A\N: After watching the season finale of Chicago PD I was talking to some of my friends on Twitter and I started to wonder what it would be like for Laura and Antonio to have that type of argument as eleven year olds. That was the inspiration for this chapter. As such I need to thank my friends on Twitter for helping me with ideas and just being there to listen as I dished out tons of ideas. Also to my beta reader for editing this chapter and for adding a part at the end. And last but not least to all of you who keep reading and enjoying this story. Please remember to leave a review and tell me what you thought.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, NBC or Global.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None


Chapter 10

On Tuesday things weren't any better for Antonio and he had hardly talked to Laura at all. At the end of the day instead of rushing to get outside and enjoy the sunshine he dragged his feet out of the school; so much so that Laura and her siblings left to walk home without him.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nicholas and a friend play catch with a football well a man leaned against a car and watched. Stopping briefly he realized that the man had a walkie-talkie attached to his belt and figured it must be Nicholas' father.

Just as he was about to start walking again the football came flying towards him and he caught it; not before loosing his balance though.

"Hey Tony!" Nicholas ran over to get the ball, "Sweet catch. You have time to play?"

Antonio grinned, "Sure. Thanks."

"Great," Nicholas tossed the football in-between his hands as he led Antonio over to the field. "Oh," He stopped and turned, "Dad this is Antonio," He grabbed his father's attention.

"Antonio," The man let the name sit for awhile; there was no mistaking who the young boy was, "Well its very nice to meet you Antonio," He stuck out his hand, "Nicholas you and Brad go set up the soccer nets alright," He nodded towards a bag.

Figuring his father probably wanted to talk to Antonio he nodded and dragged the bag away.

"My names Thomas. I'm a Detective; I knew your father. He was a great detective."

"Yeah," Antonio kicked the dirt, "Can I go now?"

Thomas leaned forward and looked at him, "You know its okay to be upset."

"Why does everyone keep telling me that? Do they want me to be upset? Is that what people want?"

"No, no," Thomas shook his head, "I know how hard it is to loose someone. When I was a rookie I saw my partner get shot pretty bad."

"Did he die?"

"Not then but a few years later he died from complications."

"Oh."

"And my mother is very sick right now. I know you think that adults don't cry but they do. It's okay to cry. You can't bottle up all of your emotions."

"I'm good at boxing. I think that helps me when I'm angry."

"I heard you're good. Just remember that when life gets you down you have to get right back up just like in boxing."

"Yeah," Antonio thought about that in his head and it seemed to make sense.

"And it's okay to ask for help if you need it. Sometimes asking for help is the grown-up thing to do because it takes a lot of courage to admit you can't do something on your own."

"Okay," Antonio nodded his head, and forgetting all about wanting to play football with Nicholas he began to walk back to Laura's house thinking about what he was told.


That Saturday, only a week before the competition Antonio walked into the gym ready to hand in his permission fourm. After thinking about what hew had been told he decided he needed to enter the competition if not to only let off some of his anger he was bottling up inside.

"Okay sweetie," Esmeralda looked at her son, "I should be back before you finish."

"Mom," Antonio sighed in embarrassment, "I'm fine."

Esmeralda nodded and watched her son go to the change room. Then turning to Laura she asked, "You sure you're okay to watch Gabriela while I go grocery shopping?"

"Of course Mrs. Dawson," Laura smiled, "I've been wanting to see Antonio box for awhile anyways I'm glad I can help you too."

"Well okay Hun," She placed Gabriela on the floor and handed Laura the girls backpack and baby bag.

"Okay thanks."

"Gabby," Esmeralda bent down to the young girls level, "You be good for Laura and I'll be back before Antonio's finished."

"Bye, Bye Mommy," Gabby kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly.

"Bye sweetheart." Esmeralda hugged her back before she stood up and walked out of the gym.

"Come on sweetie," Laura picked up Gabby, "Lets go watch Antonio."

"Oday Aue," Gabby agreed.

As Laura carried Gabby into the viewing area and sat down on a bench she thought back to a few weeks ago when Gabby would scream every time she came near her. Now, Gabby loved her and sometimes cried when she had to leave at the end of the day or when Laura couldn't play with her.

"Aue, Onio!" Gabby pulled on her sleeve and pointed through the glass, "Onio!" She clapped happily.

"That's right Gabby," Laura told her, "Are you and Baby going to watch Antonio?"

"Yes."

"Good," Laura kissed her dark curls as she watched Antonio begin to warm-up with a few of his friends. He was in shorts and a t-shirt and as he horsed around with his friends Laura couldn't stop thinking about how cute he looked. He really did seem almost too good to be true sometimes and Laura wondered what he was hiding; as nobody could be that perfect. She would admit though that he wasn't perfect to everyone else, he was only perfect to her because she couldn't think of much he could do that would cause her to not like him anymore.

As the two and a half hour practice went into its first hour Gabby began board sitting on Laura's lap and went off to play with her toys in a quieter area of the room. While still watching Antonio Laura made sure she knew where Gabby was and what she was doing at all times.

After turning back to watch Antonio after looking at Gabby Laura's heart sank. In less then a second he had gone to being in the ring and fighting to being on the ground holding his head.

As tears began to well up in her eyes her mind raced as she forgot all of her common sense and ran out onto the gym floor, "Antonio!" She yelled causing almost everyone's attention to turn to her.

"Hey, hey, hey. Laura right," Mr. Zambini approached the frantic girl and steadied her with a hand to her shoulder.

"Uh-huh," Laura managed to get out through her tears. "Is Antonio okay?"

Before Mr. Zambini or anyone else had time to answer Antonio stood up and walked towards her. "I'm fine," He spoke out of the corner of his mouth that wasn't swollen and bleeding.

"No you're not Antonio," She cried as she saw the blood coming out of his lip.

Antonio looked around and saw that all the older boys were now whispering and shooting him looks. It was hard enough for him being the youngest there without having Laura embarrass him.

"No, I'm fine. Go away," He spat angrily as he turned and walked right back towards the boxing ring.

"Antonio!" Laura called after him but Mr. Zambini gently held her back,

"Lets go have a talk," He led her away, "Did Antonio's mother bring you here?"

"Yeah but she went shopping- Gabby!" She sprinted into the viewing room where a mom of a boy in the boxing gym was comforting Gabby; "I'm so sorry sweetheart. That wasn't right for me to leave you. Thank you so much Ma'am." Laura smiled at the woman.

"Don't mention it honey just be sure you tell Gabby's mother alright. I'm Mrs. Henasy by the way. I know Gabby's mom we sit and talk sometimes you must be Laura right?"

"Yeah, she talks about me?"

"She mentioned last week you might be coming along."

"Yea Mrs. Dawson went to get some groceries and I said I'd watch Gabby; but when Antonio got hurt I just reacted. Not very grown-up I'm sorry."

"Oh no sweetheart you're only eleven years old; you're allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. Even adults make mistakes sometimes. Just remember that you need to try to calm down and access the situation before you react."

"Yes Ma'am." Laura nodded, "I promise I'll try my best to do that."

"Good." Mrs. Henasy handed Gabby back to her.

For the rest of the lesson Laura sat and played with Gabby, as she was unable to watch Antonio for fear he'd get hurt again. Then, with twenty minutes left in the practice Esmeralda walked into the viewing room and Laura took Gabby's hand and approached her.

"Mommy!" Gabby let go of Laura's hand and ran into her mother's arms.

Bending down Esmeralda picked her daughter up, "Hi baby," She kissed her.

"Uh Mrs. Dawson… there's something I need to tell you…. And I understand if you're mad about it."

"Woah, Woah Laura," Esmeralda sat down in a nearby chair, "What's wrong?

So Laura explained to her what had happened and when she was finished she watched Mrs. Dawson's reaction carefully and prepared herself to get scolded.

"Laura first of all I want to thank you for telling me; that shows great maturity and I respect that. But at the same time you're only eleven years old and you're still learning yourself next time I think I'll take Gabriela shopping with me and then maybe when you're older and a little more mature we can try letting you watch her again."

"Okay Mrs., Dawson. When I get home I'll tell my parents too."

"Very good," Esmeralda nodded as she looked down at Gaby who was still playing with her favourite doll, "I think I'll talk to your parents as well."

Laura knew that would happen and she knew that meant she wouldn't be allowed to babysit until she was a little older. And that angered her a little and as much as she understood why it needed to happen she wished people could see that she was tried her best given the situation she was in.

"Onio!" Gabriela's trembling voice snapped Laura out of her thoughts, "Onio hurt!" She jumped off her mother's lap and ran towards her brother as fast as her little legs could carry her.

"Hey, hey squirt," Antonio bent down to soothe his sobbing baby sister, "I'm alright.

"No, blood," She pointed to his spilt lip and frowned, "Pital," She tried to pronounce 'hospital'.

"Maybe Gabby."

"No!" Gabby grabbed his hand and began pulling him, "Mommy!"

"Don't worry Gabriela we'll take Antonio to the hospital, "Esmeralda assured her young daughter as she examined her son's swollen split lip and bruised face.

"Mom! This s boxing it happens," Antonio took the ice pack off his lip to explain, "It's fine really."

"Antonio Dawson," Esmeralda shook her head, "You go take your sister and sit over there," She pointed to some chairs, "I want to have a word with your coach." She began making her way down the hallway and towards the gym entrance.

"Mom! No!" Antonio shouted after her but as she was already in the gym he rolled his eyes, "Ugh!" He turned to Laura, "She's going to embarrass me."

"Tony," Laura looked him the eyes, "You're lips are really swollen. You need to go to the hospital."

"Laur, I don't care about that! I know my mom is going to say this is to dangerous!"

"Well if you're going to get hurt like that then maybe it is," She pointed out, "Now it's a split lip but who knows what it'll be the next time. You're good Antonio but this is a contact sport."

"What? Would you feel better if I did ballet?" He bit back.

"Antonio you're unbelievable!" Anger began to boil up inside her, "You know I'm just worried."

"Well Laura you know I love boxing. My dad wouldn't mind me getting hurt. It's just because you're a stupid girl." He told her.

"Fine!" Laura stepped away, "But you're an idiot," She turned and marched right out of the gym.


On Monday at school the Grade Six A class had First Period Gym so as Terry and Laura were warming up Laura ran her Best Friend all the details about what happened on Saturday.

"Boy's are stupid!" Laura vented to Terry, "But Antonio's the worst. He ended up with a split lip; he had to get stiches. And he's still participating in gym class," She exclaimed as she saw Antonio look their way before stopping and going to warm-up with some other boys from their class. "He won't even talk to me. I wish he would."

"Well Laur-" Terry stopped talking when she saw a boy walk up and talk to their gym teacher Mr. G. "Ooh, look at him." She nudged Laura as they both smiled at the new boy, "He's cute isn't he?"

"Yeah I guess," Laura shrugged as she began to study him, "Wonder who he is."

"Well, his name is Freddie Prince, he's the same age as us. He recently moved here from St Louis, his dad is the new Firefighter commisser, no siblings, moms a nurse."

Rasingh her eyes Laurta turned her bpdy to face her friend, "Wanna share how you know so much?"

"I might have been in the office giving a note to the secretary when he and his mother arrived." She responded sneakily.

"Terr if its one thing you're good at its snooping."

"I'll take that as a compliment," She grinned.

"You would," Laura laughed as she gently pushed her and both girls started to giggle. This caused Freddie to turn and look at them; when he did he saw Laura and warmly smiled at her.

"Laura," Terry saw Freddie smile and nudged her friend who went slightly red in the cheecks.

"Ooh someone has a crush on the new boy."

"What? No I don't!" Laur's gace turned a deeper shade of red as she saw the gym teacher guide Freddie over to Antonio.

"You so do," Terry teased back.

"Terry ssh," Laura hushed her as she scooted forward in en effort to hear the converstation that was being held between Antonio, Mr. G and Freddie.

"Antonio," The gym teacher Mr. G approached the young boy and patted his shoulder. Antonio stopped stretching and looked up at his teacher, "Antonio this si Freddie," He nooded to the boy staning beside him, "Today's his first day. I'd like you to show him around the school, make him feel welcome."

"Yes Sir," Antonio nodded his head.

"Good," Mr. G walked away and left the two boys to get accuanted.

"So… you play any sports?"

"Yeah I'm a compttive boxer." He failed to mention he hadn't yet been in any compettions. "What about you?"

"Oh I'm into hockey and football. My father was QB at his school back in his day."

"Cool," Antonio nodded, "Well we're playing soccer in gym class this week." He saw that Mr. G was about to blow the whistle to call everybody in to start the class.

For the rest of gym class Antonio and Freddie were talking and getting to know each other pretty good and they both seemed to think that they had found a best friend.

TBC


Chapter 11 Preview: Antonio introduces Freddie to Laura and Terri and someone gets a visit from the Green-Eyed Monster.

A\N: Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of the chapter.