Chapter 12

Today I received a review from a reader that reminded what this story was supposed to be about. I want to thank that person, because of them I remembered why I wanted to write this story. When I started this story I wanted to recap from a certain place because I felt that it was important to understand what the characters were feeling. However, I lost sight of that over the last few chapters and focused less on how I saw the characters. From this chapter and on, I plan to focus on my story. My hope is that you will continue to follow along with me on this journey and always be honest. In order to get back on track I need to time jump a little. This Chapter will start right after Gabby went to see Voight at the prison.

Thank you so much.

Grace

Dawson

I use to know what I wanted in life and now I'm so mixed up that I can't even see straight. I know that I still want to be a doctor and I know that I will always want to help people, but I never thought that I would be the type of person to play games with people and that's exactly what I'm doing. After watching Antonio getting shot today, I realized that life isn't perfect and it very short, too short to live it as someone you don't like.

I didn't plan to date Peter or whatever this is, but it happened even though I care deeply about someone else. Peter has wanted me to meet his mom but I know that would mean something different to him then it does to me. And after meeting Casey's mom the other day, I know that it wouldn't be right.

I ache inside knowing what I must do but it is a choice I knew a long time ago I would need to make. For Peter it is a choice that won't include him.

Sitting her on my couch thinking off how all these events have unfolded in the last forty-eight hours has changed my life, not only did my brother get shot but I went to get help from a man that tried to kill the man I love. Now I need to tell Casey what I did.

My phone rings and without looking at it I know who it is. I know that he just wants to make sure I'm okay, but that makes it even harder. I pick up the phone and look at the caller ID.

"Hello" I say I hit the talk button.

"Gabby are you okay" he asks.

"I'm fine" we both know that I'm not telling the truth.

"I'm coming over" he states.

"No Peter don't"

"Gabby I don't think you should be alone right now"

"I'm okay Peter, but if you come over right now you are just going to make this all harder" I tell him.

"Gabby you're not making sense"

"Peter, you know I care about you right?" I ask trying to get him to understand.

"Yeah"

"But I there is someone else that I can't…"

"It's Casey isn't it?" he cuts me off.

"Yes" is the only thing I can say before I hear him end the phone call.

Casey

As I walk into the building, there seems to be something different. I notice that Dawson won't look at me. I'm unsure if it is because of my mother the other day or if it just me. I know that she is going through a lot right now. I wanted to call her last night and help her through all of this but she didn't pick up the phone.

I decide right here and now that I'm going to let her know that I'm here for her. I walk right over to her and see that notices.

"Gabby, are you okay?" I ask wanting to pull her into a hug.

"I'm fine" she replies unable to look me in the eye.

"I'm glad that Antonio is going to be okay. I also heard that someone came forward about the shooting"

"Yeah" she said cleaning the ambulance.

"Well if you need to talk, you know I'm here" I want her to know that no matter what we can always tell each other everything.

I begin to walk away "Casey wait" she calls out.

I turn around to see has stepped down from the ambulance. I can tell something is on her mind and that it is eating her alive.

"I do need to talk to you" she said looking right into my eyes.

"Okay" Say moving closer to her.

"Not here" She says as she looks around the garage.

She walks past me and I follow her. My mind is racing with a million things this conversation could be about. I know that she has been dealing with a lot in the last couple of days but I can't help but think this has something to do with us.

As we walk into the conference room I notice that she looks around to make sure no one is in here. Then she shuts the door. My pulse quickens as a see a million emotions displayed across her beautiful face.

Dawson

This is now or never, I tell myself as I stand in front of him. I know that what I'm about to tell him could end our friendship but I need to completely honest with him.

"You know that the police were here the other day questioning me about Antonio's shooting?" I ask.

"Yeah" he replies as he nods his heads.

"The police believe that Antonio was going rouge and was involved in the doping cases. As I sat there listening to them talk about my brother as if he were a dirty cop, something inside me just snapped. I just felt I needed to help him and I did something that I can't take back" I try to say this as clearly as possible by voice was beginning to shake and I could feel the tears ready to fall down my face.

"Gabby, whatever you did we can deal with it" Matt said as he moved closer to me.

"No Matt we can't. Please let me finish" I say wiping the falling tears from my eyes.

Matt just nodded his head for me to continue.

"I went to the only person that I felt could help me. I felt I had no other choice. I made a deal with Voight"

"You did what?" Matt asked moving away from me.

"I went to go see him in order to help Antonio" I tried to explain but I could feel Casey's anger rip through me.

"That animal tried to have me and Hallie killed and went to him for help?" Matt began to yell.

"I didn't have a choice" I tried to explain.

"No, Gabby you always have a choice"

"No I didn't and it's my brother!" I yelled trying to get him to understand.

"I can't believe you would do this. You went behind my back" Matt said moving towards the door.

"I'm sorry that you feel that why, but I'm not sorry I did it"

Without saying a word, Matt left the conference room. I knew that he would be mad but I thought he would understand why I did it and may be look past it. I now felt this hole in me that was aching so much I couldn't breathe. I have never felt so a lone.

Casey

I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around Gabby's admission. I knew that her heart was in the right place but I couldn't get past the betrayal I felt. She went to get help from the person who tried to have me killed. Just the thought of it makes me sick and the fact that she didn't tell me first was the worst part.

The rest of shift I stayed away from her. I couldn't even look in her direction. Anytime she was in the room I needed to leave, I just couldn't breathe around her.

As I was lost in thought I didn't hear Shay enter the Lieutenant's office.

"You got a minute?" She asked taking the seat next to the desk.

"Umm yeah" I said trying to focus on her.

"I want to talk to you about Dawson" she said looking directly at me.

"Right now is not a good time" I state.

"Just listen, I know what she did was not on the up an up but she did it for her brother. She did it for her family"

"I get that"

"Do you?" she asks me. "I know that if Antonio would have been my brother I would have done the same thing. If the roles had been reversed and Kristi was shot, what would you have done?