How Will I Know

Chapter Six

"Wait, so he denies being Eli's father?" Shay shook her head in both shock and disgust. "I always knew Ross was an ass but I didn't realize he was a deadbeat, too."

"We only hooked up a few times…ok, more than a few times. But I wasn't with anybody else at that time." Gabby explained. She knew a little bit about what was said about her. The assumptions that were made. Two kids with two different guys, that right there was enough for peoples' imaginations to run rampant. Despite the reckless choices she'd made in the past, it still gave no one the right to judge her. Even then, though, she felt the need to explain herself to Shay. "I told him as soon as I found out and he flipped out. Long story short, he called me a whore and said he wasn't sure the child was even his. So yes, if you were to ask Ross, he would deny being Eli's father."

"Damn," Shay whispered. "With a brother like yours, it's a wonder Ross still has two working legs."

Gabby cleared her throat and dropped her gaze from Shay's, "yeah, well, I might have told Antonio that the pregnancy was the result of a one night stand and that I wasn't really sure who the guy was."

"Dawson!" Shay was shocked. "You let Antonio believe it was just a one-time thing?"

"Seemed like the simple thing to do at the time."

"Am I interrupting girl talk?" Matt walked up behind them, causing both women to jump slightly. He laughed, "I'll take that as a yes."

Shay rolled her eyes, "you just want to know if we're talking about you." She turned to Gabby, "you're going to find out sooner or later, but Casey is a bit full of himself."

Gabby met Matt's eyes and grinned, "yeah, I kind of got that impression already."

Matt matched Gabby's smile, "really? You two are going to double team me?" He shook his head and turned his attention to Gus, holding his palm out. The toddler grinned and grasped a few of Matt's fingers. "What about you, buddy? Are you on my side?" Matt looked back over at Gabby. "Any closer to walking?"

With Ross still working on inventory in the back of the ambulance and Eli hanging out in the break room with Severide, Gabby relaxed a little and focused her attention on her youngest son.

"Not really," she replied. "And as mean as it sounds, that's ok with me. I'm still trying to get rest of the apartment baby proofed so Gus spends most of his time either in his playpen or in his walker." She rolled her eyes, "not to mention, the bathroom door won't completely shut and my lazy landlord has basically been ignoring me for the past two weeks."

"Well why don't I stop by and fix it?"

"Would you?" Gabby asked. "I mean, as long as it's no trouble for you…"

Matt shook his head, "spending time with you is never a trouble for me."

Shay was enjoying watching the interaction between the two so much that she nearly cussed out loud when she heard the alarm go off for ambulance 61. "That's my cue," she kissed Gus' cheek and patted Gabby's arm. "I'll call you tonight. And tell Eli I said have a good time in the Dominican." She rushed away, leaving the three alone.

Another ring went off, this time it was Gabby's phone. "Oh, that's me." Gabby groaned, realizing her phone was buried in her purse. She looked over at Matt, almost embarrassed. "Can you hold him for a second?"

"Oh," Matt was completely caught off guard. "Yeah, sure." He barely had time to answer before Gus was in his arms. He braced himself for the toddler's cries and was surprised when all the little boy did was look up at him with big brown eyes that mirrored his mother's. "Hey, Gus." Matt adjusted Gus so he was at his side. "Looks like you're starting to warm up to me. I guess third time's a charm," he joked. The little boy remained unimpressed, "not funny? Ok, I'll work on my jokes."

She laughed, catching the end of what Matt had said and sent a quick reply to the text she'd received before slipping her phone into her back pocket. "Don't take it personal. He can keep a serious face with the best of them." She tickled Gus' side, earning a small giggle in response. "You just have to know where his tickle spots are." She took him back into her arms, "see, there's your smile."

Matt smiled, he loved watching Gabby interact with her children; it seemed to be the only time she ever let her guard completely down. "So uh…" he started, remembering what he'd heard Shay say before she left for the call. "You guys are taking a trip to the Dominican Republic?"

"Eli is. He's going with my brother and his family. I can't get off work for that long of a time so Gus and I are going to stay here in Chicago." She checked her watch, "speaking of which, we have to go. We're having dinner at my brother's tonight."

"Good luck trying to get Eli away from the dog. I think they've become best friends," Matt quipped, leading the way into the break room.

"Hey! There's our lieutenant!" Herrmann called. "We were beginning to think you'd be replaced by the youngest lieutenant in Chicago's history, Eli Dawson."

"I'm not going to be just a firefighter, Mr. Herrmann." Eli said, jumping up from where he'd been playing with Pouch.

Gabby raised a brow, curious as to what Eli had decided he was going to be when he grew up. It changed at least once a week. "Oh yeah? What else are you going to be?" If Antonio heard ever found out that Eli would rather be a firefighter over a cop; she'd never hear the end of it.

"I'm gonna be a superhero! So I can keep people safe like Tio, put out fires like Matt and make people all better like you!"

"He dreams big," Severide quipped, ruffling Eli's hair.

"Ah, he gets it from his mom," Herrmann commented, turning to Gabby. "When I first met you, you had a list of goals at least half a mile long."

"Oh yeah?" Matt asked, curious.

Gabby cleared her throat and shot Herrmann a small smile, "As fun as it would be to take a trip down memory lane, the boys and I have dinner plans at my brother's." She turned her attention to Eli. "Come on, Elijah. We have to get going if we want to make it to Antonio's in time for dinner."

"Oh! I have to tell Matt!" Eli turned his attention to the lieutenant. "Guess what?"

"What, buddy?"

"I'm gonna fly on a plane tomorrow! I've never been on one before."

Gabby shook her head, grinning, "you've been on a plane before, Eli. You were just a baby so you don't remember."

"Well," Eli pursed his lips together in thought. "That's kind of the same thing if I don't remember it."

"If you say so, let's go, baby. Tell everybody thanks for letting you hang out with them."

"I have to go to the bathroom, though!"

Gabby was sure Eli was just trying to drag out having to leave the firehouse but nodded, "ok. Come on, I'll show you where it is."

"I'm gonna use the firefighter's bathroom, right?" Eli asked as he walked down the hall between Matt and Gabby.

"Yep. It's the bathroom that we all use," Matt answered. They stopped at the end of the hallway and Matt pushed the blue door open, making sure the bathroom was empty. "There ya go, kiddo." Once the door had stopped swinging and settled shut, Matt turned his attention to Gabby and grinned. "See? He likes me already."

"Yes, but he only knows you as Lieutenant Matt. My friend." If Gabby was being completely honest, though, she was relieved that both boys were taking a liking to Matt.

"Buzz kill," Matt joked. He glanced over his shoulder and made sure nobody was watching before slipping his arm around Gabby's waist and pulling her closer to him. Which wasn't that much with Gus in her arms.

"Matt," Gabby whispered, completely caught off guard. "What are you doing?"

"Well I was hoping I could sneak a quick kiss before Eli comes back but you're doing an awful lot of talking." He took Gabby's small smile as an invitation and pressed his lips to hers, barely kissing her before they heard the door start to open and had to quickly pull apart.

"Ok!" Eli announced, completely oblivious. "I'm ready now."

"Well it was nice seeing you again, Eli." Matt put his fist out and grinned when Eli bumped it with his own little fist. "Have a good trip, ok?" Next time you're around, I'll show you how to use the hose."

Eli grinned, "yes!"

Dinner with Antonio, Laura and the kids was pretty uneventful. Gabby was content to sit back and eat; letting the kids dictate the dinner conversation. If she was honest, she didn't think she'd be able to have a focused conversation at the moment. Once she and the boys had left the firehouse, her thoughts immediately went to her run in with Ross. She'd been able to shrug off the worry one Ross had left to go on a call and she'd been consumed with talking to Matt but as soon as she got into her car, all of the stress came flooding back.

Antonio knew the minute Gabby walked into the house that something was bothering her.

"Ok, spill." Antonio said once he was alone in the kitchen with Gabby.

"What?" Gabby asked even though she knew it was useless to stall the inevitable.

"Come on, Gabs, let's skip the bullshit…what's on your mind?"

Gabby shrugged and turned her attention back to cleaning the dishes. "I guess I'm just a little worried about Eli." That part was true.

"He's gonna have fun." Antonio assured her. "And I'll make sure he spends plenty of time with mom and dad. You'll get phone calls every night, constant picture updates and you know I will guard him with my life."

"I know you will, Antonio." She wiped her hands dry and sat the dish towel back on the counter before turning to completely face her brother. "I've never gone that long without seeing him. But I trust you…probably the most out of anyone."

"Well a girl should have unwavering trust in her big brother." Antonio crosses his arms, "but are you sure this has nothing to do with a guy?"

"What? What do you mean?" There was no way he could've found out about Ross.

Antonio raised a brow. "Lieutenant Casey? Or has that run it's course already?"

Gabby felt the relief wash over her and rolled her eyes, "if you must know, we had a date last night." She crossed her arms, "but that's all the details you're getting."

"I have a feeling that's all the details I want."

She gasped, "Antonio? Whatever it is you are insinuating, did not happen!" Although, she did try to make it happen.

Antonio put his hands up in defense, "hey, I'm not insinuating anything. Just be careful, Gabs. From what I can remember about Casey, he's a good guy. But we all know your track record…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Gabby rolled her eyes. "You've given me the talk plenty of times."

"And maybe this time you'll actually listen."

She groaned, not wanting to go down this road with her brother again. "Antonio, please don't…"

"Ok, ok." Antonio draped an arm around Gabby and pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "But you know you'll always be my responsibility. Even if you are about to turn the big 2-5."

"Says the thirty five year old who still can't do his own laundry."

"Hey now, I can't help it ma always insisted on doing my laundry."

"Yeah, yeah...whatever you say, bro."

It was another hour or so before Gabby bid her eldest son good-bye, smothering him with at least a dozen hugs and kisses.

The following morning, Gabby awoke to her phone buzzing across her night stand. She winced against the sunlight that was sneaking in through the curtains and reached for her phone. Antonio had texted her about an hour an a half ago letting her know they were boarding the plane so she knew it couldn't be him. She blinked a few times until her vision went from seeing double to one solid sight. She smiled sleepily when she realized it was a text from Matt.

I bet it's a bit quiet there without Eli.

Too quiet. She checked the time, it was a little after seven. You off shift?

Yep. Just left the firehouse.

Gabby's thumbs hovered over the keyboard on her screen as she debated whether or not to text the first thing that came to her mind. She did. . Come over? I'll make breakfast.

He responded almost instantly. I might be standing outside your door. I know it's uninvited but I come in peace and by that, I mean I have coffee.

Gabby's eyes widened and she hurried out of bed to check her appearance. She hastily pulled her hair up and sent Matt a quick text. Give me five minutes

After checking on Gus to make sure he was still sleeping, Gabby continued towards the bathroom to at least make herself a bit presentable. She quickly brushed her teeth and hurried back down the hall to the door.

She willed herself to relax before unlocking the door and opening it. She smiled the minute she looked up and met his eyes, "hey."

"Morning!" He let his eyes briefly trail Gabby's body and her attire—or lack of one, for that matter.

Suddenly remembering what little she'd worn to bed-short gray cotton shorts and a faded red tank top, Gabby felt a bit self-conscious under Matt's gaze.

He cleared his throat and met her gaze. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stare, it's just...you're just...beautiful." He felt his face flush as he tripped over his words. "Uh, is this a bad time? Were you still sleeping? I can come back later?"

Gabby shook her head, "Nope. You've got coffee, you're staying." She moved over so he could step into her apartment and shut the door behind him. "So which one's mine?" Matt handed her the cup in his left hand Gabby happily took a sip. She grinned, "you remembered."

"Of course I did." He took a step closer, the courage that had convinced him to stop by in the first had somehow been renewed and he removed the cup of coffee from her hands. He sat it aside on the coffee table along with his own cup. "So I have to admit, I might have had other intentions than just dropping off a cup of coffee."

"Oh?" Gabby asked, the butterflies in her stomach that had made habit of coming around whenever she was with Matt had reappeared. "What kind of intentions?"

Matt's eyes dropped to Gabby's lips, "For starters, I think I might have left things a little unfinished the other night after our date…" He cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. First his kisses were soft, silently asking her if this was what she wanted. He got his answer when her hands slipped around his neck, pushing his head down farther, deepening the kiss.

He guided her up against the wall, taking control and showing her how much he wanted it; how sorry he was for stopping her advances the last time they were alone.

Suddenly Gabby was pressing her hands against Matt's chest and putting space between them. She looked up at him, her gaze vulnerable. She tried to catch her breath and thoughts. "I….we...we really shouldn't be doing this."

"And why is that?"

"It could get complicated."

"But isn't that life?" Matt countered. "Making choices and then dealing with the consequences. Whether they be bad or good?"

Gabby raised a brow, "don't get all philosophical on me, Casey."

"Ok, ok," Matt chuckled. "I'll make it simpler. Do you want this?"

Her eyes not leaving his, Gabby nodded. Without another word, she took his hand and started leading him towards her bedroom.

Hope you liked it! Reviews are lovely!

I can't even talk about the finale right now.