A\N: Thank you so much for all of you who have been reading and reviewing this story; I am so glad you all like it so much. This chapter is a little more serous and heavy they the previous few but its an important one as it starts the healing process for Gabby.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, NBC or Global.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: None

Chapter 14

Overnight Chicago had gotten its first major snowstorm of the year and because more was expected later it was a snow day. With the intention of going sledding Leslie, Kelly, Matt and Andy had come to Gabby's house to ask if she wanted to come. She did, there was only one problem she was babysitting Eva. So, an hour and a half later after bundling her niece up in four layers and writing a note explaining where she was going Gabby grabbed her key and put it on a lanyard and tucked it underneath her coat and loaded Eva onto her sled.

"Can she go down that hill?" Andy asked raising an eyebrow as the group of friends made their way up to the huge hill already crowded with people.

"Sure," Gabby shrugged her shoulders, "I don't see what the problem is. I'll go with her." So they climbed up to the top of the hill and Gabby got on the sled behind Eva she held onto her as tightly as she could and went down the hill.

As they got to the bottom she put her feet down to stop them from crashing and looked down at her niece who was giggling and laughing away.

"You liked that?"

Eva clapped her hands in delight pointed up at the hill.

"Wanna go again?"

She started clapping and laughing as she picked up some snow on the ground and ate it. Realizing it was cold she made a face and looked up at Gabby and frowned.

"Silly, snow isn't for eating," Gabby shook her head and laughed as she pulled the sled back up the hill.

They went down the hill four more times together and Eva went with Leslie twice and Matt three times.

"Mama!" Eva saw her mother walking up the hill and tried to get out of Gabby's grasp.

"Mommy," Gabby turned and saw Laura walked their way.

"Gabby," Laura approached her a slight smile on her face, "I got home early and saw your note."

"Yeah," She nodded her head, "I know this probably isn't the best place for Eva but-

"You're right, its not a place I'd ever take her; but I know you were careful with her and you dressed her warmly; and she seems to have enjoyed it; I really appreciated to note too." Laura knew that if she and Antonio ever hoped to make Gabby feel at home with them they had to trust her. She was great with Eva and had done everything she should have done before taking her out instead of scolding her for doing it she decided to praise her for doing what she should have and did do.

"She was very careful with her Mrs. Dawson," Leslie promised, "We all were."

Laura smiled at the young teenager, she appreciated the fact that all of Gabby's friends were very nice kids and all seemed to be very protective and good to Eva whenever they were with her.

Eva who was now in Laura's arms looked at Gabby, making noises.

"You can say my name," Gabby looked at her, "You did it a few weeks ago, you got me into trouble with Daddy," She reached out and tickled the ten month olds stomach.

"Yeah she's getting the hang of talking," Laura agreed, "But she won't completely get the hang of it for awhile."

Gabby nodded, "You home the rest of the day?" She asked hoping to spend some time alone with her friends. She loved looking after her niece but she loved hanging out with her friends and not always having to worry about her.

"Actually I was wondering if maybe you and Leslie wanted to spend some time shopping at the mall? I have to meet my supplier at a store near there so I can meet with him while you two shop and then depending on the weather maybe Leslie can sleepover."

"Oh cool," Gabby grinned turning to look at her friend,

"I'll have to ask my parents but I'm sure it wont; be a problem."

"Well I was going to head out now how about I give the boys a ride home and then you can run in and ask your parents on the way?"

"Sure. Come on boys!" She called over her shoulder to Kelly, Matt and Andy.

"Okay I'll meet you girls at the food court entrance in three hours," Laura told Gabby and Leslie as they parked in front of the mall and they got out of the car, "If you still want to go shopping after that we can."

"Okay," Gabby nodded, "Thanks Laur.

"Of course, have fun," She told them and then drove way.

"Alright," Leslie linked arms with Gabby and together they walked into the mall, "Where to first?" She looked at the mall directory.

"Here," Gabby pointed to her favourite store.

"Good choice," Leslie agreed and they made there way towards the store. Once inside they went to look at formal dresses and began looking around. There were all kinds of them, short ones, and long ones, even ones with bows. They were in every colour imaginable as well.

"Ooh Gabby," Leslie held up a dark purple knee length dress, "This would look so pretty on you."

Gabby looked at the dress; to be honest she loved the colour but she wasn't sure how it would look on her. She was somewhat overdeveloped and things looked bulky on her because of it. Also she thought her hair was to thick to do anything with and a dress like that needed a fancy hair due.

"I don't know."

"Oh come on Gab's!" She sighed and pulled her arm, "Go and try it on!" She pointed to the change rooms, "I'm going to try these on!" She showed her the dresses she'd already picked out.

"Alright," She walked into the dressing rooms with her and went into a stall to try on the dress. She tried it on and was surprised to see it fit her and well. She loved the colour and she thought she looked okay in it. Suddenly she wished her mother were still here, she always told her the truth no matter what. If she looked good in something she'd tell her, and if she didn't she'd tell her too. Shaking her head as tears fell out of her eyes she changed back into her clothes and walked back into the store.

She walked back to the rack to put the dress back and wait for Leslie when she saw a girl about her age shopping with her mother; she looked on with jealousy until she heard the girl yell at her mother for what looked like no apparent reason. As she yelled she told her how much se hated her and that she wished she would die.

Her eyes suddenly blinking Gabby re-lived the crash and collapsed onto the floor sobbing. "Mo-om- Da-ad" She stuttered out as she tried to stand but fell back down.

"Sweetheart!" An older woman rushed towards her and knelt down by her side, "Can you hear me?"

"Mo-om!" Gabby finally was able to sit up, she looked around frantically, only half aware of her surroundings. She knew her mother was dead but it was like she expected to see her anyways.

"Where's your mother sweetie?" The woman asked gently.

"Gabby!" Leslie ran to her friend, "What happened?" She looked at the woman a horrified expression on her face.

"Do you know her?"

"She's my best friend," Leslie had to stop herself from crying, "What happened?"

"She collapsed and she's delirious. You stay with her all right. Do you know where her parents are? She keeps asking for them."

"Her parents died," She told her, "She lives with her older brother and sister in-law. I think-I think her sister in-law's at a restaurant nearby, in the mall maybe. Her names Laura Dawson."

The woman nodded and rushed off to call 911. "Gabby," Leslie sat down next to her friend who was still shaking, "Gabby you're going to be okay," She wasn't sure if she was telling her that or reassuring herself of the fact; wither way for the next twenty minute Leslie sat next to Gabby as she continued to shake and mutter words.

"Gabby!" Laura ran towards the young girl and immediately took her into her arms, "Come on sweetie," She helped Gabby up. She was almost positive she was having a serious panic attack, something her psychologist had warned them could happen at any time. She needed to get her home or to a hospital and calm her down.

"Where are we going?" Leslie stood up as well and followed her.

"We need to get her-" She was cut off when Eva started to cry which only caused Gabby to shake even more and her eyes to close.

"GABBY!" Laura shouted as she watched as she slipped to the floor unable to stand, "GO CALL 911!" She shouted to Leslie who ran back to the store to use their phone.

"I called them!" She came back as quick as she could and took a very fussy Eva into her arms; she wanted to help and it was the only way she could think of to help, "Please don't cry sweetheart," She soothed the baby, "Please don't cry."

Eva looked at her and continued to cry, she looked around at all of the people suddenly surrounding her and panicked, as she couldn't see Laura, "Mama!" She cried, "Mama!"

"Mommy's busy," Leslie tried to comfort her.

This only seemed to make Eva even more upset and she thrashes around in Leslie's arms in an effort to escape. "MAMA!" She screamed as loud as she could and bite Leslie's arm, "MAMA!"

"Eva," Leslie held her bloody arm as she carried Eva over to where Gabby was now being tended to my paramedics.

"Mama!" Eva reached out to Laura.

"Leslie I hate to ask you this but can you can you call Antonio," She handed her the number on a piece of paper, "He's at work but he'll come and pick up Eva and then meet me at the hospital. I want to go with Gabby."

"Yeah sure," Leslie nodded and pocked the number as she watched her best friend being wheeled away. She walked to the nearest pay phone and called the number and as best as she could began to explain what had happened.

"Detective Dawson its Leslie Shay. Gabby and I were out shopping and…. And she fainted and Mrs. Dawson had to come back and get her and I have Eva and she told me to call you and meet her at the hospital but come and get Eva first.

Antonio tried to take in everything the teenager was telling him. Gabby had fainted and Laura had gone with her to the hospital. "I'll be there as soon as I can!" Meet me out front of the main entrance.

Around twenty minutes later Antonio pulled out and jumped out of the car rushing to take Eva from Leslie, "You need a rife home?"

"No my Mom's coming to get me," She answered.

"Alright," He nodded and then walked back to the car and drove off. That was when Leslie finally allowed herself to cry; she'd never been in an experience like that before and wasn't sure what to think. Was it going to happen all the time? Was Gabby really sick? Would this happen to Matt? What would Matt say?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Gabby refused to look at her child psychologist Dr. Karen Allison. She was right now looking down at the floor doing her best not to start crying again, "I don't want to remember."

"I know you don't sweetie," The doctor with greying hair and glasses looked at her, "But we need to know why these happen so you can get better. I know you had a bad panic attack a few months ago-"

After the EMT's had gotten Gabby to become responsive again they'd realized she'd gone into a serious panic attack. On arrival to the hospital she was rushed into see Dr. Hart who had already been worried these panic attacks would only get worse. It was, as she feared for weeks; Gabby was suffering from PTSD.

"It was her fault!" She screamed, tears rushing down her face, "She-she said horrible things…"

"Ssh Gabby," Dr. Allison rushed to her side and comforted her, "We'll get through this. Do you want me to get Antonio and Laura?"

"Just Antonio," She sniffled.

"Okay," She stood and left her office only to return with Antonio who immediately went to his sister's side and hugged her.

"Come on Gabby," He helped her up and walked with her out of the office, "You stay here with Laura alright. I'm just going to talk to Dr. Hart.

"Okay," Gabby nodded and tried to smile at her sister –law.

Following the doctor into her office Antonio rubbed his hands together and paced around the room nervously, "So how bad is she Doc? Does she need to be admitted again?"

"No, what Gabriela needs right now is support and lots of it. In children her age PTSD is uncommon so that might be why it went undetected until now but I do think that all of the symptoms add up to this. Now that we know what it is we can teach her how to manage the symptoms and feelings. It may work or or may not work there's nothing we can guarantee.

He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck and let out a sigh "She was such a good kid. So happy and kind; I only see that sometimes now and I just wish there was more I could do. She won't talk to me anymore and she tells Laura some things but we just don't know what to do."

"She tells me a few things. One thing she did mention was an Officer Erin Lindsay. She met her, she seems to really like her."

"Oh yeah," Antonio remembered, "Yeah Erin's great, really seems like a good role model for Gabby; she didn't have a good childhood, overcame a lot.

"Well then I'd suggest maybe asking Erin to meet with Gabby again. It might help out a little. I think maybe she wants someone to talk to that's safe. That used to be your wife and you but now you're both taking on a parental role. She needs that and she knows she does but she's also used to having a safe person to talk to who won't judge but will also help her."

Antonio nodded, "Makes sense thanks Doc. Same time on Tuesday?"

"Yep," She nodded and watched as Antonio walked out of the office.

"Anything you want for dinner kiddo?" He asked Gabby as he walked back into the waiting room.

"No," Gabby shook her head, "I'm not hungry. Can I go home with Laura? I want to talk to her."

"Oh," He tried not to look to shocked, "Yeah of course; I'll take Eva."

"Thanks Babe," Laura handed him their daughter and the baby bag. Walking with her sister in-law back to her car she was silent and watered for Gabby to speak up.

"Leslie's going to hate me," She finally said, as her eyes once again looked downwards, "She probably thinks I'm a freak."

"No Gabby," Laura reached out to assure her, "She was very concerned for you. She was so scared; when we get home you should call her just to talk."

"No! I'm a freak! Matt's not going to want to go to the dance with me," She climbed into the passenger seat of the van and slumped down, "I hate my life."

Laura couldn't say she was surprised when Doctor Hart told her and Antonio Gabby had PTSD. She was far from a doctor but all of the symptoms seemed to fit and she was going to be especially cautious on points of suicide or self-harm.

"Things are hard right now sweetheart but they'll get better. I know its hard to see right now but they will.

"I don't think so," She crossed her arms, "You're just saying that."

"No I'm not Gabby," She promised, "Everyone feels sad sometimes and we'll do everything we can to help you but I know your friends want to help you too."

"I don't want to talk," Gabby looked out the window and watched the world go. Ironically that's what her life felt like to her; she felt as if she was sitting in a car and just watching things as they happened, it was like she couldn't control them. She knew she should be happy but she was so angry and sad and she just wanted to see happy things again but she hadn't in a long time; not since she stopped feeling like she was in control of her life.

TBC

A\N: Gabby has PTSD. Now that they know that will they be able to treat her properly or will she only get worse? Will her friends talk to her again or start to distance themselves from her and what could happen that could put Gabby in a life threatening situation?