Firstly I'm sorry for the wait on this one! It was a crazy weekend and I had no time at all to write the last half of this chapter, but to make up for not updating as soon, this one is extra-long! Thank you all for your continued support! I continue to be blown away by the response to this story, it truly feels amazing to see those reviews, and views climbing every day. You are all awesome!

Secondly, I had someone ask me why I didn't use Lindsey's obvious past history from when she was younger that the show talks about, and decided to make up my own story line for her. I did this because I honestly don't know exactly what happened in Lindsey's past history, and I feel like at that point in her life if she had been raped, it wouldn't have been as hard of a deal for her to go through and affected her in the way it would have if she would have been older and moved past all the bad stuff she had had in her childhood and had started to good for herself and what not. I wanted her to be relatable to Gabby's story, and making it the way I did was the best way to do that.

And thirdly, don't you all think it is time for some Dawsey goodness? Because I sure do!

Hope you enjoy, and remember to review!

Matt pulled Gabby closer to him in bed as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer as they continued to kiss. He let out a moan and tightened his grip on her side as she kissed him hard on the lips and her leg snaked over his bringing herself impossibly close.

Matt pulled away resting his forehead against hers, needing to cool them down before he got to a point of no return. Not wanting to pressure her at all. He let out a deep breath before placing a soft kiss to Gabby's lips.

She quickly caught on to what he was not saying and smiled lightly. "Sorry." She murmured.

Matt quickly silenced her, lifting her chin so he could meet her eyes. "Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for Gabby."

She nodded and looked at him lovingly. "Thank you."

He rose his eyebrow at her, not sure what she was thanking him for. "You've been so amazing these past few weeks, well honestly these past few months." She corrected. "No matter how hard it's gotten, or how lost, or crazy I've been. You have stuck by me and supported me, and I am just so grateful to have you Matt." She said sincerely.

He smiled at her and placed a soft kiss to her lips. "And I would do it all over again if I had too, if it meant I got to be with you."

She sighed contently. "How did I get so lucky?" She questioned.

"Oh, it's definitely all your good looks." He joked and she laughed and slapped his arm.

"I love you." She said placing a kiss to his chest.

He kissed the top of her head before replying in a goofy voice, "Yeah, I kinda like you too."

Gabby looked at him with a raised brow before placing a long searing kiss to his lips.

She giggled at the expression on his face as she pulled away.

"Baby, you are going to be the death of me." He laughed before placing a loving kiss to her nose and watching her blush.

She snuggled herself closer to him and buried her nose into his chest laughing. "Whatever you say old man." She joked.

Matt laughed and kissed her forehead, loving having her close and how happy she sounded.

He was so proud of how far his girl had come in the past 2 weeks. It hadn't been easy, and some days were still a struggle, but the past 2 weeks he had watched the light come back to her eyes and each smile she gave get bigger. She had asked the chief for two weeks off, deciding that if she was going to really get better and face this head on she need a little time to collect herself and be away from all the prying eyes and concerned looks. And Matt could never be more happy at the results that came from that decision.

Gabby let out a groan as the alarm went off and Matt chuckled at her antics. "No work." She mumbled, not lifting her head from his chest, but instead burring herself deeper under the covers.

He reached over turning the alarm off before tickling her side softly. She wiggled around and laughed at him. "Hey, stop!"

He tapped her bottom before crawling out of bed. "Come on get up, you goof."

Gabby slowly rolled over and propped herself up on her elbows watching a bare chested Matt walk around the room grabbing his clothes. He stopped in the doorway to the bathroom and turned to her with a smirk. "Would you quit staring at me like a piece of meat and get your butt out of bed?" He laughed.

Gabby decided to tease him, "Huh, what?" She joked not taking her eyes off of his body.

"That's it." Matt said jumping on to the bed and tickling her sides furiously.

Gabby squirmed around mercilessly laughing, trying to push him away.

Matt continued, loving the happy sounds he was igniting from her.

….

Gabby and Matt walked up to 51 hand in hand.

"So how long is Rafferty going to be gone anyways?" She questioned him.

Matt shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I guess her father is really sick. So hopefully only until he gets better." He said. "Why are you already sick of your old house?" He joked with her.

"God no, not at all. You know I love 51. Even if I am being a PIC instead of a firefighter." She said sincerely.

Matt kissed her forehead. "You'll be a firefighter again baby. I know it."

Gabby smiled at him as they entered the garage. "Thank you."

"Dawson?" Hermann said walking up to the couple.

Matt kissed her forehead before walking off and giving her, her space.

Herman pulled her into a side hug. "How you doing kid?" He questioned.

"Honestly, I'm good." She said sincerely.

Hermann gave her a happy smile and squeezed her shoulder. "Good to hear. We missed you here." He said before walking away.

Gabby felt a sense of calm being in her house with her second family. She hadn't seen any of them since her last shift when things were still really rough, and she was happy to be back and feeling much better. Ready to finally face her friends and family again.

She made her way to the locker room and changed out before making her way into the common room and going straight for the coffee pot.

As she walked in she got a few whoops and hollers from the men and a collective. "Hey Dawson." And, "Glad to have you back."

She smiled and told them she was glad to be back. Before turning to the coffee pot to get a cup. Kelly was standing there already holding the pot and she held her cup out for him to poor.

"How are you?" He questioned.

She gave him happy smile. "I'm doing better Kel." She said honestly. "All thanks to that awesome girlfriend of yours." She said jabbing him in the side playfully.

He blushed at the mention of Erin and Gabby laughed lightly. "She's pretty great." He agreed.

She nodded her approval. Kelly looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Shay slowly approaching them. He squeezed Dawson's shoulder. "Happy your back." He said before walking away to give the girls their time.

"You're back." Shay stated.

Gabby nodded and took a sip of her coffee. "Yeah." She smiled.

Shay bounced on her feet awkwardly. "You, uh, want to go stock the ambo?"

"Sure." She said making her way out to the garage.

The girls sat in the back awkwardly. "I'm sorry." They both finally said at the same time.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Shay."

She cut her off. "Yes I do. I pushed you, and not in a helpful way. I shouldn't have yelled and I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. I should have just been there and let you come to me when you were ready."

"It's okay Shay. I shouldn't have been pushing everyone away like I was. It's my fault. I'm sorry." Gabby said.

Shay rested her hand on Gabby's arm. "Hey you have nothing to be sorry for Gabriella Dawson. Okay? You had something horrible happen and you deserve to deal with that in whatever way you choose. Don't ever apologize for that." She said sincerely.

Gabby nodded and wiped at her eyes before laughing. "How was Chout?" She questioned.

Shay rolled her eyes and laughed. "Don't remind me."

Gabby laughed loudly remembering her time with the young and eager paramedic.

"I'm glad you're back Gabs." Shay said, meaning both at work, and back to her old self.

"I am too." She said honestly.

….

Severide and Casey stood outside the garage tossing a football back and forth talking.

"So how is Gabby really doing man?" Kelly questioned.

An instant smile came to Matt's features. "Really good actually. I mean it's been tough, but ever since that night with Lindsey she has just made a total 180. She's talking to someone once a week and she's really just starting to become herself again. There are still some rough times even now, but I'm proud of her."

Kelly smiled. "That's great man. She looked happy this morning."

Matt smiled happy as well.

Kelly looked around them noticing they were alone. "So, what about the proposal you sprung on her a couple months ago. You guys talked about that yet?" He questioned.

Matt sighed. "No. It's not that I don't want too. It's just first it was the explosion, and then it was the new job and I wanted her to focus on that and get settled, and then all of this. There just hasn't been a great time to bring it up. I want it to be special, you know? With everything she's been through this year, she deserves at least that much from me." Matt said.

Kelly nodded. "I understand, but between you and me. You could ask her in a dirt pile and that girl would still say yes, Casey. She loves you, you've got nothing to worry about."

Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, Apt. fire, 533 14th Ave…

Kelly through the ball back to Matt before they both took off too their separate rigs.

…..

The fire ended up getting a little out of control and 2 other trucks were called in to help get it under control. Gabby felt terror rise inside of her when she saw Austin's fire trucks and ambo pull up. She met Matt's worried stare from a across the way and he gave her a reassuring smile and a wink before heading back to work and she felt the terror subside a bit before jumping back into her work with Shay by her side.

After the fire was put out and ever one was packing up Gabby had started to make her way over to Matt to talk to him, but stopped short when she seen a few of the men from Austin's house making their way towards her. She paused rooted to her spot as that same terror crept up inside her.

Before any of them could reach her or get a word out Matt and Kelly both were standing right in front of Dawson acting as a shield.

"Can we help you?" Matt asked angrily.

One of them men stepped up. "We don't want any trouble." He said holding his hands up. "We all just wanted to apologize to Dawson." He said honestly.

Matt and Kelly shared a look before stepping a part slightly to allow Dawson to step forward, but still standing their ground.

"Look Dawson. We are all really sorry for what happened to you and also how we treated you when you came to our house. That's not who we are and I guess we just need a new leader to show us that. We just want you to know that we will be behind you during this case against Welch if you need anything." Gabby watched as the men all nodded their agreement.

Gabby gave them all a small smile and nodded. "Thank you. All of you." She said.

They nodded and began to turn around. The new Lieutenant walked up to Casey before leaving and shook his hand. "Lt. Rolland. It's nice to meet you Lt. Casey. I've heard a lot of great things about you. I am sorry for your past experiences with our house, but that is turning around and I look forward to working with you in the future."

Casey nodded and the men talked for a minute before Lt. Rolland turned to Dawson. "I'm very sorry for everything that you had to endure at our house. You let us know if you need anything at all. Alright?" He told her.

Gabby told him that she would let him know and thank you, before he turned and was on his way.

After he had left Matt turned to Gabby and pulled her into his arms giving her a tight hug and a kiss to the top of her head before they parted way to their own rigs and made their way back to 51.

…..

Gabby sat silently in the ambo thinking about what the men from firehouse 105 had said to her.

Shay was driving the streets of Chicago, making her way back to 51 and Gabby felt a smirk fill her features when Shay turned out of their way and made her way over her favorite bridge.

"I missed going over that bridge." Gabby said her smile still intact.

Shay laughed. "I figured we were due for a visit together."

Gabby laughed as well before the pair grew quite again.

"So, what was all that about with the Austin crew back there?" She questioned.

Gabby chuckled. "I wondered how long that would take."

"Yeah, yeah." Shay waved her off then gave her a pointed look.

"They came to apologies." She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"Apologies?" Shay said incredulously.

Gabby just shrugged once again. Shay looked at her like she was crazy.

"What?" She laughed at the expression on her face.

"How can you act like it's not a big deal? They shouldn't have had to apologies Gabby. They shouldn't have been assholes in the first place." She ranted. "And maybe if they would have not been little assholes from the beginning what happened wouldn't have happened…"

"Shay I know. Okay. I know. It's just. It's not a big deal anymore."

Shay gave her a look again.

"I mean obviously what Welch did is still a very big deal, but I mean what the guys did, isn't anymore. They didn't stand up for me and every once in a while they would throw in a joke here and there, but they aren't Welch. And they know what he did is wrong and they want to be in my corner. I can't fault them for their mistakes, no one knew what Welch was capable of." She said honestly.

Shay turned and focused on the road completely again. "Okay." She said. Her way of giving Gabby her approval for forgiving the men at Austin, but still not agreeing with what they did either.

Gabby only smiled at her. Lucky to have as great of a friend as Shay.

…..

"So Molly's tonight?" Hermann asked everyone as they all walked out of 51.

There was a collective yes and head nods all around and Hermann looked pointedly at Gabby and Matt, wondering if they would be joining them for the first time in a few weeks. "See you there?" He questioned them.

Matt looked at Gabby as she was tucked into his side and she sent him a small nod and smile. Matt smiled back at her before turning to Hermann.

"See you there." He agreed.

Hermann sent Gabby a wink before making his way to his own car and Matt and Gabby did the same, hoping into Matt's old pickup truck.

"I'm so tired." Gabby mumbled as they made their way into the apartment after a 10 minute drive and she plopped herself down on the couch.

Matt laughed at her antics before going to the kitchen and making some breakfast.

He returned 10 minutes later with a couple of pop tarts and some orange juice to find Gabby fast asleep on the couch. He laughed to himself before setting the food down on the coffee table. He walked around to the couch and picked her up bridal style and made his way to their bedroom.

He knew she would be tired after this shift, after having a few weeks off, but he hadn't realized just how tired she would be. He had just gotten done pulling her jeans off her legs and was pulling the covers up her when she began to stir.

"Matt?" She questioned.

"Yeah baby?" He asked setting down on the bed next to her.

She paused and looked down at herself in only her tank top and panties. "Did you change me?" She laughed.

He shrugged. "You hate when you fall asleep in your clothes." He reasoned.

She reached up and kissed his lips. "I love you, you know that right?" She said sleepily.

He pulled the blankets up to her chin and kissed her forehead. "I know. Night baby." He said before making his way back down stairs to eat his breakfast and watch a little TV.

The party at Molly's was in full swing by the time midnight hit.

Matt was sitting around the guy's usual table laughing with Severide, Mills, Capp, Cruz, and Hermann.

Hermann turned to Matt as the laughter died down and asked. "How is she?" He questioned pointing in Dawson's direction.

"She's doing better. I mean still rough patches some nights, but I think she is just happy to be finally getting her life back." He said honestly.

The guys all nodded in understanding.

Severide started laughing. "I think you may be carrying her home tonight Casey." He said as he watched Gabby, Erin, and Leslie laugh about something and Gabby spill half of her drink and almost tip off her bar stool, which only caused the girls to laugh harder.

Matt shook his head and laughed. "Maybe, but you have to take care of the both of them." He said pointing to Shay and Lindsay.

Severide shook his head and his laughter instantly died down. "Yeah…" He said in defeat and the rest of the guys laughed loudly at the situation Kelly was in, but also knew he would be lost without those two girls.

"I'm so happy you and Casey came out tonight." Shay said as she laughed with the girls.

Gabby bobbed her head happily. "Me too!"

The song switched and Gabby's face lit up. "I love this song!" She hollered.

Erin and Shay gave each other a look before jumping off their stools and grabbing Gabby's hands. "Let's dance!" They said as they pulled her up to the karaoke stage in the corner of the bar that a few people were dancing at.

The girls moved around drunkenly, grinding on each other and pulling out crazy moves, while laughing hysterically at one another. Happiness radiating off of them.

"So." Hermann drew out. "When are you and Dawson getting hitched Lieutenant?" He asked causing a few of the guys to look at him with wide eyes.

Casey nearly spit his drink out and shared a look with Severide. "Uhm, what are you talking about Hermann?" He questioned trying to play it off.

"Oh come on. Don't all of you act like you didn't see this knucklehead proposing at Chief's wedding." He said pointing to all the men around the table. They all averted their eyes and Hermann waved them off, realizing he wasn't getting any back up on this. "Alright look we all seen it happen, but no one wanted to say anything because of everything that went on you know with the explosion and all. But what's stopping you now Casey?" He asked.

Casey looked around at the guys at the table, realizing that they all did indeed know he had proposed and there was no stopping this conversation now. "She deserves better than some shotgun proposal like I did the first time. After all the crap she has had to deal with lately, she deserves something special. I'm just kind of stuck on what that is." He said honestly, hoping maybe the guys could help him out with some ideas.

All the men nodded, understanding what he was saying. "Coming from the only married man here, trust me you here the story of how you proposed over, and over, and over again." Hermann laughed.

Casey nodded. "Exactly. And trust me I still want to, I just don't know how to do it so it is special for her."

The guys nodded once again. Mills started laughing and all the guys looked at him funny. He pointed towards the back of the bar and they all turned their eyes that way and began to laugh while Kelly and Matt looked at each other in horror at what their girlfriends were doing and then began to laugh loudly along with the rest of the guys.

Gabby was in the middle of Shay and Erin as they all stood on top of a table dancing on each other and singing along loudly to "Wanna be" by the Spice Girls, as a small group had begun to crowed around them and cheer them on.

Matt watched Gabby and couldn't help the smile forming on his lips. She was so damn beautiful. If it were any other night he would take her home and show her just how beautiful he thought she was, but he knew that she wasn't ready for that yet. No matter how good she was doing, she still had a long recovery, and he would be their every step of the way. He was just glad to see just how happy she was tonight. There were times in the past 2 weeks where he could see her clearly forcing the happy on to appease the people around her. But tonight. Tonight was all her and there was no faking the carefree smile on her face as she sang and danced along with two of her best friends.

He didn't think he could love her any more than he already did, but she easily proved him wrong in that moment.

Eventually 2am struck and Matt and Kelly were practically pulling the girls out of the bar as they continued to laugh and dance with each other down the street as they all had decided to walk to the bar together, they were all walking home together as well.

Lindsey was leaning drunkenly on Kelly as they walked along side Matt and all 3 of them were laughing as Shay attempted to give Gabby a piggy back ride a few steps ahead of them.

"It's a good thing they are paramedics." Severide joked. Making Matt and Erin laugh out loudly as Gabby slid of off Shay's back again, barely landing and almost sending both girls tumbling to the ground.

"Oh dear." Matt said shaking his head as Gabby climbed onto a bench ahead of them to jump on to Shay's back. They watched with baited breathes as Gabby finally successfully made it onto Shay's back and they both squealed with glee. Shay turned them back towards their three friends. "Hurry up you slow pokes!" Shay hollered before she took off down the sidewalk with Dawson on her back.

"I don't think I have ever seen two more care free people in my life." Lindsey elaborated. Causing Matt and Kelly to nod in agreement.

"Thanks for showing Gabby such a good time tonight." Matt said to her then.

Lindsey nodded and smiled as they all watched the two girls in front of them laughing and twirling around. "She needed it. I'm glad she is doing better."

"Me too." Matt agreed. "And thank you, for whatever you said to her that night. I've been meaning to talk to you. Thank you. It really helped, and got her back on track."

"Hey I only gave her the push she needed. She is where she is right now because of her, not me." Erin said pointing to the two happy girls.

….

"Hey drunky." Matt said walking into the bathroom the next morning with a glass of water. "How you feeling?" He questioned Gabby as she leaned up against the tub by the toilet.

"Like I had far too many tequila shots last night." She groaned rubbing her sore head.

Matt gave her a sympathetic smile before handing her the glass and ibuprofen. She swallowed them down before turning to him once again.

"And how the hell did I manage this?" She questioned, motioning to the black and blue bruise on her knee.

Matt laughed. "You insisted Shay give you a piggy back ride. And you took a little tumble." Gabby groaned causing Matt to laugh. "I'm honestly surprised that's your only battle wound of the night." He said honestly causing Gabby to give him a glare, which only furthered his laughter.

"You're mean." She whined.

He continued to laugh as he grabbed her hands and pulled her up then pulled her body flush against his leaning down and kissing her neck, smiling in the same spot when she rolled her neck to the side giving him better access. He leaned down and she could feel his hot breath on her neck before he whispered, "You should get ready for work, we are going to be late." Before pulling away from her quickly and running off to the bedroom.

"So mean!" She hollered after him all the while laughing as she got ready for another shift at 51.

…..

Ambulance 61 had just pulled back into the bay after another long call. Truck and squad had returned shortly before them and were still all out on the apparatus floor cleaning their gear when the girls pulled back in. They were less than half way through their 24 hour shift and Dawson and Shay were both regretting the amount of alcohol they had consumed the night before. They were chatting and giggling like school girls as they made their way through the garage to go into the common room when a voice stopped them both dead in their tracks.

"Dawson." Welch said as he stood in the door way to one of the garages.

Gabby froze in her spot unable to move for a moment as her worst nightmare all came rushing back to her.

"You know Dawson I see what Casey see's in you…"

"… all they do is choke…"

"Have fun riding on Casey's coat tails…"

"Come on Dawson, how about you leave this house with a bang…"

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Matt's booming voice broke her from her trance as she stepped back away from Welch and next to Shay, staring at the man in front of her.

"Casey!" Mills and Hermann yelled, running over to him as he stomped towards Welch, no doubt about to beat him to a pulp.

"Get out!" Casey yelled pointing to the door. "Get the hell out of here before you have to be carried out of here in a black bag." He said his voice dropping to dangerous levels as Welch's smirk only grew and he turned his eyes to Gabby who was looking on at the scene in horror.

"I suggest you listen to him." Severide said, his voice matching Matt's as he thought about the scene he had walked in on almost 3 weeks ago.

"Ah look its Rocky." Welch joked, referring to the beating Severide had given him.

Severide made to walk towards him but was stopped by a hand to his chest from Cruz. While a fuming Matt stood behind Mills and Hermann, ready to pounce at any moment.

"Leave Welch. I can't believe you would even think of showing your face in this fire house of all places after what you've done." Severide seethed.

He shrugged his shoulders, his smile still intact. "What happened to innocent until proven guilty?" He questioned.

Matt was fuming as he lunged at him again, only barely being held back by Hermann and Mills. "You and everyone else knows you are not fucking innocent! You know what you did! You know what you did to her! Get out of here! Get the hell out of here!" He yelled having enough of this man, an animalistic side of him coming out that none of the men or women of 51 had ever seen in him before.

Shay pulled Gabby into her side as she jumped back at Matt's yelling. She was visibly shaking at the scene in front of her, terrified by the man in front of her that had hurt her so badly.

Welch's eyes turned to Gabby once again and Hermann and Mills struggled to hold him back. "Don't look at her, don't come near her, don't even think about her, or it will be the last thing you do." Matt said lowly. Getting Welch's attention back to him.

"Leave!" Matt yelled again pointing at him.

"I suggest you listen to him." Chief Boden said stepping out into the garage, as he could hear all the yelling from inside. "If I see your face in my firehouse again I will personally escort you out." He growled.

Welch turned to him and smiled. Throwing his hands up and chuckling. "Where's the fire?" He joked as he sent a wink in Dawson's direction as he walked away. Matt lunging forward again at his action, but once again being held back by Hermann and Mills.

Everyone stood still as Welch went out of site. Cruz stepped away from Severide, and Mills and Hermann let Matt go. "

"Sorry Lt." Mills said stepping back.

Casey took a deep breath before shaking his head and patting both of the men on the shoulder. "No, thank you." He said before turning around to go to Gabby who was still firmly planted next to Shay, tears lingering in her eyes.

Matt walked to her and engulfed her small frame into his arms. "I got you." He whispered into her ear, knowing that she had been scared. He quickly ushered her into his office, knowing that she needed a minute and probably didn't not want all of her friends to see her break down after how far she had come.

Matt closed the door and pulled the blinds closed before setting down on the bed with her. She was still shaking and hadn't said a word, and Matt was beginning to worry.

He wrapped his arms around her again and placed his head on top of hers, leaving kisses in her hair. "You okay?" He whispered.

She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Yeah. I will be." She said still not meeting his eyes.

"Baby?" He questioned.

She shook her head and turned to him giving him a soft smile. "I'll be okay. Just need a few minutes." She said honestly.

He nodded in understanding. "Anything I can do?" He questioned wanting to help.

She paused thinking about it for a moment before nodding. She grabbed his arm and pushed him back onto the bed and crawled up beside him, laying her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her small frame, pulling her close.

"This." She whispered, snuggling her head into his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat. "This is exactly what I need." She said feeling herself relaxing into him and her problems that Welch stirred up subsiding.

…..

An hour after the Welch ordeal Detective Lindsey waltzed into the fire house and met everyone in the common room. They all sat quietly and Lindsey could tell that they were all upset and in deep thought.

Her boots hiding the floor stirred a few out of their thoughts. Hermann looked up and chuckled to himself. "That was fast."

Lindsey raised her brow at him before meeting Kelly's eyes. He stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of earshot to talk.

"Did Boden call you?" He questioned confused.

She raised her brow at him as well. "No… Why? What's going on Kel?" She questioned concerned.

He sighed. "Welch showed up here about an hour ago."

"He what?" She yelled, causing many heads in the common room to pop up. Kelly turned to them and they all looked back down quickly. He sighed and grabbed her hand pulling her out to the apparatus floor and began to tell her the story of Welch showing up.

"That smug bastard." She said in disbelief. "How is Gabby?" She questioned immediately concerned for her new friends wellbeing.

Kelly shrugged. "She was pretty shaken. He didn't get to say anything to her with Casey there so quickly, but I don't know, she seemed pretty upset. Casey took her to his office for some privacy, they haven't come out yet." He told her.

She nodded and then sighed.

"Wait if you aren't here for that, then what's going on?" He questioned her.

Erin looked at him and bit her lip before telling him what she had come to the fire house for.

…..

Gabby and Matt both stirred from their sleep when they heard a knock at the door. They both looked at each other confused and sat up in bed.

"You okay?" Matt asked her.

She nodded her head and sent him a smile as she came to sit on the side of the bed as Matt opened the door revealing Detective Lindsey.

"Hey, Lindsey. What's up?" He asked worried.

"Hey Casey. Can I talk to Gabby for a minute?" She questioned. He raised his brow, but nodded. He turned and grabbed his jacket and gave Gabby a kiss before leaving the two girls in his office.

"Hey buddy." Lindsey said as she came to stand in front of Gabby.

"Hey." She said quietly.

"Kelly told me what happened." She said and Gabby nodded in understanding. "I know it's the last thing you want me to ask, but, how are you?" She said.

Gabby shrugged and brought one of her knees up to her chest. "I don't know. I mean I'm okay, I just," She stopped herself.

"Just what?" Erin prodded.

Gabby sighed in frustration. "I just with all the work I've been doing with the therapist, and hitting the gym, and just doing better. I guess I thought that when I saw him again I would be able to stand my ground and tell him off… but I just froze." She said softly.

Erin came to sit down on the side of the bed next to her folding her hands in her lap. "Gabby it's only been a little over three weeks. You are doing 20 times better than I was at this point. He ambushed you, you have every right to freeze even if it had been 20 years since it happened, but it hasn't been years, it's been weeks, and you are doing so well. Don't let this set you back."

Gabby shook her head. "Yeah. I know." Gabby sighed, then had a thought. "I'm thinking of hitting the gym some more. I could use a work out buddy." She said turning to Erin. Hoping that working out would help her better prepare herself for if she ever ran into him again, especially if Casey and the guys weren't there to rescue her.

Erin smiled. "Of course." She said understanding her reasoning without her having to say it.

They sat in silence for a minute. "So not that I'm not happy to see you and all, but what actually brought you by?" Gabby laughed, but stopped when she seen the expression on Erin's face.

She sighed heavily. "Look I hate having to bring this up right now… but uh, they scheduled a trial." Erin told her gently.

Gabby nodded and took a deep breath digesting the information. "Okay… I mean that's good right? To get it over with, gets him back in jail sooner right?" Erin nodded. "So when is it?" Gabby asked.

Erin sighed, this was the part she had not wanted to tell Gabby about. "Next week."

Gabby looked at her in surprise. "Oh."

"They plan on calling you to the stand, Gabby… This isn't going to be easy, but you've come so far." Erin told her. "You think you can handle this so soon?" She asked gently.

Gabby met her eyes and Erin could see the fear in them. "I don't know." She answered honestly.

Holy moly this was over 6,000 words!

Leave me a review and let me know if you guys have any ideas, or what you would like to see in this story. I have a pretty good outline for it, but I am up for suggestions, especially on little fun filler scenes, sometimes I struggle to write those little fun moments, all the while sticking with the main story line, so suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you all again for your reviews! 3

Next chapter will focus on the trial and more.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW you lovely readers!