After excusing himself early from the double date at Molly's Casey headed home frustrated that Gabby would not pick up her phone. At first he thought about heading to Antonio's apartment but then decided against it because he did not know what to say. Ultimately he had no right to expect anything from Gabby romantically. Now Matt sat on his couch and took a sip of beer as he tried to forget about everything for a few minutes. He had tried to forget about everything earlier on his double date and had been successful, until he saw Gabby. He didn't expect the fact that she might be starting to date again to hurt so badly, but it hurt like hell. He tried to watch baseball on television as he sipped a beer but his mind wandered back to Gabby and their future. Matt heard his phone ring and saw that it was Antonio and wondered why he would be calling so late. It was nearly 1 am. He hesitated answering but knew it could be about the case.
"Hey Antonio, What's up? " Matt answered the phone trying to sound casual.
"Hey Matt, Have you talked to Gabby lately? I know she was supposed work late at Molly's tonight so I stopped by there earlier. Otis said that she headed home but there isn't any sign of her here at the apartment." Antonio asked and could not hide his concerned tone.
Matt sat down his beer and leaned forward, "No I haven't seen her since around 10 PM tonight when she left Molly's. Did you check with Brett I know that sometimes Gabby hangs out with her,"
Antonio answered, "Yeah she was the first one I called but she hasn't seen Gabby since last shift. I don't like this Matt. I've been trying to call and text her for the past hour and she doesn't respond."
"Dammit, She seemed upset when she left." Matt was on his feet and looking for his keys.
"Oh yeah, any idea what she was upset about?" Antonio asked Matt as he tried to keep the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach at bay.
"I am not sure but I was on a double date with Severide I tried to call her too but she hasn't answered my calls either." Matt felt the guilt start to rise up as he thought about Gabby riding around at this time of night because of something he had done.
Antonio knew something was wrong and began to panic at the thought that his sister may have been targeted before her testimony at the grand jury hearing. "Yeah well, She may not answer your calls but it's not like her to ignore my calls. I am headed back to Molly's to see if her car is still there. I didn't notice it before since I thought she had headed back here. "
Matt felt as if he was going to be physically ill from the thought of Gabby being in the same hands of the people who killed Katya. He nearly dropped his phone when he heard Antonio cursing on the other end of the phone, "Dammit, meet me at Molly's. I am going to call Voigt to meet us there ."
Casey could not get to his truck fast enough as he raced toward Molly's while he tried to erase the image of a dead Gabby out of his head. Nothing could prepare him for even the slightest thought of losing Gabby and their child. Matt drove up to see Antonio standing in front of Halstead and Voigt looking like he was going to punch someone. Casey got out of his truck and strode to the three men standing in Molly's parking lot beside Gabby's car having a heated discussion.
"Can either one of you tell me how Nesbitt was released from custody without us knowing? " Antonio yelled as he talked to Voigt.
"The feds came into district when all of us were off shift and took Jack into Federal custody. Apparently he was given a deal right before we picked him up for Katya's murder. Nesbitt was granted immunity if he turned over all he knew about the human trafficking crime ring to the FBI. Nesbitt's lawyer brokered the deal with the FBI but didn't let us know about it. Apparently the FBI has an agent in deep cover and has had for almost a year. They need Nesbitt to make charges stick. According to my FBI sources they let Nesbitt go right after getting him released from county so that he can meet with the rest of the ring. They want to give him immunity on Katya's murder too in exchange for his testimony. They let him loose thinking that he was going to help them bring the final charges on the Ukranian Mafia. Instead Nesbitt has disappeared and no one seems to know where he is at." Halstead said as he watched Antonio pace and continue to get more upset.
"So this animal could have my sister anywhere? Why the hell didn't someone from the FBI pick up the phone and inform us on their investigation?"
Matt felt the anger rise and then the panic set in as soon as he realized that Gabby was missing and that Nesbit could have her, "Antonio, this can't be true? How could they let Nesbitt go when they knew what he did to Katya?"
Voigt who had been quiet finally spoke up ,"Listen you two, I am going to do anything I have to do make sure that Gabby gets back here and that Nesbitt goes down for what he did. I have a call into the FBI now to see if we can get some of the manpower to sweep Chicago. We already have cops at the airports."
Matt looked sick and confused as he ran his hands over his face., "This is all my fault."
Antonio was just as scared as Matt answers in a voice full of the dread that he felt right now, "This is Nesbitt's fault and if he hurts one hair on my sister's head I'll kill him"
Voigt interjects trying to calm Antonio and Matt down ,"Are you sure that Gabby wouldn't go somewhere to be alone right now? I just want to make sure while Halstead tries to make contact with the FBI office here for leads."
Casey got in Voigt's face, "Do you know what they did to me? They beat the hell out of me and left me for dead. Nesbit and his thugs killed Katya. What do you think they are gonna do to Gabby?"
Voigt could see the frantic look on Casey's face and then he looked at Antonio who hadn't said anything in a while. He could see the stark reality that had set in for both of them. They didn't really know if Gabby was missing or not.
"Listen Casey, Voigt is right, we still don't know if Gabby is missing or not. Why don't you go back to my place and wait to see if she shows up?" Antonio could see that Matt's emotions were getting the better of him. He could also smell the alcohol on his breath which made it harder for the normally stoic Matt to remain calm.
"So are you asking me or telling me to go?" Matt asks Antonio defensively.
Antonio then took Matt aside, "Look I know that you are worried but let me and Voigt do our jobs. I want to find her if she is missing but I need you to go back to the apartment. If Gabby is safe and shows up I want her to be protected since we know Nesbit is on the loose."
Matt looked at Antonio who was holding out a set of keys to his apartment, 'Alright but keep me posted if you find out anything."
Matt drove his truck back to Antonio's and waited to see if Gabby returned. He went into to kitchen to make himself a pot of coffee as he yawned. As he waited for the coffee to be ready he sat down on the couch trying not to think about what could be happening to Gabby. On the end table sat some baby clothing that Gabby had recently bought. Matt picked up the tiny sleeper and socks and fingered them as he thought about Gabby. Damn, If he got another chance he would tell her he wanted it all with her and their child. He wanted the ring and kids and to share the next 50 years with her. They had time to work out her career and all that it meant for them to continue to work together at 51. Matt went into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee when he heard the apartment door open. He glanced up at the clock and by now it was 2:30 am.
Then Matt heard the best sound that he had ever heard Gabby called out, "Antonio, are you still up?" Matt's heart leaped at the sound of Gabby's voice as he stepped out of the kitchen into the living room ready to give Gabby a huge hug. When he rounded the corner into the living room Matt was surprised to see Gabby and a male guest standing in front of him.
"Matt, what are you doing here?" Gabby asked surprised to see Matt standing in Antonio's at nearly 3AM.
Matt's answer was subdued and guarded as he eyed the couple standing before him, "Hey Mills, It's a surprise to see you. And Gabby sit down and I'll explain while you call Antonio. Voigt, he and I are were all out looking for you."
Peter Mills stood beside Gabby and answered while he smile sheepishly, "Hey Casey, I'm in town for a few days. Gabby and I were just playing a little catch up."
Gabby cleared her throat in frustration at Casey's lack of explanation for being in her apartment waiting on her to come come,"Ok now that everyone has said hello, Matt can you tell me what is going on?"
Matt rubbed the back of his head in frustration as he explained to Gabby what was going on.
Gabby took out her phone and realized that her battery was dead. Then she turned to call Antonio so that he knew that she was ok. Matt and Mills talked about the new restaurant and how the Mills family was settling in down south. In the background they heard Gabby talking to Antonio and apologizing for making everyone worried for her. Gabby hung up the phone and turned while saying, "Sorry Matt, I just didn't think about my phone being dead. I started talking to Pete and I guess the time just got away from us."
Matt felt a pang of jealousy but then stubbornly replied,"Well as long as you're ok Dawson. It's been a long night with the double date and then searching for you. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to get going.
Gabby noted that Matt mentioned the date and called her Dawson instead of Gabby, which she knew he did on purpose. All Gabby said was goodnight to Matt who watched as Pete took a seat on the sofa in the living room. As Matt walked down the hall he thought to himself so much for us being a family. All the worry that Casey had faced was gone now and the only thing he could think about was Peter Mills sitting on that couch talking to Gabby. It seemed like all the promises he had made to himself about telling Gabby what he really wanted faded with the reappearance of Peter Mills. But before Matt stepped out of the building he did look around before entering his truck since he hadn't forgotten that Jack Nesbitt was on the loose again.
