Gabby sat at the kitchen table in Antonio's house this morning eating a bowl of cereal when he walked in the front door." Hey sis, you up?" He called out at the bottom of the staircase.
"Yeah in here." Gabby responded before Antonio made his way into the kitchen." Out all night?" She asked as he kissed the top of her head.
"Yeah, working a case." He says as he moves to the coffee pot.
"Any news on Pete, and Sylvie?" Gabby puts her spoon down turning in her chair to face him.
"Working a case." Antonio answers with again.
"Oh I see how it is." Gabby turns back to her cereal rolling her eyes." Can't even discuss with your own sister? But its been 3 days already this can't be good."
"Hey we know what we are doing." Antonio says in a cocky tone while grinning as he moves to the table sitting across from Gabby." Speaking of discussing stuff, its been three days as well that my little sister has been staying at my place. Care to discuss what's going on with you and Matt?"
Gabby puts down her spoon never taking her eyes off the cereal bowl as she let's out deep huff." I just needed some." Gabby pushed looking up to her brother before she finished." Space."
"Getting cold feet?"
"No, no." Gabby shakes her head answering instantly." I know he is the one for me."
"Ok." Antonio drags out the word." Then why are you here then?... not that I mind."
"We just..." Gabby paused looking for the right words." Work is making things tough."
"Ahh." Antonio nods in understanding." Look Gabby I speak from experience don't let work come between you two."
"Oh I'm sorry, to bring this up to you." Gabby stands taking her bowl to the sink.
"Hey, you need to talk I will always listen." Antonio moved towards the sink now." Laura and I...well its tough, and not a day goes by that I don't regret how things turned out. But I've come to accept it."
Gabby places her bowl in the dishwasher before looking up at her brother." But you, and Laura...you were always meant to be."
"And so are you and Matt." He places his hands on her shoulders." Don't doubt that for a second, just cause of the crap I'm going through."
"It's just so hard."
"That's marriage for you, but it's these tough times that define both of you as a couple, and as soon as you stop trying to make it work then you may as well pack all your bags."
"But what if Matt already gave up?" Gabby asks wiping a single tear that escaped to her cheek.
"Then that's on him, not you." Antonio rubs her arms getting Gabby to look up at him again." But when Matt came to me and asked for your hand in marriage, he told me you are the most amazing women he's ever met."
Gabby tilts her head to the side letting out a small sigh." He said that?"
"He did." Antonio nods." That doesn't sound like someone who wants to give up on you that quickly, and I know he is not the kind of guy who just gives up easily."
"No he doesn't." Gabby smiles small.
"Look you can stay with me as long as you need, but your home with Matt is where you belong."
"Uh." Gabby rolls her eyes letting out a chuckle." You sound like mom. Oh my god did you tell mom I was staying here?"
"No." Antonio chuckled." I didnt tell mom."
"Oh good." Gabby let out a sigh of relief." If she knew she probably would be on the next plane home trying to fix my problems herself."
"Probably." Antonio chuckled now." She loves Matt, and she knows you do too."
"Yeah." Gabby smiles as she looks over to the clock on the stove." Oh I gotta go or I'll be late." She moves to grab her coat and bag from the kitchen chair." Thanks for this talk." Gabby turns back to Antonio who followed her towards the front door." Oh and find Sylvie, and Pete."
"Anytime." Antonio fist bumps Gabby." And we are working on it, have faith in your big bro."
"Always do." Gabby calls out over her shoulder as she walked towards her car on the street. After a short drive to station 51 Gabby parked her car out front before making her way into the building heading for the locker room. As she turns the corner she finds Matt standing at his locker with no shirt on. Gabby studies him for a moment realising how much she missed him before she cleared her throat." Morning." Gabby says as she opens her locker.
"Morning." Matt answers with just a side glance before pulling his grey polo shirt over his head.
Gabby studies him again as he tucked his shirt in not looking at her at all." Antonio thinks they are close to finding Brett and Mills." She tried breaking the ice.
"So that's where you have been staying." Matt snaps out bitterly as he turns to face her.
"Well atleast I'm not crashing on some blondes couch that I don't know." Gabby snapped back but instantly regretted it." I'm sorry, I don't want to fight over this."
"Could have fooled me." Matt snaps back as he slams his locker turning to walk out.
"Matt please." Gabby reached out grabbing his arm getting him to stop." Why won't you talk to me? You used to tell me everything."
" How am I suppose to talk to you when your the one who left." Matt turns to face her." Besides we're not who we used to be."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Gabby takes a step back placing her hands on her hips.
Matt is about to open his mouth to answer when Chout walks up to them." Hey Dawson, looks like we are partners this shift." He says in his bubbly tone just giving Matt a head before moving his attention back to Gabby." I couldn't believe when I heard you were PIC again, I thought what an honor for me to get to work with you again."
"It's only temporary, Choot." Gabby says not taking her eyes off Matt who is looking at Chout with raised brows.
"It's Chout." He corrects her not even realising what he interrupted." Here I brought you a non-fat skim latte."
"Oh thanks." Gabby looks to him with a small smile as she takes the cup." You remembered what I drink."
"Yup." Chout answers happily, as Matt huffs and turns to leave.
"Matt." Gabby calls out just as the bells go off and they all stop to listen.
'Ambulance 61 gunshot victim, 5th & Wacker.'
"Let's rock n roll." Chout runs off as Gabby moves a few few steps back to close her locker.
Matt who is still standing in the doorway with his back towards Gabby, turns slightly catching her eye causing her to stop walking." Be safe out there." He whisper quickly then walking away toward his office before Gabby could respond.
Gabby watched Matt walk away for a brief second before snapping back into work mode and running to the apparatus floor. Chout was already in the drivers seat when she jumped in the passenger side." Wow this feels weird." She mumbles to herself as she pulls on her seat belt, before looking over to him." What are you waiting for?" With that Chout pulled out of the garage sirens sat in her seat rolling her eyes as he chewed her ear about his spulunking buddies, and the crazy weekend parties that they are still having."Chout if we are going to get through this shift today I'm going to need some quiet time." She says leaning her head back on the seat closing her eyes.
After a quiet pause Chout spoke up again in a softer tone." I'm really sorry about your partner Shay, she was great."
Gabby looked over at him for a moment before answering." She truly was."
"But Chief Boden, his baby that a great addition to the 51 family."
"Yeah." Gabby looked over to him again with a soft smile." They had a scare but baby Terrance is home and doing well."
Chout stops the ambulance as they arrived on the scene still no cops there either." Could this be the wrong address?" He says looking at the abandoned building and the empty street around them. Gabby looked away from Chout to look out her window and her smile quickly fell and her body froze." Are you coming?" He calls out as he steps out of the driver seat." Dawson?" Chout gets her attention.
"I...I can't, won't go in there." Gabby's voice broke as a single tear fell down her cheek.
"Dawson." Chout yells." Someone could be dying in there."
Gabby grabs the radio." 61 to main." He voice cracks again.
"Go ahead 61." A voice answered.
"We need back up at our location, send truck 81, and squad 3 to this location."
"Copy 61." A women's voice answered again.
Gabby stepped out of the passenger side of 61 grabbing the jump bag before meeting Chout in front of the ambo." Somebody already died here." She whispers before her and Chout look up to the building with busted out windows on the 3rd and 4th floors, and yellow caution tape over the front entrance still.