This update is long overdue. I've just about finished this story, however I write at work in a book, and I just haven't had the time to transfer it from my book, to my laptop to upload it. I hope there are still readers for this story. I promise to try and work more time in to update more frequently.
Can you believe Shay is gone. :( ugh. But Dawsey engagement is exciting. Very bittersweet knowing Shay isn't there to have Gabby get excited with.
This update is dedicated to jscat2! Because I miss her writing on a daily basis, and because I'd like to think of her as a friend rather than a co-fan! :)
Hope you enjoy!
Gabby sat between Shay and Matt; all of firehouse fifty-one seated around them, as they chowed down on the stew Mills had spent the day cooking. Like Matt had promised her, not one of the guys had treated her any different. They were a family, herself included and she couldn't have felt more blessed to be a part of such a loving one. Matt looked down at his phone when he heard it buzz, immediately standing up, he grabbed the attention of Gabby and Shay-nudging them to follow him before rushing off toward his office with the phone to his ear.
"Hey..Antonio.." Matt stood quietly, watching Shay shut the door before she took a seat next to Gabby on Matt's bed. Gabby tensed when she saw the expression on Matt's face visibly change from worry to anger. Shay wrapped her arms around Gabby.
"..Yeah, I'll uh tell her. Thank you for calling." Matt hung up the phone, and turned to lean his hands against the wall. Shay was the first to break the silence;
"Matt..what is it?" He shook his head before punching the wall he'd been leaning on, Causing Gabby and Shay to jump. Realizing he'd scared them, he walked over, kneeling in front of them. That was when Gabby noticed the knuckles of his hand bruised and bleeding.
"Oh my god, your hand." Shaking his head, his brushed it off, his only concern was for the women he loved.
"Antonio, umm- he called the courts to see if it was possible to get this done without you having to face your attacker. The defense on the case-they're claiming you have an obsession. It would seem the restraining order is out of question since he doesn't live in Chicago."
Gabby's stare remained forward. She couldn't believe those bastards had the nerve to blame her.
"Talk to us baby..."
"How could they say that? They attacked me."
"Because Thomas has been the only legally proven guilty based on evidence, the others involved- are claiming you'd been flirting with them before the attack. That you made it up when they wouldn't give into you."
Gabby leaned her head, in her hands. Her body shaking with sobs. When she looked back up, Shay and Matt both had tears threatening to fall from their eyes.
"Matt, Shay I swear I wasn't flirting, I didn't want what happened to happen! I.."
"Gabby, Baby-"
"No, you have to believe me I swear I didn't!"
"Hey, Gabby look at me. You do NOT have to defend yourself. Okay? we believe YOU. These accusations they've been are bullshit. We know that."
Shay bit her lip, terrified for her best friend. "Matt, what are we going to do?"
"We're going to protect Gabby. If anyone comes near her, they'll be lucky to live past the night let alone ever see the light of day again."
"Maybe you two should stay with Kelly and I for the time being. We have a third room, they'll be more protection then!"
"Absolutely not! It's bad enough I'm risking all of you at the firehouse, and Matt at his home- I will NOT put you and Kelly at risk too!"
"Goddammit Gabby! You're my best friend! I don't care about the risks I need to know you're safe! Please?"
The tears that had been threatening to fall moments ago, were now freely streaming down Shay's face. Gabby looked over to Matt, watching his nod of approval.
"Okay." Gabby fell into Shay's arms crying.
"I'm going to fill Kelly in on everything." Matt quietly left the office, shutting the door behind him - knowing at this moment Gabby needed her best friend.
Matt found Kelly on the apparatus floor, sitting with the rest of the guys. "Hey Kelly, you got a sec?"
"Yeah man, of course." He got up, following Matt into the kitchen.
"I hope it's okay with you, Shay kind of offered up your spare room for Gabby and I for the time being."
"Of course that's okay, is everything alright man?"
"No, not really. It looks like the restraining order won't be able to go through and Gabby is pretty scared so is Shay..I think they need to be around their best friend."
"Well you got it, whatever you need man."
"Thanks..listen there's um all some accusations being thrown at Gabby."
"What do you mean?"
"These guys, their saying Gabby tried seducing them, and liked about their involvement as payback when they didn't take the bait."
Kelly ran his hand across the back of his neck. "Jesus Christ man, I'm sorry. What can I do to help?"
"You're doing enough, just by helping me keep her safe. It's just..listen I know it's hard subject but..what'd you do for Katie, you know when she was, um.I just I really love her man and I'm afraid I won't be able to help her.."
"Be there for her. I know it sounds simple and it doesn't sound like enough, but that's all you can do. Some days she might seem perfectly fine..until she wakes up at three in the morning screaming for them to leave her alone. She'd either going to need you to hold her, or need space. Whatever it is she needs give it to her. Some nights she might need Shay, or Antonio, other nights she might need You or her mom- hell she might need all of you. But whatever it is, give it to her, and try to remember its nothing personal."
"Thanks man." Matt looked down, and Kelly could see the loan tear fall from his cheek to the floor, landing on his work boot.
"There's something I left out Matt.." Matt looked back up to him, tears streaming from his eyes.
"I know you're trying to be strong for her, and I know you feel like you have to be her rock; but that right there-" Kelly pointed to Matt's tears, "-Sometimes that's the best thig for her. Letting her know that she isn't alone in this. That it's affecting you as much as it is her, Let her know her fears, and her pain is completely valid."
"Yeah, thank you."
"No worries. listen" he grabbed the ring of keys from his pocket, and removed a tiny gold one-"I know you need to grab some things from your place, here's the key to the apartment-feel free to make a copy for you and Gabby."
Kelly gave Matt one finally hug before walking back out.
After shift Gabby and Matt walked hand in hand away from the station towards his truck. Gabby wrapped her arms around his torso, and leaned into his side. "I don't know how I would get through any of this without you. Opening up to you was the best thing I could have ever done"
Matt let out a soft sigh, before placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Matt."
"I can't believe we've only known each other a few weeks. It's so easy with you."
"The second you stepped foot into that bar, I never told you but I had a thought; everything has changed. That moment it just seemed like I was meant to be there, you know"
"I do know, because I had that same thought. Maybe fate really is a thing."
"Two people lost and scared, meeting in a bar and falling in love just when they need the other most...That definitely sounds like part of a grand design" Matt kissed the top of her head when he'd finished speaking.
"Lets grab out things, Maybe we can stop for a pizza on the way to Shay and Kelly's."
"Sounds perfect."
Well what'd you think? Again I appreciate your patience. The next chapter will be longer and will have lots of drama.