Hey everyone, here is Chapter 19. I am sorry for the long delay on the update. I have had a lot of personal things going on but in honor of the Season 9 premiere tomorrow night (November 11, 2020), I figured I would give you all an updated chapter. Please leave a review and I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

CHAPTER 19

A few hours went by and Casey and Brett were laughing about the most random things while playing a few rounds of poker. As Casey was getting ready to deal the next round of cards, they heard a knock on the door. Brett got up and answered it and saw it was one of the neighbors.

"Hey Sylvie, I locked myself out of the apartment. Would you mind if I used your phone to call the landlord? My phone died and I just got off work." the neighbor said.

"I can actually help you with that. Give me a second and I'll be right out." Brett said.

"Thanks, Sylvie." the neighbor replied.

Brett closed the door and put her shoes on.

"Hey, I'll be right back. The neighbor locked herself out of the apartment." Brett said.

Before Casey could even reply, Brett was out the door. She picked the lock for her neighbor and after talking for a few minutes, Brett went back into her apartment.

"Did you get the neighbor in?" Casey casually asked.

"Yep. Picking locks is easy." Brett smiled.

Casey gave her a look.

"Since when do you know how to pick locks?" Casey asked, shocked that Brett could pick locks.

"My brother and I would lock ourselves out of our house all the time and we would have to pick the lock to get in." Brett laughed.

Casey flashed his signature smile at Brett.

"You never ceased to amaze me, Brett." he teased.

She returned a smile.

"There's a lot you don't know about me." she teased.

That peaked his interest. He knew he shouldn't be feeling whatever it was he was feeling for Brett, but he couldn't help it. For the first time, in a really long time, he feels like he's found someone who understands him for who he is and for what he believes in. Gabby used to understand him, but somewhere along the way, she lost interest in him knowing him. Although a piece of him will always love Gabby, Gabby left him. He knew that Gabby was leaving whether he went with her to Puerto Rico or not. Her mind was made up. Casey was heartbroken, devastated, and hurt when Gabby left. While Gabby had been away in Puerto Rico, the strain on their marriage took a toll on both of them. It started out that they would talk at least once a day, then over time, once a day turned into once a week, then once a month until they didn't talk at all. The last time time they had spoken to each other prior to her very brief return to Chicago, was when they had decided to get divorced. He also knew about this "Girl Code" that existed. The "Girl Code" was that a girl/woman couldn't date any of her best friend's exes. It was a ridiculous code. Gabby left everyone, including Casey and Brett. She didn't say goodbye to anyone when she was in town for her charity's gala event.

"Our night together was our goodbye. No words needed." Casey thought to himself.

"I know that look on your face." Brett said, snapping Casey out of his thoughts.

"Oh, nothing. I was just trying to picture you picking locks." Casey grinned.

Brett smiled and then sat down on the floor across from Casey.

"So, how about another game of poker?" she asked.

"Sure, but I'm gonna beat you this time." he chuckled.

Casey shuffled the cards and they played several rounds of poker until Casey decided to give up.

"I don't know how you keep beating me." he joked.

"Wanna know my secret?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah." he teased.

"There is no secret. It's just luck." she teased.

They playfully bantered back and forth for a few minutes until Casey's phone rang. It was a text from Severide.

"MOLLY'S TONIGHT? - SEVERIDE." the text read.

"SORRY, BUSY. - CASEY." Casey replied.

Truth is, Casey wasn't busy. He just wanted to enjoy what time he had with Brett alone because once they go back to work tomorrow, they would be busy with work and calls. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about being around Brett that made him feel good about himself and it felt nice. Several hours passed and Casey noticed that Brett was getting very restless. They decided to play one last game of poker but as Casey dealt the cards, Brett's phone rang with a text message.

"SYLVIE, GIRL'S NIGHT AT MY PLACE, SAY 8:00? - CHLOE." the text read.

Brett smiled and replied.

"ABSOLUTELY. - SYLVIE." Brett replied.

"What's that smile about?" Casey teased.

"So, Chloe just texted that she wanted to do a Girl's Night." Brett said.

"Well, I think you should go. You were upset about Foster and Stella cancelling tonight, so I think you should go." Casey said.

"I am." Brett chuckled.

"Do you need a ride?" he asked.

"You don't mind? I mean, Chloe didn't say anything about coming to get me or anything." Brett said.

"Well, Cruz and Chloe's place is on the way to Molly's, so it's no problem. Severide texted and wanted me to come to Molly's tonight." Casey explained.

"Alright, uh, let me go get ready and I'll meet you in here in a few minutes." Brett said as she headed to her bedroom.

Casey watched as Brett went to her bedroom. He shook his head and started talking to himself.

"Why did I tell her that I think she should go?" he asked himself.

Brett was in her room getting ready. She changed into a pair of blue jeans, a pink tank top with a white short sleeve jacket over the tank top, and a pair of comfy tennis shoes. She put a little bit of eyeliner on and then grabbed her purse. She walked out of her room and greeted Casey.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Sure." he said and they headed out the door and to his truck.

The drive to Chloe and Cruz's house wasn't that far. The ride over didn't take long. They arrived and Brett took her seatbelt off.

"So, I'll text you when I'm ready to leave. Is that alright?" Brett asked.

"Sounds good." Casey said with a half smile.

Brett smiled and then got out of the truck, shut the door, and walked up the steps to the door to Chloe and Cruz's place. Before she could open the door to go inside, Cruz was on his way out the door.

"Oh, hey Brett. Bye, Brett." Cruz said as he walked down the steps.

Chloe and Brett giggled and then Brett walked inside the apartment building. Casey waited to see that Brett got inside before leaving and then saw Cruz, who wasn't paying attention, walking the down the steps and towards his car.

"Cruz!" Casey yelled.

Cruz stopped to see who was yelling his name and saw that it was Casey.

"Hey Captain, what's up." Cruz said.

"On my way to Molly's. I just dropped off Brett. You going to Molly's?" Casey asked.

"Yeah. Chloe decided to have this girl's night thing with Brett, so I decided to go to Molly's." Cruz said.

"Hop in. I'll give you a ride since I'm heading that way myself. Brett said she'd text me when she's ready to leave." Casey said.

"Thanks, man." Cruz said.

Cruz got in the truck and then Casey drove to Molly's. Meanwhile, Brett and Chloe were sitting in high top chairs at the island bar in the middle of the kitchen.

"You know that Matt has a thing for you, don't you?" Chloe said as she poured a glass of wine for her and Brett.

"Casey? No way. I mean, we're just friends." Brett stuttered as she tried to find the words to say.

"Sylvie, take it from me. Matt is smitten with you." Chloe insisted.

"I hadn't noticed." Brett lied.

Truth is, she did notice and she caught his looks often when he didn't think she saw him. Ever since Dawson left, Brett and Casey have gotten closer as friends. It was her spin class instructor who made the comment to her about her and Casey belonging together that got her attention. Since then, she often catches herself wondering if she and Casey would be good together. She and Kyle broke up and Casey was the only one she thought about seeing when she got back home to 51.

"You know, you do that thing with your eye when you're lying." Chloe said.

"What thing?" Brett asked.

"That little twitching thing. That and you can't hold a straight face. Sylvie Brett, do you like Matthew Casey?" Chloe asked jokingly.

"Me? And Casey? No way. We're just friends. He was married to my best friend..." Brett trailed off.

Gabby Dawson was her best friend but how could her so called best friend not ever call her or anyone else at 51? Brett understood why Dawson left but even when Dawson came in for her charity's gala event, Dawson barely spoke to her. Still, Brett did feel a bit guilty for liking Casey but she couldn't help it. She and Casey bonded closely after Dawson left so how could she not fall for Matthew Casey?

"And now he's not. Sylvie, Matt and Gabby haven't been married in what, two years, so why not go for it?" Chloe asked insistantly.

"Because that's breaking some sort of 'Girl Code' isn't it?" Brett asked.

"Sort of but not really." Chloe said.

"What do you mean?" Brett asked.

"It would be breaking the 'Girl Code' if she and Matt were still talking and neither of them moved on. It sounds like both of them have moved on. Also, if both have moved on, it's fair game. Sylvie, all I'm saying is that the 'Girl Code' can only go so far. You and Matt are two consenting adults. He and Gabby have been divorced for what, two years now? She came back for what, one week and didn't really talk to anyone but Matt, and from what Joe has told me, Matt is smitten with you." Chloe said.

"Smitten? Matthew Casey? How would Cruz know anyway?" Brett curiously asked.

"Well, the other day when Matt came over to help Joe and I put in those new windows, they were talking about you." Chloe said.

"Really?" Brett asked.

Brett was trying to play it off as if she had no clue what was going on. The truth is she wasn't entirely sure, but the way that Casey was acting, led her to believe that he does have some sort of feelings for her. The only problem is she didn't want to hurt Gabby but how could she hurt Gabby if Gabby never called or visit but once in a blue moon, if that. In the two years that she has been gone, she only visited twice and barely spoke to anyone except Casey.

"Yeah, so I was in the kitchen making some lemonade for them and I couldn't help but overhear Matt tell Joe that he and Gabby had slept together the night of the gala. He said that it was closure for both him and Gabby and that they had to say goodbye one last time and well, I interupted them." Chloe said.

Brett gave her a look.

"So, what happened?" Brett asked, almost as if she were waiting for Chloe to finish the story

"They went back to work and I left them alone." Chloe giggled.

Brett took in everything that Chloe said. She had a feeling it was true but wasn't sure. The two women continued to talk and just enjoy their night while the men were gone. At Molly's, Casey and Cruz walked in and took a seat at the bar next to Severide.

"Hey guys, what can I get ya?" Stella said.

Casey was confused as to why Stella was there as Brett had told him that Stella cancelled on Brett.

"My usual." Casey said.

"I'll have my usual as well." Cruz said.

Stella grabbed two beer bottles from the cooler, opened them, and then handed them to Casey and Cruz.

"Is this why you cancelled on Brett?" Casey casually asked.

Stella was caught off guard for a minute and then answered.

"Uh, yeah. Herrmann had some sort of PTA thing at his daughter's school and needed me to fill in." Stella answered.

"You should have told Brett." Casey said.

Stella acknowledged what Casey meant. Stella knew Brett's feelings had been hurt but it was a last minute thing that Herrmann asked Stella to do. Casey told Stella about Foster backing out and how Chloe asked her to come hang out. Stella felt guilty. Brett had been through so much and she should have told Brett what was happening but instead, she just said she couldn't hang out and left Brett a little hurt. Brett was resiliant though. She always bounced back and always found a way to come out with her head held high even after being hurt. Back at Cruz and Chloe's, Chloe and Brett were now sitting in the living room talking about her upcoming honeymoon vacation. Although she and Cruz had a small honeymoon, Cruz wanted to take Chloe away to an exotic place for a whole week.

"So, what's your dream honeymoon?" Brett asked.

"He wants to go to the Dominican Republic or some place like that." Chloe said.

"But where do you wanna go?" Brett asked again.

"I don't know. The Dominican Republic sounds really good but I think I'd rather be somewhere that feels close to home, like Hawaii or Australia. Something like that." Chloe said.

They both took a sip of wine and then Chloe asked Brett the same question.

"What about you? Where would you want to go on your honeymoon if you got married?" Chloe asked.

Brett was surprised. She hadn't really thought about that.

"You know, I haven't really thought about it. I guess if I had to pick a place, I would go somewhere like England or Ireland. I'm not really sure." Brett chuckled.

The two women continued to chat and enjoy their night. They even decided to watch a movie called "He's Just Not That Into You" where they discussed the characters and the story of each character. All and all, it was turning into a fun night but Cruz and Casey wouldn't agree.