Hello everyone! Here's the next update for you guys. I really like this one, and I think you all will as well. Let's just say it's got a little bit of everything.
There is an M rated section in this chapter, just so you know. Some of you have been asking for more of that, so I hope you enjoy!
Happy reading!
THIRTY NINE
Gabby tossed the white rag over her shoulder as she moved around behind the bar, the mood in the air light as the bar was filled with regulars, Dawson having been going nonstop since she got here to work a few hours ago. It was a busy Saturday night at Molly's, the evening in full swing as Gabby worked with Shay, Herrmann, and Otis, all four of them needed to serve the crowd that had formed tonight.
"Coming through." Shay spoke, holding up a tray with one hand, using her other to tap Gabby's hip, encouraging Dawson to step forward so her friend could get through. Gabby smiled softly at the customer in front of her as she handed them their drink, the man sliding a few bills into the tip jar before he walked away, the paramedic focusing her attention on the next customer in line.
"Man, it's crazy tonight." Herrmann breathed out as he came to a stop beside Dawson, reaching for a bottle of liquor on the back wall as she filled up a beer glass.
"Yeah, I'm not exactly sure why, but I'll take it." Gabby responded, suddenly feeling a pair of hands on her hips as Shay slid past her again. "You know, I have a feeling you have plenty of room to get by me." She joked when the blonde came to stand on the other side of her, Gabby handing the guy his beer before he walked away, thankful to see a lull in people waiting for a drink.
"Eh, maybe. Just playing it safe, though. Didn't want to accidentally bump Herrmann while he was making a drink." Shay replied with a wink, the older man laughing before he walked away, Gabby shaking her head in amusement. "So, while we have a minute…" She started, glancing around before dropping her voice. "Where's the boy tonight?"
A soft smile immediately fell onto her face, Gabby lifting her head to look at her friend. "He's working, but he said he was gonna try and stop by." She replied softly, Shay nodding as she leaned her hip into the bar, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I swear, it's like he's always working." Shay responded, Gabby releasing a heavy breath as she pursed her lips together. "When does he ever take a break?"
"He doesn't, really." Gabby answered, resting her weight against the counter on the wall, facing out towards the bar so she could see when someone would be coming in need of a drink. "Between 51, and his construction, he doesn't really have a lot of time."
"I'm sure you love that." She replied jokingly, Gabby shooting her a pointed stare.
"I don't care so much because of me, Matt makes plenty of time for me." She responded, a slight smirk tugging on Shay's lips.
"Oh, I bet he does." She cut in, Gabby shaking her head before continuing, ignoring her friend's teasing.
"It's not myself I'm concerned about, he's been working so hard. He has been ever since he got back to 51, and I'm worried he's burning himself out." Gabby spoke, Shay nodding slowly in response. "I mean, I know it's been six weeks since the accident, and he's been back to working for a month, but it's like he never stops. The job he's doing now, the guy seems like a real piece of work, he keeps changing everything on him last minute, and has him on these crazy deadlines… I feel so bad, because I know he's exhausted. But it's Matt, you know, so he won't say no." She breathed out, her frustration towards the situation evident.
"Do you guys know how much longer it'll be before he's done?" Shay asked, Gabby shaking her head.
"No, I don't. The original job was only supposed to be like a two or three day thing, at most, but it's been over two weeks, so who knows. I just hope he finishes soon."
"I'm sure he's almost done, but it does suck though, I feel like we never see him outside of 51… Well, I know you do, but you're about the only one." Shay replied with a knowing look, Gabby shrugging softly.
"Yeah, even then I don't see him that much. Mostly I've just been seeing him when he comes by after he's done working." Gabby told her, the smirk on Shay's face growing.
"Well, it's more than anyone else can say. But it's cute though, him always coming to see you after he gets off work. You two are so domestic, it's adorable. And a little gross."
"Shut up, Shay." Gabby responded, ducking her head slightly.
"What? It's true. I mean, yeah, I'm sure a contributing factor to him always coming to spend the night with you is he just wants some Dawson-lovin', can't say I blame the guy," She started, Gabby shaking her head as she looked towards the ground, "But I think it's more just he wants to spend time with you. You know, he likes having you to come home to at the end of the day, he likes the couple-y stuff, Matt's all about that kind of crap."
"How romantic." Gabby replied dryly, Shay waving her off.
"You know what I mean, I'm just saying it's sweet." The blonde responded, Gabby grinning softly. "I mean, you two are practically living together at this point. I swear, the last time I was at your place, I saw more of his stuff than your own."
"We're not living together, Shay. It's just-... Like you said, he comes over a lot when it's late, it's more practical than anything him keeping some stuff there." She defended, Shay shaking her head in amusement.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that sweetheart." She responded with a laugh, Gabby narrowing her eyes playfully. "I know you're not trying to rush this, or move too fast, or whatever you wanna call it, but honestly… I don't think you two could. You've been in love with him for a while, I don't think anything would be considered rushing it at this point." She continued, a look of realization settling in on her face. "Well, I mean, I'm not saying you should get married and have babies yet, that might be a bit much, but you know what I mean. The point of this is that I think it's cute, how you two are with each other… You both deserve each other." Shay finished, her sincere words bringing a smile to Dawson's face.
"Thank you, Shay." She replied softly, the blonde nodding with a smile.
"I'm just telling you how I see it, even though the two of you were so fucking infuriating for the longest time, I'm glad you've gotten to where you are. I don't think I've ever seen you happier than you are with him." She continued, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip tightly, resting her palms on the edge of the counter behind her.
"I don't think I've ever been happier, honestly." She breathed out, unable to stop the smile that formed over her face. "I mean, there's been some moments, we're in a relationship, we're gonna fight and disagree, but even then, it's just… I don't think I've ever been this happy with anyone before… Although don't tell him that, I'll never live it down." She added jokingly, Shay scoffing lightly as she shook her head.
"Trust me, I think he's well aware just how happy he makes you… Everyone is." She replied, Gabby's eyebrows raising slightly. "Oh don't give me that look, you really think no one's noticed the change in you since you got back to work?"
"What do you mean?"
"Since you got back, you've been completely different." She said simply, Gabby's head tilting to the side. "Especially compared to how you were before the accident, you're a completely different person. Not to sound too cheesy or anything, but it's like there's this new spark in you or something, and everyone's noticed." Shay replied, Gabby biting on the inside of her lip as she did a quick glance around the room, catching glimpses of a bunch of familiar faces. "Now, do they know why? No. I don't think anyone, well aside from Boden, knows that the reason for this change in you is because Casey's actually been in you-"
"Jesus Shay." She breathed out, the blonde wiggling her eyebrows as she laughed.
"Oh come on, you knew it was coming... And there's definitely another sex with Casey joke in there somewhere, but I'll leave it alone." She spoke with a teasing grin, Gabby rolling her eyes. "Anyway, the point is, everyone can tell you've been a lot happier since you got back to work, they just don't know why. But I'm sure they know it's because of someone…"
"Well, I mean, I have been happy… I didn't realize it was a topic of conversation," She added pointedly, Shay giving her a shrug, "but I can't say they're wrong. They can think whatever they want."
"Yeah, or you could just tell them." She replied, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before finding Shay's gaze. "What? Would it be so horrible? I mean, come on Gabs, you guys have been together for six weeks already…"
"I know how long it's been." She replied sharply, the blonde blowing out a sharp sigh.
"So why haven't you told them yet?" Shay questioned back without missing a beat, Gabby pursing her lips together. "Clearly this thing with you and Casey is serious, you both want it to work, so why don't you just tell everyone? Bite the bullet and what not." She spoke, Dawson sighing softly before responding.
"Honestly… I don't know." She answered, Shay's eyebrows furrowing together.
Gabby meant what she said, she wasn't entirely sure why they hadn't told everyone yet. She never intended for them to go this long without telling the house, it just sort of happened. At first, she had her reservations about certain people knowing, and she still did. Those nerves wouldn't go away, but she had accepted that. She'd accepted that there was probably never a good time to tell Bryan she was in a relationship with Matt, she knew she just had to do it.
And she wasn't entirely sure why she hadn't.
It just wasn't something that had come up again since they talked about it her first shift back at the firehouse. Staying true to his word, Matt had let her take the lead on how they wanted to handle this. He hadn't pressured her about it, he hadn't even brought it up in the three weeks she'd been back at work. He hadn't said a single word about them telling everyone, but she was sure he had wanted to.
Looking back on it, Gabby knew he was getting a little restless by everyone not knowing, and she couldn't say she blamed him. And truthfully, she was starting to feel the same way.
The last month and a half of them being together had been incredible, it had been better than Gabby could've ever dreamed of, and that hadn't changed when she went back to work. It was an adjustment, they were mindful of how they acted around one another, but they were handling it okay, and it wasn't like they didn't get to spend any time together. It was quite the opposite, in fact, they just had to be careful. They'd spent their fair share of time together while at work since she got back, whether it be in his office, in the ambulance, or the single time they'd gotten a little brave and spent some time together in the showers. While they knew it wasn't the most professional thing in the world, it hadn't stopped them; and Boden had only said to keep it professional on calls, which they had more than done.
Their stolen moments together in the firehouse had been great, and she loved getting that time with him, it reminded her of when they first started their arrangement all those months ago. It felt a lot like that, but only ten times better. Because there was a deeper meaning behind it. Everything with their relationship was going great, and knowing that Matt Casey was hers, it made her stomach do flips every time she thought about it.
But she did find herself getting a little frustrated at times with the house not knowing, even though it was entirely her doing. She hadn't realized it at first, but not being able to act how she normally wound around him was getting tiring, and she could only assume Matt felt the same way. The moments at 51 that they had for themselves were great, but when they were with everyone else, it was starting to get exhausting having to always second guess herself. She would almost get nervous at times around Matt when other people were around, because she wasn't sure how she should act with him, and she had a feeling Matt had picked up on it. He would send her soft, subtle smiles or glances, always quietly calming her down, even if he didn't realize that's what he was doing.
What she wasn't sure of, however, was whether he thought her anxiousness came from how to act around him, or if it stemmed from them telling people. She had no idea what he thought was causing her nervousness, or if he assumed it was something else entirely, but whatever he thought, he never brought it up to her. He never tried to approach the subject of them telling people, Gabby assuming he didn't want her to feel pressured before she was ready.
But she came to realize there would never actually be a good time to tell people, to tell Walker. She just had to do it. It was time; past time, actually. The house needed to know, she wanted them to know. And she really didn't want to keep hiding how she felt about Matt. He'd been amazing, not once had he tried to push her into doing something she wasn't ready for, but now she felt ready. She was ready for the house, for her second family, to know. She didn't like lying to them, and she certainly didn't like putting Matt in this position, either. It wasn't fair to either of them, and she didn't want to hide anymore.
Now she just had to tell Matt, and they could figure out when, and how, they were going to break the news together.
"Dawson!"
Gabby's gaze snapped into focus, turning to see Shay still standing beside her, an amused look on her face after she handed off a drink to a customer.
"Huh?"
"You were zoned out there for a few minutes, you alright?" Shay asked with a chuckle, heat rising to Gabby's cheeks as she nodded, pushing some loose hair behind her ear.
"I'm good, sorry… Just thinking." She responded, clearing her throat before pushing herself off of the back counter, moving to help Shay with the group of customers that had formed when she was lost in her own head.
"Anything you wanna share?" She questioned as Dawson filled up a beer glass, Gabby glancing around before her eyes landed on her friend.
"I'm ready to tell people." Gabby replied simply, a knowing grin immediately covering Shay's face.
"Thank fucking God." She groaned, her response earning some curious looks from the patrons across from them, none of them men having any idea what she was talking about, but they were amused nonetheless. Shay shot them all friendly smiles, handing off their drinks before nodding them away, the blonde turning back to Gabby as she handed the last man his beer. "What made you come to that decision?"
"Matt did." She murmured, Shay's smirk widening. "Oh shut up, you asked." Gabby replied as she removed the rag from her shoulder, wiping her hands on it before tossing it down on the counter. "But really, it's time for them to know. I'm tired of feeling like I'm hiding from everyone, I'm tired of not knowing how to act around Matt. I just want everyone to know. And whatever reactions they have, good or bad, it doesn't matter."
"Finally." Shay breathed out, Gabby rolling her eyes. "I was beginning to think you two were just gonna continue to live your lives in secret."
"We're not living in secret, we still go out." She interjected, the blonde being the one to roll her eyes this time.
"Yeah, you've gone out, but you two have to hide when we're with our friends. Let's face it, the places we spend most of our time is at the station, and right here in this bar… Both of which are places you two haven't been able to just be yourselves." She countered, Gabby biting down on the inside of her lip, knowing there was some truth to what she was saying. "You two have been able to be a couple together, and around me and Severide, but other than that… you have to just act like you're friends. That can't be easy for either one of you." Shay continued, her hip resting against the bar as she watched her friend. "I'm just glad you're finally ready for people to know, and I know Casey's gonna be excited to."
"Has he said something to you?" Gabby asked quickly, Shay immediately shaking her head.
"No, not about that. About you, yes, all the time." She replied, seeing a soft smile fall onto her friend's face. "That boy never shuts up about you, but he hasn't said anything about you all telling people, no." Shay clarified, Dawson giving her a nod. "I just know he's gonna be excited because of how he gets when he talks about you… I don't think I've ever seen someone more in love than he is with you, except maybe how you are with him." She teased, Gabby biting back an embarrassed grin. "All he wants is to shout from the rooftops how much he loves you, and once you let him do that, I swear he's never gonna shut up."
"Alright, let's just take it one step at a time Shay." Gabby replied quickly, catching the unimpressed look that covered her friend's face.
"When have you two ever done that? I mean-"
"Good evening, ladies."
Dawson inwardly grimaced when she heard the familiar voice, Shay not bothering to hide her annoyed reaction as they both turned to see Walker coming up to them from the other side of the bar, the man bracing his hands out on the counter in front of him, his eyes locked on Gabby.
"What do you want, Walker?" Shay asked, Gabby keeping her face blank as she watched him, the firefighter grinning as his eyes flashed to the blonde.
"Just came for a drink. Can I get a beer?"
Without uttering a word, Gabby nodded, grabbing a glass and beginning to fill it up for him, completely the task as quickly as she could so he'd go away.
Gabby still had the same uneasiness about being around Bryan, that hadn't gone away. And truthfully, she wasn't sure if it ever would. But her hesitation around him had begun to morph into annoyance over these last three weeks since she'd been back at work. Unfortunately, when Shay warned her that Bryan might be trying to worm his way back into her life, the blonde had been right.
It was bad enough him reaching out to her before she got back to work, but once she got back to the firehouse, he had been relentless at trying to get her alone to talk, even though they both knew he wasn't supposed to. Gabby still didn't know what Boden had talked to Walker about her first shift back, or what had him so angry when he'd stormed from the Chief's office, but what she did know was that Bryan had been reminded he was still supposed to be keeping his distance. The problem was, he didn't seem to care. Because he had spent the last three weeks doing the exact opposite.
Any time the opportunity presented itself, Bryan would try and talk to her. It started out as him addressing her around other people, of him trying to strike up conversations with her in the common room, or during meals; any time they were around the house. For whatever reason, she wasn't sure, but Bryan had been doing all he could to try and speak with her. But when Gabby hadn't been very receptive to his attempts to talk to her in public, and he was on the receiving end of more glares from Casey, Shay, and Herrmann than it was worth, he began trying to speak with her in private. He'd try and catch her out in the garage, or in the locker room when not many people were around. She never gave him the time of day, but it was definitely a little creepy, and even more so just annoying.
She had made it clear that she didn't want to talk to him, Shay had made it clear on a few occasions, and Boden had even gone to the trouble of reminding him to just leave her alone, but in typical Bryan fashion, he ignored it. She didn't know why, she still had no clue as to what his goal was of trying to get back into her life, but she shut him down every time.
And a part of her hoped once he knew she was in a relationship with Matt, he'd quit for good.
Even though she was still nervous about how he'd react, she hoped once the anger passed, he'd finally move on from whatever game he was trying to play with her. She didn't want his friendship, she didn't want to talk to him, she didn't want to deal with him at all; she just wanted to focus on her friends, and her boyfriend, and keep looking forward.
"Thanks Gabby." He spoke when she handed him the drink, his fingers brushing against hers when he grabbed the glass. Gabby pulled her hand away like nothing had happened, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of getting any type of reaction out of her.
"You're welcome." She responded, Gabby moving her attention back to Shay, the blonde's glare still focused on the firefighter. "So, um," Gabby cleared her throat, Shay looking towards her friend, her gaze softening instantly. "Do you work Tuesday night?"
It was obvious Gabby was trying to start a conversation, something Walker couldn't insert himself into, Dawson not wanting to give him any chance to try and talk to her. And Shay would help her with that however she could.
"No, I don't." She replied, the two women turned to one another, Bryan staying put in his spot as he took a sip of his beer, his eyes trained on Gabby. "Do you?"
"Yeah, well I'm supposed to." She spoke, Shay's eyebrows raising. "Would you be able to switch shifts with me? I close Tuesday."
"I could probably be persuaded, what's going on Tuesday?" She asked, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek, well aware of who was still standing uncomfortably close to them.
"I've just got some plans…" Gabby replied, Shay shooting her a knowing look. "I didn't realize until I got here tonight that I was supposed to work, so if you could switch with me that'd be great." She finished with a shy smile, the blonde rolling her eyes before agreeing.
"Alright, yeah I'll switch with you." Shay agreed, Gabby's smile widening.
"Thank you, lady." She responded, Shay giving her a nod.
"You got a hot date or something?"
Walker's rough voice filled their eyes, Gabby suppressing a sigh as she glanced back towards him, seeing him still in the same position he'd been in moments prior when she gave him his drink, his harsh stare focused on her.
"What are you still doing over here, Walker?" Shay asked exasperatedly, the man never taking his eyes off Gabby. "Can't you find some other women to harass?"
"I'm just asking a question, Shay." He replied without looking towards her, Gabby narrowing her eyes, Bryan clearly waiting for her to answer his original question.
"I do, actually." She replied bluntly, her words catching him off guard as Gabby saw the look of surprise that flashed in his eyes, the paramedic raising her eyebrows challengingly. "Not that it's any of your business, but yeah I do."
She watched as his entire body tensed, Walker's throat clenching as he held back whatever he was wanting to say to her, the man releasing a heavy scoff before slamming his beer glass down on top of the bar, Bryan stomping away towards the back of the room without another word.
"You know, if you told him right then it was Casey, you probably could've gotten him to leave the place." Shay spoke lightly, trying to diffuse some of the tension around them as Gabby shook her head, Dawson flashing her a weak smile.
"Yeah, probably." She responded meekly, Shay sighing as she took a step closer to her friend, placing her hand over Gabby's arm.
"You okay, honey?" She questioned, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly as she nodded.
"Yeah, yeah I'm good… I just don't understand why he cares so much about what I'm doing." Dawson breathed out, Shay rubbing over her forearm, the blonde glancing across the bar in the direction Walker went, her glare finding his instantly. "And it shouldn't even bother me, but he's the one who broke up with me… I mean, it ended up being the best thing he could've ever done for me, but still. He's the one who ended things, why does he think he gets any say in what I do anymore?"
"Because he's a misogynistic asshole." Shay replied quickly, Gabby releasing a soft sigh. "He is, Gabs, and he always has been. It's probably just some weird, power thing, him knowing you've moved on with your life… that you've moved on to someone else. His ego can't handle it."
"Yeah, maybe… I don't know, I just wish he'd leave me alone."
"Well, once he finds out about you and Casey, I'm sure he will." Shay responded, Dawson pursing her lips together. "I mean, he either will leave you alone, or Matt will make sure he does… I'm telling you, there's a protective side to Casey that I'm kind of interested to see, I bet it'd be hot."
"Shay…"
"What? I'm just saying, objectively, that Matt getting all protective and defensive over you, it'd be hot. Just because I'm not into it doesn't mean I can't appreciate it." She spoke with a grin, Gabby chuckling softly as she shook her head, the blonde's gaze moving around the bar. "And speaking of protective boyfriends, look who finally showed up." She added, Gabby's eyes moving towards the entrance, seeing Matt slowly making his way through the crowd of people, his gaze finding hers instantly.
The second he saw her, his eyes lit up, Matt flashing her a wide smile as he continued towards the bar, Gabby matching his look instantly.
"God, you two are disgusting." Shay groaned, Gabby bumping her side just as Matt got to them, the action not lost on the firefighter.
"Hello Shay… Dawson." He greeted warmly, his gaze lingering on Gabby longer than he probably should've, but he didn't care, Matt taking the opportunity to take in his girlfriend. His gaze started on her face, before it slowly began trailing down, his eyes staring longer than appropriate at the slight cleavage poking out from her black shirt, the material hugging her in all the right places as he continued down to her waist, her tight jeans clinging to her skin, Matt unable to see much farther past her hips because of the counter blocking his view.
"Jesus Christ, get a room." Shay breathed out, Gabby biting down on her tongue, trying to hold back a grin as Matt's ears turned pink, embarrassment flooding his body when he realized his less than subtle stares had been caught.
"Sorry…" He spoke, more to Gabby than to Shay, the Lieutenant clearing his throat. "Guess I just got a little distracted."
"It's amazing no one's figured you two out yet, the way you're eye-fucking right now, I swear it's like you're about to push her up against this bar and go to town on one another." Shay continued, Gabby coughing slightly as more embarrassment flooded Matt's body, the couple sharing knowing glances as Shay looked back and forth between the two of them, a grimace quickly covering her face as realization set in. "Oh God, don't tell me you two… Come on guys." She groaned, Matt ducking his head as Gabby looked down towards the bar. "This is a public place, and you guys just- God, I feel like a need a shower."
"We cleaned up afterwards." Gabby replied, laughing at the look of disgust that covered Shay's face, the blonde shivering slightly as she took a step away.
"I love you guys, but you're gross. I need to go very far away from here, and not ever think of this again." She spoke, shaking her head before she slid behind Dawson, moving further down the bar to go help Herrmann, both of them watching her walk away before turning back to look at one another, Matt flashing her a warm smile.
"Hi." He murmured, Gabby leaning her hips forward against the bar, her eyes locking with his.
"Hey." She responded just as softly, neither of them able to wipe the smiles off their faces. "How was your job?" She asked, Matt's face faltering slightly as he pursed his lips together, Gabby watching as he took a deep breath.
"It was long, but thankfully I think I'm almost done… As long as he doesn't add or change anything else, I think one trip back and I should be done." He answered, Gabby nodding as she reached for a clean glass.
"Good… You want a beer?"
"Yes please." He responded, Gabby smiling before beginning to fill his glass, keeping her eyes on the tap. "What about you, how was your day?" He asked, neither of them having spoken since they left shift this morning.
"Not nearly as busy as yours, but it was fine." She replied, placing his drink down on the bar. "But, uh, I have done some thinking today…" She added vaguely, Matt's eyebrows raising as he took a sip of his beer.
"Oh yeah?" He asked, Gabby giving him a nod. "Nothing bad, I hope." He added jokingly, Gabby smiling as she shook her head.
"I want to tell everyone." She responded without missing a beat, his smile growing as Matt immediately understood what she meant. And the look of complete and utter happiness that covered his face was enough to assure her that she was making the right choice, Gabby's heart swelling in her chest as she saw the joy radiating off him.
"Really?" He questioned brightly, Gabby nodding with a smile as her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth. "You're sure?"
"I am. I want them to know." She replied, Matt's smile never fading. "I'm tired of hiding, you and how I feel about you. I want everyone to know, if you're fine with it."
"Of course I am." He spoke without hesitation, desperately wishing he could reach across the bar and grab her hand, but he knew he couldn't, not until they figured out how they were going to share their relationship with the house. "I've been ready, but I know you needed time, which is why I didn't bring it up. But I only wanna tell them if you're sure, I know there's a lot more of other things to consider here…"
"The only thing worth considering is you." She said, Matt's eyes shining with happiness. "And us. It shouldn't have even taken me this long, but I want everyone to know. I want us to be able to just be us."
"I want that, too." He breathed out, Gabby grinning as she gave him a nod, his eyes trailing over her face. "God, I just wanna kiss you right now."
"Soon." She told him, Matt's smile widening. "Here soon, you can kiss me whenever you want, in front of whoever you want- well, within reason." She corrected herself, Casey chuckling before taking another sip of his drink.
"I can't wait." He replied, Gabby running her teeth over her bottom lip as her attention got pulled in another direction, Herrmann calling her for help further down the bar.
"I'll be right back, are you good?"
"I'm great." He responded instantly, Gabby smiling before nodding. "You're closing tonight right?" He asked as she began walking away, Dawson giving him another nod.
"I am."
"Well, how would you feel about some company?" He offered, Gabby grinning softly as she took another step towards Herrmann, not wanting to keep him waiting for too much longer.
"As long as that company is from my boyfriend, I'd love it." She replied softly, Matt's smile widening as he gave her a quick nod. "I'll be back in a bit."
"I'll be here." He responded without missing a beat, Gabby flashing him one last smile before she went to go help Herrmann, Casey continuing to nurse his beer while he watched his girlfriend work.
Walker sat out in his car, his hands tapping the steering wheel anxiously as he kept his eyes peeled towards the front door of the now closed bar, the firefighter sparing a quick glance at the time before focusing his gaze forward.
2:17 AM
From experience, Walker knew the nights Gabby closed down Molly's usually kept her here pretty late, his ex sometimes not returning back to his apartment until close to three in the morning, and in moments like these, he remembered why he always found that so irritating.
All he wanted to do was talk to her, but everyone inside that bar had made it damn near impossible.
Even after he stormed away from them earlier in the night, he hadn't given up on trying to speak with her. He hoped his persistence would pay off, that it would show her what he had to say was really important, but Gabby was continuing to play hard to get, and it was becoming a little frustrating.
He knew she was making him work for it, that everything she was doing; pretending to not be interested, making up the date she had later in the week, he knew all those were just ploys to make him work harder. But what he hadn't counted on was everyone else making it hard on him, as well.
Bryan wasn't sure why everyone was so up in arms about him trying to get a moment alone with her, but they'd made it harder than it ever needed to be. As the night wore on, he'd continued to try and find a moment to speak with her, but considering she was glued to Shay's hip all night, he never got a chance. And having Casey around complicated matters, too. Dawson and his Lieutenant hadn't actually spoken that much aside from when he first got there, something Bryan made sure to pay attention to, but Casey seemed to just always be around, and that irked him. It was bad enough that Gabby had become friends with him, but the fact that Matt was the one in that warehouse with her really bothered him.
He should've been the one to be with her, to comfort her when she was upset, but he wasn't; Casey was. And that call had only seemed to strengthen their friendship. And it bothered him greatly.
But Walker wasn't too focused on that right now, his only focus was trying to get a moment alone with Gabby, and with her closing up Molly's, he knew this was his perfect opportunity. Herrmann was long gone, Shay had left about half an hour ago, and Walker wasn't sure when Casey had left, but the man didn't recall seeing him for awhile, so he figured he'd gone by now. The only person left was Gabby, and this was his perfect chance to show her he was serious.
He knew if she could just quit being so damn difficult for one second, and she let him actually talk to her, that they could figure this out. If they could sit down and have a real discussion, he could tell her everything that had been on his mind lately, about her, and about them, and she'd see that he'd take her back.
He wanted her to know that he might've made a mistake by dumping her, that he regretted treating her poorly, even though she always made things ten times harder than they needed to be. How he wished he would've handled himself better, that he would take back some of the things he'd said, and done. How he believed they could start over, and be happy like they used to be. That if they just both agreed to change, if she could quit being so damn stubborn and just listen to him once in awhile, that they could make things work.
He wanted to see if things between them could still work, and he knew she did, too.
Despite how she was acting, and the things she was saying, he knew she still had feelings for him. She wasn't the one to leave him, that was his choice, so of course he knew she still loved him. He just had to remind her of that. And all these games she was playing, he knew it was an act. He knew he hurt her, and that even before they got together all those years ago she'd had walls up around herself. But he had managed to get past those before, he knew he could do it again.
But he knew he'd have to play along with her little charade, that he'd have to go along with her pretending to have a boyfriend, even though he knew that wasn't true. She hadn't moved on, she couldn't, he knew she just told him that to try and make him jealous; which, to her credit, had worked. But he knew it was all an act. She was just trying to make him work harder.
And he would.
His ears perked up when he saw the door to the bar swing open, Bryan fidgeting in his seat as he waited to see Gabby, the firefighter knowing this was his chance, his smile growing when he saw her walk down the steps to the sidewalk. But that smile soon faltered when he saw the door stay open, Gabby turning around, clearly talking to someone. Walker just didn't know who.
But the second he saw the man step out from behind the door, his blood began pumping through his ears, Walker gripping the steering wheel tightly as his muscles tensed, Bryan watching as Matt Casey shut the door behind him, Gabby holding out something towards him. Casey had turned back around, locking the door into place before joining Gabby on the sidewalk, the tension in his body rising the closer Matt got to her.
He didn't know Casey was still here, he had thought the man left long ago, but clearly he hadn't. Clearly, he had stayed to help Gabby close. Which, even though he hated it, he knew that didn't mean anything. They were just friends, Gabby had told him they were just friends, and she wouldn't lie to him.
But for as close as they were standing, they didn't seem to be just friends. Friends wouldn't stand with only inches between them. Friends wouldn't reach out and place their hand on your hip. Friends wouldn't pull you closer against them.
And friends definitely wouldn't start making out with you in the middle of the deserted street.
Anger coursed through Walker's body as he watched on at the apparent couple, his knuckles turning white as rage flooded his system, Bryan almost unable to believe what he was seeing.
She had lied to him. She lied to his face when he talked to her about Casey, and that realization pissed him off almost as much as what he was witnessing right now.
Gabby was dating Casey. Or at the very least, she was fucking him. And the thought made more anger consume him, Walker having to keep himself from getting out of this car and going to confront them. Because despite all the fury and resentment he was feeling right now, he knew going and beating the shit out of his Lieutenant would do nothing but make the situation worse, for himself, no matter how much he wanted to.
Casey and Dawson slowly pulled apart, the two clearly having some conversation, even though Walker was in no position to have any clue as to what they were talking about, bile rising in his throat when he had to watch Gabby lean in and kiss his boss yet again. This one didn't last nearly as long, but it was somehow worse, Bryan watching from afar as Gabby grabbed the Lieutenant's hand, leading him towards her car.
There were more words being sad, Gabby digging around in her purse for her keys while Matt stood behind her, his eyes occasionally glancing around the street, almost like he was making sure there were no threats around them, like he was protecting her.
And that made him angry.
He was beyond angry. He was angry at Gabby, for spreading her legs for his boss. He was angry at Casey, for fucking his ex-fiancé. And he was angry at himself, for not doing something to stop it sooner.
He was just angry, and watching Matt open the car door for her only made him more angry.
More words were exchanged between, Bryan's heart rate quickening in his chest as he had to watch Matt press her against the backseat door, the Lieutenant kissing her again, Gabby wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.
It seemingly went on forever, Bryan swallowing the thick lump that had formed in his throat as they finally pulled away, Matt brushing his hand over her face before she climbed into the car, Gabby turning it on while Matt shut her door. She put the window down, Casey resting his palms on the frame as he leaned down, the two having another brief conversation before he tapped the door, leaning forward to kiss her quickly, annoyance breaking through Walker's rage.
He knew they weren't aware of his presence, but it felt like they were, every move Casey made seemingly a jab at him as the Lieutenant stood up straight, taking a few steps back so Gabby could pull away from the curb, Casey watching her as she went.
The man waited until she had gotten a head start before he jogged across the street, climbing into his truck that Bryan hadn't realized was there, the man never releasing his impossibly tight grip on the steering wheel as Casey turned his truck on. Within seconds, Matt had pulled away from the curb, following in the same direction Gabby had just gone. And while Bryan didn't know where either of them lived, it didn't take a genius to figure out they were headed to the same location, Walker's entire body on fire as he thought about what they were going to do.
As he thought about what they had most likely done many times before, his body seemingly frozen as never-ending rage swept through him.
He couldn't believe what he just saw. He couldn't believe Gabby had been dating Casey, that, for however long, they'd been together behind his back. He couldn't fucking believe it.
Casey had stolen what was his.
And he wouldn't let him get away with that.
Neither of them would.
Gabby climbed from her car when she saw Matt pull up behind her, a soft smile already resting on her face as she shut her door, double checking to make sure she had the essentials before locking up her car, Dawson walking the few steps towards his truck, Matt already getting out.
"Funny running into you here." He spoke lamely, Gabby rolling her eyes, unable to stop her smile from widening at his dumb job, Matt grinning as he locked up his truck.
"Mhmm." She hummed, Matt sliding his hand along her back lightly before they began walking towards his front door, the two having agreed once they left Molly's to come sleep at his place.
They walked quietly, the calm night air surrounding them as Matt let her climb the stairs first, Gabby waiting for him to unlock the door, Dawson unable to stop the yawn that escaped her lips. Without a word, he followed her into his apartment, Matt closing and locking the door behind them as Gabby kicked off her shoes before walking the familiar path to his kitchen, Matt grinning when he realized they wouldn't be going to sleep just yet.
When she got to the kitchen, light suddenly flooded the otherwise pitch black apartment, Matt shedding his thin jacket, placing his wallet and keys in their rightful place by the door before he followed after her, his sock covered feet padding across the hardwood.
As he stepped through the doorway, the smile on his face grew when she came into view, Matt seeing her sitting up on his counter, her legs swinging as she sat and ate one of the muffins one of his clients had made for him, his head cocked to the side as he came up to stand in between her legs. Gabby widened them slightly to give him more room, his palms resting on her thighs as he got as close to her as possible, his hips resting against the counter.
Gabby continued to chomp away at her snack, Matt sliding his hands up and down her thighs as he watched her. A few moments passed as they relaxed into the comfortable quiet they'd settled in, Matt smirking when he saw a bit of muffin stuck to her lip, Casey leaning forward quickly to kiss it off. He felt her smile against him, Gabby kissing him back as one of his hands slid up to her waist, Matt pulling her closer.
When air became a priority, they separated, Gabby smirking as he licked his lips, a grin soon falling onto his face. "You taste like blueberry." He mused, Gabby's nose scrunching up before she took another bite of her food, breaking off a piece and holding it up to him, Matt eating it quickly.
Within a few minutes, they had finished the food, Gabby wiping off her mouth as Matt threw the trash away, her boyfriend soon coming back to reoccupy his position between her legs, his hands roaming her thighs as he slid her forward slightly, causing her to press into him. Instinctively, her arms wrapped around his neck, hanging loosely over his shoulders as he stood in front of her, Matt leaning forward to kiss her softly, his gentle movements a shift from earlier.
"You ready for bed?" He murmured, kissing her again quickly, Gabby raising her eyebrows once he pulled back, her look almost challenging as an intrigued expression covered his face.
Slowly, Gabby leaned forward to kiss him again, her movements steady before she trailed her lips across his cheek towards his ear, pulling his body closer to her. "I'm ready to go to the bedroom." She whispered in his ear, her tongue darting out to graze his skin as she felt him shudder against her, his grip tightening.
"That can be arranged." He replied, his hands moving around to the front of her waist, slowly sliding underneath the shirt covering her body, his fingers toying the skin above her pants. Gabby's breath caught in her throat as she pushed herself against his hand, her lips trailing back towards his.
Casey smiled against her when she deepened their movements, Matt popping open the button of her jeans with one hand, his fingers moving towards her zipper and pulling it down, his hand ghosting over her as Gabby panted into his mouth. She pushed forward against him yet again, Matt pressing his hand over her covered center, Gabby's breath hitching at the pressure. He smirked slightly, Gabby kissing the smug grin off his face as he moved his hands from her hips to grab the ends of her shirt, Matt separating from her just long enough to remove the tight fabric from her body, Casey throwing it to the ground without a care.
His eyes immediately moved towards her heaving chest, Casey's eyes darkening when he caught sight of her black lace bra, Matt recognizing the item of clothing instantly, remembering how frequently he'd taken it off her in the past.
And tonight was no different, Matt not even thinking about it before his hand trailed around to her back, expertly unclasping the material, the piece of clothing loosening against her chest. In one swift movement, Matt pulled the bra down her arms, throwing it aside as he'd done to her shirt seconds prior, heat rising to her cheeks when his intense gaze focused on her bare chest. Slowly, he stepped back towards her, his hands reaching out to rest on her sides, his warm palms against her skin sending chills down her spine, Matt smiling softly before he leaned forward, capturing her lips in his again.
Each movement became needy, and was full of want as Matt kissed her intensely, his hand sliding around to the front of her chest, his palm cupping her skin, teasing her as their kisses got heavier.
"Matt…" She panted, Casey giving her one last kiss before pulling back, their chests rising and falling quickly as Matt wordlessly slid his hands down to her hips, yanking her forward. Instinctively, her legs hooked around his waist, Gabby letting out a surprised yelp as he was suddenly supporting all her weight, Matt's hands resting under her as he began carrying her to the bedroom, Gabby using her hold around his neck to keep herself up. She began distracting him as he got close to his room, Gabby's lips focusing their attention on the nape of his neck, knowing how it always drove him crazy.
The second they got to the bed, Matt placed her down onto it, one hand coming out to keep his weight off of her as they fell onto the bed together, Gabby's bare chest rubbing against his t-shirt covered one. She reached out, trying to guide him back to her, but Matt had other ideas as he pulled back from her completely. She breathed heavily while she watched him, Matt smirking as he hooked his fingers under the waistband of her unzipped jeans, Casey roughly yanking them and her underwear down in one swift motion, leaving her completely bare on his bed as he threw the clothing to the side.
Casey took a moment to drink her in, Gabby lifting herself up to rest on her elbows, watching as his eyes trailed down her bare form.
"This isn't fair." She pouted playfully, regarding his current state of dress, and her lack of one, Matt smiling before pulling his shirt off, tossing it aside haphazardly. His hands then went to his own pants, Matt getting rid of them and his boxers in seconds, Gabby gnawing on her bottom lip when she caught a glimpse of the effect she'd already had on him.
"Better?" He asked teasingly, Gabby nodding as her gaze moved back up to her face.
"Mhmm." She hummed in response, Matt stepping back towards the bed, Gabby eagerly waiting to see what he was going to do next, knowing just how unpredictable he could be in moments like these.
And he didn't disappoint, Matt placing his hands on the tops of her knees, forcing her legs apart as far as he could, Gabby gasping in surprise as he settled himself down by her hips. She could feel his breath on her, Matt positioning her legs up over his shoulders, his arms hooked around her thighs, his hands resting dangerously on her waist, the position he had her in keeping her locked in place. Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't be able to move, and that knowledge caused her breathing to become sporadic, Gabby knowing that whatever Matt was about to do, she'd be completely at his mercy.
He began placing light, open mouth kisses over her skin, moving along the inside of her thighs, nipping at her as gently as he could. Gabby collapsed down onto her back, her hands resting out beside her on the mattress, a low whine escaping her lips when she felt his tongue dart out to touch her.
The moment was fleeting, Matt going back to teasing her with kisses everywhere except when she needed him, Gabby releasing frustrated groans, knowing Matt was doing this on purpose.
Then suddenly, Matt was back exactly where she wanted him, his tongue moving expertly over her as he focused his attention between her legs, Gabby's breaths becoming shorter and choppier as he picked up speed. He worked her up quickly, Gabby's chest heaving as she felt his lips enclose around the most sensitive part of her body, a sharp gasp leaving her mouth, the movement causing her to grip onto the sheets beneath her.
"Matt-" She whined, Casey smirking against her before he went back to work, feeling her body react to his efforts. He had kept up a steady pace, Gabby doing what she could to control herself as Matt meticulously worked her over.
When he felt her getting closer, his released the grip his right arm hand around her leg, Matt bringing his hand back down between her legs while he used his other to keep her still, Casey holding her down to the mattress as he kept his forearm over her waist.
Without any warning, he slid a lone finger into her, Gabby choking on the breath in her lungs as his mouth focused on her sensitive bundle of nerves. Within seconds, he added another finger, Gabby whimpering as he picked up his relentless pace, Matt somehow speeding up as his tongue would occasionally poke out to tease her.
Her entire body felt like it was on fire, Gabby's legs shaking around his head as she felt her release nearing, the sensations almost overwhelming as Matt worked tirelessly to drive her over the edge. He was like a machine, Gabby's thighs clenching as whimpers and moans continuously left her lips, Matt refusing to let up.
Her body was reacting to his every touch, Gabby barely able to stand what he was doing to her as she writhed around underneath him, Matt's movements becoming too much for her to withstand.
"God, Matt- I-..." She couldn't form coherent sentences, Matt knowing she was a goner.
Before she could even grasp what was happening, her release hit her hard and fast, Matt never slowing down as he encouraged her through it, Gabby's entire body trembling as she was overwhelmed with mind-numbing pleasure, Matt fighting to keep her legs apart as she shuddered around him.
When he could tell she was completely spent, he started slowing down his movements, his tongue lightly lapping at her skin as Gabby panted heavily, her hands up covering her face as she laid in the aftershocks of what he'd just done to her. Feeling her body beginning to steady, Matt moved his kisses up to her waist, Gabby taking deep, slow breaths as he ran his hands up and down her sides.
He gave her some time to recover, Matt having been in this position enough before to know the signals her body gave, and right now he could tell she needed a minute, Casey stroking his thumb along her stomach, feeling her body moving up and down beneath his touch.
When he felt Gabby's hand come up to rest against his cheek, he looked up at her, a soft smile forming on his face when he saw the look of complete contentment covering her features. Her thumb rubbed over his cheek bone, Matt leaning into her touch for a moment, before turning to press a kiss against her palm.
With a soft sigh, Matt lifted himself up to rest back on his heels, his hands running along her legs as he sat back on the bed. "You good or you need more time?" He questioned, feeling her thigh still a little tense underneath his grip, Gabby nodding as she placed her arms out beside her.
"I'm good." She confirmed, Matt nodding before he moved his hands to her hips, gently prompting her to roll over onto her stomach, her face pressed into the pillows. Gabby felt that familiar feeling of anticipation rise in her gut as she turned her head to the side, Matt straddling her waist as he ran his hands all over her back.
Her inability to see him drove her crazy, Gabby focusing on the feeling of his hands roaming her body, Matt pressing occasional kisses to her skin, a low moan leaving her lips when she felt him line himself up to her entrance. He teased her for a few seconds, keeping one hand moving along her hip before he slowly sunk into her. Her breath caught in her throat, Gabby doing what she could to stay relaxed as he slid into her, his hips coming to rest against hers. Matt slowly leaned forward, pressing his chest against her back as his forearms rested on the mattress beneath them, the new position pulling him in deeper.
Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, Matt slowly began to thrust in and out of her, Gabby lifting her hips up in time with his movements, soft whimpers escaping her lips when he brushed that delicate spot inside of her. They started slow, Matt easing into this, knowing she was probably still a little sensitive, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. But by the way she was pushing her hips up into his, he knew she was alright, Casey steadily increasing his pace every few moments.
Within minutes, Matt had gotten to a near frantic speed, slamming his hips down into hers, pressing her into the mattress as Gabby's body tightened around him, moans and whines escaping her lips frequently. Keeping up his stride, he sunk his teeth into her shoulder, Matt able to feel that she was getting close yet again. When she clenched around him, her body nearly strangling him, he let his body weight collapse onto her back, pinning her down into the mattress as he thrust into her with reckless abandon, Gabby's hand grasping at the sheets beneath her, desperate to hold onto some semblance of control even though they both knew she had none.
"That's it, baby." He whispered in her ear encouragingly, her body pulling him closer to his own release as they both neared the end, Gabby's breaths getting more and more shallow as Matt kept up his pace, his words causing warmth to pool in her stomach. "That's it."
Within moments, Gabby had been pulled over that edge yet again, her body riding a high that was overwhelming as pleasure consumed her, Matt dragging another orgasm from her despite her being completely spent. Casey never let up, his thrusts continuing as he made this last as long as possible, Matt coming close to the edge as well.
His release happened suddenly, Gabby gripping onto his forearm that was resting beside her as he came, Matt's usually steady pace now sporadic as he emptied himself into her. His movements were shaky, his thrusts deep as he finished, Matt's body weight covering her completely before he came to a complete stop.
Their breathing was heavy, Gabby feeling his choppy breaths hitting the back of her neck, Matt pressing a sloppy kiss to her shoulder before he slowly rolled off of her, a low whine leaving her lips as he pulled out, Matt collapsing onto the mattress beside her.
They sat in complete silence for a few moments, Gabby staying on her stomach while Matt laid on his back, both of them needing some time to recover from their late night activities. His hand was moving up and down her back lightly, Gabby's eyes closed as she faced him, not noticing how Matt was staring at her.
His eyes were focused on her slightly smooshed face, Gabby's cheek pressed into the pillow as she had finally steadied her breathing, Matt unable to stop the smile that fell onto his face as he watched her closely, his thoughts consumed by nothing but her.
He had no idea how he got so lucky. How he got lucky enough for her to come into his life when she did, how he got lucky enough to get to know her, for her to allow him into her life, and into her heart. Sometimes he still didn't understand how things worked out the way they did, how he went from being in the worst place he'd ever been in in his life, to being in the best.
He truthfully had no idea how he ended up here, but he'd forever be grateful that he had, be grateful for her. He was incredibly grateful for this amazing, loving, stubborn, self-assured, hot-headed, wonderful woman laying beside him. Every single day, he was seeing more and more of what an incredible person she was, and every day she was taking more and more of his heart.
She had him. Completely.
And he wanted to make sure she knew it.
"I love you."
Gabby's eyes snapped open when those three words left his lips, finding his gaze focused on her, his warm blue eyes shining, the look on her face causing him to chuckle lightly, Matt's hand coming to a stop along her back, resting his palm over her side.
"I just… I wanted you to know. I've wanted to tell you for awhile, but I wasn't sure if it was the right time. I know we haven't been together all that long, or I guess we haven't technically been together, but I just… I love you." He breathed out, Gabby smiling softly as she lifted herself up, resting on her elbows. "When we first started this thing, I know we both weren't looking for anything serious, and for awhile I believed it was just sex between us, or I was telling myself that at least, but for a long time I've known it was always deeper than that… Maybe a part of me always knew, even though you were kind of a pain in my ass," He added with a grin, Gabby laughing as he propped his head up in his palm, his other moving from her back up towards her face, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But from the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you. I don't even know the exact moment I realized how much you mean to me, I'm not sure if there was an exact moment, all I know is that I love you." He finished, their eyes locking as Gabby bit down on the inside of her cheek. "And you don't have to say it back, I know we said we didn't want to move too fast, and I hope it's okay that I'm telling you this, but I-"
Gabby cut him off by slamming her lips into his, the force nearly knocking him back as she pressed a firm kiss against him, Matt quickly recovering as he cradled the side of her face. Any hesitation he felt about telling her melted away when she kissed him, Matt brushing through her hair as they slowly moved together, Gabby pulling back first after a few gentle moments.
"I love you, too." She murmured, Matt's grin widening as he stroked his thumb across her cheek. "I have for awhile, even if I didn't want to admit it… but I'm in love with you, Matt Casey."
She couldn't explain the rush of emotions that filled her body when she finally said those words, those few words she'd been holding onto for months, the words she always was too afraid to say because she didn't know how he felt. She felt a warmth spread through her entire body, Gabby relishing in the fact that not only did he now know, she'd be able to say those words to him whenever she wanted.
Knowing there was nothing else that needed to be said, Matt gently pulled her towards him, his lips finding hers in an instant as he slowly guided her closer. He wanted to be near her, he needed to feel her as she climbed over him, her legs straddling his waist while he blindly reached for the comforter, throwing it over top of them.
This wasn't like what had just happened moments prior, there wasn't the same rough and frantic movements they'd experienced earlier in the evening. This was slow, and gentle, and full of nothing but love as Gabby easily guided him into her, the air around them thick with emotion as they carefully moved together, their lips never disconnecting as his hands wrapped around her back.
Matt couldn't explain how he felt in this moment, he couldn't put his finger on what about this, what about her made him feel this way. But all he did know was that he would gladly be here with her for the rest of his life. There was no one else in this world quite like the woman resting against him. And he couldn't believe she was his. Although, more accurately, he was hers. She grabbed ahold of a piece of him from the moment they met, even if he didn't realize it at the time, but he should've known then he never stood a chance.
His heart belonged to Gabriela Dawson. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
Well, how are we feeling? I told y'all this chapter had a little bit of everything, hopefully it didn't disappoint. Gabby's finally decided she's ready to tell the house, although it looks like the one person she was worried about already knows… As I'm sure you all can imagine, that'll make things pretty interesting. But, Gabby and Matt finally said I love you, and honestly writing the end of this chapter made me so happy (I mean the I love you part, not the sex part, although that was fun, too). I always love getting to write sweet and tender Dawsey moments, I hope you all like reading them.
I can't wait to hear what you think! Thank you for always supporting me and this story, it means so much to me.
Until the next!