Hello everyone! Here's the next update for you all, I hope you like it! We've got a very family-focused chapter ahead, which you all seem to enjoy. So I can't wait to hear what you think.
Thanks so much for reading, everyone!
Chapter One Hundred and Seven
"Caitlyn, honey, don't run inside the house!" Matt called after her as she ran around the kitchen table, the girl coming to an abrupt stop by Sofia's highchair before she turned towards the voice, finding multiple pairs of eyes on her just as Matt took his seat on the couch, a shy look covering her face when she met Casey's gaze. "We can go outside and play after dinner, but no more running inside, I don't want you to get hurt." He warned, Caitlyn pausing for a moment before she nodded. It was clear to both Matt and Gabby by the look on her face that she wasn't exactly happy by what had been told to her, but she complied anyway as she climbed back up into her seat and continued playing.
"If only Gabriela had listened to me that well when she was her age." Ramon spoke up with a laugh, Gabby shooting him a look as he sat on the chair across from the couch, her brother sitting beside her while Matt was on her other side, Casey stifling his own laugh as a knowing gleam appeared in Antonio's eyes.
"I listened to you all the time." She defended, Ramon raising his eyebrows in near amusement as Matt rubbed his hand over Gabby's knee.
"Only when it was something you wanted to do anyway." Antonio chirped in before their father could say anything, Gabby pursing her lips together as she tried to think over any other defense, though she knew she didn't really have one.
"He's right, mija… You were definitely a free spirit." Ramon countered, Gabby narrowing her eyes as her brother's laughter got louder.
"Please Papa, we know that's just what abuela would call her because she never listened." He continued on.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, I was a delightful child." Gabby cut in, Ramon and Antonio both chuckling as Matt listened to Gabby talk with their family, a soft smile resting on his face while he kept his attention both on their conversation, as well as on Caitlyn while she continued coloring at the table.
"Yes you were, Gabriela… You were a blessing, and still are."
"Thank you, Papa." She murmured, leaning into Matt's side before taking a sip of her water, the air around them light and inviting as they continued to enjoy their evening together.
It wasn't often they got to do this anymore, with their lives being as busy and hectic as they were. So when the opportunity presented itself to have her brother and father over for dinner, Gabby jumped at the chance, the youngest Dawson not liking to go too long without getting in some quality time with her family. And, aside from just her, she wanted it for Caitlyn, too, Gabby wanting her soon-to-be daughter to feel just as at home with Ramon and Antonio as she did with the other people in their life she'd grown close to. So any opportunity she got for Caitlyn, and Sofia both, to spend time with her father and brother, she'd take it.
"And speaking of blessings," Ramon continued, gaining Gabby's attention as she looked towards him just in time to see his gaze jump towards Caitlyn. "How are the girls doing?" He asked, neither Gabby nor Matt surprised that their conversation was starting with their children.
"They're great." Matt started, glancing towards Gabby just as she nodded. "I mean, they're kids… So there's challenges, but overall they're doing well. Though Sofia has been feeling a little sick lately."
"Yeah, I noticed she wasn't around when we got here." Ramon spoke up.
"She okay?" Antonio asked, earning immediate nods from his sister and brother in-law.
"She's fine, she has some more teeth coming in." Gabby explained, knowing looks soon covering their faces. "So she's had a little bit of a fever, and she just doesn't feel the best. So she's napping right now… But she should be waking up soon, and you all can see her." She added, Ramon giving her a nod before sighing softly.
"That is one thing I don't miss, you and Antonio both had an awful time with teething… I swear, the only time you were content is when you'd be biting on my finger." He spoke with a smile, Gabby matching his look before glancing towards her husband, finding a similarly warm grin on his face.
"Yeah, that's what we've had to do a lot with Sof. Ever since she started teething, that seemed to be the thing that's helped the most. Though we do have these freezable pacifiers, they've worked wonders." Matt spoke softly, everyone in the room having his attention. "She loves them, has since we started using them."
"Yeah, she does…" Gabby added, Ramon giving her a nod. "I think now it just soothes her more than anything else, but she's always loved them. Though that could just be cause she's always loved her pacifier." She finished, her words bringing another smile to her father's face.
"Oh, you were the exact same way, mija… It took us forever for you to stop using them." Ramon commented, Antonio giving him a nod as Gabby grinned softly. "I'm pretty sure every photo of you as a baby, you had one. You loved them."
"I think I remember that, Mama was so mad." Antonio spoke up with a laugh, Gabby raising her eyebrows at the story she'd heard a hundred times, Casey smirking as he'd heard this before, as well. "She'd always try and get her off of them, and you'd keep giving them back." He spoke towards their father, Ramon waving him off.
"What? I was just supposed to sit there and listen to my baby cry?" He countered, Gabby biting back her smile as she glanced towards Matt. "She stopped using them in her own time, there was no reason for her to suffer." He continued, somewhat dramatically, everyone in the room laughing as Antonio shook his head.
"I seem to remember Mama telling me you never acted that way with me." The older Dawson replied, no one missing the sheepish look that covered Ramon's face before he responded.
"You are very loved, Antonio."
"Yeah, I have a feeling Matt's gonna be the exact same way." Gabby cut in once her dad finished talking, Casey looking towards her with raised brows.
"What?" He pressed, quickly earning an unimpressed look from his wife.
"When it's time to get Sofia off the pacifier… Or when we need to wean her from the bottle, I know you're gonna be exactly like that. You're gonna keep giving in whenever she cries." Gabby teased him, Matt giving her a playful look before speaking up.
"And why do you say that?"
"Because Sofia has you wrapped around her little finger." Gabby replied without missing a beat, Matt's face softening as he knew he had no room to argue with her. "Her and Caitlyn both do."
"She's got a point, man." Antonio added with a laugh, his words earning a glare from his brother in-law. "You're definitely more likely to give in to them than she will."
"You don't know that." He defended, though Matt knew the words they were saying were true. But that didn't mean he wanted to give them the satisfaction of them knowing that.
"I think they're right, son." Ramon spoke up with a chuckle, Matt huffing out a breath before leaning back into the couch, Gabby laughing as she ran her hand over his leg.
"You know we're just messing with you, babe… But also, it's kind of true. We all know you're the less strict parent between the two of us." She said with a bright smile, Matt scoffing before waving his hand in the air.
"I can be strict when I need to be." He continued to defend himself against the teasing from his family, Gabby scrunching up her nose as the sound of Antonio's laughter hit Casey's ears.
"You can, but you won't want to." She countered quickly, Matt pursing his lips together as it was becoming more and more clear he wouldn't be winning this one.
"...Fair enough." He conceded, causing the Dawson's around him to laugh once more as Ramon shook his head.
"Oh Matthew, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Trust me, with your kids, even if it's something that's in their best interest, it's never easy when they're upset." The man told him, Matt giving him an understanding nod. "Especially with my Gabriela… I mean, she's my baby girl. It was always a little harder with her. And that'll only be the same for you and Sofia." He told his son in-law, Matt smiling softly as he felt Gabby's gentle gaze on him. "And it'll be the same with Caitlyn, too… Your other baby girl." He continued, not missing the proud smile that formed across Casey's face as he looked across the room towards the five year old who was awfully skilled at keeping herself preoccupied while she continued coloring.
"Yeah." Matt murmured contently, his eyes never leaving Caitlyn as she worked with a quiet determination, her focus completely on the task in front of her.
"Which, speaking of… I know we've talked a little bit about it, but are things still going well with her?" He asked, Gabby and Matt both hearing the curiosity in his voice as Ramon hadn't had nearly as much time with the newest addition to the Casey household as Antonio had.
"She is… She's doing really well." Gabby responded softly, Matt nodding in agreement. "We're still just taking things a day at a time, but everything's good right now. And we've been back at work for a week with no issue." She added, Ramon wearing a soft smile.
"Yeah, she's pretty much gotten reacclimated here with us." Matt added once she'd finished. "There's some things we're still working through, but her therapy has helped a lot with that. And some of it is probably stuff that'll never go away, at least not for a while. But she's doing great." He told them, earning nods from both Dawson men.
"So that is helping? Her seeing that therapist?" Ramon questioned, clearly concerned about the girl that would soon become his granddaughter.
"It is." Matt confirmed. "We've only been a few times, but it's seemed to help her a lot. Help all of us, really. And Lara, her therapist, is great. Caitlyn really likes her."
"That's good. I'm just glad she's doing better, and feeling at home here and everything." Ramon told them, earning nods from both his daughter and his son in-law. "Especially with what you all are doing for her…" He started, knowing he needed to be mindful of how he spoke of the adoption with little ears around. "I'm just so happy, for all of you."
"Thanks Papa." Gabby murmured, leaning into Matt's side slightly as he smiled as well.
"Thank you Ramon. Really." Casey added, the older man nodding before taking a long sip of his drink, the conversation stalling for a moment before he spoke up once more.
"So, aside from the obvious," He started with a soft smile, "is there anything else that's been going on around here? I feel like it's been forever since we've been able to just sit down and catch up." He breathed out, Gabby nodding in agreement.
Though she had done her best to keep her father, and brother, involved in everything going on, it had been a little difficult to actually make time to see them. Especially considering how hard things had been on Caitlyn when she first got back. So aside from a few visits here and there, their communication was mostly through phone calls and text messages.
"I know… I'm hoping now that things are calming down, it'll be easier to spend time together." Gabby prefaced, Ramon smiling softly before she continued. "But, to answer your question, I think you pretty much know everything… Oh, wait-" She cut herself off, Matt raising his eyebrows as Ramon mimicked his look.
"Yes?"
"I know you know about us trying to find a school for Caitlyn, but I didn't get a chance to tell you that I think we've found the one." Gabby spoke with an excited smile, Ramon's own grin widening.
"You did?"
"Mhmm… We went and checked out a few different places, and they were all pretty great. And understanding with the situation and everything, but I think we've found the place- In fact, I know we have. Matt and I got her enrolled today." She explained, Ramon and Antonio both nodding.
"Wow."
"That's great, mija."
"Yeah, it is. We've met with her teacher, a couple times. And the teacher's assistant. Both of them are so nice, and they loved Caitlyn." Gabby continued, glancing towards the only child in the room. "And she warmed up to them pretty quickly, too. But after meeting everyone, and the school… It's the same place where she'd go for first grade, and through elementary school. And we just felt like that would help her, and let her get acclimated to that new environment."
"It sounds wonderful, Gabriela."
"Yeah, I know you both were worried about this." Antonio chimed in before Matt released a heavy breath.
"That's definitely an understatement." Casey spoke lightly, Ramon nodding with a knowing grin. "But we're just glad it's worked out, and that she'll be able to go to a great kindergarten."
"When does she start?" Antonio asked before taking a sip of his beer.
"She's supposed to start next week." Gabby answered, seeing Caitlyn slide down from her seat out of the corner of her eye, the girl holding onto her drawing before she placed it down on the table. "With her coming in late already, we don't want to wait any longer than we have to. And the school, they've been amazing in helping get this all worked out."
"Yeah, they have been." Matt agreed. "And we've already talked to Caitlyn about it, gotten her to understand what it is, and why she's going… That we won't be able to be with her, that either us, or Becca will always come and get her. And she seemed okay about the whole thing, though I'm sure the first day will be a different story." He finished with a nervous chuckle, Ramon nodding in agreement.
"Ah, she'll be fine." Ramon told them confidently, Gabby and Matt sharing a soft look. "First days are always tough… And then under the circumstances, I understand why you're worried, but she'll be fine. She's a strong girl."
"Yeah, she is." Casey agreed before movement over by the table caught his attention, the father sighing when he saw Caitlyn starting to run around the table once more, the child clearly enjoying the little game she'd made for herself as she ran around the table and down towards the laundry room, before lapping back. "Caitlyn, honey, what did I say about running in the house?" He called, his louder voice gaining all of their attention as Caitlyn continued hurrying around the table.
They weren't sure if she just hadn't heard him, or she did and was ignoring him, but regardless, the young girl continued running, her loud giggles being heard by those sitting in the living room.
"Caitlyn… You need to slow down." Gabby tried, her voice firm enough to get the point across. Though still, Caitlyn disregarded her, the parents sharing another look.
It wasn't often Caitlyn pushed her limits, or ignored them when she was told to do something, the five year old usually good about listening to her foster parents, but it did happen sometimes. Because for as well behaved of a child as she was, she still was just that; a child. She was just a kid, and Matt and Gabby both knew kids disobeyed sometimes, no matter how well mannered they were. And Caitlyn was no different, the five year old sometimes forgetting she wasn't invincible.
"Caitlyn..." Gabby tried once more, raising her voice to try and get her attention. But just as she did, the girl seemingly tripped over her own two feet as she circled around the edge of the table, a loud shriek escaping her lips as she fell to the ground, all four adults in the room watching as if it were in slow motion as her arm hit harshly against the leg of the chair.
And before Matt or Gabby could even react, heavy cries escaped Caitlyn's lips as the girl stayed on the floor, both parents immediately pushing themselves up from the couch, Matt placing his drink on the coffee table before following his wife towards their girl.
"Oh, sweetheart." Gabby breathed out as she got to her, the woman crouching to the ground as Caitlyn sat herself up, huge tears sliding down her cheeks as her cries got louder. From the way she was crying alone, Gabby knew that while the fall probably had stung, and her arm likely was hurting her a little bit, that her heavy cries were just as much from being worried she was in trouble as they were from her being hurt. "Let me see your arm." She spoke, gently reaching out to hold the forearm Caitlyn had hit against the chair, the little girl continuing to cry as Matt bent down beside her. "Does that hurt, honey?" She asked, Caitlyn looking down to her arm while Gabby carefully pressed against it, before she looked back towards her and shrugged.
"A little." She replied in between breaths.
Before anyone said another word, Caitlyn instantly leaned into Casey's side, Matt sighing softly as he began rubbing her back, her tears continuing to fall as Gabby gently rubbed her arm. "She okay?" He asked, quickly earning a nod from his wife.
"She's alright." She answered, before turning her attention to Caitlyn. "Yeah, you're okay, huh? I know it might hurt a little bit right now, but it's okay." She continued, knowing that if she acted like everything was fine, Caitlyn would calm down quicker. "Nothing some hugs and kisses can't fix." She added, her words earning a smile from the five year old despite the tears in her eyes, before Gabby began pressing a few soft kisses over her arm.
Within moments, Caitlyn began to calm down more and more, Ramon and Antonio having both stayed back in the living room as they knew the last thing that would help would be to overcrowd her, especially when it was clear she'd be alright. Placing one last kiss over her arm, Gabby looked up to find a teary smile waiting for her, Caitlyn's cries having subsided as she leaned against Matt, the father gently wiping away the water resting on her skin.
"I bet it's feeling better already, huh?" Gabby continued lightly, her words causing Caitlyn to smile as Dawson rubbed over her arm for a moment before giving her another kiss. "Everything's fine, honey." She told her, Caitlyn nodding once more as she focused on the feeling of Matt rubbing her back.
"Does anything else hurt?" Casey asked her, Caitlyn pulling away enough to look up at him before shaking her head. "Alright… You know this is why we have rules, right?" He chastised gently, Caitlyn sniffling before ducking her head. "Hey, look at me baby." Matt said softly, Caitlyn reluctantly lifting her head back up, Matt giving her a small smile. "I know you were just wanting to play, but the reason Gabby and I kept telling you not to run is because we didn't want you to get hurt." He explained to her, the five year old nodding. "We just want you to be safe, so when we tell you no, you need to listen, alright?"
"Okay." She replied before sniffling once more, Caitlyn looking back and forth between them. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, honey." Matt told her, Gabby nodding in agreement before Casey leaned down to press a kiss to the girl's forehead.
"I'll listen better, promise." She added quietly, Matt's face softening before he gave her another kiss.
"I know you will, it's okay." He responded just as softly, wiping away the last of the tears on her face before she cuddled back into his side.
"You need anything, mija?" Ramon called from the living room, Gabby looking back towards her father and shaking her head.
"No, no we're good… She's fine." She responded, rubbing her hand along Caitlyn's shoulder before glancing towards her with a soft smile. "You wanna come sit with Matt and I until dinner's ready?" She asked the child, Caitlyn giving her a quick nod in response.
"Yeah." She murmured, Matt and Gabby both nodding before they pushed themselves up off the ground, Casey pulling Caitlyn up with him before they began walking back towards the living room towards the couch, all of them ready to enjoy this night as a family while they waited for their meal to be done.
Dawson sat in the glider in the corner of her daughter's room, listening to the sounds of Matt and Caitlyn playing from the other bedroom while she nursed her one year old. Or, while she tried to nurse her one year old, Sofia putting up quite a bit of resistance against her mother as she whined softly.
"Come on, Sof… You need to eat." She murmured, rubbing her hand along the side of Sofia's head, her words being met by nothing but another whine, Sofia unlatching herself from her mother before digging her head into her mother's chest, the little girl clearly wanting comfort but she wasn't wanting to eat. "I know, I know you don't feel good, baby." She soothed, Gabby pulling Sofia away from her long enough to adjust her shirt, the action causing her baby to start crying, before bringing her back towards her body, knowing her daughter wasn't going to be eating any more tonight, at least not from her.
The second she was back against her mom, Sofia nuzzled into her, holding onto any part of Gabby she could as silent tears streamed down her cheeks, Gabby comforting her the best she could as she gently rocked them in the chair.
"Alright, I'm gonna go check on Sof, I'll be right back sweetheart."
Gabby heard her husband's voice filter into the bedroom, the woman looking up just as Caitlyn responded with an okay, letting Matt know she was fine before it went quiet, Dawson waiting for a split second until she saw her husband appear in the doorway. He was already wearing a soft smile when he walked in, but that look quickly faltered when he saw how visibly stressed his wife was, Matt wasting no time in heading towards her.
"You guys okay?" He asked softly, Gabby nodding as she ran her palm along Sofia's back, Matt coming to a stop beside the chair as he reached out to rub his hand over his baby's head, the soft sound of her whines hitting Matt's eats.
"We're fine… I just can't get her to eat." She breathed out, pressing a kiss against her daughter's temple as Matt's eyes traced over them, a soft frown forming across his face.
"Does she still have a fever?" He questioned as he crouched down beside his girls, Gabby resting her cheek against the side of Sofia's head.
"She feels a little warm… I don't know if the bath helped or not." Gabby told him, her words earning a nod from her husband. Both of their girls had already bathed and gotten ready for bed, and they were hoping the bath would help Sofia feel better, but it hadn't seemed to do much as she was still just as unhappy as she'd been all night.
When she'd woken up from her late nap before dinner, it was clear Sofia still didn't feel well, and that continued well into their evening with their family. And while they had all had a nice time, it was hard for Gabby to get as much time with them as she would've liked. Because between trying to take care of Sofia, as well as making sure Sofia and Caitlyn both were okay, and had gotten enough to eat, the parents were more focused on them than anything. But her brother and father both were understanding, each of them knowing just how hard it was to take care of children, especially when one was sick. Then by the time dinner was done, Gabby was honestly just ready for the night to be over, her family making a rather quick exit before leaving the parents to take care of their children.
"I know she doesn't feel good," Gabby continued after a thoughtful moment, Matt nodding in agreement. "But she hasn't eaten much today… You saw her at dinner, she barely ate any of her food. And now I can't get her to nurse at all… But I don't know if she's just not hungry, or if it's the whole feeding thing." She spoke quietly, her voice only getting lower as Casey drew in a deep breath before he nodded knowingly.
It had become a topic of discussion for the parents as of late as they noticed some shifts in their daughter's behavior, a topic that wasn't exactly a welcome one for Gabby, that being that it seemed to be nearing the time for Sofia to quit breastfeeding.
It wasn't something either of them had been expecting, not when they'd come to the decision to let their daughter continue to breastfeed for as long as she wanted, at least for now. But lately, it seemed like Sofia was beginning to wean herself off of it on her own, as she wasn't seeking out that time with her mother much anymore, and it had kind of thrown Gabby for a loop.
They weren't completely off of it, not anywhere close, but for a while now they'd only really breastfed before some of her naps, and then about half the time before bed. But even those instances were starting to become more and more infrequent, Sofia perfectly content with a bottle or sippy cup from either of her parents as opposed to breastfeeding. And sometimes, it seemed like she even preferred it, Sofia just not interested in nursing much these days, which neither parent had seen coming.
But especially now, when it was clear Sofia didn't feel well, Gabby had expected the fourteen month old to be nearly attached to her, as she used to so often do when she was sick. But that hadn't really been the case this time, Sofia seeking her out for moments of comfort, but not to feed. Just solely to be close to her mom. And that had been maybe the biggest eye opener that their time breastfeeding together was likely coming to an end, and Gabby certainly had mixed emotions about.
She'd be lying if she said she wasn't somewhat sad about the whole thing, knowing that this special time she got with her daughter was almost over. It was something that had been just for them, something that had bonded them in a way nothing else had, and Gabby was reluctant to let that go. But even more than that, it wasn't lost on Gabby that this was likely the only baby she'd get the chance to breastfeed.
Her and Matt weren't sure what their plans were, now with Caitlyn in the picture, if they were even wanting more kids down the line or not. It wasn't anything that was anywhere near their minds right now as they were just focused on their two girls, but in a year or two, if they decided to have another child, Gabby most likely wouldn't be the one to carry that baby, not with there being even the slightest risk something could go wrong. So with Sofia likely being the last, and only, child she'd ever breastfeed, it was a little hard to let go of that.
But if it was time for her daughter to stop, she'd never do anything to hinder that, Gabby just wanting to do whatever was best for her little girl. If she was ready, they'd stop, even if it was something that had left her a little more emotional than she cared to admit, Gabby well aware that Matt knew how much she was having a hard time with this.
"But whatever it is," Gabby started with a sigh, Matt meeting her eyes, "I'm not sure if this is more than just teething, or not."
"I'm not sure… Her temperature wasn't too bad earlier, but we can check it again." He replied as Gabby gave him a nod, Matt reaching out to rub his wife's arm gently before he continued. "Do you want me to go get her some milk? See if she'll drink that instead?" He questioned, Gabby thinking over his words for a moment before she nodded.
"Yeah, if you don't mind." She replied, Matt immediately shaking his head. "I know she usually resists eating when she doesn't feel well, but maybe she'll drink it… So she's at least got something in her before she goes to bed." She finished, Casey nodding before he pushed himself up off the ground.
"Alright, I'm gonna check on Caitlyn, then I'll go and get a bottle." He replied, Gabby giving him a soft nod before he leaned down and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to her lips. She wasn't sure if he could sense she needed it, but the action calmed her down significantly, Gabby nearly melting into him as he kissed her once more. "I love you."
"Love you too, babe." She murmured, Matt stroking his thumb along her cheek before he pulled back, the man lightly kissing the top of Sofia's head as well before heading for the door, Gabby feeling their baby tighten her already strong grip on her. "Yeah… That was your Daddy." She murmured as Sofia shifted around against her, the weight of her baby pressing into her chest as Gabby continued to soothe her, the mother faintly hearing the sounds of her husband leaving Caitlyn's room and heading downstairs, the five year old clearly following after him. "He's gonna get your milk, he'll be right back."
Dawson continued whispering comforting words into Sofia's ear, while the one year old started chewing on her shirt, Gabby knowing her aching mouth was at least the cause of some of her distress as she did whatever she could to keep her calm, while they waited for Matt, and Caitlyn, to get back with the drink that would hopefully help their daughter go to sleep.
Dawson blew out a heavy sigh as they stepped down from the rig, the paramedic already feeling a bit worn down from their first call of the day as her, Brett, and Foster began to walk towards the house, Gabby staying a slight step behind.
"Late night last night?" Brett asked, Gabby raising her head as she looked towards her friend. "You seem a little out of it…"
"Oh, well kinda… We've got a sick baby." She replied, both Foster and Brett wincing slightly as they continued through the garage.
"That's no good." Brett commented.
"Which one?" Foster asked as they got to the double doors.
"Sofia… She's teething again, and it's gotten worse over the last few days, so, yeah, there hasn't been a lot of sleep happening at our house." Gabby explained as they stepped inside, both women nodding once more before walking into the common room, Dawson immediately seeing her husband sitting at the head of the table in his usual spot. And from first glance, she could already tell he had way too much energy for someone who'd been up half the night with Sofia.
"Welcome back, ladies." Severide greeted, Matt looking up to find Gabby already watching him, his already wide smile growing even more as she came to a stop by the table.
"Hey baby." Casey spoke, Gabby reciprocating his soft smile. "I was waiting for you to get back, how was the call?" He asked, earning a curious look from her before she shrugged.
"It was fine… Why were you waiting for me?" She asked, eyeing Severide who was unable to hide his knowing grin, her question causing her husband's smile to widen before he pushed his chair back.
"I've got something I wanna show you." He responded with a near giddy look in his eye, reaching down underneath the table and pulling out a white plastic bag before he stood up, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Alright…" She replied a bit skeptically, unsure of what had him this excited. But she'd be lying if she said she didn't find his demeanor adorable. "What is it?"
Without saying another word, Casey fished around in the bag, the Captain having the attention of the entire room by now before he pulled out what appeared to be a very small shirt, Gabby biting back a smirk as he held what looked like a children's shirt out in front of himself, his smile only widening.
"What is this?" She asked, eyeing the navy blue t-shirt that had their CFD emblem placed proudly in the corner on the front, Matt turning around the piece of clothing to show her the back, which read 'CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT' in big, block letters down the back, the clothing looking even smaller when held up in front of him.
"I got Caity some stuff." He replied lightly, Matt ignoring the snickers he heard from his firefighters as he handed Gabby the shirt, before reaching back into the bag. "I had Boden's assistant order it last shift, and it got here today… I also got her this." He spoke, pulling out a similar shirt to the first one, only this one was red and long-sleeved. "I figured it'd be good, since it'll be getting colder here soon. And I got her a hat."
Gabby couldn't help but smile as she looked at the gifts he'd gotten for Caitlyn, Matt clearly proud of his choices as he held the small hat up in his hands.
"And I also got Sof some new stuff, too." He added shamelessly, pulling out a stack of even smaller clothes. "She's grown out of the department stuff she already has, so I figured it was time to get her some more. But her and Caitlyn both, I figured they'd like it. And we know how much Caity loves the firehouse, I thought it'd be a fun little surprise for her when we get home tomorrow." He finished brightly, Gabby chuckling softly as she looked down to the shirts in her grasp, the paramedic raising her eyebrows before glancing back towards him.
"So you're saying you getting all this stuff had nothing to do with Antonio's comment about wanting to get Caitlyn a shirt from the police department?" She asked with an amused grin as she vaguely remembered her brother's comment about that when he and her father had been over for dinner earlier in the week, her words causing some of their friends to chuckle once more.
But Matt simply grinned, the man shrugging carelessly before placing the hat back into the bag. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He feigned ignorance, Gabby shaking her head lightly before handing him the clothes.
"Mhmm."
"But anyway, you think she'll like them?" He asked, meeting her eyes as he waited for her answer, Gabby's face softening before she gave him a strong nod.
"I think she'll love it, babe." She replied honestly, that smile returning to his face as she spoke. "In fact, knowing her, once we give it to her, we'll probably never be able to get her out of it… It's like that princess nightgown she wants to wear every single night." Gabby added, Matt smirking at his wife's truthful words.
"Yeah, she does love that thing." He breathed out as Gabby began working on refolding the clothes before handing them to him to put in the bag. "And you know, it wouldn't surprise me if she wants to wear that to school." He added with a laugh, Gabby scoffing in response as she knew his statement wasn't completely out of the realm of possibility.
"Like I'd let her out of the house in that." She responded, Matt shaking his head in amusement as he put the last article of clothing back into the bag.
"I know you wouldn't… Though I think she would love to wear one of these shirts to school." He added, Gabby cocking her head to the side as they locked eyes.
"Yeah, or at least you would love for her to." Gabby responded without missing a beat, Matt pursing his lips together before he shrugged once more.
"I'm just saying, it could be a useful incentive to get her out of her pajamas." He countered, Gabby laughing softly before she spoke up.
"She's not wearing a CFD shirt her first day, babe." She told him, Matt releasing a heavy sigh before he nodded.
"Fine… We'll wait till her second day." He replied, Gabby narrowing her eyes in amusement before Herrmann's voice hit their ears.
"The little squirt is starting school soon, yeah?" He asked, the older man clearly having been listening in on their conversation as Gabby turned towards him.
"Yeah, on Monday." Dawson replied.
"Is she excited?"
"Kind of." Matt answered, Gabby nodding in agreement. "She's definitely nervous, but we think she'll have fun once we get past the whole dropping her off thing."
"Yeah, that was definitely always the hardest part." Herrmann commented, the parents knowing he was speaking from experience. "But at least we're not working, so you'll be able to take her." He added, earning quick, firm nods from both Casey and Dawson.
"We're really glad for that." Matt spoke up. "I'm sure she'd be fine with Becca, but this… It's a big thing for her, Gabby and I wanna be there."
"Yeah, I mean, taking you kid to school- Even though she's only your foster kid, it's still a big thing." Herrmann replied, missing the silent, shared look between Matt and Gabby before they nodded.
But neither of them had time to respond when the bells went off above them, calling the entire house out to an apartment fire, all of the first responders quickly regaining their focus on the task ahead of them as they headed out towards the garage, Matt quickly putting the bag of things for his girls in his chair before hurrying out as well, the man making a mental note to put them in his office when they got back.
"Captain Casey! Get the water!"
Caitlyn's little voice filled their living room as her and her foster dad sat on the floor, Matt immediately complying as he pushed the toy fire truck over towards her small dollhouse, both blondes completely immersed in their game as Gabby sat on the couch with Sofia. It was hard to watch the sight in front of her and not smile, as Caitlyn pretended to be a firefighter while Matt played with her, the five year old wearing the CFD t-shirt they'd come home and surprised her with this morning.
When they got home from shift earlier in the day, and saw both girls wide awake while they sat on the couch, the parents decided it would be a good time to show them what Matt had bought, even though Caitlyn was the only one who would really understand what it was. And her reaction didn't disappoint, the young girl nearly bouncing off the walls from excitement when she saw the shirts bought specifically for her, especially when she was informed Sofia had some to match as well, Caitlyn all but ripping off her pajamas so she could put it on. And the second she got the navy blue shirt on, she hadn't taken it off, Gabby having gone upstairs to get some shorts for her to wear with it before she had spent the rest of the morning playing various games with Matt.
"Oh no! They need help!" Caitlyn continued as she reached into her dollhouse before she began pretending to be the people inside, Gabby's smile widening as she watched them, Matt continuing to move the firetruck around the floor, his mouth making noises as he went, Caitlyn gasping before they began to save the people inside.
"Captain Casey will get you! Hold on!" She continued, Gabby glancing down towards Sofia as she sat beside her, her baby chewing on her toy to help with the discomfort in her mouth, the mother leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her curly head. The action gained Sofia's attention, the baby looking up towards her mother with a bright grin, Gabby just glad to see her daughter seemed to be feeling a bit better than she had been throughout the week.
"We got them to safely!" Caitlyn cheered, Gabby looking back towards them just as the five year old began bouncing up and down as her shins rested against the carpet.
"It's safety, baby." Matt corrected her gently, Caitlyn looking up at him with a shy smile.
"We got them to safety." She repeated, Matt smiling widely before he nodded, Caitlyn matching his look before she returned her focus towards the scene in front of them, the five year old picking up the doll meant to be the firefighter, meant to be Casey, before holding it up in front of him. "And all the firefighters are okay!" She added brightly, Gabby smiling sadly as Matt gave her a nod. "No one got hurt."
"Yeah, no one got hurt, honey. Everyone's safe."
"Just like you and Gabby are safe." She replied with a near hopeful look in her eye, Matt once again giving her a quick nod.
"We are." He assured her, Caitlyn's smile returning to her face as she continued to play. But the sound of their doorbell ringing pulled them all from their focus, Matt and Gabby sharing a look before the man pushed himself up off the ground, both of them knowing they weren't expecting anyone to stop by today.
When he got towards the door, he looked out through the peephole, the man's body tensing for a split second at the unexpected visitor before he glanced back to Gabby, finding a curious look waiting for him before he opened the door.
"Tina, hi." He greeted the woman, Gabby's back straightening slightly when he heard her name, the mother making sure Sofia was situated before she moved to sit on the edge of the couch, Caitlyn also looking up when she heard the familiar name. Neither Matt nor Gabby were sure why she was here, but with them not planning on her stopping by today, their gut reaction was that something was wrong.
"Hi Matt… Sorry for just dropping by, but I believe I told you all about some unannounced visits that I'd be doing, with Caitlyn in your care." She spoke, Matt drawing in a deep breath before he began to relax, Gabby calming down considerably as well as Casey nodded.
"Yes, yeah of course. Come in." He said, stepping aside for the social worker to come in, Caitlyn halting her playing as she looked over towards Matt and Miss Tina. "Sorry for the mess, you got here during playtime." He continued, shutting the door behind them before they both walked further inside.
"Oh, well no need to apologize for that. But I'm glad to see you're all here… Hello Gabby." She greeted, Dawson giving her a warm smile before she stood up, Gabby picking up Sofia as well as she didn't want to leave her by herself on the couch.
"Hi Tina." She replied, the woman giving her a nod as they came to stand around the coffee table, Caitlyn pushing herself up off the ground and walking towards Matt, the little girl standing close to his side as her eyes stayed on Tina. From her first reaction alone, it was apparent Caitlyn was still nervous around this woman, and for good reason. While Caitlyn had improved wonders at not being as uneasy around others, Tina wasn't just anyone. She was someone that Caitlyn had a lot of negative associations with, and none of them could blame her for being hesitant.
"I am sorry, for just dropping by. But that's kind of the point of these unannounced visits." Tina started, Matt and Gabby both nodding in understanding. "And this shouldn't take too long, I just want to check in with all of you, and talk to Caitlyn a bit… See how things are going." She added, her gaze moving towards the young girl who had all but glued herself to Matt's hip. "Hi Caitlyn." She greeted warmly, Caitlyn offering her a small, barely-there smile as she hugged Matt's leg.
"Hi." She replied, her nervous energy apparent as Tina's face softened.
"I know you weren't expecting to see me. This is a bit of a surprise, huh?" She questioned, Caitlyn nodding slowly. "But you don't need to worry about anything, we're just gonna talk for a bit, then I'm gonna go and you and Matt can go back to playing, alright?"
"Okay." She answered, her grip on Matt loosening before she continued. "Can Matt and Gabby stay?"
"Of course they can." Tina replied without hesitation, the woman having known before she even came here that Caitlyn likely wouldn't feel comfortable talking on her own. "How about we all sit down, is that alright?" She asked, though her question was more directed towards Matt and Gabby, the parents giving her a nod before they all got situated.
Gabby sat down first, holding Sofia in her lap as Caitlyn climbed up beside her, the girl sitting as close as possible before Matt sat down on her other side, Caitlyn resting her hand on his leg before looking towards Tina. With her sandwiched in between them, she felt a little more at ease, Caitlyn taking slow breaths as she waited for the woman to speak.
"So, Caitlyn, I know you've been back with Matt and Gabby for a little while now… How has it been?" She asked, the five year old never taking her eyes off of her. "Are you happy to be back?"
"Mhmm." She hummed, her hand holding onto Matt's leg as a source of comfort. "I love it here." Caitlyn told her, the five year old a little unsure as to why everyone kept asking her this.
It felt like the same thing they'd talked about with Tina before, and when she went to see Miss Lara, and she didn't get it. She didn't know why she had to keep telling everyone she liked Matt and Gabby, but she tried to always answer the best she could.
"Yeah?" She continued, Caitlyn giving her a nod. "And you're still having fun? With Matt and Gabby?"
"Yeah." She replied, pointing towards the toys on the floor. "We just played firetrucks, it was really fun. Matt makes funny noises." She explained, Tina smiling softly before she nodded. "And we play other games… We play lots of games, and watch movies. We have lots of fun."
"That's good to hear." Tina spoke softly, glancing down towards the folder in her lap before looking back up at the family. "When you're playing games, and watching movies and all the fun stuff, are Gabby and Matt always with you?" She asked carefully, both parents knowing Tina needed to cover her bases. They knew what she was doing, and why she was doing it, Gabby and Matt aware that this was all just part of the process.
"Yeah. Or Becca, when they're working." She replied, Tina giving her a nod.
"And do you have fun with Becca, too? … You like being with her?"
"Mhmm. She's nice, and always plays with me. And takes care of me and Sof." She explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I like being with Gabby and Matt the most, but Becca is really fun too."
"She sounds like it." Tina told her softly, Caitlyn giving her another nod. "Now Caitlyn, I know you probably wanna keep playing, so I won't ask you too many more questions, but one thing I do wanna know is how have you been?" She asked, a look of confusion immediately covering her face before she looked back and forth between Matt and Gabby. As had also been the issue moments ago, Caitlyn once again didn't understand why Tina kept asking her the same question over and over, or at least they felt like the same question to her, the social worker taking a breath before she continued. "Just since you've been back here, if you could tell me one word you could use let me know how you're feeling right now, getting to be here with Matt and Gabby, what would it be?" She tried to explain better, Tina clearly not thrown by the five year old's confusion.
Breathing slowly, Caitlyn's tongue poked out between her teeth as her eyebrows furrowed deep in thought, as she tried to figure out how to best answer her, the little girl soon just saying the first word that popped into her head.
"Happy." She responded simply, Matt and Gabby both unable to hide their growing smiles as Caitlyn looked up at them, Casey's smile widening before he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"Well, that's exactly what I like to hear, sweetheart." Tina said, Caitlyn grinning proudly as she leaned back into Gabby's side. "Now, I know you were in the middle of playing, but do you think you could help show me around the house a little bit?" She asked, Caitlyn looking up towards Gabby for permission, which she soon got, before nodding. The parents knew this was also all part of her visit, that Tina needed to check a few rooms out, and make sure there wasn't anything that could raise any red flags, though they all knew she'd find none.
"Yeah, I can. Matt can help us." She replied, Tina and Casey both nodding before they all stood up, Caitlyn beginning to show Tina around while the social worker checked off all her boxes.
As promised, it hadn't taken too long, Tina just needing to know everything was suitable for the five year old. Which it had been, the Casey's having given the girl more than enough, as well as having safe and welcoming spaces for her, Caitlyn having rather enjoyed showing off all her toys and her princess bedspread to Tina when they'd gone upstairs. But soon enough, it was all said and done, Tina, Matt, and Gabby standing in the living room while Caitlyn had gone back to playing, the girl currently sitting on the couch with her dolls while Sofia was cradled in Gabby's arms, the baby wanting to be held constantly.
"Well, again, I'm sorry for just dropping by. But everything looked great, as expected… And Caitlyn seems to be doing well."
"She is. Things have been going great. She's been doing well, and she's starting school next week… We're really just working on getting our lives going again, and, you know.. Waiting." Gabby breathed out, Tina nodding understandingly.
"I know… That's one of the toughest aspects of all this. I mean, I know a lot of the process isn't easy, but the waiting- I know it's a lot. But here soon, you'll be able to officially petition the court, and we'll keep this going." Tina assured them, earning nods from the both of them. "We're getting there, I promise."
"We know." Casey replied softly, Tina giving them one last nod before she headed towards the door. But she didn't get very far before she stopped herself, Tina turning back to face them, the movement causing Matt to stop as well as he'd planned on going to walk her out.
"Oh, and before I leave, there was also another reason I came by." She started, Casey nodding as she began to dig around in her bag, the couple watching her closely as she pulled out what appeared to be a small photo album and held it out to him. Furrowing his eyebrows, Matt carefully grabbed the item, Gabby looking towards it before looking back up at Tina.
"What is this?" Matt questioned softly, Tina wearing a sad smile before she spoke up.
"It's Caitlyn's." She replied, Matt raising his eyebrows in surprise before looking back down at the photo album, a small grin forming over his face. "It has some photos of her as a baby, and when she was younger… Her growing up. I figured you'd want those."
"Yeah, we do." Gabby replied without hesitation, Matt nodding in agreement as both parents were now eager to flip through the album and get the chance to look at photos of their little girl from before they knew her.
"Absolutely we do, thank you Tina." He added, the social worker waving them off.
"Of course." She responded, the woman wincing slightly as her eyes moved back towards the album. "But, um, in there, there are also photos of her with her dad." She told them, Matt looking back towards her. "There's some with her and him, along with some photos of her mom and dad. I'm guessing her father made this to show her one day when she was older, but I just wanted to let you know those were in there as well." She explained, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. "Caitlyn had this with her when she first came to us, but with her getting bounced around so much, it got misplaced for a while… But it turned back up, and I felt like you should have it." She finished, Matt pausing for a moment before he nodded.
"I'm glad you brought it." He replied, Tina giving him a nod.
"Yeah, of course… And, obviously, it's your choice what you do with it, with the photos of her biological parents." She told them, her eyes flashing towards the five year old on the couch before she lowered her voice. "She's going to be your daughter, so that's up to you… But those pictures are Caitlyn's, and they belong here." She said, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as she took a slight step forward towards Matt.
"No, we're happy you gave them to us." Gabby echoed her husband's words, Matt giving her a nod in agreement. "We'd want her to have these… And as she gets older, I think she'll be thankful for them."
"Yeah, we'll definitely give them to her." Matt added, Tina giving them one last nod before she began walking towards the door, Casey following after her.
While he let her out, Gabby walked back towards the couch, sitting down next to Caitlyn with Sofia in her lap, before Matt walked back in. The parents shared a look, Gabby's gaze flickering towards the photo album before looking back up to her husband, Matt giving her a knowing nod before walking over to place the item down on the bookshelf.
They meant what they said, they were glad Tina had brought them this. And they couldn't wait to go through it and look at photos of their soon-to-be daughter. But they knew now wasn't the right time, not with the girls. Not when they weren't sure how Caitlyn would react to seeing those pictures, if she even remembered them at all. But it wasn't something they wanted to risk today, Matt and Gabby making a silent agreement to go through the album later, as for now they were more than content to just spend some quality time with their girls.