Hello there everyone! I'm finally back with the next chapter for you all. I'm so sorry about the wait with this one! I had basically the entire chapter written, and then decided to scrap it and go in a completely different direction, which obviously was not a part of my original plan. So it took me a little longer to get this one out to you guys.
But I hope you all like it! I really enjoyed writing this one once I got my footing with it, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Happy reading!
part eighteen
Casey breathed in deeply as he put his last few stacks of clothes away into his suitcase, the items fitting nicely in the remaining space he had as he was nearing the end of this tedious process, one that had taken him a lot longer than anticipated. Though it wasn't because of how much he was taking, but rather how long it took him to decide what to take.
He'd done his best to pack light, Matt knowing that between the clothes he already had there, and his ability to buy new things when needed, along with how most of his days would be spent working out on the job site, he didn't need to bring that much stuff. Just one or two suitcases full of necessities, the man having left behind everything he knew wasn't needed over the next four months; like his clothes for work at 51, and all of his winter clothes, as Matt was well aware that heavy layers would not be needed in the brutal summer heat of San Juan.
And all of those things he wasn't taking had been left tucked away in the closet, Matt unable to ignore how empty the room felt now as he closed up his last bag, before carrying it over towards the door and placing it next to his other one.
It was kind of a weird feeling, knowing this is one of the last times he'd be in this room and this apartment for a very long time. But it was one that was completely welcome, as he couldn't wait to get out of here and be back with Gabby, the thought alone making him nearly giddy with excitement as a smile formed onto his face before he could stop it.
One that didn't disappear, even as Severide walked into the room.
"Alright, I've talked to Kidd and she's ready to go take you to the airport… This is your last chance to back out now." He teased, Matt narrowing his eyes slightly as an amused chuckle left Kelly's lips, before he held up his hands in defense. "Kidding. I'm just kidding."
"Mhmm." He hummed in response before doing one last look over the room, Casey going over the mental checklist in his mind to make sure he wasn't forgetting anything vital as he grabbed his phone off the nightstand and shoved it into his pocket. "Real funny, Sev."
"I thought so." He answered proudly, resting his body against the doorframe before crossing his arms over his chest. "But no, we all know how desperate you are to get out of here and back to Dawson," He continued to prod, Casey shaking his head with an amused grin after he glanced towards him. "Considering you're taking a red-eye flight to get back there."
"I'd rather just fly through the night, then have to waste an entire day getting there." Casey answered with a shrug, Kelly cocking his head to the side slightly.
"Yeah, I know you just want to be with her… Even though it's only been a few days since you last saw her." He joked, Matt drawing in a deep breath as the look on his face began to soften.
"Well, after spending over a year apart, and then all those months without seeing her- I don't want to waste any more time." Casey spoke, his voice firm yet quiet, as Kelly could tell just how much he meant what he was saying. "I just want to be with her again."
"I know you do." Severide answered him, all teasing now gone from his voice as he gave his friend a small smile. "It is gonna be weird without you here, though." He added on, Matt pausing thoughtfully for a moment before he nodded.
"Yeah, it will be… But, uh, while we're on the subject, I did what to thank you, for letting me stay here for so long." He breathed out, Severide immediately nodding in response. "For helping me through everything when Gabby and I split, and everything now… Supporting Gabby and me through this, it means a lot to me." He spoke honestly, as Kelly could hear the gratitude in his voice. "So just thank you for being there, Sev."
"Of course, man." He replied quietly, Matt giving him a weak smile before he nodded. "But you don't need to thank me for anything. I know when all that stuff happened with Dawson, it was pretty rough… And then these past few months have been hard on you and Gabby, but I'm just glad to help anyway I can. You know I'm always here for you." He reminded him, Casey lifting his head slightly as he looked towards his friend, the Captain watching as a soft smirk began to appear over his lips. "...Even if it was just to take your sorry ass in."
Casey couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips at Kelly's joking tone, the man shifting his weight between his feet before he nodded. "Yeah, yeah, you were just returning the favor." He teased back, Severide chuckling in agreement. "But I guess this is the end of an era… Us living together." Matt continued on, his words causing Kelly to look up. "Though I'm sure Kidd will be happy."
"Yeah, but it's just for a little bit… You're not moving out, you'll just be gone for a few months."
"No, I know, I won't be gone too long… But when Gabby and I get back, we'll be looking for a place of our own again." He told him, Casey seeing the exact moment realization began to set in before he gave him a slight nod. "We don't want to crowd you guys here, although we might need to stay a bit until we find a place." He added with a soft grin, Severide matching his look.
"You two can stay as long as you need, you know that." He reminded him, Kelly looking around the near empty room for a moment before finding Casey's gaze. "...Though I guess this is kind of like a goodbye, to the three of us living together." He spoke, Matt drawing in a slow breath before he nodded.
"Yeah, it is." He responded quietly, Casey glancing down towards his bags as things went quiet between them for a moment, the shift in how things would be now truly beginning to settle in, as once Casey got on that plane things would never be the same.
Though Severide knew that was for the best, and as long as his friends were happy, that was all that mattered to him.
"But it's for a good reason." Severide finally spoke up, his words causing Matt to look his way with a brightness shining in his eyes. "I know I told you this already, but you and Dawson… it's what's right, man. So even though things are changing around here, it's for the best reason, Casey."
His understanding words meant more to him than he could ever express, as even though anyone else's opinions would never change his mind, he was grateful that Severide and everyone else could see why he was doing this. That they got why he had to leave for a few months, both men sharing a soft nod before Casey leaned in to give him a hug. It was quick, but said all it needed to as Severide patted his back just before they separated.
"Alright, enough of that." He spoke with a huff, Matt grinning softly as Kelly reached down to grab one of his suitcases, before heading towards the door. "We gotta get you out of here and to the airport, so you can get back to your girl."
Matt's grin widened just as Severide walked out into the living room, the man shaking his head lightly before he grabbed his two other bags and headed after him, Casey more than ready to get out of here and do exactly what Kelly said.
"Do you need any help with your bags, Casey?" Antonio asked as Matt pulled his second suitcase out of the backseat, the two men standing in the quiet parking lot as the sun was just barely starting to rise. It was still early, though from the humidity in the air you wouldn't be able to tell, Casey shaking his head before closing the car door.
"I'm fine, I've got it." He replied as he slung his duffle bag over his shoulder, that combined with his two suitcases all he had with him. "You've done enough already… I'm sorry again, for you having to get up so early." He apologized, despite the fact he'd told him that once when they'd left the airport. "But I wasn't sure how much a ride out here would cost, and I knew Gabby couldn't come get me, or that would kind of defeat the purpose of me flying in early." He added on, the older brother giving him an understanding nod as he leaned his body weight back against the car.
Though the day Casey was coming back into town wasn't a secret, Antonio knew that his early arrival was meant to be a surprise for his younger sister. That Casey had told her he wasn't getting in until later this afternoon, even though the plan had always been for him to arrive early this morning before coming back to her home to surprise her. But in order to do that, he'd need a ride, which is where Antonio came in.
"But really, thank you for helping out." Matt continued on after a moment, Antonio unable to miss the soft smile resting over his face. "I know I wanted to surprise her and everything, but I also wanted her to be able to get a little bit more sleep while she could… I know there for a while, she wasn't getting a lot of rest." He added on, Casey knowing he didn't need to go into much more detail as Antonio already knew a lot of how Gabby had been doing during their rough patch.
"She really wasn't, but I get it man." He replied, Casey running his tongue along the inside of his lip before he nodded. "Though you don't need to thank me, I don't mind coming to get you… I just know how excited Gabs is gonna be to see you." He spoke, his words causing that small grin to return to Casey's face. "...Though she might kill us both for not letting her be the one to pick you up at the airport."
Casey stifled a soft laugh before he nodded in response. "Yeah, you're probably not wrong." He joked back, Antonio offering him a similar smirk before he shook his head. "But hopefully she'll be more focused on the fact that I'm here, and that'll outweigh everything else." He added with a chuckle, the older man across from him nodding in agreement.
"It definitely will." Antonio told him, his voice a bit more serious than had it been just seconds prior. "I know it's only been a few days since you were last here, but even while you've been gone, she's just… She does better when you're here with her." He confided to the man who used to be his brother, Casey's face beginning to fall as he instinctively looked up towards her apartment.
"I mean, she's Gabby. She's strong, and she can be on her own. But it's pretty obvious how much happier she is when you're here, and how much better it is for her when you're together." He continued on, Matt drawing in a deep breath before a small, sad smile formed over his lips. "And I guess the point of all this is I just wanna say thank you…"
Casey's eyebrows began to furrow, as those words weren't entirely expected, Matt waiting to see what else he had to say as his attention was back on Antonio.
"Thank you for choosing this, for choosing her." He told him, Casey's eyes falling closed for a split second as everything the older Dawson was saying felt as if it were hitting him square in the chest. "And for leaving behind Chicago for a while, so you two didn't have to be apart anymore… I know that was a big decision for you to make, but I also know how much Gabby needed it… She needs you here, with her. She needs you, and you showed up for her." He breathed out, Matt having to force himself to swallow back the emotions rising in his throat as Antonio gave him a soft smile. "So I just want to thank you, man."
Matt blinked quickly a few times before he nodded, the man drawing in a slow, steadying breath as his hand gripped onto his suitcase a little tighter. He wasn't sure what to say, or how to respond to Antonio's words, as he hadn't been expecting them, the admission hitting him harder than he anticipated.
But once it all began to settle in, a small smile began to appear over Casey's lips, Antonio still matching his look while he stood leaned against the car with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I… I'll always choose her." He spoke softly, though his voice was full of conviction as the two men locked gazes. "And I know- I fucked up in the past by not doing that. By not choosing her, and by not putting her first. And looking back on it, I know I lost sight of what was important… But I'm never gonna let that happen again. So this, choosing to come here for her, so we could be together… I didn't even hesitate. Because I know this is where she needs to be. I couldn't let her give these last few months of this up, not for me. But I also refused to be away from her any more than we already had… Not when I could see how badly us being apart was hurting her. How it was hurting the both of us."
His words were coming out quickly, like his mind could hardly finish forming the thought before they rushed from his lips. But Antonio was able to follow him clearly, the older man nodding with a sad, yet proud look in his eye, as he knew how sincere Casey was.
"So yeah, I guess I made the decision to come here, but it didn't even feel like there was a choice I had to make. Because all I want is to be with her, it's all I've ever wanted… and if I had to, I'd make the same choice over and over again."
"I know you would." Antonio replied with a slight nod. "And I know I wasn't the easiest on you, when things were really hard…"
"Yeah, I kind of deserved it, though." He interjected with a soft grin, Antonio scoffing lightly before shaking his head. "Even if I didn't want to hear it at the time."
"I'm not so sure that's true. I know the distance was hard on the both of you, but I took a lot of that out on you, and that wasn't fair." He responded, Matt holding his tongue as his head fell to the side. "I am sorry for that… But I know how much you love my sister, and how you want this all to work. You coming here proves that… And I'm just glad you're gonna be here, Casey."
"I am, too." He told him, the weight of their conversation feeling a little heavy for this early in the morning. But he knew it was one they needed to have, as neither of them had really cleared the air about all of this since he and Gabby got back together. "I'm so excited to be here, with her… I can't even tell you how much."
"Yeah, I have a pretty good idea though, from the way you couldn't sit still on the drive over here." He countered with a laugh, Matt shaking his head slightly as he knew Antonio had a point. That his eagerness to get back here with Gabby had resulted in a few lingering nerves ever since he got off that plane, ones that were hard to miss as Casey had been as close to giddy as one could get from the moment Antonio saw him. "I know you're looking forward to seeing her… Which, speaking of, I guess I'll go ahead and get out of here, as long as you're sure you don't need any help."
"I'm good, really… And yeah, I should probably get up there. I'm pretty exhausted." He responded, a slight yawn leaving his mouth almost as if on cue, as just the sheer mention of his tiredness was enough to make him want to fall asleep right this second.
"I bet you are." Antonio replied, as he had learned on the drive here how Casey hadn't gotten hardly any sleep during his flight. Between his excitement to get here, and the heavy amounts of turbulence they'd flown through, Matt had mentioned a few times how he only got maybe half an hour of rest the entire night, Antonio a little unsure of how he was still upright at this point.
Though he knew a lot of it had to do with who was just inside that apartment.
"And I know you're ready to go see my sister," He continued on, seeing the sheepish grin that began to appear over Matt's face before his head angled towards the ground. "So I'll let you go… Try and get some rest, Casey."
"I will, yeah." He responded, before taking a slight step forward to give the man a quick hug. "And thank you, again… for everything." Matt added, his words holding a deeper meaning than just the drive from the airport. And Antonio knew it.
Nodding slowly, the older man patted his back before they separated, offering him a small smile before he began to move back around to the driver's seat. "I'll see you all later… It's great to have you here, man." He reiterated one last time, the two of them sharing a few last goodbyes before they went their separate ways, Antonio heading back off to his place while Matt began the trek towards Gabby's apartment.
It wasn't a long walk, but his luggage made it difficult to get up the stairs as it took him a little longer than it normally would to get to her door. Especially given how tired he was. But he pushed through, as the closer he got, the more excited he began to feel, the mere thought of seeing her again sending a rush of adrenaline through his system.
He knew it had only been a few days, and that they'd spent much more time apart than that in the past, but the length of time never seemed to matter, as he missed her every moment he had to be away from her. Whether it was two days, or two months, it was hard on the both of them whenever they were separated.
But that wasn't going to be their lives anymore. And every time he was reminded of that, he couldn't help the overwhelming sense of peace that filled his body as he knew everything was going to be so much different for them now. There'd be no more living off phone calls and text messages, no more trips back and forth, and going months with being thousands of miles apart.
All of that was behind them now, because he was here with her. And as he stood here in front of her door- their door, the reality of that hit him all over again, the soft smile on his face beginning to grow as he couldn't even begin to explain how grateful he was to be here right now.
Placing his bag down on the ground, he fished around in his pockets for a moment before he found what he was looking for, Casey pulling out his keys before carefully sliding the correct one into the lock and pushing the door open.
And just as he expected, he was met by nothing but complete silence, the only noise in the apartment coming from the air conditioner running as a rush of cold air began pumping out through the doorway. Gathering up his things, Matt stepped inside the home he had come to know well, before closing and locking the door behind him and placing his things down on the ground.
With each movement he made, he did his best to stay quiet, as he was sure there was one very important person sleeping just in the next room, and the last thing he wanted to do was wake her up. Not when it was still this early, as Matt knew she needed as much rest as she could get. So for now, he'd let her sleep, Casey emptying out his pockets and discarding his shoes before walking further into the place that would be their home for the next four months.
He knew there wasn't much he could do right now, as his options were limited while she rested, but that didn't stop him from continuing through the apartment and towards her open bedroom door, as he was unable to wait any longer to see her. Even if she was asleep, he wanted to at least check in on her and make sure she was alright before settling in, Matt slowly and quietly making his way into the room.
And the second he saw her, the smile on his face grew even wider, Casey's eyes moving over her still form while she laid in the middle of the bed, the man beyond glad to see her resting. Though as he watched her, it only took a moment for him to realize that she was leaning more towards his side, her head resting on what had been his pillow while she was surrounded by a mess of sheets and blankets. Given the temperature in the apartment, he knew she would've been freezing without them, the sound of her soft snores hitting his ears as he couldn't ignore how familiar this all felt.
Coming into their room, seeing her huddled underneath a mound of blankets while she slept peacefully; it was the same sight he'd woken up to for years. The same sight that for a time, he never thought he'd go without. And one he'd missed so deeply in all their time apart. But he pushed those thoughts from his mind, Matt choosing to focus on how still and content she looked right now, as getting to see her like this was one of the most endearing things in the world.
And it was something he'd never get tired of.
But despite how much he loved the view, he knew he probably shouldn't stand here watching her for the rest of the morning, Matt releasing a soft breath as he spared one last look in her direction before slowly heading over towards the dresser.
He knew there wasn't much he could do while she was asleep, but despite the noise it might make, there was one thing he was desperate for right now; and that was a shower.
After being up all night, spending the whole evening on a plane and going in and out of airports, he felt absolutely disgusting. So before he did anything else, he wanted to take a shower and wash all the grime off of him, Matt being as quiet as he possibly could while he opened up the top drawer and pulled out a pair of boxers.
He wasn't entirely sure what all would be on the agenda for this morning, considering Gabby had no idea he would be here, so he figured that was enough for him to wear around the apartment, Matt closing back the drawer before making his way out of the bedroom and towards the bathroom for his shower.
But he didn't leave the room without sparing one last glance towards Gabby, the man hit with an abundance of gratitude all over again, as he couldn't wait to spend the next few months here with the love of his life.
And what made it even better, is that he knew Gabby was just as excited as he was.
Warmth.
That's what she felt as she slowly, and begrudgingly, came into consciousness, a soft groan escaping the back of Gabby's throat as she leaned back into whatever was so comfortable, her mind still in a bit of a fog as she was hardly coherent. She didn't know what time it was, and she didn't care to find out as all she wanted right now was to get some more rest. Especially now that her bed was much more cozy than she remembered when she fell asleep, Gabby sure she could sleep for hours as there was a familiarity to the comfort she was feeling right now.
But that feeling began to go away the second she registered a hand sliding over her waist, Gabby's entire body tensing as the unexpected visitor pulled her closer towards them, as she knew there hadn't been anyone in this bed with her when she fell asleep last night.
Which meant there certainly shouldn't be anyone here now.
"It's just me." A soothing deep voice whispered after a second, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing as her tired mind tried to make sense of what was happening. But despite her confusion, her body started to react before her brain could as she slowly started to relax, Dawson leaning back into that recognizable warmth as he tightened his arm around her waist. "...It's Matt."
A soft smile formed over her face when she heard him, her back pressing into his chest as she felt him place a gentle kiss over her shoulder, her thoughts still racing as she couldn't quite understand what was happening.
"Matt?" She sighed out with clear confusion in her words, feeling him press another kiss to her shoulder before nodding.
"Hi baby."
His voice caused the smile on her face to widen, Gabby's brain working slowly as it was gradually coming together in her mind as to what was going on.
Matt was here, with her, even though he wasn't supposed to be. She was supposed to pick him up from the airport in a few hours, then they'd go straight to the work site. His flight wasn't meant to take off until this morning, as Gabby had planned everything out with him multiple times. But none of that seemed to matter anymore as she felt his warm breath hitting her neck, the hand rubbing lightly over her stomach just further proof that her mind wasn't playing tricks on her.
This wasn't a dream. It wasn't wishful thinking. And the more than began to settle in, the more alert she became, Gabby's eyes snapping open when it finally hit her.
He was here.
He was back in Puerto Rico, for good, a huge grin covering her face before she began to shift around to face him.
It was a little difficult with his arms around her, but he loosened his grip enough for her to move, Gabby turning as quickly as she could while she heard him laugh softly, Casey clearly amused by her eagerness. But his gentle teasing didn't even faze her, as all she could focus on was him and the fact that he was here.
The second she saw him, it was impossible for him to miss the way her eyes lit up, Gabby resting on her elbows as her gaze traced over his face, like she was still trying to believe what she was seeing. But even through her confusion, he could see how happy she was, the bright smile over her lips making his heart swell in his chest as he was sure he couldn't be more in love with the woman lying next to him.
"...You're here." She breathed out after a moment, her hand resting over his bare chest as his arm snaked around her, Casey nodding slightly as he began to run his hand up and down her lower back.
"I'm here." He repeated, watching her eyebrows furrow slightly before her mouth opened, like she was wanting to say something. But then it quickly fell closed, as if she wasn't sure what to ask him.
"I… How did you get here? What are you doing here?" She eventually voiced, her words coming out quickly as he knew exactly what she was wanting to know.
"I got an earlier flight." He answered simply, Gabby running her tongue along her bottom lip while her hand rubbed over his chest, the woman feeling his palm slide up underneath the t-shirt covering her body before he gently began to stroke her skin. "I enlisted the help of Antonio to come and get me, so you could rest… And also I wanted to surprise you." He added on with a sheepish grin, Gabby unable to stop herself from leaning closer to him as she was becoming more and more awake by the second.
"So I decided to come a little early, and get settled in while you slept… But then I couldn't wait any longer to see you, so I came and laid down and-"
Casey's words were cut off by her launching herself into his arms, a deep laugh escaping the back of his throat as she held onto him as tightly as she could, Gabby's head digging into his neck as she moved her body to rest on top of him. She was practically straddling him at this point, but Matt had no complaints as his hands went to her sides before wrapping around her back, Casey intent on keeping her close as the physical contact was clearly something she needed as much as he did.
"...You're here." She murmured against his neck, Matt smiling softly before turning to press a soft kiss to the side of her head.
"I'm here." He replied as he tightened his grip.
They both knew this day was coming. That from the second he left, he'd be back, and they'd no longer have to be apart anymore. But until now, it had all just been something in the back of their minds. It was a day to look forward to, and something they were eager for. But it wasn't their reality; not until now.
And now that it was, it's like it was hitting Gabby all over again, the absolute joy she felt in having him here with her something she couldn't explain.
"And I'm not going anywhere, not again." He reminded her, Gabby nodding a few times before she slowly pulled back.
Her body was still on his, but she lifted herself up enough to be able to see him, the goofy grin appearing across his face flooding her body with an unmistakable feeling of warmth as he continued to move his hands over her waist.
"This makes me so happy." She told him, Matt giving her side a slight squeeze before he brought a hand up towards her face, his fingers brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear before he cradled the side of her head.
"I know, and I'm happy, too." He agreed softly.
Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby's eyes moved over his features once more before she leaned down to capture his lips in a slow, passion-filled kiss, Matt moving with her instantly as he tightened his hold on her waist. Her hands were pushed down against the mattress beneath him, resting on either side of his body while he held her as close to himself as physically possible, both of them just relishing in the feeling of being with each other again as Casey had been waiting for this moment ever since he got back here.
"God, I love you." He whispered the second she pulled back to catch her breath, Matt opening his eyes to find a soft smile resting over her face, her head lulled to the side slightly while she took a few deep breaths.
"...I love you, too." She murmured, her eyes slowly opening to find him watching her as he ran one of his hands along the back of her head. "And I'm so glad you're back, these last few days felt like forever."
A soft chuckle left the back of his throat, Matt holding onto her head while his other hand started rubbing up and down her back, the movement causing her t-shirt to ride up as she hovered just inches above him. "I know what you mean, I hate being away from you… But everything in Chicago is taken care of." He told her, not missing the way her smile started to grow. "They've found the firefighter that's gonna be covering for me, and I talked to everyone at the house… They're really happy for us." Matt added on, even though he and Gabby had already talked a little bit about it over the phone.
"But everything there is settled, and now we can just focus on these next few months here, without having to be away from each other." He finished, Matt matching her grin just before she leaned in to give him another kiss, her actions conveying more than words ever could as she relaxed down into him.
But that was all he needed, as he knew exactly what she was feeling in this moment, Matt's hand grasping her shirt in his grip just as her lips parted a bit more, the two deepening their kiss as they were desperate to feel one another.
And that sense of desperation only continued to grow as the seconds passed by, the intensity of their movements picking up as she moved her hand to cup the side of his neck, Matt doing all he could to hold her body down against his while their lips stayed pressed together. They both were enjoying the pace they'd set, Matt slowly feeling his exhaustion beginning to melt away as her free hand began to trail down his chest, Gabby's long night of rest proving to be useful now as she was more than ready for whatever direction their morning would be headed in.
But by the neediness in his movements, and his growing desire for her that she could feel starting to press into her thigh, Dawson had a pretty good idea of how they'd be spending their time together before having to head into work later this afternoon. And after spending the last few days away from him, there was nothing she wanted more than to be with him, and show him just how much she'd missed him.
When air started to become a necessity Gabby pulled back, their chests heaving as they fought to catch their breaths, though Matt never let her go too far as he was determined to keep her close to him. But Gabby had other plans, as she slid her hands to his chest before slowly pushing herself up, her body resting on top of his while she sat herself up in his lap. And while the position was comfortable for her, it was hard for her to miss the groan that left his lips when she relaxed, the pressure against his groin obviously something he was feeling as she slid her hands up and down his bare torso.
"Gabby…" He spoke quietly, her bottom lip tucking between her teeth while she began to scratch lightly over his skin.
Her legs resting on either side of him helped to keep her balanced, Matt's hands instinctively moving back towards her as he gradually opened his eyes, the sight of her on top of him causing more of the blood in his body to rush south. Especially when his gaze moved downwards to focus on her waist, his mouth nearly going dry as he watched the t-shirt that was too big for her hang down off her body, her hips peaking out on either side while the excess material bunched down in front of her.
It was a sight he'd probably seen hundreds of times, but it was one he absolutely adored as he reached his hands out towards her, his palms running up and down her bare thighs as the feeling of her warm skin on him caused the muscles in his lower stomach to tighten. It was almost intoxicating, having her so close to him as he could feel himself getting lost in her, but it was a feeling he craved, Matt's gaze raking back up her body before locking eyes with her.
Neither of them said a word for a moment, Gabby's chest still moving up and down rapidly as she felt heat rush through his body under his stare. His eyes were dark, and full of want, Gabby letting her teeth graze along her bottom lip before she pushed her hips down into his.
The movement elicited another deep, low groan from him, his eyes closing for a moment while he tried to keep himself under control. Though with the way she kept moving it was nearly impossible, Matt forcing out a breath to steady himself before he slowly looked back at her, the man seeing a devilish grin appear over her lips before she lifted her hands back towards herself.
Before he could really even register her movements, her hands had grabbed onto the ends of her t-shirt and pulled it up over her head, her top half suddenly bare to him as she tossed the material to the ground. The second he could see her, his eyes immediately moved towards her chest, his hands sliding up from her legs over her stomach, Matt not stopping his movements until he was cupping her breasts in his palms.
A soft moan left her lips, Gabby placing one hand over his before she leaned forward slightly, their gazes catching each other once more as that proud grin from moments ago had been replaced by a soft, gentle smile. One that made his entire body feel weak, as his thumb lightly stroked her skin.
"...I love you so much." She breathed out once more, her voice holding onto much more emotion than he expected as she leaned a bit closer to him, a single hand on his chest helping to keep her up as he kept his hands on her, Gabby's hair falling over her shoulder as her eyes traced along his face. "Thank you for being here."
He didn't get a chance to respond to her before her lips were on his once more, their movements a bit slower than they had been moments prior as her body pressed into his. And from then on, there was no more than needed to be said between them, the two continuing on as they focused on nothing but each other.
Within minutes, they'd managed to remove the few remaining pieces of clothing between them, every thought and feeling they had being put into this moment as they bared themselves to one another, just like they had so many times before. But their time together now was something else entirely, as they knew they had finally gotten back to where they once were.
That after all they'd been through, all the ups and downs, and challenges they'd faced, none of that seemed to matter anymore. Because they had finally made it back to where they'd been before; they were together, they had each other. And there was nothing that could keep them separated any more.
And it was something neither of them ever wanted to take for granted.
Casey's eyes focused out the window as they were driven through the streets of San Juan, his body nestled up between the car and Gabby while there was some soft chatter going on in the van around them. There were a few faces Matt recognized, and some he didn't, as they were driven to the work site, but with how tired he was after his long night, and his inability to get much rest this morning, he didn't do much to try and join in on any conversations.
Though despite how tired he still was right now, his morning with Gabby had been well worth it, a soft smile forming over his face as he thought back to their time together.
They spent the better part of the morning in bed together, before it was finally time to get up and force themselves to get ready, the couple having an easy lunch before taking a shower. Though Casey had already had one this morning, after his time with Gabby he knew he probably needed another one. And when she'd asked him to join her, that was never a request he'd say no to regardless, the pair thoroughly enjoying more time spent together underneath the warm water before they'd finally managed to get ready.
And after quickly packing up some bags for their next few weeks that were going to be spent at the work site, they were ready to get back over here, Matt breathing in deeply as he kept looking out the window, his mind continuing to wander off while he prepared himself for the rest of the day ahead.
"...I'm sorry I had to go back to work today."
Gabby's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts, Matt turning his head to find her watching him with a gentle grin on her face, the sight enough to make his own smile widen as he felt her hand reach out to rest over his leg.
"You mean we had to go back to work today." He corrected her, Matt watching as her eyes lit up as she nodded slowly, before resting her cheek against his shoulder. "But it's okay, I'm excited to get back there and help. I'm just a little tired." He told her, as he knew Gabby had likely picked up on how quiet he was. "It's nothing a nice night in the tent can't solve, though." He added on with a smirk, Gabby releasing a soft scoff while she leaned further into his side.
"Yeah, I know you love that tent." She replied with a laugh, the proud look in his eye never faltering as she continued. "I'm not entirely convinced that's not the main reason you came here…"
"It definitely helped sway my decision." He joked without missing a beat, Gabby shaking her head in amusement just as the van came to stop once they'd reached their destination. "We've had a lot of fun in that tent." He spoke, his voice dropping considerably as Gabby moved to pinch his side lightly.
"Mhmm, we sure have. And I'm sure we'll have a lot more." She told him with a raised eyebrow, the challenging look in her eye enough to make his mouth go dry, before her face softened after a moment. "But for now, it's time to get to work… Are you ready?" Gabby asked him as everyone else in the van began to unload, Matt laughing softly at her quick shift in demeanor before he nodded.
"More than ready." He replied, his words causing a genuine smile to form over her face before they began to get down out of the van.
Gabby climbed out first, Matt following behind her as the intense heat and humidity nearly smacked him in the face the second his feet hit the dirt ground. But oddly enough it was a nice feeling, Matt shouldering both their bags as he looked around at the familiar site, his eyes glancing over all the people moving around in front of him as he knew this is what a lot of his life was going to be like for the next few months.
And he couldn't have been more excited about it.
