A\N: Thank you so much for all the reviews, alerts and favourites this story has gotten. It means so much to me. I really hope everyone likes this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, NBC, Global the Backstreet Boys, Full House or The Cosby Show

Spoilers: Just general knowledge from the show.

Warnings: None


Shatter Part One

Just as Gabriela was getting the twins ready for lunch the doorbell rang.

"Door," Serena spoke after hearing the doorbell.

"That's right," Gabriela turned in the direction of the door, "Lets go see who's visiting us," She carried both twins towards the door and somehow managed to peek through the blinds.

Standing on the front porch accompanied by two huge suitcases and a carry-on was Gabriela's mother.

"Mom," Gabriela opened the door with a confused yet happy and relieved look on her face.

"Gabriela," Esmerelda hugged her daughter as best as she could. "Oh its so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too Mom," Gabriela watched as she rolled in her suitcases.

Tilting his head Michael looked up at his mother, "Wa?" He questioned.

"Yeah that's Abuela," Gabriela answered her son's question, "She's here to help us."

"That's right," Esmerelda took Serena and Michael out of Gabriela's arms, "Mommy needs some much needed rest."

"No," Serena shook her head, her arms outstretched to Gabriela and tears in her eyes.

"Mommy's not going anywhere sweetheart," Gabriela, promised, "Abuella's just here to help."

Tears formed in Serena's brown eyes, "Ma," her bottom lip quivered.

"Okay sweetie," Gabriela took her into her arms, "Mommy's not going anywhere."

Walking into the kitchen Gabriela placed Serena on the ground and the thirteen month old sat down in a little chair at a small table.

"This is new," Esmerelda observed.

"Yeah Matt found it at this recycled parts place; we had to make a few adjustments but its going to be good for awhile. The legs can be risen to make the table higher, so when the grow they can still use it."

Esmerelda placed Michael on the ground and watched as he sat in the chair opposite his sister.

"If you want to go spend some time with Matt I can watch them." Esmeralda offered.

"No thanks," Gabriela put a bib on Serena and Michael. "I miss spending time with them. I've had them with Antonio and Dani or Leslie and Kelly almost everyday since Matt's been in hospital."


"Mom," Gabriela knocked on the open door of the guest bedroom, "Mind if we talk?"

"Of course," Esmerelda stopped unpacking her clothes and took a seat on the edge of the bed, "Come and tell me everything."

As Gabriela looked around the room and then back at her mother she was reminded her childhood bedroom. When she was upset her mother would always know how to make it better, she always knew the right thing to say. Despite now being an adult Gabriela felt more then ever the need to have her mother make everything better.

"It's Matt," She fiddled with her hands walking towards her mother, "Well he didn't do anything wrong but…. He won't tell me what's going on. He keeps saying he's fine and I know he's not. Mom I know he's lying to me and I can't stand it! I can't loose him too, not him!"

"Oh Gabriela," Esmerelda wrapped her daughter in her arms and held her as she cried.

"And I have to take care of the twins and do everything around the house and when Matt comes back I'll have to look after him and- and I'm just so stressed out."

"Well I can stay as long as you two need me."

"Matt's psychologist suggested we talks things through with a mediator, someone we both trust, who won't take sides. I'm not sure who that would be though."

"I think talking things out is a good idea. Maybe Leslie and Kelly will help?"

"I don't know if that'd work Mom, I don't want to make them feel awkward."

"Well you go and have a nice hot bath and think it over. If the twins wake-up I'll take care of them.

"Mom-"

"No arguing Gabriela Dawson. Now give me the baby monitors."

Gabriela handed her Mom both of the baby monitors.

"Everything will be fine," Esmerelda sensed her daughter's unease, "You just go and have a bit of time to yourself."

After Gabriela had a nice long bubble bath she decided she needed to go for a little drive and ended up at Firehouse fifty-one. Taking it as a sign Gabriela got out of her car and wrapped her winter jacket around her as she headed into the firehouse.

"Gabby!" Herman was the first one to see her, "No kids?"

"My Mom's looking after them."

"Good." Herman approached her, "We heard about Matt and anything we can do let us know."

"Thanks but we're fine."

Herman nodded his head, "Everyone's in the kitchen if you wanna say hi."

"Thanks," Gabriela made her way towards the kitchen. "Hey," She walked into the room.

"Gabby!" Leslie jogged to her best friend and hugged her tightly, "I didn't know you were coming."

"Neither did I," Gabriela mumbled.

Sensing her friend was worried Leslie took her out of the kitchen and down the hall entering the laundry room she closed the door.

"What's up?" She hoped onto the washing machine.

"You remember when Matt was with Hallie and I used to wish I was her?"

"Yeah," Leslie responded not sure where Gabriela was going with this train of thought.

"And remember when you said he was in love with me and I loved him. You said we'd be perfect for each other, do you remember that?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think we are."

"Gabby. Matt loves you more then any man ever could."

"I'm not sure about that. We've had so many problems and so many times I wish we would have talked about it like we used to…"

"You guys have had a rough couple of months that's for sure."

"It's not that we couldn't have handled it. We could have but for some reason we talked more about relationships and problems when he was with Hallie."

Leslie wasn't sure what to say.

"I don't know Leslie I feel like our relationship is crumbling."

"Gabriela Dawson!" Leslie suddenly became angry, "You are not going to give up on this relationship!"

"Who says I'm giving up?"

"You are, with that attitude."

Gabriela sighed, "He won't look me in the eyes Shay. He won't tell me what's really bothering him."

"Are you telling him the truth?"

"I don't know I-"

"Yes or no.?"

"No. I'm not," Gabriela gave a defeated sigh.

"Then how can you expect him to do the same?"

"I don't know."

"You two need to talk about this- whatever this is."

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

"I don't know Gabby I don't know."

Gabriela walked in the front door of the house to the smell of her mother's cooking. Walking into the kitchen she saw Michael sitting at the small colouring and Serena sitting in a highchair watching her mother cook.

"Well this looks familiar," Gabriela kissed Michael's hair.

Esmerelda turned around and smiled, "If you're referring to you and Antonio your brother never sat as long as Michael when he was five."

Gabriela smiled, "He gets that from Matt."

Serena locked eyes with her mother and pointed to the stove where Esmerelda was cooking Gabriela's favourite Spanish dish.

"Are you helping Abuela?"

"Yes she has, she's been handing me things I need. Isn't that right chica?"

"e," Serena nodded her head.

Gabriela smiled, "Are you speaking Spanish?" She tickled Serena, "Is Abuela gonna take you to Barcelona so you can marry a Spanish boy?"

Serena squealed.

"Be careful what you wish for," Esmeralda sent a gentle warning to her daughter, "When you were thirteen we spent the summer in Barcelona. When it came time to go home you were fighting us tooth and nail. You had met this boy and you wanted to get married and stay with him."

"Andres." Gabriela remembered.

"That's right."

"How did you manage to get me to come back again I forget

"Antonio can be very convincing when he wants to be. He bribed you with Backstreet Boy's tickets. Said he'd buy them for you for Christmas."

"Now I remember, he knew you guys already bought them for me so he used it to get me to come back."

"And as I recall you loved that concert."

"It was the Backstreet Boys Mom, of course I loved it!"

"You know I never understood why you loved them so much."

"Every girl my age did Mom, it was a fad."

"Speaking of fads; Did Antonio tells me Maria has started watching Full House? Has two seasons on DVD."

Esmerelda laughed, "No he didn't tell me. I should tell him I'm here, he doesn't know."

"Yeah, yeah go I'll watch this."

"Mama?" Serene reached out her arms towards her mother, a huge smile on her face.

"Hi baby girl," Gabriela kissed her as she continued watching the pot boil, "Did Abuela already feed you and your brother?"

"Yeah I made them pasta and tomato sauce," Esmerelda covered her hand with the receiver as she walked back into the kitchen.

"Good because tis might be a little spicy for you guys."

As her mother continued talking to Antonio on the phone Gabriela made the rest of the meal. It was just about complete when her mother walked back into the room.

"Maria's on season three of Full House now," She spoke, "Apparently she like's the Cosby Show as well."

"All good shows, I'm not complaining."

"Neither are they."

Around eleven o'clock the next morning Gabriela walked into Matt's hospital room. After thinking everything over in her mind she realized that she and Matt needed to talk about what was scaring and worrying them; in order for their relationship to progress past this rough patch they needed to talk things through.

"We need to talk Matt," She sat down in a chair and pulled it close to his bed.

Matt turned off the TV and looked down, "Not now Gabby."

"Yes now."

Matt took a few deep breaths, "You first."

"Okay. When I got that phone call saying you'd been in that fire… I… my whole world fell apart. I'm not going to lie Matt I was scared, scared you'd died; scared I'd never see you again. And I know I have no right to feel like this but I do, I love you so much I didn't want to, can't see my life without you in it. I need to know you're going to be okay and right now I don't know that Matt, I don't know if you're ever going to be able to go back to who you were before the accident. I'm trying to figure out what to do to help you but I can't, I can't do it alone Matt, I need you to tell me what to do, I need your help."

After Gabriela finished talking there was a long silence; a few minutes elapsed before Matt spoke up.

"You have every right to be worried about me."

"No I don't Matt! I've been in the same situation, I know the risks I knew them when I marred you, knew them when I decided to become an EMT. I lived my whole life waiting to hear my father come home, fearing the telephone ringing late at night. I know but- with you it's different every time you leave a part of me does too and when you hurt a part of me does too."

"Gabriela," A few tears escaped Matt's eyes, "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"I love you… but I should have been the one to die in that fire!"

"Matt don't you dare think that!" Gabriela grabbed his hands

"You're the one who wanted to talk!" Matt exploded, "So let me talk!"

Gabriela released her grip and sat up straight.

"I should have told het to wait before she went in…I was there and she died and…" Despite his trying to control them tears began sweeping down his face.

"It's not fair Matt, you're right but I need you and the twins need you. I'm glad you didn't die."

"So you're glad Jessica died?"

No Matt that's not what I meant. I just meant… I wish everyone had lived too."

"Her son, what will he think? Or her husband? Does he blame me?"

"Matt, nobody blames you but yourself, I promise."

"The doctor's said I'm recovering well, probably be back to work earlier then expected. It may take only eight weeks instead of ten for me to recover.

Gabby bit her lips, "Is that physically ready?"

Matt sighed, "Look we talked alright. I'm already seeing Dr. Ching today I don't need it from you too."

"Okay Matt."

Gabriela stood up to leave when Matt began talking again, "You don't think I was scared too? God Gabriela the thought of leaving you and the twins it makes my heart break. Every time I go into a fire I pray I come out alive, not for me but for you and Serena and Michael. And I just want to know that you're going to be safe and taken care of…"

"Matt," Gabriela took a deep breath. She wanted to tell him that they'd be fine; but the truth is they wouldn't be. Emotionally speaking anyways, financially speaking they would be.

"Matt," Gabriela finally found her voice, "I'm going to lie, I don't know how I'd ever live without you but we have money and everyone would make sure Serena and Michael knew you died a hero. Let's pray though we never think about that alright?"

"Gabriela we need to talk about it. It could happen. It could have happened-"

"Matt," Tears came down Gabriela's cheeks, "I don't want too."

"You're the one that wanted to talk."

He had a point. She is the one who wanted to talk but she hadn't expected the converstation to turn in this converstation.

"Matt, my dad died on the job, when I was younger my friends father died, I was only eight, I don't want to think about you dying, not right now."

Despite what Gabriela was saying Matt pushed on; he knew that if he didn't tell he now he might never tell her.

"The nightmares I've been having; in them I'm died and you I see you cry and I see the kids ask for me and I wake up sweating and crying because I can't let that happen. I know what you went through when your father died, how your mother moved to Barcelona."

"That was different; I would never pack up the kids and move half way across the country."

"Not even to be with your mother; to get away from everyone in Chicago knowing what happened."

Gabriela pursed her lips; "Matt I can't promise you anything. I can't because; I don't know what I would do. I do know though you'd be very well missed, and I'd never love any man like I could love you."

"Captain Casey, sorry to interrupt but Dr. Ching is here," A nurse walked into the room.

"I'm glad to see the two of you talking," Dr. Ching observed.

"I'll see you later," Gabriela kissed Matt on the lips and made to leave the room.

"Actually Mrs. Casey," Dr. Ching grabbed her attention, "I think now would be the perfect time for all three of us to talk together."

"Okay, you're the expert," Gabriela turned to talk back to the chair she was previously sitting in. She didn't think it was a good idea for her to say but Dr. Ching was one of the most highly recommended psychologists in the Midwest and she trusted he knew what he was doing.

"Now," Dr. Ching pulled up another chair and sat beside Gabriela, "What were you talking about before I came in?"

TBC


A\N: Please review and tell me what you think.