Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all! I hope you all enjoy it, I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for reading!
Chapter One Hundred and Four
Casey watched with a soft smile as Caitlyn skipped around the living room, the little girl singing along to her favorite song from the Disney movie playing on their TV while he cleaned up their breakfast. She'd been doing this for the last twenty minutes or so, the five year old running off her excess energy after they'd finished their meal, Gabby having gone to get ready while leaving him with the girls, Sofia currently nestled comfortably on the couch as she went back and forth between watching the movie and watching Caitlyn's enthusiastic performance as the older child ran around in her pajamas.
As Matt put the last of their plates in the dishwasher, he glanced to the clock on the wall, seeing they only had a little less than an hour before they'd need to be out of the house, and even less time than that before Becca would be here, the man knowing he'd need to put a stop to Caitlyn's performance here soon so they could get her ready. But as he watched her sing and dance around, he couldn't bring it in him to stop her just yet, the father just grateful to see her being so carefree.
It had been a few days since they saw Tina, and in that time since leaving the social worker, they'd done nothing but focus on the girls, and make sure they were taken care of. Caitlyn especially, they'd focused a lot of their attention on her, as the parents tried to do all they could to help her through how she was feeling after everything that had happened. And while it hadn't been easy, the five year old still not exactly the same little girl she'd been before she was taken out of their home, things were getting better.
They hadn't made too much progress, as it had only been a couple of days, but regardless they still felt as if she was getting better. There were moments she was still anxious, moments where she worried about being taken away again, but they were patient with her, Matt and Gabby giving her all the love and reassurance she needed, and then some, in those times where things were harder than normal. But despite those moments, the parents couldn't help but feel like they had made some progress, if anything with how she was with them.
She still always wanted to be with them. It hadn't even been a week since they got her back, and in that time, that hadn't changed. But what they did notice is that she wasn't nearly as anxious when it was just them anymore. When they were at home, just the four of them, Caitlyn acted similarly to how she had before, the girl clearly comfortable and at her happiest in the safety of their home. And while it wasn't much, it was still an improvement, and that's all they could ask for right now.
Caitlyn belting out the next lyrics brought him out of his thoughts, Matt's smile widening when he heard her do her best to sing along to the song, though she'd definitely missed some of the words, the man chuckling as he heard Sofia start to sing along as well. Although her version of singing was nothing more than shrieking loudly as drool escaped down her chin. But regardless of how incoherent the girls' were, the sound was still like music to his ears, Matt watching with a wide grin as his girls had the time of their lives singing along to the movie.
As Caitlyn skipped over to Sofia, the girl grabbing the baby's hands and singing with her, Matt's attention was pulled away from them when he noticed Gabby walking out of their bedroom, his wife dressed and ready for the day ahead, while everyone else was still in their pjs.
"I see she still hasn't gotten tired of that movie." Gabby spoke with a chuckle as she came up to the counter, Matt matching her smile before he looked back towards the girls, seeing they were still completely off in their own world together.
"Definitely not." He replied, Gabby nodding knowingly.
"Well, who doesn't love a show while trying to get ready?" She questioned rhetorically, Matt shaking his head in amusement before glancing to the clock once more.
"I guess we should pull her away from her movie…" He suggested after a few seconds, Gabby nodding in agreement before looking towards the two young girls for a split second.
"Yeah, we need to get her ready… I figured I'd handle Caitlyn, and you could entertain Sof while you get ready?"
"I can handle that." He responded, Gabby flashing him a soft smile before looking back to the five year old, the mother waiting until there was a break in her singing before she spoke up.
"Hey Caitlyn?" She called across the room, Caitlyn dropping the blanket she was holding around herself like a cape as she turned towards the familiar voice, her little smile widening when she saw Gabby.
"Hi! Me and Sof were singing!" She spoke immediately, Gabby grinning softly before she nodded.
"I know, you two look like you're having so much fun. But we need to go get ready, honey." She told her, watching as Caitlyn's smile faltered slightly before she nodded.
"To go to the doctor."
"Yeah, Matt and I are taking you to the doctor." She repeated, Caitlyn nodding once more before she turned back to Sofia, the little girl having some sort of conversation with the younger girl that Gabby and Matt couldn't hear, before Caitlyn walked towards them.
Though the parents had tried their best to stay at home while Caitlyn was adjusting, there were times they couldn't help but have to leave. And today was one of those times.
They had scheduled an appointment for a well check for Caitlyn, the parents knowing that was something that needed to be done as soon as possible, to make sure there were no underlying issues they weren't aware of, and to make sure she was okay after being bounced around the system for as many months as she had been. And while going to the pediatrician wasn't the only thing on their growing list of check ups and visits they needed to do with her, they knew it was the best place to start, the parents taking one thing at a time these days as they didn't want to overwhelm the young girl.
"You're good with Sof?" Gabby asked as Caitlyn got to her, Matt nodding quickly with a soft smile.
"Yeah, we're good." He promised, Gabby giving him a nod of her own before her and Caitlyn turned to head for the stairs, the five year old running ahead of her and hurrying up the steps as Dawson followed after her.
By the time Gabby made it up the steps, Caitlyn was already in her and Sofia's bathroom, the five year old determined as she climbed up onto her stool in front of the counter, the little girl leaning across the sink to turn on the water and grab her toothbrush. Walking up behind her, Gabby let her do as much as she could, the mother wanting to let her be as independent as possible, but from experience she knew there were still things the young girl needed help with.
Watching her through the mirror with a soft smile, Gabby leaned around her to put an appropriate amount of toothpaste on the girl's toothbrush, Caitlyn responding with a soft thank you before she began brushing her teeth, the older woman keeping a close eye on her while she completed the task. While Caitlyn usually did well with this, she did need supervision, Gabby sometimes having to step in and help her when necessary. But soon enough, they completed that task, Caitlyn rinsing her mouth out before washing her hands while Gabby began to pull out everything she'd need to do her hair.
And it was moments like this that Gabby absolutely loved, the one on one time she got with Caitlyn while fixing her hair. It wasn't anything special, but it was just time they got solely for the two of them, the five year old usually animatedly telling her some story she'd heard a hundred times, though Gabby would be as engaged as if she'd never heard it before. But it wasn't so much what was being said that was important, as the time spent with Caitlyn was, Gabby listening to every word she said while Dawson fixed her hair. And soon enough, she'd finished the small braid on the side of her head, going back into her ponytail, Caitlyn shaking her head around as she watched her hair move.
The sound of her laughter brought a small smile to Gabby's face, the woman placing her hands on the little girl's shoulders to gain her attention. "You like it, honey?" She questioned, Caitlyn immediately nodding before Gabby adjusted one of the bobby pins in her hair.
"Thank you, Gabby." She replied brightly, Gabby nodding before she leaned down to press a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Alright, let's go get you dressed." Dawson told her, Caitlyn giving another nod before she hopped down off her step stool and hurried to her bedroom, Gabby following the young girl's path.
The process wasn't the easiest, Caitlyn having a difficult time choosing what she wanted to wear for the day, the five year old not the best at making decisions. But eventually they found an outfit she liked, Caitlyn choosing a pair of white shorts and a flowy purple tank top while Gabby found a bow to match to put in her hair, knowing how much Caitlyn loved them. And soon enough, she was ready to go, Caitlyn quickly putting her pajamas in her hamper before hurrying down the steps to go show Matt her outfit, as Gabby stayed behind to put away the clothes Caitlyn had decided not to wear.
Though usually this was a task Gabby or Matt would make her help with, she knew Caitlyn was excited for Matt to see what she picked out, as her husband always gave the five year old the best reactions to whatever Caitlyn had to show him, so Gabby let her go this time, the mother putting away the last of her shirts before heading downstairs as well. And when she got there, she wasn't surprised to see Matt currently talking to the little girl, Gabby hearing the tail end of him telling her how beautiful she looked before Caitlyn ran over towards the couch to show Becca and Sofia her outfit.
"Hey babe." Matt greeted once he realized she'd come downstairs, Gabby smiling softly as she noticed he'd found the time to get ready as well.
"Hey… How long has Becca been here?"
"Maybe ten minutes." He replied, Gabby nodding before she walked over to the couch, leaving Matt behind to gather up everything they'd need before leaving the house.
"Did Gabby get you that shirt?" She heard Becca ask as she got closer, Caitlyn nodding enthusiastically before she spun around, making the ends of her tank top spin with her.
"Yeah! I love it!" She replied once she stopped turning, Caitlyn beginning to show off her hair as well, Becca hanging on her every word while also holding onto the baby sitting in her lap.
"Thank you for coming to watch Sof." Gabby spoke up after giving the nanny and the five year old a few more minutes to talk, Becca tearing her attention away from the girl to look up at Dawson. "I know this is usually your day off, but we really appreciate it." She added, Becca waving her off. With this doctor's appointment, the parents figured it best to not bring Sofia, Gabby wanting to do this one on one so their complete focus could be Caitlyn.
"Oh, it's fine." She responded with a soft smile. "I'm always happy to come help and spend time with Sof." She continued, her words earning an appreciative nod from Gabby.
"Yeah, I know she loves it, too." Dawson responded, smiling softly when she saw just how happy her baby was sitting with the nanny before she turned her attention back to the five year old. "Alright Caitlyn, you ready to go, honey?" She questioned, Gabby immediately sensing the young girl's nerves at the thought of going somewhere new. But regardless, she nodded, Gabby giving her an assuring smile.
"Okay… Where's Mr. Teddy?" She asked as she looked around for her stuffed animal that matched one Sofia had, knowing they couldn't leave the home without her comfort item.
"Matt has it, baby." Gabby told her, Caitlyn nodding once more before walking towards her foster mom.
It took nearly ten minutes for them to get out of the house, between making sure they had everything, and saying their goodbyes to Sofia and Becca, but soon they were off. Caitlyn was buckled up protectively in her booster seat while Gabby and Matt sat in the front, Casey focused on driving them towards their destination for today while Dawson carried on a conversation with Caitlyn, the mother doing everything in her power to keep the five year old's mind off the growing anxiousness she felt from leaving the comfort of their home.
"Alright, can you take another breath for me, Caitlyn?"
The girl did what she was told as she sat sandwiched between her foster parents on the long table up against the wall, Caitlyn breathing in deeply before blowing it out, Dr. Mitchell smiling warmly before he stepped away from her, the man moving back towards his chart to fill a few things out as he'd finished her exam.
"Did I do a good job?" Caitlyn asked when silence had filled the room, her hopeful brown eyes looking up at Gabby, who immediately gave her the validation she needed.
"You did, baby. You did great." She assured her, Gabby rubbing along her back as the little girl nodded, Matt quickly handing her back her stuffed animal as they all sat on the table, Caitlyn grabbing a hold of it quickly and clutching it to her chest.
"Yeah, you did." Dr. Mitchell echoed as he looked up from her chart, Caitlyn nodding once more as she leaned into Matt's side. "Now, have you been feeling okay, Caitlyn? Is there anything that hurts, or have you felt sick or anything at all?" He questioned, the pediatrician covering all his bases to make sure he wasn't missing anything.
"No." She responded, Dr. Mitchell nodding before he looked up to Gabby and Matt, both of them shaking their heads as well.
"Okay, well that's really good." He replied gently, Caitlyn giving him a weak, shy smile before focusing her complete attention on the stuffed animal in her hands, Dr. Mitchell looking back up at the parents. "From what I can tell, she seems to be relatively healthy." He started, Gabby nodding as she continued lightly running her hand along Caitlyn's back, as the young girl rested her head against Matt's arm. "Everything we checked looked good, she seems to be doing just fine… The only thing I am going to suggest is altering her diet somewhat." He told them, the man glancing down to his chart before looking back up. "She is a little under those targets for her age… I know I've spoken to you about this with Sofia, as well, but she is a little small for her age. And without her complete medical history in front of me, I'm not sure if that's always been the case, or if it developed while she was in foster care, but regardless, I'm gonna have you all adjust some things… Just to get a few more nutrients in."
"Alright." Matt responded first, Gabby nodding in agreement. "Whatever we need to do."
"Excellent. We'll get you more information on that before you leave." He told them, both parents nodding before he continued on, the doctor asking more routine questions about Caitlyn and how she was doing, which were answers that Gabby and Matt could really only give.
As they were talking, Caitlyn was more so focused on her stuffed animal, the girl holding onto it tightly while also reaching behind Matt to grab one of her dolls that she'd been playing with before the doctor came in, the five year old doing what she could to entertain herself while Gabby and Matt spoke about things she really didn't understand.
She continued to sit there while they talked, the little girl having no idea how long they'd been here before she began to squirm around in her seat, Caitlyn looking back and forth between Gabby and Matt before she tugged on Gabby's shirt. The movement grabbed Dawson's attention, the woman stopping her words as she looked down towards the young girl with her eyebrows raised.
"I have to go potty." Caitlyn whispered, though her voice was practically normal, Gabby giving her an understanding nod before getting down off the table.
"We'll be right back." She told them, both men nodding as Caitlyn put her toys down in Matt's lap, Gabby helping her get down before they left the room, the five year old's hand clasped tightly in hers.
Once they door had closed behind them, Dr. Mitchell returned his attention solely to Matt, seeing the man sitting there holding onto the toys Caitlyn had left behind. "She seems like a great kid." He spoke, noticing the soft smile that covered Matt's face before he nodded.
"She is… She's incredible." He breathed out.
"And you all are trying to adopt her?" He questioned. "If you don't mind my asking."
"No, it's fine. We are. But Caitlyn doesn't know, yet." He explained, earning an understanding nod from the doctor. "We just want to wait, until we're a little further into the process." He spoke vaguely.
"That makes sense… How does Sofia feel about having an older sister?" He kept the conversation going, not missing the way Casey's grin widened when he mentioned his daughter.
"Oh, she absolutely loves it. She loves having another kid around, and Caitlyn's amazing with her. They both really love each other."
"That's great to hear. I'm happy for you all."
"Thank you." He replied, Matt glancing towards the shut door before looking back towards the doctor. "So, uh… Caitlyn's alright?" He questioned, the father figuring now would be a good time to ask with the young girl out of the room, Dr. Mitchell's face softening before he nodded.
"She is." He assured him. "From what I can tell, she's completely fine.. Besides being a little underweight, so far I don't see anything that is a cause for concern, nothing that needs to be addressed immediately." He told him, Matt nodding as he released a heavy breath, the man feeling a bit of relief from those words. "I do want to talk to her a little more when she gets back in here, because I saw in her file there's some worries about there being delays in some of her development. But everything I'm seeing so far, she's fine."
"Good, that's good." He responded, Dr. Mitchell nodding in understanding.
"I'm sure today was a nerve wracking for all of you, and I can tell Caitlyn's a bit anxious, but she's alright, Mr. Casey."
"That's good… And yeah, we're all a little on edge, I guess, just cause we wanted to make sure she was alright." Matt replied as Dr. Mitchell nodded. "And it's not even just this appointment, there's a lot Gabby and I have to do for her, that we never ever realized, so we're just trying to make sure we don't miss anything. We're all feeling a little overwhelmed." He spoke with a light scoff as he rubbed the back of his neck, earning a compassionate look from the pediatrician. "Especially Caitlyn, she's… She's been through a lot." He added, seeing the sad smile that fell across the man's face.
"Unfortunately, that's the case for a lot of the children in the foster care system that I see here." He replied, Matt nodding slightly.
"Yeah, her time in the system… It wasn't good. But we're gonna get her through it." He responded surely, causing the man across from him to nod firmly.
"I know you will. It's a great thing, what you're doing for her."
"She's doing just as much for us." Matt spoke without hesitation, Dr. Mitchell smiling softly as Casey spared another quick glance to the door. "But, uh, before they get back, there is one thing I wanted to ask. Well, Gabby and I wanted to ask-" He prefaced, his words gaining the man's attention once more.
"Of course." He replied quickly, Matt drawing in a deep breath before speaking up once more.
"Would you be able to recommend us a therapist for Caitlyn?" He asked, his question not seeming to phase the man at all as he nodded. "We, uh… After some things she went through, her social worker wants her to see someone, and we're a little lost in the area. She said she had some names, too, but Gabby and I wanted to ask you, see if you had anyone you thought could help."
"I do." He answered, Matt nodding in response. "And I'm not surprised by them wanting her to talk to someone. I don't know what happened, but in… tough situations in different homes, I know a lot of times that's common for the child to see someone." He spoke carefully, Matt knowing he was tiptoeing around the words he could've said.
It was clear to Casey that their doctor knew that something had happened to Caitlyn, that she'd been abused to some degree, and Matt couldn't say he was surprised the man picked up on it. Not only was it clear their amazing pediatrician had his fair share of interactions with children in the system, but with the small cut and slight bruising that could still be seen on Caitlyn's face from where she'd been hit less than a week ago, it was easy to make the leap that she'd been hurt in some way.
But to his credit, he didn't press any further, Dr. Mitchell knowing it wasn't his place to comment on it as he just simply smiled sadly, the man looking down at Caitlyn's chart before looking back at Casey.
"But I can give you and Mrs. Casey some names, of people we refer patients to all the time. They're all incredible at what they do, and you can't go wrong with any of them." He continued, Matt giving him an appreciative nod before responding.
"Thank you." He replied just as the door opened, Matt smiling softly when he saw Gabby and Caitlyn walk in, the young girl still holding onto her hand tightly. "There's my girl." He spoke, his words bringing a bright smile to Caitlyn's face before she dropped Gabby's hand and ran towards him, Matt reaching down to pick her up and put her back next to him on the table, the girl settling comfortably into his side.
"So, Caitlyn," Dr. Mitchell started, the girl looking towards him as Matt pressed a kiss to the top of her head, Gabby reclaiming her seat beside the five year old. "We're almost done, and you'll be able to go home and see Sofia," He told her, all three adults seeing the way her face lit up at the mention of the one year old, "but, if it's okay with you, I was hoping we could talk a little longer?" He asked her, Caitlyn thinking over his words for a long moment before she nodded, her gesture all the confirmation he needed before he continued talking.
Over the next ten minutes, Dr. Mitchell talked one on one with Caitlyn as much as he could, asking the little girl all about the things she liked to do; what movies she liked, what books she enjoyed reading with Matt and Gabby, and what other activities she liked, the pediatrician trying to get a better understanding of his new patient. But more than that, he was trying to assess how well she was able to carry on a conversation, as well as describe things to him, and her recall with certain events or memories, the doctor trying to get as much information as he could about where this child was at for her age before they finished.
And soon enough, they were done, Caitlyn having felt a little more comfortable with her new doctor by the time the appointment was over, the little girl lighting up when he handed her a lollipop from the jar on the desk before he stood up.
"Well, Caitlyn, it was very nice to meet you." He spoke, holding out his hand for a high five, which the girl quickly gave, Caitlyn not even remembering how nervous she'd been when first walking in here.
"You too." She responded as she struggled with getting the tight plastic off the candy. Both Gabby and Matt gave her a moment to try and get it on her own, the parents wanting to at least let her attempt it before they stepped in, Gabby waiting a few more moments before Caitlyn looked up to her. "Can you help me?" She asked, Gabby immediately nodding before unwrapping the candy from her, Caitlyn saying a quick thank you before shoving the treat into her mouth.
"If you all are okay to stick around for a few more minutes, I'll go get that list of names for you." Dr. Mitchell started, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing before she looked to Matt, her husband's gaze flickering down to Caitlyn before meeting her eyes once more, Dawson soon understanding exactly what was being discussed.
"Yeah, we can, that's fine." Matt replied, Gabby nodding in agreement.
"Alright, just give me a moment to get that together, and I'll have Lizzie come and give that to you." He spoke, grabbing his tablet before looking back down at Caitlyn, who was currently focused on the candy in her mouth. "...Everything I'm seeing, she's doing well." He assured them once more, Gabby and Matt both nodding in relief.
"So we don't need to do anything, about her speech?" Gabby questioned, the adults trying to keep their words vague as possible, Dr. Mitchell shaking his head slightly.
"No, I don't think so." He replied surely. "I do see what you all were talking about..." He added, his eyes flashing to Caitlyn, the young girl completely off in her own world as she held onto her lollipop with one hand, while her other was clutching her teddy bear. "But she's able to communicate well, and really the only thing I see is sometimes it takes her a little longer to convey what she's trying to say… But with practice, and learning, I think that can be resolved. It's nothing I would worry about, just continue to do what you have been. Help her when she needs it, and just keep encouraging her when she needs a little extra help… If it's something that persists, or gets worse, then we'll look into things we can do. But, in my opinion, it's nothing that can't be fixed on it's own." He told them, Gabby and Matt both nodding as the mother ran her hand along Caitlyn's back, the five year old looking back up at her with a soft smile on her face, the lollipop stick hanging from her mouth.
Without saying a word, Gabby smiled wide before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead, Caitlyn dropping her grip on her teddy bear to grab onto Gabby's leg, the child clutching onto her as they sat together on the exam bed.
"Unless you have any other questions, I'm gonna go get that list together so you can get out of here?" He told them, Gabby and Matt sharing a look before they shook their heads.
"No, I think we're fine for now." Casey responded, Dr. Mitchell nodding before he gave one last goodbye to the family, the man shaking Matt's hand before he left the room, leaving the three of them alone as Caitlyn looked back and forth between her foster parents.
"Are we going home?" She asked after a few moments of silence, Gabby immediately nodding as she ran her hand through her ponytail.
"In just a few minutes." Dawson responded, Caitlyn nodding before she pursed her lips together, the young girl clearly deep in thought before she spoke up again.
"Can we get ice cream?" She said suddenly, Matt stifling a laugh as Gabby met his gaze quickly.
"How about after dinner, baby?" Casey suggested, the man checking his watch, seeing it was barely lunch time. "Maybe after we eat tonight, the four of us can go out and get some."
Seemingly content with his answer, she nodded before refocusing her attention on the candy in her mouth, the little girl swinging her legs in the air while they waited to be able to leave. But it didn't take long for her to speak up once more, Caitlyn beginning to ramble on about anything and everything she could think of, her current topic being how she couldn't wait to get home and see Sofia, as Gabby and Matt listened to every word she said, the parents just happy to see her so at ease in this new environment.
Gabby brushed through the five year old's wet hair as sat on the couch, Caitlyn standing in front of her in her pajamas as she watched the end of Tangled for at least the fifth time over the last few days, the child completely enthralled in the movie as Gabby continued brushing her hair.
It had been a long, and eventful day for the Casey's, one they were happy was coming to an end as both the girls were tired and ready for bed; though luckily one was nearly asleep already as Matt had taken Sofia upstairs to go to bed nearly half an hour ago now.
But today after Caitlyn's doctor's appointment, the three had come home and spent some time with Sofia and had some lunch, their afternoon consisting of spending most of their time inside playing, while Matt had also taken Caitlyn out to the courtyard for a little bit to play with her during Sofia's nap. Then soon after she'd woken up, they ate dinner together before heading out to get the ice cream Caitlyn had been promised. And while it had been fun, both girls were a complete mess by the time they finished.
Though Gabby tried to control what she could, and she only fed Sofia a little bit, the baby still managed to make a complete mess. And with Caitlyn, the five year old had insisted on getting hers in a cone, because she's 'a big girl', and, despite the bowl they'd gotten with it, it took all of two minutes to prove that had been a bad idea as the girl ended up with chocolate ice cream all over herself. But regardless of the mess, they'd all had a great time, and the parents were happy to take the girls out, especially since it had been Caitlyn's idea.
Then when they got home, they immediately got the girls into the bath, Gabby supervising while Matt spent some time on the phone with Boden, Casey wanting to be updated with what was going on with the house, as well as let their Chief know how things were going on their end, while they all wound down for the evening.
"Alright sweetheart, I'm done." Gabby spoke up as she finished braiding Caitlyn's hair, the mother tapping her side gently as the young girl looked back at her before nodding, Caitlyn wasting no time in climbing up onto the couch beside her and tucking herself into Dawson's side, her eyes still focused on the movie playing in front of her.
Smiling softly, Gabby wrapped her arm around the girl, effectively letting Caitlyn snuggle closer against her, the girl's head resting on her chest as her arms were tucked in between them. It was a position they sat in often, usually right before Caitlyn was ready to go to bed but didn't want to admit it yet, Gabby rubbing her arm gently as they continued watching the movie.
A few minutes later, Gabby heard her husband coming down the stairs, her eyes moving across the open room to watch him hop down off the last step, the man rubbing the back of his neck as he walked straight towards the living room, a soft smile forming over his face when he saw them cuddled together on the couch.
"Sof asleep?" Gabby asked, Caitlyn looking up towards Matt as he got closer.
"Yeah, she's out." He responded, his eyes moving back and forth between his two girls.
"Come cuddle!" Caitlyn instructed Matt before any other words could be said, the man laughing softly before he walked around the coffee table towards their large, comfy couch, Casey collapsing down into the cushions before leaning over towards Caitlyn and Gabby. As soon as he was within reach, Caitlyn pulled him closer, Matt's hand moving up on the back of the couch behind Gabby's head as the five year old sprawled her legs out across his lap, both of the parents chuckling as she made herself comfortable in between them.
With one hand resting over Caitlyn's leg, the other was resting on Gabby's shoulder, Caitlyn's side leaned up against her foster mother while she made sure she could still see her movie. And they'd stayed like this for nearly the rest of the film, Caitlyn having nearly fallen asleep a couple of times while Gabby was rubbing her head. But the little girl refused to completely give in to her exhaustion, Caitlyn waking herself back up every time she felt herself start to doze off, Matt only speaking up when the end credits finally started to roll.
"Honey, are you ready to go to bed?" He spoke softly, rubbing his hand gently along his wife's shoulder as Caitlyn dug herself deeper into Gabby's comforting hold.
"Mhmm." She hummed, Gabby smiling softly as she continued stroking her hair. "Can I sleep with you?"
Matt pursed his lips together as she asked the question, the man looking towards Gabby, who slowly nodded.
It was a question they knew was coming, the same one she'd asked every night since being back in their home, the little girl having yet to sleep in her own room. And under any other circumstances, they would've pushed a little harder for her to start sleeping in her own bed, but after everything she'd gone through, and how she was still struggling sleeping through the night, neither parent could bring themselves to tell her no.
They knew this couldn't continue on forever, that here soon they'd have to make her start sleeping in her room, or they'd create more issues down the line for Caitlyn, but right now they felt the best thing for her was to be with them, at least for one more night.
"Of course you can, baby." He responded, Caitlyn nodding against Gabby's chest before she slowly got up, the girl stretching her arms above her head as a heavy yawn escaped her lips, Matt smiling softly as he looked back and forth between them. "You ready to go?" He asked again, his words earning another nod from Caitlyn before she stood up, the girl turning to face them as they both still sat on the couch.
Casey's eyebrows furrowed when he saw her watching them, a curious look covering her face before she finally spoke up. "Are you working?" She asked suddenly, her question leaving them both confused as the parents shared a look, neither of them sure of where this had come from. "You said the firehouse." She continued when they hadn't said anything, realization soon covering Matt's face as he came to understand what the girl was talking about, Caitlyn clearly having remembered when he came in during bath time after he finished his call with Boden and talked to Gabby about it.
"Oh, no we're not." Matt replied, Caitlyn's head tilting to the side slightly as she stifled another yawn. "Usually we would be working tomorrow, but Gabby and I are taking some time off, so the four of us can be together." He explained as simply as he could, Caitlyn thinking over his words for a few moments, her tired brain comprehending what he'd said as quickly as she could before she nodded.
"Can we go tomorrow?" Were the next works out of her mouth, Matt sparing another look to his wife before refocusing his attention on the five year old.
"To the firehouse?" He asked, Caitlyn giving him another nod. "You wanna go to the house?"
"Mhmm." She replied before looking to Gabby.
"You sure you wanna do that, sweetheart?" Gabby asked her again, her and Matt both sharing the same worries about overwhelming the young girl.
"Yeah. I could see the firetrucks." She replied softly. "And Kelly!" She added, Matt stifling a laugh before he looked towards Gabby, the two sharing a silent conversation before she looked back to the little girl.
"Matt and I will think about it, alright?" She told her, Caitlyn accepting that answer as she nodded. "But right now let's just get to bed, you need to go to the bathroom before we go to sleep." She told her, Caitlyn giving her another nod before she stepped away from the couch.
"Okay, I can do it!" She replied confidently, Gabby and Matt nodding in response before Caitlyn hurried over to the guest bathroom across from the laundry room, Gabby running her hand along her head as Caitlyn was out of sight.
Neither parent had been expecting that request, Gabby and Matt still a little surprised that she'd asked to go to the firehouse at all, when she was still anxious to be out in public. And while there was a part of Gabby that felt proud of her for wanting to get out and be around more people, she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her a little worried, Dawson angling her body towards her husband to find a similar look of uncertainty shining in his eyes.
"Well…"
"Yeah." He agreed, Gabby clicking her tongue against the roof of his mouth before releasing a heavy breath.
"What do you think?" She asked, Matt shrugging softly as he glanced out into the direction Caitlyn went.
"I'm not sure… I mean, she has been doing better. She did pretty well at the doctor's office today, and then when we went out after dinner, she was alright… But I guess I'm a little nervous about bringing her into a place with that many people." He spoke, Gabby nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, I feel the same way. But maybe… Maybe it will be good for her." She said, Matt giving her an agreeing nod before she continued. "It could maybe give her some normalcy, in being with us. Because that's seemed to be what's helped her the most since she's been back, is just getting into that routine she used to have here. So maybe us taking her to the house will help with that, too." She told him, Matt running his tongue along the inside of his cheek as he thought over her words.
"That makes sense, yeah." He eventually vocalized. "And she trusts everyone there, it's not like at DCFS where she gets nervous, or today at the doctor's where she'd never been there before. She knows the firehouse, she knows the people there, and she's comfortable. It could help get her used to being around a bunch of people again… Maybe it's not such a bad idea, as long as Boden's okay with it." He continued on, Gabby nodding in agreement.
"Yeah… We'll talk more about it in the morning." She responded, her words getting cut off by the sound of Caitlyn calling for her from the bathroom, the parents knowing the rest of their conversation would now have to wait.
"Gabby!"
A soft smile formed over Dawson's face as Matt stifled a chuckle, both parents knowing the little girl needed some help as Gabby pushed herself up off the couch, Matt caressing his hand along her back before she was out of reach, Dawson making her way towards the bathroom while Matt stayed on the couch, the man's attention now focused on their new possible plans for tomorrow.
Gabby worked on unstrapping Sofia from her carseat as she stood on the sidewalk, while Matt was in the road on the opposite side of their car, the father helping Caitlyn down onto the street, Dawson hearing him gently remind her to keep a hand on the car while he gathered their things.
It was a little after one in the afternoon, the Casey family standing outside of the firehouse as they prepared to head inside, Gabby hoisting the one year old onto her hip before shutting the door and walking around to the other side of the vehicle to stand with Caitlyn, the five year old holding onto her leg as they waited for Matt.
After their talk last night, it was a pretty easy decision for the parents to make this morning to come and stop by the firehouse, especially after Caitlyn had asked them once again during breakfast. So after a quick call to Boden to make sure it was alright, the family knew they'd be stopping by the firehouse today for a relatively quick visit, Matt and Gabby both already knowing they didn't want to stay too long, as to not push things with Caitlyn.
Leaning up out of the car, Matt slung the diaper bag over his shoulder before locking up their car, the father immediately reaching out for Caitlyn's hand before they went any further, the five year old holding onto his index and middle fingers tightly with her own hand.
"You all ready?" He asked, though his question was mostly directed towards the five year old, Gabby nodding as Caitlyn mimicked her response. "Well, let's go… I know they're all gonna be excited to see you and Sof." He continued, the father checking for traffic and making sure the road was clear before leading his family towards the firehouse.
"Do they know we're here?" Caitlyn asked as they got to the sidewalk, Matt nodding in response.
"They do." He replied, Casey having told Boden to go ahead and let the house know they'd be coming, figuring that the less surprises today, the better.
As they got up to the house, they were met by the open garages, Matt and Gabby thankful to see that all the rigs, aside from ambo, were in their rightful home, the family venturing further inside the building. And it didn't take long for them to find some familiar faces as squad was sitting at their normal spot at their table, all of them too preoccupied to notice their presence.
"Kelly!" Caitlyn spoke brightly, her voice gaining their attention as the little girl let go of Matt's hand and hurried over to the table, Kelly turning just in time to grab Caitlyn as she lunged up into his arms, the child wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Hey, there's the little squirt." He greeted her, rubbing over her back as he sat up a little straighter, Caitlyn pulling back as Gabby and Matt got up to the table. "I heard you were coming by today."
"Yep!" She replied excitedly, her smile never faltering as she stared at Kelly, the girl clearly having missed the man she'd grown so close to. And while Gabby and Matt were both relieved to see her so at ease already, neither of them missed how she suddenly became a little unsure when she looked around the table and noticed the other firefighters, Caitlyn not having spent nearly as much time with the men seated around her. And Severide didn't miss it either, as Caitlyn's grip on the back of his shirt tightened for a split second before she began to relax slightly.
"You remember all the guys, yeah?" Severide prompted, Kelly rubbing her back as Caitlyn thought over his words, her eyes bouncing around between all of them before she eventually nodded, Caitlyn's body relaxing completely as she once again felt comfortable around everyone.
"Hi." Caitlyn greeted, the men smiling warmly before she looked back to Severide. "Where's Stella?" She asked, her question causing Matt to chuckle as the little girl looked up at him quickly, Kelly stifling a laugh as well as he patted her back.
"She's inside, you wanna go see her?" He asked, Caitlyn nodding excitedly before she hopped back down onto the ground, the five year old reaching for Matt's hand and beginning to pull him towards the door, the rest of the house following after them as Severide hung back with Dawson.
"How's she doing?" He asked softly as Caitlyn and Matt disappeared into the firehouse, Gabby offering him a weak smile as Kelly reached out to rub his hand along Sofia's back, the action gaining the baby's attention. And the second Sofia saw him, a loud shriek of excitement left her lips, the baby bouncing up and down in Gabby's arms as she reached out for her godfather, Severide chuckling before he grabbed the baby from his friend's hold, the firefighter relieving Dawson of the extra weight on her hip.
"Yeah, you love your Uncle Sev." Gabby murmured, rubbing Sofia's back while the baby patted her hands against Severide's cheeks, her giggles causing Dawson's smile to grow as Sofia enjoyed this moment with Kelly. "But, to answer your question, she's doing alright… Every day she's getting better." She told him, Severide nodding as they continued towards the firehouse, Kelly settling Sofia's weight on his side before he opened the door for Dawson, the woman shooting him a thankful smile before they both walked in.
The second Gabby looked into the common room, a smile fell onto her lips as she saw Caitlyn currently sitting in Stella's lap, while Casey leaned against the table beside them, the five year old having the entire room captivated as she spoke to the female firefighter, all of them clearly more than thrilled by her presence.
"It's like she never left." Severide spoke up again as they stood a few feet outside of the common room, Gabby glancing back towards him with a soft smile on her face.
"Yeah… She missed everyone here." She replied, Severide nodding understanding before he looked back to the five year old, the sound of Sofia's babbling filling his ears as the baby played with the collar on his shirt.
"...So, do you and Matt know what you're gonna do?" Severide breathed out, his words barely audible as Gabby drew in a deep breath. "Are you all adopting her?"
It was the question she knew he'd had since they brought Caitlyn back home last week, but he hadn't voiced it. At least not to her, he hadn't asked, but she knew how eager he was to know the answer, as she was sure the rest of the house was. But just because everyone else would have to wait a little longer to find out, that didn't mean Kelly had to.
Pursing her lips together, Gabby shot him a look he recognized immediately, the woman remaining silent, though her face told him all he needed to know, Severide smiling widely as he lifted his free hand up to grip her shoulder.
"Really?" He asked softly, Gabby nodding slightly as she was unable to wipe the smile off of her face, Severide giving her shoulder another squeeze before he leaned in to give her a quick side hug, Gabby leaning into him before they separated. "I'm so happy for you guys- all of you."
"Yeah, we're excited." She replied lightly, Severide able to sense her excitement, along with her nerves. "And we know Caitlyn will be, too… But we just want what's best for her, and after what she went through…"
"You all are what's best for her." He interjected when Dawson had trailed off, Gabby looking up at her friend. "You and Matt, you're what she needs. Everyone can see it… No one is better to be that girl's parents than you two." He spoke, his genuine words causing the smile on Gabby's face to grow before she leaned into him slightly.
"Thanks Sev." She murmured, the man nodding slightly. "But you do realize this means you've got two goddaughters, now." She added jokingly, Kelly's smile widening before he shrugged, the man adjusting Sofia's weight in his hold.
"The more the merrier." He responded without hesitation, Gabby smiling softly as she knew just how true his words were, Kelly offering her one last grin before he started to walk into the common room.
But Gabby soon stopped him, the woman placing her hand on his arm, causing him to pause before he turned back towards her, his eyebrows raised in question.
"I just want you to know that we're not- We're not telling people yet." She spoke softly, Kelly immediately nodding, Gabby knowing she didn't need to explain anymore as Severide wouldn't press for more information.
"I won't say a word." He responded, Gabby nodding with a small smile before he continued in the room, leaving Gabby alone in the entrance as her eyes moved around the group of all their friends, before landing back on Matt and Caitlyn as she stayed in the doorway. She was content to just stand here for a few more moments, seeing how happy her soon to be daughter was in a room full of their second family, Gabby wanting nothing more than just to enjoy the view for a few more moments as Caitlyn got reacquainted with everyone she never expected to see again.
Well, I hope you all liked this one. We're gonna continue to see more and more of getting Caitlyn readjusted into their home in these next few chapters, as well as of course more with Sofia as well. Basically just more with this family we all love, so I hope you all are excited for that!
Thank you so much for reading, I can't wait to hear what you think!
I hope all of you are having a great day, and are staying safe. I'll see you next week!