Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination and the kids names.
a/n: I want to thank everyone again for your patience with me for my writing since I've gotten back to work. I do a lot of hours at both my jobs and it's not easy to stay awake to sit and write so thanks for sticking with me. Thank you also to the new followers of this story, I hope you're enjoying it.
Now as I said before, this chapter is a direct continuation of the last one so I hope that you enjoy it.
Matt tried finishing the insident reports that were sitting in front of him after lunch so it would be done before the end of shift, hoping to have a few quiet hours without calls to do so. His mind kept drifting to Gabby ever so often, wondering how she was doing. He still couldn't believe Hallie's strange behaviour and it only made him ponder if he really wanted her to play a role in the kids life in the future.
"You ok lieutenant?" Herrmann peaked his head through the door of Matt's office.
"I'm not sure anymore Herrmann." He rubbed his hand over his face, the older man coming in without being invited.
"I was so shocked when I saw her, I can't even imagine how you felt."
"I didn't even see her coming. I was with Gabby and the kids and she was just there, standing on my porch, as if nothing had happened."
"Ah man, what did you tell the girls?"
"Nothing Herrmann. I told them she was a friend but wasn't always a nice friend. And after everything that's happened with Gabby, I don't know what to do anymore."
"The real question is do you want her to be part of Emma and Grace's life? They're the ones who need protecting from Hallie coming back into town."
"I just can't believe she would attack Gabby like that. It's so unlike her."
"Jealousy makes you do crazy things Casey. I think that she thought that she'd be able to come back easily but instead she found out you're going out with someone else."
"Did she really expect me to just wait for her? Emma and Grace are the best thing that's ever happened to me and I just want to keep them safe."
"Are you going to press charges against her?"
"I should. I'm sure Gabby's jaw is bruised by now. Thank god the girls weren't here to see that."
"Have you told Christie about Hallie being back?"
"My brain hasn't even had time to fully process it but I should give her a ring and tell her so she's not blind sighted if Hallie pulls something off."
"I'll let you to it then Casey but I'm always there if you need me lieutenant."
"Thank you Christopher." Matt smiled at Herrmann as he exited his office and he picked up his phone from the desk, dialing Christie's number and waiting for her to answer.
He spent almost thirty minutes with her on the phone, some minutes she was speechless, some she was screaming, prompting Matt and pull the phone away from his ear.
Gabby walked back into the peds department, her jaw was throbbing. She knew that nothing was broken otherwise it would have hurt a great deal more but she couldn't wait to take something to help with the swelling. She took two big white pills and three little brownish red ones and downed a glass of fresh water before sitting back down at her station, hoping no one would notice the shape she was in. She looked at her files and ignored the little gasp that she heard coming from the nurse next to her, no doubt laying eyes on her for the first time.
"What happened Gabby?" She questioned. Gabby could feel her staring at the bruise as if she had never seen one in her life.
"Nothing special. Got on the recieving end of a scuffle." She said lightly, hoping she would drop the subject.
"Gabby, can you come see me in my office please?" Nathalie peeked her head outside of her office, saving Gabby from further being questionned.
"Hey Nat, what's up?"
"Nothing, just thought I'd save you from being the gossip on this floor."
"Thanks, it means a lot but I can't hide in here forever." Gabby looked up and her eyes met a pair of worried looking ones.
"Geeze Gabby, what happened?"
"I may of may not have gotten in a one sided fight with Matt's ex about an hour ago." She shrugged. She really didn't want to worry about that too much right about now.
"Let me go get you some ice and some supplies and I'll come clean out the cut."
"Shay already cleaned it when I was at the house." Her jaw was sore but she felt fine.
"You look everything BUT fine."
"You don't need to hover over me Nathalie, I'll be fine."
"I sort of, might have given my word to one sexy sounding fire fighter."
"He didn't have to call here. I knew nothing was broken."
"He asked me to keep an eye on you and I said that I would so that's what I'm doing. You are going to take this." She handed Gabby an x-ray form, a reluctant action from Gabby's side as she did.
"I swear I'm fine Nathalie."
"When I hand your images to Dr. Spencer and he says that everything is ok, then I'll decide if you're fine."
"I swear Nathalie. If something was wrong, I'd know."
"No, you are an annoying and uncooperative woman right now. Just humour me and get it done please?"
"Fine." Gabby sighed dramatically and held up the form Nathalie had given her a few minutes ago. "I'll get this done but when nothing is wrong, you will have to leave me alone.
"That's a deal but let me just tell you something. That boy of yours, he's a keeper." Nathalie smiled at the younger woman.
"I know." Gabby smiled back.
"And he loves you." Nathalie knew these kinds of things and from hearing Matt's voice on the phone when he called her, he was one of the good guys.
"He does NOT love me Nat. We just started dating for crying out loud." Gabby blushed furiously.
"Mark my words Gabby. Matthew Casey loves you just as much as he loves his two little girls."
"I'm gone now." Gabby got up and left Nathalie's office, not giving her any time to answer her.
Gabby went down the stairs and straight to the ER, giving her form to someone in charge and explaining what had happened and that he boss wanted those to eliminate an underlying condition. She waited a few minutes before she was called into imagery. It only took a few minutes before she was told she was free to go so she walked took the elevator this time and went back to work, waiting for Nathalie to come back with the news.
It took about an hour before she was pulled back into Nathalie's office, only an hour left on the clock before she left to buy some food for the firehouse.
"Dr. Spencer just called me. You have internal contusions on top of that very large bruise that you're sporting so he wrote you a prescription that should help with the swelling." Nathalie handed her a small piece of paper with what she would need to get from the drugstore on her way out.
"I told you nothing was broken." She smirked.
"Ha ha, very funny. Now get out of here and have fun at the firehouse later."
"Thanks Nat." She folded the piece of paper and put it in her uniform pocket before going to make sure all her patients had their afternoon pills and she wrote up her report before said it to the evening nurse coming in.
She walked down the stairs and quickly got out of the hospital before going to the store to pick out her supplies. She decided she'd make a chilli since there were so many people so after paying for the food, she drove towards the firehouse. She grabbed as many bags as she could and walked up the firehouse apron and onto the apparatus floor where she was greeted by Severide.
"Hey Gabby, let me help you." He took a few bags before he laid eyes on her jaw. "Damn Gabby, that's some bruise."
"Don't worry, I feel it thank you." She rolled her eyes, trying not to smile so it wouldn't hurt even more.
"Need anymore help?"
"I still have a few bags in my car but I'll be good to bring the rest by myself, thanks Kelly." He smiled at her and turned around to bring the bags in the common room while she did the same towards her car. She came back in and the guys from Squad had returned to their card playing at their table. She walked through the common room doors and called a hello to everyone, going directly towards the stove to start cooking dinner. Shay came next to her to start chopping up the vegetables but Matt wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"If you're looking for loverboy, he's in the shower. Feeling any pain?"
"It was throbbing when I first got back from lunch but Nathalie had me get an x-ray to make sure nothing was broken and Dr. Spencer gave me something for the pain and swelling, I feel better."
"Glad to hear that. Matt's been worried about you though."
"I know. He called Nathalie to ask her to keep an eye out for me, hense the x-ray."
"I swear that boy has it BAD for you."
"Would you guys stop saying that? We've just started seeing each other."
"I'm just saying, I see the way he looks at you, he loves you."
"Stop it Shay." She giggled, giving her a hip bump, making Shay's laugh vibrate through her throat."
Matt walked through the common room doors from the bunk area, running a hand through his wet hair, a smile on his face that fell the moment he saw the big bruise on Gabby's cheek. He walked up to her and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"God Gabby! It looks bad. Does it hurt?" Concern was evident in his voice.
"Numbing pain actually but the drugs are helping with that."
"You mind taking a walk with me?" To say that they were avoiding a talk wasn't true but a lot of things and people got in the way of that very important conversation. Matt pulled her to him as they left the common room and headed towards his office. "Are you sure you're ok? It looks really painful."
"It was throbbing alot when I got back to Lakeshore but since I took the meds before coming here, it feels better."
"Nothing broken?"
"Nothing broken." She smiled up at him. Matt led her into his office and closed the door.
"I'm glad." He pulled her to him and kissed her hair.
"Heard anything from Antonio?" She broke the silence they were in.
"Nothing yet but I figured he'd call you first."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Matt pulled her towards his bunk and sat down with her next to him.
"We need to talk about us Gabby."
"What about us?" Worry now creased her forehead as she looked at him.
"We haven't talked about where we want us to lead."
"Matt." She tried to protest but he didn't give her the opportunity too.
"I know we said that we would take it slow but I came to realize that I want to be with you, always."
"Matt." She warned. "You need to take care of Hallie first before we can even think of wanting more with us."
"Hallie isn't a problem Gabby."
"I want to have it all with you too but Hallie is still here and she's still an issue."
"She doesn't have to be. All you have to do is press charges and she won't be a problem."
"I won't press charges against her Matt." Gabby stood up, Matt giving her a clueless expression.
"Why not Gabby?"
"Because I said some words too Matt. I have as much responsability in this as she does."
"But that makes no sense Gabby." It made absolutely no sense to Matt that after all of this, Gabby didn't want to press charges.
"It doesn't have to make sense to you Matt, it only has to make sense for me." Some part of her felt like she was suffocating so without another word, she got up and left Matt's office, heading straight for the bathroom but Matt instinctly got up and followed her.
"Gabby, stop." He called just as she entered the bathrooms, the door barely swinging closed before Matt swung it back open. "You can't honestly tell me that you'll just let her walk away from this."
"And what will that accomplish huh Matt?" She argued.
"It will accomplish that she won't get away with hurting you Gabby."
"I'm ok Matt."
"Is this ok?" He spun her around quickly and they were both facing the mirror, Gabby's bruise the first thing that jumped out. they stayed quiet for a few very long seconds before Gabby's ringing phone startled them both. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered it.
"Hey Antonio, what's up?" Matt moved around her to stand directly in front of her. "Yeah, we can swing by in the morning. Thanks Tonio." She hung up the phone and put it back in her pocket.
"What was that all about?" He asked when he got no reaction to his holding her hand now.
"Antonio wants to see us at 21 in the morning, he says to bring the legal documents she sent you when she left." Matt was puzzled as to why they would need those papers but it didn't matter. He would swing by his place when shift ended and grab those and meet Gabby there.
"Sure."
"Crap, dinner."
"Come on, let's go feed the masses." He pulled her to him and they walked out of the bathroom an arm around each other and they went back to the common room where Shay had finished chopping everything with Mills.
"Thanks guys." She smiled at them and Mills went back to sit down while Shay watched Gabby work, perched on the counter next to her.
"So what's the deal with Hallie? Are you going to press charges?"
"No."
"Gabby." Shay exclaimed shocked.
"The blame's half on me, you didn't hear what I told her."
"Gabby, I haven't known you for that long but I know that whatever it is you told her was probably just the truth and she didn't accept it and she lashed out." She picked some veggies out of the plate, earning a hand slap from Gabby.
"Wait until it's ready." Gabby smirked.
"I can't it smells so good." She whined. "We need to do a girls week end thing just the two of us, no kids and no man."
"I'd have to check when we're both free and that my parents don't mind babysitting."
"Oh we will. We haven't done anything together in a long time."
"Forever actually." Gabby pouted, Matt laughing from the table when he saw her. It was true that they hadn't spent as much time together as they would have liked so a girls week end would do them good.
It took about thirty minutes and thankfully no call before the food was ready, Gabby calling everyone to chow. Everyone complimented her on the food, the common room becoming quiet for one rare occasion. Gabby served everyone and made sure to bring chief a bowl in his office before coming back to the common room and sitting down next to Matt with a bowl of her own.
"This food is phenominal mama." Cruz complimented her.
"Thanks Joe." She blushed lightly as Matt squeezed her knee under the table. Everyone returned their dishes and Gabby cleaned everything, Matt at her side, drying the dishes as she rinced them. They stayed like that in relative silence,a few laughs escaping their lips on occasion. Once they were done and everything was put back in their original place, the overhead paging system called them to a house fire.
"I'll come pick you up after shift so we can go to the district together." He quickly kissed her cheek and left running to truck 81. She finished cleaning up before leaving to go home. She took a steaming hot shower and a few pain pills and settled into bed, her phone dinging, Matt telling her he was back safely. She was always thankful of these small attentions from him, only confirming her want to have their relationship move forward. She called Antonio's house to say goodnight to the kids before she turned off the lights and drifted to sleep.
51 had a heavy night with calls and little sleep. Matt settled into his office and briefly closed his eyes, wishing for the night to be over with so he could finish taking care of the problem that was haunting him. He had loved Hallie very much in the past but those feelings had changed when she had left and had changed again when she came back. All he wanted now was to build something with Gabby and her kids and his own. First watch slowly started to come in and Matt got up and changed before packing everything in his bag and leaving. He walked out of the house and headed for his truck when Severide came jogging his way.
"What's the plan for today?"
"I have to go swing by 21st to see Antonio about Hallie." He sighed.
"Donyou think it'll be over soon?"
"I hope so. I just want to move on with my life Sev."
"I hope for you too." Kelly slapped Matt on the back and turned to go to his car where Shay was waiting for him. He texted Christie to give her an update and drove towards his house to quickly pick up the papers Antonio asked for before going to pick Gabby up. He knew the kids weren't there so it would go by quickly. When he turned onto her street, he could already see her leaning against her car, waiting for him. She got in as soon as he came to a stop.
"You should have waited inside."
"I couldn't sleep at five anymore so I got ready and couldn't hold still anymore."
"Does it still hurt?" He questionned as he pulled out of her street.
"It's only a numbing pain." She lied, feeling her heatbeat in her cheek.
"You need to press charges Gabby." He said firmly.
"I'm not changing my mind Matt, I won't press charges." Matt huffed his frustration out as they made the short drive to the district. Matt took hold of Gabby's hand as they climbed the stairs into the station and were greeted by a smiling Platt.
"What can I do for you?"
"We came to see Antonio." gabby smiled back at her and Platt took the phone, calling Antonio down. They waited only a few minutes before Antonio made his way over to them.
"Hey little sis, how're you doing?" He hugged her.
"Barely hurts anymore." She knew she had a better chance at lying to Matt but Antonio was another story. He gave herba funny look and then looked at Matt.
"Matt."
"Antonio." Both men shook hands without exchanging any other word.
"Come on, Voight wants to talk to the two of you first." Both nodded and followed Antonio up the stairs and into the IU department. The walked to his office and walked in, Antonio closing the door behind them. Voight was leaning into his chair and nodded to the both of them before they sat down.
"Did you bring what I asked you?" Antonio questionned Matt.
"Yes but I don't know what those papers can do for us."
"What we're trying to establish is that the documents are legal and that she signed away her rights as a mother and with that, you have to decide if you're pressing charges against her." Voight explained to them but Gabby cut him off.
"I'm not pressing charges." She said firmly.
Both Matt and Antonio were about to protest when Voight spoke up, seeing the determination in Gabby's eyes. "Now that it's settled, can I have a look at those papers?" He had seen enough of those documents in his many years in PD so he knew what they looked like. Matt handed him the documents.
"She mailed those to me after she left, the girls were only 5 months old." You could hear emotions rolling off of Matt, clearly he was remembering that day as if it was yesterday.
"And she never came back once or called since that day?" Voight beeded to be thorough to make sure that could win this.
"Not until two days ago."
"Good. Let me make a few phone calls and I think we can get this done before the day is over."
"Thank you."
"Go get breakfast and i'll call you a bit later sis."
Both Matt and Gabby got up and thanked Voight before heading out and going to the closest diner.
"Where is your mind at?" Gabby asked as Matt was peering in his cup of coffee.
"I just want all of this to be over with so we can move on."
"Let's just hope Antonio has good news for us later." They recieved their food and they ate quietly, enjoying some rare quiet time together. About an hour later, Matt's phone rang and he quickly answered it and ended the call.
"Antonio wants us back at 21." Matt put some money on the table for both their plates and got up.
"Already?" Gabby stood up then.
"Let's just hope it's good news." They left and Gabby took Matt's hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. They were buzzed up as soon as they arrived and both Voight and Antonio were waiting for them. They went into his offic once more and sat down again.
"Is it normal that it happened so quickly?" Gabby asked out loud what Matt was wondering in his head.
"A judge owed me a favour, we can go meet him in his office at the court room in thirty minutes." Both Matt and Gabby knew that it wasn't won yet but they were both happy that it could be resolved quickly. They went down the stairs with both Voight and Antonio and Atwater was taking a still cuffed, very angry Hallie along.
"You're not going to het away with this Matt." Voight instructed them not to say a word and they left behind the police cruiser in Voight's SUV, heading for the court house. They met up in the judge's office, Matt, Gabby, Antonio and Voight on one side and Halli and Atwater on the other side, the judge still not there. They all stayed quiet, even Hallie, probably trying to make a good impression. It took another ten minutes before the judge came walking in, a crisp suit on.
"Ok so we're here to take care an important matter concerning Emma and Grace Casey." He started, no one daring to interrupt him. "In the interest of protecting two young and vulnerable children, we're doing this behind closed doors. From what i've understood is that Miss Hallie Thomas signed away her rights as a mother of the two girls, four and a half years ago and has returned to get her family back. Is that correct?"
"Yes." Hallie said sweetly first.
The first portion of the meeting was about gathering the facts, giving the judge a better understanding of the situation. Then came the individual interrogations betweek both Matt and the judge then Hallie with the judge. Hallie got escorted out of the office and Antonio and Voight left as well, leaving Matt with Gabby for just a few seconds.
"Good luck." She simply said, kissing his cheek and leaving the small office, leaving Matt to sit down.
"Mr. Casey. Can you tell me what happened in the past five years?" It was a simple question but it would take Matt more than a few minutes to tell the judge his story."
Gabby was pacing outside the office, arms crossed over her chest as Antonio and Voight were sitting patiently, their eyes following Gabby's pacing.
"Stop pacing sis, you're walking a hole in the floor." Gabby only glared his way but Hallie smirked at her.
"That's because she knows that I will win."
"That's enough." Voight's voice boomed over Hallie's, prompting her to stop talking. It took more than thirty minutes before the door opened and Matt came out, stopping Gabby from her pacing.
"I'll hear miss Thomas now." Atwater un-cuffed her and she walked into the office, giving her whole audience a sweet smile. Matt pulled Gabby in his arms as the door closed.
"How did it go?" She looked up at him, trying to gage his reaction.
"Well I think. We'll just have to wait a little bit more to find out." It took Hallie even more time than Matt if that was even possible. The door opened once more and the judge invited both Matt and Gabby to join them, leaving Antonio and Voight outside to wait on the verdict and Atwater inside to wait for his final instructions.. Matt let Gabby sit down first and then took a seat next to her, taking her hand in his.
"Alright so I've had the opportunity to hear both sides of the story and I've been able to reach a decision concerning both Emma and Grace Casey. I've been doing this job for quite some time now and I've seen my share of custody battles but from what I've gathered from both sides, I can't say I've seen this one so often." Matt gave Gabby's hand an extra squeeze, his nerves suddenly kicking in. "Mr. Casey. I've rarely seen this much sincerity and love from a father but you've shown me that those two girls mean the world to you and that all you have is their best interest at heart. As for Miss Thomas, although I sense some kind of remorse on your part, I've witnessed more than my share of both men and woman claiming to have made a mistake and although some of your plea seems sincere, I can't make the same statement as I have for Mr. Casey. With all the evidence and the documents I've been given, I maintain the legal documents I have here and award sole custody of Grace and Emma to Mr. Casey without visitation rights to Miss Thomas" Matt's body relaxed from his nervous stance, a smile spreading across his lips and a gasp slipping from Hallie's lips.
"You can't do this to me." She screamed, raising from her chair. "They need me in their lives." She maintained her charade for a bit longer.
"Sit down Miss Thomas." The judge's voice was firm and clear. "You are lucky that Miss Dawson is not pressing charges for assault. You are free to go but you will be escorted out of the state limits by Chicago PD and let your daughters lead a normal and happy life, just as they have in the past. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes your honour." She hung her head down defeated.
Matt and Gabby got up, hugging each other as Hallie was escorted out, without handcuffs, by Atwater who knew what his orders were. When Antonio saw both Matt and Gabby's smiles, he knew they had won.
"Thank you." Matt extended his hand to Voight.
"Anytime." Both men shook hands and the four of them left the courthouse right behind Hallie as she was put back in the police cruiser, on her way to pack her bags and leave town.
"How about we go get the kids and grab some lunch all together?" Matt offered Gabby with a smile, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"I would want nothing more than to spend some time with you and the kids." She leaned up and kissed him tenderly, both happy to have this done with. They left and went to grab Gabby's car before heading the opposite directions to pick up their kids with a promise to meet back up a restaurant next to the park and the ice cream parlour to spend some well deserved family time.
a/n: Hallie finally leaves town disgraced and without what she came back for, her family. After finding comon ground and not pressing charges, Matt and Gabby can now move forward together. Please take a few minutes to leave a review and tell me what you guys thought of this chapter. NOW! I know you won't be too happy about this news BUT it has to be done. I'm gonna take a mini break from writing this story so I can write a new chapter to Coming Home and other stories. Its chapters are longer and next chapter is Matt and Gabby's honeymoon and I need to do research on Hawaii to be able to write something good but I will be back with it as soon as it's done :) - Sarra
