Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination.
a/n: I want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed (or read but didn't review) as well as everyone who follows and favourites the story, it all means the same to me. I'm really happy that everyone likes this story so much and keeps supporting it.
OK so I know I said I wouldn't update before next week BUT I was awake at 5:30 this morning and used the time while my kids were still asleep to write more than half of the chapter before they woke up so I hope you like it.
The play date had gone rather well in Gabby's opinion and Matt seemed like a really great guy. She made dinner for herself and the kids, her thoughts always finding their way back to him and the connection that seemed to be developing between them. Her hand still felt the warmth that his larger one had cast on it, never pushing her to tell her story. She knew that she'd eventually have to tell him even if nothing more than friendship happened between the two, this being too big of a secret to keep. Sunday came and went and it was time to return to work on Monday morning. For the past week, the routine had been the same. She woke up, showered and changed into some work clothes before waking Valentina up and feeding the both of them while the twins still slept, her mother arriving right on time for her to leave and drop her daughter off at daycare before going in to work. Upon arrival, she went to the staff room at the ER, being assigned there until further notice and then she went on with her day. It was a rather busy day, having barely enough time to swallow a sandwich down and rest her feet a whole of five minutes before all hell broke loose. The ambulance bay was packed with case of every kind and Gabby made her way to the files to see which one needed to be done first. She was looking through them when a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Hey Gabby." The blonde paramedic was standing at the desk, writing up her report.
"Leslie Shay right?" She smiled at her, a smile which was returned by the blonde.
"Yeah. Heavy day today huh?" She looked around to all the patients there.
"Haven't seen this much traffic in the ER since I put scrubs for the first time ten years ago." Gabby chuckled.
"Listen. If you're up to it, a bunch of us from the firehouse are going to Molly's, in bucktown, tonight, maybe you can join us for a few beers?"
Gabby looked up from a file, not knowing if she should go and how much she should tell Shay. In truth, she didn't know much about her but she seemed like a nice enough girl. "I don't know." She didn't want to promise anything to anyone at this point.
"Kids and a husband waiting at home?" Shay knew all about her three kids and the rings Matt had seen on her fingers but she was trying to fish out some information from the hot laitna girl that was plaguing Matt's thoughts since they met the first time at the pier. Gabby looked at her file before looking up at her again.
"Yeah, three kids is time consuming but I wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled but Shay had seen the hesitation before her answer and she had failed to mention her husband.
"Just think about it, no pressure." Gabby looked at Shay and examined her for a moment. She was super friendly and not pushy but she seemed like the girl who would tell you things straight.
"I'll think about it. Thanks for the invite."
"Anytime. If you change your mind, come find me." Both girls smiled at each other and returned to their respective tasks. Shay finished up her report but kept stealing glances of Gabby Dawson while she did. She had extended the invite not only as a way to find out more about her but she had felt the instant connection to her that Matt had. She was easily approachable and pretty in a natural way and looked like she could be friends with her.
Gabby kept thinking about Shay's invitation as the day went from chaotic to hellish and finally took ten minutes to check up on the kids and ask her mother for the biggest favour yet but not needing that much convincing, wanting her daughter to relax a little bit from this new normal. This was a lot to take on for one person, especially a grieving one and her mother wanted to give her an evening to be just Gabrielle Dawson, the woman. Gabby thanked her again and went to finish her shift. She sat down on the bench in front of her locker at the end of her shift and now that the adrenaline was starting to die down, her legs were killing her. She drove back home, knowing that her mother had already taken the kids back home, leaving her completely alone and instantly, she went in the shower. The warm water was running down her body, giving a little bit of release to her painful muscles. She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body before going into her room to search for something apropreate for tonight. She didn't want to overdress but also didn't want to look too casual so she opted for dark blue skinny jeans with a black top and black peep toe shoes. Once she was dressed, she ventured a look in her long mirror, the outfit bringing her memories of the past but she tried to move past them, wanting to enjoy this time alone. She blow dried her hair straight and decided to paint her tow nails, something she hadn't done in a long time. It was something she had done many times before but since Alberto's passing, her main priority had been her kids and she became less intuned with herself but she wanted to change that now. She used a deep shade of red and took fifteen minutes doing it, trying to keep tears at bay with more memories flooding her.
Once she was satisfied with that, she went to make herself some dinner. She did her grand mother's famous mac and cheese and her mind suddenly brought her back to Matt Casey, more specifically to the moment they shared in the parc.
"I know we just met but I'm a good listener. No questions asked." She could hear his voice in her mind
Maybe some day she'd be ready to tell him her story but it was too soon and the pain too fresh in her heart. She ate a hearty plate and put the rest in the fridge for the kids dinner the following day. It was already seven and she didn't know what time Shay would be at the bar but then again she didn't exactly know where the bar was so she'd have to look it up. Once she found what she was looking for, she did her make-up and put on her shoes before grabbing her leather jacket and heading out the door. She looked at the directions as she drove towards Molly's bar. She parked where she found a spot and went in. She was looking for Shay amoung the crowd of unknown people but then she heard her voice coming from the bar. When she moved closer, she noticed that she was behind the bar.
"Hey, you made it." Shay yelled over everyone as she saw Gabby approach.
"Yeah, I needed to get out after the day we had. Didn't know you worked here."
"Actually I own here." Shay laughed candidly. "And these two are my co-owners, Christopher Herrmann and Otis." Gabby shook their extended hands.
"Welcome to Molly's Herrmann said.
"And the name's Brian, Brian Zvonecek."
"Thanks, and hi Brian." Gabby smiled at them both.
"You can call him Otis." Herrmann poked fun at him.
"Brian is better." Otis started arguying, making Gabby laugh.
"What can I get you?" Shay finally asked over her collegues banter.
"Double whiskey."
"Woah little lady, know what you're getting into?" Herrmann asked.
"I could probably teach you a thing or two about drinking Christopher Herrmann." She laughed, Otis putting the shot glass in front her. She quickly downed it, letting the brown liquid burn its way down her throat before she ordered a beer. Shay introduced the rest of 51 to Gabby as they came for drinks but she noticed that Matt hadn't shown up yet.
"If you're looking for Matt, you might not see him tonight." Gabby slightly jumped at the mention of Matt and blushed lightly.
"I'm not looking for Matt. You have a great thing going on here." She changed the subject, hoping Shay would get the hint but she would find out that Leslie Shay didn't always listen to the hints she was given.
"Yeah we do." She smiled. "Matt was trying to find a babysitter last I spoke with him but wasn't getting any luck." Gabby nodded, understanding what it was like. "But if you're really lucky, he might show."
"Ok." She couldn't hide the blush that was slowly making it's way up her face.
"So, what's the story behind Gabby Dawson?"
"Mother of three, Luis and Filippe are five and Valentina is fifteen months old." Shay just listened to her tell her story. "I recently moved back to Chicago from the Dominican Republic and started at Lakeshore last week." She took a long drag of her beer, not wanting to tell any more but once again, Leslie Shay didn't take hints.
"You and me are going for a little walk." She grabbed her coat from under the bar. "Herrmann, Otis, are you guys good here?" They both nodded in the affirmative. "Than I'm stealing my new friend and we are going for a walk." Shay walked around the bar and took Gabby by the hand. "Come on chica, let's go." Gabby stood and put her coat back on before following the blonde girl into the cooler Chicago air. They walked a little while without saying a word, their feet bringing them in a park nearby. Shay took a seat in one of the swings, Gabby removing her shoes before following her in the sand and sitting on the swing next to her. She played in the sand with her toes, looking in the distance, Shay waiting patiently next to her, giving her all the time in the world to organize her thoughts. She knew that Shay wouldn't let go until she had the truth.
"My husband passed away six months ago." She whispered in the dark, her eyes still looking at the dark horizon, not wanting to look Leslie Shay in the eyes as she said it but she had heard the gasp coming from Shay's mouth. Moments passed before either woman said anything.
"I'm sorry." Leslie whispered, not wanting to make this moment harder.
"Thanks." She simply said. "I moved back because I couldn't keep living with the memories everywhere I went. I wanted to stay where I could remember my life with him but at the same time it was killing me to stay where there was so many memories so I did what was best for my kids and for me."
"It takes a lot of courage to do what you did."
"I wasn't strong enough.
"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for sweetie." It was the first time Gabby said this out loud to anyone outside of her family but Leslie Shay's presence was something like she'd never felt before. She felt comfortable with her even if this was the first real moments she spent with her. Shay stood up and held her hand for Gabby to take. Gabby took it and let her lift her back up so she could get out of the sand and get her shoes back on and the slowly returned towards Molly's Shay wrapping her arm around Gabby's shoulder and Gabby's arm rested around Shay's waist and her head on her shoulder. Shay told Gabby her story, Gabby never flinching at the mention of her being a lesbian and by the time they made it back, they were laughing and hadn't noticed who had gotten out of his truck.
"Hey, you made it." Matt said as he saw the two girls come back from what seemed like a walk.
"I managed to get the kids babysat by my mom while on shift. I see you managed to do the same." Gabby mentioned.
"Yeah, my next door neighbour made a trade, the girls for me fixing her garage door." He chuckled. "Care to join me for a drink?"
"Sorry, I'm going to head home, I had a crazy shift but maybe next time." She smiled at him.
"Sure." He replied. He was just glad he had managed to catch a glimpse or her today.
"Thanks for tonight Shay." Gabby wrapper her arms around the blonde girl for a hug.
"Don't mention it. I'll take your number off Casey here and maybe we could do a movie night with the kids, could be fun."
"I'd love that." Gabby smiled before turning to Matt. "Good night Matt." She simply smiled at him before turning and getting in her car to drive back home, an small invisible weight lifting from her shoulders now that she had come clean to someone about her past.
"Everything ok?" He asked Shay as she watched Gabby drive away.
"Yeah. Just, take care of her, she's fragile." Shay patted him on the shoulder as he looked in the direction Gabby had disappeared around the corner.
"I know." They looked at each other, one knowing and the other in the dark but both on the same page where Gabby Dawson was concerned. He then grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her into the pub so they could have a good evening with friends.
a/n: Finally Gabby tells someone about her husband. We see the girls have a quick relationship and Shay and Matt come to a quiet understanding.
Here's another chapter that I hope you liked and please take a few minutes to leave a review before you leave so I know if you liked it or not. See you next week - Sarra