A\N: Okay so I'm still in fangirl mode from last night's episode! What did everyone else think of it? Getting back to the story, we're almost at the climax and then the downward spiral and so things will get quite interesting from here on out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, NBC, Global or Global

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None


Tell Me

After walking out of the main office Matt and Gabriela made their way down a hallway and turned right. They walked down a little ways until they saw room 123; Ben and Diego's third grade classroom.

Gabriela knocked on the open door, "Ah," The young teacher looked up from her marking and stood, "Are you Mr. and Mrs. Casey?"

"Yeah," Matt nodded his head, "You're Ms. Grahame?"

"Yes," She shook Matt's hand, "I appreciate you taking the time to come in."

"We just want what's best for Ben," Gabriela sat in a chair and gently set the baby carrier on the floor beside her. She had fed Lucas just before they had left the house and she was hoping he wouldn't need to be fed again until after the meeting.

"Yes," Ms. Grahame nodded, "Now before we begin is there an questions you have?"

"Can you tell us what happened yesterday when he got sent down to the principal's office?"

"Yes but first; speaking of the principal Mr. Kassab; he was at a conference all day and he's stuck in traffic and said he might not be able to make the meeting."

Gabby and Matt nodded their heads.

"Now about yesterday…"

"So," Ms. Grahame clapped her hands, as she looked at her thirty students all sitting at their desks, "Who wants to tell me about their weekend first?" About sixteen students raised their hand, "Diego, why don't you go."

The young boy stood up and smiled, "My Aunt Gabby had a baby! His name's Lucas."

"Well isn't that exciting," She smiled and then looked at Ben who was seated at his desk beside Diego's, "Do you have anything to add?"

Ben stood up and turned to Diego and punched him in the nose; it wasn't that hard but it was enough for Diego's nose to bleed and for him to start crying.

"Ben," Ms. Grahame rushed over to the boys, "Ben go to the principal's office!"

"NO!"

"Ben Darden!" She narrowed her eyes, "Go to the principals office now!"

"Becka," She called over a girl, "Can you walk with Diego to the nurse?"

"Yes, Ms. Grahame," The young girl walked with Diego out of the room.

Ben frowned, "He talked about the stupid baby,"

"Ben," Ms. Grahame tried not to become too angry, "You know the rules of the school; when you hit you need to go to see Mr. Kassab; now please go."

Ben rolled his eyes and left the classroom.

After hearing the story Matt took a deep breath and he looked at Gabriela who appeared to be on the verge of tears. Patting her knee in comfort he said, "We talked to him about it last night and he didn't tell us much."

"I had to say I was quite surprised myself; Diego and Ben are usually inseparable; have you talked to Diego's parents and Diego at all?"

"I called my brother yesterday; he said Diego told them what happened; He wasn't that upset though he knows Ben's going through a lot and he is but still punching his friend… I don't know I think maybe I've been handling his separation issue to lightly."

"Yes, that's another thing I wanted to talk to you about; I don't have all of the information on what happened before his mother went to jail. I was hoping you could full me in; all information you share is confidential of course."

"We don't know much ourselves," Matt admitted, "I'm not proud of it but after the first few months after Andy's death; that's Ben's father; we lost touch with Heather and the boys. Until we took them in we'd barely seen them. We're just learning the details ourselves but as we learn more we'll be certain to pass that information along to you.

"Waa!" Lucas opened his blue eyes and began crying, "Waa!'

"Oh," Gabriela picked him up, "Excuse me while I go and change him," She stood up with her son in her arms and picked up the baby bag.

"Here sweetie, I'll take him you stay," Matt, offered, "I need some more quality time with him."

"Okay Matt, I'm not going to argue," Gabriela carefully handed Lucas to him and then the baby bag.

"Your baby is very cute," Ms. Grahame commented.

"Thank you," Gabriela smiled, "Now…"

"Right; well," Ms. Grahame folded her hands on the desk, "Ben's a very smart boy; and I've seen some great potential in him especially in Math and Science. Now looking at his grades from other years I've noticed he was getting very good marks until his father died; which of course is understandable but I think we need to support him as he gets back on track. I don't know if you'd be at all interested but we offer a peer tutoring program where to pair up grade seven and eight students with students in grade's one to four to help them with their school work. Now the older students are chosen by their teachers and vice principal of the senior grades and they're all very responsible and students that get good marks. The program runs every Tuesday' and Thursday after school in a classroom and the teacher coordinator a grade eight teacher is always present."

"I know he's smart and like you said he's very good at math and science; but I don't think peer tutoring is what he needs I think he needs to develop stronger work ethic skills."

"Yes well this program also helps with that; here's some information," She handed Gabby a flyer.

"Thanks."

"Now, I'm also going to try and provide more hands-on learning experiences in the classroom for the students. I feel that all of the students could benefit from it."

"Next Tuesday afternoon both Ben and Griffin have apportionments with a child psychologist and my husband and I are hoping to see the boys mother Heather tomorrow."

Ms. Grahame scribbled down the information on a piece of paper, "If you wouldn't mind I'd like to know a little bit about what the psychologist says about Ben."

"I'll see what I can do."

"See buddy I told you Mommy didn't go away," Matt entered the room carrying Lucas who immediately became alert when he saw Gabriela. "I think he's hungry."

"Yeah," Gabriela nodded, "I'll go and feed him," She took her son into her arms and collected the bag.

"Actually," Ms. Grahame stood, "I don't have anything else to discuss so unless either of you have anything…."

"No, no," Matt shook his head.

"It was nice meeting you both," She shook Matt and Gabby's hands.

"You too," Matt shook her hand.

As Gabby and Matt told her everything that they knew Heath broke down into tears, "It was- I do love my boys."

"We know you do," Matt assured her, "And we all want what's best for the boys."

"I already lost my husband, I can't loose my boys too." She told them, "I know if I tell you they'll take them away for good."

Gabby took a deep breath; she understood where Heather was coming from but at the same time she knew that if she got help Ben and Griffin would be returned to her.

"I just- I'm getting help in here and all that keeps me going is knowing I'll be able to see Ben and Griffin again; I can't let you take them away, I'm sorry." She stood to leave.

"Heather-" Matt tried one last time, "Telling us what happened so the boys can get help is important; Heather, they won't tell us what's going on."

"Matt I can't. I'm sorry I can't."

Matt tried to understand her decision, "Well will you at least sign this," He pulled out a piece of government paper, "We want to take the boys to Disney in March but we need your permission."

"Not until I see my boys," She bargained.

"Heather I don't think that's a good idea right now."

"Then I'm not signing it.

TBC


A\N: Please leave a review and tell me what you thought. Also, I'm assuming Matt and Gabby would need Heather's permission if they wanted to take the boys out of state but I don't know for sure; so if you do know the process please feel free to tell me :)