Chapter 31: Feel That Fire

After handling all the paperwork from the Oxy case so Antonio could be with his family, Cailin told Voight she was taking some time.

"Let me guess, wedding planning, cupcake?" he said, something between a smirk and a frown on his face. Cailin rolled her eyes before catching Erin's glance, giving her friend a slight scowl.

"Lay off, Hank, she's going to check on her friend, the one related to 'Tonio in the hospital." Erin gave their boss a look that was not to be argued with.

For not the first time, Cally wondered what it was like in the Voight household when the teenage Hurricane Lindsay came rolling in at Category 10. Even as Voight was already softening, Erin's dimples were on full display as she gave a full, throaty laugh, "besides we already did most of the planning, remember? Oh wait, you bugged out early."

Erin and Cailin caught each other's eyes again. Did he just squirm? Hank Voight rarely cracked a facial expression, let alone squirm. Cailin raised her eyebrows and Erin jumped in to rescue right as Adam looked like he was about to unwisely butt in. "Which reminds me, Valentina said she had some sketches for you to look at and wanted to take some real measurements, Cal."

"Women," Hank huffed, motioning for Alvin to join him in his office, slamming the door behind him.

"You being serious, Er?" Cally asked, still trying to remember everything from that night.

"I would never joke about a Valentina original. But go check on Gabby, let us know and maybe we can catch dinner later, swing by 'Tina's?"

Cailin found herself a mix of curious and excited, having already seen the designer's talents in action. Despite far too much alcohol on everyone's part, she was sure the dress ideas would be divine. And hopefully affordable. "You got it."

Cally wasn't the least bit shocked at finding the left-handed chicken scratch from Clarke informing her he had already gone to his first PT session. Nor was she surprised when he came through the door a short time later, ice pack held to his shoulder scowling and complaining.

"I'm fine, I'd be better if I could get started with the damn PT!" he growled.

"You separated your shoulder less than 24 hours ago, babe, you still don't know if there is a tear. What did you really think was going to happen?" she said, slightly bemused until she saw the glower on his face. "I know you want to get back to it. What did Captain Davis say?"

"After ripping me a new one for not booking it out of there at the first command? That I'm no good to him on light duty, doesn't need a damn house cat, especially since we only running 4 man trucks as it is and with Dawson out…" he trailed off, shaking his head angrily, "he is calling HQ. With my luck, I'll be answering phones and getting some Commish's coffee," his eyes flicked over her face, "no offense."

Cailin laughed, "none taken, just know most of them take it straight black," she finished with a wink. She laughed again at his almost pout. "Come off it, Jeff, how many times did you become the ice pack police? Give it a rest for a couple of days, it won't kill you and then let the PTs put you through the wringer. Think of all the studying you can get done in between fetching coffee? Besides, I know you, and you'll be back at it in time for me to worry that you won't make it to the church on time."

He took in her smile, as well as the worry darkening her blue eyes. He knew that she was carrying a weight beyond just her argument with Casey, her guilt over not coming home. He moved quickly across the condo to where she was leaning against the kitchen counter, sorting through the mail, brushing her hair behind her shoulder with his good arm. "Hey, Cal, look at me," he said, catching her face in his palm, "I'm not going anywhere on you, that's part of why I'm become a boring old doctor, remember? And I'll be at the church before you are, I'd bet on it."

She smiled up at him, biting her lip, "oh, a bet, huh? Just as long as you don't have Erin cuff me to my desk in order to win."

"You cuff yourself to your own desk enough as it is, babe," he paused for a minute, a look in his eyes. "Though speaking of wedding stuff…" he trailed off.

Cal rolled her eyes, "please tell me you haven't rethought any of Shay's crazy plans?"

Clarke cleared his throat, "not in the least. Its just Severide has already been making noises about wanting to plan my bachelor party."

"There is no way that ends well," Cally said, rubbing her palms over her face.

"Then I probably shouldn't add he thinks we should go to Vegas," Clarke added, bemusement in his tone. He had told his friend there was no way that was going to happen, but Severide had blown him off, already full speed ahead with plans and ideas, already trying to make it a Squad reunion.

Cailin looked at him, trying to imagine Severide dragging him around Vegas. She reached up, patting him on the face, "you have fun with that, try to not get stripper rabies."

He looked at her, slightly surprised, his brow furrowing as he tried to formulate a response.

Cally laughed, "don't look so shocked. I know you won't let Severide peer pressure you and you only have one good arm, how much trouble can you get into? Besides, I know you wouldn't do anything too dumb, you already know how bad jail is."

"Very funny, Cal," he grumbled, knowing she was speaking the truth.

"Yeah, well, I already bailed you out once, and god knows how much this Valentina 'original' is going to cost me, so you better not be stupid," she warned, with a smile and a kiss.

He kissed her back, trying to wrap his arms around her, already frustrated at the sling keeping them apart. He let out a growl of frustration, "stupid shoulder. You still owe me a catch-up on this whole cops planned our wedding thing."

"And you can get it, after we go by Lakeshore to see Gabby. Antonio said she is up to visitors."

The pair arrived at the hospital, Cailin nearly obscured by the bouquet of flowers and balloons she had brought.

"You are't going to float away on me, are you, Cal?" Clarke teased as she struggled to get through the doorway.

"I know, it is ridiculous, but I stupidly mentioned to the florist I was getting married and didn't have a florist yet and then THIS happened," she replied, shaking her head.

Clarke bit back a snort. "So do we have a florist now?"

"Not this one," she replied with a sneeze.

After consulting at the nursing station, they found Gabby's room, lightly knocking and stepping in after hearing her croak out "come in."

"Hey, Gabs, how you feeling?" Cailin asked, plastering a fake sunny smile on her face, wanting to appear buoyant despite her concern. It disappeared as soon as she took in Matt's scowling face, seated next to the bed.

"What are you two doing here?" he snapped.

Cally immediately tensed, ready to pick back up the argument from the previous day, stopping only as Clarke gripped her arm with his good one. "Checking on our friend, Casey," he said, his tone stern, hoping the other man wouldn't make a scene in a hospital room.

Gabby looked from face to face to face, trying to figure out what she had missed while drifting in and out of consciousness. At least they had taken her off the damn ventilator and drugs so she was able to break the surface. Her mother had practically flooded out the hospital with her tears of joy when Gabby uttered her first words, her father not far behind. Thankfully Antonio had been there to deal with them before they suffocated her with hugs and kisses. Matt also hadn't left her side, except to grab a quick shower and change of clothes when the nurses teased him that he was starting to smell ripe. Leslie had already been by, bringing a ridiculous teddy bear with her, so big she had to have Kelly carry it in. And now here were Clarke and Cally, adding to the florist explosion already occurring in her room.

She just couldn't figure out why Matt seemed so pissed when her Lieutenant had risked his ass to save hers. She had been worried about Clarke, had tried to ask, but Matt brushed her off, Antonio finally telling her he was fine; except that brace on his arm said otherwise.

"Okay, what is going on you guys?" she asked, her voice far more full of gravel than she would have liked. She started to cough, Matt immediately at the ready with her glass of water, all but putting the straw in her mouth. "I've got it!" she protested, reaching for the glass. None of the trio said a word, looking at each other silently, the tension growing in the room.

Finally, she couldn't take it any more, especially when she saw the venom in Matt and Cailin's eyes as they glared at each other. "So before CFD gets on my ass, I guess I need to report to my Lieutenant. So you two, clear the room," she said, shooing the lifelong friends away. "You can leave that monstrosity next to the life sized bear Shay brought, Cally."

Cally complied, giving her friend a terse smile and Jeff a look until he finally nodded. "See you in a few, Gabs," she said, moving quickly towards the door.

"You don't have to give a report yet, Gabby," Matt protested, "you didn't do anything wrong!"

Gabby closed her eyes for a long beat, opening them to see Clarke's jaw working and Matt's fists clenching. Yep, she had obviously missed something major. "Just give us a minute, Matt, okay? I could really use a ginger ale."

"Fine, but I'll be right back," Matt said, glaring at Clarke in warning before heading out in the same direction as Cailin.

Gabby waited until he had disappeared before letting out as large a sigh as her still slightly tender lungs would allow. "So how much trouble am I in, Lieutenant?" she asked, hoping she hadn't ended her CFD career before it really ever began.

Chapter 32: Keep the Fire Burning

Cailin emerged from the hallway, not wanting to go to the waiting room or cafeteria. She hesitated, not sure where to go. She heard Matt's familiar tread coming up behind her, pausing as soon as he neared and then stomping off in the opposite direction. She thought back to what Jeff had said to her; that she should tell Matt the truth, clear up any misinformation. She took a breath, turning, calling after him, "Matt, wait!" He didn't even pause, heading down another hallway.

Cailin rushed off after him, stunned at his action, anger propelling her as much as anything. "Damn it, Casey," she hissed as soon as she was in earshot.

He shook his head, still not turning as he strode into a room filled with vending machines, fishing a dollar out of his pocket and inserting it into a soda machine. It spat it back out at him, causing him to scowl, snatch the bill, flatten it and attempt to feed it in again.

Cally stood in the doorway, watching him fight with the machine, frustration emanating off of him.

Finally, his rage overcame him, his fists pounding at the machine, the bill crumpling beyond recognition in his hand. "I just need a stupid ginger ale for Gabby, is that so hard?" he snapped.

"Here, let me, I've got a ton of change in the bottom of this," Cally said, scrounging in the bottom of her tote bag.

"I don't need anything from you, Callahan," Matt said, turning brusquely away from her, smacking his palm against the vending machine again.

She felt the weight of his hand as though he had smacked her instead of the machine. "Matty, stop, look at me, can we talk, please?"

He spun, his eyes flashing. "It is Matt, I haven't been Matty in a really long time and I would rather not go back to the time that I was!"

"Fine, can we talk, please, Matt?" she spat back, torn between wanting to fight him and wanting to salvage a lifelong friendship.

"There is nothing to say, Callahan. Your Lieutenant didn't do his job so my fiancée got hurt and when my Squad Lieutenant didn't do his job, our friend got killed and you couldn't be bothered to come back home."

"So are you pissed at me, Jeff, Kelly or the whole damn world?" Cailin replied, closing the distance slightly. He didn't say anything, just squared his shoulders. "It wasn't that I didn't want to come home, I was on my way to the airport when I thought I got the chance to try to take out the bastards behind my partner's," she paused before correcting, "husband's murder, the same people that almost killed me. I was barely back on the job and hanging by a thread. I wasn't myself, Matt. Things were really dark for me, but that didn't mean I stopped caring about any of you." She left out the angry telephone call from Heather warning that her presence wasn't needed, hadn't been for years.

Matt's shoulders dropped slightly, before the image of Darden's coffin floated in front of his eyes, of Heather and her boys sobbing at the cemetery. Of all the coffins he had seen in his life. His anger bubbled up again; though Cailin was correct, he was angry at her, Severide, Clarke and the whole damn world. He wanted to brush it all off, since Gabby was more or less fine, but he still was struggling to keep his emotions in check. Despite wanting to reach out and grab the olive branch his friend was extending, Matt heard himself saying. "Just leave me alone, Cally, you are really good at that!"

Cailin felt herself crushed by his words, flattened by his pained expression. Yes, she had run away on graduation night, but everyone knew she was headed off anyway. Yes, she had avoided come home for years, but she had been desperate to prove she wasn't a bother, could make it on her own. But she had never purposely abandoned her loved ones. Except the look on Matt's face said she had done exactly that. "I'm truly sorry I've ever hurt you, Matt, but I can't undo the past."

He shook his head, his eyes filing with angry tears, not saying anything, staring straight through her.

"Fine, I'll go, but I'm saying goodbye to Gabby."

"You aren't in trouble with Brass, if that's what you're worried about, Dawson," Clarke said raising his eyebrows as he took in his Candidate.

She looked surprisingly good, more like she had been on a tropical vacation than pulled from a burning building. Except for the circles under her eyes and the creases of worry on her forehead.

"I never should have let you take that one chance. I disobeyed my CO to let you play paramedic when I'm supposed to be making you into a firefighter. I'm not going to let you take the fall for my error. But you disobeyed my stand down, Candidate. We both knew that building was compromised, you took your chance and it didn't work. You risked both of our lives and still didn't make the save. You and me only ending up here and not the morgue was pure luck, not good firefighting, remember that. Us getting hurt is on us, we both have to deal with that. I'll deal with the higher ups. You keep your mouth shut, and that is an order you will follow if you want to stay on my truck. But this is a one time thing, Dawson, you gotta decide if you want to be a 'medic or a firefighter and that is on you."

Clarke's nostrils flared as he finished his speech, fighting to stuff his anger down, at the both of them. He shouldn't have let her try the save in the first place, except he knew how twisted up she would get fighting the 'what ifs'. And he would deal with that. Davis had made it clear that he was none too happy with being ignored. Gabby had to learn she couldn't jump into a save with her heart instead of her head if she wanted to stay alive.

Gabby lay there, waiting for Clarke to continue, she was expecting his simmer to boil over. She had gotten him in trouble with their Captain, she had literally run away from his order in open defiance and she had almost gotten them killed. And now he was standing there telling her to keep her mouth shut? While he was stuck on desk duty and she was cleared to return to work shift after next? There had to be more.

But there wasn't, Clarke remained silent at the foot of her bed. "So how much do I need to lay off the sweets?" she said, pointing at his arm in the sling.

He couldn't help but smirk. "Give me some credit, Dawson, I'm smart enough to not go there. This was dislocated, they still don't know about a tear, I'll find out soon enough just how long my desk duty is. What about you?"

She averted his gaze, "Shift after next, assuming the CFD still wants me."

"You'll be fine, Dawson. Just don't pull any more stunts."

Gabby nodded, "I won't, and I've learned my lesson and then some. You don't have to cover for me though."

"Sometimes you gotta cover your platoon's ass. Part of the job. I should have known better." He rocked back and forth on his heels, taking in the bouquets in her room. "You opening a florist, Dawson?"

Gabby rolled her eyes, "tell me about it, and I don't even like flowers. But I guess the guys didn't know what else to do and my family…it wasn't like I was dying." She looked at him, brow furrowed, "did Cally freak out?"

Clarke gave the smallest of shrugs, "she kept it together." Better than Casey, he silently added. "She was worried, but she knows the drill."

A small bark of laughter escaped Gabby's lips, "I wish I could say the same. Matt's been watching me like a hawk."

"You can't blame him, Dawson, you are his fiancée," he said, though he was instantly angry at defending the other Lieutenant, especially considering the way he had jumped down Cally's throat.

"I guess so." She paused looking down at her hands and then up at him with wide-eyes. "Thanks for saving me, twice, Clarke. I'm sorry you got hurt. I feel like I owe you more than just dinner at our place now. Though we should still do that, and soon."

Clarke was pretty sure a happy double date would not be happening with them, Dawson and Casey anytime soon, but he wasn't about to open that can of worms. "You don't owe me anything, just watching out for my Candidate," he replied bashfully, awkwardly patting the bedcovers over her foot.

Matt's snort of derision could be heard from the doorway, causing Clarke to stiffen and Gabby to look confused. He strode to the bedside, setting down the can he had finally wrested from the vending machine. "Here's your ginger ale, babe. How are you feeling? You look tired. They should go, so you can get some rest."

"Go? I haven't even seen Cally yet," Gabby protested.

"I'm sure she has to get back to work," Matt said, his voice like ice. Clarke didn't say anything, guessing if the pair had even had a conversation, it hadn't gone well.

Gabby nodded, "of course, yeah, well then. But I meant what I said, you two over for dinner soon, okay, Lieutenant?"

"Take care of yourself, Dawson," Clarke said, giving her a small, clumsy salute on his way out, not even making eye contact with Casey.

Clarke found Cally talking to Antonio next to the coffee vending machine. "At least you two aren't eating donuts," he teased. They both gave him dour glances, but neither left him hanging long before breaking into wry grins.

"We already inhaled those, bro. How's the shoulder doing?" Antonio inquired.

Clarke gestured, "I'll live. Good to see your sister is doing well too."

Antonio nodded, "our whole family owes thanks to you. As I said yesterday, I know she is headstrong, glad she had someone like you there to have her back."

Clarke looked slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable; Cailin caught his expression, thinking it was typical Jeff, not able to take any accolades. He saw her looking at him and gave Antonio a nod, "yeah, well, I know you've got this one's back in IU, so glad I could return the favor. Anyway, I think we are going to head out, let Dawson get her rest."

Cailin looked at him, eyes slightly narrowed, she hadn't said more than a couple of words to Gabby, but considering how Matt had stormed past her and Antonio talking, she was betting he had gone back to the room and all but kicked Clarke out. He blinked long, telling her everything she needed to know. "Take all the time you need, 'Tonio, I'll close out the Oxy case and tell Voight where he can stick it."

"I'm all good, Gabs will be out tomorrow. You're allowed to take time off too, you know," he said, gesturing toward Clarke.

"Like this one will let anyone do anything for him," she said wrapping her arm around his waist.

"Sounds familiar," Clarke retorted.

"I bet it does. You two have a good night and thanks again."

They settled into the car, Cailin fighting the urge to assist Clarke with his seatbelt, knowing how much he would hate it. He could tell she was holding back, her hands gripped tightly around the steering wheel despite the car not being in gear. "Thanks," he said, after it clicked into place.

"I get it, babe," she said, finally relaxing her hands and turning the engine over.

"I know you do, you get me," he said, leaning over and landing a kiss on her cheek. "Now I don't know about you, but after Casey's warm and fuzzy reception, I could use a pint at Molly's."

Cailin cracked a smile, "and you get me. Glad to know I wasn't the only one facing his wrath. But let's not a bitch about it until we have beer."

Chapter 33 Smoke from a Distant Fire

"I thought Gabby was doing fine," Severide asked as Cally slumped at a barstool next to him while Clarke was chatting with Hermann getting pints.

Cally made a face. "She is, out tomorrow and back to the field before that one," she said, gesturing down the bar. "It's Matt that's the problem."

Severide looked quizzical, "I figured he would be fine now that he knows Gabby is going to be."

"He's blaming Jeff, and then decided it was a good time to give me a guilt trip about Andy," Cally replied, angrily folding the coaster in front of her.

"Darden?" Severide remarked, his eyes growing wide and confused.

Cally nodded, "yep."

Severide felt himself go slip sliding down memory lane, recalling the trio had grown up together. He often forgot that the Cal he heard stories about from his two best friends at the firehouse was the same Cailin sitting next to him; mainly because he often forgot that his buddies had been talking about a female, given their shenanigans. "Andy Darden, damn," he breathed out, shaking his head and taking a drink of his beer.

Clarke heard Severide breathe out the name, saw the look on both his and Cally's faces and decided to drop off her pint before going to hang out at a table with Cruz and Mills. He set down the pint, squeezing her shoulder before going back for his own, wondering how he was going to get through the next few weeks ones armed.

"What was he guilting you about?" Severide asked, his ire raised at Casey. He and Matt had their big falling out after Darden's death, and while they were able to get along well enough, things were far different than they used to be.

Cally took a drink; slightly surprised Severide was questioning her, their friendship having been more surface level and by association. "About not coming back for his funeral, about not saying a proper goodbye after graduation, for leaving Chicago in the first place. Hell, Matt would have probably preferred I not go to college and just settled down with Andy and be a perfect housewife. He's worse than my mother, Kelly!"

Ah yes, Darden's high school sweetheart, the one before Heather. Severide remembered what a small damn world it was, especially in legacy CFD land. He gave a bark of laughter. "Andy didn't want that, Cally, because he knew you didn't want that. He was happy for you going off to New York, happy with Heather and the boys."

Cally looked at him, slightly disbelieving.

"We aren't complete Neanderthals, Callahan, we talk about those kinds of things. I was engaged once too, remember." He shook his head, shaking off the past with it. "I just forget sometimes that you are the same person they grew up with." He studied her again, thinking on what he knew about the intervening years; from her, from Casey and Clarke. "Don't let Matt guilt you for your choices, Cally, I'm pretty sure you do a good enough job of that on your own. And, not that my opinion matters a damn bit, but I'm glad you are doing that 'settling down' thing with Clarke, he's a good guy."

"I'll drink to that," Cally replied, raising her pint to his. "Though I do want to hear more about this plan you have that involves dragging Jeff to Vegas for his bachelor party.

"Yeah, well, It is tradition, you know, hit some table games, play some cards, stuff ourselves silly on buffets, take in a show or two," Severide replied, unable to read what was happening behind the detective's stoic expression.

Cailin's eyebrow merely inched higher as she smirked, "a show or two? Wasn't aware you and Jeff were so into shows. Who else is joining you two on this little adventure?"

"Well Capp and Tony were supposed to, until they gave me some half assed excuses about yard sales and babysitters. But Mills is-" just then his phone buzzed, he pulled it out reading the text, looking over at the table where the rest of the gang was sitting. "Out, too, bastard," he sighed, glaring at the other man across the bar. "I already booked the damn suite, non-refundable," he growled, draining his beer.

"Guess you and Clarke are having a romantic boys' weekend then, huh?" Cally snorted before sliding off her barstool and heading to the rest of the gang. "I don't think you are going to Vegas," she whispered, leaning closer in to Clarke.

"Babe, I was never going to Vegas," he replied, wrapping his good arm around her, "I don't like to gamble, I wouldn't be caught dead in any of those clubs and," he lowered his voice after checking that the rest of the table was preoccupied, "you get naked without me having to throw money at you."

"You make a good argument, but you sure you don't want a bachelor party?"

Clarke thought back to the disaster his Corps buddies had dragged him to, half of them trying to convince him to not marry Lisa. He should have listened.

Cally watched his eyes cloud, "or at least something? I mean I am fine with whatever, you know that, right?"

"I know babe," he said, knowing she was telling the truth.

"Oh snap, bro, hope you don't mind getting kicked back to truck," Cruz exclaimed, bringing the couple's attention back to the table, where Mills was laughing at Severide's continued glare across the bar.

"Whatever, stupid idea. Sorry, Clarke," Mills said, correcting.

Clarke raised his eyebrows, withdrawing his arm to take another drink, already tired of his injury. "Wasn't my idea, Mills."

Just then a familiar figured entered, one that caused Severide to quickly close his tab and head toward the exit, giving Mills and Clarke one last slightly defeated, slightly angry look on the way out.

Erin Lindsay gave the fireman a slight wave before making a beeline toward her friend. "You got a sec, Callahan?"

"Please tell me those aren't case files," Cally groaned, seeing that Erin had something in her hand.

Erin broke out in an ear to ear grin, looking more like an excited teenager as she shook her head, "nope, way better. I stopped by Valentina's on the way over. You mind if I steal your girl, Clarke? We have some top secret wedding stuff to take care of."

"Sure, why not, seems the CPD is planning my wedding," he mock grumbled.

Erin stuck a hand on her hip, "you saying you don't trust the IU?"

Clarke cocked his head, "you I trust, those knuckleheads you two work with, not so much. But go, have fun."

"Shay, get out from behind the bar, emergency wedding planning meeting," Cally called.

Shay almost vaulted over the bar from where she was drying glasses. "Hey, she's on-shift!" Hermann protested.

"This is way more important than making sure your glasses are spotless, Christopher, bridesmaid duties trump bartending," Shay shot back.

"They are your glasses too!"

Shay threw her towel at him. "Oh that's right, I do also own this bar; in that case, shine those glasses until I can see myself in them, Hermann, I got wedding planning to do."

"I am really ready for you and Ugly to be married, Callahan," Hermann grumbled.

"You ain't the only one," Cailin agreed.

"Holy crap, Erin, these are all amazing and there is no way I can afford any of them," Cally exclaimed flipping through the sketches Erin was laying out on the bar.

Erin could barely contain herself. She had never really gotten into normal 'girly things' like daydreaming about wedding dresses or any of that growing up. She had been too busy trying to keep her mother on the rails; she didn't have the time or energy to bother with pretend. She knew Cailin, perennial tomboy and career focused, was of similar constitution. But something about this brought out a different side of her. "You can afford free, Cally," Erin said, her eyes sparkling and her smile bright.

"Shut up, really?" Cally said in as close to a squeal as either other woman had ever heard.

Erin nodded, "though I may have promised that all of us would be getting any special occasion dresses from her shop from now until the end of time."

Cally made a face, causing Shay to bust out laughing.

"I think she would have preferred buying one, Detective Hair-" Shay broke off, realizing what she was about to call Erin to her face. "Uh, anyway, this one is awesome, Cally, and look at that slit, very Angelina," she said, pointing at a sketch.

Cally nodded, "yeah, and it would look great on your gorgeous long legs, why don't you hold on to that sketch for when you get married, Leslie, because never gonna happen here."

"Speaking of never gonna happen," Shay sighed.

"Don't say that, Leslie Shay, you are going to find someone perfect for you, you just have to find faith, every pot has a lid!" Cally protested, pausing, "did I really just say that? Who am I?" She looked slightly disgusted.

"Drink up, Callahan," Erin, "before you completely turn into a girl," she said, pushing a glass of whiskey at her friend.

"Just a sec," she replied, entranced with the sketch that she was looking at.

"What? Let me see!" Shay exclaimed, not sure she had ever seen the look currently on Cailin's face before. She moved in closer, looking over the other woman's shoulder. "Oh, Cal," she breathed out, taking in the sketch; the sleeveless v-neck, covered in delicate lace, the fit and flare style vintage, yet romantic. As if Valentina knew this was the one, this sketch was accompanied by swatches of delicate ivory lace and champagne silk.

Cailin cleared her throat, reaching for the whiskey to force the lump down. "I know, right?" she breathed out.

"I think we found our winner!" Erin said, pulling out her phone to call Valentina.

"Wait, are we sure?" Cally said, already second guessing herself, which she had done with every aspect of this wedding planning with the exception of the groom. She despised being so indecisive; it was so unlike her nature.

"Yes!" Erin and Shay replied in unison.

"It is pretty nice for one of them froo-froo dresses," Hermann remarked, cocking his head to try to see the sketch upright.

"No, no boys allowed!" Shay protested, flipping the stack over.

"Come on, I'm closing up my bar for the reception, least you can do is give me an insider look."

Shay and Cally rolled their eyes, Hermann had been whining about the closure ever since Shay told him it was happening. "Sorry Christopher, you were out voted. Besides I thought you liked Clarke and Cal."

"I do, but think of the revenue we are losing!" he protested.

"It is one night, Hermann!" Cally said, chewing her lip. Maybe they should have gotten an actual reception place, but on this short notice and Shay had seemed really excited about offering up Molly's and Otis and Gabby had been immediately on board. Not to mention it felt right, it was their place and where all their people were.

Hermann shook his head, "but a Friday night!" He saw the dejected look on the detective's face. "Oh stop it, Callahan, I'm just pulling your leg. Mostly. Molly's is all yours, even if Cindy can't understand why you two want to have your reception in a dirty old bar."

"Because we are going to clean it up before then, Hermann," Shay pointed out, "besides, if it goes well, think of the revenue we could get from actually renting out this place as a reception hall."

"I hadn't really considered that, especially if we get that outdoor space cleared up…" he rubbed his chin, wandering off, lost in the possibilities.

Cally raised her glass, "bless you for knowing how to Hermann wrangle, Shay!"

"Okay, now that we've got that squared away, Val wants to know about bridesmaids dresses," Erin said, slipping her phone back into her pocket.

Cally looked forlorn, "I have to make more choices? Ugh, I take it back, Shay, when you do find your lid, elope, just elope."