Hey there! Am back with next update! And very excited about it!
I wanted to address something that someone mentioned about Gabby and what happened with her in the last chapter. I love Gabby with all my heart I really do, and I know that Gabby would never hit anyone purposely, and she would never be violent towards Matt. I didn't want anyone to think she would be hitting him. For me, and in my head it wasn't a voluntary thing, Matt was holding her, and she was panicking trying to get free, and her arm just got free and ACCIDENTALLY hit Matt. Maybe it wasn't clear, I don't really know, but no, this is not turning into a Dawsey abusive kind of relationship, because first of all Gabby would never hurt anyone, but also because I've seen what an abusive relationship is and I never want my story and these character I love to turn into this, it wasn't about being violent, I just wanted to show the mother side of Gabby that we never saw on TV. I know that she loves Louie more than her life itself, and I wanted to show that for him she was ready to do anything, even if it meant hurt herself, Matt was just in the wrong spot!
But I am sorry if some of you felt like Gabby was written out of character, I'll try to be better I promise!
And also, I know some of you are a bit done with Deering and this SL, but good news it's coming to an end, I just hope you'll like where this is going!
I like having reviews, and I don't mind having some critical comments I don't take it wrong, because I want to improve myself and my story, I just want you all to enjoy it as much as I do! So as long as it's not hate, I am grateful to hear what you have to say, good or bad, it's totally fine! I am open to whatever suggestions and remarks that you have!
So I really hope you'll like this chapter, I tried to make it a bit lighter as well, and hopefully you'll be excited for what's next! I am at least! I want this story to be positive, and make you feel good, and for you to have a great time reading it! My goal is for you all to appreciate it and just look forward to it, I never want it to feel wrong to you guys!
Again I apologize if something felt wrong to you guys, and I promise we're getting in a better/happier position very soon! No spoiler intended!
Happy reading!
And of course Be safe and kind to one another!
-A
Chapter seventeen
It had been a few days since the last events, and to say that Gabby was feeling awful was an understatement. She was angry at herself for what happened with Matt. She never wanted to hurt him, and she knew he would never actually blame her for what happened, it wasn't a voluntary action, she wasn't trying to hurt him. She didn't really know what happened to her.
Being in the hospital wasn't helping, but it wasn't an excuse. She knew that, and she would do anything to make sure Matt knew how sorry she was.
Today, Antonio and Louie were visiting her, she had gotten the word from her doctor that she would be able to go home in the next few days if she was still making sure she was eating and drinking enough. Antonio had promised he'd take care of Louie until she was home, and grateful she was.
"Casey told me what happened" Antonio said gently, as Gabby was watching Louie who was sitting on the ground, making a drawing.
"Yeah... Am not proud of it, I don't really know what happened, one second I was panicking and the next I was frozen..." Gabby explained shame over her face.
"You know he knows you didn't mean it, he loves you so much, I think the last thing he wants is for you to worry about this" Antonio replied, trying to reassure his sister that nobody would ever think she is a bad person.
"I know, but being here has been pretty gut-wrenching, I just want everything to be over, for us three to feel safe again" Gabby trailed off, earning a sympathetic look from Antonio.
"Casey is working with Susan right?" Antonio asked then.
"Yeah, he texted me, said he and Voight were at Susan's office, digging a bit more, he said he called some press and journalist for his press conference, he is determined to quit..." She said as Louie stood up and walked to the bed.
"Mama, can we go to the park with daddy?" Louie asked gently, as Gabby took his tiny hand, smiling down at his cuteness.
"Am sorry baby, but we can't go just yet, but I promise once I am out of here, Daddy and I will take you to the park, we'll spend a lot of time together okay?" She said.
Louie sighed a little bit, a bit disappointed "When are you out?" He asked then.
"Just a few days, but maybe Antonio can take you there soon!" She suggested sharing a smile with Antonio as Louie jumped excited.
The little boy starting running in the room, happy to get out for a little while even if it wasn't with his parents. He suddenly stopped when his father walked through the bedroom. "Daddy!" Louie yelled running to his father and jumping in his arms so happy to see his favorite person.
"Hey my big boy! I am so happy to see you!" Matt said so happy to see his son. He kissed his cheek and held him tight walking further inside the room. Matt shook Antonio's hand and walked to Gabby giving her a small kiss.
"How are you guys doing?" He asked then, putting Louie on the bed next to Gabby.
Tonio is taking me to the park! And I made a drawing for you daddy! » Louie said pointing at the drawing on the floor.
"Thank you very much Louie! I'll put it in the bedroom once we get home!" Matt said excited, so grateful for his little boy.
Matt turned to his wife, seeing a loving smile plastered all over her face. "And how are you doing? Did you see the doctor?" Matt asked.
"Yeah, am doing better, he said I can get home in a few days, just have to make sure I eat and drink enough" she replied. Matt nodded with a smile, grateful to finally be able to get his family back home.
"Great, that's good to hear!" he replied with a smile. He then turned to look at Antonio. "Voight said there is enough to arrest Deering, and Susan gave us the car's plates that hit Gabby's car. The guy who was driving the car talked to Voight and said he was paid by Deering to get in the accident, Voight said they are going to arrest him" Matt said earning two smiles from his wife and brother in law, both relieved to hear that.
"What about his m-o-t-h-e-r" Antonio spelled motioning his head toward the little boy.
"Susan called her, asked her to meet me in a few hours, I am not sure, I don't want Louie to be in d-a-n-g-e-r" Matt finished by spelling as well, Louie looking up at the adults was very confused not understanding very well what was said.
"I don't like when you spell! Because I don't understand!" he exclaimed crossing his arms over his tiny chest.
Gabby smiled and pulled Louie closer whispering in his ear "I don't understand either baby" she said, getting Louie to laugh.
"Uncle Tonio and daddy are silly!" He exclaimed then making his mother laughed.
"They sure are smarty-pants" she answered kissing the tip of his tiny nose, making his chuckle.
Gabby shared some looks with the two other man, The three adults knowing Louie didn't need to know all the details. He was a young child, and he didn't have to be aware of all the adults problems right now. They wanted him to stay in his bubble of happiness and joy. That was the most important thing, to make sure he was still so happy, and safe and surrounded by so much love. He deserved it. More than anyone.
Later, Matt was waiting in Susan's office. He was supposed to meet with Louie's biological mother, and to say he was nervous was an understatement.
He didn't really know what it meant, or how to deal with that, he felt terrible because he was scared they'd lose Louie to his mother. He had promised himself he would do anything to make sure he and Gabby would keep their son, but on the other hand he knew that if Louie's mother wanted him back, they would have a hard time keeping him away from his "real" family.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when a woman came in. She was a tall brown woman, with brown hair and dark eyes. She was wearing some ripped jeans and a tight sweater.
Matt stood up, and after looking at her for a second, he gave her his hand to shake. "Thank you for coming!" He said gently, not wanting to startle her.
"Of course, it's nice to meet you Mister Casey" she answered trying to give a smile but probably too nervous to do it.
Matt motioned for her to sit. He looked at her move in the room and sit down. He got back to his chair. And faced her, hoping this meeting would bring some answers to him.
They both fell in a awkward silence, neither knowing what to say or ask. During this silence, he kept watching the woman in from of him, she seemed a bit younger than Gabby. Looking at her, he couldn't help but find some ressemblance with Louie. They had the same eyes and mouth, and Louie's skin color was about the same shade as his mother. Matt didn't really know what to say to this woman, and he didn't want things to come out wrong.
"I appreciate you coming here, I know this is a bit... weird maybe, I hope it wasn't too much trouble" Matt said gently, breaking the silence.
The woman in front of him looked at him, and nodded "Of course, I heard everything that's been happening to you, and your family" she answered hesitantly.
"I know... I know you've been involved in this and am sorry... I know Deering tracked you down, am very sorry" Matt apologized hoping this woman would not take anything bad.
"He said he'd find my kid, that he needed me to come back, that he'd pay me to get him back" she exclaimed ashamed. "I didn't know what to do... I felt trapped, I didn't know what he would do if I went against his will... I was worried for my life..." she continued really nervous.
"Do... Do you want Louie back?" Matt asked playing with his wedding band, nervous as well.
"I... I don't... I mean... I know he is happy, happier than he'd ever be with me..." Evie replied earning a relieved sigh from the alderman in front of her. "I've been on and off drugs for the last... 12 years... Started with some meds and pain meds at 14... My life is pretty shitty..." she continued.
Matt nodded "Louie is great boy, he's been through a lot, but... I'd like to know you better, understand everything... I mean... my wife and i, we don't know much about his past, we just know what DCFS told us... And I would really like to know you better. Maybe someday Louie will have questions and... Right now am not sure I would be able to give him an answer" Matt explained, really wanting to know more about his son, and the woman who gave birth to him.
"Sure... so... I've been using drugs... my entire life, I tried detox more than enough, but it never worked, and it's always been hard for me to just quit... One day, I went to a bar, met a guy, Louie's father, and got pregnant. At first... I didn't want it, I didn't want to hear anything about it, and I was dead set about having an abortion... I mean, how would I have been able to take care of a child when I can't even take care of myself right?" She said, as Matt kept looking at her, drinking her words, and trying to make sense of his boy's life. "But then, I just realized that Louie was my life line... I decided to have him, and he saved my life. I went through a sober pregnancy, for him, to make sure he would be healthy, and then... he arrived, a bit earlier, but he was perfect, the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, my baby... I got to brought him home, and started to take care of him..." she explained with a smile.
"But something happened..." Matt trailed off as Evie nodded.
"Yeah... Louie was 4 months old, it was my first night away from him... And I didn't resist, I drank way too much, got some shot of whatever was in the syringe, I did drugs, I was wasted... I started again... with partying, with drugs and alcohol, It didn't matter I just did it, even knowing I had Louie. My addiction was winning. At some point... I left Louie alone for an entire day, and when I got home, the police was here... Louie got to the hospital and then a DCFS agent came to take him. I asked her to take care of him"
"Didn't you just fight it? To keep him?" Matt asked.
"I didn't... I knew if Louie was staying with me, he would be either dead or would have ended up like me, I want to prevent that from happening" Evie said ashamed of what had happened, knowing she hadn't been able to protect her pour baby.
"What about now? Aren't you better? Do you still struggle with you addictions?" Casey asked, hoping she wouldn't just snap.
"I still do, and I always will. Today is the first day I've been clean in a long time. I wanted to come and talk to you without being high... And... I know you and your wife are good for him, he deserves a real family, he deserves people who will love him and take care of him. Am sure he is going to grow up in a beautiful, amazing young man, and it's because of you. Am just so grateful he is where he is now, and all I want is for him to be happy, and you make him very happy, I would never take that away from him or from you" she finished.
Matt smiled grateful, she was a good woman, and she had been able to make the right decision for her son. "I'm sorry for everything that happened to you, and I'm very grateful that you were able to let Louis go for him to be safe and happy and have a bright future. my wife and I love Louis more than anything and all we've ever wanted for him is to have a family to be safe to be surrounded by good people and for him to grow in a great man" he explained as the woman smiled and nodded.
"I heard what happen with your wife I hope she's okay"
"How?" He wondered surprised.
"There has been some articles on her car crash, Everybody says that she's been in the hospital for a while and I really hope that she's OK everybody says that she's been in the hospital for a while and I really hope that she's doing better" Evie said with a sympathetic look.
"Yes she is better she's going to be okay, we just need to put this entire history behind us it hasn't been easy lately" he explained.
"Can I ask you a favor?" She asked then.
"Sure, of course"
"I'd like to see a picture of him, of Louie" she asked as Matt took his phone out of his pocket and finding some of Louie's pictures. "He is beautiful, and he really looks happy" She continued grateful to see he was surrounded by two amazing parents.
"He is... Evie... Thank you... For having him, for putting him first and letting us be his parents..." Matt said emotional.
"Of course, you are good for him, that's what he deserves" Evie finished, smiling at the father. She could see he was genuinely happy, talking about his son and what he liked to do, what were his favorite things and what he loved the most. He was a proud father!
Dark, cold, deep, dirty... this is how you could describe the cage in which alderman Deering was patiently waiting. Sometimes yelling for someone to come, asking to speak to his lawyer. Sometimes just wondering why he was here. He yelled saying he would sue everybody who was trying to hold him again his will.
Upstairs, Matt had joined Voight and Antonio. After meeting with Louie's mother all he wanted was to get home, and just be with his family, play with his boy and cuddle with his wife, and tell her that everything would be perfectly fine now. But he needed to see Deering, he needed to face him. And he didn't want to do it later. He wanted to see him now, to put this behind him as fast as possible and never talk about it ever again.
"So basically, he is going to jail, charged for cyber harassment, threats, order to create a car crash and putting people's lives on the line, some traffic, and drug use, sponsoring and dealing, and a few other stuff, he is not going to leave prison for a long time" Voight explained to Matt, wanting to give as much information as possible to the firefighter who seemed still very much on edge.
"Can I see him?" Matt asked.
"Yeah" Voight answered.
Matt walked down the stairs, followed by his brother in law and Voight. They were both going to stay away but we're coming just in case.
The young alderman faced the cage, and Deering. They locked eyes, not saying a word. Matt got closer and opened the door, to get even closer to deering, knowing he was now in a position of superiority.
"Well... Look at that! Alderman Deering. Who thought you'd get caught" Matt said with a smirk, seeing Deering's face go rigid.
"Casey, you shouldn't be here" Deering mumbled.
Matt got closer a bit more, making Deering pulled away, ending up back against the cage. "This is over! You're over. You wanted to play, and you did, but you lost. I told you to stay the hell away from me and my family and you didn't, you know you deserve to be here, and I hope you just die in prison" Matt said firmly. He was relieved to know that this piece of work would be in jail and would never do anything to him and his family ever again.
Matt turned around, ready to go, but Deering decided to open his mouth once more. "So how is... what's her name... Gabby?"
Matt stopped and turned back, throwing himself on Deering, grabbing him by the neck and pushing him against the cage. "You never pronounce her name ever again! She is the woman I love! And the mother of my child, if you thought taking it on them was the right thing to do, you were wrong! They are my life! I told you I'd kill you!" Matt yelled throwing a punch in Deering guts. The old man falling to the ground gasping for air. "I am a good man, and I know what's right and what's wrong! But coming for my family was your biggest mistake!" He yelled once more ready to throw more punch but was quickly stopped by Antonio and Voight who were holding him back.
"Come on Casey it's over!" Antonio exclaimed, as Matt was still fighting against them, ready to hurt the man who had been hurting his family for the last few weeks.
"Let me go! He needs to pay!" Matt yelled.
"Casey! He is going to pay! Look at him! He's going to prison, and you already beat the shit out of him!" Voight exclaimed after being silent for a while. He knew Casey was out of his mind because his family had been in danger, he was trying to protect them. As a father, Voight understood how Casey was acting, but right now, Voight didn't want Casey to end up in prison as well, he needed to get home to his girl and son.
"Gabby and Louie could have died! It would have been a lot worst!"
"Yeah and they are fine!" Voight said pushing Casey a bit aside, as Antonio took care of Deering. "Casey, you should go, go see you beautiful wife, see Gabby and the little guy, it's all over now, you can go home and take care of them, Deering is done, you can forget about it now" Voight said gently, earning a nod from Casey.
"You are right... am sorry... You make sure he gets what he deserves right?" The young man mumbled.
"Come on Casey don't worry, go see your family"
Matt just nodded, looking at Deering once more, knowing this man would pay, ready to finally put this behind him.
Matt quickly got back to the hospital, a huge smile plastered all over his face, so happy and relieved, and excited to finally be able to tell Gabby it was over.
He walked in her room, surprised to find Louie curled up in her bed asleep, but Gabby wasn't here. He closed the door and finally heard some noise coming from the bathroom.
He knocked at the door very gently, and spoke "Baby you in there?"
Gabby opened the door, she was sitting on the toilet, she looked at bit embarrassed but gave him a smile anyway "Hey am glad you're here" she said gently. "Can you help me up... I can't really move" she continued.
Matt nodded a bit worried "Are you in pain?" He asked moving the IV holder on the side to face her and be able to help her stand up.
"I've been cramping, I guess I should have called for a nurse to help me" she mumbled. Matt shook his head with a chuckle and helped her stand up. She held onto him while he put her shirt back up.
"Here you go" he said. "Let's get your back to bed. He said helping her to walk back in the room.
"So... How was today?" She asked focusing more on walking than anything else.
"I've got some news" he said, as Gabby sat on the armchair not wanting to get back in bed because Louie was still fast asleep.
"Tell me"
"Deering was arrested, I saw him, he is going to jail, and he won't be bothering us ever again... To be honest I could have killed him if it wasn't for Antonio and Voight" he admitted earning a worried face from Gabby. "Babe, I didn't kill him I promise, he is okay, and he is going to enjoy in miserable life in prison"
"It's such a good news! I am so happy you have no idea! It's the best news I've had in a long time!" She said suddenly starting to cry. Matt knelt down in front of her, putting both his hands on her thighs and caressing it trying to sooth her, knowing it was the nerves.
"It's okay baby, we are okay, it's all over, I promise, it's going to get better, you are going to get better" Matt promised giving her the most beautiful smile he had, the Casey's smile only reserved to one human being on this earth: Gabby Dawson. "I love you, and am so sorry for everything that happened I really am, I know it was my fault" he said then.
Gabby shook her head, knowing that blaming him earlier had been the wrong thing to do. Of course she was angry and scared, but Matt wasn't responsible, and she knew that. "I don't blame you, Matt... and am sorry I said it was your fault, but I didn't mean it... You're the reason why I haven't drown completely, you kept my head out of the water. And I love you" she said caressing his cheek.
"I know, I just... blame myself I guess, it's been so hard lately" he whispered shaking his head, so disappointed by himself.
"Let's just focus on the good now, the future, and that we are all fine, okay ?" She asked with a gentle smile.
Matt nodded, and stoop back up, planting a deep kiss to his wife's perfect lips. "Okay" he whispered.
"I noticed something as well…" she mumbled.
"What?" he replied curious.
"We've been so caught up in everything that we completely forgot about your birthday babe… We're the 20th…" she said disappointed. They had been so focused and worried on other things that they had forgotten the 12th of February which was supposed to be Matt's first birthday as a dad, but also had missed their first valentine's day as a married couple, what a shame.
"It's okay baby, you know It's not like my birthday is a big deal, and I don't need one day in the year to love you and show you all my appreciation, I can show you that every other days, you know that" Matt said, touched that Gabby had been thinking about it, but also not wanting to make a big deal of it.
"It's still important Matt! And Louie had been getting a present ready for you" she explained. Matt smiled now excited.
"Well, once I am home, we can celebrate my birthday without making it a big block party, and for our valentine's day, I can get something ready for us" he suggested.
"Yeah that sounds great, but… But I'd rather spend a valentine's day the three of us, be a family again" She asked hoping Matt wouldn't mind it, and of course he didn't. "And.. Huh... Did you see..." she continued, a bit uncomfortable to say anything, changing the subject.
"Evie... Yeah, she told me a lot, she doesn't want Louie back, she is a good woman... I mean... she is trying to be, but she can not take care of a child, she is just... lost, but she wants Louie to be happy, with his parents" Matt said with a huge smile mirroring Gabby's.
"Am so glad!" She exclaimed pulling Matt in a hug.
Pulling back Matt winked at her "See? everything is okay now. I asked her about Louie, how he was and what happened"
"Tell me about it" she said, as Matt sat in the chair next to her, holding onto her hand, both watching their little boy, so happy to finally be safe again. Matt did what she asked, and told her everything Louie's mother had told him, both enjoying this quit and nice moment. Just finally reunited for good.