Hello there everyone! I hope you all are doing well, and having a good week so far. I've got the next update here for you all, and I hope you all enjoy it!

But real quick, and I mentioned this in my I Won't Let You Go update on Monday, but I just wanted to let you know that there won't be an update for this story next week. I'm going on vacation with my family, and won't have time to get much writing done, I don't think. But I should be back the week after with my normal updates.

Also, there is an M-rated scene in this chapter. You all seemed to enjoy the last one, so I added another one in this chapter for you, as well. I hope you like it.

That's pretty much all I've got. Thank you so much for reading, I'll see you all next time!

NINETY

"Well Gabby, it's nice to see you again." Adrian greeted as he stepped aside so she could enter his office, the man giving a quick nod to Casey, who was in his usual seat across the waiting room, before shutting the door behind him. "It's been a while since you were last here."

Gabby nodded in response as she headed over to the couch, the therapist and his patient having gone through this process enough times already as she sat down in her typical spot, while he took up residence in the large chair across from her. "Yeah, it has… I'm sorry I had to reschedule our last session."

"It's fine, nothing to worry about." He assured her, just as he had when she'd called last week to cancel, Adrian picking up his pen and pad of paper before relaxing back into his seat. "If I had planned better, I would have scheduled something a little farther out from the holiday." He added one with a soft smile, Gabby matching his look before she nodded. "But all that matters is that you got here now… So, how have things been with you? I know last time we saw each other was before Christmas, but did that go okay? You were spending the day with your families, right?" He started, the man knowing well enough to ease back into their conversations, as he wanted to catch up with Gabby before going any further.

"Yeah, we were. And it went well, we had a nice time." She responded, Adrian nodding with a small smile. "Our moms really like getting to spend some time together, and Matt and I both enjoyed it, having everyone together."

"That's good… And did you do anything for New Years?"

"We did." She answered simply as she crossed her legs, Gabby resting her hands down in her lap. "It was just a small dinner at our place, with my parents and his mom. And Shay and Kelly were there, too."

"That sounds like fun."

"It was… It wasn't the craziest New Years Eve party I've ever been to, but we all had a good time." She replied lightly, the man across from her matching her grin.

"I'm sure." He agreed softly, Gabby giving him a weak nod before he glanced back down to his notes. "So, other than that, how have you been doing?" He asked her, Dawson shrugging slightly in response as to convey that she had been fine. "Things with you and Matt are still good?" He pressed when she didn't say anything, Adrian unable to miss the way her face soon lit up at just the mention of her boyfriend. "I see he came with you again today." He added on, nodding out towards the door to the waiting room.

"He did, yeah." She spoke softly, Gabby glancing in that direction as well, her eyes lingering on the closed door for a moment before she continued. "But him and I are good… great, even." She replied to his original question, Adrian's eyebrows raising as he glanced down to his notes. "Things with us have been really good lately."

"They have?"

"Mhmm." She hummed in response, without an ounce of hesitation, Adrian's head tilting to the side slightly as it became clear to Gabby what he was wanting to know, their conversations from her last session still fresh in her mind. "We uh… Our relationship is really solid right now, maybe the best it's ever been. And we've been a lot more open, and honest with each other- not that we weren't before, but just about-" She stopped short as she could feel herself rambling, Gabby shaking her head before she drew in another deep breath. "I just meant that him and I have been talking more… About Bryan." She explained the best she could, despite fumbling over her words.

"Really?" He asked quietly, Gabby giving him a nod.

"Yeah… Mostly about what happened that day. I, um… I told him everything." She said, Gabby not missing the proud look she saw shining in his eyes. "About what Bryan had said, and why it messed with me so much. I told him how I'd been feeling because of it… Why I was scared, and how I thought Bryan had broken me, because I kept letting him get inside my head. Everything you and I talked about last time I was here, I told him." Gabby breathed out honestly, Adrian giving her an affirming nod before he spoke up.

"And how did that go?"

"It went well." She answered with a soft smile on her face, her eyes moving down to her lap as she thought over those sweet and reassuring words Matt had said to her that night. "When we talked, he was… he was just Matt. He made sure I knew that everything Bryan said to me was a lie, and that I know I can come to him if I'm ever doubting that, or myself, again." She said, Adrian nodding once more as he gave her the room to talk through all of this. "Which, a part of me knew that before. Matt's always been there for me, no matter what. I've always been able to go to him about anything, but- I don't know, I guess I just needed to hear it again." She clarified, Gabby pausing to take a breath before she continued.

"Because, well you know, I was struggling so badly with letting go of what Bryan said to me. And just everything he'd done in general... more than I think I realized, even though I know he was just trying to hurt me." She said, Gabby carefully looking up to find his sympathetic gaze on her. "But after talking to Matt, it just… It helped me start to let go of it all. To actually let it go, instead of just saying I was fine. Or pushing it aside, and acting like it didn't bother me." She vocalized, Adrian listening intently as her words proved to him that he had gotten through to her. "I feel like admitting all of it out loud, to myself and to Matt, it's helped me finally be able to start putting all of this behind me, for good. Instead of letting what Bryan has said or done affect me, because I know now that it's not true. I know he can't hurt me anymore." Gabby told him, her voice a bit softer by the end of her sentence, as she noticed how the proud look in Adrian's eyes had yet to disappear. "And… I'm not completely there yet, sometimes I still doubt myself a little bit, but I'm getting better. And I know the times where I'm not okay, Matt is right there."

Adrian gave her a slow nod, the smile on his face reassuring her as he leaned forward in his seat slightly, before he began to speak up. "Everything you just told me, is exactly why we do this, Gabby." He spoke, his voice full of conviction as a soft grin formed over her lips. "And you're exactly right, he can't hurt you anymore, and everything he told you isn't true… But it's one thing for the people around you to tell you that, it's another thing entirely for you to be able to believe it." He encouraged her, Gabby nodding slowly as she couldn't help the rush of emotions that coursed through her. "And I really am so proud of you for that. For getting to a place where you're not only able to see that, but where you can open up about it, and let Matt help you through this. I know after everything you've gone through, that wasn't easy for you, but I'm so glad you were able to do it."

"Thank you." She responded, ducking her head slightly before he spoke up once more.

"And I can only imagine that it's helped you feel better, too."

"It has." She agreed. "Talking to him… I should've done it a long time ago. Because I've felt so much better since." She explained, Gabby waiting for the nod she got from him before she continued. "But you were right, talking to Matt about everything is what I needed to do."

"Well, that's definitely something I like to hear… Not me being right, but that you're feeling better." He clarified with a soft smile, Gabby chuckling softly in amusement before shaking her head.

"I know what you meant." She responded with a similar look on her face. "And I'm glad, too… Things were really hard on me for a while, but it feels like I'm finally getting out of that. And I think that's because I'm in a place now where I'm moving past everything." She breathed out, Gabby's eyes concentrated on the carpet in front of her while her eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. "My life is just… going really well right now. Things with Matt are great, and my family, and being back at work… Everything is good- it's steady. And that's exactly what I need right now." She admitted to him before finding his gaze once more, Adrian nodding with an understanding look in his eye.

"I'm glad, Gabby. I really am." He told her sincerely, the woman across from him nodding with a small smile before he continued. "And, I was actually waiting for you to bring up you going back to work." He spoke with a soft gleam in his eye. "There's been some pretty big changes in your life since I last saw you… Going back to work is a big deal." He finished, his words earning another nod from her as she fiddled with her hands in her lap.

Though she hadn't been here since her and Matt went back to work, Adrian wasn't left in the dark about her decision, as soon after they'd made the choice to go back, her therapist was her first call. Despite being pretty set in her decision, she still wanted to talk with him about it, and see what he thought. And, just as she expected, he supported her decision completely, Adrian giving her even more encouragement to take that next step. But that was the last they'd spoken of it, and she knew he'd want to hear about how things had been for her since returning to the firehouse.

"How has that been going?" He spoke up after a moment, as he noticed her get lost in her own thoughts, Gabby looking back up at him with raised brows. "Being at work again… You've been back for, what, about a week now, right?" He questioned after doing the quick math in his head.

"Three shifts, yeah." She agreed, Adrian nodding in response as he tapped his pen down against his notepad. "And they've been good… It's been a lot easier than I expected, if I'm being honest."

"Why do you say that?" He asked her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before her shoulders shrugged slightly, the woman looking down as she thought over how to best answer him.

"I don't know, I guess I just expected it to be harder on me?" She told him, her words sounding more like a question than a statement. "Cause I'd been away for so long, and hadn't seen anyone, or even been around anyone really… So in my head, I guess I thought it was gonna be more difficult to get used to it all again. To get used to being around that many people, and not worry about it."

"But it wasn't hard for you?" He pushed, Gabby lifting her head up to meet his gaze. "Being around that many people, you handled it okay?"

"I did." She answered softly, though it was nearly impossible for him to miss the almost pleased look in her eye. "It didn't really phase me at all. It wasn't until Shay brought it up to me after a call my first day back that I even started to think about it, but I was fine." She explained, Adrian remaining quiet as he waited for her to finish. "It wasn't an issue for me, not when I got to that first call. Because all I was focused on was my job, and I didn't have to worry about anything else."

The therapist gave her an encouraging nod before dictating a few things in his notes, the woman biting down on her bottom lip just as he spoke up once more. "That's great to hear, Gabby. I know that's what we talked a lot about last time, were you taking some of those steps to get back out there, and from what I can tell you've done all that and then some." He praised her, Dawson's chest swelling a bit as she couldn't help but feel proud of herself. "It sounds like being back at work has been good for you."

"It has been, yeah." She agreed with a soft smile. "I've really enjoyed being at the firehouse with everyone. Getting to work again, and getting that part of my life back, I definitely think that's helped me, too."

"I'm sure it has. It's probably helped things feel a little more normal for you." He spoke, Gabby nodding in agreement as his words held a lot of truth. "But I also want to hear a little bit more about work. I know you've said it's been good for you, but I also imagine there were probably some challenges, too." He prompted, Gabby breathing in deeply before pursing her lips together.

"Maybe a few, yeah." She ultimately said. "There were a couple moments here and there during my shifts that were a little difficult… Working out on calls, for the most part, have been fine. But sometimes being in the firehouse still felt kind of odd to me. Like I was just expecting to see Bryan there, even though I know it's not possible. So I've been working through all that, but it's nothing too bad." Gabby told him honestly as she ran her thumb along the back of her head. "And I guess my first day back was a little weird, at least at first."

"What do you mean?" He asked softly, his question earning a sigh from her before he got a response.

"Just that… it felt like no one knew how to act around me." She expressed, as a small, yet understanding frown formed over his lips. "Like they were all scared they might accidentally upset me, or they were worried about how I'd react being back at the house. Everyone kept checking in on me all day to make sure I was alright… And I appreciate it, but it just felt a little…"

"Strange." He finished for her, Gabby sucking in another breath before she nodded.

"Yeah." She replied softly. "So that made things feel a little off, even though I could tell they were all trying to make everything as normal as possible." She continued on, Gabby swallowing thickly as she thought back to her first day back on the job. "And, uh… then there was the thing with Bryan."

Those words caused a look of surprise to cover his face, Adrian's spine straightening involuntarily as her statement threw him for a moment. "What thing with Bryan?" He asked her carefully, the paramedic gnawing on her bottom lip as she had to look away from his intense stare.

"Bryan came up, my first day back." She replied after a moment, a heavy silence filling the air as Adrian waited for her to keep going. "Otis was talking about him, and what he'd done to me… about him being in prison. And- Otis didn't mean for me to hear him, but I did." She sighed out, Gabby not missing the way his look of uncertainty morphed into one of sympathy. "But I was able to talk about it with everyone, talk about him. Even after Otis was talking about how Bryan had hurt me." She continued to explain the best she could.

"He wanted to know if Bryan would be getting out of prison, like he did last time," She spoke up once more. "And I was able to talk about it… The conversation threw me at first, just cause I wasn't expecting it, but once I started talking about it, I was fine." She told him honestly, earning an encouraging nod from him in response.

"And has he come up against since then?" He asked her first, Gabby shaking her head no.

"He hasn't… I think people are trying to steer clear of him, even though I said they don't need to. But he hasn't come up again. Though I feel like I'd handle it okay if he did." She spoke with a slight shrug. "Cause it just… didn't affect me, like it would've in the past." Dawson voiced, before a slight wince crossed her face, Adrian watching her closely. "But- even though it's not much, it still felt like a big step to me… I don't know, it's sounds kind of stupid now that I say it out loud."

"It's not stupid." He said before she could even finish her thought, the sincerity behind his words almost catching her off guard. "I promise you, it's not. At all. It's such a great thing." He assured her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. "You being able to have a conversation about Bryan, no matter what it was about, is such a huge step. As big of a step as you being able to go back to work, and opening up to Matt. All of those are things that deserve to be celebrated, because it means you're healing, Gabby." He declared, Adrian only able to hope that his words resonated with her, as these victories deserved to be acknowledged. Especially with something like this, as he couldn't help but feel proud of all the progress she had made.

He'd noticed it throughout every session with her, how more and more she was feeling comfortable opening up about the abuse she suffered through. And at times he'd been hesitant to say it out loud, in fear that it would cause her to overthink things and delay her progress. But he couldn't stay quiet any longer, as she needed to know how important a step this was. How, even if she didn't directly talk about it, she wasn't hiding away from the topic as much as she used to. She wasn't trying to ignore it, or pretend it never happened; she was accepting it, and in turn, that let others around her accept it, too.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." She eventually agreed, the two catching each other's gazes before she continued on. "Sometimes it just still feels a little weird to me, that something as simple as talking to my friend about Bryan is a big step, but I know it is… I'm a lot better now, but that's not how I used to be, and this is all just a part of reclaiming what he took from me, I guess." She rambled out, Adrian giving her a supportive look. "And that won't all happen at once."

"No, it won't… Sometimes it's small things, or bigger things- like you feeling comfortable talking about Bryan, and going back to work. But it won't all happen at the same time… You've just gotta go one day at a time here, Gabby." He reminded her, as this was something they'd talked about frequently during their sessions. But with as headstrong as his patient was, he knew she sometimes forgot that.

"But if you just continue to take those steps like you've been doing, one day this will all be behind you… I truly believe that, Gabby." He assured her, Dawson's eyes falling closed for a second as she let his words sink in, it taking a few long moments for her to finally speak up.

"Yeah, I've just gotta take this one step at a time." She repeated him, Gabby breathing in deeply before she met his gaze, Adrian seeing a sudden uncertainty in her eyes that he didn't fully understand. Not until those next words came from her mouth.. "Though I've, uh, been thinking, and being back at work has made me realize something… We've been talking about all these steps I need to take, and about getting my life back, and I think I know what I want to do next." Gabby told him, as she knew this was her opening to discuss the thing that had been on her mind for a few days, though she wasn't sure how he'd react given how unsure she'd been the last time this came up.

"What is it?" He asked, Gabby clenching her neck slightly before she responded.

"...I want to go back to Molly's."

Casey carefully drove through the snow and ice covering the ground as he pulled up to the curb outside the familiar bar, the man putting his vehicle in park before turning to look at his girlfriend in the passenger seat, Gabby's eyes focused out the window towards the building while she sat there quietly. She hadn't said much since they left the apartment, or when they were getting ready to leave either, as Gabby hadn't really spoken since they'd started getting ready to come out tonight. And he could only imagine it was because she was gearing herself up for this, as he knew how big of a step being back at Molly's was for her to take.

When she'd first brought it up to him after her therapy session yesterday, he'd been supportive, especially after hearing how Adrian had encouraged her to go, but he also was a little hesitant. He knew she was unsure about coming back here, and he knew why this was a hard thing for her to do, which is why he'd never once pushed her to come here. So when she'd suggested the idea, he was a bit wary, as Matt couldn't help but worry. But he kept all those thoughts and feelings to himself, as he didn't want her questioning the decision she'd made.

If she was ready to do this, he believed her.

But that wouldn't stop him from keeping a close eye on her throughout the night, as Casey knew being back here was a little more difficult for her.

"Hey." He spoke softly as he reached out for her hand, the sound of his voice combined with his touch pulling her from his thoughts as she turned to look at him, the soft smile on his face keeping her at ease as he ran his thumb along the back of her hand. "You ready?" He asked her, the double meaning to his few words not going unnoticed by her.

But she merely nodded anyway, Gabby flashing him a small smile before responding. "I'm ready."

"Okay... But if that changes, or you need to leave, just let me know." He reminded her, Gabby nodding once more. "Alright, well then let's go see our friends. He said, Matt leaning forward to give her a quick kiss before they climbed out of the truck, the harsh winter cold outside seeping through their clothes as Casey was quick to hurry around to her door. Not wanting to spend any more time out here than they had to, Matt got the truck locked up the second Gabby was on solid ground, before he grabbed her hand and led her towards the front door, neither of them having a chance to second guess their decision to come here as they were both just desperate to get inside.

And the second they did, they were immediately met by the warmth that Molly's had always provided the both of them, the couple hanging back by the door for a second as Matt knew to let Gabby take the lead, her eyes moving around the packed bar while she gathered her bearings. From first glance alone, it was clear the cold hadn't kept their regulars away as the bar was packed, Gabby giving Matt's hand a slight squeeze before lacing their fingers together as she took a deep breath.

It was sort of a strange feeling, being back here again, but Gabby knew that she had to work through it. Just like she had when going back to 51, there were some lingering nerves she had to get past, but once she did, this place would start to feel like home to her again. It might take some time, especially given the reason she'd been absent from Molly's for so long, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he wasn't able to handle being here right now. That, aside from the bit of anxiousness in her system, she was fine. Regardless of what had happened in the past, she knew she didn't have to worry about being here.

And that's what she needed to hold onto.

Taking one last steading breath, Gabby continued into the bar, Matt followed behind her as they navigated their way through everyone else who had come to Molly's tonight, though their hands stayed locked together as she still wanted to keep him close.

"Well well well, look who it is." Shay spoke up the second she saw her, the wide grin on her face being matched by Dawson as Kelly turned back to see who she was talking to. "And here I thought you were just gonna be standing me up."

"I'd never stand you up, Shay." Gabby replied lightly, Matt coming to stop beside her as he dropped her hand long enough to wrap his arm over her shoulders, Gabby leaning into his side as the blonde behind the bar eyed them both.

"We both know that's a lie, honey." She told her as she reached for one of the glasses behind her, Gabby shaking her head in slight amusement while moving her hand up to grab ahold of Matt's that was resting over her shoulder. "And besides, we both know you never follow through… At least not with me. Casey's the only one who gets that honor." She continued to tease her while she poured Gabby's favorite drink, Severide coughing on the drink he'd just taken a sip of as Matt shook his head.

"Shay…" Gabby responded lightly, the paramedic shrugging before sliding the full shot glass across the bar towards her friend.

"We've been here for thirty seconds and you're already starting with the jealousy thing." Casey joked back, Shay narrowing her eyes at him. "Shouldn't we be past this by now."

"Just remember, I had her first Casey." She replied, Kelly chuckling softly underneath his breath before Gabby shot her an unimpressed look, the PIC realizing she needed to change the subject or Shay and Matt would continue bickering all night.

"Shay, I didn't ask for a drink." She spoke up as she glanced down towards the liquor in front of her, her partner shrugging before reaching across the bar to push it closer to her.

"I know, but it's on the house." She said with a grin, before it fell slightly. "Well, on you technically, because it's your bar." She added sheepishly, Matt chuckling dryly as Gabby raised her eyebrows. "Now drink up." Shay encouraged, the brunette huffing out a breath before she reached for the glass and quickly downed the shot. "Atta girl."

Gabby grimaced as she pulled the glass away from her mouth, Matt biting back a smirk as he watched his girlfriend shake her head before placing the shot glass back down on the bar. "Yeah, we might not be doing too many of those tonight." She replied, as it had been a while since she'd had anything stronger than wine or beer, Matt rubbing his hand over her shoulder while Shay filled up a glass of water for her.

"Anything's fine with me, I'm just glad you two were able to make it out tonight." Shay spoke with a soft grin, the best friends sharing a smile before Gabby nodded in agreement. "But, speaking of- Hey Herrmann?" She yelled off down the bar, her loud voice gaining the attention of the man in question, as well as half the bar. "I'm taking a break!" She continued on, Shay turning away from him before he could even respond, the woman tossing her towel down onto the counter as she walked around the end of the bar. "Now, Casey I'm taking my girl and her and I are going to have a fun night… We will see you later." She spoke, whisking Gabby away before Matt could get a word in.

But by the look on Gabby's face, he knew she was okay with it, his girlfriend giving him a small smile and a wink before she and Shay disappeared into the crowd in the bar. While he felt a little uneasy at being separated from her, at least so early in the night, as long as Gabby was alright that was all he cared about. And he also knew she was in good hands with Shay, as the only other person in this room that he completely trusted with Gabby right now was her.

"You realize you won't see Dawson again all night, right?" Severide spoke up with a smirk, Matt rolling his eyes before he took up residence at the empty bar stool beside his friend.

"Yeah, I know… But it'll be good for her." He breathed out, before reaching over the bar to grab the water Shay had made for Gabby. "Also, remind me to thank Shay later."

"For what?" Severide asked, turning his head back to try and locate the girls in the crowd, which he soon did. "Trying to steal your girlfriend?"

Casey shoved his shoulder, the squad Lieutenant chuckling before he took another sip of her drink, Matt mimicking the action to clear his throat before he answered him. "For not making a big deal out of Gabby coming here." He corrected him, an understanding look soon covering Kelly's face as he nodded.

"...Is she still handling all this okay?" Severide questioned, his tone holding nothing but concern as Matt's gaze soon found Gabby across the room, the sight of her smile bringing a small grin to his face while he thought over Kelly's words.

"She is." He finally answered, Matt having to force himself to look away from his girlfriend as he adjusted himself in his seat, Severide giving him another nod.

"Good." He responded simply, both men knowing there was no more that needed to be said between them, at least not about this, as they were ready to have a nice night out together at the bar Matt and Gabby had been away from for far too long.

Casey released a heavy breath as he stepped out of the shower, all the glass and mirrors in the room fogged up from the steam while he began to dry himself off, the man mostly just going through the motions as he was definitely starting to feel a bit of exhaustion creeping into his system. Exhaustion he knew his girlfriend had been feeling too, as she barely seemed to be holding herself up while she shared this shower with him up until about five minutes ago, Matt sure to find her curled up in bed already when he went out to their bedroom. And after their night out, he couldn't blame her, as getting back into their lives was still an adjustment they were working on.

But the time at Molly's was well worth it, as Matt had seen first hand how much fun Gabby had getting to be out with her friends again. At the firehouse it was one thing, as there was a sense of professionalism to be had even though they were all practically family. But at Molly's, even though some were there to work, they were able to let loose and have a little more fun, and Gabby had certainly done all of those things this evening.

And it was something Matt loved to see, as those moments where his girl was able to be that care free made him beyond happy. Even with her bit of hesitance when they first got there, once she had settled in and felt a little more comfortable, Gabby had been able to have a great night out with her friends. And even though it was just one night, he knew how much tonight had helped her. For her to be back in that environment, to feel safe and at ease at Molly's again, and he could see it in her all night how thankful she was for that.

But for as wonderful of a night as it had been, it was also a bit of a short one, as they'd spent maybe two and a half hours there before Gabby was ready to leave. And, truthfully, it had been a bit of a surprise to him, seeing how much fun she'd been having with Shay, as Matt just expected he'd have to drag her out of there at closing. But that wasn't the case, as eventually Gabby had broken away from their friends to come to him, and tell him she was ready to go. Which they immediately did, as Matt didn't even hesitate before agreeing to leave.

He didn't think her sudden desire to go home was much of anything other than exhaustion, but whatever the reason was he didn't push it, because for as much progress as she'd made recently he knew she still had her limits, Matt more than willing to take all of this at her own pace. Which is exactly what they'd done tonight, as the second she told him she wanted to go home, they had said their goodbyes and left the bar.

But even with their night cut a little short, overall it had been a great one for them, one that made Matt incredibly proud of his girlfriend. And it just continued to prove to him how she was doing so much better, each and every day she was becoming more and more secure in not only herself, but in getting her life back.

And he was so grateful he got to be here to see it.

Blowing out a soft sigh, Matt secured the towel around his waist once he'd gotten most of the water off his body before he headed towards the door. The man rolled out his neck in an effort to relieve some of the tightness in his shoulders while he moved, as it was becoming more and more apparent to him how ready he was to get some sleep.

Though, to his surprise, when he walked into the bedroom, the woman he expected to be waiting in their bed for him was nowhere to be found, Matt's eyes moving around the room before he quickly realized he was alone. But he didn't think much of it, as he knew Gabby couldn't have gone far, Casey walking over towards the bed where he'd laid out his boxers as he continued to prepare himself for bed.

He had only been standing there for a moment or two, Matt a little caught up in his own head as he didn't hear his girlfriend reenter the room. And he certainly didn't hear her coming up behind him, his back to her as he was oblivious to her stares, Gabby's quiet steps not registering as a soft yawn escaped his lips.

It wasn't until he felt her hands slide around his waist that he realized she was back, Matt tensing slightly at the unexpected touch before immediately relaxing, a soft grin covering his face as he focused on the feeling of her warm hands sliding over his abdomen, Gabby's body pressing against his while her cheek rested on his back.

"Hi." He greeted with his eyes closed, Gabby's arms circling around his lower waist before he felt her smile against him, the action sending a rush of warmth through his chest as she lifted her head up to place a kiss on his back.

"Hi." She repeated quietly, Gabby kissing his skin once more before she continued running her hands over his body, it not lost on Matt how she kept getting dangerously lower to just above the towel covering him. Though if the way she was touching him was any indication, it might not be for much longer.

And his suspicions proved correct when he felt one of her hands start to go a little lower, Gabby teasing the skin right above the edge of his towel, before resting her palm on top of the material, Matt feeling his throat start to lose some of its moisture as her other hand scratched against his side.

"I, uh-" He started, before swallowing the lump in his throat. "I wasn't sure where you ran off too… Gabby." He breathed out as she slowly started to rub her hand against him over the towel, her intentions clear to him as she began to apply more pressure. Though it wasn't nearly as much as he would've liked.

A part of him was a bit surprised by her movements, as he hadn't expected anything like this tonight. Not after nothing more than a little bit of teasing had happened between them in the shower. And with Matt knowing how tired she was, he wasn't sure where this burst of energy came from. But any exhaustion she had before right now seemed to be long gone, Gabby continuing to rub her hand over him as he could only guess that for as good of a night that they'd had, she wanted to keep it going.

But when she suddenly stopped her movements, before quickly ridding him of the towel, he didn't really care to question it anymore as the material fell to the floor with a soft thud, before her hand was suddenly on him again. But with no barrier between them, she'd been able to grab ahold of him, Matt's breathing starting to get a little uneven as she worked him up at a steady pace.

She continued pressing those soft kisses over his back, the ones that drove him crazy while she stroked him, her hand seeming to move faster and faster by the second, until she was going at a pace that nearly caused his knees to buckle beneath him. "Gabby-" He barely got out as she started focusing on the most sensitive part of him, Matt near seconds away from collapsing down onto the bed as she moved her wrist back and forth recklessly, all the blood in his body rushing south as he could've sworn he was starting to feel a little light headed.

It was hard for him to form a coherent thought, as all he could focus on was how eagerly her hand moved as she kept him in her tight grip, Gabby refusing to let up while she used her free hand to drag her fingers along his stomach, the feeling of her nails moving over his skin combined with her harsh movements close to sending him over the edge within minutes.

But just before he was about to lose control, she abruptly stopped, Gabby removing her hands from him without warning before taking a slight step back to where he couldn't feel her anymore, Matt choking on the air in his lungs as he was painfully hard and desperate for release. And she knew it, but she'd just left him there instead, Casey having to force a few slow breaths to try and calm down, the man unsure of why she hadn't finished what she started. All he did know was that he hoped she still had plans too, because if not he would certainly have to take care of it himself.

"That was mean." He murmured once he caught his breath, Matt turning around slowly to find her still standing there, Gabby wearing a pleased smile on her face as it was apparent she was amused by the situation. And that smile only grew when she'd glanced down to see the obvious effect she'd had on him, Matt not even bothering to hide it as she could see in his face how uncomfortable he was.

"I'm sorry." She whispered back, her bottom lip falling between her teeth as he finally got the chance to really look at her, Matt soon recognizing the shirt covering her body to be one of his. But it soon became clear to him that his clothing was all as was wearing, his throat starting to feel tight as she took a step back towards him. "I'll make it up to you."

Before he could even think of a response, she'd pushed him back onto the bed, Matt's hands instinctively coming out to steady him as he sat on the edge of their mattress, his feet planted firmly on the floor to help him regain his balance. Which was something he had done just before she climbed on top of him, a deep groan escaping the back of his throat as her skin moved on his, the pressure her body was putting against him almost unbearable as he felt like he was about to come undone at any moment.

But before that could happen, he made himself calm down, even though it was nearly impossible given the position they were in, as the last thing he wanted was for Gabby's plans to end prematurely. Because whatever it was, he could already tell he was going to thoroughly enjoy it.

With their weight centered, Matt was able to bring one hand forward off the bed behind him, his palm moving over her body as he felt this desperate need to be as close to her as possible. But even though he could feel her through the material, it wasn't enough, Matt's jaw clenching as she pressed down against him once more, his hand continuing to move along her side.

"I want to see you."

His words were rough, his palm gripping her side tightly as she felt a rush of heat flow through her body, Gabby trying to hide the effect his voice had on her, as she always loved when he was like this. But based on the smirk she saw form over his face, he knew exactly what those few words had done to her, Matt removing his hand from her long enough for Gabby to pull the shirt from her body.

And the second he did, both of his hands were immediately on her, Matt steady enough to keep his balance as his warm skin moved quickly over hers, eager to touch any part of her that he could. From moving along her stomach and her sides, to grazing over her chest before cupping her breasts in both palms, Matt just wanting to feel every inch of her as a soft moan left her lips.

"My girl." He breathed out, her eyes falling closed as he continued to work over her sensitive skin, Gabby grinding down against him once more just as he leaned forward to catch her lips in a heated kiss. Her hands were on his shoulders to keep herself steady, pants and moans slipping out between their lips as they stayed as close as physically possible, Matt squeezing her flesh in his hands before one began to slide down her stomach. He could feel her muscles tightening underneath his touch as he trailed further and further down her body, a slight whimper escaping the back of her throat when he finally reached her center, her hips instinctively lifting to give him better access.

Desperate to keep up with their frantic movements, Matt wasted no time as he ran his fingers over her before sliding one inside, Gabby biting down roughly on his bottom lip just as she felt him enter her. And once he had, he didn't bother working up to anything as he started moving quickly, Gabby helping his cause by moving up and down just as he slid another finger into her, a thin layer of sweat beginning to cover her body as it nearly felt like she was on fire. But it was a feeling she craved, as Matt began moving his kisses along her jaw down to her neck, Gabby panting into his ear while she tried to keep any semblance of control she could.

But it was a battle she was losing, especially once his thumb began it's assault on the most sensitive part of her body, Gabby unable to stop the yelp that left her lips as the sounds he was pulling from her only encouraged him to move faster. And as the seconds ticked by, Gabby knew she was a goner, her vision nearly going black as her head felt down against his shoulder. Her extremities were starting to go numb as her body was aching for that release only he could give her, Matt never slowing down as he pressed sloppy kisses all over her neck and upper chest, while his other hand continued squeezing the breast still in his palm, the man giving her body more attention than she could handle.

And eventually, she wasn't able to hold out any longer, Gabby's body unable to tolerate anymore as her release hit her like a train. It came hard, and fast, her cries of pleasure only encouraging him to keep going as it was like she was hitting the high over and over again. Like his constant movements made it impossible for this moment to end, her body uncontrollably shaking on top of him as every feeling was so intense- almost too intense, as continuous moans and whimpers left her lips.

It wasn't until he began to slow down that she felt like she could catch her breath, though he still hadn't stopped his movements completely as, even after all this time, he was still in awe of the way she responded to him, the bit of dampness he felt all over his hand and his thighs enough to tell him just how good this had been for her.

He could feel her sucking in harsh breaths as he removed his hand from her center, a low whine leaving her lips at the loss of contact, as despite the way she was sure she couldn't move, she was still longing for more. And Matt could feel it too, a devilish grin forming over his face before he began to kiss his way back up to her lips, Gabby's mind still in a haze as she barely registered him reaching down in between them and grabbing ahold of himself. But what she did feel was him moving back and forth over her, a sharp moan leaving her mouth as he grazed her sensitive skin, Gabby giving him a nod of approval before capturing his lips in hers once more.

And that was all the assurance he needed before he slid into her.

Despite her silent pleas for more, the movement was so quick that it caught her off guard, her surprised gasp morphing into a loud groan as he guided her all the way down into his lap, Matt filling her completely as he held onto her hips with both of his hands. And that was where he stayed for a moment or two, Matt letting her get used to the feeling while also giving her control to let him know when she was ready for more. Which she soon did, as Gabby tightened her body around him, the action causing him to moan before they started moving.

He started slow, Matt having to do most of the work given that she could still barely even feel her own extremities, Gabby still in a state of complete euphoria from just moments before. But after a few passionate moments, he began to work back up to that near wild pace they both craved, their lips locked together as with each passing moment it became more and more clear just how desperate they were for one another.

She could feel it in how tightly he held onto her, the amount of love in the air around them almost suffocating as he slammed in and out of her at a speed that was driving her insane, Gabby already feeling herself begin to near that edge once more. Though from how intense things had been the first time, she wasn't sure if she ever fully came down from that high, her body clenching around him with as much strength as she had while he continued his rampant movements.

And that was the pace they stayed at for as long as they could while they moved in perfect sync, until Gabby was the first one to come undone, her mind nearly blacking out once more as she collapsed down against him. But that didn't slow him down as Matt kept up his pace, the feeling of her constricting muscles enough to spur him over the edge shortly after her as he gave her everything he had, Casey digging into her hips as he kept her body down against his until he was completely finished.

Then the moment he was, they collapsed back down onto their bed, Matt unable to hold them up any longer as her weight fell down on top of him. They both stayed quiet for a moment, Matt trying to regain control of his breathing as he felt her still trembling on top of him, the man knowing that from the intensity of tonight alone, they'd both need a few minutes to recover. But when her body continued to involuntarily clench around him, as she was still riding the aftershocks being pulled into pure bliss multiple times, it became a little too much for him to withstand as he adjusted himself beneath him, Matt not missing the low whine that left her lips when he slowly slid out of her.

"You okay?" He asked once he'd calmed down enough to put a few words together, his hand running up and down Gabby's back in an effort to soothe her, as he knew how their time together had taken a lot out of her.

But when he felt her smile against him, he got his answer, Gabby pressing a lazy kiss against his neck before digging herself deeper into his embrace, the heat from their tired bodies enough to keep them warm while they laid here, as neither of them had any interest in moving. At least not yet, Matt continuing to rub over her back before placing a gentle kiss against the top of her head, it was not lost on either of them how their actions now were in complete contrast to their rough and wanting movements from moments before. But there was something comforting about it to the both of them as she slowly nodded against him before speaking up, the next words out of Gabby's mouth bringing a soft smile to his face.

"...I'm perfect."

Antonio pulled open the door to the bar before stepping inside the large room, the detective desperate to escape the harsh cold outside as he began looking around for a familiar face. It was pretty late, later than he meant to get over here, but despite the time the bar was still heavily packed, the older Dawson scanning his eyes over the seas of people before finally finding someone he recognized. And without a second thought, he began to head in that direction, as Antonio saw Severide seated over at the bar, currently talking to Herrmann who was standing behind the counter, both men seeming to be in the middle of a conversation.

But it was one they cut short when the older man saw him, Herrmann's eyebrows raising in slight surprise before a soft grin formed over his face.

"Well hey there, Antonio." He greeted, his words prompting Kelly to look his way just as Antonio came to a stop beside him.

"Hey man." Severide spoke as well, Dawson giving them both a strong nod as he glanced between them.

"Hey guys."

"I wasn't expecting to see you here tonight." Herrmann said, as it wasn't lost on either of them how Antonio didn't come around here much anymore. Though both firefighters had the feeling that it had a lot to do with his little sister. "It's been quite the Dawson family affair around here." He added on lightly, Antonio chuckling softly in response before he nodded.

"Yeah, Gabby told me her and Casey were coming out tonight… Which is actually why I'm here." He started, his words gaining both their interests. "Is she still here? I wasn't sure what time she was coming, or if she was working or what…"

"Nah, her and Casey left a little bit ago." Herrmann answered him, Severide not missing the way Antonio's face faltered for a moment, before he soon recovered. "They were here for a few hours, just hanging out with everyone, but then they left pretty quickly… I think Dawson was getting tired."

"Ah, okay." He replied, tapping his hand against the bar. "That explains why she didn't answer my call."

"Yeah, I think they went straight home… Were you wanting to see her, or did you need something?" He prodded, Antonio pursing his lips together for a moment before he shrugged.

"I just needed to talk to her, but it can wait." He replied, the firefighter behind the bar giving him a nod just as Otis called for him across the room, Herrmann saying a quick goodbye to the detective before heading that way, leaving Antonio and Severide alone at the end of the bar.

And once he did, Kelly couldn't help but notice how tense the man next to him seemed, as his jaw was clenched tightly while he leaned into the counter, his demeanor alone enough to raise a few questions for the Lieutenant. "...Everything okay, Antonio?" He finally asked, Severide not missing the flicker of uncertainty in Antonio's eyes. Like he wanted to say something, but wasn't sure if he should.

But whatever was going on, Dawson ultimately decided to keep it to himself, as he merely gave him a quick nod.

"Yeah, yeah… everything's fine." He assured him, Severide breathing in deeply before he responded with a nod of his own, the firefighter deciding not to push things any further.

Even though something in his gut was telling him that Antonio wasn't telling the whole truth.