Hello everyone! I'm back with the next chapter for you all. Thank you so much for your feedback on the last one, I'm so glad you all seemed to enjoy it. I hope you like this one, too. This is kind of a longer chapter, hopefully you all don't mind.
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Stay safe, everyone xx
Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen
Casey rocked the tired five year old in his arms as they sat in the back of the ambulance, the slick streets making Brett drive slower than normal as the little girl clung to her father. Her head was tucked into his neck, her legs resting on either side of his waist while his arms were wrapped securely around her as they sat on the gurney, Gabby by his side as her hand was lightly stroking Caitlyn's back. They couldn't entirely be sure how much longer they had left to go, but by their surroundings that Gabby could see out the back windows, she knew they were close, as both parents were eager to get their little girl back to the firehouse and out of the cold so they could figure out what to do next.
They had gotten off the phone with Becca a few minutes ago, Gabby explaining to her more of what was going on and that they'd be keeping Caitlyn, at least for a little while, and now they were back to just sitting in that comfortable silence, the parents more focused on their ill daughter than anything else.
As Matt pressed a gentle kiss to her head, he could feel how Caitlyn was losing her battle with consciousness, the sick girl clearly very tired as the combination of her father's hold, along with the steady rocking nearly lulling her to sleep. Her quiet breaths were hitting his neck, and before long those sounds soon turned into soft snores, Gabby smiling sadly as she continued rubbing her back.
"Poor thing." She murmured, Matt nodding in agreement before he kissed the little girl's head once more.
"I know, I feel so bad… I hate that she was sick and we weren't there." He responded just as softly. "We should've made her stay home tomorrow, I had a feeling something was off with her this morning, but she kept telling me she was fine."
"It's not your fault, babe." Gabby replied, Matt glancing towards her over the top of Caitlyn's head. "You know how badly she wanted to go to school, I don't think anything was gonna stop her." She added lightly, Matt nodding in agreement. "But she's fine… Hopefully it's just a little twenty four hour bug that she picked up from someone at school or something, and she'll start feeling better here soon."
"Yeah, you're right." He responded with a small smile as the rig slowed down slightly, both parents looking out the window to see they'd pulled into the driveway. "And whatever it is, let's hope it's not contagious… I don't want to deal with two sick babies." He said as the rig came to a stop inside the garage, Gabby grimacing slightly at the thought. "And, you know, I don't want to get the house sick, either." He added with a sheepish look, like the thought had just crossed his mind as an amused scoff left Gabby's lips.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." She assured him as she rubbed his arm, the family able to hear Brett and Foster climbing down out of the ambulance. "But I'd much rather deal with a sick Herrmann than a sick Sofia." She admitted, Casey smiling in agreement just as the back doors opened, the other two paramedics coming into view as Gabby turned to look at her partners.
"How's she feeling?" Brett asked with a sad smile, Gabby matching the look on her face as Matt began to gently stroke Caitlyn's hair.
"About the same, I think… Thank you again, for driving us to go get her." Gabby spoke, Brett immediately waving her off as Foster pulled the door open wider.
"Don't worry about it." She replied, the blonde's eyes moving to Caitlyn for a split second before she looked back up at her friends. "Do you all need anything?"
"I think we're fine." Casey responded, Gabby nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, we're good. Thank you, though." She added, Brett and Foster both nodding before they began to walk away, neither paramedic wanting to overcrowd the sick child as Matt and Gabby were left with Caitlyn in the back of the rig. "You ready to get her inside?" Gabby asked as a gust of cold wind blew through the garage and into the back of the ambulance, the mother reaching to grab their little girl's jacket that they'd taken off of her before they left the school.
"Mhmm… I don't wanna keep her out here too long, not when it's this cold." He answered her before he began to rub his hand over his daughter's back. Casey knew he likely couldn't get out of the rig without waking her up, but he wanted to at least try as Gabby climbed down onto solid ground, the little girl's coat and backpack clasped in her grip. Drawing in a deep breath, Matt tightened his grip on Caitlyn before he slowly stood up. He had to crouch slightly as to avoid hitting his head, Matt holding underneath his daughter as well as cradling her head against his neck, the father doing all he could to keep her steady.
But as he took the first step down, he felt her begin to shift in his hold, a soft groan leaving her lips before she dug herself deeper into his grasp. "Daddy…" She whined, Matt stepping down on the ground, the man able to adjust her in his arms a little better now that she was awake.
"I'm sorry, baby. Go back to sleep." He hushed as Gabby shut the doors to the rig. "We just got back to the firehouse, everything's okay."
"I'm cold." She replied, Matt nodding as he held onto her tighter, doing all he could to shield her from the slight wind hitting them.
"I know you are, we're going inside. We're gonna go to my office, and you can get some more rest." He told her as he and Gabby began walking towards the doors, Caitlyn nodding against his neck. With Dawson slightly ahead of them, they quickly made their way through the garage, Caitlyn shifting around in his grasp as occasional groans continued to leave her lips.
"My tummy hurts." She whimpered as they walked through the double doors, Gabby immediately seeing everyones eyes on them as their coworkers sat in the common room, their worry evident as Casey rubbed the little girls back.
"I know baby."
"I need to go potty." She told him, Matt nodding immediately before glancing towards his wife, Gabby giving him a nod of her own before she took a step forward.
"Go ahead and take her, I'll be there in a minute." Dawson instructed, Matt responding with an agreeing look before he took off down the hallway, not wanting to force Caitlyn to wait as Gabby watched them go.
"How's she doing?" Boden asked, his deep voice gaining Dawson's attention as she looked back into the common room, Gabby finding everyone still watching her as she took a slight step forward.
"She doesn't feel too good." She replied with a slight wince. "I'm not entirely sure what she's got, but she's gotten sick a few times. Matt and I are gonna keep an eye on her, probably keep her here for a bit, if that's okay."
"That's fine, whatever you need." Boden replied, the older man well aware of how difficult it was to have a sick child, as Gabby gave him a grateful nod.
"Can we do anything for her, kid?" Herrmann questioned as Dawson looked towards him, the woman sighing before she shook her head lightly. "Or for you and Casey?"
"No, I don't think so, thank you though." She responded softly, the woman glancing back down the hallway before looking back into the room. Her eyes found Boden's instantly, Gabby not wanting to be away from her daughter any longer than she had been already, but she needed to talk to her boss before she went anywhere.
But when Boden gave her a slight nod, it was like he knew exactly what she was about to ask, the Chief crossing his arms over his chest. "Go ahead and sit out the next few calls, ambo will be fine." He told her, Dawson releasing a thankful breath before she nodded. "Stay here and take care of your daughter."
"Thank you, Chief." She replied, the man giving her a small smile before she went down the hallway towards the bathroom.
And once she got there, her and Matt stayed with Caitlyn, the parents helping her where needed before they eventually made their way to Matt's office, the little girl still wanting to be held as Casey carried her. When they got inside, Gabby moved to pull the covers back on the bed while Matt rocked back and forth to soothe the little girl in his arms. And once there was a spot for her, Casey carried her towards the bed and placed her down on the mattress, the five year old lying down on her side with her arm resting over her stomach as she faced the middle of the bunk, Gabby running her hand through her blonde hair as Matt pulled the thin covers up over her.
After tucking her in, Matt rubbed his hand over her side before standing up straight, Gabby remaining crouched down by the bed as she continued stroking her hair. "I'm gonna go and get her some water, just to try and keep her hydrated." Matt spoke softly, Gabby looking back to give him a nod before she refocused her attention on her daughter, the man stopping to squeeze his wife's shoulder before he left the office.
Caitlyn looked up when she heard the door open, her eyebrows furrowing in worry before she leaned back into her mother's hand. "Mommy." She spoke quietly, Gabby humming softly to let her know she heard her, Caitlyn shivering slightly as a chill ran through her body. "Will you lay with me?"
Dawson's face softened as she nodded, Gabby leaning forward to place a kiss on the back of her head before she pushed herself up. "Of course, Caity." She replied before she walked around to the other side of the bed, Gabby carefully placing herself down on top of the covers, being mindful of the little girl as she made herself comfortable on her side.
And the second she was settled, Caitlyn pushed the covers down a bit so she could get closer to her mom, the five year old snuggling into her chest as Gabby wrapped her arm around her little body. While the child was comfortably resting against her, Dawson lightly rubbed up and down her back, the mother hoping that she could help her feel even the slightest bit better as they laid in the quiet room.
It wasn't until Matt walked back in a few minutes later than there was any noise around them, the man stepping in through the door he left open and immediately seeing his wife and oldest daughter curled up in his bed, a small smile forming over his face as he stepped all the way inside. When Gabby saw him, she gave him a similarly weak grin, Matt closing the door behind him before he placed the half full glass of water down on his desk.
Without saying a word, Matt began moving his way around the room, the Captain slowly pulling all the blinds in the room to give them some privacy while they tended to their sick daughter. While he worked on that task, Gabby relaxed back onto the pillow, the woman knowing she'd likely be lying here for a while as she felt Caitlyn nuzzle herself deeper into her chest.
But just as Casey finished pulling the last blind, the bells went off above their heads, Matt wincing when Caitlyn jumped at the unexpected noise. "Shh, shh it's okay." Gabby soothed as she scratched the girl's back. "It's alright." She continued as they heard ambo and squad being called out to an accident, Caitlyn leaning deeper into her mom's embrace before grabbing a hold of her shirt with her fist.
"Mommy, don't leave." She nearly cried out, Caitlyn having been here enough to know that when ambulance 61 was called out, that meant her mom had to go, Gabby immediately shaking her head before tightening her hold on the young girl.
"I'm not going anywhere." She promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead before pulling the covers up a little higher over her back, Matt watching his girls with a sad look on his face. Caitlyn nodded against her, the girl loosening her grip somewhat on her mother as Casey moved back towards his desk, the man preparing to settle in and work on some paperwork while his daughter rested. "Just try and get some sleep, baby… I'll be right here."
Seemingly content with her answer, Caitlyn snuggled up against her mom while Gabby continued rubbing her hand over her back, while her other scratched the back of her head, both parents staying as quiet as possible as their daughter slowly began to fall asleep, Matt and Gabby knowing the best thing for her right now was just to get some rest.
Dawson drew in a slow breath as she slowly came into consciousness, the woman not entirely sure of her surroundings as she opened her eyes, only to close them quickly as she wasn't adjusted to the light in the room around her. After blinking a few times, her vision began to come into focus as she was immediately met by the sight of her daughter laying beside her, Caitlyn's warm brown eyes staring back at her as Gabby started to remember the events of earlier today, and why exactly her and her daughter were lying here in Matt's office.
Before either of them said anything, Gabby felt a slight weight against her side, the woman glancing down to see Matt's Captain's jacket laid across her body, a small smile forming over her face as she was sure her husband had done that at some point after she'd unintentionally fallen asleep.
"Hi Mommy." Caitlyn spoke, Gabby giving her a small smile before rubbing her hand over her side, Matt glancing back from his desk when he heard her voice. From her few words, Gabby could tell the little girl had likely just woken up as well, her voice thick with sleep as she pulled her a bit closer.
"Hi sweetheart." She responded, Gabby relishing in the warmth of Matt's jacket as she continued to slowly wake up. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, at all, but apparently she hadn't been able to fight off her own exhaustion while lying here with her daughter, Gabby bringing her hand up to run over Caitlyn's head. "How are you feeling?"
"Sleepy." She replied, Gabby giving her a nod as she heard Matt get up from his desk, the woman glancing over towards him when he came into view as he walked closer to the bunk.
"Do you still feel sick?" She continued, shooting her husband a soft smile as he sat himself down at the end of the bed by Caitlyn's legs, Matt reaching out to place his hand over the little girl's side.
"I don't know." Caitlyn murmured, Gabby giving her a nod before she looked back towards Casey, the mother continuing to rub her daughter's head.
"How'd you sleep?" He asked, Dawson breathing slowly before she nodded.
"Pretty good, though I didn't mean to fall sleep at all." She replied, her words causing him to shake his head slightly.
"I'm glad you got some rest." He responded, Matt reaching across Caitlyn to give Gabby's leg a gentle squeeze. Smiling softly, she nodded once more, Gabby glancing to their daughter for a moment before returning her gaze to her husband.
"How did she sleep?" She asked, Matt smiling softly before squeezing her leg again.
"Good… You both were out, until she woke up a few minutes ago." He replied as his body was angled towards them, Caitlyn relaxing more and more by the second as he mom continued rubbing her head. "Every time I'd check on you, you both were fast asleep." Matt added, his eyes moving back and forth between his wife and his daughter. "You even slept through another call, the both of you did… So I'm glad you got the rest."
"Another one?" She questioned with furrowed brows, Matt nodding in response.
"Mhmm. 61 got called out again, probably an hour ago."
"What time is it?" She asked, Matt coming to realize that for as deep of a sleep as she was in, she really still wasn't too aware of her surroundings.
"A little after two thirty." He told her, seeing the immediate surprise that covered her face before she nodded, Gabby beginning to stretch out her limbs. "Kidd came by a little bit ago, her and Brett made some chicken noodle soup for everyone… Figured it would be easy on Caitlyn's stomach." He explained to her what all she'd missed during her nap, Gabby raising her eyebrows slightly.
"That was nice of them, they didn't have to do that." She replied, her voice still a little thick.
"That's what I told her, but it's out there if we want it… I know you and I need to eat, but I'm not sure if Caity's up for it." He responded as his eyes focused on his daughter, Caitlyn only half awake as she was partially listening to her parents. "Caitlyn…"
"Hmm?" She hummed before a yawn escaped her lips, the five year old opening her eyes once more to look at her mom.
"Stella made some chicken noodle soup, do you feel up to eating anything?" Casey repeated his previous words, the girl shifting to lay on her back so she could see her dad. "You don't have to, if you're not hungry, or if your tummy still hurts," He assured her as Gabby stroked her thumb over the five year old's forehead, the mother thankful to feel that she wasn't overly warm. "But if you think you can eat something, we can go out there and have some soup." He finished, patting his hand over her leg as another yawn escaped the girl's lips.
"Okay." She replied, Matt's head tilting to the side slightly as he waited for more of an answer from her. "I want soup."
Nodding with a soft smile, Matt pushed himself up from the bed, Caitlyn slowly beginning to sit up as well as Gabby pulled Casey's jacket off of her. While Matt moved towards the little girl, Gabby got herself up off the bed, the woman stretching her arms above her head before adjusting her clothes, trying to make it look like she hadn't just been asleep for the last couple of hours.
"Daddy." Caitlyn prompted as she lifted her arms up above her head, silently asking for him to pick her up as Matt obliged without question. Placing his hands underneath her arms, he lifted her into his hold, Caitlyn immediately clinging to him as she buried her head into his neck. From her demeanor alone, both parents could tell she still wasn't feeling well, Matt rubbing her back gently before the family finally left his office.
Matt followed behind Gabby as Caitlyn's legs hung down on either side of his body, the Casey's making their way to the common room slowly as they walked through the quiet house. Though it wasn't entirely unusual for the time of day, no one had been anywhere in the bunk room, and Gabby could only assume that was to not disturb the sick child. And when they got closer to the kitchen, they were able to hear the rumblings of their firehouse family, both Gabby and Matt assuming most of the house was in there as they came around the corner and found their suspicions to be correct.
"Hey, there are the Caseys." Herrmann spoke softly from his spot on the couch, no one missing how Caitlyn was hiding away in her father's arms, the little girl not nearly as outgoing and excited as she normally was. "How's she feeling?"
"A little better, maybe." He replied, his words earning a few soft nods from their friends as Casey walked straight towards the couch, the Captain sitting down in the vacant spot on the other side of Herrmann while Gabby headed into the kitchen. With a little adjusting, Casey was able to sit down and place Caitlyn in his lap, her head resting on his shoulder while she faced the older firefighter. "Momma's getting you some food, alright? Then we'll try and eat some." He spoke to his daughter, Caitlyn nodding against him as he ran his hand over the side of her arm.
"Yeah, the soup was pretty good, kid." Herrmann spoke lightly, gaining a small and weak smile from the five year old as she clung to her father. "I think it'll help you feel better. I know it's no fun being sick." He added, Caitlyn merely nodding before she looked around the rest of the room, or as much as she could see of it from the security of her dad's hold, seeing a few different pairs of eyes on her. And Caitlyn couldn't figure out why, but they all kind of looked sad, like her parents did when they were worried about her.
"Alright baby," Gabby spoke as she walked around the front of the couch, her voice gaining the little girl's attention as she watched her mom sit down on the coffee table in front of her, holding a bowl of soup in her hands. "Do you feel okay to try and eat?" She asked, the child nodding before she lifted herself up slightly, Matt brushing some of her hair from her face before Gabby handed the bowl to him.
With the food securely in his grasp, Matt got a small amount on the spoon before he brought it up to his lips to blow on it, the father wanting to make sure it wasn't too hot before he gave it to her. And while Caitlyn was more than capable of feeding herself, both parents also knew how terrible she felt right now, so neither of them were too worried about helping her out a little bit as Matt pulled the silverware away from her mouth.
They gave her a second to swallow, Matt and Gabby both knowing it would take some time to know if eating was a good idea or not, but by the look on Caitlyn's face, she seemed to want more. "You still feel okay?" Gabby asked, Caitlyn nodding slowly.
"I'm hungry." She replied, Dawson reaching out to run her hand over the side of her head before she nodded.
"Alright, you can have as much as you feel up for, but just don't eat too fast, alright? It might hurt your tummy." Gabby responded, using the little girl's terminology as Caitlyn gave her a small acknowledging smile before her dad gave her another spoonful of soup. "Do you want me to stay with her, so you can get some lunch?" She offered her husband, Matt shaking his head slightly before glancing back towards the counter.
"No, I'm alright. You go ahead and eat, I'll stay with her." He replied with a soft smile, Gabby pausing for a moment before she nodded in agreement, the woman pushing herself up off the table and heading for the kitchen while Matt stayed in his seat and helped Caitlyn.
It took some time, but Caitlyn eventually was able to finish all her food, Matt pausing for a bit in between every few bites to make sure she wasn't overdoing it. But as she took the last bite she seemed to handle it okay, Matt keeping her securely in his grasp as he leaned forward to place the now empty bowl on the coffee table, the father looking down at his daughter as she adjusted herself in his lap. From first glance alone, she seemed to have a bit more color in her cheeks, though he could see clearly just how exhausted she still was. And he knew that wouldn't go away until she got past whatever it was that had her so sick.
Drawing in a deep breath, Matt looked around the room, finding Gabby where she'd been for the last ten minutes or so, his wife sitting at the table with Kidd and Severide while she would often look back over towards them. And within seconds, she glanced over yet again, this time meeting his gaze as she raised her eyebrows slightly, Matt giving her a nod, silently signaling her to come over here.
Pausing her conversation with their friends, Gabby pushed herself up from her seat and walked the few steps across the room towards her family, Matt seeing the small smile on her face as she came to a stop in front of them.
"How'd it go?" She asked as she reached down to feel Caitlyn's forehead, finding it pretty much the same temperature it had been since they picked her up from school.
"She was able to eat all of it… It might take some time to see if that was a good idea, but so far, she's alright." He explained, Gabby giving him a slight nod before she leaned down to press a quick kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "But I do think we should take her home." He added quietly, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded. "I know we wanted her with us, but I think she'd be better off at the house, where she can rest without so much going on." He finished, Gabby pursing her lips together as she knew he was right.
Though she was hoping to keep Caitlyn here for a little while longer, not only so they could be with her, but also to keep her away from Sofia for as long as possible, she knew it was inevitable that they'd have to take her home. They couldn't keep the girls separated for however long it took the five year old to get over this, and she also knew her husband had a point; that Caitlyn would do better at home.
All they could do was hope that Sofia wouldn't catch whatever this was.
"Yeah, you're right." She responded as she ran her hand through Caitlyn's hair, before her eyes found Matt's once more.
"Maybe we can talk to Boden, see if he'll let you leave with her." He suggested, Gabby immediately nodding in agreement. Because while she hated the thought of bailing on shift, she refused to let Caitlyn go home without at least one of them. "And that way Becca won't have to take care of both girls by herself… It should help keep the girl's separated a bit, too." He continued on as he felt Caitlyn nuzzle herself deeper into his hold.
"Yeah, I want one of us with her when she's sick." Gabby replied, Matt nodding in understanding as he knew the entire room was likely listening to their conversation.
"Let's take her back to my office, then we can go talk to Boden." He spoke, Matt carefully shifting to the edge of the couch with Caitlyn still in his grasp. "Hopefully it won't be a problem, with Brett and Foster still here, but if he okays it, then-"
"Daddy."
Matt stopped himself when we heard Caitlyn's small voice hit his ears, his eyebrows furrowing when he registered how upset she sounded, both Gabby and Matt pausing their conversation as their focus shifted to their little girl.
"What is it, honey?" He asked quickly, neither parent sure what to expect as they waited for her to respond.
But before she could, they both heard her starting to gag, the little girl then expelling the entirety of her lunch all over not only herself, but Matt's shirt as well as she threw up the food she'd just eaten. The entire room stopped what they were doing, Casey wincing slightly as the smell hit his nostrils, but he pushed all that aside when he saw the look on his daughter's face; a look of uncertainty mixed with embarrassment as tears quickly flooded her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She croaked out, her voice hoarse as thick tears slid down her cheeks, Caitlyn clearly upset about what had just happened as her breathing became a bit labored, Matt shaking his head as Brett hurried over with some paper towels. "I didn't mean to-" She choked out, the queasy feeling in the air quickly dissipating as the house became more focused on how upset the little girl was.
"Hey- baby, listen to me," Matt started gently as Gabby grabbed the paper towels from her partner, Dawson shooting her a grateful smile before she began cleaning up Caitlyn, and Matt, to the best of her ability. "It's alright, it's not your fault… You don't need to be sorry, everything's okay." He assured her, Matt shifting completely into father mode as he wasn't even bothered by the vomit on him right now, the man wiping away her tears before he looked towards his wife.
"We should probably go give her a shower, get her rinsed off and everything." She murmured as she finished cleaning up her daughter as much as she could, Matt nodding in agreement before he began to lift himself and Caitlyn up off the couch. Already knowing he would need to at least change as well, he didn't bother trying to keep any distance from himself and Caitlyn, his baby girl needing his comfort more than anything else right now as he walked to the hallway without another word, Gabby hanging back for a few seconds.
"I'm really sorry about that, guys." She responded with a grimace, but her words were immediately met by them shaking their heads.
"It's fine, Dawson." Herrmann replied with a soft smile. "We're in a firehouse, we've all seen worse."
"Yeah, you're good. Just let us know if you all need anything." Severide added, the man a little more worried than most about his goddaughter, Gabby giving him a quick nod before she hurried off down the hallway after Matt and Caitlyn.
She caught up to them just as they got to the locker room, Gabby frowning when she could hear the sounds of Caitlyn's cries as they walked towards their lockers, Matt rubbing her back up and down as soothingly as he could. "Baby, it's okay." He murmured, the girl struggling to suck in breaths as her tears continued to fall. "You're alright."
"I don't feel good." Her words were muffled against Casey's neck, but both parents heard her as they shared a sad look.
"We know you don't, Caity." Gabby responded softly, the mother rubbing the back of her head before she slid past them towards her locker. "But we're gonna get you cleaned up, then take you home, alright?"
Caitlyn merely nodded from the security of her father's embrace, Matt trying to ignore the fact that both he and Caitlyn were still covered in vomit, as he felt her tears hitting his skin. While he did his best to calm her down, Gabby was digging around through her locker, the mother searching for the extra clothes she kept for both the girls here at the firehouse.
The parents learned long ago that they needed to have extra clothes on hand for their girls, at all times, and their lockers were the perfect place for that as Gabby and Matt both had a few extra sets of clothes for their daughters. And in moments like this, they were beyond grateful for it as Gabby pulled out a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of leggings for Caitlyn before she turned back towards them.
And once she had everything else she'd need, Gabby and Matt walked over to the showers, Dawson stopping at the second one and reaching in to turn on the water while Casey carefully sat her down on the ground. As she waited for the temperature to warm up, Gabby turned back around, a soft frown forming over her face when she saw the state her daughter was in.
"Caitlyn," Gabby started quietly, her frown deepening as Caitlyn's teary brown eyes looked up at her, the little girl sniffling as her mom rubbed the side of her head. "We're gonna get you cleaned up, alright?" She told her once more, Caitlyn sniffling once more before Gabby wiped some of her tears away. "Do you feel like you're gonna be sick again?"
Caitlyn shook her head in response, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded, her eyes glancing back up towards her husband, her eyes immediately moving to his stained white shirt. "I'm gonna change and clean up a bit." He told her, Gabby nodding once more before she squatted down in front of Caitlyn, the paramedic not even fazed by the smell of vomit as she got closer to her daughter. "You got her?"
"We're good… Are you gonna wash that stuff?" She asked as her eyes flashed down to his clothes once more, Matt following her gaze before he nodded in response.
"Yeah, I am."
"Can you throw her clothes in there with it?" She questioned, Matt giving her an immediate nod before he took a step backwards.
"Of course. I'll come back and get it once I'm done." He replied, Gabby giving him an appreciative nod before she focused her attention back on her daughter, while Matt headed back towards the locker room to change.
With just Gabby and Caitlyn left by the showers, the mother slowly began to help her out of her soiled clothes, Dawson being careful to keep her shirt away from her face as much as she could as to not prompt her to get sick again. And within a few minutes Caitlyn was in the shower, Gabby staying close by while the girl rinsed herself off, only helping when needed, the water pretty cool as to not get her too overheated.
"Hey babe." Gabby looked up when she heard her husband's voice a couple minutes later, Matt coming into view as he was now clothed in his backup set of shift clothes, there no longer any evidence of the incident in the common room that had taken place maybe twenty minutes prior.
Dawson responded with a small smile before she grabbed Caitlyn's dirty clothes off the ground and handed them to Matt when he got close enough. "Here you go."
"Thank you… I'm gonna go get these started, then talk to Boden about you going home." He replied, Gabby nodding in response before she stepped back towards the shower Caitlyn was in. "I don't think it'll be a problem, but I'll let you know what he says."
"Alright, thank you." She murmured softly, Matt giving her a small smile before he took a few steps backwards. "I'm not sure we'll be in here much longer, but if we're not in here, we'll be in your office."
"Sounds good, take your time." He responded before he left the bathroom once more, Gabby sighing softly before she looked to the closed curtain her daughter was behind.
"Honey, you doing okay?" Gabby asked her, just as she'd done a few other times since they came in here, the mother making sure her voice could be heard over the sound of the running water.
"I'm sleepy." Caitlyn's small voice filtered out through the curtain.
"I know you are, Caity. Are you done?" She questioned back, Gabby wincing slightly when she heard her daughter begin to cough roughly. "Baby, you alright?"
"Yeah." She replied weakly before the curtain moved back slightly, Caitlyn poking her head out to look up at her mom. "I'm done."
"Alright sweetheart." Dawson responded before she reached in to turn the water off, Gabby grabbing her towel and wrapping her up in the white material before she stepped out of the shower. As she was standing in front of her, Gabby squatted down to her level before rubbing her hands over her towel-covered arms, Caitlyn's tired and drained features shining back at her. "We're gonna get you home here soon, okay?"
"You and Daddy will be with me?" She asked quietly, Gabby giving her a small smile as she continued rubbing her arms.
"Daddy has to stay and work," She started, Caitlyn's face falling immediately before Gabby could continue. "but I'm going home with you." She added, seeing the look of relief that flashed in the five year old's eyes. "I'll be with you, and then Daddy will be home in the morning." She assured her, Caitlyn nodding slowly before Gabby reached up to cup the side of her head. "But we're gonna get you home, alright?"
"Okay." She replied quietly, Gabby giving her a small smile before leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her forehead, Caitlyn relaxing in her for a few moments before Gabby stood back up, the mother beginning the process of getting the five year old ready to leave the firehouse and head home.
Gabby bit down on her bottom lip as she pulled the zipper up the side of her muted purple dress, the woman smoothing out the material once it was securely in place before she looked over the rest of her appearance. Her hair was down past her shoulders, curled lightly into place, while the minimal makeup covering her face was perfect for their evening ahead as they prepared for the time they were about to spend with their family; though up until this afternoon, they still weren't sure they were going.
After Caitlyn had been sick the day before yesterday, Thanksgiving was kind of up in the air, neither parent knowing if their holiday plans were something they could do with the ill five year old. Tuesday had been rather rough as Caitlyn didn't feel well the entire rest of the day, even after she'd gone home with Gabby. But thankfully, when she woke up the next morning, she was feeling a lot better. Then after the easy day spent at home all day yesterday, she'd seemed to be over whatever it was she had, as her nausea had seemingly passed. And though they were never quite sure as to what she actually had, the parents deciding not to take her to the doctor as she'd gotten over it rather quickly, they assumed it to be just some bug that ran its course through her system, as by the time she woke up this morning, she was like the same old Caitlyn.
They were still taking it easy, Gabby and Matt being careful of what they fed her, and making her mostly relax while at home, as she was still a little more tired than normal. Because with as terrible as she'd felt the day before yesterday, they didn't want to risk anything, the parents figuring it best to take things slowly. Which is exactly why they waited until the last minute to decide about Thanksgiving.
But after some discussions, and checking in with Caitlyn, Gabby and Matt decided they'd go. They wanted this time with their family, they wanted Caitlyn to have this time with their family, Caitlyn and Sofia both. And with her mom coming into town for the first time since last Christmas, Gabby desperately wanted to be able to go, as long as Caitlyn was up for it.
And, as far as both parents could tell, she was.
"Mommy!"
Gabby turned around when she heard her daughter's excited voice behind her, her eyes widening slightly as she saw Caitlyn standing there, the little girl already dressed in her green dress and white tights that they'd picked out earlier, her hair down in curls just like her mother's as she looked up at Gabby with a bright smile.
"Hi baby." She greeted as she walked over towards her.
"Hi! Daddy wanted me to come and see if you were almost ready," She spoke, Gabby biting back a chuckle before shaking her head. "And he said how you were getting pretty, but you're always pretty Mommy." She added, warmth spreading through Gabby's chest as she smiled. "But you look extra pretty now… Daddy is gonna be so happy." She continued on, the older woman unable to stop her laugh this time as she placed her hand on Caitlyn's shoulder.
"Thank you, sweetheart… I am almost ready, if you wanna go tell your dad I'll be out in a minute. Maybe let him know that if he's tired of waiting, he can go ahead and get you all in the car." She suggested lightly, Caitlyn smiling wide as she really had no idea of the conversation her parents were having back and forth between her.
"Okay! I'll tell him." She responded happily, Gabby reaching out to stroke her hand over the little girl's face before Caitlyn ran out of the room as quickly as she'd come in, Dawson wearing a look of amusement before she finished up getting ready.
It only took her maybe ten more minutes, but by the time she'd finished, the girls and Matt were already out in the garage, Caitlyn and Sofia strapped in the back while Matt was standing beside the open passenger side door while he waited for her. With the cold winter air pouring in through the open garage, he'd made sure to turn the car on to keep his girls warm as Gabby eventually came outside, Casey's smile widening when he saw her walk outside.
"I know, I know- I'm sorry, I'm late." She spoke before he could say anything, Matt simply shaking his head as she walked over to him.
"It's fine babe. It gave me time to get the girls in the car… You know, like Caitlyn asked me to." He responded teasingly, Gabby clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth before she came to stand in front of him. "And you look incredible, by the way."
"Thank you… but I have no idea what you're talking about." She responded lightly to his words about their daughter before she stepped by him to sit down in the passenger seat, Matt shaking his head with a proud smirk over his lips before he shut her door for her, the man hurrying around to his side of the car so they could get to Ramon's place.
The drive there was rather uneventful, Casey driving carefully through the slick streets as they made their way to the apartment, the majority of the drive spent with Caitlyn singing along to the Disney music they were playing, while Sofia did her best to sing along as well. Though it mostly just sounded like screaming. But it was endearing to the parents nonetheless, both of them just glad to see both their girls in such good spirits after how rough the last few days had been for the Casey family.
After their long drive, they pulled up outside Ramon's apartment, the girls waiting patiently in their seats while Matt and Gabby got out. Going through their usual routine, Casey got Sofia out of her carseat, while Caitlyn unbuckled herself and let Gabby help her down onto the icy ground. With Sofia securely in his arms, Matt locked up the car before he came to stand beside the rest of his family, Caitlyn already holding onto Gabby's hand tightly as light snow was falling down around them. Once he slid the keys into his pocket, he reached his free hand down to grab Caitlyn's free one, the little girl giving it willingly before they began to walk towards the front door, both parents wanting to have a hold on the five year old as they moved over the slippery sidewalk.
When they got up the steps, they let go of Caitlyn's hands so she could ring the doorbell, the parents sharing an amused look as Matt adjusted Sofia on his hip, the baby more focused on the collar of her dad's coat than anything else as they heard footsteps approaching on the other side of the door. And within seconds, the door was pulled open, the Casey family soon being met by Antonio as he greeted them with a soft smile.
"Hey sis, Casey." He spoke before he stepped back slightly, giving them room to come inside, his gaze moving down towards the little girl standing in front of his sister. "Hi Caitlyn!" The tone in his voice changed the second he addressed her, Gabby biting back a smirk at how much of a softy her older brother was around her children as Caitlyn walked into the house first.
"Hi Uncle Tony!" She spoke happily, the five year old stopping to give him a tight hug before she continued inside, Matt holding his arm out telling Gabby to go in before he carried Sofia in behind her.
"Hey Tonio." Gabby finally replied as she stopped to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, Matt moving in to shake his hand before Antonio closed the door behind them, keeping the cold out from the warm house as they all stood in the foyer. "Who all's here?"
"Just Mom and Dad so far." He responded, neither Antonio nor Matt missing the way Gabby's face lit up at the mention of her mother. "Mama's so excited to see you, she hasn't stopped talking about you since I got here… She's not even bothering trying to hide who her favorite is now." He added with a light scoff, Gabby rolling her eyes before she moved towards Caitlyn, the mother beginning to help her out of her coat.
"Well, I didn't ask to be the favorite."
"Mhmm, I'm sure. But speaking of favorites, I only care about seeing my nieces." Antonio replied with a huff, Gabby shaking her head in amusement as her brother reached out to rub Sofia's back, the baby smiling brightly when she saw her uncle. Caitlyn giggled softly as Gabby hung up her coat, the little girl turning towards him as her warm brown eyes shone up at him. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?" He asked, Caitlyn's smile widening before she nodded.
"I'm good! I'm not sick anymore." She explained with a grin. "And I'm excited to see grandma and grandpa!" She replied brightly at the names she'd recently started using for Ramon and Camila, Antonio smiling softly before he glanced towards Gabby.
"You're gonna have to start teaching her Spanish, Gabs." He told her, Gabby chuckling softly before she nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. We're working on it… Can we come in now?" She questioned, feigning annoyance as Antonio gave her arm a slight nudge.
"Yeah, go ahead. Mama and Papa are in the living room… Though Mama might've made her way back to the kitchen to check on the food, even though pops told her not to." Antonio spoke with a grin, Gabby smirking in amusement before she led her family further inside the apartment.
And when she walked with Caitlyn around the corner, Gabby couldn't stop the huge smile that broke out over her face as her gaze immediately went to her mom, happy tears filling her eyes as she was in the same room as her mother for the first time in nearly a year. The older woman matched her look, Ramon grinning from ear to ear as the entire room could feel just how happy Gabby was in this moment.
"Mama." She breathed out before Camila pushed herself up off the couch, Gabby hurrying to meet her halfway through the living room as they connected in a tight hug.
"My sweet Gabriela," Camila murmured as she cupped the back of her head. "I've missed you so much." She told her, Gabby holding onto her a little tighter as everyone watched on at the heartwarming scene in front of them.
"I've missed you too." She whispered, her voice getting caught in her throat as she blinked back the tears in her eyes, Caitlyn taking a step closer into her dad's side as she watched her mom hug the woman she'd only seen through a phone screen.
Though she didn't feel nearly as nervous meeting her as she did with her other grandma, she still felt a little bit of hesitance, as Caitlyn often did around new people, Matt reaching down to clasp her shoulder.
Eventually the two Dawson women pulled apart, Gabby wiping under her eyes as Camila rubbed her arm, before the older woman looked behind her. And the moment she saw Caitlyn and Sofia, her eyes lit up, the five year old instantly feeling a sense of warmth she didn't get from most new people she met. When Gabby followed her mother's gaze, a genuine smile of her own formed across her face before she held her arm out, encouraging Caitlyn to come over to her.
"Caity, sweetheart, come here." She spoke softly, the five year old pausing for a moment before she slowly walked over towards her mom, Caitlyn giving Ramon a small smile as she saw him on the couch before her attention refocused on Gabby and Camila. When she got over to them, she quickly reached out towards Gabby, the little girl hugging herself to her side as her brown eyes looked up at the older woman. "Can you say hi?"
"Hi." She replied softly, Camila grinning widely as she looked down proudly at the little girl. "You're my grandma." She spoke, Camila giving her an enthusiastic nod.
"I am, honey… I'm so glad to finally meet you."
"You too." She responded as she stepped away from Gabby slightly, the little girl quickly warming up to the woman she'd spoken to often. "I'm excited you came here." She continued on, Caitlyn smiling up at Gabby before she looked back to her grandmother. "Mommy was really happy you came, I like when she's happy." The five year old finished, Matt and Gabby both grinning widely at their daughter's words before the latter leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head, Camila overwhelmed with a feeling she couldn't exactly pinpoint as she watched Gabby with her daughter.
"I'm so happy to be here too." She replied as Casey took a step further inside the room, Camila looking over towards him before her eyes landed on Sofia, the baby looking around at her surroundings with a gentle smile over her little face. "Oh, there's my other grandbaby." She spoke with a lightness in her words. "She's getting so big, the photos don't do her justice."
"I know, it's crazy how much she's growing." Casey replied as he came to a stop beside his wife, Camila reaching out to rub over Sofia's back before she looked towards Matt. "It's great to see you again, Camila."
"You too, Matthew." She replied as she leaned in to give him a hug. "Ramon said your mother was gonna be joining us?" She questioned, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she bit down on her bottom lip, Matt not missing his wife's response to her mother's words before he responded.
"Yeah, she is… As far as I know." He said with a small smile as Ramon stood up, Gabby turning towards her father with a soft smile on her face.
"Hi Papa." She spoke softly before she gave him a tight hug, Ramon returning the gesture. "Thanks for letting us do this here… Though I still feel bad for not bringing anything, you shouldn't have had to do all the cooking." She chastised before he could even get a word in, Ramon immediately waving her off before he brought Matt in for a quick hug as well, being mindful of the baby in his arms.
"Oh mija, none of that. I had plenty of help with your mother here. And you've been dealing with a sick baby, you don't need to worry about that." He responded just as Caitlyn came over to give him a hug. "Hi my sweet angel." Ramon addressed the five year old, Caitlyn holding onto him tightly as he rubbed over her back. And when Sofia saw that, she immediately wanted to be in her abuelo's arms as well, the baby lunging forward towards him, Matt keeping as tight of a grip so she didn't fall. Releasing a hearty chuckle, Ramon reached out for Sofia as well, the grandfather settling the baby on his hip while both girls clung to him. "And hello to you, my other angel." He added, Gabby's heart warming at the sight of her dad with her babies, the youngest Dawson loving the bond they shared. Though she couldn't stop the thought in her head of how she wished her mother could have that type of relationship with them, too. "But really, my Gabriela, you don't need to worry about anything. Dinner should be finished up here in a little bit, and we can have a nice night. You focus on enjoying yourself, I'm just glad little Caitlyn here was feeling well enough to come."
As he finished his sentence, the doorbell rang, Matt glancing back in that direction before he took a few steps towards the hallway. "I can get it." He spoke up first as he had a pretty good idea of exactly who was waiting outside, the Dawson's giving him a nod before he headed for the front door, leaving his family in the living room.
Drawing in a deep breath, Casey got to the door and pulled it open, the man not surprised to see his mother standing there on the other side. But what was surprising was the fact that she had brought Henry along with her.
After Matt had that conversation with his mother about Henry and his comments, specifically how uncomfortable they made Gabby, and he'd all but told her that if he couldn't keep his thoughts to himself he wasn't invited, Casey was a little shocked to see he'd showed up. He'd made it clear to his mother they didn't necessarily want him around, and that the way he'd spoken of Gabby, and now Sofia, wasn't okay. But apparently, the man had promised to be on his best behavior as he was standing in front of him right now. Though the younger Casey couldn't help but wish he hadn't come, if he were being honest, as he knew this entire thing bothered Gabby more than she was letting on, rightfully so. But there was nothing to be done about it now, Matt plastering a smile onto his face before he stepped aside to let them in.
"Mom, hi." He greeted warmly before she gave him a hug, the Casey's going through the similar greeting process he'd done just moments prior with the Dawsons.
"Hi sweetheart, Happy Thanksgiving."
"You too."
"Happy Thanksgiving, son." Henry added, Matt's smile weakening before he looked towards the older man, seeing an apprehensive look on his face. And that reaction alone told Casey that his mom had at least talked to him about his concerns, which hopefully meant there'd be no issues this evening.
Merely giving him a nod, Casey looked back towards his mom before nodded off towards the living room. "Everyone's inside already." He told her, Nancy nodding before she stepped further inside, Henry following behind her while Matt stayed back to shut and lock the door, before eventually walking in that direction as well.
When they walked in, Gabby immediately looked that way, the easy smile across her lips faltering slightly when she saw Henry come in, but she quickly recovered before she took a few steps towards her mom, as she was trying to give Nancy room to join in. "Hi Nancy, it's great to see you." She spoke as the woman walked over, Nancy giving them all smiles before she brought Gabby in for a light hug. "We're so glad you could make it."
"Me too, thanks for having us… Ramon, Camila, it's great to see you again." She told them, both of Gabby's parents nodding in agreement as it had been so long since they'd all been together. Even back when Gabby and Matt were married the first time, it wasn't often all of the parents were in the same room together, Casey knowing he could count on one hand the amount of times it had happened. And even then, it had been years since they'd last all seen each other, probably since before Gabby's parents split, so he was glad they were able to get everyone together for the holidays, even if there was one extra person here.
"It's great to see you, too. I'm glad we were all able to be in town for this." Camila responded, her words earning a few nods from the adults that were all now standing in a semicircle in the living room, while Caitlyn broke away from Ramon and hurried back towards her father. When she got close enough, Matt immediately scooped her up into his arms, the girl holding onto him as she faced Gabby, Caitlyn being met by a warm smile from her mother.
"Can I get you all something to drink?" Antonio offered as he broke away from the group.
"Just water is fine, thank you dear." Nancy replied, Henry nodding as well, while Gabby and Matt both shook their heads before Antonio disappeared off into the kitchen.
"But yeah, I'm glad we were all able to get together, too." Nancy responded to Camila's previous statement. "Especially now with the grandkids."
"Oh, absolutely." Ramon agreed as he rubbed Sofia's back, the one year old clearly content to just stay in her grandfather's arms. And that didn't change even after he sat down, everyone following suit as they all made themselves comfortable around the room.
And while they waited for the rest of their meal to finish cooking, the Dawsons and Caseys spent time catching up with one another, while the girls bounced from person to person; though it wasn't lost on either parent how they mostly gravitated towards the Dawsons. But Caitlyn did spend some time with Nancy, as she did enjoy her time with her grandmother the other night at dinner. It was mostly just Henry neither of the girls wanted to be around, and Matt and Gabby both couldn't blame them, as they felt the same way.
As the night wore on before it was time for dinner, they'd unintentionally broken off into smaller groups, Ramon and Camila mostly keeping Nancy and Henry company, while Matt and Antonio were playing with the girls. Though Sofia didn't like staying in one place for too long, the one year old waddling back and forth between playing with her sister, and going to sit with Ramon on the couch, while Gabby occasionally bounced around from place to place as well, though she'd broken away a few minutes ago to use the restroom. But when she came back, she barely got two steps into the room before she met up with her mom, Camila smiling wide as the mother and daughter came to a stop just inside the doorway.
"Hi Mama." She greeted warmly, Camila matching her look before she reached out to rub her daughter's arm.
"Hi mija… Everyone seems to be having a pretty great time." She commented, Gabby nodding in agreement as she looked out into the living room, no one yet noticing their presence as Matt and Antonio were too involved with the girls, and Ramon and Nancy were deep in conversation. "It's been nice seeing everyone again."
"It has been… Makes me wish we could do this more often." She replied, Camila pursing her lips together before she nodded.
"So do I." She murmured as she gave Gabby's arm a squeeze. "Moving back home after the divorce, I still feel like that's what was best for me. But it's hard, being away from you and your brother. And now the girls, especially since they're so little." She told her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath. "I wish I could be here more often."
"We do too. But you know you can come and visit whenever… The girls absolutely love you. Even Caitlyn's already warmed up to you, which isn't always easy." She spoke softly as Camila looked towards her. "I know you all have talked a bit over the phone, but still, meeting people in person… It can be a lot for her sometimes. But she came around to you right away. And Sof loves you too. I'd love for you to visit as much as you can, for me and the girls." She said honestly, her mom giving her a gentle nod. "And Matt, too." She added lightly, Camila releasing a soft laugh before glancing over towards the man in question.
"Yes, we can't forget about sweet Matthew." She replied, Gabby shaking her head in amusement before looking back towards your mom. "And I know I can come visit more often, I'll definitely try to... And I know it's hard with the girls, and you've got a lot going on, but when things settle down maybe you and the family could come for a visit."
"Yeah, I'd like that." She responded softly. "And I know the girls would love it."
"Well, we'll try and figure something out then." Camila told her, Gabby nodding in agreement before they both looked out towards the room, the older woman's eyes going directly to the five year old who was currently playing with her father. Even from across the room, Camila could see how happy the little girl was, as a bright laugh escaped her lips at something Matt had said or done, the grandmother unable to stop herself from smiling at the sight. "...She really is an amazing child, Gabriela."
Gabby looked towards her mom, her words causing her to smile softly as Camila's gaze was still focused on the little girl. "Yeah, she is. Matt and I got so lucky to have the girls we do."
"You did." She murmured in agreement before looking towards her own daughter. "I know just how incredible having a daughter can be," She spoke as Gabby watched her. "And now you have two beautiful, loving daughters. And I'm just so happy for you, mija." She told her, Gabby's eyes softening as her mother's words hit her harder than expected. "Children are such a blessing, and I know that you've… You and Matthew, life was not kind to you there for a while." She said, Gabby breathing in deeply as her mind immediately went to Louie, and the first child her and Matt lost. "But you've come so far, and now you have a beautiful family."
"Thank you, Mama." She murmured, Gabby afraid if she spoke any louder her voice would betray her.
"And thinking about what you've done for that little girl… I'm just so proud of you. Of you and Matthew both. No one deserves this more than you two." She added, her own voice faltering as well as Gabby blinked back the tears forming in her eyes, Camila giving her a strong nod before she squeezed her arm once more.
"Thank you." She repeated softly, before she leaned in to give her mom a quick hug, Camila reciprocating the gesture immediately before they eventually pulled back, the older woman's gaze returning to the young girl across the room for a moment.
"And, um, while we're on the subject," She started as she cleared her throat, her words gaining Gabby's attention. "How has she been doing lately? Caitlyn?" She questioned, the younger Dawson smiling softly before she followed her mother's gaze towards the little girl.
Though she hadn't physically been here, Camila had remained quite involved in everything going on with Caitlyn, as she was one of the few people who knew everything they'd been dealing with in regards to their oldest daughter. She'd been one of Gabby's sounding boards throughout this entire process, and she knew all of the highs and lows they'd experienced in trying to bring Caitlyn into their home, as well as some of Caitlyn's own personal struggles. And even though they'd had many talks recently, and Camila knew the five year old was adjusting well, Gabby didn't mind giving her that assurance in person.
"She's doing really well." Gabby responded with a soft smile. "Well, aside from being sick the other day, but overall she's great." She told her, Camila nodding with a gentle smile.
"That's wonderful. I know everything had been going pretty smoothly, but there were some things you all were working through… And is she still seeing her therapist?" She questioned quietly, as Camila wasn't entirely sure of who all in the room knew what in regards to the newest addition to the Casey family.
"She is. Not as frequently as she used to, but we have pretty regular appointments for now. Just so we can keep helping her the best we can." Gabby explained to her, Camila nodding once more. "But I don't even think she necessarily realizes what it is, she just thinks of it as her playing with one of her friends." She added with a light life, Camila shaking her head slightly. "But it's still going well, and it's helped us all a lot. So we're gonna keep doing it, at least for now."
"I think that's great… I'm glad Caitlyn's getting the help she needs, that you all are." She responded, Gabby nodding knowingly before her mom spoke up once more. "And I take it she's still excited about the adoption?"
"Oh, absolutely." Gabby replied without missing a beat. "I think the initial shock has worn off, and she doesn't even think of it as her being adopted anymore. We're just Mommy and Daddy to her, and Sofia's her sister. She sees herself as Casey." She explained proudly, Camila's smile widening in response. "But she's so excited… We still have a bit more time before it's all official, but it's been great. Everything is going so well." She finished speaking just as she saw Matt stand up and begin to head for the kitchen.
"That's wonderful, Gabriela." She replied, Gabby giving her a nod before she noticed Henry get up off the couch mere seconds later, the older man following in the path her husband had just gone as a soft sigh left Gabby's lips.
Though Henry had mostly kept to himself since they got here not even half an hour ago, it seemed like that wouldn't be the case for much longer as now he and Matt were alone together in the kitchen, Gabby just hoping that whatever was said between the two of them wouldn't cause any issues for their evening.
Once in the kitchen, Matt had gone straight to the refrigerator with Caitlyn's empty sippy cup in hand so he could refill it, the girl having already drank all her juice while they were waiting for dinner. Though Caitlyn could drink out of a regular cup with relative ease, and they usually only used the closed cups for bedtime, they figured it'd be easiest tonight to just have her use this one. And while typically they'd make her wait to have more, as they didn't like giving her a bunch of sugar in the evening, with her drink being about one fourth juice and three fourths water, Matt didn't mind getting her more, and he knew Gabby couldn't care either.
As he pulled the drink out of the fridge and began to pour a bit into her cup, he heard footsteps approaching behind him, and by the weight of them alone, he knew it couldn't be Gabby or one of his girls. But when he glanced back, he certainly wasn't expecting to find Henry standing there, Matt biting down on his tongue before he refocused his attention on the cup in front of him, the father finishing pouring the drink before he returned it to the fridge and moved to fill it up the rest of the way with water.
Henry cleared his throat as Matt finished getting the lid back on his daughter's cup, Casey sighing heavily before he turned around to face the man that hadn't said much of anything so far this evening. With raised eyebrows, Matt waited for him to say whatever it was he'd clearly sought him out for, as he wasn't exactly thrilled to be having this conversation.
"I, uh- Before we came, your mother talked to me, about the conversation you two had. About you being upset by some things I'd said, and I just want to apologize." He spoke up, Casey's face remaining blank. "I didn't mean any offense, though I can see how it would've been taken that way."
"It wasn't taken any way, it was you being ignorant about my family." Casey bit out before he could stop himself, Henry pursing his lips together tightly. "There's only one way to take that, and it's that you have a problem with Gabby, and Sofia."
"No, I don't son. Not at all-"
"Well it sure comes across that way. And I gotta say, I don't really appreciate it." He responded firmly, Henry drawing in a deep breath as Matt continued. "But whatever the issue is, it needs to stop. If you're going to continue to be around my family, keep your racist and ignorant comments to yourself. You're here because my mom likes you, but leave Gabby and Sofia, and Caitlyn, out of it." He spoke, his voice barely sounding like his own as his words held a lot of anger directed towards the man across from him. "If you're sticking around, fine- But you don't talk about my wife. Ever." He growled, Henry's eyes widening slightly. "And you sure as hell don't talk about my kids."
Henry was stunned for a moment, the man not expecting to hear such hostility from his girlfriend's son. But he didn't get a chance to say much of anything more as little feet scurried into the room, Henry seeing the exact moment Casey's face changed as his hardened look morphed into a much gentler one.
"Daddy, can I have my juice?" Caitlyn asked as she skipped into the room, the five year old coming to a stop beside her father as Matt smiled down at her.
"Of course baby, here you go." He spoke happily as he handed the closed cup to her, Caitlyn smiling brightly as she held it in her hands.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, honey." He responded before leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Now what do you say we get out there and finish playing? Cause I think we'll have to stop soon to eat dinner." He reminded her, the little girl nodding before she reached for his hand, Caitlyn holding onto two of his fingers as that was all she could grasp before leading him towards the living room. And the second they were out of the kitchen, Matt pushed all thoughts of the man he'd left in there aside, Casey just wanting to enjoy this holiday with his family, and the people he loved the most.