I-'' Antonio said, trying to put his hand on his sister's shoulder but she hit it away.

"No!'' She shoved him aside and ran after Matt. She ran into the night but Matt was nowhere to be seen and sad she started to walk home, angry with her brother. If he thought this was going to keep her away from Matt, he was so wrong!


A\N: So, what did you think? Please leave a review and let us know.

Up Next: Matt tells Gabby somethings about his past and they grow closer. What will Antonio think when he finds out though?