Hey everyone! So sorry for the wait with this one, I didn't mean for it to take me this long, at all. I feel like that's how I start off my little notes for all these chapters, but I truly am sorry. I had to do a bit of regrouping to do with this story, and I've finally figured out my plan for how this story will end, and unfortunately it will be coming here soon. I don't have an exact number of chapters left yet, more so just the storyline planned, but we are nearing the end. Which makes me sad, because I truly love this story so much. But I think you all will enjoy how it all plays out.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, with Gabby and Matt spending some time together in Chicago. Thanks to all of you who are still sticking with me.

Thank you so much for reading!


part ten


Gabby collapsed down onto Matt's heaving chest, their warm bodies pressed together as heavy pants left both their lips, Casey's hands rubbing up and down her back as they came down from their high, both of them needing a few moments to recover after their morning spent together in bed. His eyes were closed in contentment, a bright smile covering his face as he felt her unsteady breaths hitting his neck, Gabby pressing a kiss to his skin before she began to roll off of him. But Matt refused to let her go very far, his arms tightening around her body as he pulled her back towards him, her legs straddling his hips as a soft giggle escaped her lips.

"Matt…" She breathed out lightly, feeling his arms wrap tighter around her lower back, Casey pressing his face into her neck as he kept her as close as possible.

"What?" He asked, his voice muffled by her skin as her smile widened, Gabby placing her hands out against the mattress on either side of his body to balance herself. She could feel him pressing continuous kisses against the nape of her neck, Matt releasing his hold around her back momentarily so he could reach down for the covers that had long been thrown to the end of the bed, the man blindly feeling for them before lifting the material up over their bare bodies.

"Can I lay down, please?" She asked, amusement present in her voice as Matt pulled back slightly, enough to catch her gaze as their faces were mere inches apart.

"You are." He replied simply, unable to fight off his smile as he lifted his hand up to brush some of her short hair behind her ear, his thumb stroking along her cheekbone.

"I meant on the bed." She told him, raising her eyebrows as she felt his hand that was wrapped around her back begin to slide up and down over her skin, Matt releasing a soft grunt before reluctantly loosening his grip on her.

"Fine…" He groaned, Gabby rolling her eyes before sliding down onto the mattress beside him, her body still partially on top of his as she nestled herself into his side, her head immediately finding its familiar home on his chest as their legs tangled together beneath the sheets.

As they got comfortable in his large bed, a content quiet fell over them, their breathing finally back to normal as they relaxed into one another, Gabby's index finger tracing lazy patterns over his chest as her eyes fell closed, their time spent in this room over the last few hours having worn her out more than she realized. He couldn't help but glance down to the top of her head as he felt her starting to fall asleep, Matt knowing the signs of her exhaustion well enough after all their years together, a soft smile forming across his face as he focused on the feeling of their bodies pressed together. And after weeks apart, this feeling was something he wanted to hold onto for as long as he could.

Drawing in another deep breath, Matt moved his hand up and down the side of her hip, the comforting feeling of her chest rising and falling against his side lulling his eyes shut as the couple enjoyed the relaxed quiet surrounding them. It was a nice change of pace, from the nights spent on the busy worksite, as well as their nights spent in her apartment, her proximity to the city causing some residual noise to sometimes flood into her room late at night. But here, curled up together in his bed, it was completely quiet, and he couldn't help but find a certain peace in that.

"So…" Gabby's soft voice caused his eyes to open slowly, the man surprised to hear her voice after he'd figured she'd fallen back asleep, Matt turning his head down just as she looked at him, her chin resting over his chest. "What are our plans for today?"

Matt's head tilted to the side slightly, the man glancing down towards their bodies before finding her gaze again, Gabby's eyes narrowing slightly. "I thought we were doing it…" He murmured, seeing a scoff escape her lips as she slid her hand over his breast bone.

"You get me all the way here, and your only plans are us laying in bed?" She questioned back, a sly grin forming over his face before he pulled her back on top of him, a soft sound of surprise leaving her lips as she instinctively straddled him, Matt returning her to the position she'd been in moments prior as he kissed her hard. The abrupt movement caught her off guard, but she soon recovered as she kissed him back, Matt smiling against her before he continued their dance, his hands moving to grip her hips tightly.

"Those aren't my only plans." He whispered against her, a low groan escaping the back of her throat as Casey took the opportunity to roll them over, their lips staying connected as he pinned her down to the bed. With every second that passed, their movements became needier, and more desperate as his free hand roamed her body, his other one gripping onto hers, their fingers laced together beside her head as they fought for control.

When air became a priority, Gabby pulled back, heavy pants escaping both their lips as Matt adjusted his positioning over her, their eyes locked on one another while they caught their breath. With their hands still clasped together on the bed, Gabby lifted her other one up from his waist, using the back of her hand to stroke along his cheekbone. He leaned into her touch, a happy smile forming across his face as his eyes slowly closed, Gabby using the moment to take him in as they basked in the warmth of one another.

A soft sigh escaped his lips, Matt opening his eyes and immediately finding her gaze, Gabby's bottom lip tucking in between her teeth when his smile widened. "...Have I mentioned how glad I am that you're here?" He questioned, Gabby biting back a grin as she nodded.

"You have." She murmured, Matt's smile growing before he leaned down and captured her lips in another kiss, this one gentle and slow, the man giving her hand a tight squeeze before he pulled away.

"Well, good… Because I am." He breathed out, Gabby's hand moving to cup his neck. "I'm happy you came, and that we're gonna get all this time together… I'm just so glad you're here." His words were soft, barely audible, as she bit down on her bottom lip, Gabby matching his words with an agreeing nod before using her hold on his neck to pull him back down towards her.

Their slow kisses once again turned desperate, Matt settling his body in between her legs as she hooked them up around his hips, Gabby pulling him closer as a low groan escaped his lips. Neither had any idea of how much time had passed, the two completely lost in each other, Gabby feeling his clear desire for her pressing against the inside of her thigh before she pushed her hips upward, silently urging him to finish what he started.

But before he could begin to follow through on her request, his phone started buzzing on the nightstand, another groan escaping his lips for a different reason before Matt pulled back, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip as he glanced towards the device. From his positioning above Gabby, he had a high enough vantage point to see Severide's name pop up on the screen, signaling he had a text from his best friend, the man huffing out of a breath as another message came through shortly after.

Releasing an annoyed sigh, Matt carefully leaned across her, making sure to keep most of his weight off her as he grabbed his phone, the firefighter quickly unlocking it and scanning his eyes over the messages Kelly sent, Gabby watching with an amused expression when she saw him roll his eyes.

"Who is it?" She asked, Matt shaking his head before turning his phone towards her so she could read the message.

"Severide." He responded, Gabby giving him a nod before her eyes moved towards the screen, the woman biting back a laugh as she read what he'd sent his best friend.

'We'll be home in 30 minutes.'

'So wherever you and Dawson are, try and make sure you're clothed.'

Shaking her head in amusement, Gabby's eyes flashed back towards her boyfriend, seeing a sheepish look on his face as he put his phone back on the nightstand, her hand coming up to stroke through his hair as he settled himself comfortably back on top of her.

"Well, I guess that means it's time to get up." She breathed out, but Matt made no effort to get off of her, Gabby's legs instinctively tightening against the sides of his waist as she scratched his head. A discontented groan escaped his mouth before he leaned back down, capturing her lips with his, Gabby smiling softly before kissing him back, feeling that the disruption from Severide had done nothing to lessen his want for her.

When she pulled back after a few moments, Matt grunted before trailing his lips down to her neck, the man surely marking her skin as his hand slid up to her chest, his palm gripping her breast as he pushed his hips forward, the movement pulling a soft moan from Gabby.

"We need to get up." She repeated, her voice breathy as he continued his assault on her skin, her eyes closed in pure bliss as she relaxed into the mattress beneath her.

She knew exactly what he was doing; he was trying to distract her until she forgot all about them needing to get up. And he was doing a damn good job of it, his lips moving around to her upper chest, Gabby's breath catching in her throat when she felt his teeth graze across her skin. But she knew they couldn't continue this in the ways they wanted, not right now, because the last thing they needed to do was still be in bed when Severide and Kidd got home, Gabby knowing she couldn't guarantee that either of them would be able to stay quiet.

But Matt was making it awful hard for her to say no, Gabby relishing in the feeling of his hands and mouth on her as he pressed his hips into hers once more, a jolt of pleasure shooting through her spine.

"Matt…"

"Just a few more minutes." He murmured against her chest, Gabby releasing a content sigh before guiding his face back up towards hers, Matt trailing his hand down towards their hips, both of them knowing they wouldn't be leaving this bed just yet.


Casey slowly came into consciousness as light flooded into the room, the man releasing a quiet groan at being pulled from his slumber as he rolled over onto his back, it taking a few seconds for his eyes to adjust before he came to recognize his surroundings. He didn't remember falling asleep, Matt vaguely recalling Gabby trying to climb out of bed to go get ready once they'd finished earlier this morning, but he pulled her back, wanting a couple extra moments with her before they went out to visit with Kelly and Stella. But he must've been more tired than he realized after their time in bed this morning, Matt clearly having fallen asleep pretty quickly despite knowing they needed to get up. And he could only assume she had as well.

But regardless of if she'd fallen asleep with him or not, she wasn't here now, Matt reaching out to find nothing but cold sheets beside him as he took a deep breath, the man glancing towards the clock on his nightstand, seeing it was nearing one in the afternoon.

He decided to stay in bed for a little while longer, Casey trying to gather his bearings before he got up, the man slowly coming to hear what sounded like Gabby speaking out in the living room, along with a few other muffled voices he assumed to be those of his roommates. Though not very clear, the distant sound of her voice was enough to bring a smile to his face, Matt flooding with warmth when he was reminded yet again that she was actually here.

Though their morning together was more than enough to ensure this wasn't him dreaming, any reminder he could get that she truly was here with him in Chicago, even if only for a few weeks, was welcome, Matt feeling his entire body relax as he listened to her talk, the sound of her laugh mere seconds later causing his smile to widen.

After a few more minutes, Casey dragged himself from bed, an involuntary chill shooting through his body at the abrupt change in temperature when he tossed the sheets off himself, Matt immediately walking towards his dresser to find something to wear. A slight smirk tugged on his lips when he passed the clothes he'd taken off Gabby hours earlier, Matt quickly covering up with some boxers, a pair of track pants, and a t-shirt, before running his hand through his unruly hair that was sticking up in a few different directions, Casey well aware the crazy look had been helped by Gabby's tight grip from when they were in bed earlier.

Once he'd gotten dressed, and tossed his and Gabby's few clothes into the hamper, the man moved towards his door, pulling it open as the sound of their voices got louder, Matt walking down the hallway and turning the corner, his eyes immediately landing on Gabby the second he walked in.

"Well, look who finally decided to get up." Severide spoke up as soon as Casey came into view, Matt's eyes bouncing around the three people who were standing around the island in the kitchen before his gaze landed back on Gabby. "I was about to send Dawson back in there after you."

"Good morning, Severide." He replied sharply, Gabby biting back a smile while Matt came around to her side, the man pressing a kiss against her head as he came to a stop next to her. With his arm around her back, he kept one hand firmly on her hip while his other rested against the edge of the counter for support as they all stood together in the kitchen.

"It's well past morning, but hello to you, too." Kelly spoke, the Lieutenant raising his eyebrows as he glanced back and forth between the two of them. "So I take it you and Dawson had a nice morning."

"Kelly…" Stella warned, Gabby shooting her friend an unimpressed look before she scoffed lightly.

"What? Just trying to make sure they're getting the most out of Dawson's visit." He spoke with a grin, Matt shooting him another glare before turning towards Gabby, seeing a similar look covering her face.

"Anyway," Kidd spoke pointedly, turning her attention back towards Gabby. "I'm sure you're pretty exhausted after traveling all day yesterday, but do you and the Captain here have any plans for this evening?" She questioned, Gabby raising her eyebrows before finding Matt's gaze, the man giving her a slight shrug.

"No, we don't really… We didn't plan much past me coming here." Dawson responded, Stella flashing her bright smile before nodding.

"Well, I'll be closing down Molly's tonight, and the entire gang should be there, if you all wanna come… Like old times." Kidd spoke, Matt seeing the immediate smile that formed over Gabby's face before she nodded.

"Sounds fun." She said, glancing at Matt as the words left her lips, seeing him nod in agreement.

"Yeah, we'll be there."

"Great." Kidd replied brightly, the woman glancing down towards her watch before pushing herself off the counter. "Well, since some of us did not get any rest this morning, I'm gonna go try and get some sleep before work tonight." She said, the firefighter walking towards Gabby and wrapping her up in a hug, Matt stepping out of the way to give them some space. "I'm so glad you're here, Dawson."

"Me too." She replied softly, rubbing her friend's back as they held onto one another, Matt and Kelly sharing soft smiles just as the women pulled away from each other.

"And I know you're mostly in town for the Captain here," Stella continued, smirking as she looked back and forth between the two of them, "but I hope we can have a few girls nights before you head back to save the world." She finished, rubbing up and down Gabby's arms before stepping away.

"We definitely will." Gabby agreed, Stella flashing her bright smile before stepping away from the island. "We'll have to ditch the guys, spend some time with just us."

"Sounds perfect." She replied before disappearing into the bedroom, Matt raising his eyebrows as he glanced towards Gabby, the woman responding with a challenging look of her own before nudging his side playfully.

"What?" Dawson questioned with a smirk, cocking her head to the side as she felt Matt reclaim his grip around her waist. "Don't you worry, you'll have plenty of time with me."

"Yeah, I better." He murmured, his eyes flickering to her lips before he leaned forward to kiss her, Gabby smiling against him as she relaxed into his hold, the woman soon returning the gesture.

"Yeah, okay, I think that's my cue to leave." Severide spoke, the man chuckling as he stepped away from the counter, his words causing Matt and Gabby to separate as Dawson's bottom lip fell between her teeth. "I'm glad you two are together, and happy, and all that but I don't wanna look at you two making out for the next few weeks, so I'll just leave you to it." He told them, Matt scoffing lightly as Kelly continued on the familiar path Kidd had just taken. "Glad you're here, Dawson." He repeated Stella's words, Gabby nodding with a slight smirk before he went into his room, the firefighter closing the door behind him, effectively cutting them off from one another as Matt and Gabby were left alone in the kitchen.

"Huh… who knew it was so easy to get him to leave." Matt replied, the joking tone in his voice causing Gabby to scrunch her nose up before she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Well, considering all the time you've lived with Severide over the years, we've seen a few times how it doesn't take much to get him to leave the room." She told him with a smug grin, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before nodding in agreement.

"You're not wrong, there." He breathed out, Casey taking her by surprise when his hands moved to her hips, his grip on her tightening before he positioned her back to the counter and lifted her up, Gabby instinctively jumping slightly to help him before she sat on the cold surface. A chill immediately coursed through her, Matt moving to standing between her legs as he kept his grip on her hips, Gabby shaking her head in amusement as she recognized the wanting look in his eye.

"You could've given a girl some warning." She told him, her hands clasping together behind his neck as her legs dangled by his sides, Matt's hands running up and down along her hips and the sides of her legs as he rested up against the counter, his head tilting to the side as he mulled over her words.

"...I could've, yeah." He replied teasingly, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly as he continued running his hands over her. "But this was more fun." His voice dropped down to a whisper, Matt closing what little distance there was between them as he captured her lips in a heated kiss, their movements much more intense than the one seconds ago when Kelly was still in the room.

With each passing second, their movements became more and more frantic, Matt's hands moving dangerously over her body before sliding up under her shirt, Gabby having to force herself to pull away from him before they got completely lost in one another. But her pulling away didn't slow him down, Matt's lips moving along her jaw down to her neck as he tightened his grip on her, his warm hands against her skin sending shivers down her spine as she tried to get her breathing under control.

"Matt…" She panted, his name coming out softly as her lips were next to his ear, the man smirking against her skin before he continued his desperate kisses over her neck. "Maybe… Maybe we should wait till we're back in the bedroom?" She suggested, hearing the man chuckle softly before he reluctantly pulled back.

"You really think they'll be coming out here anytime soon?" He asked with another laugh, Gabby narrowing her eyes playfully despite the soft chuckle she wasn't able to stop, Matt not giving her much of a chance to answer before his lips were on hers yet again.

But Gabby didn't let him kiss her for very long before she was pulling away once more, Casey all but pouting as his hands settled on her hips, the man cocking his head to the side as he waited for her to speak up, Gabby patting her hand gently over his chest. "Listen, as much as I would love to spend all day doing this, you're gonna have to feed me at some point." She told him, her words earning another laugh from him, Matt patting her hips gently before he nodded.

"We can do that, babe." He replied, leaning forward to press a kiss between her eyebrows before pulling back. "You wanna order in? Or go out?" He questioned, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip before she tilted her head to the side, the woman clearly thinking over her options before she met his gaze once more.

"Out would be good." She responded. "That way we can get out for a bit, and give them some time to rest."

"Sounds good, I'm gonna need to shower before we go anywhere, though." He told her, Gabby nodding in agreement before he helped her down off the counter. She needed a second to regain her balance, the tingling sensation in her legs slowly going away before Matt led her back towards his bedroom, the man walking behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

When they walked through the doorway, Casey dropped his grip on her body, the man shutting the door behind them and closing them off from the rest of the apartment. Silently, Gabby moved towards her suitcase while Matt walked to his dresser, the couple beginning to look for clothes suitable to wear for the cold and icy weather outside.

As Gabby was rifling through her suitcase that she'd moved to the edge of the bed, Matt turned around with his boxers and t-shirt in hand, finding Gabby's back to him as she continued searching through her things, a thought soon coming into his head as he saw the different piles of clothes she'd created on top of his mattress.

"...You wanna unpack your stuff?" He offered, Gabby pausing her movements before she turned back to glance at him, his eyebrows raised in question as he walked towards her. "I mean, since you're gonna be here for a bit, it's better than living out of your suitcase." He continued, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip before she nodded, Matt immediately noticing the shy look that covered her face. And though he found it adorable, he wasn't sure why it was there. "...What?" He asked with a soft smile, Gabby meeting his gaze before she shook her head.

"Nothing, it's just that I- Well, I actually brought some extra clothes…" She told him, Matt's head tilting to the side slightly as a small grin formed over her lips. "Just some stuff to keep here… Some extra pajamas, shirts, stuff like that… Since I know we're gonna have to be going back and forth for awhile, I figured it'd be easier to leave some stuff here, so I don't have to pack as much each time." She rambled, Matt's smile growing the longer she continued talking, Gabby matching his grin when she saw the look on his face. "...I'm guessing that's okay with you?"

She barely got the words out before he captured her lips in a soft kiss, Gabby reciprocating immediately as his hand wrapped around her side, Matt effectively keeping her close even after they pulled back.

"That's more than okay with me… In fact, I think I'll have to do the same thing when I come see you." He replied, Gabby flashing him a bright grin before she nodded.

"I'll make sure you have some closet space." She told him, Matt nodding before he leaned down to steal another quick kiss, the man groaning against her before he made himself pull away, Casey knowing if he didn't, they'd never leave otherwise.

"Alright, enough of this." He huffed out, Gabby chuckling softly as he stepped away from her, Matt placing his clothes down on the bed before walking backwards towards the bathroom. "I'm gonna get the shower started, I don't mind if you join me… Just try and keep your hands to yourself." He added, Dawson scoffing before shooting him an unimpressed look.

"Yeah, because I'm the one we need to worry about." She shot back, Matt opening his mouth to respond but then quickly closing it, the man pausing for a moment before eventually responding.

"...Fair enough." He conceded, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before returning her attention to the piles of clothes she was going through. "But still, don't make me wait too long." He replied, Gabby glancing back just as he winked at her, before he disappeared into the bathroom, leaving her alone out in his room.


"Hey, look who it is!"

Herrmann's unmistakable voice flooded through the crowded bar as Matt and Gabby stepped away from the door, their conjoined hands keeping them close to one another as they navigated their way through the bodies around them, Matt staying behind her until they got up to the bar.

"Kidd said we might see you around here tonight." He continued, Gabby flashing him a bright smile before her eyes moved around the room, seeing a lot of faces she recognized, some being people from 51, while others were just regulars she'd been serving for years.

"Yeah, Matt and I decided to stop by, make sure you were keeping the bar in one piece." She replied lightly, her words bringing a soft grin to his face before he chuckled, Herrmann leaning himself over the bar before Gabby mimicked his actions, the two meeting in a quick hug.

"It's good to see you, Dawson… We missed you around here." He spoke softly, Gabby's smile growing as they separated, the woman feeling Matt's hand move to her back the second she was firmly on the ground.

"I missed you guys, too." She replied, Matt hearing just how genuine her words were. "It feels good to be back home for a bit." Casey couldn't stop the small smile that formed over his face as she spoke, the man scratching her back lightly as she instinctively stepped closer to him. "And it does seem that you all have managed to keep the place up pretty well."

"Yeah, we've done alright… Things are a lot different around here now, but Molly's is still going strong."

"Good, that's good." She responded softly, Dawson sparing a quick glance up at Matt before Herrmann spoke up again.

"So, what can I get you two to drink?"

"Beer's fine." Gabby said with a shrug, Matt nodding in agreement before Herrmann began to prepare their drinks, Dawson's eyes going back to taking in her surroundings.

She saw Stella behind the bar with Herrmann, the woman working further down the room, where most of their friends from 51 were, Severide sitting across from his girlfriend, while Foster and Brett were a few seats down from him, none of them having noticed their presence yet.

"You good?"

Gabby's vision snapped into focus as she heard Casey's voice in her ear, the feeling of his hand rubbing along her lower back helping to gain her attention, the woman turning her head to look up at him as she immediately met his warm gaze.

"I'm good." She replied with a swift nod, Matt's eyes tracing over his face as he bit down on the inside of his cheek.

"You sure?"

"Mhmm." She hummed quickly just as Herrmann placed the drinks down in front of them, Gabby flashing him a thankful smile before looking back towards Matt. "Just… feels a little weird, I guess. Being here." Her voice dropped to a level only he could hear, Casey drawing in a deep, slow breath as she gave him another nod. "I'm fine, Matt."

"Okay…" He spoke slowly, clearly unsure of her words. "But you know you don't have any reason to be nervous, right? I mean, you were with everyone on shift yesterday, and it was fine."

"No, I know. And I'm not even really worried about that, I just- I don't know." She cut herself off, clearly having trouble voicing her thoughts as Matt's face flooded with concern. "I don't really even know what I'm trying to say, I guess it just feels kind of strange, being back with everyone… Like we used to. Before everything got all messed up." She continued, her words earning an understanding nod from Casey as they stood in the crowded room. "But yesterday was good, getting to see everyone again… And I know once I spend more time around them, this feeling will go away. It's just some nerves, I guess…" She trailed off, Matt pursing his lips together before giving her another nod.

"Everyone's so glad you're here." He told her, Gabby's gaze flickering up towards him as he gave her a soft smile. "And I especially am glad you're here." He added with a slight smirk, the tone in his voice causing her smile to widen. "I don't blame you for being a little… hesitant, I guess, is a good word for it, but they're all just happy to see you, and happy you're gonna be back for a little bit… Back more often." He continued, Gabby nodding as the words left his lips. "They're our family, that hasn't changed." Matt finished, her eyes tracing over his face before she nodded, Casey leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips before he pulled back and reached out for their drinks. "Now let's go see our friends."

Nudging her hip gently with his, Gabby chuckled lightly before taking her drink from his grasp, the woman nodding in response before they made their way down the bar.

And just as Matt had promised her, everyone was more than happy to see them, to see her, Brett nearly attacking her with a giant hug the second they saw one another, everyone making her feel more than welcome as they spent time together. And though they'd started the evening together, Matt and Gabby quickly got pulled in different directions, Dawson sitting with the paramedics and catching up with her best friend, while getting to know more about the newest addition to ambulance 61, while Matt had moved off to a table with Severide, the men nursing their beers while half paying attention to the hockey game playing on the TV, Casey's main focus being on the woman across the room from him.

Every time he'd steal a glance at his girl, he was glad to see her with a wide smile on her face, Gabby clearly enjoying her time with her Brett and Foster, as well as Stella popping in and out when the crowd wasn't too busy. And it was a sight that made him smile every time.

He hadn't been worried one bit about how everyone would react to her, Matt knowing there was no bad blood between her and anyone in the firehouse. Though he wouldn't call her relationship with anyone exactly the same as it had been before, he knew there was no animosity there. Her and Brett had long smoothed things over, and there hadn't really been any other issues with anyone else. They were shocked, when she left, and Matt knew first hand they were also a little hurt. But he also knew none of them held it against her, and seeing her slowly reacclimating herself into their firehouse family, it filled him with a feeling he couldn't explain. But it was one he never wanted to lose.

"So, you two are really doing this, huh?" Severide spoke up after a prolonged period of silence, Casey tearing his eyes away from Gabby as he turned to look at his friend, Kelly taking a quick sip of his beer before elaborating. "The long distance thing, you two are really serious about that."

Matt's eyebrows furrowed together before he gave a slight nod, the man unsure of where Severide was going with this. "Yeah, we are… What? You think we were kidding or something?" He asked, Kelly shaking his head before his gaze flashed towards Dawson.

"No, nothing like that… I guess I'm still just a little surprised by it."

"I'm sorry, weren't you the guy kicking my ass a few months ago because Gabby and I never actually tried to make things work?" He questioned, his head cocked to the side as a sheepish look covered Kelly's face.

"Fair point." He conceded, Matt giving him a knowing nod before taking a drink. "But I guess I'm just trying to understand the logistics of all this." He continued, Casey drawing in a deep breath as he placed his glass down on the table. "Like, is there any time table for when she's coming home? Or are you gonna go live there with her?" He pressed. "Or are you two just gonna keep going back and forth forever?"

"We will for as long as we need to." Casey replied, Kelly watching him closely before he nodded. "Gabby's got less than a year left on her current contract over there… We talked about it, before I came back. She said she wants to finish that out, and see how things are over there, then we're gonna evaluate everything, and her and I will go from there." He explained, Severide listening intently.

"So you'll be doing this for a year? The back and forth… Only seeing each other for a few weeks at a time?"

"More like seven months." He was quick to clarify, Severide nodding in understanding before his eyes flashed back across the bar, Matt picking up on the pensive look covering his face. "...What Kelly?" Casey pushed, his words causing the firefighter to look back towards him, his eyes widened slightly. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I'm just…"

"You think it's not gonna work." Casey cut in when Severide had yet to continue his thought, Matt's defenses rising. "You think we can't handle this."

"No, that's not it." He replied instantly, Matt's body relaxing slightly as he waited for Severide to continue. "I was actually just thinking that if any two people can make this work, it's you two." He told him, Casey's face softening as a slight smile involuntarily pulled on his lips. "I'm just glad you all are finally trying, that you're gonna try and make this work… I'm happy for you two. And a little impressed, if I'm being honest." He told him, Matt's smile growing before he nodded, a smug smirk forming over Kelly's face before he spoke up again. "So, whenever Dawson's in town, you can have all the alone time at the apartment you need."

A heavy scoff escaped Casey's lips before he shook his head, the man unable to stop his laughter as he met his friend's knowing gaze.

"Thank you, Kelly."


Gabby couldn't hide the smile that was growing on her face as she heard Matt out in the living room, the man trying to usher a severely inebriated Severide into his room as Stella was still at the bar to close up, their voices loud enough to flood into Casey's bedroom while she searched through his drawers, looking for one of his shirts to wear to bed.

It was nearing midnight, the three having just gotten home from Molly's, and Gabby couldn't wait to crawl into bed with Matt and get to sleep, her first full day back in Chicago being a bit more tiring than she was expecting. With her long travel day yesterday, she was still feeling the effects of that a little bit, the long night out with their friends only fueling her exhaustion.

"God, Severide is so drunk."

Gabby glanced back towards the door when she heard Matt's voice a lot closer than had been moments prior, her eyebrows raising as he shut the door behind him when he entered the bedroom.

"Yeah, he definitely had fun tonight." Gabby replied with a soft grin before she returned her attention towards his dresser, the woman finally settling on a shirt as she pulled it from the drawer.

"Well, it was a good night."

"It was." She agreed as he came up behind her, Matt wrapping his arms around her waist as his head found its familiar home in the crook of her neck, their eyes locking through the mirror. "It was great to see everyone, and spend some time with them... I've missed that."

"We all missed you, too, baby." He murmured, turning his head to place a chaste kiss against her neck as her body relaxed back into his. "Things haven't been the same without you here." He continued, Gabby giving him a slight nod as he leaned his head against hers. "And around here, especially… I mean, Kelly and Stella are great, but it definitely is weird being the third wheel in their relationship, considering that used to always be Sev with us." He added jokingly, Gabby feeling his chest vibrate against her back as he chuckled, his words bringing a small smile to her face.

But there was a look that flashed in her eyes that he caught, Gabby quickly trying to mask it, though he still saw it, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as he gave her stomach a slight squeeze.

"Everything okay?" He asked, Gabby gnawing on her bottom lip before giving him an unconvincing nod, Matt pulling away from her slightly as he tilted his head to the side. "What is it?" He pressed, Gabby sighing softly before she turned around in his arms to face him, Matt's hands never leaving her body as they settled back on her hips.

"I, uh- I have a question…" She prefaced, Matt nodding at her to continue, Gabby pausing for a second before she spoke up. "Why do you still live with Severide?"

His eyebrows raised slightly before he pursed his lips together, Casey clearly not expecting the question as he thought over her words for a moment, Gabby's eyes flickering over his face before she continued.

"I mean, I know you moved in after the old apartment-" She cut herself off, seeing the involuntary wince that covered his features at the mention of their old home.

It was something they were aware of, something he knew she knew, but it wasn't something either of them really liked to dwell on, not when Matt wasn't exactly proud of what had happened. And especially considering he wasn't the one she'd found out from.

During one of the phone calls she'd had with Stella after she left, Kidd had informed her of their old apartment burning down, the firefighter not realizing she didn't know. And though after that happened, Gabby thought about calling him to make sure he was alright, she always stopped herself, the former paramedic unsure if he'd even want to hear from her. Especially when she found out why their home had burned down. Or rather, who had been involved when it did.

It didn't take a lot of explaining from Kidd for Gabby to get the picture of what all had gone on, and that alone had been a little too painful for her to take, so she never called. She found it best to leave him alone, and let him continue to move on with his life.

But that was a long time ago. Whatever happened, she hadn't been there, and it wasn't exactly anything they could change. And aside from that, neither of them wanted to focus on the past anymore. All they cared about was the future; the one they had together. And they both knew that.

"It's not really an option." She settled on, Matt nodding in agreement as he continued running his hands along her sides. "And, honestly, that's probably for the best… A fresh start and everything." She continued with a soft smile, Matt matching her look as he nodded once more. "So I get why you originally moved in, but I guess I'm just surprised that you're still living here." She spoke, her words genuinely curious as Matt ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, the man pausing thoughtfully for a moment before he responded.

"Honestly?" He started, Gabby giving him a slight nod to continue. "I don't know… Sometimes I think about it, about moving out and getting my own place again, but I end up talking myself out of it." He told her, the man shrugging softly to emphasize his words. "...It's nice to be around people, I guess."

The smile on her face faltered slightly, Matt swiftly shaking his head as he moved his hand up from her waist to her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin softly as he cradled the side of her head.

"Don't do that." He murmured, the man instantly knowing what was going on in her head, Gabby running her teeth along her bottom lip before she nodded. "We've talked all this through, it's nothing I want you to feel bad about. And obviously, it's not the most ideal situation when you come to visit, but until we're both back in the same place… I like having people around." He told her, the woman giving him another nod as her arms wrapped around his waist.

"I like knowing you have people around, too." She replied quietly, Matt nodding with a soft smile before he leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, the two leaning into one another as they stood in the comforting quiet of his bedroom. "But once we're both home, no more rooming with Kelly." She added jokingly, Matt releasing a soft chuckle before he nodded, pressing another kiss to her forehead as his arms moved up to wrap around her shoulders.

"Deal." He responded, the two holding onto one another for a few extra moments before they went to bed, knowing they needed to soak in every single second they were together while they could.


Well, there's another one. Again, I'm so sorry it took so long.

Real quick, I did get a review on something I wanted to address. Obviously, this story takes place after 8x09, and before that there'd been some weirdness between Brett and Casey on the show up to that point. But as far as I'm concerned, and as far as this story is concerned, they're nothing more than friends. So there's no weird like, unresolved feelings or some mess like that, there's nothing uncomfortable going on between Matt and Brett. I just wanted to clarify that. They're nothing more than friends.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you all enjoyed it.

Stay safe, everyone.