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Dawson

'Have you left yet? The guys are dying to see you!' Casey's message read and my stomach flipped. So they were expecting me, I thought as I locked my front door, feeling a little nervous but mostly excited to see everyone.

I'd really missed them.

'Just got in my car. Won't be long!' I reply and a large smile spreads across my face as I drive off towards the firehouse. It felt really good and really normal to be heading to 51, and I relished in the feeling of comfort I was getting.

I was beginning to feel much better and my stomach only felt sore now and then, so I told Casey that I would be fine to drive myself and I was. Every little task or chore felt so much easier now that I knew Antonio's shooters were no longer a threat and that Casey and I were okay. It was a massive weight off my shoulders and now the only thing missing was Laura, Eva and Diego who were coming home later today or tomorrow, after being in protective custody in Colorado for all this time.

Antonio was being released very soon too so it seemed like everything was slipping back into place. It was very welcomed.

Fifteen minutes later I pulled up at 51, pausing for moment to take a deep breath before I slide out of the car and lock it. When I look up at the garage I can see the shutters are up, due to the lovely day, and in their place stood everyone, smiling and cheering as they saw me.

I duck my head after feeling my cheeks blush but I pick up my pace to reach them faster, feeling myself being drawn to them.

Two long arms wrap themselves around me and squeeze tightly, "It's so good to see you here!" Shay exclaims as I curl my arms around her waist.

"It's good to be here Shay," I murmur into her shoulder.

She spins me around to face the guys and my heart tugs at their smiling faces, "I just wanted to tell you all how thankful I am for everything you've done for me and how you all stood by me, even though I didn't deserve it... I love you guys..." I could feel myself tearing up so I quickly said, "So someone come and give me a hug before I cry..." I laugh wiping at my eyes.

Cruz, Herrmann and Otis rush forward and engulf me in their large arms cheering, "We love ya Dawson!" I found myself being passed on to Mouch and Severide, then Clarke and then Chief, "We're glad to have you back and I'm happy you're doing well."

I smile, "Thank you Chief."

I see Mills standing beside Chief who I offer a smile too, worried about his reaction to me, "Glad you're back Dawson," he says quietly with a small smile. I guess we were okay, "Thanks Mills."

Then I feel familiar hands clutch at my shoulders, "Hey Casey," I smile, turning my head to see his face and I immediately feel my heart beginning to pump at a much faster rate.

"Wasn't so bad huh?" He grins as I turn around.

I raise a brow, "I'm glad I trusted you."

Casey

Dawson sat with the guys in the breakroom throwing her head back in laughter as Cruz told everyone something funny. I could barely listen as I was in complete awe of Dawson and her beauty and free spirit. The way her cheeks were slightly flushed with pink, the way her eyes glistened with happiness because she was here, the way her lips pulled up into that big showstopper smile, the way her dark locks swayed with her every movement. How she brushed away a lock of hair only for it to fall back again and how her hands seemed to convey her emotions with the way she held them. I was amazed by her and I didn't care. She was my everything.

"So Dawson," Mouch asked from his typical spot on the sofa, "how's staying home all day?" He teases, his glasses slipping down his nose.

Dawson rolls her eyes, "Torture. You don't know how excited I was to get out of the house, even if it was to see you Mouch," she teases lightly, that playful tone in her voice that drove me crazy.

"What can I say, you ladies love me," he laughs, ignoring her sarcasm.

Shay leans over the couch to kiss Mouch's cheek, "Of course we do Mouch."

Macaulay grunts and rolls his eyes, "Hey Macaulay," Dawson calls and he looks up, vaguely interesting, "You been catastrophising my ambo?"

She's answered with a further grunt and eye roll before he returns to his paper, causing Dawson to laugh.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and I take it out, reading the text that said 'We're here'. I lean over and tap Dawson's knee, catching her attention. She turns to me with a smile, "Yeah Casey?"

Shay looks over at us with a genuine smile, knowing what was coming, "I have a surprise for you."

Dawson raises a brow but I can see the curiosity that has sparked in her eyes, "Is it ice-cream?" She asks and the guys laugh, and they begin making their way outside as they knew what I'd planned.

"No, it's better," I chuckle and her curiosity and excitement only spikes.

"What's better than ice-cream?" A deep crease of confusion had settled into her forehead.

I take her hand and lead her outside after the guys, "You'll see," I laugh, amused at how curious she was.

I led her past the guys careful to block her view with my body, "Ready?" I ask when Shay gives me the nod. Dawson was barely containing herself, "Yes?"

So I step out-of-the-way and watch as her jaw drops, tears spring in her eyes before she smiles. She turns to me quickly, "Casey, you...?"

I nod and tilt my head, "Go..." I encourage and I watch as she rushes off towards Laura, Eva, Diego, Antonio and Whilite. Antonio was still in his wheelchair, but I was told he was almost ready for crutches and Laura and the kids looked great.

"Laura! Eva! Diego!" Dawson exclaims hurriedly as she rushes down the drive towards them. Eva and Diego meet her halfway and Dawson engulfs them in her arms, kneeling down as the children bury themselves into her body. Laura then meets them, placing her hand on Dawson's shoulder before she looks up and hugs Laura. Dawson then clutched Eva's hand as they walk towards Antonio before both she and Eva hug him in his wheelchair, and I watch as his face lights up with pure happiness after being reunited with his family.

I feel Shay move next to me, "Doing this for her, it's great Casey. You've really made her happy..." she murmurs and I nod with a smile, "Whatever you're feeling Casey, act on it." Then she walks away, not giving me chance to answer or question.

After a few minutes the Dawson's and Whilite had returned to the car and were now driving off, Dawson waving as they went. I watched as she didn't move from the bottom of the drive, instead wiping at her face.

I quickly jogged down to her, "Dawson?" I soothe when I see her tear stained face.

She turns and throws herself in my arms and I feel her hands clutch at my shirt, "Casey thank you. You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much."

I smile into her hair, "It was my pleasure."

"You're amazing. I hope you know how amazing you are."

Later that evening when it was nearing 9pm I walked Dawson out to her car, after she said her goodbyes to everyone inside. She holds onto my arm as we walk and I get the urge to wrap my arm around her waist, but I refrain from it. Instead I place a hand over her own.

"Thank you for today. It was perfect. I really needed to see the guys and 51, and seeing Antonio, Laura and the kids, it was great. Thank you Casey," Dawson says with nothing but gratitude in her voice.

"It's nothing. I'm glad you got to see them," I reply and I watch as her eyes glisten. So beautiful...

"Even Peter Mills was okay with me, I wasn't expecting that really," she says haphazardly as if she didn't realise what she was saying.

My brows burrow in confusion, "Why would Mills not be okay with you?"

Dawson's face dropped, "Oh, I forgot... Mills and I were... kind of together for a little while before everything happened. We broke it off, but I was expecting him to be angry with me and he was okay."

She was with Mills.

"Oh," I murmur, unable to look at her, "So you're not...together now?"

She shakes her head, "No and it's for the best. We don't click in that way."

I wasn't ashamed at the wave of relief that washed throughout my body. I had no right to be jealous, but I was.

Dawson was leaning against her car when she spoke next, "I can't wait to get back to work," she mumbles as she looks up at the firehouse.

I tuck my hands in my jacket pocket to try to prevent the temptation of touching her, it barely worked, "When do you get back?"

"Another week or two," she sighs unhappily, "I've got to the see the doctor in a few days, I'll know for sure then."

"It'll go by quicker than you think," I offer.

Dawson smiles, "I hope so."

I notice her yawning so I say, "You best get going before you fall asleep on the sidewalk. I don't want to have to haul your ass back up to the firehouse."

She scoffs and jabs my arm lightly with her fist, "The cheek on you, Casey... Yeah, I best head home. Get to bed."

I hug her before she climbs into her car, "Drive safe. Goodnight Dawson."

Dawson smiles and waves, "Goodnight Casey."

And this time, it was me watching as she drove off, watching as she drove further and further away, not moving from the sidewalk until her car was out of sight.

After we got back from a call later that night around 1am I fell into my bunk in hope of getting some sleep before the next alarm. I kicked off my boots and pulled my phone out of my pocket, pressing the button so it would light up. When it did, I noticed I had one message.

I opened it up and read that it was from Dawson, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom' - Marcel Proust."

I fell asleep with the widest smile on my face, feeling my heart beat rhythmically, until I thought of Dawson and then it would skip a beat.