"Are you sure you want me to go now Gabby? If you don't want to be alone-"

"Matt," I sigh, before laughing at his overprotectiveness, "I'll be fine. Besides I'm coming by later anyway, I miss the firehouse already."

He nods agreeing with this and kisses my head before throwing his bag over his shoulder, "Okay. Text me if you need anything, my cell will be on loud."

I roll my eyes, "That's certainly going to get on Shay's nerves," I quip, before watching Matt out the door and waving as he pulled away down the road.

I sighed and closed the door, shuffling towards the couch and flopping down, immediately bored. I was kinda jealous of Matt being able to go to work and me having to stay here, but I was still slightly sore. Antonio said he'd stop by soon anyway, as he was sorting out my insurance on the apartment and what not, saying that I shouldn't be worrying about silly things while recovering. I appreciated the help, grateful that I wouldn't have to deal with anything but my recovery.

I wasn't sure if the shock of losing my apartment had set in yet or that if I wasn't really too affected by it. That wasn't to say that I wouldn't miss anything that burned in the fire, but after witnessing far too many house and apartment fires where the family barely survives, I guess I realized just how lucky I was to be alive and that worrying about possessions wasn't something I shouldn't do too much of.

I would miss a few things though, especially my sacred box that I stored in the bottom on my wardrobe...

I sighed, deciding not to get upset over something that couldn't be changed and set to work on getting a shower and dressed. The hot water instantly began to sooth my achy body and I took full advantage of the heat, staying the shower for as long as possible before the water ran cold. I changed into some leggins and a purple jumper that Shay had kindly bought for me, smiling at how it was exactly my style.

Shay knew me so well.

Then I set to work on trying to remember anything, anything at all, but all I kept envisioning was being at the firehouse before the firehouse and Matt walking me out to my car. And the fire of course, but nothing else was coming through.

Damn it.

I huffed in frustration, annoyed at how I wasn't remembering more and began flicking through TV channels until Antonio arrived. I let him in, instantly engulfed by his big hug and warmth as he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Woah," I chuckled, "Careful Antonio, still a little sore here."

He jumps away, worried that he may have hurt me, "Sorry sis, got a little carried away," he grins and then we take seats on the couch.

"So," he smiles, throwing his arm over the couch, "how are you feeling?"

"All things considered I'm doing good, more worried about my memories than anything else."

Antonio nods, patting my hand sympathetically, "Yeah, they told me at the hospital what happened between you and Matt..."

I groan and my roll my eyes, "Antonio, I'm a big girl now-"

He laughs, "I was gonna say that I'm happy for you guys...You and Casey deserve to be happy."

I smile, hugging him tightly, "Thank you Antonio."

He then tells me how everything was almost sorted with my apartment and the insurance company, and that I needn't worry about anything. He said that he heard that the building was going to be evaluated today and the apartments checked.

Antonio stayed for lunch and then around two he drove me to the firehouse on the way to District 21. As he pulled to a halt, I kissed his cheek before saying, "Thanks Antonio. Bring Eva and Diego to see me soon? I need to give them a good hug."

He nods, "Sure thing sis, take it easy okay?"

"I will Antonio, thanks again." I climb out of the car and wave as he drives off, then I quickly hurry towards the firehouse to escape the cold Chicago air.

I head in through the garage door and towards the break room, yet to come across any of the guys. As I near the break room I hear the grumble of voices competing with each other and the banter between the guys.

I smile, feeling at home, and push through the double doors, the smell of Cruz's cooking immediately hitting my senses.

"Haven't you guys learnt yet? Stop letting Cruz near the kitchen!"

The guys cheered, getting up to come over and hug me one by one filled with choruses of "Hey Dawson," "Glad to see ya hun," "Missed us already?" and "Glad to see you're okay."

I smile widely, feeling comforted and at ease by being surrounded by family and then Herrmann throws an arm around my shoulder, "How ya doing hun? Place is quiet without you."

"I'm doing okay considering. Awh, you missing me Herrmann?" I tease, patting his cheek.

"Did I tell you how peaceful it was around here without you?" He jokes and then I settle in with everyone, feeling like nothing bad had ever happened.

Only I knew that this feeling would never last.

Casey.

I head into work with my hands tucked into my pockets and my jacket pulled tightly around me, but no amount of clothing could protect me from the worry that I was feeling due to leaving Gabby alone.

Logically I knew she was going to be fine and I'd be seeing her again in a few hours anyway, but I couldn't shrug off the feeling that the last time I left her alone that something bad happened. As in Gabby nearly dying.

I sigh and tell myself that I was being stupid and quickly throw my things into my locker and change into my work clothes. I make for the breakroom desperate for some hot coffee and find that most of the guys were already here.

"Hey Casey, how you doing man?" Cruz asks and I nod appreciatively as he pats me on the back.

"I'm good, thanks Cruz," I answer while pouring some coffee from the machine.

"And our girl? How's Dawson doing?" Mouch asks from his usual spot on the couch and everyone's ears seem to prick up at this.

I pause momentarily, "Yeah, she's doing good. She's missing this place though," I answer, taking a seat beside Herrmann at the table.

He hands me the paper and I mumble a 'Thank you' in return and then he looks at me over his fishing magazine, "And her memory Casey?" He murmurs quietly, "How's that coming along?"

I sigh and rub my eyes, "It's frustrating," I answer honestly, always being able to talk to Herrmann, "She's remembering bits and pieces, but not much."

Herrmann nods, "So she doesn't remember you…you know-"

I shake my head, "No, nothing."

He pauses for a moment and clasps his hand around my forearm before answering, "Hey, I knew you guys were meant for each other… Give it some time, Dawson will remember."

I nod and smile, "Thanks Herrmann, it means a lot."

The hours pass by without any major calls and for that we were glad for, after experiencing what we had last shift with Gabby. I called Antonio at 11am asking him to check up on Gabby and he laughed saying how he was already sorting it, and then he told me how he heard that Gabby's apartment block was being evaluated and searched today.

That gave me an idea.

"Lieutenant Casey, it's been a while...How you doing buddy?"

I smiled at the familiar voice, "Hey Bruce, I'm doing good, and yourself?"

"Gettin' old that's what! So what can I do for you?"

"I heard you're checking out the apartments on 1144 West 17th today?"

"Sure am, hell of a fire. Lucky no one was killed. Heard one girl was injured badly though..."

I had flashbacks of that night and Gabby's unconscious, non-breathing form flashed before my eyes, "Yeah, that's Gabriela Dawson. She's our PIC here at 51."

"I'm sorry to hear that Casey, how's she doing?"

"She's doing good Bruce thankfully, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"

"Of course Casey, what can I do for you?"

"Thanks Bruce, Gabby's apartment is on the top floor and there's this..."

I hang up the phone after a lengthy call with Bruce, my instructor when I was in training, and head to the breakroom to find that Gabby had just arrived.

I head over to the table quickly and she was just in time to stand as I threw my arms around her, pulling her into my chest.

"Hey," I breathe, suddenly surrounded by her spicy and alluring scent, and was warmed by her arms that curled around my sides.

"Hey yourself," she murmurs against my neck and the thought instantly hit me that I could never take her granted because she lit up my world.

She always had.

When we pull apart I immediately missed her warmth but we sat down besides each other with our arms brushing together, "How are you feeling?"

Gabby laughs and swats my arm, "I'm fine Matt. Really. You don't need to worry about me."

I suddenly feel a pair of hands on my shoulders and blonde hair presses against my cheek, "Ssh Dawson, that's what he's here for!" Shay chides before kissing my head playfully and sitting down beside Kelly who sat next to Gabby.

We talk for a while and the usual house banter ensues with Cruz and Otis arguing over the latest movie they had seen and everyone just watched and laughed at their ribbing.

Gabby's dace suddenly screws up and she presses her hand to her head, an unreadable expression on her face, "You guys said I was at Molly's the day of the fire right?

Kelly nods, his face portraying the same concern that was written all over my face too, "Yeah, you remember that?"

She nods slowly in reply, "I think so...Um, the electrician was creepy..."

I laugh uncontrollably, relief swarming my body, "Yeah, you described him as a tightrope guy at the circus with a curly moustache and pot belly."

This Gabby and I said in unison and the grin on my face was unmatchable after realising that she remembered what we said over text. Gabby smiles and looks proud of herself, "We said this over text right?"

"Yeah we did," and before I could say anymore Shay squealed, "I knew it! I knew that you were texting each other. Pain in my ass that's what you are Dawson. The constant buzzing of your texts made me wanna strangle Casey."

Gabby chuckles, "Yeah Shay, I remember us talking here before the fire."

Otis then strides over and hands Gabby a laptop, "Since you're slacking off work," he jokes while grinning, "You can make a start on the orders for Molly's."

Gabby matches his grin with sarcasm and a glint of humour in her eyes, "Funny Otis..."

The alarm soon sounds for us to head out to a car pile-up and as we leave for the garage I kiss Gabby's head saying, "Don't have too much fun without us."

She winks, "I count on it."


When we return from the car pile-up after two hours of gruelling work by fatigue was lifted at the sight I was greeted with when we arrived back. Gabby was standing in the kitchen with her back to us, music blared loudly from the radio and she swayed with the song, singing along with the lyrics.

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose, fire away, fire away,

Ricochet, you take your aim, fire away, fire away,

You shoot me down, but I won't fall,

I am titanium."

Shay laughs, "That's for sure Dawson!" and gives her a one-armed hug as Gabby chopped some vegetables.

I couldn't help imaging Gabby on the night when we slept together, when I first found her swaying softly to the calm music in her kitchen. Both images were just so similar and I couldn't help longing for her to remember, just so we wouldn't have to be guarded around each other anymore.

Then a familiar voice rings in my ears, "Something smells good in here! Casey, good to see ya!"

I turn around to find Bruce standing in the doorway, tucking a box underneath his arm. I smiled.

I gave him a hug, "You too Bruce."

Some of the guys who also knew Bruce came over to welcome him and give him a hug, but for those who didn't know him I then introduced him. "Hey guys, this is Bruce. He was my instructor at the academy."

Chief slapped my shoulder, "Must have been one hell of an instructor," he says to Bruce.

Gabby then comes over, wiping her hands on a cloth and she holds her hand out to Bruce, "Hey, I'm Gabriela. It's nice to meet you."

Bruce instead hugs her rather than shaking her hand saying, "You're the girl whose apartment burned down right?"

Gabby nods, a tad confused, "Well I'm the clean up crew and I was at your apartment today, evaluating with my men."

Bruce then turns to me with a grin, "Then I got a call from his fella here, asking me to him a favour... Asked me to check your apartment to see if I could find a box at the bottom of your wardrobe..."

Gabby's mouth drops open and her eyes begin to tear as Bruce hands her a large box, a little ashy, but otherwise completely fine, "And well, look what I found."

Gabby was stunned, "I...you?...Matt..." she cries, throwing her arms around me tightly.

"Thank you," she cries into my chest before hugging Bruce tightly too, "Thank you both so much. This was all I cared about losing..."

Bruce pats my shoulder, "No need to thank me, this young man here made me go looking for it."

Gabby hugs me once again but this time she remains in my arms for a longer time, processing everything that just happened. I guess she never thought that she'd see this box again.

Bruce smiles and waves goodbye before heading out, and then Shay jumps at Gabby asking, "So what's in the box?"

Gabby smiles, "Let me show you..."