Hi! Thank for your review.
I liked the way this chapter started, the end I'm not so sure : /
Anyway, sorry for any mistakes (grammar...) and let me know what do you think about this update.
FlashBack
"Hey... Matt".
"Gab-Gabby..." he was caught off guard, it took him two seconds to register that was really her. "How have you been?"
"I'm fine..." she clenched her eyes shut for a second.
"I'm surprised by your call..." he admitted.
She was surprised with herself for making that call as well, she never imagined herself in that position.
"I mean... a good surprise...", he was nervous, "I'm good, by the way..., sorry you did-, you didn't ask that", he was stumbling over his words, then he sucked in a deep breath.
She was in such daze, that she didn't even pay attention to his words immediately: "Yeah... Great, it's great to hear you are good as well..." she said as she tucked a strap of hair behind her ear.
"Gabby, I-", "Matt-," they spoke at the same time.
"Sorry, you first," he said gently. He was eager to hear more from her.
"I need to tell you something... I'm back in Chicago..."
"You're back for a weekend?" then he started running the tip of his tongue over his lower lip.
"...I'm not coming back to Puerto Rico... not so soon..." she answered as she shoved a hand in her back pocket.
"So you are staying for a couple of weeks, a month?" he wanted to know if he would have time to talk to her face to face.
"I don't know...", she responded sincerely considering she wasn't expecting to lead with difficult changes in her way back to Chicago.
"We could meet, I'd like to see you," he pointed out. There was a lot to unpack between them, he thought. They needed a moment to do that, because the last time they have seen each other, they left out their struggles and problems to share one moment of love. The last? They didn't know, at least not Gabby who left the door open for him. Now, she knows why he didn't go through that door.
"I am busy right now... still catching up with everyone..."
"I understand, maybe next week..." he couldn't wait to see her. It was not like they would get back together since he was with Sylvie, though in his heart he felt he owed her an explanation sooner than later.
"I can't meet you next week... I'm sorry..." her voice tone changed, he noticed.
"Okay... I imagined you got in touch with the other guys from Firehouse 51... Stella, Severide-" she cut in.
"I've heard some news...", his eyebrows raised slightly.
"What is it?" he asked afraid of her answer.
"...I wanted to check it with you..."
"Of course... tell me...," then he pressed his lips together as he scratched his forehead.
"I've heard... You and Brett are dating," Gabby bit her lower lip as she closed her eyes.
"Gabby, I- we- owe you an explanation-" he attempted to give an answer.
"... You don't have to explain yourself... It's alright...", she replied as she looked at the sky above her trying to keep tears at bay.
"Let me even try..." he was being so lame that he was ashamed.
"Don't, it's not necessary... you two are great people... you both deserve being happy..." he tilted his head while tears were rolling down her face, her hand was trembling. She tried her best to not sound fake or unsure of her words while her heart ached.
When he heard she sniffing slightly, he realized she was weeping.
"You're not okay with it, Gabby..." he breathed out.
"I'm good, really..."
"I think I still know you, you're not fine with it..."
"It's totally normal, right?..." she meant about Matt and Brett being together.
"Where are you?", his eyes roamed over his living room trying to find his car keys.
"I can't... I have to go..." he felt like she was struggling to speak to him.
"Gabby, talk to me, where you are...," he insisted as he grabbed his keys over the center table.
"...we talk another time..."
"Come on..." he was standing close to the front door, he reached for the doorknob.
"No, Matt... I have to go..." her voice faltered.
"Please..." he felt a sting on his heart knowing she was suffering because of him.
"Good night...Bye", she hung on him.
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Meanwhile... Stella and Severide's apartment
Stella was sitting on the couch impatiently waiting for Severide to be back with Gabby, he had left a few minutes ago though, after attending a call from Boden he ran to be able to get Gabby still there.
They were watching something on television when Boden's call came, there was a bowl with popcorn and two glasses of wine on the center table.
She was searching for something on her phone when a call from Casey appeared on the screen. A confused look covered her face: why on earth he was calling her at that hour?
After a few seconds, she pushed the button and put her phone on the ear.
"Hi, Casey..." she quickly greeted him.
"Hi, Stella, sorry for calling so late, I was trying to reach Severide, but he is not picking up his phone..."
"Oh, he is not here right now...", she took two seconds to make up an excuse as she pushed herself up from the couch. "
At last minute we decide to have a homemade meal...," she took one of the glasses of wine in her hand, "...he went to buy some items, he is probably driving... you know...," she trailed off as she sipped her wine.
"Maybe...I-I just called him ten times..." his said frustrated.
"What's the problem, perhaps I can help you?" she questioned him before sinking back into the couch.
"It's not a problem... The thing is that Gabby called 15 minutes ago saying she is back in Chicago..."
"Oh..." that was the only sound mouthed by Stella as her eyes widened.
"... and she knows about me and Brett..." he added.
"Then you have a problem, I suppose..." she asserted. "All this time you left her oblivious from what was happening between you two...",
"You're right... I should have told her... I can't deny that..."
"What was her reaction? She yelled at you, called you things?"
"She didn't, not at all. In fact, she said she was happy for me and Brett, she sounded happy even..."
"So everything worked out for you, if Gabby is happy then you and Brett will be good..." she sighed deeply getting tired of this conversation.
"Although, I'm not worried about me or Brett, Stella... Gabby is not happy, I know her... she is hurt... And I need to do something, I-I-"
"Casey, Casey, listen to me," Stella interrupted him, "... I would say to you: step back and give time to Gabby get used to it... her ex-husband and best friend getting in a relationship. There is no other way around it. I don't understand how you can't see it. Maybe, you're right and she is hurt, but you can't prevent that, it would happen you like it or not" she cautioned him.
"So you are saying that I shouldn't give her an explanation-" he reasoned with her.
"No, I'm against it, let things sink in, if she feels hearing from you, she knows where to find you..."
"I'm not quite sure of that..."
"Don't go after her, please...", Casey thought for one second Stella should know something he didn't, she seemed really convicted of things she was saying about Gabby.
Then she heard the front door being unlocked.
"I have to go, think about what I said to you, okay?"
Severide walked into the apartment first, then Gabby who waved and mustered up a smile to Stella.
"I will... Thank you, Stella... good night...", he said before turning off.
"Who needs a bear hug?" Stella asked looking directly at Gabby. Severide shut the door as Gabby dragged her feet walking in her direction raising a hand, tears in her eyes. Stella opened her arms and Gabby stepped into her embrace.
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Meanwhile... Brett and Emilly's apartment.
Brett was in the kitchen sitting at the table, she was thinking over what had happened since she left her apartment two hours ago.
"Hey..." Emily greeted Brett when saw her alone, she was staring out into the empty, "What are you doing here? You told me you were meeting Casey at his apartment?"
Brett startled hearing Foster's voice as her hands were clasped in her lap.
"Are you okay? Wha are you thinking?" Emilly pulled a chair and sat down. Brett kept quiet staring at Emilly.
"Brett... talk to me..." Emilly brought a hand to rested over Brett's.
"Gabby is back in Chicago..." Emily choked up and coughed awkwardly. "...She called Casey and told him she is happy for us..."
"She said that... are you sure?"
Brett nodded slowly.
"Then why you are here?" Emilly chuckled not understanding the reason behind Brett's disappointment.
"He called me he said he didn't feel up to see me today... not after talking to her..."
Emilly sighed as she gazed at Brett: "Sorry, it sucks..."
"Yeah..." They went quiet for a moment as Emilly squeezed her hand trying to comfort her.
"Do you think she still has a chance with him?"
"I-I think she has all the cards on her hand," Brett responded feeling defeated.
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Present... Back to Stella and Severide' apartment
Gabby was sleeping in their spare bedroom, they were checking in on her before going to their own bedroom, her door was slightly open.
"She is gonna be alright..." Kelly said squeezing Stella shoulder softly.
"I told Casey to not looking for her..." she confessed quietly. Both were staring at Gabby, a blanket was covering her body, they could see only her head.
"You did right..." he kissed the side of her head.
"We're gonna be here for her," Stella looked at him.
"We're... come on... it was a long day...", he wrapped his arm around her waist heading down to their bedroom.
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