Hello hello hello everyone. Sorry this chapter took me a little longer to get up, this past week and a half has been… well, a lot. I'm sorry for the delay, but hopefully this chapter makes up for it.
I'm having so much fun with this story, and I'm hoping you all are enjoying reading it. I'm so excited to hear what you think, I hope you enjoy!
part three
"Hey Captain."
Matt looked up from his newspaper as he sat in the common room, the firefighter nursing a cup of coffee while flipping through the sports section, his eyes finding Herrmann as the older man walked towards him.
"Hey Herrmann." He replied, putting the paper down when the man came to a stop beside him, resting his palms on the table. "Were you and the kids able to celebrate any before shift this morning?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got to see them all open a present before I left, it was good. Cindy's gonna send me some pictures later." He replied, Matt nodding as he grabbed his drink while the man spoke, taking a quick sip.
"That's good to hear, I know how hard working on Christmas is for you, but at least you got to see them before you left."
"Yeah, yeah- it definitely never gets any easier, but it's the job." He replied, glancing around before returning his attention back to the Captain. "So, uh, tomorrow's the big day, huh?" He asked with a wide grin, Casey matching his look as he nodded.
"Yeah, I'm flying out around noon."
"And how long will you be gone?"
"I'll be back to work on the 12th, I get home the day before." Matt explained, feeling some stares from around the room, everyone listening in as they realized he was talking about his impending trip to go visit Dawson.
When word finally broke a little over a week ago that Casey's surprise trip was going to see Gabby, everyone had been shocked, to say the least. They knew things with her visit had gone well between them, Matt telling everyone he'd had a nice time with Gabby the shift after the fundraiser, but no one ever expected it to become more than it was. So when they discovered their Captain was in fact taking time off for Dawson, they were surprised.
But a few were a little less surprised than others, Herrmann being one of them. The older firefighter had been supportive from the second he found out where Matt was going. In fact, everyone had been pretty supportive of his trip, not that it would stop him if they weren't. Casey knew the subject of Gabby had been a delicate one since she left, something he was sure was done for his benefit, but they all seemed happy for him, that he and Gabby were going to be spending some time together.
And if they had different opinions on the matter, they hadn't voiced them. At least not to him.
"Wow. Sounds like it'll be a fun trip."
"Yeah, I'm excited. I'm gonna be seeing where she works, getting to see everything she's been doing down there… it'll be nice."
"It sounded impressive when she was here, the work she's doing. Can't say I'm surprised, though, Dawson's always found a calling in helping other people." Herrmann spoke with a soft smile, Matt nodding slightly.
"Yeah… Yeah, she has." He murmured, unable to stop the grin tugging on his lips.
"Well, I hope you two have fun, and you'll have to let Antonio know we all say hi." Herrmann finished, clasping Casey on the shoulder.
"I will, I'll let them know." He promised, flashing Herrmann a grin before they separated, the engine Lieutenant continuing his path into the kitchen while Casey refocused his attention on his newspaper.
But after his conversation with Herrmann, it was hard for Matt to refocus his attention on the paper in front of him, his mind becoming clouded with thoughts of Gabby. He'd noticed it happening a bit more often lately, that any time anyone so much as mentioned her name, he couldn't help but start thinking of her; thinking of the conversations they'd shared over the last two weeks, thinking of how excited he was to get to Puerto Rico… thinking of the night they shared together. He just couldn't stop thinking about her, though he couldn't say the thoughts were unwelcome.
Ever since their phone call two weeks ago where he shared the news he'd be coming to visit, he and Gabby had started talking more frequently. It started off as a few simple texts, Matt updating her on his travel schedule and what his plans were, but those texts soon turned into phone calls, which then turned into Facetime calls. And now they were talking practically every day. Once they'd gotten his travel plans out of the way, their conversations hovered around them catching up, knowing that despite the time they shared while she was in Chicago, they hadn't really gotten the chance to do that. So they'd started slowly filling each other in on what they'd been up to over the last year and a half, Matt hearing about all the amazing work she'd been doing recently, while he told her about some of the things she'd missed around Chicago.
It had been nice, and surprisingly easy, to start talking to Gabby again, the two slowly regaining that familiarity with one another after spending so much time without contact. It had been a little awkward at first when they started to talk more, both of them a little hesitant to open up, unsure of what this meant for them, but the more they talked, the more that awkwardness began to fade, just as it had the night of the fundraiser. They were slowly getting used to being apart of each other's lives again, and although he wasn't sure where this was headed, he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel happier than he'd been in a long time.
"Casey!"
"Huh?" He snapped out of his headspace when he heard his name being shouted, the Captain glancing to see everyone in the room watching him.
"Your phone." Foster spoke, Matt glancing down to the device buzzing against the table, Casey giving her a thankful nod before picking it up.
An immediate smile covered his face when he saw who was calling him, Matt pushing back his chair before standing up, answering the call as he began walking out of the room.
"Hey Gabby, give me a second."
Knowing smirks fell onto the faces of some of 51's firefighters, Herrmann sharing a look with Mouch, who merely shook his head.
"I'm not one to get involved into people's personal lives, but he has seemed really happy the last few weeks." Mouch spoke, Herrmann nodding as he watched Casey disappear out into the garage.
"Well, it's Dawson… The kid still loves her." Herrmann replied, pursing his lips together as he watched the door swing shut. "I just hope this doesn't end with him getting hurt again… with either of them getting hurt."
Casey stepped out into the garage, the cold winter air hitting his skin as he began walking further away from the doors, the closed garage shielding him from the snow and wind outside. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay, I know you're working today, but I just wanted to call and tell you Merry Christmas." Her soft voice filled his ears, Matt's eyes falling closed as he felt an immediate warmth fill his chest. He could tell from her few words that she'd just woken up, her tone giving her away, Matt having heard that voice from her thousands of times. She was still a little groggy, her mind not fully awake as she tried to have a conversation; it was something he'd seen from her nearly every morning for years. And to hear it again now comforted him, Matt knowing he must've been one of her first calls when she woke up, if not the first.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Gabby." He murmured, practically able to hear the smile on her face. "I was planning on waiting to call you a little later, I didn't want to wake you up… I remember you told me you had the day off today, I figured you'd be sleeping in." He spoke, coming to a stop by the rig, resting his body against it.
"Well, that was the plan… But I couldn't sleep, I guess." She replied quietly, Casey's eyebrows furrowing as he straightened his spine.
"Everything okay?" He questioned quickly, Matt biting down on the inside of his lip.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good… Just excited for tomorrow." The smile returned to his face as he heard her words, Matt glancing down to the ground. "I guess my excitement's making it a little hard to sleep, but I'm fine."
"Is that right?" He asked lightly, hearing her scoff on the other end of the line, his smile widening.
"Mhmm."
"And what has you so excited, if you don't mind my asking?" He questioned teasingly, hearing her chuckle lightly, Matt practically able to picture the look on her face.
"Well, I'm not sure if you know this, but I have a very special guest coming to stay with me for a couple of weeks."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah… It's something I've been looking forward to ever since he told me he was coming." She replied softly, his eyes falling closed as her words washed over him, Matt able to hear the sincerity in her voice. "...I'll tell Kelly you say hi when he gets here." She added teasingly, Matt chuckling loudly as he shook his head, her soon following suit, the sound of her laughter like music to his ears.
"You think you're funny, don't you?" He asked, his tongue running along his bottom lip as Gabby continued laughing, Matt unable to wipe the smile from his face.
"A little, yeah." She responded, Matt scoffing lightly as a soft silence fell between them, Casey focusing on the sound of her breathing, neither of them saying anything for a few seconds, not until Gabby finally spoke up again. "...I really am so excited to see you, Matt." Her voice was quiet, Matt barely able to hear her, but her words made his heart swell in his chest, his teeth grazing across his bottom lip.
"Me too, Gabby." He responded, his voice equally as quiet as they basked in the warmth and security of one another, even though they were thousands of miles apart. "I know, uh- I know I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm really looking forward to getting to see you." He spoke, clearing his throat as he leaned his body weight into the rig. "I'm just-... I'm really glad we're doing this."
"I am, too." She replied softly, Matt wishing more than anything in this moment he could see her face. "I'm so glad you called, and that you decided to come… Spending that time with you in Chicago, it just- It reminded me of old times." She breathed out, Matt nodding slightly even though she couldn't see him. "I wasn't sure if I'd hear from you after everything, but I'm so glad I did… These next two weeks are gonna be great, Matt."
"I think so, too." He agreed without hesitation, the Captain flinching slightly when he heard the bells ring out above his head, signaling truck and squad to a house fire, Matt knowing Gabby could hear the call as clearly as he could.
"Sounds like you gotta go." She spoke, Matt moving around the back of the rig, heading for the passenger side door.
"Yeah, I do… But I'm glad you called. I'll talk to you later, if you want."
"Definitely." She replied without missing a beat, Matt grabbing his turnout coat off the side of the rig. "...Be safe out there, Matt."
"Cross my heart."
The words left his lips before he even realized what he'd said, Matt knowing he'd said that exact thing to her years ago, just feet from where he was standing right now, a small lump forming in his throat at the memory. And he couldn't help but wonder if she remembered, too.
Although a part of him knew. He knew she remembered. And he couldn't help but think about how their situation now eerily resembled their situation then; the two of them broken up, but after a night together, they were slowly finding their way back to one another.
At least, he hoped they were.
But Casey knew he didn't have time to dwell on that, the hustle of firefighters around him reminding him where he was.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Matt."
"Bye Gabby." He nearly whispered, a slight smile tugging on his lips as he hung up the phone, the smile staying on his face as he finished gearing up and pulling himself up into the truck, not even noticing the snickers and knowing looks coming from the firefighters around him.
"Casey! Casey, hang on, man! We're coming!"
Severide's voice flooded through his radio, Matt grimacing as he hung on the edge of the broken floor, the heavy weight of his gear weighing him down as he clung to the sharp wood.
He still wasn't even sure what happened, he wasn't sure how he ended up in this situation. It had been a normal call, nothing out of the ordinary, the firefighters sweeping the top floors as a fire had broken out from a heater left on in the basement. Luckily they had gotten there before it spread, the flames localized to the floor beneath them, smoke filling the home as they did their sweep.
Everything had been going fine, the Captain being the last in the building, waiting until all his men and women had gotten out safely, Kidd having taken out the last victim with her. Everything had gone according to plan, until Casey accidentally stepped on a part of the floor that was weaker than the rest; whether it had always been that way, or the fire beneath him had caused it, he didn't know. But in this moment, it didn't really matter as Matt hung on for dear life, the basement beneath him illuminated by the intense flames rolling underneath his feet, Casey feeling heat creep up his back.
"Casey!"
Severide's voice was getting closer, Matt feeling his grip slipping as he fought to hold on, the Captain knowing he wouldn't be able too much longer. His one hand fell off the edge, Matt groaning as all his weight was being supported by one arm, a sharp pain shooting from his shoulder down through his fingertips.
"Severide." He bit out through gritted teeth, Casey feeling the pain in his arm worsen, Matt able to taste blood in his mouth as he felt it trickle down the side of his face. Cleary, at some point during his fall, he'd gotten cut, Matt guessing it happened when his head slammed into the floor he was currently holding onto. But that was the least of his concerns right now, Casey doing what he could to keep his body still, knowing any movement would make it harder for his weakening grip to keep him from falling down into the flames below him.
"I got you, I got you Casey- Cruz! Get down here!" Severide screamed, Matt feeling an intense pressure against his wrist, his hand relaxing as he felt himself being pulled up, hands gripping any part of him they could as Severide and, presumably Cruz, lifted him up through the floor. "We got you, man. We got you." Kelly kept repeating, Matt feeling multiple sets of hands on him as he was dragged across the floor, getting him away from the hole his body had made. He could feel people smacking against his legs and his lower back as they moved, Casey realizing he'd probably been on fire as they dragged him to safety.
A low groan escaped his lips as the muscles in his body finally relaxed, Matt suddenly feeling the discomfort his body was in after the close call he'd just experienced, the firefighter slowly pushing himself up to his hands and knees.
"Easy Casey, easy." Severide spoke, the Lieutenant aiding his movements as Matt caught his breath. "We need to get out of here, you good to walk?"
"I'm fine." Matt assured him, his words coming out in between coughs as Kelly gave him a nod, Severide and Cruz beginning to help him up, making sure he was steady on his feet before they got him outside.
With each step, he felt himself regain a little bit more mobility, but he was definitely feeling the effects of the strain he'd just put on his upper body, Matt knowing his shoulder was bound to be sore for a few days.
"Let's get you checked out, Casey." Severide prompted, leading him towards the paramedics on the scene.
"Severide, I'm fine." He tried, but Kelly wouldn't let up.
"Good then, so you'll be fine to sit there and let them make sure." He replied, Matt huffing out a breath, knowing it was useless to put up a fight. Slowly, they managed to get to the ambulance, Kelly stepping away so Casey could sit down, the squad Lieutenant blowing out a heavy whistle as he took in Matt's appearance.
"Jesus Casey." He muttered, Matt lifting his head as he got situated on the bed, Casey beginning to take his mask off.
"What?" He asked, sucking in the fresh, cold winter air as soon as he could, Kelly grimacing when he saw the cut across Matt's cheek.
"Your gear definitely did it's job." Severide replied, Matt blinking quickly before meeting his friend's gaze. "The entire back of your gear is black." He added, Casey clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he nodded, not wanting to dwell on that reality too much.
"Does anything hurt? Your friend is right, it looks like the gear did what it was supposed to." The paramedic working on him spoke as he began looking over him, Matt recognizing him from a few calls over the years.
"My shoulder does, a little… Just from where I was holding on, but I'm fine." He replied, the paramedic nodding before moving his attention to Casey's face.
"How'd that happen?" The man questioned, beginning to gently press around the cut along his cheekbone.
"My head hit the ground when I fell, it probably happened then." Casey answered, earning a nod from the paramedic.
"Did you black out or anything?... Any headaches?" He asked, Matt shaking his head in response, the paramedic nodding before going back to work. "Well, you won't need stitches. We'll patch it up for you, just make sure you're keeping it covered and cleaned, it should heal fine." He replied, Matt nodding before the man began removing his turnout coat, wanting a better look at his shoulder.
The paramedic started moving his arm around, asking him question after question, trying to get a better read on how significant of an injury he had. "You're sure that doesn't hurt?"
"Nope." Casey replied simply, his face unreadable, even though he was feeling a little bit of discomfort radiating from the inside of his shoulder. But he wasn't about to admit that, not when he knew it was bound to get him sent to the hospital.
"Alright, well you seem to be fine… Are you sure you don't want us to take you to med?"
"No, no I'm fine. Thanks though." Casey spoke, the paramedic nodding before stepping away and moving the few steps back towards the ambulance, giving Severide room to come stand beside him.
"You sure you're good?" He asked skeptically, Matt nodding as he put his turnout coat back on, trying to protect himself from the cold air around him.
"I'm fine, Sev." He replied, Kelly clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, his head tilting to the side.
"Well, you better be… You're supposed to be flying out in less than 24 hours, you just always have to make things interesting, don't you?" He spoke with a chuckle, Matt shaking his head with a smug grin.
"I will be flying out in less than 24 hours," He clarified, Kelly smirking as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And it's not like I planned on falling through the floor."
"You could've fallen through the whole damn building and I'm still not sure that would've stopped you from getting on the plane tomorrow." Kelly responded with a knowing grin, Matt glancing down to his lap as he felt heat rise to his cheeks, knowing he couldn't fight his friend's words even if he wanted to, because they were completely true. "Although Dawson's not gonna be too happy when she hears about what happened… She used to freak out whenever you'd get hurt, I doubt that's changed."
"Dawson?"
Casey and Severide both looked back towards the paramedic who was standing beside the ambulance, his voice having gained their attention.
"Dawson as in Gabby Dawson?" He asked for clarification, Matt's eyebrows furrowing slightly as he nodded. "She's in Puerto Rico now, right?"
"Uh, yeah- she is." Matt replied, the man across from him sensing his confusion.
"Pretty much the entire department heard about Hatcher picking people to go work over there, and how she was at the top of his list." He elaborated. "It's a shame she left the department, but I got to work with her a few times over the years-... hell of a medic."
"Yeah, she is." Matt replied softly, a slight smile tugging on his lips.
"It's sounds like the work they're doing is incredible, though… My partner, one of her friends got asked to go so we hear updates sometimes. But it sounds like they're helping a lot of people."
"They are." Matt replied, thinking back to his many conversations with Gabby the past two weeks, Casey practically able to hear her voice in his head as she told him of some of the work she'd been doing.
"Do you help with the aid work, too?" The paramedic asked, Matt raising his eyebrows slightly. "Sorry, not trying to pry… I just heard you all talking about how you're leaving tomorrow, and you mentioned Dawson, I just figured you might be volunteering, too."
"Oh- uh, no. I'm not… Just going for a visit." He responded, hearing Kelly chuckle at his side, earning a slight nod from the paramedic across from him, Matt clearing his throat. "I'll get out of your way, let you get packed up. Thanks for this." Matt spoke, gesturing towards the bandage covering his cheek, the man giving him a nod as Matt stood up, feeling a twinge of soreness in his side as he began moving.
"Man, one visit from Dawson and she's already got you reeled back in." Kelly spoke with a laugh as they headed for their trucks, watching on as Cruz directed all their firefighters, the man having taken control of the scene while Severide stayed with Casey.
"I'm sorry?" Matt asked, not understanding his seemingly random comment.
"You can't even mention her without smiling like an idiot and getting all shy… It's like this is the Casey from six years ago." He continued teasingly, shaking his head in amusement. "It's sweet."
"Fuck off, Severide." Casey replied lightly, shoving against Kelly's shoulder before making his way to his own rig, knowing he needed to check in with his firefighters and make sure everything was going smoothly.
Matt sat in his seat on the plane, his body cramped up against the window as an elderly couple sat next to him, Casey fidgeting every few seconds, trying to distract himself from the tension he felt in his back and in his shoulders. It had been a long day, Matt having been sitting in this seat for nearly six hours now, his body begging him to get up and move around, but he knew that wouldn't be possible until they began unloading. Which, hopefully would be here soon.
Since yesterday after returning from that close call, time had seemed to nearly stand still as he got closer and closer to seeing Gabby. The rest of shift felt like it had lasted days, everyone constantly checking up on him not helping matters as Casey practically ran from the firehouse, dragging Severide along behind him, as soon as he could, partially because he had limited time before needing to get to the airport, but also because he couldn't wait any longer.
After a quick stop at Severide's apartment to shower, change, and grab the bag he'd packed days ago, Kelly had taken him to the airport, Matt ignoring each and every inappropriate joke he'd made at his and Gabby's expense, only engaging with his friend when he'd told him to be safe and have a fun trip.
The wait at O'Hare hadn't been too bad, Matt doing what he could to keep himself busy while he waited around, occasionally texting Gabby updates before he boarded his plane, their easy conversation helping to pass the time. The flight itself hadn't been too bad either, which he was thankful for, the firefighter unsure of what to expect. But it had been pretty smooth, and for being a nearly five hour flight, it went by relatively quickly.
But it was when they landed that Matt started to get a little antsy.
He'd told Gabby when he was scheduled to land days before, and she promised him she'd be there to greet him, Matt having been projected to land around 7 in the evening. Which he had, but that was over an hour ago, and they were still sitting on the tarmac, unable to get off the plane. For what reason, he wasn't sure, but all this waiting around was making him anxious, especially when he knew how close Gabby was. Just the thought of seeing her again sent shivers down his spine, Matt desperate to get out of here so he could lay his eyes on her again.
And the constant sitting wasn't helping the soreness and discomfort that had been present in his body since yesterday either, Matt knowing the second he stood up, whenever that time may come, he'd feel how hard the long flight had been on him.
But he didn't care.
He just wanted to get off of this plane, and get to Gabby, especially when she was right inside that building he'd been staring at ever since they landed.
"Are you meeting someone, son?"
Matt glanced to the man and woman beside him, the latter having spoken up first, both of them watching him with soft smiles. Throughout the flight, they'd made small talk occasionally, but with Matt having mostly listened to music and read the entire time, they hadn't chatted much.
"You just seem a bit anxious, is all." She added when she saw his raised eyebrows, Matt smiling softly before nodding. "Although I can't blame you, I'm ready to get off this plane."
"Yeah, me too.. But uh, I am- meeting someone."
"Someone special, I'm guessing?" The man asked with a grin, Matt watching as the woman lightly smacked his arm.
"Oh Harold, don't pry. I'm sorry for my husband, dear. He can be a bit nose-y... but he's been this way for forty five years, I don't think I can change him now." She spoke, Matt chuckling lightly as he shook his head.
"It's alright." Casey assured them, shifting in his seat. "But yeah, to answer your question, she is." He replied, a small smile forming across his lips. "Gabby, she's my- she's… she's someone special." He spoke carefully, unsure of what to call her. He knew it didn't really matter, that once he got off this plane, he'd probably never see these people again, but he wasn't sure what she was to him right now. She was just Gabby… she was someone special.
"Is she from here?" The man, Harold, asked, his words earning another smack from his wife.
"Harold!"
"What? He doesn't seem to mind the questions, Barb... Plus we've been on this plane for hours, I need some entertainment."
"You can just ignore my husband, dear." She spoke as she turned back to Matt, Casey giving her a shrug.
"It's fine, really. I don't mind. But no, she's not from here. We're both from Chicago, she's here for work."
"So you flew down to visit her for the holidays, how sweet." Barb gushed, Matt releasing a soft breath, unsure of how to respond to her.
"Well, partially yeah… But I just wanted to see her. The timing of it being around Christmas just kind of worked out."
"Oh my, what a sweetheart. Harold, you've never done anything that romantic for me before. You could learn a thing or two from-... Oh, I'm sorry, I just realized I never got your name."
"Right, sorry. I'm Matt." He replied, Barb nodding before glancing to her husband.
"You could learn a thing or two from Matt, honey." She teased her husband, patting his leg before returning her attention to Casey. "What is it that she does for work, dear?"
"Well, she's actually here volunteering, helping with relief work since Hurricane Maria a few years ago." He explained, seeing the impressed looks that covered both of their faces.
"Oh, wow."
"Yeah, she's been here for about a year and a half now… Gabby, she was a paramedic in Chicago, I'm a firefighter, that's how we met, but she was asked to come and help down here, so she's been doing that."
"She sounds like an amazing woman." Harold spoke, Matt nodding as a wide smile broke out across his face.
"She is… She absolutely is."
His phone buzzed in his hands, Matt shooting them both an apologetic look before he looked to the device, seeing he had a new message from Gabby, his smile immediately growing when he read her words.
'All this waiting, you better make it worth it, Casey.'
Shaking his head slightly, he could practically hear her sarcastic tone in his head as he quickly typed out a reply, his tongue running along the inside of his cheek as he sent the message.
'You've waited this long, a few more minutes won't kill ya.'
"I think it's great you two are making the long distance thing work." Barb spoke up, Matt lifting his head to meet her gaze. "I can't imagine it's been easy, her being here for so long, but I think it's really amazing that you two have been able to make it work… Especially with what she's doing here. It's admirable for her to come here and help others, and for you to be supportive of that... I'm sorry for rambling, it's just nice to see." She trailed off with a soft smile, Matt swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, unsure of how to respond to her, knowing that a lot of her words weren't exactly true.
But he wasn't about to get into that conversation with a bunch of strangers, Matt simply nodding in response, feeling his phone buzz in his hand once more.
'I'm not so sure about that… Hopefully it won't be too much longer.'
Before he could respond to Gabby, or the couple sitting next to him, they began announcing over the intercom that they were next in line to get off their plane, Matt having to wait for the English translation before he could really understand, only having picked up bits and pieces when they first gave the information in Spanish.
"Oh, thank goodness." Barb spoke, clasping her hands together in delight as Matt picked up his phone, typing out a response to the woman waiting for him in the airport.
'Well, you just got your wish. We're about to get off the plane, so I'll be seeing you here shortly.'
The next few minutes seemed to fly by, Matt impatiently waiting his turn to get his belongings and get off, saying a polite goodbye to the couple before he took off towards his destination, his body taking a few minutes to adjust to being upright again as he walked gingerly through the terminal, his stiff limbs slowly coming back to life while he moved. His unfamiliar surroundings might've been a bit nerve wracking had Gabby not given him clear instructions of where to go, but she had given him easy directions of where they were to meet, Matt following them closely, not wanting to waste any more time that he could be spending with Gabby.
They were on borrowed time as it was, and he didn't want to spend another minute of it in this airport.
Matt soon saw the escalators he was instructed to go down, the firefighter knowing that once he got down those, he'd be with her. As he walked up to the platform, carefully stepping onto the escalator, his eyes began bouncing around the large crowds at the bottom, Gabby somewhere in the sea of people also waiting for loved ones, Matt knowing if he just could catch a glimpse of her, he'd find her.
And soon he did.
He was about halfway down when he first noticed her, his eyes having to backtrack when his brain finally caught up, a small smile tugging on his lips when they locked eyes, Gabby already watching him. He saw her smile widen, the action causing his to as well as he silently urged the escalator to go faster, even though logically he knew that was impossible, Matt feeling his heart begin to beat quicker in his chest as Gabby slowly maneuvered her way through the crowds, desperate to get to him as soon as she could.
He jogged down the last few steps when he got close to the bottom, Matt having to restrain himself from just running towards her and pulling her into his arms, Casey now a little unsure of how to act around her.
But if Gabby had any of the same hesitation, she ignored it as she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck the second she could. His carry on bag fell to the floor when he felt her body against his, Matt immediately enclosing her in his arms, holding onto her with all the strength he had as he buried his face in her neck, lifting her up off the ground slightly. Her felt her arms tighten around him, the two oblivious to anything else as they stood in the middle of the airport, wrapped up in one another like they were the only two people in the world.
Matt felt her nuzzle her forehead against his neck, the soft smile never leaving his lips as he squeezed his hands across her back, both of them needing a moment to let this all sink in. That this was really happening, that Matt was here with her in Puerto Rico, even if only for a few weeks.
"Hi." She spoke up first, her voice barely audible as it was muffled by his body, but he heard her.
"Hi." He repeated, rubbing his hand along her back before he slowly pulled away, Gabby not letting him get very far as she reluctantly moved her arms off his neck, but she kept them on his shoulders, Matt's hands settling on her waist. It was a position that was comfortable for them, it was familiar, and Matt couldn't help but give her waist a little squeeze as they stood there, Gabby smiling at the movement.
"So, uh… You're here." She spoke softly, Matt releasing a light chuckle before he nodded, sliding his hand softly up and down her side.
"I am." He confirmed, watching as Gabby's bottom lip fell between her teeth. "Although technically I have been here for about an hour and a half."
"True. But now you're here… with me." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper, Matt seeing the soft gleam in her eye as they never broke eye contact.
"I am." He repeated, swallowing thickly as Gabby tried to fight the grin forming over her face, but she couldn't. "I'm here."
"I'm glad you are." She murmured, her hand slowly sliding down to rest on his chest, almost like she was hesitant to do so, neither one of them wanting to overstep their boundaries, even though they had no idea what those were.
This wasn't a typical situation, and they both knew it. There was no guide for how to navigate the state of their relationship, they had no road map for this. Neither of them knew what was too much, or too little. They really had no idea how they were supposed to handle how they acted around one another, but they knew they just had to jump in head first, and figure it out together.
Matt had come here. He had made the decision to take her up on her offer, his gesture giving her that hope she'd tried so hard to not let herself have just in case he didn't want to see her again. But he did. Now, all they could do was tread through these waters together, and figure out what this meant for them, what it meant for the future of their relationship.
If there was a relationship at all.
"What happened here?" Gabby questioned with furrowed brows, her hand moving up towards his face, her thumb gently stroking over the bandage covering his cheek, Matt knowing there had been some bruising that appeared overnight as well.
"Oh, uh- it happened on shift yesterday. Just a rough call." He replied, seeing a deep frown set in across her features, her eyes focused on the bandage. "I'm alright, though."
"You didn't have to come all the way here if you're hurt." She murmured, finally meeting his eyes, Matt seeing the concern she held deep within them. "We could've rescheduled, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm positive. I'm right where I want to be." Gabby's demeanor softened as those words left his lips, shaking her head slightly as she slowly pulled herself from his grasp, Matt missing her warmth instantly.
"Okay, if you say so… But I want to hear about what happened later." She told him, Matt giving her a nod as she brushed some of her hair behind her ear, her eyes moving away from him as she looked around the airport. "So, um, you wanna go get your luggage? Then when can get out of here, go to my place?" She suggested, Matt nodding in agreement.
"Alright." He responded, Gabby smiling softly before she began leading him through the airport. Their previous closeness was now replaced with a gap of distance, Gabby keeping a few inches between them as she took him to baggage claim, Matt gripping his carry on tightly, trying not to read too much into their lack of contact.
"And uh, I was thinking for dinner, if you're hungry, there's this really great local place down the street from me… We could stop there and get some food on the way back." She suggested, gnawing on her bottom lip as they continued walking, navigating their way through the large holiday crowd.
"Sounds good, Gabby." He replied, earning a soft nod from her before they continued walking, both of them just trying to let this moment sink in.
Matt was here. He was here in Puerto Rico. For right now, for these next two weeks, they were together.
And that was all that mattered.
And there's another one. Again, I'm so sorry it took this long, but hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter. Matt's finally in Puerto Rico, and the next chapter will pick up right where this one left off. Hopefully it won't be so long in between updates next time.
Thank you all so much for reading, the response you all have given me on my first two chapters has been insane, it means so much to me. Thank you.
I'll see you next time.
