Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you guys, I hope you all enjoy this one. Thank you all for the support on the last chapter, it means so much to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one as well, if you have the time. Thank you for reading and supporting my stories!
There is an M-rated section to this chapter, just so you know. Happy reading!
THIRTY SEVEN
Casey's eyebrows furrowed as he was slowly pulled into consciousness, an involuntary chill rushing through his body as the open air hit his bare skin, Matt confused as to why he was suddenly so cold, his mind foggy as he tried to grasp his surroundings. Something was different, something felt strange but through his hazy, tired mind, he couldn't figure it out.
It wasn't until he felt that all too familiar jolt shoot through his lower abdomen that he slowly started to realize what was happening, Matt releasing a low groan as he registered the pressure below his waist, feeling weight resting against his legs as warmth flooded his system.
His breath caught in his throat when he felt her mouth moving over him, her fist gripping what her mouth couldn't cover as she rhythmically worked him, Matt's hands grasping the sheets beneath him as his hips thrust up when another wave of pleasure shot through him, Gabby gagging at the unexpected action before she quickly recovered, continuing her steady pace.
"Gabby…" He coughed out, his breaths choppy as he felt her fist tighten while she stroked him, Matt doing what he could to control himself when he brushed against the back of her throat, Gabby's free hand scratching along the inside of his thigh.
Feeling his body clench underneath her, Gabby tightened her lips around him as she slowly began to pull him from her mouth, stopping at the very end, Matt panting as she focused her attention where he was most sensitive. His heavy breaths turned into low whines as Gabby paid special attention to one specific area, her tongue moving over him expertly, Matt's entire body tensing at the overwhelming sensation.
She followed the signs his body was giving her as she took him fully back into her mouth, Gabby picking up her speed to bring him closure to the edge, before slowing down to an almost painful rate, giving him time to calm down before she riled him up again, Matt groaning in frustration every time he'd fall farther and farther from his release.
Gabby had picked up her pace again, holding onto him with a near death grip as she worked him like only she knew how, Matt's stomach tightening as she drove him closer and closer to that relief he craved.
But as soon as he almost tumbled over the edge, she pulled back completely, Matt falling from her mouth as she let go of him, her hand moving to his thigh as a sharp cry of frustration left his lips. He lifted his head up, glancing down towards her, finding her watching him with a devilish grin on her face, Gabby running both of her hands along his thighs.
"Gabby- please." He huffed out, the muscles in his thighs shaking, Gabby feeling the trembling underneath her hands, Matt clearly desperate for release.
"Just wait." She murmured, moving her hair to the side before she began placing soft, open mouthed kisses along his skin, trailing over his thighs and his hips, Matt's head falling back down against the pillow. His eyes fell closed as he focused on the feeling of her lips on him, Gabby pressing kisses against him, the feather-like touch driving him crazy as she was exactly where he wanted her, but not using enough pressure to get him over the edge.
Another heavy breath left his mouth as her lips moved further up his waist, her kisses trailing along his stomach as she slid up his body. His breath caught in his throat when he felt her bare chest brush over him, Matt having to resist the urge to thrust his hips up against her as her skin moved over his. Slowly, he opened his eyes when she straddled his waist, her hands resting on the mattress on either side of him while she hovered over him, her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth as they locked eyes.
Without a word, Matt lifted his hand up, cradling her cheek in his palm as he stroked his thumb across her skin, a soft smile tugging on her lips. Slowly, he guided her down to him, their lips connecting in a gentle kiss, Matt brushing her hair behind her ear as his other hand moved to her waist, each movement slow and full of want.
Gabby pulled back first, Matt seeing her eyes still closed as she hovered over him, a content smile resting on her face as she breathed deeply, his heart swelling at the sight of her. But when she opened her eyes, he saw that same fire that had been in them moments ago, the gleam in her eyes telling him he was in for something he was sure to enjoy as Gabby slowly sat down on top of him, straightening her spine as she pressed against him, a heavy breath leaving his lips when she grounded herself down on him.
Slowly, she lifted herself up again, giving herself enough room to reach in between them, Gabby gripping him tightly in her palm, the feeling sending a rush of pleasure through him as she began teasing him at her entrance, Matt's breaths becoming shallow. Without warning, she lowered herself down onto him, Matt sinking all the way into her as she rested flush against his hips, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as he filled her completely.
His hands flew to her hips, Matt watching her closely while he waited for her to adjust, her chest rising and falling quickly as she took short breaths, Gabby slowly opening her eyes to find him staring at her, his eyes dark and full of want. With a sly grin, Gabby leaning forward, resting her hands against his chest as she slowly began to lift herself up, before she'd fall back down at the same speed, Matt gripping her hips tightly as he let her lead the way.
She continued on with her treacherously slow pace, Matt biting down on the inside of his cheek as he felt the muscles in his abdomen constrict and relax, a sign of his release building while Gabby dug her nails into his chest, refusing to quicken her movements. He knew she was doing it on purpose, that she was wanting to drive him crazy; and to her credit, it was working, Matt choking out shallow breaths, his heart pounding in his chest as he silently begged for her to speed things up.
But he didn't help her move any quicker, something about Gabby being in control sending tingles through his spine, Matt secretly loving when she was like this. It didn't happen too often, Gabby usually letting him take the lead, but when she did take over, Matt would be lying if he said he didn't find it incredibly hot, knowing he had little say in what happened next.
As she continued to move at her incredibly slow pace, each time she slid back down on him, she'd purposefully clench around him, the action pulling deep, guttural moans from the man beneath her, Gabby rolling her hips on top of him as she moved. She could feel him getting closer and closer to the edge, Gabby knowing the signs of his release as she felt him try and control himself underneath her, her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth as she felt his fingers dig into her waist, Matt sure to leave a few bruises behind.
When his eyes fluttered closed, she felt his muscles tighten underneath her touch, Gabby knowing he was close despite the painfully slow pace she was going. While she was thoroughly enjoying everything they were doing, she wasn't necessarily close to any kind of release for herself, but she didn't care; this wasn't for her, this was for Matt. All that mattered to her was that he enjoyed himself, and by the way his body was reacting to her, she knew he was.
"Gabby- Jesus-..." He choked out when she clenched around him again, a smug grin resting over her face as she sat up straight, moving her hands from his chest back to the tops of his thighs, leaning back slightly as the new angle pulled him in deeper. Matt's eyes flew open, Gabby's change of position giving him quite the view as her body was on full display, his mouth watering at the sight as he began sliding his palms up and down her stomach, feeling her breathing underneath his touch as she started to bounce in his lap. She finally picked up her speed, Gabby using her hold on his legs as leverage to move quicker, moans falling from his lips as she felt him swell inside her, both of them knowing he was a goner.
His release hit him like a train, Matt nearly crying out as she took him over the edge, his hand clutching onto her breast as he gripped any part of her he could, Gabby not letting up her relenting pace as he emptied himself inside of her. She continued moving up and down in his lap, clenching down around him with each movement, wanting this to last as long as possible, Matt whining underneath her as he dug his fingers into her skin.
She could tell when he was done, her boyfriend completely spent as she gradually slowed her pace, Gabby biting back a smirk as she felt him squirm beneath her, Matt far too sensitive for what she was still doing to him.
With one last movement, Gabby settled down against his lap, Matt panting as she felt his thighs trembling underneath her. He moved his hands down from her chest, sliding along her body as he tried to regain control of his breathing, his entire body feeling like it was on fire.
"That was-... God, Gabby-" He choked out when she clenched around him one last time, a soft laugh escaping her lips before she climbed off of him, a low moan leaving his lips at the feeling.
"Good morning." She murmured, rubbing her hand across his stomach as she tucked her body down beside his, pressing a quick, firm kiss against his lips.
"It certainly was." He panted, Gabby grinning against him as he kissed her again, their movements soft and gentle before she pulled back, resting her chin on his chest. "I didn't mean to finish that quick but- damn, you didn't give me much of a choice." He breathed out, his words earning another laugh from her as she continued to rub his stomach. "I feel bad."
"Don't." She replied quickly, pressing an open mouthed kiss over his breast bone. "That was for you." She whispered, Matt running his hand along her spine before sliding down past her waist, gripping her butt in his palm. "I just wanted to give you a little surprise for your first day back… Make sure you're nice and relaxed before you get back to work."
"Oh, I definitely am relaxed now." He replied, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head, the two wanting to get a few more moments of rest before he needed to start getting ready. "...It's gonna be weird, though. Being at work without you." Matt murmured, Gabby settling her arm over his waist, holding onto his hip as she placed her head over his heart, hearing the now-steady thumping beneath her.
"Oh, you'll be fine… Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it more, when you're incredibly hot girlfriend isn't there to distract you." She joked, Matt shaking his head as he placed his free hand on top of her arm, squeezing her gently. "Just um-" She cleared her throat, Matt glancing down to her, "maybe check in with me throughout the day?... So I know you're doing alright."
Her words were hesitant, like she was almost embarrassed by her request, Matt's chest filling with warmth as a soft smile tugged at his lips. "Of course I will." He assured her, kissing her forehead. "As long as you do the same."
Gabby gave him a nod, pressing a light kiss to his skin. "I will, although I'm not really doing much today. I'm supposed to meet up and have lunch with Antonio, I'll probably go back to my place sometime before then." She told him, Matt nodding as he ran his hand along her skin. Even though most of their time lately had been spent at Gabby's place, both of them enjoying her quieter neighborhood, they decided to come and spend the night at Matt's place last night, Gabby not wanting him to have to bring everything he'd need for shift over to her place. And, truthfully, she still loved spending time here. Before they became a couple, their entire relationship was forged within these walls; the good and the bad. Being here reminded her of where they started, and how far they've come since then, and she loved it. She loved being here with him in his apartment, remembering all the nights and mornings they'd spent exactly like this.
But, if she was being honest, she knew she'd love being anywhere as long as Matt was there with her.
"Well, stay here as long as you want to. I do have that construction job tomorrow afternoon, but maybe we could grab dinner or something after that, if you feel up for it?"
"I'd love to." She replied, Matt nodding in response before he glanced towards the clock, releasing a soft sigh.
"I should probably get in the shower." He murmured, Gabby's tongue poking out between her teeth, running over her bottom lip as she lifted her head, meeting his gaze. "I, uh… I know we kind of made a mess," He started, earning a chuckle from his girlfriend, "so would you like to join me in the shower?... I could help you clean up."
"Oh, could you?" She asked, Matt nodding as he slid his hand along her backside, Gabby cocking her head to the side.
"Absolutely." He replied, a surprised gasp escaping her lips when his hand slid further down, teasing the skin on the inside of her thigh.
"Well, we should probably get in there then…" She spoke shakily, pushing herself up and climbing over him to get out of bed, Matt groaning as her skin brushed over his. "Wouldn't want you to be late for work."
Gabby got up first, Matt soon following suit as she stood by the bed. "You'd be worth it." He replied, swiftly smacking her butt to get her moving, Gabby's lips parting slightly as she turned to face him, finding a proud grin resting on his lips.
"You really do have a thing for my ass, don't you?" She questioned, Matt shrugging slightly, unable to stop his smile from widening.
"I have a thing for all of you." He clarified, chuckling as she ducked her head, Gabby feeling heat rise to her cheeks. "But yeah, your ass is definitely a favorite."
"I can tell." She replied, gasping when he gave her another playful smack. "You better keep your hands to yourself, Casey." She warned him, Matt raising his eyebrows as he grabbed ahold of her hand, leading her towards his bathroom.
"But if I keep my hands to myself, how could I possibly repay you for my little surprise this morning?" He questioned, his voice deep as they walked towards the shower, Matt opening the door to get the water started. He returned his hands to her body as quickly as he could, Gabby feeling warmth pool deep in her stomach as he stood behind her, pressing his chest into her back, his already growing desire for her resting against her thigh. "I believe I need to make it up to you, too… Let me show you how much I appreciate what you did this morning."
And show her, he did, Matt making his appreciation for every part of her known as they stood underneath the hot water, the temperature inside the shower nothing compared to the fire burning inside her, Gabby reduced to a trembling mess as he made up for her lack of release earlier that morning, Matt returning her earlier favor multiple times.
"Now, for our last bit of news, as I'm sure you all have noticed, Lieutenant Casey is back with us."
Cheers filled the briefing room, Matt giving them a soft smile as Severide clasped his shoulders, shaking him gently.
"Okay Sev, my sprained shoulder is fine, you don't need to test it." He joked, earning laughs from around the room as Kelly let up, Casey smacking his lips together. "But really, I'm glad to be back here with you guys, those two weeks felt like forever, but I'm back and ready to go."
A few more cheers and whistles were heard throughout the room, Matt patting Shay's shoulder as the woman sat at the table in front of him, the paramedic gripping his hand tightly.
"Now, Casey has been cleared to work, he's back in full capacity as 81's Lieutenant, so it'll be business as usual around here… Well, until we can get Dawson back on her feet." He added, Casey feeling Shay give his hand another squeeze before she dropped it. "But it's good to finally have our Lieutenant back, after everything that happened, it's nice to have some normalcy." Boden spoke as he looked towards Casey, Matt giving him a strong nod. "Well, let's have a good shift today." He finished, earning a few nods and some claps before the group began to disperse, most everyone heading for the common room, Matt desperate to get something to eat before they got any calls. He had meant to eat breakfast with Gabby before he left, but with their prolonged shower together, that never happened.
"So Casey, you're really okay?" Herrmann asked as Matt prepared himself some toast, Casey looking up to see most of the firefighters in the room staring at him.
"I'm good, Herrmann." He replied with a soft smile. "Wouldn't be back if I wasn't."
"Okay, we've all dealt with injured firefighters before, everyone in here knows that's not true." He countered, earning a few laughs from around the room, Casey shaking his head in amusement. "So really, you sure you're feeling up for this? We can always ease you back in, Lieutenant." Herrmann spoke sincerely, Matt catching a few worried glances coming his way from around the room.
And it was in that moment Casey realized just how much he, and Gabby, had worried the men and women of 51. He'd been so focused on Gabby and their recovery that he never really stopped to think about how everyone else had been handling it. But, by the looks of it, he'd scared them. He and Gabby both had. That day they were trapped in the warehouse had rattled all of them, Casey just hadn't realized it. And it was a feeling he wasn't used to.
Even at his former house, before everything happened with Jacobs sleeping with Hallie, before all of that even started, he never felt such a sense of camaraderie as he did here. Casey had been at 51 long enough to know they were a family, but it was moments like this where he was reminded just how close everyone was, and it was something he was still having a hard time remembering.
But it was a nice feeling, knowing everyone, or almost everyone, in this house had his back, without question. A feeling he didn't want to take for granted.
"I'm alright, guys." He replied, clearing his throat before continuing. "I won't lie to you, I'm still a little beat up, my ribs are still kind of bothering me… but it's nothing that would keep me from working. I'm cleared to be here, I promise I'm good." Casey assured the group, Herrmann, and a few others, eyeing him skeptically before they reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, I believe you… But if you need to slow down a bit, don't hesitate to tell us. I filled in quite nicely while you were gone, I think I can handle it for a few more shifts if you ever need to take a step back, Lieutenant." Herrmann spoke proudly, Casey smiling wide as he nodded.
"Oh, I don't doubt that Herrmann. I appreciate you covering for me, I'll let you know if I need to take a break, but I'm good."
"Good, I'm glad." He responded, releasing a heavy sigh as he leaned his body into the counter. "It's just good to have you back, seeing you in one piece… Getting you and Dawson out of that building… That was a rough scene." Herrmann continued, wincing slightly at the memory, everyone in the room listening to the conversation between the two firefighters. "I've seen a lot of bad calls in my day, but what you and Dawson went through down there-" He shook his head, the action cutting his words off as Matt swallowed the lump in his throat, his mind flashing back to that day, Casey hearing the distant screams of pain from Gabby bouncing around in his head. "I know how hurt you both were, is what I'm getting at. I just wasn't surprised to see you back here so soon." He finished, rubbing his hand over his mouth as he took a steadying breath, Casey's eyes bouncing around, soon landing on Shay, his friend giving him a supportive smile, although he could see the sadness behind it.
"Yeah, that, uh-" Casey cleared the emotion from his voice, shaking his head as he looked down to his plate. "That day wasn't easy… And Dawson definitely got the worst of it. But I'm ready to be back, and hopefully she will be soon."
When Matt looked back up, he saw looks of compassion and understanding on every single face staring back at him; all except for one. When Casey caught Walker's eye, the man sitting at the end of the long table, he had an unreadable expression on his face, the firefighter looking almost as if he was angry. And Casey didn't know what to make of that.
"Yeah, speaking of Dawson, has anyone heard anything about how she's doing?" Herrmann questioned, turning to face the room. "I called and checked in a few times, but last I heard she wasn't sure when she'd be back." He explained, Matt pursing his lips together as he listened to the older firefighter speak, knowing each and every time Herrmann had called Gabby, he'd been sitting right there next to her.
Even though Casey had the answer to Herrmann's question, Matt bit his tongue. He knew Gabby had her doctor's appointment at the end of this week, the appointment where she'd hopefully be cleared to return to duty. But he wasn't about to share that knowledge, knowing it would lead to a lot of questions about how and why he knew, and he didn't know how he could answer those.
In all the time they'd spent together since the warehouse fire, since he and Gabby officially became a couple, they hadn't talked about how they were going to start telling people, or if they were going to start telling people. They'd told her family, and Shay and Kelly, but other than that, they hadn't discussed what they were going to tell everyone else.
And he didn't want to say something he shouldn't.
As much as he wanted to shout it from the rooftops that Gabriela Dawson was finally his girl, he'd never say anything to anyone before they talked about it. Because he knew this was more than just telling people they were together; there was so much more to this for her, things that she would have to deal with, and the last thing he'd ever want is to make things harder on her, especially here at work.
So he knew he couldn't say anything about Gabby's recovery, but thankfully Casey knew there was another person in this room who could give them all the answers they were looking for.
"I haven't heard anything." Walker spoke up, Casey glancing towards him in time to see him shoot a pointed glare towards Shay and Severide, the blonde paramedic rolling her eyes as she shifted in her seat, turning back to face Herrmann.
"She's hoping to be back sometime next week." Shay answered, her eyes flickering past Herrmann, landing on Casey, Shay biting back a knowing smirk. "She's doing a lot better though, she's had a lot of people looking out for her."
Matt couldn't stop the slight smile tugging on his lips as the words left Shay's mouth, the Lieutenant looking back down at the countertop, trying to hide the near giddy look on his face as Herrmann and Shay continued their conversation.
"Good, that's good. Seeing her in that warehouse, she was really banged up. I'm glad she's getting better." Herrmann replied, earning a nod from the paramedic. "I'm guessing you've been to visit her?"
"Mhmm. I just saw her the day before yesterday… she was doing just fine." Shay spoke, Matt feeling heat rise to his cheeks at the tone in Shay's voice, the two blondes the only people in the room knowing the true meaning behind her words.
"That's great. I can't wait till she's back, I feel like we'll finally be able to move on from all this once she's back at work, yanno." He commented, earning a few nods from around the room.
"Yeah, I know she's itching to get back. Dawson doesn't do well being stuck at home." Shay replied jokingly, some chuckles being heard from around the room, everyone know just how true the paramedic's statement was.
"You can say that again, I swear when we saw her the other night, she had Shay and I go through every single call we'd had the last few shifts." Severide spoke, shaking his head in amusement. "She definitely needs to get back here soon, I swear she was driving Casey and I crazy."
Matt's head snapped up when Kelly mentioned his name, Shay biting down on the inside of her cheek as Severide's eyebrows raised, it taking a few seconds for the squad Lieutenant to realize what he'd said.
"You've seen her, Casey?" Herrmann asked, turning back around to face the truck Lieutenant, Matt swallowing the bite of food in his mouth as he nodded, feeling a harsh glare on him coming from one of his firefighters across the room, Matt not even needing to look over to know who it was.
"Uh, yeah I have. I saw her at Shay and Severide's place." He replied, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Kelly invited me over once I was feeling a little better, and Dawson was there."
Although it technically wasn't a lie, he was heavily bending the truth, and Shay, Severide, and himself all knew it, the paramedic doing what she could to hide her smirk. Severide had invited him over, and Gabby had been there, but he left out the part how they'd come together from her apartment, how he'd driven them in his truck, how he practically supported all her body weight as they tiredly walked back to his vehicle at the end of the night, and how he got her undressed when they got back to her place, Gabby falling into bed before he could even get pajamas on her.
That was the more accurate story of that night, but it definitely wasn't anything he was going to share with the people in this room.
"Ah, that's good." Herrmann spoke, Matt's eyebrows raising curiously. "I'm just glad you and Dawson weren't both cooped up alone while you recovered, I'd been worried about you two… But it's good you were able to get out some." He elaborated, earning a nod from Casey.
"Oh, well I appreciate that Herrmann, but I was good. And as far as I could tell, Dawson was fine, too… But Kelly's right, she'll definitely be happier once she can get back to work." He spoke lightly, trying to take the focus off of that night at Severide and Shay's apartment. Which, thankfully, it worked, his words earning a few laughs around the room before Herrmann nodded.
"Yeah, that definitely sounds like our Dawson." He chuckled, Matt nodding in agreement before returning his attention to his breakfast. "It'll just be good to get her back though… It'll feel better around here once the family's back together."
"I agree with you there, Herrmann." Shay spoke up, the older firefighter smiling softly just as the bells rang out, signaling all companies to a house fire downtown, the desire for breakfast forgotten as the men and women of 51 hurried out into the garage, mentally preparing themselves for the task ahead of them.
Gabby tapped her foot impatiently as she sat on the bench just inside the front doors of the 21st district, her eyes bouncing around the busy room as cops and detectives flooded in and out of the lobby, the paramedic doing her best to stay out of the way as she waited for her brother.
"Do you want me to call him again, Gabby?"
Dawson looked up towards Platt's voice, shaking her head slightly in response. "No, it's okay, I know he's busy, thank you, though." She replied, earning a nod from the Sergeant before the older woman went back to work, Gabby wringing her hands together in her lap.
After sending Matt off to work this morning, Gabby had decided to stay around his apartment for a little while longer before she got ready to meet her brother, going through and cleaning up the place that hadn't been lived in very much recently. Casey kept a tidy home, so there wasn't an awful lot to do, but she had decided to do some laundry and go through the kitchen, getting rid of anything in the fridge that had met its expiration date, knowing Matt hadn't spent that much of his time there recently.
Once she'd finished cleaning up around his apartment and getting the laundry put away, which, unsurprisingly, consisted of both their clothes, she decided to head back to her place so she could get ready for her lunch with her brother. A lunch that had quickly changed locations.
About half an hour before they were supposed to meet she got a call from Antonio, the older Dawson telling her he wouldn't be able to get away from the district, Antonio suggesting that she just pick up something for them and bring it to him, and they could eat in the break room, which was quickly followed by Gabby assuring him they could have lunch another day. Despite her multiple attempts to try and get him to just postpone their lunch date, he insisted she still come by.
So now here she sat, the bag containing two sandwiches, some pickles, and some chips sitting next to her, Gabby having also grabbed her brother's favorite soda when she got their meal from a sandwich shop they'd always go to, the paramedic knowing it'd be a quick and easy lunch that she wouldn't have to worry about keeping warm. Which was something she had thought of when choosing where to get their food, and it was a decision that proved to be a smart one, seeing as how Gabby had been sitting here for over fifteen minutes while she waited for her brother.
The sound of the gate to Intelligence opening broke through the sea of noise in the district, Gabby lifting her head towards the steps, seeing here brother appear a few seconds later, an apologetic look already covering his face.
"Hey Gabs, I'm sorry for making you wait." He spoke immediately, Gabby waving him off as she stood up, Antonio kissing her cheek quickly.
"It's alright. But I was serious, we don't have to do this today if you're too busy."
"No, it's okay. I've got a break now, and I wanna spend some time with you, I feel like I haven't seen you much lately." He replied, Gabby nodding as Antonio grabbed the bag of food off the bench before she could. "Are you good to climb the stairs? I'm sure we could find somewhere down here to eat if we need to." He offered, but Gabby shook her head, leading him towards the steps.
"I'm fine, Tonio." She murmured, her brother nodding in response before they began climbing the stairs up to Intelligence, Antonio letting her lead the pace.
"So have you been feeling alright? I know I haven't been by to visit you much since you got home, I'm sorry about that, work's just been crazy." He breathed out quickly, Gabby waiting as he put in the code to get upstairs.
"It's okay, I know you've got a lot going on." She replied, Antonio releasing a heavy sigh as he nodded.
Although Antonio had visited her some, it wasn't anywhere near as much as he would've liked, considering the severity of his sister's injuries. But work had been keeping him pretty much chained to his desk, making it almost impossible for him to even get home to sleep, let alone get away for anything else. Him getting away to go be with her that day in the hospital was a minor miracle in and of itself, Antonio knowing the only reason he'd been allowed to go at all was because of the nature of the accident. But, much to the detective's dismay, visiting her in the hospital had been the longest amount of time he'd spent with her since the accident, Antonio either only able to stop by for a few minutes, or Gabby had been resting when he tried.
But even though he hadn't been able to physically be there, Antonio had made sure to call as much as possible, calling his sister at least once, usually twice a day to check in and see how she was doing, a gesture that was very much appreciated by the younger Dawson.
"So, you brought us some sandwiches, huh?" He asked as they climbed the steps, Gabby nodding as they got to the top of the landing, the paramedic seeing most of the other detectives sitting at their desks.
"Yeah, figured it'd be easy." She responded, her voice gaining the attention of Antonio's coworkers.
"Hey guys, you remember my sister, Gabby." He spoke to the room, Gabby giving a small wave to them, watching all of them nod with small smiles.
Gabby wasn't too familiar with her brother's coworkers; she knew names and faces, she'd seen them around, and sometimes they'd work together, but she didn't know any of them all that well. But based on the looks of concern covering their faces, she knew they'd heard of her accident. She wasn't sure if Antonio told them when it happened, or if they found out after the fact, but it was clear they knew what had happened to her, their smiles having turned into pitiful stares as she moved her eyes towards the ground, suddenly very thankful that most of her visible bruising was gone. There were much more obvious reminders of her trauma underneath her clothes, but with the layers on, there wasn't much to be seen that would alert people to the fact she'd been hurt; aside from the slight scratch on her forehead still present along her hairline, and some faded bruising across her cheek bone, none of her other injuries were visible. Which she was grateful for, knowing their concerned looks would only be worse if they had seen her body's trauma at its worst.
"Hey Gabby." Ruzek greeted, him being the first to lose the look of pity over his face, his frown morphing back into a warm smile. "It's nice to see you again… We're uh- We're sorry about what happened, Antonio filled us in a little bit." He spoke, shaking his head. "We're glad to see you're doing alright." He finished, Gabby flashing him a grateful smile as his words caused the other detectives to nod in agreement.
"Thank you… Uh, yeah, I'm doing pretty good. Still not 100% yet, but I'm getting there." She replied, biting down on the inside of her cheek before glancing towards her brother. Immediately, Antonio was able to tell that talking about the warehouse accident was making her uncomfortable, the older Dawson nodding slightly as he rubbed over her back.
"You ready to eat, Gabs?" He asked, his baby sister nodding quickly, Antonio gripping the bag of food in his hand as they began moving through the bullpen. "I'll be in the break room if anyone needs me, but try not to need me." He spoke jokingly, earning a few chuckles from his coworkers as he and Gabby walked through the maze of desks.
As they got closer to the room, Antonio caught Voight's gaze, giving his boss a swift nod before he walked into the break room, Gabby's eyes lingering on the older cop, watching as he shot her an almost impressed look, Voight nodding at her as well before returning to his work, Gabby quickly following her brother into the room, shutting the door behind her.
"That was a little strange." She murmured, walking over to the table as Antonio sat down, the detective glancing up towards her as he began pulling their food out.
"What was?"
"Voight, he just gave me this weird look- I'm not sure what it meant."
"Probably just happy to see you upright." Antonio responded with a shrug, Gabby tilting her head to the side as her brother placed her sandwich in front of her. "Everyone here's been really worried about you, I think they're all just glad you're alright… When I got the call, I freaked out. I was a mess, all I remember was hearing you'd fallen through the floor and you'd been pinned under part of the ceiling… They all saw me right when I found out, I wasn't able to explain much, they just knew something happened to you and it had been bad. So, I'd imagine they're just happy to see you're okay."
Gabby nodded, reaching out to rest her hand on top of her brother's, effectively stopping his movements as he worked on trying to get his food out. "I'm sorry for scaring you." She spoke quietly, Antonio's face softening as he took a deep breath, placing his hand over hers.
"It's not your fault, Gabs."
"I know that, but I still scared you… I scared a lot of people. And I'm sorry for that."
"It's okay, sis. Really, you have nothing to be apologizing for." He replied, squeezing her hand gently. "All that matters is that you're okay… Well, and that Casey's okay too, I guess." He added lightly, Gabby grinning as she bit down on her bottom lip, Antonio chuckling when he saw the immediate shift in her demeanor at the slightest mention of the truck Lieutenant.
"Yeah… that's what matters." She agreed, her smile never faltering as she began to unpack her lunch, Antonio watching his sister in amusement.
"Speaking of the boyfriend," He started, Gabby cheeks heating up as she lifted her head, catching her brother's gaze, "He went back to work today, didn't he?"
Slowly, Gabby nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear before responding. "Mhmm. His first shift was today."
"I'm sure he was glad to get back…" He commented, Gabby nodding as her brother began eating his lunch.
"He is, yeah. I could tell he was a little anxious, but I think he was ready. I talked to him about an hour ago, it sounded like everything was going well." She explained, Antonio nodding. "He said everyone was really glad to have him back, and that they're looking forward to me getting back, too. Which hopefully should be here soon."
"Well, how could they not miss you?" He spoke teasingly, Gabby rolling her eyes. "But uh- How have they all taken that, by the way?" Antonio asked, Gabby's head tilting to the side in confusion, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Taken what?"
"You and Casey." Antonio replied simply, Gabby pursing her lips together as she slouched back in her seat. "I mean, I assume most of them don't have any problem with it…"
"Well, uh- They actually don't know." She responded, ducking her head just as Antonio looked up, missing the surprised look covering her brother's face.
"They don't know?" He asked for clarification, even though they both knew he heard her, Gabby shaking her head as she looked back up. "But doesn't Shay know?"
"She does." Gabby answered, Antonio raising his eyebrows. "And so does Severide, but no one else from 51 knows… At least not that I know of." She replied with a soft shrug, the detective clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"Are you guys not wanting to tell people?" He asked, Gabby clearing her throat before responding.
"Um, we uh- we haven't really talked about it." She responded quietly, the detective keeping a close eye on his sister.
"Why?" He pressed, Gabby running her tongue along the inside of her cheek, shrugging again.
"I dunno, I guess it just didn't come up… It wasn't something we really needed to talk about when we made things official. Neither of us were able to work, so it just didn't come up…"
"Yeah, but Casey's back at work now, and you will be soon… Don't you think you two should talk about it? I mean, I know there's a lot to consider in all this, but it's probably something you two should figure out."
"We will." She responded quickly. "We just haven't yet."
Antonio nodded slowly, his gaze focused on his sister as he took notice of the clear shift in her demeanor, the older Dawson taking a deep breath as he tried to figure out how to best approach his next topic, even though he knew the only way he really could was to just come out and ask her.
"This, uh… You not wanting to tell people-"
"I didn't say I didn't want to tell people." She cut in, her tone defensive as Antonio gave her a pointed stare.
"C'mon Gabs, we both know what this is. This is because of Walker, isn't it?" He asked, even though his tone read like he already knew the answer. "You don't want to tell the house because of him." Gabby bit down on her bottom lip, avoiding her brother's gaze as she took a deep breath, Antonio's eyes falling closed as he ran his hand over the side of his face, knowing he needed to be careful about how he spoke to her about this. "Look sis," He started, his words causing her to look up at him, "I know you're nervous for him to find out. Even though it's none of his damn business, I know he's probably gonna be pissed off, but it doesn't matter. What he thinks doesn't matter…" He spoke firmly, Gabby blinking quickly. "You don't owe him anything. He doesn't get to have an opinion on your life anymore. I know you're worried for him to find out, but I don't want you to let him ruin this for you… I don't want him to keep you from being happy."
Gabby's eyebrows furrowed at his words, the younger Dawson clenching her hands together on top of the table as she digested what she was hearing. "I'm not letting him keep me from being happy." She replied, unsure of what her brother was getting at. "I am happy. I'm happy with Matt, Bryan's not apart of this at all."
"Well, he kind of is… If he's the reason you're not wanting to tell people." Antonio countered, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek. "Gabs, I'm not trying to tell you what to do here. I know some of the things he put you through, but you're the only one who knows what your relationship with him was like… And I know you're the one who's gonna have to deal with however he handles this, so I understand why you're apprehensive. But I just don't wanna see this thing between you and Casey get messed up because of him."
"It won't." Gabby was quick to reply, feeling her defenses rising. "I don't even know why you think it would, Matt and I are fine-"
"You've been together for like two weeks, but you're not wanting to tell people you're even together, and you haven't even talked to Casey about it. So you're not even sure how he feels about you two not telling people… I can't see that ending well, sis." He tried to explain his reasoning, Gabby sighing heavily as her eyes moved back towards the table.
"It's not that I don't want to tell people, I want them to know… It's that I don't want to deal with one person in particular."
"I get that, I do. Like I said, you're the one who has to deal with whatever reaction he has. All I'm saying is that this one person you don't want to tell, it's keeping you from telling everyone else… So much of the relationship you and Matt had was kept in secret, now that you're actually together, I can't imagine he'd want that to be a secret, too." He spoke, watching his sister closely, Gabby giving away next to nothing in the form of a reaction, the detective drawing in a deep breath before continuing. "Look, you and Matt are grown ups, you can handle your own relationship, but… I really like Matt for you, Gabs." She lifted her head as the words left his lips, her gaze softening as he continued. "I think he's good for you, and even though I was hesitant about you two at first because of how this all started, I think you two are good together. And I don't want Bryan to mess that up."
"I'm not gonna let him." She cut in, Antonio running his tongue along his bottom lip. "Bryan and I- it's done. It was done a long time ago. I don't care about him, all I'm focused on is Matt, and my relationship with him."
"Okay, but if that's true, then you wouldn't care about telling everyone." He countered, Gabby blowing out a heavy breath as she brought her hand up to her face, pressing against her temple. "Like I said, I'm not trying to tell you what to do here, sis… I know there's a lot more to this for you. And this isn't even a conversation you need to have with me, but you and Matt need to talk about it, make sure you're on the same page with whatever you decide to do." Antonio spoke, Gabby clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I'm really not trying to butt in to your relationship, but I can tell how happy you are with him, Gabs… You're genuinely happy with Casey, and I don't want Walker fucking that up." He finished, Gabby giving him a slight nod.
She knew her brother was right, at least to some degree. Although she didn't think Bryan would be an issue between her and Matt, she knew they did need to talk. Though it wasn't necessarily a conversation she was avoiding, she hadn't tried to bring it up, either. But she knew they needed to sit down and make sure they were both on the same page, and figure out how, and when, they should tell people.
"He won't, Tonio." Gabby replied softly. "Trust me, this thing with Matt… It's too important to me to let something like this mess it up. I'm gonna talk to him about him, make sure we're on the same page." She assured him, Antonio nodding before returning his attention to his lunch, Gabby trying to do the same thing. But she found it hard to focus, her mind running through everything her brother had just said.
She needed to talk to Matt, and she would. But the longer she sat here thinking about their needed conversation, the more she was dreading it, unsure of how her boyfriend would react to what she was going to tell him.
Gabby turned the page of her book, her comfy throw blanket covering her legs as she sat curled up on the couch in her living room, her steaming cup of tea resting on the end table beside her. It was nearing ten at night, Gabby having been sitting here for the better part of an hour distracting herself with the book in her hands, trying to keep herself from thinking about how much she was missing Matt.
She knew it was stupid, that it hadn't even been two days since she'd last seen him, and there was no reason for her to be missing him the way she was, especially when she knew he'd be coming by in the morning. But she couldn't help it; she missed him, and she wished he was here with her.
Ever since yesterday morning when they'd made their plans to have dinner tonight, she'd been looking forward to it, looking forward to seeing him again, so when those plans got cancelled, she couldn't help but feel a little sad about it. It was no one's fault, except maybe the man who'd kept Matt working all day today, but she knew there was no reason for her to be upset about Matt having to postpone their dinner; and she wasn't, or she wasn't upset with him, at least. Matt's construction job that was only supposed to take him a few hours this afternoon, ended up turning into an all day event, Casey having called her hours ago, telling her he wouldn't be able to make it for dinner, the two quickly deciding they'd just see each other tomorrow, seeing as how Matt had no idea how much longer he'd be working tonight.
She felt a little silly for feeling so sad at not being able to see him tonight, Gabby aware that her feelings were a bit ridiculous, considering she knew she'd be seeing him in less than twelve hours, but still, she couldn't help wanting to be with him.
It was still a little surprising to her, they way she felt such a strong desire to be around her boyfriend all the time, Gabby never having felt this way before. And there was a part of her that didn't like it, knowing the last word she'd ever use to describe herself was clingy, especially when it came to relationships. But there was something about being around Matt that just had her so content and secure; he made her feel safe. And she craved that feeling.
And there was another part to this altogether, another thought hanging in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite shake; the thought that this was too good to be true.
Her earlier fears that kept her from telling Casey how she felt sooner, some of those still hadn't gone away. Despite how self-assured and confident she was in herself, there was a small part of her that couldn't help but feel like Matt deserved better than her. That he deserved someone a little less broken. It was a thought she hated, but one she could never completely get to go away, Gabby knowing that Bryan had definitely left her damaged, even though she hated to admit it. And there were times she felt like Matt would one day realize this wasn't what he wanted, that she wasn't what he wanted.
But whenever those thoughts and feelings crept in, she had to remind herself that Matt had given her no reason to doubt him. Every promise and assurance he'd ever made to her, he not only kept, butt he showed her every day just how much he meant them. And while it was hard for her to trust that, every day Matt was making it easier and easier for her to snap out of those old trust issues that Walker had left her with. Every day it was like he was breaking down those walls she'd forced around herself, showing her more and more of what an incredible man he was. A man she could be herself around, a man who meant every word he said to her, a man she could trust.
Matt had seen her at her absolute worst, and he was still here. In moments that probably should've sent him running in the other direction, he stayed.
And sometimes it still didn't feel real that they had ended up here, together. But she was damn thankful that they had.
The sound of soft tapping on her front door pulled her from her thoughts, her eyebrows furrowing as she glanced to the clock, seeing it was just now 10 PM, Gabby unsure of who'd be at her door so late. But there was only one person who came to mind, a soft smile covering her face as she put her book down, tossing the blanket off her legs before pushing herself up from the couch, her bare feet padding against the hardwood as she walked towards her door.
She heard them knock again as she got closer, this one much more hesitant, like he was hoping she was awake but not wanting to disturb her if she wasn't, Gabby quickly unlocking the door and pulling it open.
The second she laid eyes on him, a content smile fell onto her lips, Matt grinning as he took her in, his eyes subconsciously trailing up and down her form before focusing on her face. The smile that his presence had elicited quickly faltered when she took in his exhausted demeanor, seeing his tired eyes, Matt looking like he could fall asleep any second.
"I think you may have been right…" He spoke up first, Gabby raising her eyebrows as they locked eyes. "I should've waited to start construction again." He added sheepishly, a light scoff escaping her lips as she took a step back, silently inviting him into her home, Matt accepting without hesitation.
"Yeah, well maybe next time you'll listen to me." She responded, closing the door behind him, locking them inside.
When Matt had mentioned a few days ago that he was going to start picking up a few constructions jobs again, Gabby immediately tried to talk him out of it. Knowing he still wasn't fully healed yet, she thought him going back to 51 was more than enough, and Gabby didn't want him overdoing it and hurting himself. But he insisted he was fine, and that he could handle it; clearly that hadn't been the case.
"I know, I know… I should have." He replied, grabbing ahold of her hand before they walked towards her living room, Matt all but collapsing onto the middle of her couch, Gabby sitting down beside him, curling her legs up against his. He lifted his arm up to the back of the couch, inviting her into his embrace as she leaned against him, Matt resting his hand on her waist, keeping her close.
"I wasn't expecting you tonight…" She murmured, reaching for her cup of tea and taking a small sip. "I thought you said you were just gonna go home."
"Yeah, I was going to, but then I finished up and coming to see you seemed like a much better option." He responded, Gabby smiling softly as she held out her mug to him, Matt graciously accepting it before taking a long drink of the tea she'd made for herself. "Thank you." He spoke, Gabby nodding as he rested the mug down against his leg. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
One of the first things he'd noticed when she opened the door was her state of dress; Matt seeing her in one of his old CFD t-shirts and a small pair of shorts, knowing that was often what she wore to bed, if she wore anything at all.
"No, you didn't… I was just reading." She responded, Matt nodding as he took another long sip of the drink before holding it out to her, Gabby shaking her head. "You can finish it." She told him, Matt smiling gratefully, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head before continuing to sip on the tea. "I am glad you stopped by though."
"Are you now?" He asked with a smug grin, Gabby tucking her head into his neck, draping her arm across his stomach.
"Mhmm." She hummed, Matt's smile widening as he began moving his hand along her hip, resting his cheek down on top of her head.
"Me too." He murmured, feeling her smile against his neck, Matt slipping his hand underneath the shirt covering her body, resting his palm against her bare side.
"I know we talked a little bit already, but your first shift back was okay?" She asked, focusing on the calming warmth that his skin against hers provided.
"Yeah, it was. Everything was good." He assured her, letting his eyes fall closed as they sat in her dim living room. "I did have to kind of take it easy…" His words caused her to perk up, Gabby lifting her head from his shoulder, the action causing his eyes to open as he saw her staring at him, concern written across her features. "I'm fine, babe. You don't need to worry so much."
"You fell through a building."
"So did you."
"Yeah, I did. And you don't see me telling you not to worry about me, now do you?" She countered, Matt pursing his lips together.
"Fair point." He conceded, Gabby smiling proudly before she raised her eyebrows, clearly wanting more of an explanation. "...My body was just a little sore, that's all. So I did that mature thing and limited myself, you should be proud."
"I am… I still think you went back to work too soon, but I am." She replied, Matt smiling softly as he slid his hand up and down her side. "But you promise you're alright? Nothing's hurting you or anything?"
"I'm still sore, I think working today pretty much ensured that. But I'm alright. I just need some sleep with my beautiful girlfriend next to me, and I'll be as good as new." He responded with an almost giddy grin, Gabby rolling her eyes before bringing her hand up towards his face, running her fingers through his short hair.
"I guess you can stay, but you definitely have to shower first before you get anywhere near my bed." She spoke, Matt raising his eyebrows in amusement. "You smell like wood chips."
"I'll take a shower." He promised, Gabby nodding as she stroked her thumb across his head, Matt leaning into her touch. "But enough about me, how'd your lunch with Antonio go?"
Gabby dropped her eyes immediately, his eyebrows furrowing when she looked away from him, Matt able to feel her sudden apprehension at the topic. He just didn't know what was causing it.
"You okay?"
"Hmm?- Yeah, I'm fine. Lunch was fine." She replied, Matt watching her closely.
"You sure?" He questioned, Gabby sighing softly as she moved her focus to his chest, beginning to play with the collar of his shirt.
"Yeah, everything's fine, it's just- Antonio and I were talking, and it made me realize there's something you and I need to talk about…" She prefaced, Matt raising his eyebrows, silently urging her to continue. "But it's late, and you're tired- We can just talk about it in the morning, I don't-"
"Gabby." He spoke gently, effectively ending her rambling. "What is it?"
"It's uh- it's about us." She replied, Matt's head tilting to the side slightly.
"I didn't piss off the big brother, did I?" He questioned jokingly, his words easing some of the tension from her body, Gabby smiling softly as she shook her head.
"No, you didn't. He actually had great things to say about you," she told him, her heart warming at the small, genuine smile that graced his lips, "but it was about you and me, about telling people we're together… telling the firehouse." She spoke, her nerves returning as realization washed over him, Matt nodding slowly as he tapped his fingers against her hip. "I know we haven't really talked about it, I know we need to… we probably should've before you went back, I'm not sure if you said anything or-"
"I didn't." He assured her, feeling some of the tension release from her body. "I wouldn't, not when we hadn't talked about it."
"I didn't think you would, and I know we probably should've talked about this awhile ago, but I guess it wasn't really an issue, not when we were both stuck at home… But uh, I guess I just wanna know what you're thinking?" She asked carefully, Matt hating the hesitation he felt coming from her. He wasn't sure if it was because of him, or the subject, but he prayed it wasn't the first one, Casey never wanting her to feel like she couldn't talk to him.
"Well, I mean, obviously I want everyone to know you're my girl." He spoke with a soft smile, Gabby matching his look. "But I know there's another factor to all this for you… it's not as easy as us just telling the house." He added, Gabby's face faltering as she nodded, Matt keeping his firm grip on her waist. "So I think the more important question is where are you in all this?"
Gabby pursed her lips together, taking a deep breath as she tried to figure out how to voice what was going on inside her head. "I, um… I think I'd rather wait a bit, before we start telling people at the house." She spoke softly, refusing to look at him as she focused on his chest. "It's not because of you, I need you to know that."
"I do." He responded, Gabby lifting her head up to meet his gaze, finding a soft smile and compassionate eyes waiting for her. "I know." Matt assured her, Gabby nodding before she continued.
"I want to tell them, I don't want to keep hiding us or our relationship, but I.. I need some time." She told him, Matt nodding softly. "I know I need to tell Bryan, and I will." She spoke, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. "Even though it's none of his business, especially after everything he did, but I just- I think he needs to hear it from me… I'm just not sure when I'll feel ready to tell him." She breathed out, her eyes tracing over his face, clearly waiting to see what kind of response he'd have.
"We can take this at your pace, Gabby." He murmured, watching as she released a relieved breath. "I'm fine with whatever you need to do here, I promise."
"You're not mad?"
Casey's eyebrows furrowed, his heart sinking into his stomach as he immediately shook his head, tightening his grip on her.
"No, of course not." He responded almost instantly, feeling her body relax underneath his touch. "However slow you need to take this, I understand. I wish it was as easy as us just telling our friends, but I know it's not. There's nothing to be mad at you for."
Gabby nodded slowly, sliding her hand along his collarbone as she leaned forward, capturing his lips in a firm, yet gentle kiss.
"Thank you." She murmured against his him, Matt smiling as he kissed her again, each movement slow and deliberate, the two only separating when air became an issue.
"You have nothing to thank me for." He responded, Gabby nodding before she tucked herself back into his side, hooking her leg up across his lap. "Obviously, I don't want to hide how I feel about you, but I just want to do whatever's best for you. We won't tell them until you're ready… however long that takes. I'm not going anywhere." He promised, Gabby smiling softly as she nodded, pressing a light kiss against his neck before relaxing back into him, the couple wanting to enjoy the peaceful moment for a little while longer before they got ready for bed.