A/N: Hi my loyal readers! Thanks for the positive returns and great comments about the last chapter! Thanks to those who always take the time to leave a little review, it's a pleasure to read them. I'm glad you still love this story. I hope I won't disappoint you with the next chapters. All I can say is it will stay in the same dynamic.
You seem to have enjoyed the humor on the precedent chapter, so I've tried again on this one! I hope you'll enjoy reading this new chapter. Don't forget to tell me what you thought and if you loved it in the reviews.
Sorry for the eventual language mistakes.
Have a good read.
Gaëlle
MATT'S POV
The last days and the last weeks took off at a crazy speed. The company of Gabby during every day off that we have in common makes me more than happy. Even if we don't see each other every day, we talk daily and exchange about our routine, our jobs, and our good or bad days, about everything. We learn to know each other a little more every day. We rediscover the city of our childhood together according to our memories and the good addresses of the one that I can now call my partner, or even my girlfriend.
I'm sitting at the big table in the common room at the firehouse, I'm reading a book Gabby has offered to me while everyone is chatting or watching TV, when my phone buzzes on the table. I look at the name of the screen; this is a text from Gabby.
Hey you, I'm on a little break. I hope your shift is less busy than mine; it's crazy on the ER today. I can't wait to be tomorrow and spend the whole day with you. Be safe. G.
As I read her text, a big smile crosses my face and this is not going unnoticed by the other guys around the table, especially Severide: "I bet this is a message from the famous Dr. Dawson!"
"Yeah, Hugo is texting me every day!" I tease him.
"Ha-ha, very funny, Casey!" he laughs. "How things are going between the two of you? It's been a few months since you've started seeing each other…" he says, visibly still really interested about my love life.
"Yeah, it's been almost three months already. It's crazy how time flies… But things are going really well. Maybe, I'm going to seem a little bit silly, but she cheers up my days, my life is so much more joyful since I've met her and I've never been this happy. I don't want to precipitate things too much, but I know she's a really nice person and I can definitely see my future with her… We are so much on the same wavelength, it's crazy… She knows how it feels to have a hard past, she's not the type of girl who's going to judge my past and it feels so great…" I explain Severide.
"I'm really glad to hear that… I hope someday you'll introduce her to us. I would be happy to know her a little more" he tells me.
"Kelly, back off! He'll introduce her when he'll be ready!" Shay intervenes. "But it'll be great to be able to meet her, finally some estrogens!" she laughs.
"Don't forget, she's already taken!" Severide teases her, knowing her preferences for the fair sex.
"I know, I know… The same goes for you, roommate!" she retorts.
"Hello guys, I'm still right here, listening to you talking about MY girl!" I interrupt them.
"Yeah, well, sorry…" Shay laughs. "It's just, you know your girl looks really hot!" she continues, dreaming.
"Too bad, she's yours…" Severide adds.
"You don't really tempt me to introduce her to you…" I tell them, rolling my eyes.
"Sorry, sorry… Why will you not invite her at Molly's tomorrow night? Hermann and Otis are planning a special party for the fire department, she could be your date and it'll be a great occasion to introduce her without pressure… All your 51's family will be there. What do you think?" Shay proposes to me.
"I think it's an awesome idea!" Severide answers at my place.
"Oh, your name is Casey now?" Shay asks him with a funny face while she's playing with her long blond hair, and Severide sighs, before getting up and leaving the room. "Don't pay attention to him!" Shay reassures me. "So, what do you say?"
"I think I'm going to follow your idea! I already know her family and her friends; I guess it's time to do the same there!" I answer her while the alarm calls us back to reality. As I'm going to the truck, I quickly answer Gabby:
Hey beautiful, all is fine here. Just been called to a fire scene. I've a proposition for you, tomorrow night. Tell you more about it later today. Matt.
GABBY'S POV
Among two patients, I look at Matt's answer which makes me anxious. He has a proposition and he's not telling me what it is. I'm not really a patient person, I would have preferred he tells me directly what it was. Now 1000 ideas are going to cross my mind, but I need to stay focused on my work. What I like the most with the fact of working on the emergencies is the diversity of the work, the cases are any various from some of the others, the small cuts in the big accidents. This morning was busy with broken legs, small cuts, but nothing too serious; but knowing the firehouse was called for a fire could make things worse in no time.
One hour later, I'm at the triage when ambulance 61 is parked. I know this is the ambulance of Matt's firehouse, but I don't really know the paramedics. I've only spotted a blond girl once, but nothing more. They bring a man burns in the second degree who's quickly taken in charge by Julia and Allan. The paramedic in charge of the ambulance comes to the counter to fill the register, when her fair partner joins her. I can see her looking at me insistently.
"Hey, you're Dr. Dawson, right?" she asks me with assurance.
"Uh, yes, the female one! I'm Gabriela Dawson!" I introduce myself politely.
"Yeah, you're Lieutenant Casey's girl, right?" she continues her interrogation.
"Hmm, yes… Why?" I ask her back, embarrassed by her questions.
"We're working with him. I'm Leslie Shay, and this is my PIC, Anna Carlyle! Nice to meet you!" she says, shaking my hand. "So, are you coming tomorrow night?" she asks me, and when she sees my surprised face and my interrogating eyes, she turns herself towards Anna and murmurs: "I think I've screwed up…"
"Well, you're a big girl! Good luck with that! I'm waiting for you in the ambo!" Anna tells her, before giving me a look of sympathy to tell her goodbye.
"What do you mean by tomorrow night?" I ask her.
"I thought you knew…" she simply answers, with a sheepish smile.
"Knowing what? You've started, so if you wouldn't mind finishing, it'll be really appreciable…" I say, in an abrupt way, a little angry right now, not knowing what's going on.
"Listen, this didn't come from me… Tomorrow night, there's a special firefighters' night in a bar owned by two guys of the firehouse" she explains to me.
"Okay, and what does it have to do with me?" I ask her, crossing my arms around my chest.
"Well, maybe you'll be there…" she says softly, before escaping quickly. I look at her leaving, and I'm really confused by what has just happened. I want to text Matt again to know what's going on tomorrow night, but I'm calling back to reality with an old man in a serious condition.
MATT'S POV
We come back to the firehouse literally exhausted, the fire was particularly difficult and there were a lot of people in the building. Nothing too serious, but the evacuation wasn't really easy. I go to take a shower to erase the smell of the smoke and the soot particles off my skin. When I come back to my quarters, Shay is waiting for me, biting her nails.
"What's wrong?" I ask her.
"I think we've a problem… Well, I think you've a problem because of me…" she explains, panicked.
"What do you mean? What kind of problem?" I ask her, confused.
"Well, I've seen Gabby at the hospital earlier…" she starts explaining.
"Yeah, and? Speak, Shay! What have you done?" I ask, now a little angry.
"I may have done or said something stupid…" she says, looking at her feet.
"Continue, please!" I order her.
"I thought you had already invited her for tomorrow night and I asked her if she'll be there… She was totally unaware of what I was talking about and I'm so embarrassed now…" she tells me.
"Shay, come on! I didn't have the time to propose to her to come with me, we got the call immediately after our talk! What were you thinking, seriously?!" I yell a little louder than I want, sitting at my desk.
"I'm really sorry, if I can do anything to make it up to you, I'll!" she excuses herself.
"Don't be, it's not the end of the world. Sorry for yelling! It's just she must be really confused right now and probably a little angry knowing everyone was aware of the plan before her while she's the first concerned… I hope she won't be mad…" I tell her, taking my phone and entering her number. "I'll call her right now…"
"Of course, I'll let you some privacy. Once again, I'm really sorry!" she says, closing the door behind her.
GABBY'S POV
I'm in the cafeteria with Julia, eating some salad and wraps when my phone rings. When I see Matt's name on the screen, I don't answer.
"Why are you not answering?" Julia asks me.
"We are eating and we are talking together, I'll call him back later!" I lie.
"Seriously, Gabby?" she looks at me with her big blue eyes pleading for the truth like she read in me like an open book. I look at my plate, and she asks: "What's going on?"
"Earlier, the paramedics who are working with him were here and one of them was talking about some special night tomorrow… She asked me if I was going to be there and all, but I didn't know what she was talking about… I'm so confused! Why would she know something I didn't know?!" I say, still confused.
"Well, maybe simply because Matt was talking about you with his friends and coworkers like you talk about him with us, and maybe he's planning something he hadn't had the time to tell you yet… No need to panic Gabs!" she reassures me, giving me her famous reassuring smile.
"Yeah, he texted me telling me he had a proposition for tomorrow night…" I think at full voice.
"See, all the pieces of the puzzle is getting back together! So now, don't do your Gabby with your bad temper and call him back! I'm sure he's just planning a great night out for his girl!" Julia tells me, getting up and leaving me alone at the table. I dial Matt's number, and he answers almost immediately.
- Hey baby! Thanks for calling me back.
- Matt, I'm sorry to bring the subject like that, but we need to talk about something…
- If you mean about my coworker who has the gift of gab, I'm totally agree with you!
- She got me really confused; can you please tell me what's going on?
- Sure, that's why I'm calling you!
- Great, because you know I'm not a really patient person and my nerves aren't in the pink right now…
- Relax, Gabby! So, tomorrow night, two of my guys who own a bar are organizing a party in the honor of the fire department… And… And, I would love to have you as my date. That was my famous proposition for tomorrow night, you and me, going out as an official couple at a public event for the first time… So, what do you think?
- I say that I would be honored to be your date, Matthew Casey!
- I can't wait to have you as my date either, Gabriela Dawson… But, reassure me, we're still seeing each other for breakfast tomorrow morning?
- Of course, who would want to miss our routine breakfast rendezvous?!
- Not me! Meeting you at the BlueBird at 8.30am as always?
- Perfect! I can't wait!
- Me too! Good luck for the rest of your shift! You know you can text me anytime!
- Sure, and the same goes for you as well!
- See you tomorrow, beautiful girl.
- Matt?
- Yes?
- I love you…
- I love you too, Gabby.
I hang up the phone, feeling a little bit relaxed and happier than ever. I join Julia in the restroom, and she looks at me, smiling, knowing she was right.
The rest of the shift was particularly quiet, nothing special. The next morning, I quickly get ready; I put some light make up on and take my car for one of my favorite moments of the week, my breakfast's date with Matt. I arrive in front of the Bluebird Café and I spot Matt, who's waiting for me in his car. I park my car a little farther to surprise him. I make my way towards the driver's door and knocks on the window. He jumps a little before seeing me and giving me his brightest smile. He gets out of the car and takes me in his arms before kissing me.
"I've missed you!" he murmurs in my hair.
"Tell me about it! I think I can't live without you more than a few hours!" I smile at him as we enter the café and order our breakfast. I take blueberries pancakes with a long black coffee as Matt takes some eggs with bacon. We spend one hour there before we both starting yawning, the exhaustion of our last shifts taking the best of us. "A little nap at my place?" I propose to him and he nods. We kiss again before taking our respective cars towards my place, and we crawl in bed immediately.
MATT'S POV
At the end of the afternoon, after a well rested day, I leave Gabby's place to get ready for the evening. It's a formal party with all the fire department, so I put a black costume, a white skirt and a grey tie. At 7pm, I leave the house to pick up Gabby. I knock on her door with a bouquet of red roses.
"Wow, you look gorgeous!" I tell her as she opens the doors. She's wearing a sleeveless black cocktail dress features a sleek bodice with bateau neckline, cap sleeves and alluring strappy back. It's the perfect dress for the occasion.
"Thanks, you're looking great too!" she says as she lets me enter the place. I give her the bouquet and she puts a passionate kiss on my lips. "Thank you, they're beautiful! I'll put them in a vase! And you should go to the bathroom, you've red lipstick on the mouth!" she laughs.
"Are you ready?" I ask her, going out of the bathroom.
"I'm… And to be totally honest, I'm a little nervous to meet all your friends and coworkers…" she admits.
"There's no need to be, they'll adore you as much as I love you!" I try to reassure her, before kissing her and leaving her house in the direction of Molly's.
A/N: Here was the eighth chapter. I hope you loved a little more Shay. Someone asked me if they were going to be friends with Gabby, you'll discover soon! They didn't take the best start but nothing is definitive! Next chapter will the first official outing of Matt and Gabby together as a couple. Stay tuned, it's coming soon! Love, G.
