A/N I'm glad you're all liking the story so far! I will be updating "Fix You" sometime in the next few days, I'm also working on an update for "Something To Fight For" and I have a few oneshots in the works, so I shall be very busy writing the next few days. There have been a couple questions as to whether or not Gabby will know anyone or if she will be starting as a freshface entirely and if she will be at house 51 like casey...those questions will be answered in this update.
Goldistic- I totally agree with you when it comes to Casey and Dawson moving in together! I get so excited when they're looking at apartments. I'm almost worried to get attached to the idea of them being together in fear that the writers will end things between them.
Guest- I agree with you as well when you said Gabby is really quick to get mad at him. Personally I think it's a fear. I think she feels like maybe it's too good to be true. So if it looks like things are going to end I think she wants to be the one to end them. To try and avoid being hurt you know?
Disclaimer; I own nothing.
Waking up at Matt's place the following morning had been anything but awkward. Gabby had figured once the liquid courage was no longer there, they would both be at a loss for words. But when he'd knocked on his guest room door the next morning asking to treat her to breakfast it was like they'd been friends forever. They had taken turns using the bathroom, brushing their teeth and washing their faces before leaving. Matt followed behind Gabby to her house in his own truck. Pulling in the driveway behind her before watching Gabby rush inside to quickly change her clothes. No more than five minutes later she came back out, locking the door behind her and hopping in the passenger side of Matt's truck.
She'd quickly buckled up before turning her head to face him- feeling herself grow self conscious when she found him staring at her, his mouth slightly open.
"What..."
"No...nothing you just...you're really beautiful is all." She could feel her face flush; a bright shade of red took over her cheeks as he smiled brightly at her, his crystal blue eyes meeting her dark brown.
"You too...uh not beautiful..um handsome...you're han...handsome..." Stopping herself, her cheeks once again growing red, before she broke eye contact and looked down at her hands. He couldn't help smiling at her nervousness. He knew he shouldn't feel this way toward her but he knew he liked her more than a friend, and it made him feel better to know he clearly wasn't the only one nervous around the other.
"So, do you have anywhere particular you'd like to go for breakfast?"
"Wherever is fine, there's a little family-owned diner a couple streets over from here. They're really good."
"Then that's where we'll go."
Matt started the engine, before putting the car in reverse and slowly backing out of her driveway. When they'd arrived at the diner a few minutes later, he parked the truck before hopping out, jogging to the passenger side of the truck and opening the door for her. He took her hand, helping her out. Shutting the door behind her. Gabby looked up offering a smile and a thank you before they headed toward the entrance of the diner.
Breakfast seemed to fly by and before either of them even realized it, they were pulling up outside of Gabby's house again. Matt walked her to her door, turning to her when they stood just outside her apartment.
"I've had a lot of fun hanging out with you Gabby..."
"Me too-I didn't think I would have this much fun just moving back here but you proved me wrong."
"Your first day is tomorrow so would you maybe want to hangout the day after? I'd like to know how it was...maybe I can treat you to dinner or something."
"Yeah- that sounds good; on one condition tho..."
"What's that?"
"You let me cook you dinner, instead of us going out somewhere."
"Okay...that sounds like a plan."
"Great." Gabby leaned up on her tippy toes, placing a quick peck on his cheek and wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug. Matt returned the gesture, his arms around her waist, his hands resting just above butt. He pulled her in close to her, hugging her tightly before letting her go again.
"So I'll see you in a couple days then."
"Defintely."
That night after getting into bed, Matt pulled out his phone; pulling up Gabby's name and smiling at the photo she had taken of them before saving it as her contact photo. He'd clicked the message icon next to her name, before typing out a text and hitting send.
She'd just come into her room after brushing her teeth when she notice her phone light up and vibrate on her night table. Sliding her finger across the phone to unlock it, smiling at the text from Matt.
"I just wanted to wish you luck on you first day tomorrow. Everyone is going to love you. Can't wait to see you."
She smiled, before responding to him, biting her lip before hitting send. Matt felt his phone buzz next to him and he couldn't help but smile at her response.
"Thank You. I should probably be excited about tomorrow...Somehow I'm only really excited about our dinner plans. xoxo"
He knew it was fast, too fast too feel something for someone he'd only met less than twenty-four hours ago; but he couldn't help it. Something about her made him smile, she made him happy and he wasn't to fond of the idea of stopping any progression they may have toward a relationship. No matter how much time had passed after his breakup with Hallie. Shutting off his light he'd thrown the covers over his head, thinking about Gabby before falling asleep.
Gabby wokeup the next morning to her phone buzzing on her night table, without looking she answered the phone and brought to her ear.
"Hello"
"Hey Girl! Are you ready? First day as PIC at 51..."
"Uh...Yeah...I'm excited. I really needed this fresh start. I can't thank you enough for putting a good word in with the chief for me. I'm not sure I would have been able to get away on my own if it weren't for you."
"Gabby-I love you, it's what best friends are for...I know it took a lot of courage to leave. I'm proud of you."
"I love you too, Shay...Thank You."
"You better get ready girl...We're due in at eight and we have to stock the rig before we go out on a call."
"See you soon."
When Gabby arrived at work, Shay immediately took her under her wing. Showing her around and introducing her to squad, chief Boden and a few of the guys from truck 81. Shay turned toward Gabby before speaking,
"Lieutenant and Hermann are filling the truck up but you'll meet them when they get back. For now though we get to restock."
"Sounds like fun." Shay put her arm around Gabby's shoulders before pulling her close and walking toward the ambulance.
"So...I met somebody..." Gabby broke the silence, causing Shay to immediately shoot her head up toward Gabby's direction.
"I mean...we're just friends. He's getting over a bad breakup right now but...yeah I um stayed at his house the night before last."
"Wait take a few steps back...When did you meet him?"
"Uh..the night before last-but it's now what you're thinking. I spent the night in his guest room. It was just really late."
"You know I love you right? I just want you to be happy and safe."
"We're just friends, but he seems like a good guy. I know it's fast after everything that happened back in New York...but if he weren't dealing with this breakup I wouldn't want to be just friends."
"I'm really happy for you Gabby...when you called me that night...I know you were upset with me for going to Antonio.."
"No Shay...that was me being stupid and selfish. I just...I was scared...but I know you were too. I also know that if you hadn't gone to Antonio and if you both hadn't helped me get away from it all I might not be alive...so thank you."
Gabby wiped the tears from her eyes, watching as Shay did the same. Both hugging one another- "Just promise me you'll be safe."
"I promise."
Their hug was broken apart when they heard the beeping of truck 81 backing into the firehouse. Shay looked up at Gabby-
"Ready to meet a couple more people."
"You bet I am."
They climbed out of the ambulance before going around to the drivers side of the firetruck.
"Guys come meet out new PIC. Hermann this Gabby" putting her hand out to meet shake she was met with a warm smile.
"Nice to meet you, it'll be good to have a perm. PIC after all this time. You need anything you let us know okay? We're all family here."
'Thank You."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I hear there's breakfast waiting in the kitchen." Hermann smiled before walking away.
"Just one left." walking around the other side of the truck, Gabby felt her heart beat faster and Shay could feel her tense...
"Gabby you okay?"
"um.."
Still looking down, setting his gear up by the truck, Casey began talking-
"Hey Shay...one second...okay. So who's this new...Gabby?" Shay's eyebrows furrowed in confusion...
"Wait...you two know one another?" Casey smiled at Gabby, but became nervous when he'd seen that she looked embarrassed.
"Shay..um Matt...is the guy I was telling you about..."
I hope you all liked the update! Please read and review whether its ideas of what you'd like to see at some point in the story, or contructive criticism, just to say if you like the chapter or not. whatever is fine by me. I'm sure a lot of you understand nothing is more upsetting to writers when they see people favoriting and following the story, and leaving no feedback. so let me know what you think please :)