Heeeyyy, :) I'm updating today because I'm not going to be able to update this weekend. I hope you liked the previous chapter. It was pretty action packed huh?! :) Thanks for the feedback guys. And I apologize for the confusion, there was a part where it showed that Boden was at a meeting whereas he was still at the call, and then the part where Matt said he caught Lexi, he actually caught Nora and was trying to tell Lexi that. I hope yall picked that up. I tried editing but my wifi was down (WiFi was down in the entire country btw). It was a nightmar!

I hope the next chapter doesn't seem to pushed ahead, It's kind of short, but I promise it's sweet. I'm not good at fast forwarding sl's or events. I tried on this one so I hope it doesn't throw the story off. This chapter follows the hectic events that happened after the call that had us witness Matt saving Lexi's life.

Enjoy.

Chapter 10

"Hey warrior," Gabby said to her little girl who just woke up. She had been sleeping for over four hours after being brought to the hospital earlier in the day. Gabby had been sitting by her side the whole time. The doctors had assured her that Lexi was only in shock and her body would have to reboot on its own. She only stopped crying when her brother came by assuring her it was going to be ok.

"Hi," Lexi said before coughing. She tried to sit up but Gabby quickly stopped her and tucked her back in her blankets.

"Where's Lieutenant Casey?" she asked as tears started to form in her eyes holding on tightly to her blanket. Gabby turned to look at Antonio and turned back to speak to Lexi.

"Hey sweety, you can see Matt when you feel a little better ok." Gabby said as she pushed back a strand of hair from her daughter's face before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Is he ok?" Lexi asked starting to get concerned. She liked Matt, he had been there when her mother was hospitalized, and he was now the one who saved her. She really liked Matt and wanted to know that he was ok. Why was he not there to see her? She wondered. Gabby did not really know. She had asked Shay when she came to see them but Shay didn't say much. Gabby had realized there was something Shay wasn't telling her, but she couldn't leave Lexi alone. She had to sit by her child, though she worried about Matt. He would have come by. Was he not just because she had asked for their relationship to not be anything but just physical? She was debating with herself. Wondering if Matt would ever want to see her. Wondering what she was going to say to him. He just saved her child and she wanted to thank him. She wanted to hold him and feel him. She wanted him to hold her and let her know that he wasn't going anywhere. She just needed him to be there so that when she cried he would wipe her tears. Why was everything so damn hard and complicated? Gabby screamed to herself. She just couldn't do it on her own. She couldn't bear the weight she was carrying anymore. Shay was there for her, her family, Boden, but it wasn't what her heart longed for. She saw it in Matt. Back when he saved her child and he stood there as they left, his eyes fixated on hers, she felt him. She wanted him close, she needed him by her side. She could see it in Lexi too. She connected with Matt even before she had the chance to introduce them.

"Mama?" Lexi said in her husky low voice as she lay in her hospital bed,

"Yes mia mor, I'll get uncle Toni to find out ok," Gabby said genuinely giving her daughter a shy smile before walking over to her brother. "Hey, do you know where Matt is? Shay didn't say earlier." She asked Antonio who was hesitant to respond and Gabby gave him a look pulling him to leave the room. "What's going on Antonio?" Gabby asked firmly as the two stood outside Lexi's room.

"OK. Uhmm, Casey is admitted, he something happened during the fall and didn't have feeling on his legs for a while. But they… Gabby!" Gabby started to walk away as Antonio was speaking. She couldn't believe what was going on. Her heart started to pace and she got confused. Everything was just one big mess. She was breathing so fast as she walked.

"Stay with Lexi por favor, I'll be back," she quickly said before picking up her pace. She ran down the stairs to ask a nurse where Matt was admitted but was met by familiar faces.

"Dawson!" Severide called her and she stopped to find truck and squad in the waiting area. "How's Lexi? Is she up?" Severide asked as he came to stand beside Gabby who stood still by the stairs. She didn't move. She was trying to read the faces of everyone there but only saw distress. Was Matt ok? She wondered. She felt something pierce through her heart and she closed her eyes shut as if trying to let the pain sink in.

"Casey…" was all she said and Severide understood. He held her hand and walked with her to the waiting area so as to update her. Everyone was now staring at her. It was as if her first day all over again, only she felt a connection to all these people seated and pacing around awaiting to see their friend. She wanted to burst out crying but held back.

"He… he suffered a major injury during the fall and…"

"Yea yea, I know that, I…" Gabby swallowed and took in a deep breath, "Is he, what are the, will he…?" Gabby gave in and tears started to stream down her face. Why her? Even when she tried to not let this man in, it seems like he had already stole her heart before she even knew it. How could he affect her this much? She could not understand a thing. Her daughter was upstairs in shock and was almost hurt or worse. And the man who had captured her heart and saved her daughter's life was fighting for his. "It's not fair." She cried out and Severide brought her in his arms. They stayed there for a while as she sobbed.

"He's gonna be ok Dawson," Severide assured her and he rubbed her back, "He's one hell of a fighter and he'll pull through, trust me."

"Family of Casey?" Doctor Rhodes asked as he walked in with Dr Halstead. Everyone got up and walked to meet him halfway whereas Gabby took steps backwards. She felt she wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for anything that Dr Rhodes was going to say. If he dare bore them bad news she didn't think she could manage that. All she wanted to do at this point was see Matt. Look him straight in the eye and tell him how much he meant to her. She had fallen for him and when she suggested they become friends with benefits was merely for her to still see him, but keeping her heart from being broken. But now, right at this moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to lie next to him and hold him. Tell him he was going to be ok. Ask him to just hold on. She wanted him to hold Lexi. And keep her safe. She had tears in her eyes and she couldn't stop them from falling and she slowly walked to the back of the room.

"Lieutenant Casey suffered a complication along his waistline, he had to have an emergency surgery approved by the hospital. His body is recovering and you will be able to see him soon. He's resting now." He announced and Gabby heard everyone let out a sound of relief.

"Hey," Shay said as she walked in seeing Gabby standing alone at the back of the room. She just heard the update on Matt's condition and had to find Gabby. Though Gabby never admitted it, Shay knew how her friend felt about their Lieutenant. She saw it in both of them. At least Matt admitted it and had some weight shed off from him, but as for Gabby, she still walked around carrying all those emotions bottled in. All those feelings and pain she had to share with someone. Shay knew, and right at this moment, all she had to do was stand by her friend and console her.

"Hey, Is Lexi up yet?"

"Hi," Gabby said after quickly wiping her face. She swallowed, "Yea, aah," she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "She's awake, ahh, Antonio is with her now, I…. I had to…" She couldn't go on, she wanted to cry as she felt so much pain hit her.

"I know sweety, he's gonna be ok." Shay said, knowing what Gabby was trying to say. They waited for the doctors to give them a go ahead to see Matt. Though he was still under drugs, he managed to smile and feel his friend's presence.

ONE WEEK LATER

"I'll get it," Shay said after hearing a knock on the door, "Oh look who it is, if it isn't the beautiful Dawson girls!" She said embracing her friend who held her daughter's hand. "How are we feeling?" Shay asked as she knelt down to be in the same eye level as Lexi who stood there smiling. She was so much better. She had to be on bed rest for a day and had her mother by her side the entire time. They spend the whole day together as mother and daughter and Gabby felt it was good for them. She didn't know what she would have done if anything had happened to her child. Lexi was her life and she couldn't imagine it without her.

"Hola Miss Leslie, como estas?" Lexi said excitedly. She loved Shay. She reminded her of her abuella who spoiled her very much.

"Bien mia mor, mirate! How are you getting taller by the day?" Shay said picking up the kid before placing a kiss on Gabby's cheek who only smiled.

"Is he sleeping?" Gabby asked and Shay only nodded as they walked in.

"Would you like a smoothie?" Shay asked Lexi in her kiddie voice trying to get the little girl excited who did not disappoint. Lexi was waving her hands as if she was on a rollercoaster as Shay imitated a horse jumping up and down to the kitchen. "C'mon, Uncle Kelly just made some, and he put a secret ingredient, sshhh, it's chocolate."

"I heard that," Gabby said on her way upstairs and the two laughed.

A few moments later, Gabby found herself standing outside Matt's bedroom. Shay and Severide had offered him their spare room while he was recovering so that they take care of him. They came by all the time when they were on shift to check on him. Gabby's nanny Lorretta spent the day there after picking Lexi from school to help Matt out when everyone was on shift.

"You can come in," Gabby heard Matt say and her heart skipped a beat. She was holding a gift made and wrapped by Lexi and herself when he was still in the hospital. She swallowed and took a deep breath before walking in.

"Heeeyy," She said smiling as she slowly opened the door to enter, her head peeping in first. Matt struggled a little to seat up but he still smiled. She quickly walked over to fix his pillows so as for him to sit comfortably.

"Thank you," Matt said smiling. "What's that?"

"Oh, aahh, it's nothing, just, something Lexi and I made." Gabby choked on her words. She suddenly felt shy in Matt's presence. She handed him the gift and he smiled looking straight into her eyes making her blush. He opened the box and found a photo collage of Lexi wearing his Lieutenant suit.

"You brought her to visit the house?" Matt's words cut through Gabby and she suddenly had nothing to say. How did she not see how that could come through, she had held back on having Lexi at the house forever and only brought her when Matt was sick? How could she have not taken that into consideration? Especially to Matt. "Hey," Matt said placing his hand on Gabby's when he noticed that she was lost in her own thoughts as she sat on the edge of his bed. "I was just kidding. Lexi already told me."

"Really?" Gabby said relieved, she poked Matt on his bicep and they both giggled.

"Yea, she was so happy when she told me about it."

"Yea, it wasn't a long visit though, they just came by to get the house keys."

"It's ok Gabby," Matt said smiling.

"You can give her a tour when you get back. I think she likes you."

"Well that's great." Matt said and he paused to look at Gabby who was playing with her fingers. They sat there for a while in silence. No one said anything. Matt had been unconscious the two days he was in the hospital. He was up one minute and out the next. The doctors had assured them he was only getting better. Gabby never had the chance to speak with him. She never got the chance to thank him well. She only did that when they were told he was fit enough to go home. Severide and Shay had offered him their spare room so that he's around people most of the time. They agreed to take turns in the mornings to check on him while on shift, afternoons were sorted since Lorretta brought Lexi by and they stayed there overnight. "Thank you for everything. I really appreciate you coming by and also letting Lexi come by." Before Matt could say anything else, he was attacked by Gabby's lips on his. The kiss was soft and slow. Matt raised his hands to cup Gabby's head, he lowered his left hand to bring her closer to him and she did not resist. Her body was now completely facing Matt's as they kissed. Gabby jumped at the sound of someone knocking on the slightly open door.

"Mama!" Lexi said as she kicked the door open holding two glasses filled with smoothies.

"Heey you, let me help you with that," Gabby said jumping off the bed to get the glasses from her daughter.

"How are you feeling Lieutenant? Uncle Kelly said you're just being a baby," the three laughed at what Lexi had just said as she jumped on the bed to sit by Matt.

"I'm feeling great, I'm just enjoying your company so much that I don't wanna get back to normal life," Matt went along with the teasing, "and I asked you to call me Matt," the two giggled as he tickled her. Gabby watched them as they played and smiled. She stood there sipping her smoothie. "Oh, and thanks for your awesome collage, I should get back to work before you steal my job huh?" Matt said and the two burst out laughing again. This was their routine when Lexi got back from school. The day before was the first day Matt managed to go outside and they went for a walk around the block. Matt realized that Lexi was a free spirited child. She made friends with everyone and had a contagious laugh similar to her mother's. He also picked that Lexi was trying so much to be like Gabby with the whole tomboy look and tough character. The same way she handled herself at the call. The call that almost claimed one if not both their lives. Boy was he glad she was safe and back in her mother's arms. He looked up to see Gabby standing there smiling at them and he smiled at her. She didn't see it as she was lost in her own thoughts. Matt had picked that up as well, he noticed that Gabby could just be present but her mind somewhere else. He liked watching her. Most of the time she wouldn't notice it and he would just look at her. She was beautiful and Matt loved the sight of her. He just wondered how he managed to mess up the chance to be with her. He loved her daughter so much and he could see himself with them.

"You wanna join us?"

"Huh? I'm sorry what?" Gabby snapped out of her thoughts shaking her head. She smiled at Matt when she realized he was watching her. Their eyes locked for a second and Gabby cleared her throat.

"Hey baby, do you mind giving me and your Lieutenant friend a moment? I need to speak with him," she smiled at Lexi.

"Ok," Lexie said jumping off the bed after placing a soft kiss on Matt's cheek whispering a 'you're in trouble' in her playful kid voice. Matt only giggled tickling the little girl who then ran out of the room closing the door shut.

"Wassup?" Matt decided to break the silence, "Am I really in trouble?" he pretended to be scared and Gabby only smiled.

"No." she let out a little laugh. She then bit her lower lip and walked over to sit by the edge of the bed where she previously was. "I just wanted to thank you, you know, if you weren't there, I don't know what could have happened," she closed her eyes and swallowed.

"Gabby!"

"Just let me do this Matt, I need to ok,"

"You don't hav…"

"Yes. I do." She sniffed trying to hold back her tears. She didn't like the fact that she was crying so much these days. It was not like her. When it was just her and Lexi, she doesn't even remember coming close to tears, only on the day of Marco's death anniversary was when she would have a drink or two and let the tears flow. But that went away with time, especially since moving to Chicago and after having the talk with Lexi, that's when she felt the weight shed off. Lexi had been strong and understanding, though she was only a child, gabby decided to tell her about her father's death before starting a new life in Chicago so that they leave the past behind. She could handle anything, but she never thought anything like this could affect her this much. A man could just take over her whole being and make her feel this way. She just never knew how to deal with it. More so she did not want Lexi to be a part of that. That is why she had suggested they become friends with benefits. She wanted to shy away from Matt trying to get to know Lexi making her regret it if anything were to go wrong between them. But now everything was different. All Gabby wanted to do was sit there and watch the man she wanted play with her child. They seemed to have grown close especially that Lexi had spent more time with him. She felt it was necessary for her to do that. It hadn't been her idea, but when Lexi asked about Matt the night she got home and the whole day after, Gabby had assured her she will take her to see him when he left the hospital. Lexi had been ecstatic. She liked Matt very much. Ever since he stayed over when her mother was in the hospital and showed that he cared, Lexi picked up on that and she knew. She knew that Matt cared about her mother and she wanted her mom to see it. She liked Matt and hoped that he could stay around and visit them more often. She had seen that her mother was much happier when he was around. She smiled a lot and made jokes and Lexi enjoyed that. When she and Matt sat in the living room doing her assignment, they had talked. Lexi had told Matt that she liked him and she knew her mom liked him as well. Matt had smiled and Lexi liked seeing that.

"I do need to thank you Matt. Lexi is my world and I can't thank you enough for what you did." She paused and pressed her lips together, "I don't know how to thank you Matt." She let out a little cry. Matt sat there looking at her. Taking in her voice, every word she was saying. God he loved this woman. He thought to himself. "You risked your own life to save my child's, you're so stupid but incredibly selfless and just beautiful, I can't, I just, there are no words that I can come up with to tell you how much," she swallowed again and looked up at the ceiling trying to get her tears to stay in her eyes. When she dropped her head she was met by Matt's lips on hers. He lifted himself up to be closer to her as he pulled her closer to him. His kiss was soft and slow and he cupped her face to deepen the kiss. After a few moments he pulled away and they locked eyes. Gabby's were teary and he placed a kiss on her cheekbone where a tear dropped.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Matt asked, his voice barely a whisper and Gabby could feel his breath on her lips when he spoke. His eyes were fixated on hers and she felt cornered but in a good way.

"I think you've earned that," Gabby joked and Matt swung her throwing her on his bed and they both laughed hysterically as Matt tickled her the way he did Lexi.

"Soo about those rules," Matt held his breath testing the waters. He had his fingers crossed and was more than ecstatic when Gabby responded.

"What rules?" she said and they both rolled on his bed laughing.

Summary: Matt and Lexi both made it and they got discharged from the hospital. So much happened, Lexi visited the house (not shown here), Matt was home resting. Gabby finally talked things out with Matt and admitted her feelings towards him, well kind of.

Next chapter: Gabby welcomes Matt into her world.

Thank you again for reading. And don't hesitate to give me ideas, i get stuck sometimes and change the story up so many times, that is why i took so long to upload chapter 9. Trust me, the storyline changed drastically, that is not how I initially had Matt meet Lexi. Please review.

IMPORTANT: The next chapter is not for kids. Can someone help me on how I can change the rating for the right audience.

Thank you.

Love always,
Gaone.