Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.

a/n: Thank you to everyone who supports this story and a lot of people say it's their favourite story this summer makes me a happy woman so for everyone who requested a new chapter again tomorrow, here it is, a little ahead of time ;) I hope you enjoy it.


The following week was more of the same for the Casey's. Christie had taken care of Emma, bringing her around every morning until after lunch to keep her sister company before bringing her back home for an afternoon nap and dinner with Violet. Matt had stayed glued to Grace's side, furlough arranged by Boden and Herrmann was standing as acting lieutenant while he was away. Grace had improved significantly since being admitted and diagnosed but Gabby kept coming by, a couple of times with the kids after shift because they knew that Grace was sick they had wanted to see her and during her break and lunch time every time she was on shift. That had made her and Matt closer and it had been a mutual understanding that their first date would have to wait until Grace got better, her health a priority over anything else.

Everyone from 51 had come by at one point or another to bring flowers and spend a little time with them to cheer Grace up and for the first time since starting at 51, Matt heard the Herrmann brood actually be quiet, something that didn't happen quite often. One afternoon, Matt returned from his house where he had brought Grace more of her things and he found Gabby sitting at her bedside, the both laughing under the dimmed lights. Her sensitivity to light was still present but her head aches had gone down enough that she wasn't so in pain anymore.

"Hey you two." He called when he went into the room.

"Hey daddy. Did you get my things?"

"Everything you asked me." He showed her the bag and smiled at Gabby.

"What's in the bag dad?" Gabby chuckled, curious to know what he had brought back.

"A few things. Grace wanted me to bring some music because she says yours is boring." He teased her about the hospital music playing, Gabby acting all offended. "And I brought some games that we can play while we're here."

"Thanks dad."

"So how was your snack?"

"Cookies and milk. It was ok."

"What were the two of you laughing about when I came in?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Gabby moved her chair so he could sit in the second one next to Grace's bed.

"Ok, fine, you two ladies have your secrets." He pointed between the two. "But just so you know Gabby, Grace is TERRIBLE at keeping secrets."

"That's not true dad." She complained but deep down she knew he was right. They talked like that until it was time for Gabby to go back to work. She smiled at him and left the room, Matt looking at her while she left.

They hadn't been on an official date yet but Matt felt like it was something that could work, even if there was five kids between them. After he had asked her on that date the morning after talking about their past, he wanted to protect the girls until he was sure it could work but now that Gabby was around more, he wanted to know what they thought about it. He kept in mind to talk to the girls the next morning. He kept Grace company until she fell asleep and decided to go down to the cafeteria to grab some coffee and something to eat since he hadn't really eaten today. He walked down the two flights of stairs and made his way to the cafeteria and decided on a sandwich and some soda instead of coffee. As he scanned the cafeteria with his eyes to find an empty table, his eyes fell on Gabby who was sitting by herself, picking at a muffin so he made his way towards her.

"Mind if I join you?" She obviously wasn't expecting anyone to join her, she seemed so deep in thought.

"Hey Matt, sure. How's Grace?" She smiled at him.

"She's sleeping. How come you're still here? I thought your shift was over."

"I grabbed an extra four hours, Kate's son is sick and she couldn't come in."

"That's nice, where are the boys and Valentina tonight?"

"At my mom's again. Listen Matt, I want to say sorry for Antonio. I know he thinks he's protecting me." She needed to get it off her chest, she had been thinking about it since her first shift ended, but Matt cut her off.

"It's ok Gabby, I get it. When my sister was getting divorced, it got really messy and all I wanted to do was protect her so I get where Antonio is coming from."

"It's just I saw you talking the other day outside Grace's room and I wanted to bring it up before but it wasn't the time with Grace being sick." Matt stood from his chair and quickly silenced her with a kiss, his right hand resting on her cheek, taking her by surprise. She closed her eyes and enjoyed his lips on hers, her lips granting his tongue access so he could deepen the kiss.

"Matt." She whispered as the contact of his lips left hers for a few seconds before placing a chaste kiss on her lips before he sat down.

"I'm sorry, I've been wanting to do this since that same day and it wasn't a good timing but you and I, it feels right and I really want to know where it could lead us."

"You have no idea how right it feels." She blushed. The concept of falling head over heals with someone when she had just been widowed was hard for her to grasp but it did feel right. "I just don't want to let anyone in the kids life if it might not work."

"I feel the same way. Our kids are too important to do that to them. If it's ok with you, I was thinking about asking the girls when Christie is going to bring Emma over in the morning how they feel about us seeing each other."

"That's ok with me but I'm not sure if it's the right time for me to tell Luis, Filippe and Valentina."

"That's ok. It's just that the girls see everything and if they haven't noticed us this week, trust me they will because all I want to do is kiss you." He smirked, making her giggle before she looked at her watch.

"Crap, I need to go, my second shift is about to start." She stood and gathered her muffin. "Walk with me?"

"Sure." He smiled at her and got up and started walking in sync with her. Matt and Gabby's hearts were pounding in each other's chest, mere inches from each other. He left her at the nurse's station so she could look at her new patient files while he went back to Grace's room where she was still sleeping. He moved a strand of blonde hair from her forehead and pressed a kiss to her hand. He missed the energetic Grace and couldn't wait to have her back. He quickly fell asleep against the bed, he was exhausted. He was being shook awake an hour later by Gabby who came to check on Grace. She had come by earlier but had found them both sleeping, not wanting to wake them up, Grace's vitals could wait.

"Matt." She shook him lightly. His stress level was high so it didn't take much for him to be woken up.

"Hey you." He ran a hand over his face. "It's your break already?"

"No, I'm looking after Grace for the next three hours." She picked up Grace's chart and looked at her monitor, writing down what she saw. "I'll bring you a cot. Has anyone given you one since you've been here?"

"No, I've been sleeping in this chair since the first night."

"I'll make sure you get one before I leave later." Grace stirred awake.

"Hey baby girl, how are you feeling?" Matt asked her.

"Better but I'm thirsty." Matt took the pitcher of water and filled the little cup up before sitting back down, Grave bringing the cool liquid to her lips.

"How's my favourite goddaughter?" Shay peaked her head in the room, everyone turning to look in her direction.

"Auntie Leslie." Grace smiled.

"Feeling better?"

"Uh huh, but i can't go home yet right?"

"Maybe in a few days." Gabby smiled at her.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you but aren't you on shift Shay?"

"Yeah, we just dropped a patient at the E.R. Chilli is doing the paperwork. I thought I'd come say hi and give you this." She took a sunflower from behind her back, making Grace smile.

"Thanks."

"I didn't know they moved you back to peds."

"Yeah, it's been a few days. I found out on my first day back this week."

"Are you taking care of Grace?"

"Unofficially but for next three hours, I'm the attending." Both girls smiled at each other.

"Alright so I need to get back on ambo but you take care of my beautiful goddaughter." she hugged Gabby. "And you." she pointed to Matt. "We need to talk later." and she hugged Matt before kissing Grace on her forehead and leaving.

"That was." Gabby wasn't sure how to put it in words.

"Shay." He laughed. Shay was Shay and she knew something was going on and she was looking for some dirt.

As promised, Gabby made sure Matt had a cot to sleep on before she left for the evening. She couldn't believe that they had been here for the past week and no one had given him one. She hugged Grace and than Matt, his arms wrapped tightly around her wait.

"Thanks Gabs."

"Anytime. I'm off tomorrow so you need to call me for an update, the doctor should come by early."

"Will do. Say hi to the kids for me." They smiled at each other and she left. Matt and Grace were left alone once again. They played games until Grace's eyelids were drooping, unable to stay awake.

"Come on kid, the doc will be here in the morning, you need to rest."

"Night daddy."

"Night princess." He kissed her forehead and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. He watched her sleep a little before he lied down on the cot and fell asleep himself, this past week taking its toll on him.

Grace was already awake when Matt woke up and she was smiling. "How are you feeling?" He sat up on the cot and smiled at her.

"I'm feeling a lot better daddy."

"That's good. Maybe the doc will have good news then."

"Did you sleep better in the bed daddy?"

"I did actually but it doesn't matter. As long as you're ok, I can live with sleeping in a chair for a week or so."

"Grace." Emma ran in the room, her mask on her face.

"Emma. I'm feeling better today." The twins looked at each other and giggled. They weren't identical twins but they were inseperable. Matt knew that Emma wasn't getting enough sleep without her twin close by."

"Hey, they gave you a bed." Christie pointed to what Matt was sitting on.

"Gabby made sure I had one last night."

"That's good. That chair couldn't have been comfortable."

"Ms Dawson was here yesterday when I was gone too?" Emma pouted. "But I wanted to see her."

"She took care of your sister for a few hours after you were gone." Matt looked at Christie and made a silent request to be alone with the girls. Christie gave an excuse about getting some coffee before turning and leaving the three alone.

"Is something wrong daddy?" Emma asked, noticing something had changed.

"Nothing is wrong but I wanted to ask you something."

"Ok." Both girls nodded.

"You like Ms Dawson don't you?" He didn't want to use complicated words with them and didn't want to tell them Gabby's story knowing the question of the boys father would eventually come up but they were the two most important people in his life and he wanted them to be ok with him seeing Gabby.

"Uh huh."

"Is she going away like mom did?" Grace questionned.

"No she's not but would it be ok with you if I saw Ms Dawson sometimes? Just me and her?"

"You mean like go to the movies and the restaurant?" Matt chuckled, it was cute.

"Yeah sometimes."

"Or holding her in your arms like you did the other day?" Matt knew exactly what day she was talking about.

"Yeah, we would do that too. Would you ladies be ok with sharing me a bit more with Ms Dawson?" Both girls looked at each other and giggled again, sharing a look.

"We like Ms Dawson and we want you to be happy again daddy." Matt's eyes welled a little bit. His girls noticed everything when he thought they didn't and they had seen him a bit sadder lately until he had met Gabby.

"I love you both." He sat on the bed and hugged them both. He pulled away and smiled at them as the doc came in.

"Good morning. You look better this morning Grace." He smiled at her.

"I feel better. Can I go home soon?"

"I'll tell you what. We will do a few tests today and if everything looks good, you'll be able to go home tomorrow morning. Is that ok with you?"

"Yes."

Christie rejoined them after the doctor was gone and Grace had her blood drawn and left for an LP before she returned about thirty minutes later, telling her dad what the doctor had told her. He came back less than two hours later with the best news Matt had heard all week.

"All the tests were negative for meningitis but it's possible she'll still feel some residual symptoms so I wrote you a prescription for medication for head aches and anti-inflamatory pain meds for any neck discumfort she may feel. She'll be as good as new in no time."

"Thank you so much for taking good care of her doc."

"It was my pleasure. I'll give all the instructions to her nurse and you'll be able to leave after lunch."

"Yay." Both girls said from the bed. The doctor smiled at them and left them alone. Christie worked on packing Grace's things and to make sure she wasn't missing anything while Matt stepped out to call Gabby, Severide and Boden with the great news.

Lunch was served and soon after, the nurse came in with a wheelchair and handed Matt the prescription.

"I'll go get it for you Matt. You just bring the girls back home, I'll be by when I'm done."

"Thanks Chris, for everything."

"Anything for my little brother and my nieces." She hugged him and they went down to the lobby, Matt taking Grace in his arms to bring her to his truck and then they each drove in a different direction only to meet later. The drive home was short and Matt helped both girls out before taking them by the hand and walking up their stairs.

"Home sweet home." He called out once they were in the house, the girls going to sit quietly in the living room, just happy to be back home again.


Finally Grace gets better and is able to go back home with Matt and her sister Emma. Matt and Gabby finally share a kiss that's been building up inside of them. It's a bigger step for them and the girls being happy for him and wanting to see Gabby more is good sign for them.

I know I know I said that I'd post only monday but with all the reviews I've recieved today, I couldn't stop myself from writing another chapter for you guys, you are all amazing. But for real this time, there will be no update until monday because I am enjoying a BBQ with friends tomorrow and the sunny weather so I hope you guys have a great week-end and I'll see you guys on Monday for another update - Sarra