Chapter 4
Dawson sat quietly at the small table behind the couch, laptop in her lap and headphone in her ears. She was behind on some paper work and didn't feel the need to get caught up off shift when there was free time between calls.
"Hey guys." Shay greeted as the men flooded the house. "What's with the face?" She asked Severide as she picked at the bun in her hand.
"Remember the hoax fire from last shift?" The blonde nodded. "We had two back to back. Same exact layout."
Shay's face paled and she sat up, arm pulling back as she launched her roll across the room, past the fire fighters and hit her partner in the chest.
Everyone shot Shay weird looks as Gabby jumped pulling her earphone from her ears, an annoyed look on her face.
"What is wrong with you?"
Shay hit Severide on the chest and then pointed at Dawson. "Tell her what you just told me."
Kelly hesitated before turning to face Dawson, repeated what he'd just said to the other paramedic. Gabby felt her stomach flip as her eyes swung from Kelly to Shay.
"Do you think that's what he meant by 'see you at the next one?'"
Herrmonn stepped between the girls, "Someone going to tell us why there is food throwing going on?"
Dawson seemed to shake her head in disbelief, her eyes landing on the garbage can where a bouquet of purple flours had been thrown.
"Gabby?" Matt asked, watching her mocha skin pale.
Shay stood and walked to the garbage pulling the flours out. "I think you should call your brother now." Finding the card she handed it across the table to Kelly.
The firefighter took a second to read the card before he looked wide eyed at Dawson. "This from the same guy?"
Gabby shrugged, "It's not signed. But the penmanship is the same, the card and the flours are the same."
"What's it say?" Matt asked, reaching out for the card when Severide held it out.
"Did you tell Chief about this?" he asked his girlfriend.
"You guys haven't been back since they arrived." She responded.
"We need to get CPD involved."
"Woah-" Gabby started to interject.
"This guy knows where you live Gabby!"
Shay stepped up, "Wait what?"
Gabby cleared her throat, "When we got home from last shift, there were flowers waiting. The card said the same thing as the one from the fire house."
"You didn't tell me that."
"Well I didn't think flowers were going to become a regular occurrence." Matt laid a hand on Gabby's shoulder, he could tell she was getting worked up.
"As union rep." Mouch started. "Any signs of threat needs to be reported."
Gabby stood, Matt's hand falling from her shoulder. "I'm going to talk to Antonio after shift alright. I appreciate the concern but I'm good."
Shay shook her head, falling back into her seat beside Kelly. His worried expression matching hers.
"I don't like this." Shay muttered to him.
Kelly squeezed her knee. "We'll look after her."
Once Shay nodded, Kelly caught Matt's attention and nodded toward Boden's office. Even if Dawson wasn't going to come with them, they still needed to report this to Boden.
.
After Gabby left the common room she walked into the bunk area where who phone had been left to charge. She thought about calling her brother and leaving a message. He'd get it whenever he was done with the school shooting investigation and get back to her eventually. When she went to hit call on his number, Gabby quickly canceled. Groaning she fell back onto her bed and folded her arms over her stomach as she thought about her options, she knew she had to call the police. Her brother wasn't the only cop in Chicago, weighing her options Gabby decided to call Ruzek.
The detective was in the same unit as her brother, but she trusted Adam to do some investigation for her on the down low. After figuring out what she wanted to say Gabby called his number, as expected it went to voice mail.
"Hey Ruzek, it's Gabby Dawson calling. I have something that I could use your help with. I don't want to get into over voicemail so when you have a chance call me back. Oh, and don't tell my brother I called. Thanks."
Deciding she wasn't ready to head back out to face everyone yet, Gabby got comfortable in the single bed ready to rest her eyes.
The PA system going off moments later, calling for Ambulance 61 to a heart attack victim.
"Seriously?" Gabby groaned, "What is with this day!?"
.
Matt shot Kelly a knowing look when dispatch called ambulance 61 out on another call. Kelly shrugged his shoulders awkwardly, everyone knew better than to mention slow or fast days while on shift.
"What did you two want to talk to me about?" Boden asked, leaning back against his desk.
Matt took the lead, this was his girlfriend they were going to be talking about, "There were some flowers left for Gabby when she got back from a call today. They were the same kind she'd gotten previous shift, both here and at our place."
Boden looked between the two men, the serious looks on both his lieutenants faces told him that information meant something important.
Kelly stepped in, "The flowers today came after the second house fire Chief."
"Okay?" He still wasn't getting it.
Matt cleared his throat. "They all came with a card. The ones from last shifted referenced the kid who fell in the river, comforting Gabby. Unless this person just assumed the kid was dead, there is no way that information was released to the public before those flowers ended up in front of the fire house. This is the card from today." Matt handed the folded paper to the Chief.
Boden re read the words three times before looking up at the men in front of him. If he understood the words in front of him correctly, then he knew what this meeting was about.
"You think whoever is setting those fires is doing it for Dawson?"
"I'm saying we've had 3 fires in the last two shifts, the same MO and each time flowers have been sent directly to one of our paramedics." Matt chose his words differently this time, he didn't want to come off as some jealous boyfriend mad someone was sending his girl flowers. This was serious and he knew Boden could see that.
"What does Gabby say about this?"
"I don't know if she had the chance before getting the call but she's going to call her brother down at the district, see if there is something he can do on his end."
Chief nodded. "Alright, we'll keep an eye on her for the rest of shift. You come to me at the beginning of next shift and give me an update."
Both men nodded before exiting the office. Really the detective at the 21 district were the only ones who could do some real investigating. The fire men will just have to watch Gabby's back until then, and they would.
.
Dawson prepared the rig, while Shay was in the bathroom cleaning the blood off her hands. While on the ride to the hospital the heart attack victim started vomiting blood. The man had bit down on his tongue in pain, almost taking it clean off. While Shay was trying to clean the mess it ended up hall over her hands and arms.
Hearing her phone going off in the front of the Ambo Gabby jogged around to answer, the name across her scene making her hesitate wither to pick up or not.
"Ruzek hey."
"Hey Gabby I just got your message. Everything alright?"
"Where are you right now?"
"At the district."
"Are you alone?"
"I'm in the break room, something going on?"
"I just don't want my Antonio to overhear, he's the stereotypical big brother; overprotective. I feel like become a couple just amplified those tendencies." Gabby muttered, her brother could be a tad bit too much sometimes.
"No doubt. What's so scandals you can't tell your brother? That firemen cheat on you or something?"
"What? No no nothing like that. There is just something weird going on in the past week. I've been getting these flours and cards, and it seems like they're coming from this serial arsonist. We've gotten some calls recently where bedrooms are being set on fire, the starting point seeming to be mattresses. No one is ever home at the time of the fires though."
The other side of the phone was quiet, Gabby figured Ruzak was thinking about Nadia. He cleared his throat but still stayed quiet so Gabby continued.
"2 out of 3 bouquets were sent to the fire house, but after last shift one was also left outside mine and Matt's place."
"I really think we should tell Antonio about this."
"I don't want to get him riled up over something that could be a coincidence."
"This sounds like a class A stalker to me."
"Which is why I called. I just want you to look into it. When I get back to the fire house I'll send you the name of the flower shop. Just do me a favor, look into it. If after that you think we should say something to my brother, than I will."
If Ruzek had it his way he would have handed the phone off to the other detective the second Gabby started explaining her situation. But if he just told her brother Gabby might not trust him enough to tell him if something else happens, better him than no one.
"Okay, I'll see what I can find out."
"Thank you. Oh and by the way, did you figure out who the shooter was?"
"Yeah Apparently the call about the broken leg this morning was related to some hazing that was happening. The kid with the broken legs buddy decided enough was enough and took matters into his own hands. Seem like there was some bullying going on before that. We're still questioning him."
"Get back to it, don't let me keep you. Thanks again."
"Yep."
The back door of the ambo were thrown closed, Gabby jumped in surprise at the loud noise having not seen her partner come back.
"Everything alright jumpy?"
"Yeah." Gabby forced a smiled. "Let's get back to the house."
.
The ambulance ended up getting called out 3 more times before the end of shift, at some point Matt had let it slip to both girls that Kelly was the "reason" for their especially busy shift.
Both paramedics slapped the bicep that was closest to them, Kelly grabbed both his arms as they now stung from the blows.
"That's what you get!" Gabby's sass shining through.
"You should know better!" Shay huffed.
The rest of the guys chuckled to themselves, but quieted as soon as the two girls send glares their way.
Matt came up behind Gabby, his hand grazed her back. "Let's get out of here."
She nodded in agreement, her bed calling to her.
Gabby hadn't told Matt, but when she got home and saw no purple flowers waiting for her she let out the breath she'd been holding.
"At least there isn't a second bouquet this time." Matt saying exactly what she'd been thinking.
"Yea." Gabby smiled, locking the door behind her.
"The guys were talking about maybe meeting up at Molly's tonight." Matt mentioned changing into some comfy clothes.
"You should go."
"And you should come.'
Gabby smiled sleepily at him, already snuggled under the covers of their bed.
"I don't plan on leaving this bed till tomorrow morning. Go have fun."
"You sure?" He didn't want to leave her by herself.
"Positive."
He nodded, "Okay. I think I'm going to try and finish up the bookshelf, get it done before tonight. I'll wake you before I leave."
Gabby nodded, already halfway to dream land. Too bad her dreams haven't been all that peaceful lately.
Whenever Gabby dreamed of fires, Matt, Kelly or one of the guys was always the one trapped inside. Lately thought it had been her, she had on everyday clothes. She could never see the fire but she could feel it's warmth, could hear Matt and the guys calling out to her. They never reached her, she'd always fall through the rotted floor or the windows would shatter inward causing her to wake up.
Usually when it happened she'd slide out of bed and get to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face to cool her heated skin. Matt had woken a couple times to find her missing in bed only to find her on the couch, trying to avoid sleep.
He always seemed willing to stay up and listen to whatever had frightened her, but she never told him. It felt almost cruel to tell her firefighter boyfriend she had dreams about being trapped in a house on fire and how he never seemed to be able to save her.
So she'd follow him back to bed and stay there till their alarms went off in the morning.
.
Matt groaned as he woke up to someone shaking his shoulder, Slowly Gabby's soft voice flooded his ears.
"Baby. Matt wake up." She sounded a little out of breath.
Rubbing his eyes Matt sat up on the couch, after finishing the bookshelf he decided to lay down for a quick nap before going out with the guys. From the time on the microwave clock behind Gabby if he wanted to make it out he'd have to get ready soon, Severide was coming by around 10 to pick him up.
Eyes focusing back on his girlfriend he noticed her eye brows were pulled together. "What's wrong?"
"I got another delivery." Stepping aside Matt spotted the purple flowers on the kitchen table.
They'd thrown the other ones out, so he knew they were the delivery she was talking about.
"What is this guy trying to prove?"
"I read the card, it say the same thing as the one from the fire house."
Matt stood looking around the room for his phone, "Did you call your brother? This isn't okay Gabby, he obviously know's where you live."
"I called already, it's being handled. Baby." She said to get his attention. "I didn't wake you because of that, I woke you so you'd have time to get ready."
He scoffed. "There is no way in hell I'm leaving you here alone."
"Matt, the doors are locked."
"He already has stalking down, what makes you think picking a lock is going to go against his morals?" Matt's pacing was a clear sign to Gabby that he was getting worked up.
"Baby." She stepped into his path, hands going to his shoulders. "I don't want you to worry."
"How can I not be."
"Purple flowers don't really scream phyco serial killer."
"Setting fires around town, doesn't exactly scream sane."
Gabby squeezed his shoulders. "We don't know if that's the same guy."
"Seriously? After that note today you still believe that?"
"Let's just wait and see what the police think."
Matt stepped out of her reach and grabbed his phone from the coffee table, "I'm still calling Severide to cancel." He said, walking past her into the bedroom.