Hey there! I'm back with the next chapter for you all. I want to thank you guys so much for the response on the last one, it truly means the world to me. I was a little nervous about it, because of how big a chapter it was, but I was beyond thrilled that you all liked it so much.

Now that they've talked it all out, it's time to see where Dawsey goes from here. I hope you guys enjoy!

And also, with all the craziness happening in the world right now, I hope each of you are doing alright, and staying as safe as you can.

Thanks for reading everyone.


part eight


Heavy pants could be heard throughout the otherwise silent room as Gabby collapsed down onto the mattress beside Matt, her body euphorically achy as she adjusted the sheets over her rapidly rising chest. The man next to her was doing what he could to catch his breath as well, both of them lying on their backs as they breathed in the thick air, their lungs desperate for oxygen after the intense moments of passion they'd enjoyed together over the course of the afternoon. Neither were sure what time it was, but from the amount of light flooding in between the curtains, they knew it was pretty late in the day, something neither of them were exactly happy about.

Today was Matt's last day in Puerto Rico, and it had been a day they had planned for, but were dreading all the same. They both knew it was coming, that the little bubble they'd created for themselves would soon burst and they'd be thrown back into reality. But at least now their reality was different from what it had been when he first came here two weeks ago. Everything was different from when he first came here.

But it was a good different- a great different, one they were both excited for. One they'd had many talks about since their first conversation that had happened just about a week ago, and one they knew was their chance to try and make things work for them, to make them work again. It was a change they both wanted, one they were happy to have happened. And having spent this last week together knowing that this wasn't it, that they had a life together past the two weeks he'd spent with her in Puerto Rico, it had made their moments together that much better.

It didn't feel nearly as final as it had during his first week, their time together could be spent with them just enjoying each other, instead of trying to ignore the black cloud hanging over them. They didn't have to worry about the what-ifs, and what the other person was feeling; they could just completely be in the moment, and focus on them and the relationship they were slowly building up again.

And in those moments, along with just enjoying being together again, they'd been making up for lost time as often as they could.

Before their talk a week ago, where they decided to try and make things work between them, they hadn't shied away from any intimate time together. Even though things between them had been up in the air, that hadn't stopped them from being together, the intense and passionate feelings between them too much to ignore despite any uncertainty. But after they had gotten back together, those moments seemed to hold much more meaning. And they hadn't slowed down, either, both of them easily falling back into that comfortable sense of familiarity with one another while trying to enjoy the time they had together before there'd be thousands of miles between them again.

It was something they had both tried not to focus on too much, Matt's impending departure back to Chicago, though it was nearly impossible not to. Despite all the good that had been done for them this last week, and all the talks they'd had, both of them ready and willing to work at this new dynamic to their relationship, they were both still aware it was going to be hard. They weren't naive to the situation, or its challenges, and they knew this would be a lot to manage. That, compared to how they'd been when they were together, the physical distance between them would be difficult.

It wasn't something they were used to, being together but not being together. It would be an adjustment, there was no way around that, and it definitely scared them a little. But it was a good scared, because they knew what they had was worth fighting for. Their relationship, them, was worth trying to save, even if they couldn't be in the same city right now. And they were both determined to make it work.

Gabby pushed her hair behind her ear as she stood in the warm tent, the woman feeling beads of sweat forming along her hairline as she listened to the hustle and bustle happening just outside the thin material separating her from the rest of the worksite. Sighing softly, she continued packing up hers and Matt's dirty clothes, knowing one of the first things she'd need to do when they got back to her place tonight was put all of this stuff in the wash, as well as the clothes they had on now, both herself and Matt seemingly having a permanently musty smell whenever they spent multiple days here. It was just a nature of the job, and truthfully neither of them minded it, but that didn't mean she wasn't looking forward to getting back home and having an actual shower, hopefully with Matt joining her, and putting on clean, comfortable clothes.

"Yeah, I'm headed back home the day after tomorrow."

Gabby heard Matt's voice filter in through the open tent flap, her head turning towards the sound as she listened to him continue to converse with a voice she recognized to belong to Travis, both men having become quite close since Casey first got here.

"I knew this day was coming… Damn shame, though. We're gonna miss you around here." Travis replied, Gabby resuming her task of packing up their things.

"I'm gonna miss it, too. But hopefully I can get back here sometime soon." Matt spoke, his words bringing a soft smile to Gabby's face. "You can always call, though, if you need some help with plans or anything."

"I'll definitely be taking you up on that… Don't be a stranger, man."

The rest of their conversation became muffled, Gabby unable to hear what they were saying as she wiped the layer of sweat from her forehead before zipping up their bag.

Just as she got it closed, she heard someone walk in, Gabby glancing back to see Matt standing in the entrance to their tent, the man already smiling at her when she caught his gaze.

"Hello beautiful." He spoke, Gabby quickly seeing the exhaustion present in his features, his face red and covered in sweat from being out in the sun all day, his clothes nearly drenched and covered in dirt. But he looked happy, and that brought an immediate smile to her face.

"Hey yourself, handsome." She replied, turning to face him as he stepped further into their makeshift room, Matt walking towards her and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Gabby reciprocated the gesture, but quickly pulled back when the strong odor from his day of labor filled her nostrils, a grimace covering her face as he laughed. "You need a shower."

"Well, when we get home, I'll take one." He responded, Gabby feeling an unexplainable warmth flood her system at how he called her apartment 'home'. She wasn't even sure if he realized he'd done it, but it made her smile nonetheless, Gabby raising her eyebrows as he leaned in to give her another quick kiss. "And you can join me… You know, just to make sure I've cleaned up well enough." He added with a smug grin, Gabby scoffing lightly before she pushed against his chest, causing him to take a few steps back.

"Yeah, we'll see… Maybe if you're lucky." She said, despite her having just had that same thought, though she'd never tell him that, Gabby unable to lose the smile on her face as she nodded towards the bed. "I laid out some clean clothes for you to wear home."

"Thank you." He told her, Matt beginning to pull the dirty shirt he was wearing from his body as Gabby opened their bag up again, the firefighter placing it inside with their other clothes before kicking off his boots and stripping from his jeans as well, Gabby watching him with a slight smirk. "This isn't a free show, lady." He huffed out when he noticed her stares, Gabby cocking her head to the side as she took his pants from him.

"Sure seems like one to me." She replied teasingly, Matt shaking his head in amusement before walking past her, pressing a quick kiss on the back of her head before he moved towards the bed. "So, did you get to say goodbye to everyone?" She asked as he began sliding on the clean pair of pants she'd put out for him, Gabby closing up their bag yet again before looking towards him. "I mean, I know the list of people who'd want a goodbye is pretty long… You've become quite popular around here these last couple of weeks." She added with a slight smirk tugging on her lips, Matt chuckling as he buttoned the clothing and zipped it up before moving to put on his shirt.

"Well, are you surprised?" He questioned back, flashing her a quick wink before he pulled the material over his head. "But yeah, I've pretty much made all the rounds, told them I'm hoping to be back at some point," He spoke, his words holding a lot of meaning as Gabby nodded in agreement, "I just need to make sure to catch Antonio before we leave."

Though Matt still had a full day in town tomorrow, that day would be one spent only for the two of them, both Gabby and Matt having decided a few days ago they wanted no interruptions during their last few moments together, so he had to make sure he got in all his other goodbyes today.

"I imagine he's probably stuffing his face over at the church right about now, so he shouldn't be too hard to find." She said lightly, Matt grinning as he walked back towards her where he'd left his boots, Gabby's eyes following him as he moved. "Though I think your goodbye with him might be the hardest," She added, Matt raising his eyebrows as he glanced towards her, the firefighter sliding his shoes back on. "He'll probably be the one to miss you the most around here." She teased, Casey shaking his head in amusement. "Although, you could make a case for Travis missing you the most, too… You've definitely got a lot of fans here, Captain."

Her light tone caused the smile on his face to widen, Matt cocking his head to the side as he took the few steps back towards her.

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm…" She replied as he slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her body a little closer as her hands rested against his toned chest, the grueling labor he'd done over the last two weeks having paid off in more ways than one. "A lot of people seem to like you around here… You're gonna be missed."

"Well, I'm gonna miss them, too." He responded, sliding his hands over her hips, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip. "But I'm more focused on being missed by one person in particular." He spoke pointedly, Gabby rolling her eyes as a heavy scoff left her lips, her reaction causing a small smile to form over his face. "...What? You won't miss me?"

"Of course I'll miss you." She spoke, Matt's smile widening before he leaned forward, pressing a firm, yet gentle, kiss to her lips. The action was slow, and familiar, Matt using his hold around her waist to pull her body flush against his, the firefighter taking away the little space that was left between them. He felt her slide her hands up from his chest to the side of his neck, Gabby stroking his skin softly with her thumb as they moved together. When air became an issue, the two pulled back slightly, their chests heaving against one another as a soft smile formed over his face, Matt opening his eyes to find her already staring at him. "I'm gonna miss you every day… But even though you won't be here, I still have you." She murmured, her strong words filling his chest with an indescribable warmth.

"You definitely still have me." He agreed, sliding his hand up along her lower back. "You'll always have me."

Nodding slowly, Gabby moved her hands to the tops of his shoulders as she leaned back up, capturing his lips in hers yet again.

But this was one was different than the kiss from seconds prior, Matt feeling a sense of urgency behind her movements that he didn't really understand. She gripped his shoulders tightly, Gabby deepening the kiss as he felt her press her body into his, Matt relishing in the feeling of her lips on his.

His eyes stayed closed when she eventually pulled away, the man trying to catch his breath as a soft smile tugged on his lips, Matt still a little taken aback by the force of her movements. His head felt a little hazy, like it was impossible for him to focus on anything other than her in this moment, but that all changed when he heard her release a heavy, shaky sigh, his mind clearing as he opened his eyes, finding hers still closed as her head was angled down towards his chest.

"...You okay?"

Her eyes slowly opened at the question, but she had yet to look up, Matt feeling her finger tapping nervously against the side of his neck. He gave her another moment to see if she'd respond, but when she didn't he dropped his hands from her waist, Matt placing his finger under her chin and gently lifting her head up to look at him. When their eyes met, he saw the hesitance and uncertainty in her gaze, Matt's eyebrows furrowing before he slowly stroked his thumb along her jaw.

"What is it?" He asked softly, watching as she drew in an unsteady breath, his confusion slowly morphing into worry as he saw the look in her eye. "...Gabby?"

Blinking quickly, she gnawed on her bottom lip for a moment, Matt remaining quiet as he waited for her to say whatever was on her mind, Gabby taking another breath before she opened her mouth.

"We're gonna be okay, right?"

Matt's face fell the moment he registered her words, her worried voice going straight to his heart.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability, one that hadn't been prompted by difficult and heavy conversations, but one that had come from her own worries, Matt drawing in a deep breath as she kept her uncertain gaze on him.

"We will." He replied firmly, seeing her features relax as his few words washed over her. "I truly believe that." Slowly, Gabby nodded, her tongue poking out between her teeth and running along her bottom lip as Matt locked his hands together behind her back. "I know it's impossible for us to know exactly what we're getting ourselves into, and what'll happen… But I know how much I love you." A slight smile formed over her lips, Gabby sliding her hand down to his chest. "And I know how much I want this to work. How we're both willing to make this work, until we can be in the same place again… You and I are both on the same page with this. We know we have to be better." He started, Gabby nodding immediately in agreement. "Better about not bottling things up, and not shutting each other out… especially when they'll be two thousand miles between us."

"Yeah." She voiced with a nod, Matt flashing her a soft smile.

It was something they had quickly come to an agreement on, the two having sat down to talk about the logistics of how this would work after they had their long talk. And they quickly came to the agreement that they both had to be better about things that had hurt them in the past; the shutting down, and the running away when things got hard, which were things they'd both been guilty of before… those things couldn't happen when they'd be so far away from each other, and they both had to be mindful of that. They were aware of how much they'd hurt each other in the past, and neither of them wanted to go through that again. They couldn't go through that again.

But they were going into this with their eyes wide open, they knew work had to be done if they were going to make it… but it was work they were both more than willing to do.

"I know it won't be easy." His voice pulled her thoughts back into focus, Gabby finding his gaze as she felt his arms tighten around her. "But I believe, with everything I have, that we'll be okay…. If anyone can do this, it's us."

Nodding slightly, Gabby pushed herself up slightly to press her lips against his, their movements much softer than before, Matt feeling a different type of emotion radiating off of her as she slowly pulled back. Without saying a word, Gabby slid her hands down to wrap around his back, Matt holding her as tight as he could as she tucked herself into his body, her head resting securely against his neck as they stood together in the small tent.

"Well…" Matt's voice flooded her ears as Gabby looked over towards him, finding a smug grin spread across his face as his eyes flashed to her heaving chest, Casey watching as she finally began to get her breathing under control. "If our last days together are always gonna be like this, that's definitely something to look forward to during our visits."

His chipper voice caused her to narrow her eyes slightly as Matt finally met her gaze, her face softening when she saw the look of absolute contentment written across his features, the former paramedic rolling her eyes before she pulled her hand out from under the sheet, giving his cheek a few light smacks as a low laugh escaped his lips.

"So that's all you'll be looking forward to, huh?" She questioned with a raised brow, another amused chuckle leaving his lips. "Is the amount of sex we'll be having the day before one of us leaves?"

"Well, hopefully not just that one day." He replied quickly, his grin widening as she released a heavy scoff.

"Good to know what you're most looking forward to during our visits." She responded lightly, Matt continuing to laugh as he turned to rest on his side, his palm propping up his head while his free hand moved to rub over her sheet-covered stomach. The comforting action caused her to find his gaze again, Gabby's playfully hard exterior softening with each second as they locked eyes, Matt's smile growing as he tapped his fingers against her torso.

"Believe me, what I'm most excited for is just being with you." He spoke softly, Gabby relaxing into the mattress as a soft grin appeared over her face, her smile matching his. "In whatever ways we're spending time together, us just being together is all I care about." He continued, Gabby's eyes gleaming up at him as a devilish smirk covered his lips. "Although… two thousand miles for a booty call?" He questioned jokingly, Gabby rolling her eyes as she registered his words, although she was unable to stop her smile from widening in amusement. "You'd be worth it."

"That was so close to being a nice moment." She replied lightly, Matt's soft laugh causing goosebumps to erupt over her skin, the sound like music to her ears as he leaned forward, his face hovering over hers as his chest pressed into her arm. Before he said a word, he made sure her eyes were locked on his, his bright blue eyes pulling her in as her entire body flooded with warmth, Matt sliding his hand up from her stomach to cradle her head. The air around them turned thick, all of their teasing melting away as Gabby felt her breath catch in her throat, the simple act of his eyes on her causing her heart to start thumping in her chest.

"You have no idea how excited I am for the time we get to spend together." He murmured, stroking his thumb over the side of her cheek, Gabby lifting her hand up to rest on his lower back. "Even now, I'm already looking forward to getting to see you again… But no matter how we're spending our time together, I'll be happy."

Gabby drew in a deep breath, her tongue poking out to run along her bottom lip as she felt Matt continue to caress the side of her face, her hand moving along his waist as she nudged him closer. "...Okay, that was good. I'll give you that." She replied, Matt grinning widely before closing the distance between them, pressing his lips into hers gently.

Their movements started out slow, Matt pushing her hair behind her ear as her hand slid up his spine until coming to rest on his neck, Gabby slowly pulling him closer as he turned to rest over her body, the thin sheet the only barrier in between them. With each second that passed, they slowly picked up the pace, Matt's lips trailing from hers down her jaw before landing on her neck, Gabby tilting her head to the side to give him more access. Her breath caught in her throat as his teeth grazed that sensitive spot on her neck, the one Matt had found long ago that he knew drove her crazy, Gabby sucking in a deep breath as she felt his hand move down from her head to her chest, Matt's fingers teasing the edge of sheet that rested just above her breasts.

Slowly, he continued moving further down her body, Matt's lips trailing along her collarbone, pressing kisses and leaving his marks as he continued towards his chest, the firefighter kissing all the exposed skin he could find. He took his time, Matt making sure to leave a few extra marks for her to remember him by as his fingers continued playing with the edge of the sheet, Gabby's body tensing underneath him. Without warning, Matt pulled back slightly, Gabby's eyes immediately opening when she felt his warmth disappear, but before she had time to question his actions, he ripped the sheet off her and threw it down towards the end of the bed, leaving them both completely bare.

"Matt…" She whined as a chill coursed through her, the abrupt change in temperature being felt all the way down her body. But he said nothing, Matt's hand sliding along her bare stomach as his lips reattached to her chest, Gabby drawing in a slow breath as he kissed the tops of her breasts.

Slowly, Matt pulled back and began sitting up, Gabby groaning at the loss of contact as she kept her eyes on him while he crawled down towards her legs. Placing his hands on her knees, Matt pushed her legs apart, giving him room to settle in between them before he leaned back on top of her, his hands coming out to steady himself on either side of her torso. He could feel her knee resting against his side, Matt flashing her a knowing grin before he leaned back down, his lips enclosing around her breast as her hand came up the cradle the back of his head. The feeling of his mouth on her, combined with the weight of his body pressed into hers caused the muscles in her stomach to tighten, Gabby gripping his short hair tightly as a low moan escaped her lips from deep within her chest. Her eyes fell closed as her head collapsed back into the pillows, Matt adjusting his weight before he lifted his hand up from the mattress, Casey clutching onto her chest while he continued showing her his appreciation.

Gabby let herself get completely immersed in him as he moved his mouth across her chest to her other breast, his hand roaming her warm skin as her fingers scratched against the base of his neck.

"Matt.." She whimpered as he captured her sensitive skin between his teeth, Matt grazing over her before releasing her gently, Gabby feeling him smile against her before his kisses slowly continued further south.

He took his time, Matt committing himself to focusing on every inch of her soft skin while gradually making his way down her body. It was like he couldn't get enough of her, each of his kisses and bites deliberate and purposeful, Matt worshipping her like she was the most important thing in the world.

Which, to him.. she was.

As he got to her waist, he felt her tense underneath him, Matt kissing along the front of her lower stomach slowly. Her breathing became more and more labored, Gabby rubbing her thumb along the side of his head as he focused his attention on her hip bone, Matt stroking his finger over her leg just below her hip, both of them eager for what was about to happen.

But their moment was interrupted by the sound of Gabby's stomach growling, Matt looking up to find a sheepish look covering her face, Gabby laughing lightly as she lifted herself up to rest on her elbows. The sound of her laughter caused a few chuckles to escape his lips as well, Matt shaking his head before pressing a gentle, much tamer, kiss to her stomach.

"I'm sorry," She spoke lightly, "but we've been in this bed all day and I'm starving." She told him, Matt raising his eyebrows as he lifted himself up slightly so he had a better view of her.

"Well, so was I." He murmured under his breath, Gabby feeling heat flood her body at his less subtle innuendo, Matt chuckling once more when he saw the embarrassment written across her face.

"Matt…" She replied as she raised her eyebrows, Casey grinning proudly before pressing another soft kiss to her stomach right before it growled again. "How about we get some food?" She suggested, scratching her fingers through his hair. "Give ourselves some time to recuperate… I'm definitely a little worn out." She told him, Matt cocking his head to the side with a soft smirk.

"I didn't hear you complaining earlier… In fact, I believe I heard the exact opposite." He spoke suggestively, his mind flashing back to the multiple times during their day together when she encouraged him to keep going, often very loudly. "...But fine." He replied when he saw the shy smile on her face. "We'll make you some food.. We're finishing this later, though."

"Yes sir."

The words fell from her lips lightly, Matt groaning when he saw her biting down on her bottom lip, the man pressing his chin down against her hip as he released a heavy breath, Gabby smirking when she saw the clear effect her simple words had on him.

"God, you're gonna be the death of me, woman." He muttered, Gabby laughing softly, watching as he pressed another kiss to her skin before pulling back completely, Matt sitting back on his heels before he began to get up off her bed. "Well, let's go and get out there before I change my mind… Because you laying there like that definitely isn't helping." He huffed out, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before she pushed herself up, swinging her legs off the side of the bed while Matt moved around her room, Gabby catching a glimpse of their clothes from earlier this morning still thrown all over her room.

Walking to the stack of clean clothes he needed to repack at some point today, Matt grabbed a pair of boxers, sliding the thin material on before moving towards her own dresser. Gabby watched him with a raised eyebrow as he pulled out a pair of her underwear before moving to a separate drawer, Matt grabbing one of the oversized shirts she usually slept in. With the clothing in his hands, he turned back around to face her, Matt's eyes raking over her bare form before finding her eyes.

"I don't care to make you food, but you're putting these on." He told her, tossing the clothes onto the bed beside her. "Cause if you don't, I can't promise we won't finish this out there." A laugh escaped her lips as he spoke, Gabby grabbing the shirt and pulling it over her head, seeing Matt still watching her once her head popped through the top of the clothing.

"Now that I wouldn't be opposed to." She responded with a grin, Matt groaning as he shook his head, her laughs getting louder while he moved towards the door, muttering something under his breath that she could barely make out, but she heard something along the lines of her needing to hurry up before they didn't eat at all. Which was advice she took as he exited the room, Gabby standing up and slipping into the second piece of clothing before she followed after him, both of them wanting to make the most out of the little time they had left.


Tightening her grip on the hand clasped in hers, Gabby's leg shook nervously as they stood inside the airport, her eyes bouncing around the crowds of people. They were just outside of security, Gabby knowing this was as far as she could go with him, the two trying to buy as much time as they could before they had to separate. But they had already checked his bag and gotten his boarding pass; there was nothing left for them to do before they had to say goodbye to one another.

"So…" He cleared his throat after speaking, Gabby looking up to him as she felt him squeeze her hand. "I guess it's time." He spoke softly, Gabby nodding slowly, flashing him a weak smile before her eyes darted down towards the ground, Matt drawing in a slow breath. "...But we have a few more minutes." He murmured when she had yet to say anything, Gabby turning to face him as she dropped his hand from her grip.

"I don't want you to be late." She responded just as softly, Matt giving her a nod as his eyes flickered towards the security line before looking back to his girl. "...Although I don't know how bad it would be if you missed your flight." She added lightly, trying to break some of the obvious heaviness around them, a grin tugging at his lips as he moved his free hand to her hip, pulling her closer to him while they drowned out the noise around them.

"I would if I could." He replied honestly, Gabby giving him a knowing nod. "If I didn't have shift first thing in the morning, I'd probably take you up on that offer… But after missing shift for two weeks, I'm not sure how well not showing up tomorrow would go over with Boden."

"Yeah, probably shouldn't chance it." She spoke, Matt nodding as she placed her hand on his chest. "But it was great having you here… I'm so glad you came, Matt." Her words were full of honesty, Matt smiling as he rubbed his hand along her side.

"I am, too." He agreed, his grin widening when he saw that familiar Gabby-smile he'd fallen in love with years ago. "Coming here was the best decision I've made in a long time." Matt added, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek, understanding exactly what he meant.

Before saying another word, Gabby leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips as they stood in the middle of the airport, Matt smiling against her before reciprocating the gesture, his hand tightening around her back as she gently gripped his neck. After a few seconds, they pulled back, Matt keeping his eyes closed as he listened to her release a slow breath.

"I'm gonna miss you." She murmured, her words causing his eyes to open, his blue eyes immediately meeting her brown ones, Matt giving her a supportive nod.

"I know. I'm gonna miss you, too… But we'll see each other soon." He responded, his words bringing a soft smile to her face as she nodded, his reminder of the plans they'd made for her to come visit him making their goodbye a little easier.

They made the arrangements a few days ago, neither Gabby nor Matt wanting him to leave without them knowing when they'd see each other again. She had a break in her schedule coming up, and Gabby had managed to move a few things around and get some extra time off in the next couple weeks for her to plan a trip to Chicago. With help from a few of her fellow volunteers, Gabby thankfully having gotten some people to cover for her on a few of their projects, here in a few weeks she'd be right back with Matt in Chicago.

"Just three weeks." He continued, Gabby giving him a firm nod.

"Three weeks." She repeated, Matt smiling before he leaned down to capture her lips with his yet again, their movements much more intense than moments prior, both of them knowing this would be the last time they got to experience this for a few weeks.

Dropping his carry-on as it fell to the ground by his feet, Matt wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her as close as humanly possible while she wrapped her arms around his neck, neither of them caring about the people around as they said their goodbyes.

They separated only when air became an issue, Matt releasing a heavy breath as he met her gaze.

"I gotta go." He spoke regretfully, Gabby nodding in understanding before moving her hands down to his torso and hugging herself to him, Matt immediately reciprocating the gesture, knowing he had a couple more seconds to spare. And holding onto Gabriela Dawson for a few more moments was something he'd never say no to. "I love you." He whispered against the top of her head, Matt pressing a kiss against her hair as she tightened her grip around his waist.

"I love you, too." She replied, holding onto him for an extra second before letting him go, Gabby stepping back out of his embrace, knowing if she didn't do it now, she probably never would.

The second that thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but think she was being a bit dramatic. She'd see him in three weeks, and that was nothing compared to the year and a half they went without even speaking to one another. But after having him here with her these last two weeks, it had taken no time at all for her to become accustomed to him being in her life again. Waking up with him every morning, going to bed together every night, getting to spend all her days with him; those were things she hadn't had in a long time, but now she had them again. She had him again, and not being with him was going to be hard.

"I'll text you once I'm on the plane." His voice snapped her out of her thoughts, Gabby giving him a nod as he leaned down to grab his carry-on. "And when I get back to Chicago."

"Sounds good." She replied, Matt flashing her a warm smile as he took a step back towards her, his free hand coming up to cradle her cheek, Gabby leaning into his warmth instinctively.

"Be safe out there, alright?" He told her, Gabby nodding as she lifted her hand up to rest over his.

"I will… As long as you do the same." She replied, Matt giving her a similar nod. "Keep your badge off the wall."

"I'll do my best." He promised, smiling softly at her before leaning forward to press a soft kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered against her skin momentarily, both of them soaking in this last moment together before he pulled away, Matt dropping his hand from her face before he slowly began backing away. "I'll see you soon."

Biting down on her bottom lip, Gabby nodded with a reassuring smile, bringing two fingers up to her forehead to give him a little salute as he continued walking away.

"Bye Matt."

"Goodbye Gabby."


Casey tucked his white shirt into the back of his pants as he stood in front of his open locker, the Captain catching a glimpse of his tired demeanor through the small mirror he had hanging inside his locker, his exhaustion evident as he slowly got ready for shift.

Yesterday had been a long day, though he knew it would be going into it, Matt not getting back to Severide's apartment until nearly three in the morning, but the long travel and lack of sleep had been well worth getting those extra hours with Gabby. Though his choice to take a later flight was kicking his ass now, especially with the near two hour delay he'd experienced before heading back home, he'd never regret his decision to spend more time with the love of his life; he'd just have to have a few extra cups of coffee to wake himself up before running into any fires.

Once he finished getting ready, Matt reached into his locker and pulled his phone out from the top shelf, seeing he had no new missed calls or messages, which wasn't too surprising. Though it was later in the morning for her, he knew Gabby had the day off today, which meant she'd most likely be sleeping in, something that Matt was admittedly a little jealous of. Mostly because he wished he was there sleeping in with her.

Blowing out a sigh, Matt sent her a quick message, letting her know he'd gotten to work okay, and they'd talk later, before he shoved his phone into his pocket, the firefighter quickly closing up his locker before heading out into the hallway towards the common room. He wasn't exactly sure who all from second shift was in yet, Matt knowing they still had a few minutes before shift change, the Captain fighting back a yawn as he got closer to the common room.

"There's the world traveler."

Herrmann's voice hit his ears just as he turned the corner into the room, Matt seeing multiple pairs of familiar eyes on him as he continued walking towards the group.

"Hey Herrmann." Matt greeted the man who'd spoken to him, the Captain squeezing his shoulder as he passed.

"Good to have you back, Casey." Cruz spoke up, Matt giving him a nod.

"Yeah, we missed you around here." Gallo added, similar greetings being heard around the room.

"Did you have a good trip?" Herrmann spoke up again after everyone had said hello, Matt looking back towards the couch as the older firefighter turned around to face him, Casey feeling everyone's eyes on him as he leaned against the countertop, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I did." He replied, unable to stop the smile that formed over his face, Matt catching a few shared looks from around the room. "I had a great time."

"That's good… Looks like you got some sun."

"Yeah, I did. We were out working pretty much every day, from morning until night." He told them, relaxing back against the counter. "It's hard work, probably one of the hardest things I've ever been a part of, but they've got a great team there... Gabby's really done some incredible work."

"That's what it sounded like when she was here telling us." Herrmann replied with a proud smile, Matt nodding in agreement. "She seemed to enjoy it."

"She absolutely does." Casey responded, catching Severide's knowing look from his seat at the table. "I didn't even realize just how much she was doing until I got there and saw it firsthand, but it's amazing… The work she's doing, it was made for her." Matt spoke just as proudly, unable to stop his smile from widening as he praised Gabby and what all she'd accomplished.

"That's great, Casey." Herrmann spoke, his words earning a few nods from others in the room.

"So she's doing alright over there?" Brett asked once there was a break in the conversation, Matt looking towards his friend who was seated at the end of the long table.

"She is." Casey answered her, watching her nod before his attention moved elsewhere. "She's doing really well… The work is hard, she said herself there've been some challenges and things have gotten tough on her a few times, but she's good. She's doing what she's meant to do." He told the group, seeing a few smiles from them. "And Antonio's doing well, too. Both of them are great."

"Good." Herrmann replied with a soft grin. "Sounds like you all had a great time… Maybe too good of a time. I gotta say, I hope Puerto Rico doesn't take you from us, too." He added jokingly, his words earning a few laughs from around the room, Matt not giving much in the form of a reaction as his eyes quickly found Kelly's. "But no, I think that's great you went, and got to spend some time with Dawson… I'm not sure if the kid is gonna be back anytime soon, but if she is, hopefully she can stay longer than a few days. I hate we didn't get to see her more."

"Yeah, me too." Matt agreed, smacking his lips together before continuing. "But, uh- speaking of Gabby.. you will be seeing her around here pretty soon." He told them, Matt seeing a few ears perk up as everyone looked at him with questioning looks covering their faces.

He hadn't really thought about how he was going to bring up his and Gabby's new set of circumstances to the group. He hadn't had time to figure out how to tell them, and eventually he just came to the decision that he'd wait for the right opening, and let them know then. And, thankfully, it hadn't taken any time at all for Herrmann to give him that.

"Wait, Dawson will be back?" Cruz asked, Matt nodding as he looked back to Kelly, the Lieutenant being the only other person in the room, along with maybe Kidd, who knew of Gabby's upcoming trip.

"Yeah, she'll be here in about three weeks." Casey answered, seeing his friends and coworkers no less confused.

"Is she coming back for work?" Brett questioned, Matt shaking his head.

"No, nothing like that. She's just coming back to visit." He responded, catching a few glances from his friends. "She'll be here for a couple of weeks."

His words left an interesting feeling in the air, Matt knowing every single person here had the exact same question on the tip of their tongues, but none of them were voicing it. Whether they didn't know how to, or they weren't sure it was their place to ask, no one said anything. Not until Herrmann finally spoke up.

"So, uh- You and Dawson?" He asked, Matt raising his eyebrows as a soft smirk covered his face. "Are you two…"

"We're back together."

The words left his mouth casually, Matt seeing the different reactions from all his friends, most of them looking a little surprised, aside from Severide and Kidd who were already well aware of the status of his and Gabby's relationship.

"Really?" Mouch asked, Matt giving him a nod.

"Mhmm… We talked about it, we're gonna try and make things work."

"While she's still in Puerto Rico?" Herrmann asked, waiting until he got a nod of confirmation from the Captain before continuing. "And you'll still be here?"

"For the time being, yeah." He spoke. "Until we're both back in the same place, we're gonna be trying the long distance thing." He explained, Matt seeing the uncertainty in their gazes. "We'll be going back and forth, seeing each other when we can… So I'll be taking some time off here and there. Nothing too crazy, though."

The room stayed quiet once Matt finished speaking, everyone digesting the news they'd just heard from their Captain, Matt unsure of why no one had really said anything. He knew it was probably surprising, to hear him and Gabby would be in a relationship while living so far apart, but the silence was something he hadn't been expecting.

"Well, I think that's great." Severide spoke up when no one else had, his voice seemingly snapping them all out of their trance, Matt seeing a few them nod. "And I'm excited for her to visit, maybe this time I'll actually get to see her." Kelly added jokingly, Matt chuckling in response.

"Yeah, that's great news, Casey." Herrmann echoed Severide's sentiment once he found his voice, but no one else was able to get a word in before the bells went off, calling all companies to a car accident.

"Thanks guys." Casey replied as he looked down to his watch, seeing it was just a minute past shift change, the Captain pushing himself up off the counter and nodding out towards the garage, everyone following his lead as they headed towards their respective rigs, their previous conversation put on hold for now as they prepared to go help the citizens of Chicago.


Matt pushed open his ajar office door, the Captain taking in the sight of his familiar surroundings for the first time in over two weeks, Casey walking right past his desk chair and collapsing down onto his bunk, the firefighter lying down on his back as he tried to decompress after his long morning. After barely getting any sleep the night before because of his later flight, the last thing Matt needed was back to back nonstop calls this morning at 51, which, unfortunately, was what he had gotten.

It was well after noon, and this was the first time 81 had been back at the house since this morning, which definitely was a little unusual for them. They were a busy house, no question, but constant calls early in the morning wasn't something they dealt with all that often, though he guessed it wasn't too surprising that the one day he could use a slower shift, he'd gotten the exact opposite.

Blowing out a sigh, Matt reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his phone to see if he had any missed calls or messages. In all the craziness of the morning, he hadn't had a chance to talk to Gabby, let alone even see if she'd ever responded. But when he saw he had a few missed messages from her mixed with a couple other notifications, a warm smile broke out across his face, Matt swiping his thumb over her texts to unlock his phone.

Her messages were nothing out of the ordinary, just her telling him good morning, that she hoped his shift went okay and for him to be safe, her last message saying that they'd talk whenever he could. But it was the 'I love you' she'd sent in her last text that caused his smile to widen, Matt clicking on her contact before pressing the Facetime button, the firefighter bringing his hand up behind his head to prop it up as he waited for her to answer.

Within seconds, she picked up his call, Matt's smile morphing into a look of confusion when he was met by the image of what he recognized to be the ceiling in Gabby's bathroom, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Gabby?" He asked lightly, seeing her phone moving before she slowly came into view, his smile reappearing when he came to realize why she hadn't shown her face when she originally answered, Matt chuckling as he took in the sight of Gabby sitting in her bathtub, her hair pulled up on top of her head as she was surrounded by some bubbles.

"Hey, sorry… I wasn't sure who all would be on this call, I didn't know if you were alone." She responded brightly, Matt grinning from ear to ear as he watched her relax back into her bath. "And I didn't really think either of us want the rest of the house seeing me like this."

"Definitely not." He agreed, Gabby giving him a knowing look as a soft laugh escaped her lips. "But I for one am enjoying the view."

"Yeah, I'm sure you are." She replied, Matt letting himself rest back into his bunk, holding the phone up higher so she had a better view of his face.

"Though I'd much rather be enjoying the view in person." He added, Gabby nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, yeah I know you would… but I wish you were here, too." She responded softly, lifting her soapy hand out of the water to brush back a loose strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face. "It was weird this morning, waking up without you…" Gabby admitted, Matt's face falling slightly. "I know you were only here for a couple of weeks, but, I don't know- I got used to it, again."

"I know what you mean." He responded quickly, catching Gabby's gaze through the screen. "It was weird not being with you this morning… And it's weird not being together right now." He told her, watching as she nodded in agreement. "But, the way I see it, we're both where we need to be right now, and when we do get to spend time together, it'll just be all the more special." He spoke, his smile growing when he saw the effect his words had on her. "There's gonna be a lot of adjustments with all this… I know we hadn't been together for awhile, but once we were, we both kind of just fell back into our old routine together... Now we'll just have to find a different one." Matt continued, trying to ease any nerves she might be feeling, as well as a few of his own, too. "But we've got this, babe."

"Yeah, we do." She responded softly, flashing him a small smile before sliding further down into the bubbles. "So, how's shift going? The guys miss you?"

"Oh, well of course they did." He replied with a smirk, Gabby shaking her head in amusement as Matt adjusted his positioning on the bed, turning to lay on his side. "How could they not? But no, shift is fine… Busy, but fine. We've had a lot of calls, but none of them were too crazy or anything."

"Good, that's good." She murmured, her eyes darting around before she cleared her throat. "And, um.. How'd everyone take it?" She questioned hesitantly, Matt's tongue running along the inside of his cheek. "About us… Or have you not told them yet."

"I told them." He replied softly, Gabby giving him a nod. "And they were… They were surprised." He spoke carefully, Gabby waiting for him to continue. "I think they're happy for us, they just didn't have a lot of time to say much, we got called out right at the beginning of shift, but I don't think they were expecting it."

"Well, neither were you." She said lightly, Matt relaxing at her words, the firefighter chuckling as he shook his head.

"Fair point." He responded, Gabby scrunching up her nose before continuing.

"But, I mean… I guess I'm not that shocked by that. You and I didn't know what your visit was at first, I wasn't expecting them to, either." She spoke, Matt nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, they were just a little surprised. But I told them you were coming to visit soon, and they're really excited to see you… Severide, especially." Matt said, Gabby raising her eyebrows. "He feels a little cheated I guess, that you didn't see him last time you were here."

"Well, it's not my fault he wasn't at 51." She defended, Matt nodding with a wide smile.

"Yeah, I know… But everyone's looking forward to your visit."

"Me too." She agreed, Matt opening his mouth to respond, but he was cut off by the bells going off again, calling 81 out to a fire.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Casey pushed himself up off his bunk, shooting Gabby a regretful look.

"Sorry for cutting this short." He breathed out, Gabby shaking her head.

"It's alright. Duty calls. I've got some things to do anyway, I was just about to get out of the bath when you called." She replied, Matt cocking his head to the side as he paused by his door.

"Damn, you still could've." He responded suggestively, Gabby scoffing heavily as she shook her head. "Also, next time we Facetime call while you're in the bath, let's try and plan that to make sure I'm at home."

Gabby couldn't help but laugh at his less than subtle request, Matt's smile widening as he stepped out of his office and began heading for the garage. "I don't know what's gotten into you today, but maybe, yeah, we'll arrange something…" She replied with a wink. "But for now, I'd appreciate you getting your mind out of the gutter before running into a burning building." She told him, Matt nodding as he walked out into the hallway.

"Yes ma'am."

"Alright, well I'll let you go… Be safe out there, babe." She told him, Matt hearing a much more serious tone to her voice that hadn't been there moments prior.

"I will. Promise." Casey assured her before he stepped out into the garage. "I love you." He spoke as he saw his firefighters gearing up beside 81.

"I love you, too." She replied, Matt giving her a nod before he hung up the call, knowing that Gabby was right; no matter how much he wanted to be thinking of her right now, he had a job to do, the Captain speeding up his steps to get to 81 and get ready for the call.


And there's another one. Sorry for the delay, but I hope you all liked the sweet Dawsey moments. Obviously, they'll be a lot to figure out with navigating a long-distance relationship for the time being, but we'll get into all that as the chapters go on. I appreciate you all reading my work, and I'm so glad you're all enjoying this story. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on this one!

Until next time.

Stay safe, everyone.