Hey guys!

Apologies for such the delay!

I want to thank you all for the great reviews from the last chapter - every one made me smile and I'm grateful for all of you!

I hope you enjoy this chapter - though it's not all that nice:( Here's a mountain that they have to climb.

Have a great day!

oxoxo


"Oh you want to talk about embarrassing? Sit down my friend and let me show you something..." I tell a smug Cruz, who quickly pulls up a chair beside me and awaits eagerly.

I pull out my phone and find the video I'd recorded from the other night. Setting my volume up to the maximum I pressed play, watching Cruz's face change from smug arrogance to sheepish and abashed in seconds.

The loud music was capturing the others attention and soon I had the crowd of merry drinkers huddled around me, watching their drunken antics from the bar. I laughed at their faces and Mills 'high-fived' me.

"You see, the three sober musketeers enjoyed your excentric dancing so much we decided to record it as evidence... See there's the dad's dancing at a wedding - Mouch and Herrmann -, 'Dumb and dumber' in the form of Capp and Clarke doing a very weird impression of the 'robot' and finally, the three wannabe strippers," I explain with a great amount of humor in my voice, enjoying teasing them for their performances.

"I'll have you know I do a very good robot, thank you Dawson," Capp counteracted with a chuckle, finding the whole thing rather funny.

Mouch huffed and returned to his couch with a laughing Herrmann in tow. Shay slapped my shoulder, "You didn't tell me you recorded that!"

I wiggle my brows at her, "I didn't tell you that I took a picture of you and Kelly stripping at 2am either."

Shay snatched my phone and scrambled through to find it with Kelly by her side. Matt nudges my side with his sweet smile on his face, "I think we'd make pretty good strippers."

I raise a brow at him, "Oh really? Well in that case let me doll you three up and make some money out of you."


Whilst wandering through the firehouse trying to find Shay to help me with inventory because I was not doing it alone, I spotted Kelly sat at the squad table, staring at his phone as it lay on the table.

Coming to the conclusion that Shay and inventory can wait indefinitely, I moved towards the table and sat down, "Waiting for a call?" I said after Kelly moved his eyes from the phone to me.

"Yeah..." he drawled quietly, looking almost sheepish as if I'd embarrassed him.

I wiggled my brows suggestively and teased, "Look at you, Kelly Severide, professional ladies man extraordinaire, all loved up," before ending with a laugh that caused his cheeks to blush lightly.

"And so what if I am?" Kelly answered as a smile tugged at his lips, before leaning back into his chair to relax.

"It's cute. I'm happy for you. And Erin. You guys are great together you know," I tell him honestly, watching as his smile softened and his eyes glistened as he thought of Erin.

"I do know that Gabs, I do."

I move to flip the switch to close the garage doors, the bitterness of the Chicago winter blowing into the house. "It'd good to see you all lit up like a Christmas tree too, a difference from your grumpy old self."

Turning around with a shocked expression I swat his arm, "I was not grumpy!"

Kelly chuckles loudly, "Sure thing sweetie. But honestly, it's great to see you this happy."

I look towards the doors instinctively, knowing that Matt was somewhere inside, "Yeah... It's because of Matt. I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for him Kelly."

"Hey," he murmurs to capture my attention back from the doors, "You've helped him too Gabs. Don't doubt what you do for him. I've never seen Matt like this before either."

Before I could answer Kelly his eyes widened with shock and anger. I turned quickly on my feet just as Kelly stood and pulled my body behind him in a protective stance. I looked past Kelly to what he was glaring at.

My jaw dropped.

"Oh the blonde one is a main feature now yeah? Well I've got a bone to pick with him, he busted up my nose real bad..." Ray's words were slurred, angry and sly, and he wobbled on his feet as he stumbled a few feet closer.

"What the hell are you doing here Ray?" I accused as I moved around Kelly to face Ray head on, but Kelly held on to my arm to keep me close.

Ray was completely drunk and full of desperation and rage, his eyes smouldered darkly as he looked at me. His finger raised to point at me, "I think it's pretty clear why Gabriela."

"Ray I want nothing to do with you," I told him fiercely, "You lied to me for a year Ray, and we broke your wife's heart because of your selfishness... Go walk yourself sober and go home. We're done."

A deathly pause ensued before Ray's face turned red with rage as he screeched, "We're not done!" I flinched back and Kelly took a stance in front of me once more. Seconds later the guys came rushing out and Matt headed straight for Ray.

I halted him as he went by us, pressing my hands firmly against his chest. Matt looked down at me, his blue eyes filled with anger and an urge to defend me. I shook my head, "Matt, no."

"Oh how sweet..." Ray drawled bitterly and I turned to glare at him.

Our eyes met and I saw how furious he was and how desperate, "Go Ray, now. I won't stop him from kicking your ass again."

He paused, contemplating whether to test me or not. I guess by the way he scrutinized my face he got his answer. Ray huffed loudly and shook his head, "Have a good life Gabriela..." he hissed as he left, slamming the door behind him.

I let out a shaky breath, expecting to feel relieved but a deep feeling of dread filled my stomach. I was snapped out of it as Matt wrapped his arms around me much tighter than I was used too, "Are you okay?"

I nod my head against his shoulder, "Yeah, I'm fine..."

He pulls away and cups my head in his palms, "You're not fine. That asshole has no right to keep doing this to you Gabby, especially if he decides to turn up in that state."

"I know," I sigh and then I'm reminded that the guys are standing there watching us, "I'm gonna go use the bathroom..."

As I pass by them I say, "Guys I'm sorry you had to see this again," before quickly rushing inside. I rush to the bathroom and lock myself in one of the stalls, sitting on the toilet seat. I bury my head in my hands, wondering why my entire body was on edge and why no matter how hard I tried to push away the feeling of fear and foreboding, it wouldn't go away.


The rest of the shift went by with little drama. Chief offered me to go home, but I told him that the only thing that was going to get my mind off Ray was work. Matt suggested that I call Antonio, but I didn't want to worry him. Besides, I knew how angry he'd get over Ray showing up here again. Shay sang to me as we did inventory, lightening my mood greatly and making me laugh like crazy. She knew just how to cheer me up.

At 8am we changed out and everyone began making their way home. Kelly, Shay, Matt and I were heading out to get breakfast so we were the first to leave, the rest of the guys dawdling in the garage. Kelly and Shay climbed inside of Kelly's Camaro and Matt and I moved to Matt's truck, but he stopped me before I could climb inside.

He took my hand in his and sighed, "Baby, I'm worried..."

"About me," I finished for him, looking away awkwardly, "I'm sorry that he keeps showing up. I know it's not fair to you-"

Matt shook his head, "This has nothing to do with me. It's you that I'm worried about baby, I know he's scaring you."

I nodded, "He is. I've got this awful feeling that something bad is going to happen Matt and I don't like it."

He kisses me slowly, pulling away slightly to murmur against my lips, "I promise I won't let anything happen to you Gabby."

A small smile tugs at my lips as Matt opens my door for me and slide inside. A second later he was by my side, taking my hand in his. He set the truck into drive and we pulled off the curb.

The radio came to life just as everything went dark.


Shay

Kelly and I waited in the Camaro for Matt and Gabby to finish talking. She looked worried and I knew from looking in her eyes today that she was. Matt was trying to set her at ease, calm her, just like he always did.

Kelly sighed bitterly, "That fucking bastard has some nerve to show up again."

I nod my head and turn up the heating as I was shivering against the cold leather seats, "What does he think it'll achieve? That she'll run back into his arm and forgive him? He's an idiot if he thinks she'll do that."

I watched as Kelly swallowed thickly. I could tell how much he was worried for Gabby. She was his little sister in so many ways and he always felt the need to protect her like she was blood. He couldn't stand the idea of her being hurt and he despised the thing to hurt her.

"He's desperate Shay... and drunk."

Matt and Gabby soon climb into his truck after Matt succeeded, as always, in calming Gabby so much that a smile graced her features. I was so happy that they'd found each other. Looking back, they were a perfect fit from the start.

We drove off just as Matt had and before I knew it Kelly was slamming on the brakes. I didn't know what happened. I yelped. The seatbelt bit my skin.

Kelly launched himself out of the car after glancing at me. I looked up. A black jeep had slammed into Matt's truck. The driver's side. A fit of panic took over.

I quickly followed Kelly calling for help but already finding our shift and first shift rushing down the driveway. Chief was already giving orders. His face paled.

I made myself by Gabby's side, she was unconscious. I yanked on her door and found that it opened fine. I pressed my fingers against her neck. A strong pulse.

Matt's arm was thrown across her lap. He protected her.

People are screaming.

Gabby's head lulls to one side as her eyes open. They flutter at first, before they open widely, stunned. She screams.

"Matt!" She yells after seeing him. For the first time I take a look at him.

He was in bad shape.

"Come on buddy," Kelly's calling as first shift maneuver to get the driver door open. Gabby's trying to tend to him. Chief and I hold her still.

"Get off me! Help him - not me! Help him!" She screeches at us, tears running down her face.

Taylor and Mac, the first shift ambo guys, slide Gabby out of the car with the help of Chief and Herrmann. She's yelling at them to help Matt, to leave her alone, to make sure he's okay. He's still unconscious.

Chief and Herrmann, both EMT certified, tell Taylor and Mac to tend to Matt as they deem that Gabby wasn't badly hurt. 'Cuts and bruises' I hear Chief murmur to Mills. I sit beside Gabby on the pavement and make sure she stays put. I pull her into my arms, feeling her body shake.

Gabby looks over to the black jeep that slammed into Matt's truck.

"It's Ray," she says, just as he's pulled out of the jeep and taken to sit on the pavement also. His heads bleeding. That's it.

When Matt is pulled from the wreck Gabby rushes over, pushing her way past the guys. I follow quickly. They're rolling him into 61. He's covered in blood.

He's still unconscious.

Gabby climbs into 61, crying and screeching to Matt 'Stay with me!'

The sirens wail away. They have a police escort.

Kelly launches at Ray. Chief, Herrmann and Otis pull him away. He rushes to the Camaro. I rush too.

Before I climb inside I hear Chief tell everyone to head to Lakeshore - 'That's where 61 is taking them' he says.

Kelly cries as he drives as fast as he can to the hospital. I don't see Kelly cry often. It's obviously bad. Of course it's bad.

I cry too.


Chief, Herrmann and Mouch make it to the hospital at the same time as us. Everyone else are not far behind.

We're directed into a the waiting area of the emergency room. Gabby is pacing there. She's covered in blood. Kendra's trying to get her looked at, but Gabby's having none of it.

"She's in shock," Kendra explains as the guys take seats around her, "But I need to take a look at her head."

I nod and approach her, placing my hands on her arms causing her to stop pacing and look at me. She's crying desperately.

"He was seizing Shay. It's bad. It's bad."

We somehow get her to a small side room to be looked at. Just her, Kendra and me. Kendra's as quick as she can be without dropping her standards and comes to the conclusion that Gabby's fine, aside from the shock and a sprained wrist. Then I realise that the blood's not hers.

Gabby sees me staring at her bloodied clothes, "It's not mine," she murmurs, "It's the blood from his head and leg. His leg had a pretty deep wound - he lost a lot of blood. But they're worried about his head. It's bad."

I nod and take her into my arms, cradling her crying body against mine. I couldn't tell her that everything was going to be okay. That Matt was going to be okay.

I couldn't tell her because I simply didn't know.