Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all.
There were a few of you asking for some M Rated scenes to be incorporated into this story, and while I usually don't put them in this one, I decided to add one in this chapter. It's not anything too crazy, but I hope you all don't mind.
I hope each of you are doing okay, and staying safe. Thanks for reading!
Chapter Eighty Eight
Casey rolled his key ring between his fingers as he walked down the hallway towards his front door, the exhausted man more than ready to finally be home after his long day across town, the construction job he'd agreed to do this afternoon having taken many more hours than he originally planned for. A heavy yawn escaped his lips as he shoved his key into lock, Matt turning it quickly and pushing the door open, the familiar surroundings of their inviting apartment welcoming him home as he stepped inside, Casey quickly closing the door and locking it in place behind him. Stepping further into the room, he discarded his keys and wallet on the small entryway table, Matt sparing a quick glance around the corner while he kicked off his worn boots.
"Gabby?" He called into the relatively quiet apartment, Matt seeing the TV still on in the empty room, the cartoon surely meant for Sofia softly filtering through the air as he continued his path through the living room, the man going in search of his family. "Baby?" He tried again, glancing to the clock on the wall before moving towards the kitchen. But as he got closer, he heard the soft sound of the shower running, Matt changing his course of direction towards their bedroom as he rolled out his stiff neck.
As he stepped into their room, the noise of the shower got louder, Matt moving his hands down towards his waist as he began to undo his belt buckle. Casey slowed his steps to complete his task before tossing his belt down onto the bench at the end of their bed, a small smile forming over his face when the sound of his wife's soft singing filled his ears.
It was something she'd started doing more often recently, Gabby singing to little Sofia any time their daughter needing soothing. It was something their baby absolutely loved ever since she was born, but lately she'd become even more captivated by the sound of her mother's singing voice, and it was the quickest way the parents knew how to calm their baby down whenever she was anxious.
Matt's smile grew as he walked into the bathroom, the husband hanging back by the door as his wife and daughter soon came into view. He could see them through the slightly fogged shower door, Gabby unaware of his presence as she continued softly singing to their little girl while she cradled Sofia to her chest. Peeling his t-shirt from his body, Matt tossed it to the ground by the sink before walking closer to the shower, his hands moving towards his pants as he began working on getting those off as well. He paused long enough to kick his jeans off, his grin continuing to spread across his face as Gabby was still oblivious that he was home, Matt taking a second to enjoy getting to see her and their daughter while she was completely in the moment.
Not wanting to scare her while she was holding their daughter, Matt reached out towards the door handle before slowly pulling it open, the noise quickly gaining her attention as her head snapped towards him. He saw the second realization settled in as she stopped singing, Matt pulling the door the rest of the way open while she carefully turned towards him, the water falling down her back.
"Hey baby." She greeted softly, rubbing her hand up and down Sofia's wet back. "I didn't hear you come in."
Matt saw his wife's body shiver slightly, the abrupt change in temperature sending a chill through her as Sofia nuzzled against her chest.
"Did you just get back?" She questioned, Matt nodding as his hands moved towards the waistband of his boxers, Gabby raising her eyebrow slightly at the movement.
"Would you and Sof mind some company?" He asked with a gentle smile, Gabby shaking her head as a grin of her own formed over her face.
"Never." She responded verbally, Matt quickly sliding down his boxers and kicking them off to the side before he stepped into the shower, closing the glass door behind him. The two quickly maneuvered themselves in the space, Gabby moving so Matt could stand underneath the steady stream of water, knowing he'd want to clean himself up as soon as he could after his long day of work. "How was the job?"
"It was good." He answered as lathered shampoo through his short hair, Gabby nodding before looking down towards Sofia, seeing those familiar bright blue eyes staring up at her.
"Hi baby." She murmured, stroking the back of her hand against Sofia's soft cheek, Gabby missing the loving look in her husband's eyes as he watched the two of them. "Were you able to finish up everything?" Gabby's words were now clearly aimed at Matt, Casey nodding as she lifted her head to find his warm gaze, Gabby looking from one pair of engaging blue eyes to another.
"Mhmm, I got everything done." He replied as he continued washing up.
"Good, that's good." She responded, Gabby taking a step closer to him as Sofia's eyes darted around the small space. "Well, you didn't miss much around here, just Sof and I hanging out."
"Oh yeah?" He questioned with a gleam in his eyes, Gabby's grin growing as she gave him a nod.
"Yeah… We played with some blocks, Sof kept trying to get into anything she could find. She took a great nap."
"God, I'm so jealous." He breathed out, Gabby shaking her head in amusement as he reached his arm out, silently encouraging her to continue closing the distance between them, Gabby obliging quickly. "Hey Sof." He greeted, the little girl smiling up at her father when she saw him, sounds of excitement escaping her lips as she reached out for her dad. "Yeah, you want Daddy, don't you? Come here, baby." He reached out for their growing girl, the parents completing the handoff carefully before Matt held the baby against his chest. "Did you miss me today? Cause I missed you, and Momma." He spoke to her, Sofia grabbing ahold of his finger as she waved her arm around, Matt pressing a kiss to the side of her wet head.
"Yeah, she did… We both did." Gabby answered, Matt flashing her a smile as he gently bounced Sofia in his arms. "I'm not sure if you're hungry, but there's a plate for you in the oven." She told him, Matt groaning in satisfaction as he nodded.
"I'm starving, thank you." He replied gratefully, Gabby giving him a nod before reaching for her shampoo, the mom taking the time to wash her hair now that her arms were free. "Sorry I missed dinner, and that I was gone all day. I had no idea the job was gonna take that long." He apologized, unable to stop his wandering eyes from trailing over his wife's form as she washed her hair, Gabby seeing the slight smirk tugging on his lips.
"Eyes up here." She teased him, Matt's smile widening as his gaze moved up her body before finding her eyes, Gabby shaking her head slightly as he ran his teeth over his bottom lip. "Try and remember that our daughter is right there, Matt."
"Oh, I know… But I'm just planning for later, once she's asleep." He replied quickly, Gabby scoffing lightly before gently tapping his hip with her palm, signaling him to move so she could wash the shampoo from her hair.
"Yeah, we'll see about that." She said under her breath, Matt grinning before returning his attention to Sofia, the baby still focused on playing with her father's hand. "But I'm glad you're home, that'll make bedtime a little easier." Gabby told him, moving away from his less than appropriate conversation, Matt giving her a nod as he kept a firm grip on their daughter.
"I am too, I hate missing putting her to bed." He responded, his gaze moving back and forth between Sofia and Gabby. "How'd dinner go, though?" He questioned, finding Gabby's gaze. "Did she eat okay? I know she- Ouch!" Matt quickly pulled his hand back when he felt Sofia bit down onto his finger, Gabby suppressing a laugh as the baby began fussing. "Sof, you can't bite Daddy." He chastised gently, rubbing his thumb over the side of his index finger where there were the imprints of two little baby teeth.
Her teeth had begun to break through a few weeks ago, and now their ten month old daughter was sporting two very small, yet very sharp, teeth on her bottom row; teeth she was putting to very good use with whatever she could get near her mouth. With her actively teething, she was in some discomfort a lot of the time, meaning she loved having things to chew and gnaw on, especially when she'd gone awhile without it. And sometimes, him and Gabby had become what she'd try to chew on to soothe her discomfort.
"I thought we talked about this, Sof." He continued while he adjusted the baby in his arms, Sofia's fussing continuing as Matt rubbed along her back. "I told you, if you're gonna bite anyone, you bite Momma." He spoke sarcastically, Gabby narrowing her eyes.
"Ha ha." She replied dryly, Matt wearing a proud smile before lifting his hand up to the back of Sofia's head, the dad rubbing through her hair lightly. "But to answer your question, she ate very well." Gabby responded, Matt glancing down to his daughter as her whines slowly started to quiet down, Sofia having gotten distracted by the sound of her tiny hand smacking against his wet chest.
"Good."
"So well in fact, that's part of why we're in here." Gabby continued, Matt nodding understandingly. "She definitely made a mess, and got food on me in the process, so I figured a shower would be good. But she ate almost all her food."
"Yeah, I saw how messy the high chair was before I came in here." He replied with a soft grin. "But that's great, Sof. Good job, baby." He praised his daughter while she continued to smack against his chest, the baby laughing when water would bounce off his body.
The family continued on with their shower, Sofia loving playing with the water as it fell down in front of her, both Matt and Gabby fine to let her play for as long as she wanted, knowing the more energy she expelled now, the easier it would be to put her down to sleep later.
When it was time to finally get out, Matt stepped around Gabby, who was currently holding Sofia, and pressed his hand against the glass, the pressure causing the door to open. "I'm gonna go and get her ready for bed." He told his wife, Gabby nodding as she stood with her back under the warm stream of water.
As his feet landed on the soft rug, Matt reached for his towel that was hanging up by the shower, the man quickly drying himself off before tying the towel around his waist and turning back towards his girls. Reaching out to grab Sofia's small animal towel from the wall, Matt held it out before Gabby carefully handed their daughter over to him, the parents getting her bundled up in her towel so she wouldn't be too cold before Matt held her to his chest.
"I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Take your time." He encouraged her. "I'm just gonna go and get her changed." He spoke, Gabby giving him a nod before he shut the shower door and walked towards the bedroom.
Wanting to take care of Sofia first, once they were in the bedroom, Matt headed straight for the door, the father carrying his clean baby through their apartment towards her nursery. Padding across their hardwood floors, Matt soon made his way to their daughter's room, the soft light from her lamp illuminating the nursery as he carried her towards her dresser and placed her gently down on top of her changing pad.
Casey began going through the routine of getting little Sofia ready for bed, the father making sure to dry her off completely before opening up the top drawer and pulling out a fresh diaper. As he continued through the process, he stopped to play with her every few moments, Matt pressing soft kisses to her stomach as the baby squealed in delight, before he began lathering her body in lotion, making sure to massage her arms, legs, and stomach gently as he went.
By the time he got her into her onesie, nearly ten minutes had passed, Matt wanting to spend as much time with his baby as possible before they began to wind down for the night, after he'd missed out on most of the day with her. After zipping up the item of clothing covering her, Matt carefully picked Sofia up, cradling her against his chest before walking back out of the room, quickly finding his wife out on the couch. As he got closer, he took in her attire, Matt seeing her in one of his t-shirts and a pair of shorts, her damp hair hanging down over her shoulders.
"You mind watching her for a sec?" He asked as he came around the front of the couch, Gabby eyeing his current lack of dress before shaking her head, her smile widening as Matt handed their daughter off to her.
"Hello my sweet girl." She murmured, Sofia all but launching herself into her mother's arms, Matt waiting to make sure they were settled before he turned away from them, the father moving towards the bedroom so he could begin to get ready for bed as well.
Gabby rocked slowly in the glider set up in the corner of Sofia's room, the mom brushing her hand through her daughter's hair while the little girl nursed. It was getting late, or late for Sofia anyway, Gabby doing what she could to lull the baby to sleep, Sofia's hand gripping her mother's skin tightly while she fed. The only noise in the room was that of the sound machine they used to help their baby girl sleep through the night, the soft white noise that helped her rest better filling their ears as Sofia fought her exhaustion. Gabby could see her eyes slowly closing every few seconds before she'd become alert for a moment, the baby clearly not wanting to completely give in to her tiredness just yet.
While the baby kept nursing, Gabby looked up when she heard footsteps approaching, her eyes immediately finding her husband's as he stepped into the room, Matt wearing a soft smile on his face.
"Hey." He voiced softly, not wanting to disturb their daughter as he walked closer to the chair, Gabby flashing him a warm smile.
"Hi."
"She almost asleep?" Matt questioned, reaching out to rub his hand over the top of his wife's head before he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.
"She is, yeah." She replied as she felt Sofia lose her latch, the mom looking down to see her daughter nearly asleep. "You mind to put her to bed?"
"Of course not." He responded without hesitation, Gabby giving him an appreciative nod before they slowly transferred Sofia into his arms. She fussed at first, the baby tired and not liking her rest to be disturbed, but as Matt walked around the room, gently rocking her in his arms, she quickly settled, Sofia nuzzling into his chest as he moved around the room.
"Thank you." Gabby spoke after she'd adjusted her shirt, Matt nodding while the mom grabbed the baby monitor.
"It's no problem." He replied with a grin. "I'll be in there once she's asleep." He added, Gabby nodding before she headed for the door, leaving Matt and Sofia alone in the nursery.
Over the next few minutes, Matt continued to move around the room, trying to ensure that Sofia was sound asleep before he put her in the crib, the father knowing if he didn't, it would make this process ten times harder. He could feel his daughter's weight completely relaxed in his arms, Sofia's mouth open slightly as she was turned towards his chest, a soft smile forming over his face as he watched his sleeping baby.
As much as he didn't want to leave her, he knew he couldn't hold onto her all night, Matt waiting a few more long seconds to make sure she was still asleep before he walked towards her crib. Moving as carefully as he could, Matt gently placed the baby down in her bed, Sofia not moving a muscle as she continued to sleep peacefully. Reaching across the mattress, Matt grabbed the small plush teddy bear that was turned over in the corner and pulled it out of the crib, placing it on the footrest near him.
The stuffed animal, that had become a comfort item for their daughter, was something she always wanted to have around, Matt knowing she'd want it the second she woke up in the morning. She'd had the toy ever since she was born, Gabby and Matt not even able to remember who'd given it to her, but recently she'd grown quite attached to it. Especially when Matt or Gabby weren't around, Becca had told them how Sofia always wanted her teddy bear. And even when they were there, she still liked to have it at arm's length, the parents always making sure they had it when they went out, or their daughter would not be happy.
Sofia absolutely loved her little stuffed animal, and the parents were happy to make sure she always had access to it, except for when she was sleeping. Even though their daughter slept like a rock, and rarely moved around much, if at all, they didn't quite feel comfortable letting her sleep with things in her bed yet, so keeping her favorite toy near the crib would have to do, its placement on the footrest making it easily accessible for whichever parent would be up with her first.
Reaching down into the crib, Matt lightly ran his hand over the top of Sofia's head, the little girl sleeping right through the movement as he spent a few extra moments with his baby.
"Goodnight Sof." He murmured, stroking his thumb over her head before slowly pulling away. "Sweet dreams, baby."
With just her night light left on, Matt slowly backed out of the room, leaving her door slightly ajar before continuing back towards the living room, the father turning off the lights as he went aside from the one just in front of their entryway closet, the parents liking to have some light in the apartment for when they'd inevitably need to go check on Sofia during the night.
After checking to make sure their front door was locked, Matt continued through the living room, the man stopping to check the door to their courtyard before continuing towards the kitchen, Casey needing the assurance him and his family were secure inside their home. Once he'd checked all the doors and turned off all the lights, Matt headed towards their bedroom, a light yawn escaping his lips as he walked through the doorway. Gabby was already in bed, his wife sitting on top of the covers as she read her book, Matt grinning softly as he saw her bottom lip tucked between her teeth, clearly completely immersed in her book.
"Sof's asleep." He spoke up as he moved towards the bathroom, Matt seeing her lift her head up out of her book, giving him a nod.
"That's good… Hopefully she'll sleep through the night." She replied before looking back down to the page she was reading, Matt nodding as he continued into the bathroom, the man needing to finish up getting ready for bed before he could join his wife.
When he reemerged into the bedroom a few minutes later, Matt paused in the doorway as he saw Gabby in the same position he'd left her in, her legs bent while her book rested against her thighs, Matt unsure if she even realized he'd come back into the room. As he drew in a deep breath, he couldn't help but take a second to enjoy the view. At some point before getting into bed, she'd discarded the shorts she'd been wearing for most of the evening, leaving her in nothing but his shirt and a pair of underwear, her hair tucked behind her ear while she focused on the words in front of her. There was nothing special about her attire, or lack thereof, but Matt couldn't help but think she looked absolutely radiant as she sat there in his shirt.
And he knew she'd look even better once it was on the floor.
Deciding that sleep could wait, Matt peeled his t-shirt from his body, the material dropping silently to the ground as he walked towards the bed, Gabby still unaware of his actions. She had yet to look up at him, not even as the bed dipped when he climbed onto the mattress, Gabby too focused on the pages in front of her, until Matt grabbed the book and gently pulled it from her grasp.
"Hey, I was reading that." She whined before looking up, Gabby immediately seeing the want and desire in his darkened eyes, the wife cocking her head to the side as he leaned across her, placing her book down on the nightstand. Gabby took a slow breath as she felt his body heat hovering over her, the feeling gone as quickly as it came when Matt pulled back, his body weight resting over his heels as he stared at her. "Babe…"
Without saying a word, Matt placed his hands on her bare legs, his warm palms running over her smooth skin before sliding up to her hips, Gabby relishing in the feeling. Her eyes fell closed when she felt his hands slide up her hips underneath her shirt, Matt's fingers teasing the skin just above her underwear, before he gripped her waist and quickly slid her down the bed, the action taking her by surprise as a squeak left her lips, Gabby now flat on her back as Matt settled in front of her. Her breathing became shallow as he placed his hands on her knees, Matt nudging her legs apart, giving him room to settle in between them while he watched her. With the backs of her thighs resting against the tops of his, Matt leaned forward, grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it up until it rested just below her breasts, Gabby's breathing becoming quicker as he ran his hand along her abdomen.
"Baby…" She spoke again, Matt flashing her a knowing grin before he slowly leaned down and began peppering her stomach and rib cage with gentle, open-mouthed kisses, Gabby lifting her hand up to run through his short hair. Any skin he could find, his mouth was covering it, Gabby feeling that familiar warmth pool in her stomach as he toyed with the edge of her underwear, each of his kisses slow and deliberate. He could feel her scratching the side of his head lightly, Matt smirking when he felt her body tense underneath his touch, his simple kisses eliciting a strong reaction from her.
As he trailed his lips along the front of her stomach, moving from hip bone to hip bone, Matt slid the tips of his fingertips underneath the top of her underwear, gently lifting it up before letting it snap back against her skin. He repeated the action a few times before he hooked his fingers underneath the material and quickly pulled it down to her thighs, Gabby sucking in a sharp breath as she instinctively lifted her hips up off the bed. It took some maneuvering on his part, but he'd managed to get her underwear off her body, Matt tossing it to the floor before he began kissing his way back up her thighs, his hands rubbing up and down her legs.
When he got close to where she wanted him, Matt smirked before moving back up to her stomach, his grin widening when a soft groan of frustration left her lips, Gabby's eyes still clenched shut as she laid on her back. He let his hands roam her skin freely for a moment, Gabby drawing in slow, steady breaths as she focused on the feeling of her husband hovering over her, the woman content to let him proceed however he wanted, knowing both of them would thoroughly enjoy whatever he had in mind.
Matt stopped his movements when his lips got to just below her chest, the man pulling back and gently bringing her with him, Gabby watching him quizzically as they both sat up, unsure of what he was wanting. But her silent question was quickly answered when he yanked his shirt off her body, leaving her completely bare to him as he slowly guided her back down onto the bed, Gabby's chest heaving up and down as he quickly got rid of his boxers, leaving them both in the same state of undress.
As he drew in a deep breath, Matt took a moment to soak in the view, Gabby watching him closely as his eyes trailed over her body, his grin widening as he took her in before he looked back up at her.
"God, you're beautiful." He murmured, his words flooding her body with warmth before he leaned back over her, capturing her lips in his as his hands came out to steady himself against the mattress on either side of her head. Their movements started slow, Gabby moaning as she felt his warm skin against hers, before he gradually picked up the pace. She reluctantly pulled back when air became an issue, Matt moving his lips across her skin as she sucked in deep breaths, Gabby feeling her husband continue to move his lips further down her body as he kissed over her upper chest before moving down her breastbone. Knowing better than to focus on her chest for too long, Matt continued his path down her stomach, Gabby's breaths becoming more and more shallow as he got closer to her waist, his hand running lazily along the inside of her thigh.
He knew he was teasing her, Matt focusing on each and every reaction his movements were eliciting from her as his hand continued inching closer to where she wanted him. "Matt…" Her breathy voice caused the blood in his body to rush south, Matt sparing a glance up to his wife as he saw her hand gripping the comforter beneath them, her body trembling as she felt his breath on her. "Don't be mean." She groaned as she felt his hand ghost over her, Matt grinning as he pushed her legs apart even farther, giving him all the access he needed.
"I'm not being mean." He murmured, Gabby fidgeting underneath him as he adjusted his positioning above her.
"You are, you're-" She cut herself off as Matt slid a lone finger into her, Gabby sucking in a sharp breath as he slowly moved in and out of her.
"I'm what?" He asked her, keeping his pace painfully slow as he methodically moved his arm, his gaze flashing back up towards his wife as he saw her staring towards the ceiling, taking deep breaths.
"You know exactly what you're doing." She bit out in frustration, a proud smirk covering his face as he pulled back completely. A displeased groan left her lips, Gabby's body showing just how irritated she was by his constant teasing.
"Yeah, I do." He replied softly against the front of her hip, Matt grazing his teeth over her skin as he slid two fingers back into her, hearing her breath catch in her throat as he began moving a bit quicker. Before she could say anything else, his mouth moved to the most sensitive part of her body, short whines escaping her lips as he nipped at her skin, Matt doing everything he knew she liked as he continually picked up speed.
"God- Matt…" She choked out, her mind in a haze as pleasure consumed her, Matt taking his time as he worked diligently. While he knew exactly what to do to help her reach the edge, he held back slightly, Matt knowing she loved when he worked her up like this, even though she'd rarely admit to it.
It almost felt like time was standing still, the passing minutes feeling like hours as Gabby's hand moved up to his head, gripping his short hair tightly in her fingers as he continued to build up his pace, her mind focused on nothing but Matt when her release hit her suddenly. It took her and Matt both by surprise, but he continued on through her finish as her body writhed around underneath him, an almost unbearable feeling of pleasure coursing through her as heavy pants and whines left her lips.
Her thighs were trembling as Matt gradually eased her down from her high, her grip on his hair loosening as her hands collapsed down onto the mattress beside her, all modesty long gone as her body tried to recover from her husband's efforts. While she continued taking deep breaths, Gabby felt him begin kissing his way back up her body, his movements much more tame this time around as his lips eventually made his way back to her neck, her shaky breaths hitting his shoulder as he marked her skin.
Rubbing his hand over her stomach, Matt waited for the signal she was good to continue before he hovered himself over her, Gabby's legs hooked up around his waist as his hands rested on either side of her head.
"I love you." He murmured, his smile widening at the lazy grin that covered her face, Gabby bringing her arms up around his back, effectively pulling him closer.
"I love you, too." She responded, Matt lifting one hand up to brush her hair away from her face, the look of love shining in her eyes flooding his chest with warmth. As her hands roamed over his back, her fingers lingered over the burn scars covering different patches of his skin, Gabby flashing him a comforting smile before he reached down in between them and lined himself up to her entrance, Matt slowly sinking into her.
She drew in a deep breath as he stalled inside of her, Matt pressing kisses against her jaw as he waited for the go ahead to continue, which he soon got as Gabby rubbed her hand along his lower back, giving him a nod before he slowly began moving. They started slow, both of them just wanting to completely enjoy the moment as his lips found hers, Matt swallowing her moans as his body completely covered her.
Gradually, they picked up their pace together, Gabby tightening her legs around his waist to keep him close as he thrust in and out of her, her hands sliding to his upper back as she began clawing at his skin, her nails leaving their marks as Matt began kissing her neck. It felt as if with each thrust, he was gaining speed, Gabby's teeth sinking into his shoulder while he moved quickly, Matt keeping himself balanced as he felt himself nearing the edge of release.
They continued moving together, both of them falling into their familiar roles as they dedicated themselves to this moment, Matt and Gabby getting completely lost in one another while doing everything in their power to hold onto this time together for as long as they possibly could.
Gabby turned around to place her knife in the sink before returning to her spot at the counter, the paramedic tuning out the chatter around her as she picked up a piece of apple off her plate, Dawson taking a bite out of it before returning her attention to the email pulled up on her phone. Her eyes danced across the screen, taking in the information she needed before continuing to scroll down, Gabby popping the remaining bite of fruit into her mouth as she crossed her foot over her ankle, completely oblivious to her surroundings. As she continued to look through the page of information sent to her, she mindless snacked on the food she'd prepared herself, Gabby alternating between taking bites of her sandwich, and the apples and peanut butter she'd put on the side, the paramedic hoping she'd be able to finish at least most of her lunch before 61 got called out again.
Just as she'd gotten to the end of the email, she felt a pair of hands slide along her waist, Gabby tensing slightly at the unexpected touch. But she immediately relaxed when she felt that familiar warmth radiating off her back, Gabby smiling softly as she glanced back to find her husband standing behind her, Matt resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He murmured, one of his hands coming to rest on the counter in between her waist and her arm, while the other stayed on her hip. "I said your name, but I guess you didn't hear me."
"I didn't, but you're fine." She responded, leaning back into him slightly as she grabbed another piece of apple, dipping it into the peanut butter before holding it up to her husband's mouth, Matt graciously accepting the bite before Gabby ate what was left of that piece. As they stood there together, Gabby couldn't help but notice how close he was standing to her, the wife a little surprised at his very obvious display of affection in a room full of first responders, though none of them seemed to be paying much attention to them. It wasn't that they often shied away from little touches and kisses while at work, but they also didn't really flaunt their relationship around the house either, especially not with him being a Captain. But clearly, he wasn't too worried about keeping up appearances right now as Matt continued to stay close to her, Gabby feeling his thumb rubbing along her side as she picked up her sandwich to take another bite.
"Why are you eating in here?" He questioned as Gabby placed her food back down, Matt tapping his fingers against the counter while he waited for her to finish chewing before she could answer.
"I was reading the thing headquarters sent me, and, I don't know, I was focused on that, I didn't really make it that far." She responded softly, her hand moving to rest against his, Gabby rubbing her finger against the wedding band placed proudly on his hand.
"About the training thing?" He questioned back, tilting his head towards hers slightly.
"Mhmm. I was just reading over what all it would actually be." She replied as she grabbed her water, Gabby downing a few sips before placing it back down onto the counter. Knowing he'd be curious, Gabby picked up her phone and unlocked it before holding it out for him, Matt pulling away from her before he grabbed the device and began looking over what she'd been sent. The Captain leaned his body into the counter, staying close to his wife as his arm brushed against hers while he read over the email. "It sounds like it would be a good bit of work, but nothing too crazy." She continued after he'd had a second to start reading. "Just me going around to a few different houses, working a shift with their medics and trying to help things run a little smoother… I don't know, it sounds interesting."
A few shifts back, Gabby had gotten a call from headquarters, which admittedly she first believed to be some sort of reprimand, but it had ended up being the exact opposite. They'd offered her the task of going around to different houses and trying to fix up a few issues within some of the different ambos. It was something that had taken her a bit by surprise, Gabby telling them she'd need some time to think about it, while she figured out more about what would be expected of her, and also so she had time to speak with Matt. But after learning more about it, it seemed like something worth considering. Not only would she be able to get to go and help make the CFD a little better, she'd also be getting paid extra for her work, which, with everything they had going on, was a pretty big factor playing into her decision.
"It sounds great, baby." He spoke as he looked up from her phone, his excitement bringing a smile to her face.
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely." He replied, Gabby seeing a proud twinkle in his eye. "And I think it's great they asked you to do it. This seems like a pretty big deal, and the fact they came to you… They must think pretty highly of you over there."
"Well, it has been a few years since I've gotten into any trouble." She responded with a laugh, Matt shaking his head as he handed her back her phone, Gabby sliding it into her pocket. "But, yeah, I won't lie, that kind of made me feel good… Them asking me to do this." She admitted, Matt's grin widening as he ran his hand over her back.
"It should." He told her, his bright smile filling her chest with warmth. "You should be proud of yourself, this is awesome." Matt continued, the husband nudging her side repeatedly until he was able to get a smile out of her.
"Yeah, yeah, okay. You're right." She gave in, Matt smirking before he pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "So what do you think?" She asked him as he pulled back, Matt tilting his head to the side. "Do you think I should do it?"
"I do." He replied, Gabby nodding softly. "I think if this is something you wanna do, you absolutely should. I'm sure there'd be a little bit of an adjustment, depending on when you'd be working at different houses, but we'll figure it out."
"Yeah… I mean, from what I can tell, some shifts would overlap with mine here, so I'd miss a few of those. But then also there'd be some that are the day before or day after ours, so I'd probably be working some double shifts here and there." She told her, Matt nodding as she spoke. "Which I don't mind to do, but it would leave you alone with Sof more than normal-"
"Ten months in, and you still don't trust me with our baby." He interrupted jokingly, Gabby scoffing lightly as she gently tapped her hand against his cheek.
"You know that's not what I mean." She replied with a laugh, Matt grinning before he turned his head to kiss her palm, Gabby stroking her hand over his cheek before dropping it. "I'm just saying it would put more of the workload at home on you."
"Which I'm completely fine with." He promised her, Gabby nodding in response. "Sof will be taken care of, and if I've got a job or something, you know there's a line of people who would willingly watch her for us." Matt reminded her, watching as she pursed her lips together before giving him another nod. "But I think if this is something you wanna do, and you'll be alright working those extra shifts, you definitely should." He encouraged her, Gabby meeting his gaze. "They asked you to do it for a reason, they think highly enough of you as a medic that they want you to go into other houses, and try and train people to work more like you do. Basically, the CFD wants multiple Gabbys all throughout the department."
"I don't know if I'd go that far." She cut in with a smirk, Matt grinning as he continued to rub his hand along her back.
"But you know what I mean. It's great they asked you, and if you want to do it I think you should." He spoke, Gabby nodding with a soft smile on her face.
"Yeah… I think I might want to." She responded, Matt flashing her a knowing grin. "I mean, you're right about it being nice they thought of me for this. I think it would be fun, too. And plus, the extra money won't hurt anything." She added, Matt drawing in a deep breath. While the Casey family was living comfortably, with them trying to buy a new home soon, along with their usual, everyday expenses, some extra income definitely couldn't hurt.
"No, it won't. But I don't want that to be why you do this." He told her. Even though they both thought this was a good opportunity for her, they also both knew this was something that would be a lot of work, and it would be very time consuming. And Matt didn't want her taking the offer for the wrong reasons.
"It's not… It's just an added bonus." She assured her with a soft smile, Matt nodding as he watched her take another bite of her lunch.
"Okay. Well, I think if this is something you wanna do, you should. And we can figure out everything else as we go."
"Alright.. Thank you." She responded, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to his lips. "I'm still gonna think about it some more, but I'm leaning towards saying yes."
"Saying yes for what?" Severide interrupted as he walked up towards the counter, the Lieutenant leaning his body weight against the hard surface as he looked between the couple, Matt glancing to Gabby, who nodded.
"Gabby got asked to go help out at some other firehouses." Matt responded, Kelly raising his eyebrows before giving her a nod. "Apparently there's some houses that have a few issues within their ambos, either from a personal standpoint, or an efficiency one, so they want Gabby to go in and see what she can do."
"Well, looks like all those years of pissing off the higher ups finally paid off." Severide responded with a grin, Gabby narrowing her eyes playfully as Matt stifled a laugh.
"Ha ha, you're hilarious." She spoke, Kelly chuckling at her tone before his face softened.
"I know. But really Dawson, that's great. If anybody can fix whatever issues they've got going on, it's you."
"Casey here said the same thing." Gabby replied, leaning into Matt's touch as he slid his arm around her waist. "I'm not sure if I'm gonna do it yet, but I'm thinking about it… We may need you to pull some extra babysitting duty if I do, though." She warned him, Kelly immediately nodding before moving towards the coffee pot.
"Of course, whatever you guys need." He told them as he poured his drink. "I'm happy to watch the little squirt."
"Yeah, now that she's not afraid to be around you." Casey joked, Kelly rolling his eyes as he placed his mug on the counter.
"Hey, I'm just glad she finally grew out of that phase where she didn't like anyone who wasn't you two… She realized that hanging out with Uncle Kelly is much more fun."
"The good thing is you didn't take it personally." Matt muttered under his breath, Severide shooting him a glare as Gabby laughed softly, the paramedic shaking her head at the two men. "But yeah, if Gabby decides to do this, we'll get her schedule and have a better idea of what's going on, but we might need some extra help with Sof." He explained, Severide shrugging lightly.
"That's fine, just let me know."
"Thanks Sev."
"Yeah, we really appreciate it, Kelly." Gabby echoed, Severide waving his hand in the air before taking a sip of his coffee.
"It's nothing." He spoke, his words earning nods from the parents, Kelly glancing back and forth between the two of them. "So, any more news on the home front?" He asked, changing the conversation to something that had been a frequent topic around the firehouse lately, Gabby and Matt both shrugging.
"Nothing new, really." Dawson responded, none of them able to get another word in as the bells rang out, signaling 61 to a house call. Blowing out a sigh, Gabby pushed herself away from the counter, Matt's hand falling off her back as she moved.
"Want me to put your food in the fridge for when you get back?" He asked as she moved around the counter, Matt seeing she still had well over half her lunch left on her plate.
"That's okay, you can finish it if you want." She told him as she tightened her ponytail, Matt giving her a nod as he slid her plate towards him.
"Be safe out there." Matt told her as she walked through the common room, Gabby nodding before she continued out of the firehouse, Casey returning his attention back to his friend.
"So, nothing new on a new casa de Casey?" Kelly asked, Matt raising his eyebrows at the firefighter's attempt at Spanish before shaking his head.
"It's all still pretty much the same. We've seen a bunch of places, some better than others, but we keep going back to that townhouse." Matt responded before picking up Gabby's sandwich, the Captain taking a bite.
"Yeah, you both really loved that one." Kelly spoke, Matt giving him a nod.
"We do, yeah… It's a great place. Great for our family, and it'd be good for later down the road. The neighborhood is good. Everything about the place is great."
"Then why haven't you two just taken the plunge already?" Severide questioned curiously, Matt responded with a slight shrug.
"We're talking about it, we just need to make sure it's the right place for us." He replied before eating the rest of the sandwich, Matt chasing it with a sip of water once he'd finished. "It's too big of a thing for us to rush into, so we're trying to see all our options. But I think we're getting to the point where we know we're probably not gonna find a better place… With every new place we're seeing, I just keep comparing it to that townhouse, and I'm pretty sure Gabby's doing the same thing. So I think we're getting close to being ready to pull the trigger and try and get that place."
"That's great, Casey." Severide responded, Matt nodding with a soft smile. "From the pictures Gabby showed me, it looks like a good fit for you all."
"I think so, too." Matt spoke, glancing down when he felt his phone beginning to buzz in his pocket. Holding his hand up to signal Kelly that he needed a second, Casey reached into his pocket and pulled out the device, his eyebrows furrowing when he saw the familiar name across the screen, Matt quickly answering the call.
"Hello?" He asked, Severide watching Matt as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line, Kelly's spine straightening when he saw the color drain from his friend's face, Matt's next words coming out quickly. "...What?! What happened?"
Casey's frantic voice caught the attention of the room, everyone turning to look towards the Captain, seeing his obvious distress.
"What's going on?" Severide asked, but Matt ignored him, Casey walking around the corner as he headed for the garage, his entire body tense.
"Okay, I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as I can." Matt spoke quickly into the phone before he hung up, his steps gaining speed.
"What happened?" Herrmann asked, everyone watching as Matt came to an abrupt stop in the entrance to the common room, his hand running over his mouth as he shook his head.
"81, we gotta get to med. Now." He ordered, his choice of destination raising red flags in the minds of the members of truck as they got up from their seats.
"Casey, what happened?" Kelly asked as Casey continued towards the double doors, the Captain barely bothering to slow down as he pushed the door open, Matt shooting death glares to his firefighters who weren't moving fast enough for him.
"Truck, hurry up!" He nearly shouted, his worry and fear clear to everyone in the room.
"Casey." Kelly tried again, Matt's eyes finding his friend's as Kidd was the last of his firefighters out the door.
"I've- I've gotta go…" He breathed out shakily. "It's Sofia."
... I'm sorry. I hope you guys liked this one, and I'm eager to hear your thoughts, even though I'm sure some of you will be mad at me for how I ended that, haha. But thanks for reading! I'll see you all next time.
Stay safe, everyone.